The Secret Santa Project

by Carol Ross

  “Uh,” he said, gesturing around as if the answer was obvious, “even if I had decent service here, I couldn’t. Phone’s dead. No electricity. Car’s dead. Couldn’t charge it. Nightmare.”

  That was all perfectly valid.

  Lee reached out to adjust the vent and then turned up the fan. “No joke, I almost froze to death last night. It reminded me of that winter when Dad took off for like two months and didn’t pay the power bill. Remember that?”

  “Yeah.” How could he forget going to bed at night in his winter coat and snow pants and still piling on every blanket in the house? After about a week, Cricket had offhandedly mentioned to Tag that he was tired of eating frozen food.

  The next day, the power was back on. Only later did he learn that Tag had told Ben and Margaret, who’d then paid their overdue bill and continued paying until Frank had returned.

  “How did you know where to find me? You call Toni?”

  “No. Well, I called her a while back, after I went to the prison and you weren’t there. She hadn’t heard from you yet, but she mentioned an old camper you’d left on her property, and I took a chance you might be here.”

  “Huh. Good thinking.”

  “Why didn’t you drive back to Rankins last night? When I called your work, they said you took a couple of days off.”

  “I had some things to do, people to see, questions to ask, which I did, but then I came here to pick up stuff that I left in the camper, and the car died again. Speaking of being stranded in the cold, how is Hazel? I could barely hear you last night, but I thought you said fine. She’s all right, then?”

  “I did say fine. No lasting effects, as far the cold goes, anyway.”

  “What do you mean?” Concern transformed his expression. “Did someone hurt her?”

  Me, he thought. I hurt her, and that’s the last thing I wanted to do. “No. But she’s... Lee, I don’t know how to tell you this, but you’re the talk of the town in Rankins. People think you had something to do with the robbery.”

  He scoffed. “Does Hazel believe that?”

  “No, she doesn’t,” he scoffed. “It didn’t even occurred to her. The police asked all their questions, where she’d been and who she was with before it happened. She gave them your name and told them where she dropped you off, but never mentioned that you have a record.”

  Lee’s smile was electric. “You need to figure out how to keep her.”

  Cricket couldn’t bring himself to say that he didn’t think he had a right to.

  “Did you tell them?” Lee asked.

  “No.”

  “But it occurred to you?”

  “It did.” He sighed. “I’m sorry, Lee. I’m not going to lie. And I’ve been a little freaked out that I couldn’t get ahold of you.”

  “Good. You start lying to me, and our brother-ship is over.”

  “Brother-ship?”

  “Yeah, you know—a friendship but with brothers.”

  Cricket couldn’t help but smile. “It’s been a while since we had one of those, huh?” Surprising how much he longed for that again.

  Lee turned serious and said, “Listen, Cricket, I know that’s my fault. I never wanted my wayward life to affect yours, even though I know it did just by association. I know that because Dad’s antics ruined everything for me. Instead of fighting back, I gave up. You didn’t, and I’m so proud of you for that. But the one thing I’ve never done is lie to you. And I swear to you, right now, that I didn’t have anything to do with that robbery.”

  “I believe you.” And he realized how much he’d wanted to hear Lee say those words. A wave of relief washed over him because he did believe him. Maybe they could do this. If Lee went straight—for real this time—maybe they could put their past away for good. Be a real family, a respectable one. At the very least, they could have a true brother-ship.

  But then Lee slammed him right back into reality. “But I might know who did.”

  * * *

  “I’M NOT GOING to apologize for trying to protect you, Hazel,” Tag announced after Hazel marched inside his office at Copper Crossing Air Transport and shut the door. She had Ashley to thank for alerting her to this brief window of opportunity to confront her brother uninterrupted. Ashley had also posted herself at the reception desk to guard the door and field calls.

  Hazel moved to the chair directly opposite his desk and sat. “How is accusing Cricket of putting me in danger trying to protect me?”

  “Let’s be clear—he did put you in danger. Lee is a known criminal with criminal associates and connections.”

  “Not a violent one!”

  “He’s a thief.”

  “A former thief. He’s changed. He’s a good person, Tag.”

  “And your proof of this change and newfound goodness,” he articulated in a tone rife with sarcasm, “is the brief conversation you had with him on the way to Glacier City right before the van you were driving was stolen out from under you?”

  “Not entirely.” They’d spent the morning decorating a tree, she wanted to add, but didn’t, because he had a point. A small one, but regardless. “He’s making true efforts at reform.” Lee had told her about going to therapy, but that information was not hers to share. “Trust me. I’d tell you to ask Cricket, but that would undoubtedly be a disaster. Ask Mom and Dad.”

  “You go ask Mom and Dad. While you’re at it, ask them all about Cricket’s childhood.”

  “I did,” she shot back.

  “Then you didn’t get the whole story.” Tag heaved a frustrated sigh. “You weren’t there, Hazel, when we were growing up. Cricket needed someone—someone consistent—in his life, and that was not Lee. He breezed in and out of Cricket’s life and could not be counted on. He had no one he could trust.”

  “That’s not true. He had you—and Mom and Dad.”

  “Yeah, he did.”

  “Exactly! Who was there for Lee? According to Mom, no one. Except for Frank, a hard-core convict. How can you expect a child who has had very little moral guidance himself to know what to do for another child? Lee did the best he could with what he had,” she added, unashamedly stealing a quote from their mom.

  “He grew up! What’s his excuse been for the last twenty-some years?”

  “I’m not making excuses for his breaking the law in the past, for the life he chose for himself. But he did his best to keep Cricket out of it—unlike Frank, who dragged Lee into his life of crime. And he’s changed, Tag. He’s legitimately trying, and he deserves this chance. He didn’t have anything to do with this.”

  “You cannot possibly know that.”

  “Innocent until proven guilty,” she countered. “I know that.”

  When he didn’t respond, she tackled another aspect. “Aside from your issues with Lee, what about Cricket and how you treated him? Your best friend, who has always been there for you. And for Hannah, Bering, Dad—for everyone in our family. Including me. In whatever way we need.”

  “Pfft. Beside the point.”

  “No, it is the point! Six years ago, when I was nearly kidnapped for ransom by thugs in Colombia, Cricket was the person I called in the middle of the night.”

  “You—you were...” he sputtered. “What?”

  She gave him the brief version and then said, “Cricket called Senator Marsh and then flew all the way to South America to get me. He begged me to tell you guys, but I swore him to secrecy for just this reason—your overprotectiveness.” That wasn’t entirely true; Iris’s unreasonable fears and her parents’ ongoing concern about her safety in traveling alone were also factors. “I knew that if I called you, you’d never stop questioning my career choice.”

  He didn’t argue. They both knew it was true. He often opined anyway when he had concerns about a country or a region being unsafe. He and Iris both did that.

  “Humph.” He paus
ed, and for a moment, she thought he might relent. Nope. Folding his arms across his chest, he shook his head. “Cricket should have told me about that, too,” he said, implying the omission was another betrayal.

  “He dropped everything so he and Iris could fly to Utah because he was worried. Cricket cares about me, too.”

  “Yeah,” Tag scoffed. “I’m aware. I saw all the caring going on, remember? I can’t unsee it. My retinas are scarred. Even though it’s apparent that I was the last to know.”

  “Oh, my...” She rolled her eyes. “How old are you? It was just a kiss. Cricket is right—it’s a good thing you didn’t know about what happened ten years ago.”

  “What happened ten years ago?” he demanded.

  “We kissed. Let me clarify. I kissed him. My point in telling you all of this is that Cricket and I have a history, too. One that goes back all the way to high school for me.”

  “You had a relationship with my best friend, who is ten years older than you, while you were in high school? That’s it...” Reaching up, he slid both hands around the back of his neck, linked his fingers and squeezed—his signature gesture of frustration. “This is even worse than I realized. I am going to kill him.”

  “No, you’re not even listening! I have been in love with him since then. The kiss didn’t happen until I was a freshman in college.”

  “Oh, that’s so much better,” he drawled, “that he waited until you were nineteen to take advantage of you.”

  “He never took advantage of me, Tag. If anything, it was the opposite. I seized an opportunity to act on how I felt.”

  “Okay,” he said calmly, placatingly. Placing his hands, palms down on the desk before him, he went on in a condescending tone, “What I’m getting out of this is that my best friend has had a secret life that I know nothing about. And that secret life has involved cavorting around with my little sister and either putting her in danger or covering up the fact that she was in danger. Multiple times. Clearly, he is even more like his dad and his brother than I realized.”

  “That’s enough.” She popped to her feet. “This is pointless. You are irrational.”

  Trying not to stomp, she left the office, very firmly closing the door on her way out.

  “I’m guessing from the anger-march and the door-slam that didn’t go well?” a cringing Ashley remarked.

  “He’s impossible. Just...” Hands fisting with frustration, she struggled to find the right word.

  Ashley helped her out. “Stubborn? Inflexible?”

  “Yes! And a complete...”

  “Stickler? Perfectionist?”

  “Yes!”

  “I know!” she agreed. “You Jameses can all be like that.”

  “Hey! I thought you were supposed to be helping.”

  “I am.” Ashley belted out a laugh. “That’s not an insult. Your brother is the best boss in the entire world. Not to mention he’s become a very good friend. All I’m saying is that he has very high standards. For himself and those around him. You all do. And the loyalty is...above and beyond. Must be nice to be a part of such a...clan.”

  “Sometimes,” she conceded. Then immediately felt guilty and amended, “Most of the time.”

  “He’ll come around,” she predicted. “How could he not? The only person as good as he is just happens to be the man you’re fighting about.” Ashley grinned. “I love Cricket. You’ve got yourself a good one there, Hazel James.”

  “Thank you, Ashley,” she said and meant it. Possibly, the biggest holiday miracle was this friendship that she seemed to be forging with her archenemy.

  Glancing furtively toward Tag’s office before focusing on Hazel again, Ashley lowered her voice and asked, “Did the detective call you today?”

  “No. Why?”

  “Well, she just called me.”

  “Why would she call you?”

  “To ask about my visit to see Roy in prison.”

  “Why would she want to know about that?”

  “Because I think I might know who stole the van.”

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  “LET ME GET this straight,” Seth said to Hazel, carefully folding the end of the wrapping paper into a neat triangle. “You and Ashley are going all Cagney and Lacey to solve the robbery?”

  “Not solve it necessarily, just see if there’s anything to Ashley’s theory.” Hazel ripped off a length of tape and handed it to him.

  She’d found him here early this morning in their dad’s study, scissors in hand, surrounded by a pile of boxes and rolls of wrapping paper. Because he’d been traveling for his job the last few months, he’d cleverly had all the gifts he’d purchased for Victoria and Scarlett sent here to their parents’ house.

  “And her theory is that her ex-husband masterminded the theft from the comfort of his cell?”

  “You make it sound very far-fetched.” Hazel took the wrapped box, plopped a bow on top and set it aside.

  Eyebrows up, chin down, the expression on his face was confirmation that he thought precisely that.

  Ignoring the look, she handed him another gift from his cache, a package of shiny metallic fishing lures for Scarlett. “This is very cool. You’re going to be an awesome stepdad—and dad, too, if you and Victoria decide to have more kiddos.”

  “Thank you,” he said. “I love hearing that. But that doesn’t distract me from the point of you going vigilante crime solver here.”

  “Okay, listen, when you hear it from Ashley’s point of view, it makes a lot more sense. You know how Ashley is still close with her former sister-in-law, Stefanie?”

  “Yeah. Stefanie is married to Roy’s brother, Darrell.”

  “Right. Their kids are around the same age, and they’ve managed to stay friends through the divorce. Anyway...”

  With Seth wielding the paper and scissors, Hazel assisted with tape and bows while she relayed the story Ashley had told her yesterday at Copper Crossing.

  After they’d returned home from Juneau, Ashley had been chatting with Stefanie, who’d revealed that Darrell had visited Roy in prison the day after Ashley. Upon his return home, Darrell had asked Stefanie a bunch of questions about Operation Happy Christmas. Like, how involved was Ashley in the charity. And what part did her boss, Tag James, play in it all. When Stefanie had asked why he was so interested, he’d mumbled around, suggested they donate and then quickly changed the subject.

  Huge red flag for Stefanie because Darrell thought everything about Christmas was a pain in the neck, and he was about as generous as Roy, who found the collection basket at church personally offensive. Ashley and Stefanie often joked about how cheap the brothers were. Ashley had found Stefanie’s story a bit strange, too, but didn’t give the matter any further thought.

  “Hazel, listen,” Ashley had revealed to her, “I told Roy about Operation Happy Christmas. He was angry because he had a call scheduled with the kids and no one answered. He demanded to know why. So I explained how I’d driven to Glacier City that day to pick up the donations because Tag and Cricket both had flights.

  “The detective didn’t call about the robbery when she spoke to me. She just asked random questions about Roy. But after I hung up, I started thinking. I remembered that conversation with Roy and what Stefanie had said to me, and I swear, the hair stood up all over my entire body. I was just struck with this thought that, I don’t know, he did something.”

  “Ashley—”

  “Wait. Do you know that Roy despises Tag and Cricket? He blames Tag and Cricket specifically for my ‘attitude’ where he’s concerned.”

  “What?” Hazel had asked. “How?”

  “Cricket is the one who suggested the attorney who restructured our parenting agreement and Tag paid my retainer. Every month, he takes a little bit out of my paycheck to pay him back, but only after I threatened to quit if he didn’t. Anyway, Cricket took me
to meet the attorney. Later, things got ugly with Roy and his attorney, but both Tag and Cricket encouraged me not to give up. I probably would have if they hadn’t been so supportive. Point is, Roy blames them for nosing into our business. He’s still enraged about the increase in child support.”

  “Wow,” Hazel had said. “That’s a completely twisted but believable motive.”

  “I know. When I think about it, though, this is right up his alley. Roy is clever, and he would know how much it would bother Tag and Cricket to have stuff stolen from a charity. Stealing from them personally wouldn’t have the same impact. He would not care that he was hurting little kids and less fortunate people in the process. All the better because it would bring negative attention to them, which it has.

  “Revenge, humiliating people, destroying reputations—that’s Roy. Have you noticed how much people have been gossiping about Cricket and Lee? This is the biggest news to hit this town in ages.”

  “True.” Hazel knew that was a huge part of Cricket’s problem.

  “It seems over-the-top, though, right? Rehashing all of their dad’s crimes? And Lee’s. The way people are saying that you should never have been driving that day? Or how the donations should have been better transported. I mean, that’s stupid. I went and picked up a load of donations, and so did your mom. Not for one second did I think I needed an escort.”

  When Ashley had gone on to explain about the storage unit, Hazel had decided it was worth a shot. They’d quickly come up with a tentative plan, and Ashley had stopped by the office after work to firm up the details.

  “Okaay...” Seth drawled when she’d finished the tale. They both sat back and admired the mound of colorful packages.

  “Great!” she cried, purposely misunderstanding his response. “I’m glad you approve. So, you can cover for me while I’m gone? And can you wrap all of my gifts, too?”

  “Cover for you?” he repeated flatly. “What are we, back in high school?”

  “You won’t have to lie. I told Mom and Dad that I’m going to Glacier City to get a new phone and finish my Christmas shopping, both of which I will also be doing. While we’re there, we’ll drive to the storage place and take a quick peek inside their unit. That’s it.” With a chopping motion, she emphasized her words: “In, out, done.” She added a casual shrug. “Then we’re shopping and doing lunch.