Chapter 2: Holiday Crisis

On the far side of the mall, Charlie Chan had just arrived at the tree with his two eldest sons.

"Alright!" Stanley cheered. "We made it!"

"We would've been here a lot sooner if you didn't stop at that bookstore," Henry complained.

"Hey," Stanley argued, "I just wanted to read that 3001 joke book a little. Too bad I couldn't afford it."

"Not for me, it isn't," Henry rolled his eyes. "And you probably could've afforded it if you didn't pay an extra five bucks for that hotdog at the food court."

"Hey," Stanley shrugged, "it was for charity. The poor and less fortunate deserve a happy Christmas too, ya know."

"He's right, Henry," Charlie agreed with his second eldest child and son.

The four middle children soon arrived. "Hi, Pop," Anne greeted. "Hey, Henry, Stanley. Did we miss anything?"

"Hey, Anne," Henry answered. "Not yet."

The four youngest came seconds afterwards. "Hey, gang," Flip greeted.

"Hello, Flip," his elder siblings all responded.

"Did you enjoy your visit with Santa, Scooter?" Charlie asked his youngest son.

"You bet, Pop," Scooter smiled. "I sure hope I get the new baseball glove I asked for."

"Oh, brother," his elder sister, Mimi, rolled her eyes.

Suzie, knowing her youngest sister was about to shatter their little brother's spirit, stopped her. "Mimi…"

Scooter's optimism brought back memories for Stanley. "Hey, I remember when you were like that, Anne."

"Don't start, Stan," his tomboyish sister scowled.

"Hey, Nance," Flip noticed, "I see you got that giant gingerbread man you wanted."

Nancy hugged her large, encased cookie. "Yep. I was lucky too. It was the very last one. Hey, what about you, Flip? Did you get that movie collection set you wanted?"

"Nah," her elder brother shook his head. "Couldn't afford it."

"Maybe you can ask Santa," Nancy suggested.

"Yeah, Chief," Scooter agreed. "Ask Santa."

"Uh, sure," Flip sarcastically chuckled. "I'll do that."

"Well, if it isn't the famous Detective Chan," a voice said.

The Chan family were met by a mall security guard. "I am Officer Trumpell. Pleased to meet you."

The great detective shook hands with the guard. "Likewise, Officer."

"Come to see the new mall Christmas tree?" asked Trumpell.

"We have indeed, sir," Mr. Chan said.

"I'm a little worried, though, Pop," Flip expressed his concern. "They say that tree has a star with real-deal diamonds on it. Someone might try to snatch it."

"Don't be silly, Flip," Nancy giggled. "No one is mean enough to steal at Christmas time."

"I agree with her, little man," Officer Trumpell scoffed. "You shouldn't be so paranoid. Even crooks can be touched with the Christmas spirit."

Within a few seconds, the mall's manager approached the covered Christmas tree. "Greetings, ladies and gentlemen," he announced. "It is with great pleasure that I present to you our brand new mall Christmas tree!"

The manager pulled off a large sheet, revealing an enormous, 89-foot tall Norway spruce tree, decorated with countless Christmas lights and ornaments and a beautiful four-foot, diamond-covered, lighted Christmas star at the very top.

The mall shoppers, including the Chan family, all gasped and awed in amazement.

"It's so beautiful!" young Mimi gushed.

Chu-Chu agreed and barked, "Ruh-huh! Wow-wee!"

No one could take their eyes off the huge tree.

But then, all of sudden…click. Lights everywhere immediately turned off and the mall was pitch black.

"Hey," Tom fretted, "what happened to the lights?"

Plop!

"What was that?" a frightened Mimi gulped.

"Calm down, everyone," Charlie said to his children. "Do not panic."

Seconds later, the lights came back on.

"Is everyone alright?" a concerned Henry asked.

"We're fine, Henry," Nancy replied as she and Mimi clanged to each other.

"Yeah," Alan assured his brother. "We're all good here."

"I wonder what that was about," Suzie pondered.

Flip looked up to the top of the mall tree and pointed, "That's what! Look!"

The Chan family all looked up and found that the mall's Christmas star had disappeared!

"Wham bam, we're in a jam!" said Stanley.

As the mall shoppers all gasped in shock, Chu-Chu looked over and spotted something. He hopped out of Mimi's backpack and ran over to his discovery barking.

"Chu-Chu! Come back here!" Mimi ordered.

"Hold it a minute," Flip declared. "I think he's got something!"

The Chan family followed Chu-Chu over to a large wooden board.

"Ah, Chu-Chu," Scooter said with discouragement, "it's just an old board."

"Wait a minute," Tom discovered. "Look at it. It's shaped like the holiday's astronomical object and has Christmas lights on it."

"Hey, yeah," Henry figured. "Kinda like a cardboard Christmas star."

"You are both right, Henry," his father revealed. "And that is, no doubt, what we were looking at from the very beginning."

"Mr. Chan, was it?" The mall manager approached the keen-eyed detective. "What are you saying?"

Charlie explained, "I am saying we were all looking at a fake wooden Christmas star. The real diamond-covered Christmas star was stolen quite a while ago."

"This is an all-new low," Anne pounded her fist in her hand. "Stealing on Christmas Eve is practically a felony."

"You said it. Come on, Pop," Flip insisted. "Let's go track this crook."

"Yeah, track this crook," Scooter agreed with his big brother.

"I'm afraid not, kids," Officer Trumpell objected as he walked over to the family. "This is our problem. We would rather not bother the great Mr. Chan at Christmas time."

"He is right," the manager affirmed. "I'm sure your children would wish to have their father home for the holidays as well. We will deal with this matter on our own and if it is not solved after Christmas, we will call you."

"Are you certain?" Charlie queried.

Both Trumpell and the mall manager nodded, generously insisting the brilliant detective go and enjoy the holiday with his family.

Reluctantly, the Chan family started to leave.

On their way out, a woman carrying her weeping child ran up to Mr. Chan.

"Excuse me, sir," she questioned. "Can you tell me where the mall security guard is?"

Charlie pointed behind him. "Right back that way, ma'am. Is there a problem?"

"Oh, we were robbed," the woman glumly said while comforting her young daughter. "I bought a large gingerbread man for my daughter to enjoy tomorrow on Christmas, but when the lights went out and came back on, it was gone and we can't buy another because they're sold out."

"My gingerbread man!" the child bawled. "My gingerbread man gone!"

Nancy looked on as the devastated girl cried and cried. Unable to stand seeing such a sad face, especially at Christmas time, she presented the child with her gingerbread man.

"Here you go," Nancy offered. "You can have mine."

"Are you sure, young lady?" the mother hesitated.

"It's okay," Nancy nodded. "I'll have plenty of other Christmas treats to eat at home. Merry Christmas."

Accepting Nancy's thoughtful gift, the mother gave her cookie to her daughter.

"Thank you, dear child," the mother praised. "And Merry Christmas to you."

The mother and child walked off. "Thank you! Thank you!" the now happy child waved back to Nancy. "Merry Christmas!"

Charlie placed his hand on his daughter's head, expressing how proud he was of her selfless act.