Page 68 of The Mistletoe Mix-up

Wren parked down the street from Evergreen when she saw the long line of cars waiting to get in and see the displays. Duke barked from the back of the SUV, and Wren told him “Quiet” before exiting the vehicle. She passed by the line of cars on the shoulder and then crossed the street. There were people three deep on the sidewalk, checking out the lights displays. Every house on the street was shining bright, with elaborate scenes of Grinches stealing Christmas and Peanuts dancing around a Christmas tree. People oohed and aahed around her as she approached a house with scenes from Elf taking over the front yard, garage, and house. Mrs. Delany met her on the walkway, her silver hair in a shoulder-length bob.

“Someone stole my giant ornament,” Mrs. Delany said grimly. “It was right there”—the older woman pointed to an indentation in the snow—“two hours ago, and when I came outside to watch the visitors, I saw it was missing.”

Wren saw footprints in the snow leading down to the sidewalk. She could grab Duke and track the guy for a bit, but it probably happened hours ago. Besides, the circle was filling up with people checking out the lights displays, and seeing an officer and police dog tracking would bring cause for speculation.

“Have you seen anyone suspicious hanging around?” Wren asked, tapping her pen on her pad softly. “Maybe somebody wearing a hoodie?”

“I didn’t, but my Ring camera caught something.” She pulled out her phone, scrolling through until she found what she was looking for. “Here it is. My daughter set this up for me to make sure people didn’t steal my packages.”

Wren took the phone and pushed play, watching the video of someone in a dark hoodie and pants picking up the ornament and running away with it. They looked slight, maybe a teen.

“Can you send this to the station email?”

“Absolutely, but why would anyone take my ornament?” Mrs. Delany asked.

“I’m not sure, but I would guess you’re not the first house they’ve hit. I’ll ask around at the station and get back to you.”

“Well, I hope you catch them, whoever they are. It’s not right for anyone to steal things, but especially not before Christmas.”

Wren agreed with her. A giant ornament wasn’t exactly an easy resell. Maybe whoever took it was getting off on the thrill, like the guy who was obsessed with stealing troll dolls when she lived in Texas. When they caught him, they found thousands of dollars’ worth of dolls in his room and learned he like to use the hair on himself during happy-fun-time.

Hopefully, they’d find the ornament with a less gross ending.

“Thank you for meeting with me, Mrs. Delany,” Wren said, holding her hand out to the older woman. “Hopefully, I’ll have more for you soon.”

“I appreciate you coming by so quickly, Officer Little.”

Wren headed back down the driveway to the sidewalk, following along with the crowd as they circled the neighborhood. It was nice to see so many families out and about. She spotted a woman stopped in front of one of the houses, holding a baby bundled in a snowsuit. Wren paused, imagining herself in the woman’s shoes. Showing her baby all the world has to offer.

A man suddenly appeared behind the woman, wrapping his arms around her waist and pointing to something on the roof. They made an adorable threesome.

That could be you and someone else if you were open to possibilities.

Wren wound her way out of Evergreen Circle and jogged back up the road to the cruiser. When she climbed inside, Duke made a high-pitched whine, and Wren nodded. “I know, buddy. We just need to go home, huh? Too much going on in town tonight.”

She headed back to the station to clock out and then home. Her stomach twisted into knots the closer she got to the house, thinking about the night ahead. Wren pulled into the driveway and let Duke out the back, still contemplating how tonight was going to go. She should set up the kit, just in case.

Wren unloaded everything on the bathroom counter, including the sample cup. Was she supposed to have porn here for him? They’d slept together, so should she be the stimulation? Wear something sexy?

Oh God, this is crazy.

She changed her nightgown three times, staring at herself in the mirror. She finally settled on a black one when the doorbell rang. Duke barked twice, and she pointed to his kennel.

“Duke, bed.”

The dog went inside without a fuss and lay down on his bed, watching her as she locked the door to his crate. The bell rang again, and Wren raced to answer it, fluffing her hair along the way.

When she opened the door, it wasn’t Sam on the front stoop but her brother Pete.

He covered his eyes, screaming, “Oh my God, what are you wearing?”

Wren grabbed her coat off the hook and covered up, glaring at her brother as she buttoned the coat to her neck. “What are you doing here?”

“It’s my roommate’s birthday, and they’re having a party. I have to get up early, so I figured I’d crash here.”

“You should have called,” she said.

“I tried texting, but you didn’t answer.” Pete’s eyes widened. “Are you having company over? Is that what the getup is all about?”