Note: My thanks to everyone who's been sending in comments. Really, it makes all the difference. I'm sorry this one has taken a while to write, but it's been a crazy few days here; it was only the feedback that spurred me on to keep working on this at all. Thank you!

Chapter 16:

For just a moment, when the lights came on, Noah froze. Then he remembered that the police were gone, and most of the people in line, too. There was only one more family ahead of them, on the steps of the bandstand, and another behind-and they were completely preoccupied with a pair of screaming toddlers and a baby. He was fine.

Then he looked up and caught a glimpse of Santa's face.

He jumped back, pulling Cat with him, putting one of the pillars of the bandstand and the tarpaulin curtain it held up between himself and the old man. He moved so fast he slipped a little on the ice, and grabbed with one hand at the pillar to steady himself. The other hand was still tightly around Cat's shoulders.

As his hand touched the iron pillar, he felt a terrific shock up his other arm, the one that was holding Cat. He let out a squeak of pain. Cat cried out at the same moment.

"Are-you okay?" he asked her, feeling a little dizzy but not wanting her to know it. His arm was hurting like anything. He didn't understand why it wasn't the one he'd touched the pillar with.

"I'm-okay," she said, shivering again. "What happened?"

"I touched the pillar. It's metal. We must have got a shock from it."

"Why did you jump like that first?"

"I know that man. The one playing Santa. I didn't want him to recognize me."

"He's just finishing with that family. It's our turn."

"You take it, Cat. I've known him all my life. He'll know me for sure."

Noah dug in his pocket with his good hand. The other one felt strange and numb, except for the fire that was burning down it. He was embarrassed by the way he felt. It was only a shock, and he was supposed to be a sturdy pirate. He didn't want Cat to know how much it was hurting him still.

"Here it is."

Cat walked shakily up the steps towards Santa. She didn't want Noah to know how strange she felt. She was embarrassed by the way she'd gotten so cold, shivering, needing her hat back, and then his scarf, and his arm around her, even. She was supposed to be a pirate, and pirates were supposed to be strong and brave. And now this. . . .

She stumbled on the second step, but pulled herself up again. Then Santa was there, coming down the steps towards her. She held out Sally's list to give him. Her hand was shaking. She felt so strange. And what was that, on the pale-pink sleeve of her coat, and on the paper. . . .

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Sid Baker saw the child stumble. Where were her parents? She seemed to be alone, and she didn't look well. He got out of his chair and moved, as quickly as the ridiculous suit would let him, towards her.

She was holding something out to him. Her hand was shaking like a leaf. He could see the paper shaking. And, staining it and her sleeve. . . .

"Child!" he cried, and took the last two steps towards her in a single stride.

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"Godfuckit!" Reggie was so angry he swore out loud, something he rarely did.

He'd missed. The god-damned-fucking little varmint had jumped aside just as he'd shot.

Reggie couldn't see him clearly anymore, just a hint of a form in the shadows on the far side of the pavilion's steps, but he was pretty sure the brat was on his feet. The girl, too. Godfuckit, godfuckit, godfuckit. . . .

Nobody seemed to have noticed the shot, though. That was one good thing. He took a long, deep breath to calm himself and peered down his scope into the shadows. If he could just get his aim straight. . . .

Then he paused. Someone was moving.

It was the girl, walking back to the steps, back into the light.

Reggie couldn't really distinguish the boy's form from the shadows beyond the steps. The girl was a good, clear target now. She stumbled-good thing he hadn't shot then. Now she was on her feet again, and Santa was coming down the steps towards her. That meant she'd be standing there for a minute, at least, while she reeled off her list. The greedy little bitch. Hadn't she taken enough from this country already?

But the President was the one he really wanted, and the boy was the President's son. Should he take a chance on it? Or go for the sure thing?

For just a second Reggie hesitated, his eye pressed to the scope, his finger tightening on the trigger.

To be cont'd. . . .