Sia - Candy Cane Lane

Normally Veronica didn't mind going undercover but this was the first time her father had actively conscripted her officially onto a case. Her father claimed it was because he was too recognizable because the recent Abel Koontz trial had the news hounds rerunning footage of his ousting from office and repeated press interviews from Sheriff Don Lamb talking about the case. Reporters had been sweeping in like vultures, contacting her father's office for the last three weeks straight asking for a sound bite, posing as potential clients, or camping outside. There were repeated calls from Kane supporters or 09er parents hurling abuse demanding the Mars family defend how they had failed one of Neptune's beloved families. Part of Veronica wondered if this assignment wasn't his attempt at preventing her from throwing more chum at the sharks.

She pressed her lips together and tried to push away the thoughts of Lily. She had rent money to earn, this last month had been a cost of living crisis, and the extra publicity and holiday season made getting cases harder than usual.

"I'm sorry" Mr. Kringle apologized, the portly man tugged on his collar and his face flushed. Veronica shifted around the small Neptune Mall security office fussing with the hem on the Elf outfit. This was going to attract every set of waggling brows and suggestive comments from the husbands, fathers, or uncles of the kids visiting Santa today.

She groaned.

It was nothing like the Buddy the Elf Santa's Workshop family-friendly costumes the other seasonal temps were wearing… nope. Her current attire was more of the Adult store variety, just slightly less revealing than the pieces of strings a stripper might wear to secure their place on the naughty list.

Perhaps a Tutu skirt would make it look less…. LESS?

"It was the closest I could find." Miss Snowman exclaimed. "She's so short, I didn't think the tunic would look as racy. It was this.. or the Reindeer from last year."

Miss Snowman looked over at the oversized brown suit buried under tinsel and Christmas lights, raising an eyebrow at her boss, holding up a large flashing red nose.
Abject humiliation or Frostbite from the air-conditioning? The official costumes were rentals for the Winter Village Crew were a mixture of Nutcrackers uniforms, Gingerbread men, the Snowman family, Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and the various retail clerks dressed as Elves.

Mr. Kringle hesitated. "We planned to have you freelancing family Christmas card portraits while investigating… perhaps a… The poncho can help you blend easier?"

Veronica tucked her hair around the shell of her pointy elf ear and secured the soft fur-rimmed green and white Christmas hat. The red and green outfit was a soft velvet paired with a pair of red and white candy cane stockings, topped off with curly elf shoes, that jingled a little bell with every step she took.

Not exactly stealthy.

The report the Kringles had given her father was that several 09er families had contacted the Neptune Mall complaining about missing items from their Christmas Lists which the personal shoppers swore were gift-wrapped and put into the shopping bags. The Initial investigations confirmed one common element, the customers affected had all spent time in the Winter Village meeting Santa.

"Time to find that Grinch." Miss Snowman declared as Veronica accepted the small snowflake-shaped satchel as a large out-of-breath security guard dressed as a Christmas Pudding hauled two eleven-year-old Hispanic boys into the office. One of them resembled Hector Cortez's little brother.

"Told you, was just chillin' with my Snowmies!" he protested when the guard took his smartphone out of his hand.

"You better hope the camera confirms your story or Yule be Sorry." the guard warned tossing the device into a drawer and lifting the phone.

"Up to Snow good." Veronica sighed, making a mental note to contact Cliff if the Mall got Sheriff Lamb involved.

Logan Echolls was finding himself decidedly Grinch-like despite the jolly spirit enveloping his hometown. It was a jarring juxtaposition the festive cheer and everything else going on with Duncan and Lily's trial. His father was even taking time off from the Holiday Premieres and acting like he'd been visited by the Ghosts of Christmas future, Logan had practically jumped at the chance to accompany his latest bed mate Kayla to take her little brother Christmas shopping and to visit Santa's Workshop.

Anything to avoid having to endure another Echoll's Family dinner with his extended relatives.

"My dad is such a Scrooge!" Madison complained as she tossed another shirt onto the pile where Kayla and Pam were arranging outfits.

"Yeah? Well, mine put a $30,000 dollar limit on my credit card for Christmas this year. Can you believe that? He said it's because I spent too much on a shopping spree with Mom while summering in the Hamptons despite her Alimony but I think it's because Step-monster dearest needs lipo and he's screwing the secretary again." Kayla scoffed.

"I'm Snow Bored." Dick yawned, taking a swig of his peppermint schnapps spiked Hot Chocolate.

"The Ho-ho-hilarity not doing it for you?" Logan quipped, suggesting a "Prance like No One's Watching" festive t-shirt to Madison's younger sister, earning a smile.

"Hey! I told you to be elsewhere!" Madison growled at the younger Sinclair.

"But…"

Madison tossed the t-shirt she was holding aside and pointed outside the store growling "Go-ho-ho-ho away!"

"So Rude-Dolph." Pam snorted.

"I wish someone would just toss them into a Santa sack and be done with it, this is exhausting." Kayla agreed. "Online shopping was invented so we could send the brats gifts while getting a Christmas tan in Bali, why do my folks insist on this Family Portrait Card every year when they both get to be photoshopped in? It is not fair."

"Claus they said so?" Dick burped.