“Well, I don’t agree with Jack on that. I think we need to get out of here, and the sooner the better,” Annie snapped. “Sit tight, Myra. I’m going to see if I can find out what’s going on out in the hallway.”

“Annie, don’t!” She might as well have saved her breath. Annie was up and running to the reception area, where she cracked the door and peered out. She clamped her hand over her mouth and ran back to where Myra was waiting for her.

“It’s the police. Three officers and two other guys. Not the guard, though. They’re arguing about something, but I couldn’t hear what it was all about. Shit! Shit! Shit! That’s what Kathryn would say, isn’t it? Myra, what are we going to do if they come in here?”

“Do I have to remind you this was your idea? Bearing that in mind, I do have a solution. Look!” Myra said, pointing to the Santa suit hanging on the back of the door. “Get some pillows off that chair, and let’s get dressed. Move, Annie!”

Annie stared at her old friend. “But, Myra, there’s only one Santa suit!”

“There’s an elf outfit behind it. Stop talking and get dressed. Hurry. I’ll tie the pillow around your waist with my scarf. We can do this, Annie,” Myra said when she noticed Annie’s glazed eyes. “Damn it, Annie. I said, ‘Move!’”

Within minutes Myra and Annie were zipped, stuffed, and Velcroed into the Santa and elf suits. Annie was pulling on the shiny black boots when the door to the office opened. Five men, three of them police officers, stood in the doorway.

Myra whirled around and said, “Baron, your beard needs some more latex. I left it on the sink. Hurry, or we’ll be late.” She whirled back around and asked, bold as brass, “What can I do for you, Officers? We’re running late with the snow and all, but we did promise the kiddies over at Georgetown Hospital we would be there. Now, where did I put that green sack? Oh, here it is.”

“Sorry, Miss Harriet, but Mr. Bell called a while ago and said he thought someone broke into his office,” a man dressed in a mackinaw said.

“It wasn’t Mr. Bell. We’ve been here all morning,” replied Myra. “Actually we spent the night here because Mr. Bell’s car wouldn’t start and I live too far away and today was so important and you know how Mr. Bell is when it comes to Santa and not disappointing the children. Feel free to look around. Baron, what is the problem? Excuse me, gentlemen, while I help Santa with his beard. The dry cleaners cleaned it, and it just isn’t feeling and fitting right.”