we went to her house to ask her about it, she became a little argumentative, which made Jackson decide to walk her inside her home and out of the neighbors’ sight, and that’s when we entered the fun house.” He sighed. “Connor, Sheriff Jackson discovered all kinds of stuff. She’s some kind of kleptomaniac.”
“A klepto?”
“A Christmas klepto. Jackson called me, and we discovered all the pieces. And then some. I guess she’s been stealing Christmas decorations and whatnot for years. Turns out she’s kind of a Christmas hoarder.”
The idea sounded sad and strange and just a bit outlandish, too. “I’ve never heard of such a thing,” Jayne murmured.
“That would be two of us,” Connor added.
Trey shook his head. “Guys, you should have seen her place. It would even put Santa Claus on medication. Her living room looks like a Christmas tree junkyard. I’m surprised she can even walk through the place.”
“What about the figurines? Are they evidence? I’d kind of like them back,” Jayne asked.
“I reckon we’ll be able to give them to you without a problem. But I have to tell you, they’re a little worse for wear.” He wrinkled his nose. “She’s got cats, too. Lots and lots of cats.”
“Oh brother. I’ve got to do something. All I’ve got now is a painted crèche that’s practically empty.”
“You’ve got more than that,” Connor reminded her. “Remember, everyone signed up to participate on Christmas Eve.”
“Jayne, I’m sorry, but I’ve got to steal Connor from you. Currently, Mrs. Jensen is either yelling at our boss or crying. The neighbors have started to gather.”
“I’ll be right there, as soon as I take Jayne home.”
“I’m ready. You’ve got police work to do.”
Five minutes later, when they were in his car, she couldn’t resist teasing him. “I tell you what, Connor. I can now see why that girl you were dating was so upset. You’ve got dangerous Christmas hoarders on the loose.”
For a full thirty seconds he tried not to smile. Then he let go and began laughing. Loud and proud. “It’s not pretty, but I guess someone has to deal with this craziness. Is my job scaring you, Jayne?”
“I should be able to handle things . . . but only if you kiss me good night again . . . and promise to call me later and tell me what happened.”
“I can do both of those things! I promise, your kiss is going to be the best part of the day. And I wouldn’t want to share this story with anyone else.”
Epilogue
Christmas Eve
N O ONE REALLY knew how hard it was to be Katie Weaver. Not Miss Donovan, who looked so in love that she hardly stopped making googly eyes at Deputy Fields.
Not Deputy Fields, ’cause even though he’d found all the nativity pieces, he hadn’t found them in time to do much of anything besides deliver them to Miss D. And now they kind of smelled.
Mamm and Ella and Lucy and Mattie and her brothers seemed determined to be interested in only one thing: baby Katherine.
Which meant that making sure that Jacob’s Crossing’s first real live nativity was a success was all up to her.
Luckily, lots of people had volunteered to help her out. Onkle John had brought his wife’s goat. Another farmer brought his donkey. And Mr. Miller had lent them two sheep, He’d even dressed up his kids like shepherds so the sheep didn’t get too out of hand.
“Katie. Where do you want us?” Charlie asked, all dressed up in a white sheet.
“Angels in the back.” She pointed to three other Englishers. “You three kings, come on through and stand over by the goat.”
And so it continued. Old people, young people, animals, and kids all had shown up in various costumes and were willing to listen to her tell them where to go.
Then finally it was all perfect, except for Mary and Jesus. “Where’s the baby?” she asked, bracing herself to see the plastic baby Jesus who’d been sitting in storage forever.
“Here,” she heard a voice behind
“A klepto?”
“A Christmas klepto. Jackson called me, and we discovered all the pieces. And then some. I guess she’s been stealing Christmas decorations and whatnot for years. Turns out she’s kind of a Christmas hoarder.”
The idea sounded sad and strange and just a bit outlandish, too. “I’ve never heard of such a thing,” Jayne murmured.
“That would be two of us,” Connor added.
Trey shook his head. “Guys, you should have seen her place. It would even put Santa Claus on medication. Her living room looks like a Christmas tree junkyard. I’m surprised she can even walk through the place.”
“What about the figurines? Are they evidence? I’d kind of like them back,” Jayne asked.
“I reckon we’ll be able to give them to you without a problem. But I have to tell you, they’re a little worse for wear.” He wrinkled his nose. “She’s got cats, too. Lots and lots of cats.”
“Oh brother. I’ve got to do something. All I’ve got now is a painted crèche that’s practically empty.”
“You’ve got more than that,” Connor reminded her. “Remember, everyone signed up to participate on Christmas Eve.”
“Jayne, I’m sorry, but I’ve got to steal Connor from you. Currently, Mrs. Jensen is either yelling at our boss or crying. The neighbors have started to gather.”
“I’ll be right there, as soon as I take Jayne home.”
“I’m ready. You’ve got police work to do.”
Five minutes later, when they were in his car, she couldn’t resist teasing him. “I tell you what, Connor. I can now see why that girl you were dating was so upset. You’ve got dangerous Christmas hoarders on the loose.”
For a full thirty seconds he tried not to smile. Then he let go and began laughing. Loud and proud. “It’s not pretty, but I guess someone has to deal with this craziness. Is my job scaring you, Jayne?”
“I should be able to handle things . . . but only if you kiss me good night again . . . and promise to call me later and tell me what happened.”
“I can do both of those things! I promise, your kiss is going to be the best part of the day. And I wouldn’t want to share this story with anyone else.”
Epilogue
Christmas Eve
N O ONE REALLY knew how hard it was to be Katie Weaver. Not Miss Donovan, who looked so in love that she hardly stopped making googly eyes at Deputy Fields.
Not Deputy Fields, ’cause even though he’d found all the nativity pieces, he hadn’t found them in time to do much of anything besides deliver them to Miss D. And now they kind of smelled.
Mamm and Ella and Lucy and Mattie and her brothers seemed determined to be interested in only one thing: baby Katherine.
Which meant that making sure that Jacob’s Crossing’s first real live nativity was a success was all up to her.
Luckily, lots of people had volunteered to help her out. Onkle John had brought his wife’s goat. Another farmer brought his donkey. And Mr. Miller had lent them two sheep, He’d even dressed up his kids like shepherds so the sheep didn’t get too out of hand.
“Katie. Where do you want us?” Charlie asked, all dressed up in a white sheet.
“Angels in the back.” She pointed to three other Englishers. “You three kings, come on through and stand over by the goat.”
And so it continued. Old people, young people, animals, and kids all had shown up in various costumes and were willing to listen to her tell them where to go.
Then finally it was all perfect, except for Mary and Jesus. “Where’s the baby?” she asked, bracing herself to see the plastic baby Jesus who’d been sitting in storage forever.
“Here,” she heard a voice behind
Similar Books
