Prompt from W. Y. Traveller: Santa Clause is coming to town.
Holmes crouched low. Like a bloodhound on the scent of a rabbit, he kept his face close to the tracks and studied them intently with his magnifying lens. "Curious," he muttered to the snow.
The detective and his friend, Watson, had been called to investigate a series of unexplained holiday pastry disappearances. "Why would anyone go through the trouble of stealing biscuits, mince pies, scones, and cookies, while leaving behind the jewels and valuables? It doesn't make sense." Watson squatted next to a distraught little girl, bravely wiping her tears away.
"I made them for St Nicholas," she explained. "How will I ever manage to make more when today's Christmas Eve?"
House after house, it was a similar story. Sweetbreads made for Santa were disappearing. No one saw another person. No other valuables were stolen.
"Here's a brown fibre, perhaps a strand of hair from the perpetuator?"
"Excellent, Watson." Holmes examined it carefully. "I refer you to my monograph on the identification of mammalian bristling. Notice the relatively thick straight shaft of this keratinized protein filament with a distinctive taper at the distal tip. It is a guard hair…"
"And clearly not human," Watson interjected.
"Quite so," Holmes frowned.
"The grey and tan shading and length would lend toward a larger animal with a need to camouflage in order to escape detection by a predator. A prey animal such as a gazelle."
"Given the season, perhaps a reindeer?" Watson grinned.
Holmes sighed, his intense nature not quite catching the holiday spirit. "I fear that both conjectures are incorrect. However, based on the pattern of thefts, I believe a night's watch at the Tribble Estate would be revealing."
Watson shivered at the thought of a wintery waiting game in subzero temperatures. "I suppose that would be advantageous…" His enthusiasm did not quite match the detective's.
"Think of the children, Watson. It is a small sacrifice in order to catch the monster that is stealing St Nick's Christmas treats and ruining the holiday for them."
"Of course." The doctor rubbed his shoulder unconsciously. Suddenly he perked up. "Perhaps we don't have to sit the night out in the cold after all. What if we captured the thief before nightfall?"
That would be the ideal situation, my dear fellow, but how do you propose such a feat?"
"Tell me, Holmes, would a four-legged beast about 4 ½ feet tall with cloven hooves and a brown woolly coat, match the evidence?"
"Certainly."
"Would a donkey possibly be our thief?" Watson continued.
Holmes thought a second. "It is within the realm of possibility. Why?"
Watson pointed to the corner of the cottage. A familiar donkey, muzzle laden with biscuit crumbs, stood contently watching them.
"It appears our enigmatic furry friend has acquired a taste for Christmas baking." Holmes smiled.
Watson sighed in relief. Tonight he could sleep in his own warm bed while visions of sugarplums danced in his head. Santa Claus was coming to town after all.
~o~
Compliments of the Season to You and Yours!