Raja Williams Mystery Box Set by Jack Thompson

Author:Jack Thompson [Thompson, Jack]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Crackerjack Publishing
Published: 2020-03-22T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 27: Ho Ho Ho

When Raja and Vinny arrived at Bob Sullivan’s house the place had been transformed. There were pine wreaths on the doors and frosted windows on both floors. Strings of icicle lights dripped off the roof line. A Santa waving from his sleigh greeted them as they pulled up. With all the excitement in Canada, Raja had forgotten that Christmas was two days away.

“Looks like Bob is into Christmas,” said Raja.

Vinny was stoked. “It’s a gingerbread house in the woods,” she said, sounding like a kid on Christmas morning. “If I didn’t know better, I would run over and break off a piece.”

Sully saw them approaching and came outside. Vinny scampered to greet him. “Did you do all this?”

“Hell no. I’d probably break my neck hanging lights,” said Sully. “I paid someone from Ashford to do the heavy lifting. Pretty nice, huh?”

Vinny’s father was usually binge-drinking during the holidays, and he was a mean drunk. A happy Christmas was one where her mom didn’t have to visit the emergency room. Now Vinny treasured Christmas as a time to celebrate and spread good will. “Are you kidding me right now? This is amaze-balls.” She grabbed Sully’s hands and danced in a circle.

“Wait until you see the inside,” said Sully, embarrassed but grinning with pleasure.

“You lead and I’ll follow,” said Vinny taking his arm. Raja watched as they walked inside. To look at Vinny, you would never know they were in the middle of a dangerous case or that she had nearly frozen to death in Canada. Nothing diminished the joy she took from the little things in life. Raja needed some of that himself. He unloaded their bags and went inside.

The hall was decorated with mistletoe and the scent of pine filled the place. Sully and Vinny were in the living room. Raja heard a mechanical chugging sound and then a whistle toot. Sully was showing Vinny the elaborate train set he had mounted around the walls. The engine chugged along the track, spitting smoke. Vinny was holding the control. She twisted a lever and the train let out another toot as it passed over the fireplace mantel.

“Are you kids having fun?” asked Raja. He wanted to join in, but his thoughts turned to the Bachman family. No doubt Christmas would not be a happy time without Laura. Raja was determined to make her death count for something. Still it wouldn’t hurt to have a little fun while he could.

“This is so off the hook,” said Vinny. “Check it out, Raj.” She tooted the train whistle again.

“Off the hook, Vinny. Definitely, off the hook.” Raja went to the bar and poured himself a glass of scotch, hoping to alleviate the low-grade headache that persisted since they started this case. What the hell, one night wouldn’t make or break the case. He threw back the scotch and poured himself another.

The three of them ate Christmas cookies and chatted in front of the fire. Sully reminisced about the Christmas morning he had opened a package to find his first HO train car.

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