Page 2 of Sleigh My Heart

“It’s called looking at all the options or i-n-v-e-s-t-i-g-a-t-i-n-g.” He pronounced each letter of the last word.

“Sure it is.” She smirked. The friendly rivalry between the brass and the lowly patrol status was an ongoing thing in the Swenson family. It had grown more lopsided now that she was the only patrol officer left in the family. She opened her mouth to give him another shot when her radio squawked.

His phone pinged at the same time. Dispatch sent out a report of a stolen sleigh and instructions to contact security at the Ashwood Mall. “I’m going to be tied up here for a while. Do you have time to swing by the mall and take the security guy’s statement?”

She held up her hands, palms up, and seesawed. “Stand around in a cold alley or go to a warm mall office? You don’t have to ask me twice.” She responded to dispatch and turned on her heels.

“Mickey. Don’t promise anything. You know.” He gestured to the sleigh.

She did know. Chances of the mall getting their sleigh back by Christmas was slim. She took in the beautiful carving one more time, then nodded and started toward her squad.

“Hey, did you get Dad a birthday gift yet?” He called after her.

She groaned. It was bad enough that she still had to finish her Christmas shopping, but today was her father’s birthday and she had less than eight hours to come up with a gift. “No. What did you get him?”

“I don’t know. Doc handled that.” Jim referred to his wife.

Michelle flipped him off.

Jim laughed.

He was no help. The only person worse to shop for than her father, was her mother. Her siblings all grumbled about what to get them.

Screw it. She’d pick up a bottle of her dad’s favorite Scotch, same as last year.

“See you tonight.”

She waved over her shoulder and hustled to her patrol car. She glanced at the dash clock. If she timed it right, she could pick up a couple Christmas gifts while she was at the mall. She’d swing into the novelty store that had the cop mugs she liked to buy Jim, and maybe she could find some fun socks for her nieces before she got another call.

***

Michelle parked in front of the main entrance to the outside court of the mall in the spot designated for police and security. It was the closest entry to the main offices. She pulled her collar up to block the biting wind as she crossed the open-air courtyard. A massive evergreen filled the center and Santa’s workshop was all decorated and ready for his arrival a week from Saturday. It was quite a sight. Every year, the jolly old elf rode in on that beautiful wooden sleigh pulled by eight live reindeer. It kicked off the weekend full of activities right before Christmas. The outdoor mall drew people from all around during the holiday celebration every year. Unfortunately, crowds also brought crime. Pickpockets and thieves make a killing over the Christmas shopping season.

Michelle glimpsed the Minnesota River just beyond the building as she passed the upscale restaurant on the north end of the mall. A celebrity chef came in and revamped the whole place a year ago. It was one of the Ashwood Mall’s anchor stores, along with a high-end department store and Mr. Jolley’s woodworking store.

She glanced at the ornately carved seven-foot-tall double doors. She’d been there twice. The first time was when a patron had a medical incident. And the second was on a date. Too bad that relationship didn’t last longer than their dinner.

Just one in a long line of failed relationships. She hadn’t had a serious long-term relationship since… Nick?

Hell, he hadn’t crossed her mind for years. Then that damn sleigh drudged up the man like it was yesterday. Last she heard, he was in Germany, or Bolivia, or some place in Europe. The man was career Army. Her gut twisted like the stripes on a candy cane, recalling the day he enlisted.

“No. Old news.” She shook off the melancholy vibes that accompanied the memories. Work. That’s why she was here, not to stroll down memory lane.

A brown and white, nonintrusive sign pointed down an unassuming hallway to the central hub of the mall, which housed the office.

The brick walls blocked the morning sun. Dull bulbs replaced the bright sunlight as Michelle followed the long path to the door at the end. Hand-painted gold letters on the glass panel told her she was in the right place. She glanced at the black ball hanging in the corner. Camera. It made sense with the entrance in a long, dimly lit hallway.

Time to interview Mr…? Crap. She should have asked dispatch for the head of the mall security’s name. Last time she’d been to a call in the mall, she’d dealt with Old Man Rogers, but word around town was he retired earlier this year.

She peered through the window. Empty. She checked the knob. It turned. With her hand on her duty belt, she checked the perimeter and opened the door.

Warm air greeted her as she entered. Christmas carols played in the background.

“Police. I’m here about a call.” Her voice bounced back to her in the empty room.

Green boughs draped across the reception desk that stood to her left. A six-foot pine tree decked out in red and silver filled the corner to her right. Two guest chairs tucked up on either side of the traditional decor.

“Hello?” she leaned around the reception desk when the door in the back opened.