"No!" Hartleigh sobbed, "This isn't happening. You ruined my life, Chloe. Jack is supposed to be withme! That's supposed to bemyfamily. That's supposed to bemybaby."
"I'm not pregnant!" I yelled. "I stress eat!"
Hartleigh ignored me and pulled out a gun from under her jacket. Her hand was shaking as she aimed it at me. I raised my hands and watched as Hartleigh was promptly tackled by a Santa.
"That was my boss," I said mournfully.
"Not anymore," Jack replied.
66
Jack
The police officer on the scene couldn't stop snickering as he and his partner started arresting Santas.
"Can we not arrest some of them?" I asked.
"Which one would you like to take home?" the officer said, gesturing dramatically to the line of handcuffed Santas.
"For starters, I need my father," I said.
Dr. Frost smirked at me. "I knew you respected me."
"I don't care about you, but I don't want the Frost name smeared across the tabloids. I can still press charges," I warned. "So stay away from me."
"Do as he says," Belle hissed. "I know things about your finances and your tax evasions. Don't try me. I lived in your house for decades. I have enough blackmail material to gut you and sink you in the Hudson River."
My dad looked mildly concerned. He put his Santa hat and his sunglasses back on.
"You're free to go," the police officer said, "right after you give the detective your statement."
While Jack’s father talked to the detective, an ambulance showed up, and the paramedics strapped Hartleigh into a neck brace and gingerly loaded her onto the stretcher.
Chloe's Santa stalker boss, who had tackled Hartleigh, was loaded into the back of a police car.
"Chloe!" he called. The news media was hovering around, and one photographer snuck up to the stalker Santa. He turned to the camera. "I want the world to know that I am Chloe Barnard's number-one fan! I love you! I'll always love you!"
Thankfully, the police shooed the cameras away and slammed the car door on the stalker Santa.
"I need that Santa too," I told them as the police officer dragged Eddie to another car. "He's my employee."
"Mr. Frost," the arresting officer said, "this man is clearly inebriated."
"He's not dangerous," I replied.
"Public drunkenness is not acceptable."
"I know," I said, pinching the bridge of my nose. "But it's Christmas. I won't let him sleep on the streets; he supposed to be my security guard."
The police officer shook his head incredulously.
"If you're willing to assume responsibility for him," he said and released Eddie from his handcuffs. Eddie grinned and stumbled over to me.
"I didn't even lose a tooth!" he bragged and took a swig from the flask.
"Eddie, put it away," I hissed. "If they see you drinking, they're going to arrest you."
Fortunately, Chloe's cousin started making a commotion, and the officer's attention was diverted.
