Page 91 of Christmas Criminal

I roll my eyes. "Look, I have to hand out Christmas bonuses today. Why don't we get you all packed up and loaded in the car, and if you want to come with me, I'll tell you about Saint Nick with the big dick while we deliver them?"

She claps her hands. "Ilovebonus day! Yes! I want to be Santa!"

I snicker. "You sure know how toho ho ho."

I slip out of reach before she can hit me with her cast.

20

NICK

Monday, December 23rd

Noelle is going to be gone for hours, so I head to the town square for the Shop Til You Drop event, and search for some little things that I can bring her family. I don't know them well, so I search for nonspecific, Christmas-themed things, because Idoknow they're big fans of the holiday.

I end up with a few stuffed animals and some generic ornaments. The town has themed ones every year, so I get one of those for Christina, since she'll be moving back, and a pretty silver snowflake for her mom.

And yes, when I see a Grinch-themed ornament, I get that for Noelle, too. It seems only right.

And when I can consider my shopping for the year done, I head back to my car, passing Hank's booth along the way. He's chatting jovially with someone, his laugh full and boisterous, and I get the distinct feeling that Hank would make a wonderful Santa. When he waves the person off, wishing them a merry Christmas, I stop by to say the same to him.

"Ah, done your shopping for the year?" he asks, rounding the table and clapping me on the back. He grins at me, hands on his hips.

"I am," I say, and it feels really nice to say that. To have people around me to get things for.

"Good, good." He gets a knowing glint in his eye as he eyes my bag. "Got a little something for Noelle in there?"

Heat rushes into my cheeks, and Hank only grins wider. "Yeah, I got her a little something."

He nods. "Good. I have a feeling in my bones that she needs somebody like you, just like you need somebody like her."

I can't help the laugh that escapes me. "Yeah? I feel like I can hardly handle her."

He waves me off. "She's not a difficult one. There's a lot of love underneath a hell of a lot of armor. The really difficult ones–they don't have love under there. Only needles. Noelle had it tough, but she came out on top. I have a lot of respect for that girl. For her mom and her sister, too. Great people, all three of them, who have been dealt a shitty hand."

"You really hate her dad too, huh?"

He lowers his voice, leaning toward me. "Look, don't tell anybody, but Noelle's mom called me when she saw her daughter taking off with a carton of eggs. She thought it might teach her a lesson to get caught, so she sent me over there to pick her up." He holds his hands out in front of him, as if to say,well what was I supposed to do?"When I got there, she was staring at his house, glaring. Seemed like she wanted to throw the eggs but she didn't have the nerve."

"What made her throw them?"

Hank shrugs. "Time, I guess."

I narrow my eyes. "You waited for her to throw the eggs?"

He shrugs. "Look, you didn't hear this story from me. But I sat there watching that girl fume for a good twenty minutes,working herself up to that point. And I swear, the whole time I was–pardon the pun–egging her on." He lets out a quick breath. "I honestly can't believe the amount of time I sat there, whispering to myself, 'Come on, Noelle. Throw the damn egg already.'"

I let out a disbelieving breath. "But why did you give her community service then?"

He shakes his head. "That was Helen's request. I would have picked her up and taken her right home, but Helen wanted to end the anger. She thought that might do it." He shrugs. "And hey, maybe I had a little trick up my sleeve that night that I wanted to see through."

"A trick?"

Hank winks at me, rounding the table between us. "Merry Christmas, Nick."

"What trick?"

He only gives me a look, and as if he planned the interruption, a man walks up to the booth to shake Hank's hand and wish him a happy holiday season. They must know each other well, because they quickly fall into an easy conversation, all happy laughter and questions about how the other is spending the holiday.

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