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“They were bolted in. Someone messed with Nate’s chimney,” Scarlett says beside me, grabbing an almond cardamom snowball cookie from the platter on the table. “This was sabotage, loud and clear.”

“Those were double-checked by our crew,” Nelly says.

“Clearly they needed to be triple-checked,” I say.

“How about a tie-breaker round?” Michelle problem solves. “A rematch with the three closest in score.”

“Everyone’s cooled down by now,” Todd says, rejecting the idea. “And the crew is already dismantling the chimneys. We have to be out of here by nine-thirty.”

Ron grabs a cookie of his own and backs me up. “Nate had a fighting chance, though.”

“The rules are the rules,” Ryan counters.

The crowd starts chanting, “Nate! Nate! Nate!”

“Someone’s gained crowd favor, it appears,” Todd notices.

“What if we put Nate through as the sixth Santa?” Ron suggests.

Ryan seems to consider this. “That’s never been done before, but if we let him through, we’ll have to allow the same for the others. People get hurt every year, and you did sign the release form.”

Michelle wipes her mouth with a napkin. “Could be an interesting compromise, given the circumstances.”

“My hands weren’t tired, and I didn’t miscalculate a grab,” I say. “I fell because my hooks weren’t tightened. I didn’t realize I was going to feel so unsafe here. You have your rules, and I have mine, which is to make sure future contestants are aware of what they’re signing up for and how likely they are to get hurt. Because you know how important safety is to me.” My words are directed at Nelly and Todd. “Maybe there needs to be an investigation into your safety check practices.”

Even if they were doing everything by the book and per the guidelines, they wouldn’t want trouble like that. I give them a knowing look in place of flashing my badge. Nelly and Todd know I’m FBI and have it in my power to make an investigation happen.

“I suppose there is a first time for everything,” Nelly says, her nostrils flaring.

Todd picks up her hint. “We should have enough cookies in the next round for a sixth Santa Claus contestant.”

It’s official. I’m safe—hypothetically speaking.

I don’t get any pushback when I tell the judges I won’t be sticking around for the elimination announcement. Once Nelly and Todd leave, I figure this is as good a time as any to get the judges to sign my thank-you card. Ron and Ryan are called away for post-event interviews, but Holly and Michelle dutifully sign. Both are right-handed.

“Miss Winter, got a sec?” Scarlett asks.

Holly turns back to us. “Please, call me Holly.”

Holly might be in movies, but her stardom doesn’t do anything for me. That will come in handy here because Scarlett, on the other hand, looks like a reindeer caught in the headlights.

“I loved you in My Snowman Soulmate,” Scarlett rushes out.

Holly’s guard drops. “Oh my gosh, thank you! That one was so fun to film.”

Scarlett leans in. “Was the snowman really CGI?”

“He was, and I had to make out with air,” Holly says, hand next to her mouth like she’s letting us in on something that requires a top security clearance.

Scarlett gasps. “No way. You couldn’t even tell.”

“Gosh, I made that one ages ago,” Holly says.

“Where does the time—”

I clear my throat, and Scarlett nods.

“Right,” she says. “Hey, do the judges ever jump in to help? Like, did you guys help stuff the bags we got at lunchtime?”