Dunc's Undercover Christmas Read Online Free PDF Page B

back to his Santa chair just as if nothing had happened. The little kids started lining up to talk to him.
    Amos took his job seriously. He cut in front of the first little kid and sat down on Sikes’s knee.
    â€œYou’re kinda big for this, ain’t you?” Sikes asked.
    â€œI just want to make sure you know everything I want for Christmas—Santa.” Amos gave him a toothy imitation grin and started rattling off his wish list.
    Dunc and T.J. ran for the back door. They stood in front of it, blocking the exit.
    The two new Santas walked up. The taller one said, “Excuse us, boys. We need to get through that door.”
    The boys didn’t move.
    One of the Santas reached for T.J. The alarm in his trench coat went off. The boxing glove popped out and hit the man right between the eyes. It knocked him out cold.
    â€œIt works! It really works! Did you see that, Dunc?”
    The other Santa dropped the bag, pushed the boys to the side, and ran out the door.
    Dunc started after him.
    â€œDon’t bother,” T.J. said. “He’s not going anywhere. Like my great-grandma always says, ‘Stop the wind, and the eagle won’t fly.’ ”
    Dunc looked puzzled.
    T.J. grinned. “I let the air out of their tires.”

“Front page. Look at this, Amos. You made the front page of the newspaper.” Dunc showed him the copy he’d brought over.
    â€œI’ve seen it,” Amos sulked.
    â€œIt’s a good likeness. Everybody in town should recognize you.”
    â€œDunc, I’m sitting on Santa’s knee. My reputation is shot. I won’t be able to show my face in public for the next twenty years.”
    â€œIt’s not that bad, Amos. You should be proud of yourself. You helped bust up a ringof thieves. Those guys will be spending Christmas behind bars.”
    â€œMaybe they’ll let me join them.”
    Dunc sat down on the living-room couch beside Amos. “I have some news that’ll cheer you up.”
    â€œAn earthquake is about to swallow my house?”
    â€œBetter. I’ve decided to give you your Christmas present a day early.”
    Amos looked around. “Where is it?”
    â€œYou’ll know more about it when T.J. gets back.”
    â€œYou sent T.J. to buy my present?”
    â€œNo. I sent him to work out those details I was telling you about.”
    The front door slammed. T.J. came running in with a package in his hand. “It’s all taken care of, Dunc.”
    â€œIs that my present?” Amos grabbed the package from T.J.’s hands.
    â€œNo. I found this on the porch. There wasn’t a card with it, so I don’t know who it’s for.”
    Amos ripped it open. Inside was therobot from the department store. “Thanks, Dunc. It’s just what I wanted.”
    â€œThat’s not my present, Amos. I got you something else.”
    Amos scratched his head. “Then who …”
    A small white card was in the robot’s hand.
    Dunc read it out loud: “ ‘Congratulations on your case. Thank you for still believing. S. Claus.’ ”
    T.J. and Dunc stared at each other.
    Amos looked smug. “And you guys made fun of me! Said I was crazy! Imagining things! How do you explain this?”
    Dunc started to answer, but T.J. cut him off. “It’s almost time for the you-know-what. You better get him ready.”
    â€œWhat are you guys up to?” Amos asked.
    Dunc cleared his throat. “It’s about your present, Amos. I tried my best to think of the one thing you want more than anything else. I think I’ve found it. In approximately three minutes, Melissa Hansen is going to call here.”
    â€œMelissa … call … here?”
    â€œHold him down, T.J. He gets like this when he thinks a phone will ring.”
    T.J. held him on the couch.
    Dunc continued. “T.J. went over to Melissa’s house and told her that