The Last Yuletide: A Petra Jensen Advent Story (Greenland Missing Persons Christmas Stories Book 4) by Christoffer Petersen

Author:Christoffer Petersen [Petersen, Christoffer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aarluuk Press for Magical Christmas Stories
Published: 2024-12-22T00:00:00+00:00

5

The warehouse was small, but packed. Once Taatsiaq had clipped the padlock on the backdoor, we entered the building and followed a crooked course from the rear of the warehouse to the office area at the front. The December sun was setting, and it was even darker inside. But Gaba made sure no one was tempted to turn on a flashlight. He led the way, slowing here and there when pallets of cardboard boxes and shrink-wrapped supplies blocked our path. The empty pallets were the worst, as they were just tall enough for the flat surface of the pallet to thud into our legs, just above the ankle and the padded tongues of our boots. Taatsiaq stifled a curse the second time he walked into one, and I wondered if I would be just as quiet when it was my turn.

It wouldn’t have mattered, as Tittu had a set of headphones on when we found him lying on a cot in the office. I think Atii could have fired a burst of three rounds into the ceiling without waking him.

The music was loud, but as Gaba directed Atii and Taatsiaq to cover us, I began to wonder if the elf was sleeping or faking it.

“He’s not faking it,” I said when Gaba sent me forward to wake Tittu. I gave the elf another shake and then looked at Gaba when Tittu’s head rolled to one side and he drooled out of the corner of his mouth. “He’s either dead or he’s been drugged,” I said. I searched for a pulse as Gaba called for an ambulance. And then, checking to see if he was breathing, I discovered he wasn’t.

Gaba slung his MP5 to one side and together we pulled Tittu onto the floor. The cot was too soft to begin resuscitation. And while Gaba opened Tittu’s shirt, I fished a face shield out of my utility belt and prepared to give mouth-to-mouth while Gaba worked on the man’s chest.

“Two minutes,” Atii said when the paramedics called to say they were on their way.

“We need him alive, Petra,” Gaba said as we worked.

Petra.

He used my name, which could only mean we were in trouble. I wondered what was more problematic – arresting the deputy first minister’s brother, or letting him die while in our custody? Neither was good, of course, but I liked the elf. I was less bothered about his family name, and far more interested in learning his secret for good hot chocolate. Gaba had said Tittu was hiding in plain sight, but after just one sip of Tittu’s cocoa, I didn’t doubt that Gaba would agree Tittu was very good at it, and had almost earned whatever it was he had gained by setting up shop in the mall and serving the best hot chocolate in Nuuk, possibly even Greenland.

“Less than a minute,” Atii said. “I’ll go and meet them at the door.”

Gaba nodded for her to go, while we kept at it, switching between delivering breaths and thumps to the heart.

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