Bret eyed his brother’s position and gazed at Tom with wide eyes.
Jake and Mia?
“This is the way it happened.” Daniel put elbows on the table and clasped his hands.
Tom skipped the protocols and didn’t stop him.
Dan squared his shoulders, talking rapidly. “Yes, it was Mia’s idea to do a social media push to get the town to stop bickering and trying to outdo each other. Jake and I were in from the beginning – even when Mia changed the how of it. The three of us stole the Santa. Jake and I moved him around town, took the pictures, gave them to Mia, and she posted everything. We ended it today because Mia’s been so sick. We set up Santa in the park and bounced. Mia pulled off the rest. Any questions?”
Bret rolled his eyes at Tom, disgust written in his frown. Tom kept focused on Mia who glared at Dan, but couldn’t say anything with the oxygen mask over her face.
Bret raised a brow at Jake. “Is that true?”
“Every word. Can we call Mia’s mom?”
Bret had dealt with the teenagers in this town for years, but this hit different. “Norah’s taking care of it. What were you thinking?”
Jake rose to his feet and planted his palms on the table, staring at Bret with a serious mad on. “I was thinking y’all make this town sound like angels walk on Main Street. But from where I’m standing? All I’ve seen is people arguing about decorations and who wins Christmas. If this is the real Echo Falls, I’d be better off with Dad. He doesn’t pretend.”
“Don’t you even think about going to your father, young man.” Georgia Cara stepped into the room, glare blazing, and every person at the table ducked.
Mia bent double in a fit of coughing, and Jake held her steady in the chair.
Carmen came to the doorway. “Fire Department is here.”
Ned Foley, the FD paramedic, elbowed past everyone with his medical kit. He bent to assess Mia. “How long has she been coughing like this?”
“She was in the hospital for a few days with pneumonia. But she got worse this afternoon.” Jake passed all the medical information on to Ned. The kid knew a lot of details.
“Brother,” Bret whispered to Tom under his breath. “Puppy infatuation or girlfriend?”
“Mia’s letting him, so guessing girlfriend.”
Tom shifted so Dan could see him. “We’re going to set aside exactly what happened, thank you Dan for the brief confession, and let these guys get Mia to the hospital. But I still have questions.”
“Like what? I told you everything.” Dan settled back in his chair, defensive but resigned.
“What vehicle?”
“Black Toyota Runner. It’s my brother’s.”
“Did you have permission to drive it?”
“Yes. Does he know what we were doing? No.”
Ned straightened. “The Santa thieves, huh? Genius. Let me get her out of here and to the hospital before Dr. Jackie goes off duty. Is her mom on the way?”
“Yes,” Norah answered from the doorway. “Unless you want me to reroute her to the hospital.
“We’ll be gone from here before she gets here, so yes. Come on, Mia, let’s get you to the stretcher.”
“I can walk,” she rasped, grabbing for Jake’s hand.
“No, you can’t. It’ll put too much strain on your breathing.” Ned removed the mask and handed the equipment back to Bret.
Ned had a stretcher parked in the hallway manned by a volunteer. Tom shifted to let the medic and Mia pass.
Jake went to the door. “Can I go with her?”
