Tom gazed at her, his blue eyes sweeping her face.
“What?”
“What would you say if I needed to use a fourteen-year-old to find Santa?”
Summer shrugged. “She reliable?”
“Knowledgeable at least.”
“Use her. Skill does not have an age limit. I know this.”
He kissed her again. “You’re exceptionally smart, Summer Girl.”
She smiled at the compliment. “Go find Santa. I’ll see you at home.”
He squeezed her hand and walked away.
She stayed in place and observed others watching him, waving at him, and stopping him to talk.
This town loved her husband.
So did she. She told him plenty. But it was time to show him.
&&&&&&&&&&
Tom walked in the back door of the police station, registered the coffee and pizza smell, and braced himself. Carmen came at him like lightning to a rod. He gave a millisecond thought to dodging into the men’s room, but that would accomplish nothing and start Carmen on a tirade.
He dropped his empty drink from Sal’s into a trash can inside the break room door and waited for the detective to finish a quick stop at dispatch. Carmen stood a bare five foot five with smooth mocha skin and brown eyes flashingwith determination. Her professional dress and demeanor complimented the fire he saw in her expression, and her voice and diction stayed direct and clear.
She stopped in front of him, her lips pursed and pouty.
He crossed his arms and rested a shoulder on the break room door jam. “What now?”
“Mia.”
“She steal our Santa?” Her mischief was more direct and usually intellectual.
“Not that I’m aware, but what did you say to her? She’s called me twice with leads. I can get my own leads, dammit.”
“And those leads were?”
“You don’t actually want to know, do you?”
“Yes.”
Carmen gave him a look every exasperated woman gave a non-cooperative man. “She’s been checking social media.”
“For?”
“What do you think? Any hint of our Santa.”
“Anything?”
“No. Pictures of him the day before on Slade’s website. He is bigger than I thought.”
“And?”
“Pictures this morning at 8:45. He was still there.”
