Chapter 99

NINETY-NINE

As he and Barbara sat on Santa's throne in Santa's workshop, he shifted restlessly. Maybe Barb had been right and the costume had been a mistake. But the Santa parade was lining up and he saw the sheriff and his deputy watching them. By the time they questioned them, he and Barb would have Ivy and be long gone.

Besides, the cops were looking for a man alone, not a Santa with a wife.

A deep chuckle rose in his chest, but he aimed it toward one of the kids.

Damn though. The furry beard was bugging him to death, and so itchy he wanted to jerk it off. But what the hell?

It was the best idea he'd ever come up with. Sure, babies might be afraid of Santa but after toddler age they flocked to him like they would a candy store.

Although he'd never had that pleasure as a kid. In his home, Santa and presents were considered four-letter words. They hadn't attended Winterfest or any other holiday function. They'd never decorated a tree or the house or driven around to look at lights. When he was four, he'd found photos of toys in the newspaper, cut them out and pasted them on a sheet of paper, but his uncle, the bastard who'd raised him, had burned his list in the trash.

He glanced at Barbara, his rage stirring again. Mrs. Santa Claus didn't look too happy as she sat perched beside him on their allotted thrones. Her eyes darted all over the place, searching the kids' faces and looking for Loretta and Ivy. To help them, he was sure, not to help him.

After all, once a liar, always a liar. How could he trust someone who didn't keep their promises?

He tugged at his mustache as a snot-nosed little boy who smelled like a goat jumped off his lap and ran to the elves for his candy cane.

Two hours in, and he was tired as shit of the spoiled brats with the endless list of nonsense they wanted these days. Expensive motorized toys, video games and damn smart phones.

The clock on the tower in the center of town rolled over to ten, and he sighed in relief that it was time for Santa's scheduled break. Barb shifted nervously, adjusting her Mrs. Santa hat and skirt and stood in a hurry as if to escape him. But he didn't intend to let her out of his sight.

He gripped her arm with a smile as he passed the elves and the bunch of rugrats who'd been waiting in line and now had to wait even longer. So far he hadn't seen Ivy or her mother but they had to be here.

Unless she'd seen the news and left town.

Barbara hissed in frustration as he clenched her arm hard enough to break an elbow. "Tell me when you see them or you'll join the twins and Mazie will die as soon as I get back." He leaned closer and whispered in her ear as if he was giving her a loving caress. "And she'll die alone without you to hold her while she passes."

The tears that instantly swam to life in her eyes made him smile. She actually thought she could play games with him ?

Idiot.

They walked past the snow cone truck, then the arts and crafts tables, and to the food truck where the owner offered him and Barbara hot coffees.

He pushed them away. "Thanks, but got to take care of the Mrs. She can't handle the caffeine. Gives her the jitters."

The men shared a good laugh, but Barbara tensed and he sensed she was on the verge of pulling away. His fingers dug into her upper arm.

No, no, no, Barb, play your part.

He gave her a side hug, drawing her closer to his chest. Hot coffee could be used as a weapon, and he was not putting that in her hands to use against him. His uncle's lesson about the bat had taught him that much.

Laughter echoed from the Christmas photo booth where kids had flocked. A backdrop of a Christmas tree and snowy day set the stage where kids and families were playing dress up, draping themselves in jingle bells, Santa and elf hats, reindeer antlers, tinsel and other silly Christmas attire.

Barbara flinched, her eyes widening, and he followed her gaze.

Just then he spotted Ivy dragging her mother toward the booth. He gripped Barbara's arm as Ivy's mother tried to pull the little girl away. He forced Barbara to step closer.

"Come on, Ivy. We need to get out of here," Loretta said.

"But Mama," Ivy cried. "I wanna do the dress-up booth."

Loretta looked worried and exasperated. "We have to get on the road. Please come with me now."

Desperation filled her voice and he realized she must have heard the news about the twins' death and Mazie's abduction.

His heart picked up a beat, and he wrapped his fingers more tightly around Barbara's arm in a warning gesture. She gulped and her breathing sounded choppy as he dragged her toward the stage where the photo booth was set up.

Just then a man walked over to Loretta, and they started arguing. He took the opportunity and pushed Barbara closer to the line of children waiting. Ivy climbed the stage, wrapped Christmas lights around her neck and pulled on an elf hat and funny sunglasses. The photographer snapped a picture and she proceeded to choose a Christmas tree costume with big red plastic shoes. She posed in two more outfits before the helper indicated she had to give someone else a turn.

Ivy skipped toward the exit and he coaxed Barbara to it.

Ivy's face lit up when she saw the two of them at the edge of the stage. He shoved Barb forward. "It's time."

He heard her sharp intake of breath, then she ran toward Ivy.

He made it to the child first then swept her into a Santa hug with a "Ho, ho, ho."

Barb reached for Ivy and tried to pull her from him.

Loretta sprinted toward them, her eyes bright with panic. Barb lifted her leg to knee him in the balls, but he shoved her so hard she fell against the edge of the stage and hit her head. Loretta jumped him from behind but he threw her off him.

Ivy screamed, but he shushed her with his hand and hauled ass away, dragging the kicking and crying child with him.