Christmas Killing Read Online Free PDF Page A

but nothing like the numbers there had been previously.
    ‘Good morning,’ Santa remarked cheerfully.
    ‘Oh so you are open again,’ said the first person in the queue. ‘Only we came yesterday and you weren’t here.’
    ‘I’m sorry but thank you for not giving up on us. We had a few problems yesterday. I’ll just get ready and my little elf will show you in.’ He went into the grotto and settled himself down in his giant armchair. The sack of presents was by his side and the camera tucked away beside him. The elf came in and he nodded. ‘Send them in.’ His day had begun. It was actually a quiet day with few customers. At one point he found himself nodding off and the elf came in and woke him.
    ‘Don’t you go falling asleep on me. You’re as bad as me dad. Put the tele on in an evening and he’s away with the fairies. And he snores. Terrible it is. We can’t even hear Corrie. I like Corrie, don’t you?’
    ‘I’m not sure. What is it?’
    ‘Coronation Street.’
    ‘Oh. Yes I do watch that. It’s good. I should imagine it’s pretty accurate for that area.’
    ‘Maybe. I just like the stories. So does my Mum. Oh, I think your next customer is here. Hallo love. You come to see Santa?’
    The little girl nodded and stuck her thumb in her mouth firmly. Everything Santa tried would not dislodge it. He asked what she wanted him to bring her for Christmas: he talked about his reindeer: he asked if she wanted to sit on his big chair with him: he asked if she wanted a photograph. He met with a blank stare every question. He looked at her mother in desperation.
    ‘She doesn’t like men with beards,’ was her only explanation.
    Why on earth did she bring her to see him then ? he was thinking.
    ‘Would you like to stroke my beard?’ he asked her. ‘It’s very soft like your cat at home.’
    A small hand came out and touched his beard. ‘There. Do you see what I mean?’ he said with considerable relief.
    ‘I want a dolly with a pink dress, a set of Lego, some books, some chocolate, a blackboard and some chalks and a CD of all the best pop bands. Thank you,’ the child said, almost without taking a breath.
    ‘I see. I hope I can remember all of those things,’ he remarked.
    ‘Can I sit by you and have a picture taken?’ He looked at her mother who nodded in amazement. She climbed up beside him and sat smiling. The elf came and took a picture.
    ‘You have to go to the counter where you got your tickets and they’ll print it for you’ she informed them.
    ‘Thank you very much. Come on now dear. Someone else might be waiting.’
    ‘Can I stroke your beard again?’ the child asked.
    ‘Go on then. It’s nice isn’t it?’
    ‘I like it. I’m going to have a beard like yours when I’m a grown up.’
    ‘Well good luck with that,’ Santa told her with a grin.
    ‘Byeee,’ she said, leaving him smiling at the thought of her getting a beard like his.
    The day wore on without any more incidents. He’d half expected the police to be round again but there was no sign of anyone coming. Miss Pringle came to make sure he was still there before lunch and to check up on the new elf.
    ‘Everything all right with you?’ she demanded in a rather imperious voice.
    ‘I’m still here. No-one’s tried to bump me off yet,’ replied Matti rather cheekily, Miss Pringle thought. She gave a sniff and went back to her office.
    The elf went into the grotto and told Jimmy he’d got another break from the stream of customers. He was somewhat puzzled as he was usually kept busy from opening time.
    ‘Must be cos I was absent yesterday.’
    ‘What exactly happened? I mean when the other girl was bumped off,’ Matti asked.
    ‘I don’t really know. It was nearly the end of the day. We’d been pretty busy and when someone asked for a photo, she’d gone missing. I just assumed she’d gone home early. Thought it was a bit odd she’d gone without saying goodbye but it was the end of the day. It was the next