Nicholas Claus had returned to the Food Related Crime office looking calmer than he had a few minutes earlier. In his hand he carried a long thin case which he rested on the edge of Wortel’s desk. Slipping off his large red coat, he drooped that over the back of Wortel’s chair before giving a signal to his entourage. As one they upped and left the office, closing the door behind them leaving Nicholas Claus and the Food Related Crime team alone.
“I think we got off on the wrong foot, no offence intended,” Nicholas Claus said pointing towards Archibald’s false leg.
“None taken.”
“Good. This whole thing has come as a massive shock to us all. The death of an agent weighs heavy on the shoulders especially when you were the one that sent him into action.”
Nicholas Claus paused for a few moments looking off into space as he gathered his thoughts. Oranges and Lemons thought he had spotted something on the ceiling and started looking for it as well until Dorothy clumped them both around the back of the head.
“The agent who was murdered at Goodeatery is called Mitchell. He is, no, sorry, was, an excellent Mince Spy and would go undercover for eleven months of the year only resurfacing around December. I trusted him like no other agent and his death pains me. I want his murderer caught and caught quickly. That is why I want the case handed over to the Food Sapiens Secret Service. But, and I understand your position Chief Superintendent Archibald, my old friend Rudolph has thrown a spanner in the works.”
Nicholas Claus walked away from Wortel’s desk and began pacing the room.
“What I am about to do is unprecedented. I want the charges against Rudolph to be dropped. I will take care of him after all of the Christmas presents are delivered. He is my problem and I will make sure it is resolved. In return, I will share this case with you. Full disclosure from your team. Full disclosure from my team. Is that a deal Chief Superintendent?”
Nicholas Claus extended his hand towards Archibald, who himself stepped forward.
“How can we be sure we will get full disclosure from your team?” Archibald pressed, playing hardball with the man they now knew to be the infamous Secret Santa.
“Because Claudette is already on her way here to be interviewed by your team. Make no mistake Archibald, I know you have a talented team and I respect what you have achieved.”
Archibald ignored the flattery. “Claudette?”
“Yes. She is another of my agents. She is a clandestine cranberry and also Mitchell’s lover. I have told her to answer all of your questions frankly wherever that may lead.”
Archibald considered what he heard, extended his hand, and made the deal with Secret Santa.
“Now, one last thing,” Nicholas said as he picked up his coat. “Can I see Rudolph please?”
As the team filed out of the Food Related Crime office towards the lift in order to take Nicholas Claus to where Rudolph was being held, nobody noticed that sitting on the edge of Wortel’s desk was the long, thin case that Nicholas Claus had placed there just a few minutes earlier.
**********
As they waited for the lift, Lemons tugged at Nicholas Claus big red coat.
“Excuse me Santa, can I ask you something?”
“Of course little fellow. Ask anything you like. Would you like to sit on my knee? Ho, Ho, Ho.”
Lemons eyed Santa suspiciously. “I’ll take a rain check on that thanks,” he said not hiding the nervousness that had appeared in his voice. “No, I wanted to ask whether you can fly anywhere in the world you want?”
“Yes I can.”
“And you can get anything you want, any time?”
Nicholas Claus was becoming a little impatient with Lemons and also the lift which was taking forever to arrive.
“Yes. What’s your point?”
“Why do you have a Widdle store card? I mean, why Widdle? Are you someone who is incontinent?”
Everyone looked at Nicholas Claus while taking a step back and checking the floor.
“Ho, Ho, Ho,” he cried. “No, I am on an undercover mission myself. I have discovered that some of my staff are moonlighting at Widdle and I have been trying to catch them out.”
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. No wet feet today.
“Any luck with that?” asked Lemons.
“Yes actually. I’ve found some of my toymakers were working at Widdle and were becoming overzealous in giving out orders.”
“Doing what?” asked Dorothy, intrigued with where this was heading.
“You’ll never guess,” he said as the lift finally arrived and the doors opened.
“No I won’t,” she replied. “What were they doing?”
Nicholas Clause laughed once more as he stepped into the lift with Chief Superintendent Archibald and Detective Inspector Wortel. As the doors began to close he looked at Dorothy and winked.
“Elf and safety.”
**********
Rudolph was sobering up pretty quickly. As he stood in his cell and looked at portly figure that stared back at him he decided that he could still pass off for being drunk for one last song.