Snowball’s escape from Stella a couple of years ago caused quite the holiday ruckus as she traveled around the states—flying through forests at will. At least a dozen different travelers posted videos. If there were that many people who filmed her, there had to be at least ten times that many people who had seen her.
They couldn’t take that risk.
“Halt!” Hoffman huffed and puffed as he caught up to them.
Drake and Clove stopped at the same time.
“Yeah?” Drake turned, making every effort to look like they weren’t in a hurry.
Hoffman hooked his thumb over his shoulder. “The reindeer is gone.”
“What?!” Clove screamed. She appeared outraged. She dropped his hand and ran back to the pen.
Drake fought his smile as he sputtered in disbelief. Clove far outdid him in the acting department. “What do you mean he’s gone? He’s right there.” He strode past Hoffman with a determined gate. “Don’t worry, beautiful. I’m sure Hoffman is pranking us.”
“I’m not!” Hoffman insisted. “He’s not there.”
“How is that even possible?” Drake tossed out as the cop dogged his heels. “Did you open the gate?”
“No! I didn’t! I swear. He just vanished.” The panic in his voice was totally worth getting up at three in the morning.
Drake gave him a disbelieving look. He’d never come right out and say that reindeer couldn’t fly–that would be lying and that would soil his family name.
They caught up to Clove, who stood by the fence, her face buried in her gloves.
Drake walked around the pen with Hoffman. He grabbed the gate and shook it. It rattled loudly but didn’t budge.
Hoffman stepped back and glared. “You! You two did this!”
Clove gasped, playing her hand across her chest.
Drake tipped his head to the side. “How? You were right here with us.” He pointed to where they’d been standing.
Hoffman’s mouth gaped open. “I don’t know! But I know it was you two.” He looked like he was one candy cane away from cracking.
Drake walked away from him. “Maybe you could check the camera.” It was a bit of a dig, but it still bothered him that Hoffman was back here without the camera on. He opened his arm and Clove snuggled against him, her arm going around his back.
“We have to find him,” she said pitifully. Her acting may have been amazing, but there was real concern mixed in with that statement.
“Stop!” Hoffman screamed. “You’re under arrest.” He ran around them and then planted his feet.
“For what?” Drake asked.
“For taking an animal out of custody.”
“We don’t have, Felix,” Clove ground out through her teeth. She patted her pockets. “Nope. No reindeer.”
“Then why are you hauling a trailer?” He pointed triumphantly.
Drake managed to look confused. “We picked it up from Otis yesterday and I didn’t want to unhook it in the dark.”
Hoffman glared. “I have your plates. If your trailer leaves town, I’ll have every highway patrolman on your six.”
Drake lifted an eyebrow. “On my six, huh?”
Hoffman nodded. “You’d better park it where I can see it.” He gave each of them a look and then squared his shoulders. “ . . . gotta track down a stinkin’ reindeer in the cold . . .” he mumbled as he punched his phone. “Mayor Winston, get up! The reindeer’s missing.”
Clove grabbed Drake’s sleeve. “I don’t trust the mayor even less than I trust Hoffman. We need to find Felix before they do.”
