12 Days Read Free

sentence.
    “If you promise to keep me in the loop on all developments in the case.”
    Jim shook his head.
    “I can’t do that.”
    “Yes, you can. We do know the rules, you know.”
    Jim considered the proposal.
    “Ms. Klein, I’m not convinced that either you or I are in a position to make deals.”
    “I disagree. We have a heinous crime on Christmas morning in a normally quiet neighborhood in lovely southern California and I personally found the body. I have a tape that will cause distress to a lot of people and probably make me a bunch of money. I’m willing to walk away from all that in exchange for a little information. I don’t think your superiors will be too pleased with you for allowing that tape to happen, let alone come to light. Come on officer, work with me. Where’s your holiday spirit?”
    Lisa smiled coyly. Jim peered at the producer and tried to muster venom in his eyes, but he failed miserably. Lisa Klein was attractive and Jim was losing his edge. He felt the urge to arrest her and then take her out for a drink.
    “Excuse my French, Ms. Klein, but you are being a real asshole.”
    The cameraman chimed in.
    “That’s not French. French would be abruti .”
    “Shut the fuck up, Milt,” Lisa scolded.
    Jim hesitated before he spoke.
    “Bury the tape; I’ll give you as much as I can. Now get the camera out of here until we get that body down.”
    Lisa smiled.
    “Okay, Milt. We’ll set up over there by the tree.”
    Milt grumbled as he walked slowly towards the tree, the camera at his side. It was obvious he did not like Officer Jovian. He leaned against the sycamore and watched as the coroner’s assistant on a painter’s ladder struggled with the rope that held the dead Kris Kringle. When the knot was loosened, two large policemen stood below to catch the body. Santa was laid on a gurney, face up with eyes bulging hideously. Milt signaled to Officer Jovian who appeared to be having a quiet conversation with Lisa.
    “We good, Officer?” asked Milt
    Officer Jovian waved, “Go ahead.”
    Lisa left Jim and approached Milt. They stood over the body. Lisa turned to her cameraman.
    “We need footage of the body, the tree, the neighborhood, anything interesting you can get. I tried to get the good Officer Jovian to consent to an interview but he politely declined.”
    She waved at Jim who was standing a good twenty feet away. He did not wave or smile, just turned away and walked towards his car.
    “I like that guy. He’s a bit of a hardass, but I think he will be very useful to us.”
    The sound of tires screeching to a halt drew everyone’s attention. Two rival news crews had arrived, reporters and cameramen scrambling. The party was about to begin, and Officer Jim Jovian had his hands full.
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Two: Catching Turtles
     
    Day One: 11:30 a.m.
    Janette McDermott was enjoying a beautiful Christmas day with her family. Her four children, all below the age of nine, had torn through the myriad presents that had overpowered the living room for the past two weeks and were busy assembling, playing, and breaking any gift no longer in it’s wrapping. Janette and her husband Bill had been very fortunate. Although they both came from a bit of money, their company McDermott Realty had ridden the southern California real estate wave as far as it could go and had reaped enormous financial gains that included their home, a seven thousand foot, half acre mansion in Pasadena overlooking the Rose Bowl. The McDermotts had become very influential in local Republican politics and each had been recognized for philanthropic work; Bill for saving the environment and Janette, the Pacific tortoise. She had recently spearheaded a fundraiser that brought in $465,000 for the Los Angeles Zoo, drawing praise from many influential donors for her organizational skills and passion.
    As she sat on the living room couch and looked at her family, she reflected on her tree, her family,