Tracy
The elf wasn't as cute as the ones back at the house. Then again, the ones at the house hadn't been so cute either once they turned into wolves. What was this guy going to turn into?
Phil jumped to attention. “What are you doing here, Erlek?”
“Walt sent me because you weren't back yet.” A sly smile spread across the elf's face. “I think he will be very interested to know what I found out."
Beth slipped a hard mask onto her face. Yet, her arms were still gently wrapped around Tracy. “What? That we found Tracy lost and scared? That we were comforting her?”
“Inside the main computer room?”
“She didn't see anything.” Beth spoke calmly, as if she hadn't just showed Tracy the biggest secret in the world. Of course, it helped that Beth had put the computer in sleep mode before she slipped to the floor. Once again, it showed nothing but the crackling fireplace. Because of that, Tracy knew that she could trust Beth. “Tracy woke up in a strange place, wandered off, and got lost. When we found her, she was in hysterics because one of your brothers scared her half to death. This was the closest room we could find to get her away and calm her down. Fat lot of good that did. You've gone and freaked her out again.”
Tracy knew a cue when she heard it. She buried her face in Beth's shoulder and wailed. In truth, the cries were only half-fake. She remembered what those elf things did to her on the roof. Through her tears, she kept one eye on the creature in case he decided to turn into a dragon or a rattlesnake.
Erlek folded his wrinkly brown arms across his chest.
“Whatever,” he said with a sneer. “Walt said no more stalling. He wants you in his office, and I have a feeling I know why.” He patted the tiny pouch of dust hanging from his belt.
Phil dropped his head back against the wall and closed his eyes.
Tracy guessed what was inside the pouch. They might wipe the Santas’ minds every Christmas Eve, but nobody was coming near her with that stuff. She needed her memory of this night more than she ever needed anything in the world. She had to trust that she had enough evidence to win the fair, because with the elf stepping toward her, she could only think of one out. Tracy let out another wail. “I want to go hooome.”
“Of course you do.” Beth smoothed Tracy's long black hair, then addressed Erlek with her eyes narrowed. “A wipe is completely unnecessary, and I won't let it happen. Tracy understands how important it is to keep our secret. Don't you, Tracy?”
Tracy lifted her head and gave a pitiful nod.
“It's true,” Phil said. “She does.” He didn't sound quite as convinced as Beth, and Tracy wished he'd just kept his mouth shut.
Erlek returned Beth's glare with one of his own, one that made a shiver run down Tracy's spine. “Oh, she may understand, but you don't. Walt wants to see all three of you. You're done at Santa Command.”
And with that announcement, even Beth lost her cool.