“Literally.” She rubbed her hands together, only then realizing how cold she was. “What do you think they’re going to do to him?”
“’Tis a sting,” Finnie said with an amazing amount of authority for someone whose closest interaction with the FBI involved Efrem Zimbalist Jr. on a black-and-white TV screen.
“In the bathroom of the Vestal Village Mall on Christmas Eve?” It still seemed preposterous.
“Look around. There could be agents everywhere!” Finnie gestured toward the crowded food court. “More men than you ever see at a mall.”
“It’s Christmas Eve,” Agnes reminded her sharply. “That’s when men shop.”
“Why are you determined to protect and defend him?” Finnie asked, sounding flabbergasted.
“I’m not. But did those two guys really seem like FBI agents?”
“Undercover,” Finnie said. “They’re not supposed to look like FBI agents.”
“They certainly didn’t.” Agnes shifted her gaze to Santa, who was waving to the kids and climbing off his throne.
“Ho, ho, ho! I gotta go! But I’ll be back soon!” he called to them. “Watch the elves sing while I’m gone.”
A ripple of disappointment as palpable as the one rolling through Agnes rumbled through the small crowd as he stepped off the small platform and headed directly toward them.
“Oh, he’s coming here,” Agnes exclaimed.
“No, no. Bathroom,” Finnie corrected as Santa took a turn.
“Right into a sting.” Agnes shook her head. “I feel like I should—”
“Agnes.” Finnie grabbed her hand. “Just thank the good Lord you didn’t fall for someone like that.”
A little boy ran up to Santa, arms outstretched like he wanted a hug, and Aldo bent over and gave him a huge squeeze, lifting him in the air with a noisy, “Ho, ho, ho!”
“That doesn’t look like a criminal,” Agnes grumbled.
Another child came running over, then another. For at least ten minutes, Santa gave them hugs and encouragement and promised Santa would be back. With every passing second, Agnes began to doubt more and more what she’d heard.
“Are you ready to go, Agnes?” Finnie asked softly.
“Not until he walks into that bathroom and comes out in handcuffs,” she whispered. “Then I’ll give him up.”
But just then, Santa turned in the other direction and walked right into the wide opening of a department store at the end of the mall.
“Where’s he going?” Agnes asked, standing up.
“Penney’s! He’s getting away!” Finnie exclaimed. “We should tell the FBI men.”
“You can.” Agnes gathered the dogs’ leashes and her bag. “Just waltz right into the men’s room and look for the agents, Finola. See how that goes for you. I’m going to follow Aldo.”
“Agnes!” Finnie sputtered, pushing up as well. “You can’t.”
“I can and I will. He’s going into Penney’s, Finnie. How much trouble can we get into there?”
“Speaking of trouble.” Finnie put one hand on Agnes’s arm and pointed with her other. “Here comes Tor, and…oh, look at that lassie and lad laughing.”
Agnes couldn’t resist an I told you so look. “I just had a feeling.”
“Come on, let’s go talk to them.”
“Finnie! I’ll lose him.” She blew out a sigh. “Which is exactly what you want, isn’t it?”
“What I want is for you to see straight where this awful man is concerned.”
“Me, too. So let’s follow him. And if he steals jewelry or does a drug deal or accepts a bribe, then I’ll know.”
“Gramma! Yiayia!” Pru called to them, and Gala tugged at her leash, eager to get to Pru.
“What will we tell them?” Finnie asked. “Can they go with us?”
Agnes watched the greyhound trot closer, his very presence catching every eye in the food court. “We’ll be too conspicuous with that dog. They should stay here,” Agnes said, glancing to see that Santa had been stopped by a kid again, giving her at least another moment.
“We’ve been looking all over for you,” Pru said, a little breathless as she threaded through the tables to Agnes and Finnie, getting ahead of Lucas and Tor. “How’s it going, you guys? Have you done any Santa stalking without me?”
“Not enough,” Agnes said.
“Have you ‘racked up’ Random Acts of Christmas Kindness points, lass?”
“Not enough,” Pru echoed. “But we were hoping to spread some cheer. And maybe get some food.”
Agnes glanced over to see Santa waving at the last group of kids, still heading toward Penney’s. “You stay and eat,” she said, whipping out her wallet to throw twenty dollars on the table. “My treat. Take your time. Finnie and I are going—”
“He’s wanted by the law!” Finnie burst out, just as Lucas and Tor reached the table.
“What?” The kids spoke in perfect unison, and Tor folded down next to Pyggie like he’d found a sleeping soul mate.
“Why did you tell them that, Finnie?” Agnes demanded.
“Because it’s the truth,” she fired back, her color high now, her Irish blue eyes lit like gas flames. “We overheard two gentlemen from the FBI planning to bribe him, then arrest him.”
Pru’s jaw dropped so hard it nearly hit the ground. “Are you kidding?”
“Who?” Lucas asked. “The Santa dude? The one right over there with the kids?”
Another group of youngsters had surrounded him, thank God, delaying his disappearance.
“Yes, that’s him,” Finnie said. “Aldo Fiore.”
Agnes snorted. “You don’t have to say his name like he’s Satan himself, Finnie.”
“Well, they said something about corpses and crime and a bribe. And a ghost! Isn’t that another word for a gun?”
Lucas and Pru shared a look of utter confusion.
“Do you mean a Glock?” Pru asked.
“If ghost is a nickname for that,” Agnes said. “Is it?”
“Hasn’t reached California yet,” Lucas told her.
“Whatever!” Agnes said. “I want to follow him.”
“Why?” Again in unison.
“Because…” She looked from one to the other. “What better act of Christmas kindness than to help bring in a wanted Mafia boss? If we do that, Bitter Bark High School would win for sure.”
Pru started to frown. “I don’t know about that, Yiayia.”
“She’s right,” Lucas said. “No way anyone’s going to do anything bigger or better.”
Finnie and Pru shared a look of silent communication, the connection of years and family and inbred caution easy to feel in the exchanged glance.
“’Tis a bad idea,” Finnie said, adjusting her crooked glasses.
“Just to follow him?” Lucas asked. “How?”
“Thank you,” Agnes said, her shoulders dropping in relief. “It looks like he’s trying to get to Penney’s.”