Page 72 of Sleigh My Heart

Nick fell into step with her. “What’s next?”

“It might be you in a Santa suit riding a reindeer.”

“Fuck that.”

She smirked. “Well, I do have an idea to flush out the killer.”

“By the look on your face, I’d say I’m going to hate it.”

“You will, but it might be our last chance to find the killer before the festival next weekend.” At his grunt of acceptance, she pulled out her phone and called her brother, Jim.

***

“No way this will work.” Nick mumbled from the passenger seat.

“Just keep the hood up and slouch. The vest gives you some bulk.” She helped him with the seatbelt.

“But it doesn’t change the fact that I’m a few shades lighter than Garmen… or a few inches taller.”

“Keep your head down. You have gloves and a hat. No one’s looking at your height.” She slammed the door. Rounding the car, she climbed in, and started the engine. “You could have let Jim be the decoy.”

Hell no. Jim was a good detective, but Nick was the one with the training for this. Undercover was only part of his assignments over the last twenty years. Not that he would let them know it. Besides, no way he would let Mickey be a target if he couldn’t be right there to watch her back.

Not that he had admitted it, but he had a vested interest in her six. He just needed to get through this festival, then he would sit down and discuss where they were going from here.

“How did you talk Jim into letting you do this?” At his shrug, she mumbled. “I really need to check into your past.”

Good luck. Most of his ops were classified.

The radio squawked. A second later, Jim’s voice cut the tension in the car. “You picked up a tail.”

“I got him. Three back on the left.” Michelle’s gaze bobbed between the rearview mirror and the road.

Nick checked the side mirrors. “Junior?”

“I’m not sure, but Jim made sure he knew Cliff was getting released. It could be anyone. I made sure to let Margarita know I was escorting Garmen home. If we’re lucky and my hunch is right, Towers will be part of the welcoming committee, too.”

“My money’s on Junior. He’s involved up to his bony shoulders. If he were in any deeper, he’d be under water.” Nick scanned for other vehicles.

She made a sharp turn at the last minute and the car went straight.

“He didn’t follow. But if it’s our guy, he knows where Cliff lives.” Nick kept an eye out for others. “I’m sure someone will be coming to find out what Garmen said to the police, if nothing else.”

“Exactly, that’s why I think this will work.”

The ride was quiet for the next few blocks, then Nick asked, “Do you believe he’s innocent?”

“Garmen? Of murder? Yeah. He was scared out of his wits. He willingly handed over the keys to the place he was staying.”

“What about Jonny or the theft of the sleigh?”

She rolled her eyes. “He claims to know nothing about the theft or the murder. He and Jonny picked up the sleigh. Cliff had a date with Margarita and left early. Jonny was supposed to drop off the sleigh as far as he knew.”

“You believe him?”

“About as much as a five-dollar hooker who claims she thought it was an Uber.”

He snickered. “You’ve had that happen?”