Chapter 1
The rush had stopped. No more shopping days left. Ms. Stevens inserted the key and the shutters lowered. The last week had seen thousands of flustered customers flooding through the doors as soon as they were opened at 7.30am. Lucy Stevens was the only employee left in the store now. She glanced at her watch as she strode away from the entrance. It said 10:33. She had been here longer than usual as so many people were desperate to grab last minute bargains on gifts for Christmas. On Christmas Eve the store was always busy, and the managers knew that by allowing the store to be open for one more hour they could bring in more profit. She had been in charge this week, as Angela had gone to Australia to visit family, and she wished she hadn't volunteered as the work load was immense. Ted's Toys felt bigger as she walked the length of the store, passing the section for babies that including light-up toys that had jingly sounds, which began to get annoying after hearing them continuously played by toddlers all day. She reached the back and opened the door that read STAFF ONLY; she crossed through into the back, checking that all power in the store was off except for the small alarm which she activated as she closed the door. Here was the exit which led to the staff car park, and as she crossed the threshold, as well as a rush of icy wind, she felt a rush of excitement as she realised tomorrow was Christmas. As she locked the door and headed for her maroon Ford Fiesta, she stopped dead, noticing a crouched figure next to her car…