The Santa Sleuth

by Heather MacAllister

  Amanda gave him one. "I lost her."

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Kirk brushed past her and strode down the hall.

  "Wait!" Amanda ran after him. "That's a restricted area. You can't go there."

  "The hell I can't." Kirk didn't break his stride.

  "This place is enormous," she called to his back. "You'll never find her on your own."

  Kirk stopped and spun around. "Isn't anyone else searching?"

  "No--"

  Kirk cut her off. "When was the last time you saw Virginia?"

  Amanda caught up to him. "When I was talking on the phone with you."

  "That was forty-five minutes ago!" He cast her an incredulous look and took off again.

  "Kirk ... "

  He ignored her until he came to the hall leading to the cavernous area behind the studios. Breathing heavily, he put his hands on his hips and stared. "She could be anywhere," he muttered.

  "I know," Amanda admitted.

  "And what are you doing about it?" he asked sharply.

  "Well, I was looking for her!"

  "How could you let her wander off?"

  "I thought she was right outside my office door--"

  "Virginia!" Kirk bellowed, and began jogging into the cavern, his voice echoing.

  "Shh!" Amanda frantically tried to quiet him. "They're filming in the studios. You'll ruin the sound track."

  He didn't even bother to respond.

  All she could do was run after him. "Kirk, she's got to be in the studio somewhere. Otherwise security would have seen her."

  "Is there an intercom system here?" He'd reached the end of the hall and stood looking from right to left as Amanda had earlier.

  "I can't use it without authoriz--"

  "I will then." He stepped toward her, his fury and alarm almost tangible. "My daughter is missing. I'll do whatever it takes to find her."

  The time for reasoning had passed. "Let me call my producer." Amanda reached for the in-house telephone, grappling for the words to tell Kay that a child was loose in the studios.

  "Kay? Amanda. There's a child loose in the studios," she blurted out, deciding to be straightforward.

  "Blond hair, blue eyes?"

  "Yes!"

  "She's here with me."

  Amanda sagged against the wall. "They found her," she mouthed to Kirk. "She's fine."

  He looked relieved, but no less angry.

  "Her father's here," Amanda said. "We'll come get her."

  She hung up and faced Kirk. "Virginia is with my executive producer."

  "And where is that?"

  "This way. C'mon."

  As they walked in uncomfortable silence toward Kay's office, Amanda knew she had to say something to the dark-suited man beside her. But what? Did he want reassurance? Groveling? Pleading?

  She didn't know him and therefore didn't know what would be the best thing to say. She'd had only seen him in suits and blinding white shirts with starched collars and cuffs and subdued ties. His precisely cut hair was swept back from his forehead, completing the look of the consummate successful businessman. Formidable.

  And, she might as well admit it, he wasn't hard on the eyes, either.

  She inhaled deeply. "I'm sorry."

  Kirk said nothing, and for a moment Amanda thought he wouldn't acknowledge her apology. "All this could have been avoided if you'd driven her back to the agency as agreed."

  "Or if you'd come to the mall--as agreed." Amanda had already apologized once. One apology per transgression per customer. It was a personal rule.

  "I was busy," Kirk informed her.

  "So was I," Amanda responded.

  They'd reached Kay's office and stopped outside, glaring at each other.

  A child's laughter bubbled in the silence.

  "That's Virginia." Kirk left Amanda and entered one of the smaller studios. There, seated on a wooden stool, was Virginia, mugging for a camera. She was watching herself on a television monitor.

  Kay was operating the camera.

  Virginia saw them first. "Daddy!" She wiggled off the stool and came running toward him, arms outflung.

  Amanda rolled her eyes.

  Kay wandered over to her. "She's okay. Been having a great time." Virginia had obviously uncovered a soft streak in the tough, wiry-haired producer.

  "I'll bet." Now that Virginia had been found, Amanda wasn't quite so relieved. In fact, little Miss Virginia was due a scolding.

  Apparently she wouldn't be getting it from her father. He'd scooped her up in a big hug, his eyes chastising Amanda over his daughter's shoulder.

  "I can't stand this," Amanda grumbled.

  "You're using her for the Santa piece?" Kay asked.

  Amanda nodded.

  "Cute," Kay pronounced. "You should get some good stuff." She glanced over at Amanda. "Might think about expanding the story."

  "Expanding? Her father isn't too happy right now."

  Kay patted Amanda on the arm before returning to her office. "You'll think of something."

  "Were you scared, sweetheart?" Kirk asked.

  Shaking her head, Virginia slid down from her father's arms and approached Amanda.

  Amanda eyed her warily. They both knew that Virginia shouldn't have left the office. But there was no sign of the Virginia who'd mugged for the camera and who'd confidently responded to the interview. Virginia was playing the part of a shy angel.

  "I'm sorry, Amanda," she said in a high-pitched voice. "But I had to go to the bathroom."

  "I would've taken you," Amanda said.

  "But I had to go bad."

  Amanda thought back to the giant berry slush. Thanks a lot, Ron.

  "I got lost," Virginia, with a quick glance at her father, said in the pitiful little voice.

  "That's okay, baby. I'm here now." Kirk soothed.

  Amanda gazed at Virginia with reluctant admiration. Wow. What a performance. The kid was going to maneuver her way out of any kind of punishment or scolding.

  It was past time for Amanda to do a little maneuvering of her own. "Listen, it's late and I was going to order out for pizza. Would you two like to share?"

  "Oh, Daddy, please?" Virginia tugged at her immobile father's hand. He didn't refuse immediately, but obviously wanted to.

  "While we wait, I'll give you a tour of the studio," Amanda added as another inducement. If they left now, before she made amends, she'd probably never see Virginia again. Or her father.

  Kirk checked his watch, but Amanda knew he'd already surrendered. "I suppose so," he agreed, mustering a smile.

  Great. All was not lost. "What kind of pizza, Virginia?"

  "Pepperoni!"

  "Pepperoni it is, then." Too greasy for Amanda's taste, but anything to keep Virginia and her father happy. "I'll make the call."

  When she returned, Kirk, Virginia and Kay were watching the tape of Virginia's Santa visit.

  Amanda was surprised by a shout of male laughter as the scene of Virginia's struggle with Santa and the elf played.

  Kirk looked like a different person when he laughed. Attractive. Younger. Human.

  Attractive was the most dangerous. Since she worked in television, Amanda had seen her share of handsome men. In her experience, though, it was the attractive ones you had to watch out for.

  The next scene to appear on the monitor was Virginia's interview. Even viewing the rough unedited tape, Amanda could see that Virginia was pretty good.

  Kay shared her feelings. Walking backward, the shrewd producer stopped next to Amanda. "The camera loves her."

  "And she loves the camera."

  Kay regarded the moving images, her hand cupping her chin. "You know, the interview was a brilliant idea."

  Amanda felt better.

  "Let's do expand this into a series."

  "What?" Amanda's visions of journalistic awards for a child-safety exposé evaporated.

  "Sure. We'll tag it onto the afternoon kids' program tomorrow. If it works, we'll offer it to the eveni
ng news for their soft portion and run a separate report on each mall Santa."

  Amanda wasn't interested in soft news. Amanda wanted hard news. There was more prestige in hard news. Maria Alvarez rarely did soft news anymore. "I've got something better to pitch to you. A series on child safety. Working parents trust others to care for their children, and I've found--"

  "Sounds good," Kay interrupted.

  Amanda knew better than to take that as an "okay, do it."

  "But this is timely," the executive producer continued.

  "Child safety is more important," Amanda protested. "I think alerting parents to this problem is more of a service than rating fake Santas."

  "'Tis the season to be jolly. Think happy thoughts." Kay looked up suddenly and caught Amanda's expression. "Play around with it. Be creative." She smiled. "Then pitch me child safety after the holidays."

  It was a start. All Amanda had ever asked for was a chance.

  Virginia's interview ended, and Kay wandered over to rewind the tape.

  "She wasn't bad," Kirk said with an admiring look at Virginia.

  "She was really good," Amanda admitted. Virginia's overdone antics translated into a bright peppiness that would appeal to children and their parents. Amanda might not want to be doing this particular story, but it would be a lot worse without Virginia. "We should have just enough time for a quick tour before the pizza arrives."

  Dinner was surprisingly enjoyable. When Kirk wasn't angry or in a hurry, he was a decent human being--and that was saying a lot for a man, in Amanda's opinion.

  They ate in Amanda's cramped office. Virginia chattered on and on about her visit to the mall. Amanda let her. She wanted Kirk to see just how important the Santa visits were to his daughter--especially now that Kay wanted them expanded.

  "Do you often eat here?" Kirk asked when Virginia's mouth was full of pepperoni pizza.

  "More than I should. Why?"

  Kirk grinned. "The delivery boy called you by name."

  Quite a few delivery boys called her by name. She decided not to tell him the delivery man at the kolache shop not only knew her name, but had a standing morning order for one apricot kolache and a large coffee. Shrugging, she took a piece of pizza she didn't really want. "I spend a lot of time here, depending on what's in production." Then she confessed, "And something's always in production."

  "How does your family feel about that?"

  Amanda bit into her pizza. He was really asking if she was married. She'd been single long enough to know the code. She'd also been single long enough to know how to answer evasively if she chose. She didn't choose. "I live alone. Not even a cat."

  Amanda glanced at him as she answered and caught a spark of interest in his eyes.

  "We live alone, too," Virginia offered. "Except sometimes Mrs. Webster stays over."

  "The housekeeper," Kirk added.

  Amanda already knew he was a widower, but it didn't sound as though he was currently involved with anyone other than Virginia and Mrs. Webster.

  She thought about that little spark. Was there a little spark in her, too? Maybe a tiny glowing ember left from the smoldering anger?

  He was attractive, outwardly well-to-do, eligible ...

  And a father. Kirk bent his dark head next to Virginia's blond one. Taking a paper napkin with the Luciano's Pizza logo on it, he carefully wiped a smear of tomato sauce from her cheek.

  Amanda tossed her half-eaten slice of pizza into the box lid. Kirk McEnery had responsibilities--the sort of responsibilities Amanda had avoided ever since her disastrous marriage.

  But Kirk McEnery's responsibilities were hardly her business. She was certainly presuming a lot from one look of interest, wasn't she?

  Then again, maybe not. Her hand brushed Kirk's as she reached for a napkin for herself. Startled at the contact, she jerked back, then glanced up to see if he'd noticed.

  He had. Those brown eyes were definitely sizing her up.

  Amanda couldn't look away, even when Virginia giggled.

  Wearing an infinitesimal smile, Kirk reached for a napkin. "Here."

  To Amanda's surprise, then embarrassment, he touched the napkin to a corner of her mouth. She grabbed the napkin from him and scrubbed at her lips. "Uh, thanks," she mumbled, feeling her face flame. Wonderful. She hadn't blushed since she was a kid.

  "You're welcome. I've had a lot of experience," he said easily, grinning in response to her surprised expression.

  "Well." She crumbled the napkin and dropped it on top of her discarded pizza. "There's one piece left. Virginia?"

  The little girl shook her head, her speculative gaze darting from her father to Amanda.

  "Ready to go home?" Kirk asked Virginia.

  "Will I get to visit more Santas?" she asked, taking his hand.

  "That's up to Ms. Donnelly."

  Amanda breathed a prayer of thanks. "I'm willing to go out again tomorrow."

  Kirk frowned. "I've got a couple in from out of town. They've been transferred to Houston and need a home. I'll be busy with them all day."

  Of course you will. "I'll be happy to drive Virginia," Amanda said, trying to sound as though she meant it.

  ***

  When Amanda approached the circular drive in front of Cameron Elementary, she felt like an old pro. This time Mrs. Hull recognized her, and Virginia bounced into the car.

  "Guess what?" she said, slamming the door. "I'm going to be in the Christmas pageant!"

  "Great!" Amanda said, trying to dodge stray children.

  "I've never been in a pageant before."

  "What part do you play?"

  "I don't know. We're doing Christmas around the world. Mrs. Woods--she's the music teacher--she said I was going to get a speaking part!"

  "Well, congratulations."

  "Mrs. Woods said we'll have to work really hard to be ready in time. We can't miss any rehearsals," Virginia said, obviously quoting.

  Rehearsals. "Gosh, I hope the rehearsals don't interfere with our Santa tapings," Amanda said without thinking. "When is the program?"

  "The third Tuesday night in December."

  Virginia spoke with such uncharacteristic reserve that Amanda took her eyes off the road and glanced at her. The little girl gripped the strap of her backpack so tightly her knuckles were white.

  Amanda felt horrible. "It'll be okay. We'll just have to work around your rehearsals." Inwardly, she groaned. "We do it all the time with the big stars. That's what I get for choosing someone as talented as you are."

  Virginia visibly relaxed, reminding Amanda that for all her bravado, she was really a vulnerable child. "I'll get to wear a costume and everything. Maybe even makeup," Virginia added slyly.

  The old Virginia was back. Amanda was glad. "And just where do you think you're going to get makeup, young lady?"

  "From you."

  "Oh, yeah?"

  "Yeah!" Virginia dissolved into giggles.

  "What do you think your father will say?"

  Still laughing, Virginia responded. "Oh, he won't notice. He's too busy."

  Though Virginia didn't seem upset, Amanda felt a pang. A father too busy to notice makeup on his six-year-old daughter?

  "He's not that busy." Amanda found herself hoping it was true. But Virginia shook her head.

  It's none of your business, Amanda told herself, then repeated it for good measure. "What do your friends think about you being on television?"

  "They don't believe me." It didn't sound as if that was unusual.

  "I guess you'll show them, huh?"

  "Yeah. Where are we going today?"

  "We're going to check out the Santa at Willowwood Mall. Have you ever shopped at that mall?"

  "I don't know," Virginia answered, wrinkling her forehead as she tried to remember. "Will Ron be there?"

  "Why? So you can talk him into another berry slush?"

  Virginia grinned. "Yeah."

  "Ha." Amanda remembered what happened after the last berry slush. "Not this time,
kiddo."

  ***

  "The slushes at Willowwood mall are better than the ones at Woodbrook," Virginia pronounced after slurping all the way back to the studio.

  "Let's make a stop in the ladies' room before we go to my office," Amanda said, taking the empty cup and discarding it. With a stern look, she led Virginia in the direction of the public rest rooms next to the security guard.

  When they came out, Amanda was astonished to see Kirk waiting by the guard's station.

  "What are you doing here?" Amanda blurted out as he settled a hand on Virginia's shoulder.

  Kirk raised an eyebrow. "I came to pick up Virginia," he said, but his gaze settled on Amanda.

  "I knew that, I just meant ... " Amanda fluffed her bangs. "We were going to watch the broadcast with Virginia's first Santa report. You don't want to miss that, do you?"

  Chuckling, Kirk admitted, "I've got the VCR set to record it, but we've got time to stay and watch it here if that's all right with you." He was still smiling and looking quite unhurried.

  "S-sure," she stuttered. Get a grip!. She pointed to the sofas in the waiting area. Multiple monitors hung just below the ceiling.

  "Did you sell that couple a house?" Amanda asked as they waited for Virginia’s segment to appear.

  Kirk hesitated a moment before answering. "They've narrowed their choices to three and wanted to talk it over during dinner, then take another look."

  "So when do you have to be back?" Amanda was conscious that Virginia had gone very quiet.

  Kirk must have noticed, as well. Putting an arm around Virginia, he settled into the sofa. "I ... turned them over to one of the other brokers."

  This didn't sound like the Kirk McEnery Amanda knew. "Why?"

  She didn't think he was going to answer. "She hasn't had a sale all month," he said, as if giving away part of a commission were no big deal.

  "That's very--"

  He interrupted her to point at the monitor. "There's Virginia!"

  Even though Amanda had spent the day viewing the tape with the video editor, she saw it again through Kirk’s and Virginia's eyes and knew it was a good piece.

  The instant Virginia saw herself, she giggled, groaned, then covered her face with her hands. "I sound funny!" She turned around to see what Amanda and her father thought.