The Mystery Before Christmas by Kathi Daley

Author:Kathi Daley [Daley, Kathi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B07XBPJZXM
Goodreads: 48057176
Publisher: Kathi Daley Books
Published: 2019-11-12T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Tuesday

I wasn’t sure if it was my discussion with Carolyn the previous day or just my tendency toward insomnia that had me sitting in the attic window at two a.m. with only Alastair to keep me company, but I found that even the beauty of fresh snow on the frozen lake couldn’t quite still the racing of my thoughts. Just twenty-four hours ago, I’d thought that being a real reporter and obtaining a staff position for the local newspaper was exactly where I wanted to take my life, but now I was less certain. I could see that being a reporter would be a job riddled with tough decisions at times. Decisions that would challenge me to take a hard look at my beliefs and my priorities. In this case, I found myself forced to decide whether it was more important to be a dependable employee who did my job and turned in my assignments as promised, or to listen to my conscience and allow Secret Santa to retain his anonymity.

“I really don’t want to let Dex down,” I said aloud to the cat. “He’s been so good to me, and he has really taken a chance by letting me run with this story. I promised him I could do it, and I know I should.”

“Meow.”

I stroked the cat’s head. “You do have a point. All I need to do this week is to write an article featuring the Secret Santa prospects. I don’t need to make a final decision about a big reveal. Maybe I should just focus on that and hope everything works itself out by the time I am faced with the third article.”

The cat began to purr loudly.

“Maybe once I interview Secret Santa, he or she will make it clear that they wouldn’t really mind me revealing their secret. I know I’ve been clinging to this singular thought, and I know I’ve brought it up quite a few times, but finding that Secret Santa is after some publicity, after all, is the only way I am getting out of this unscathed.”

I leaned back against the window frame behind me and slowly let out a breath. Tying myself up in a bundle of nerves was not going to accomplish anything. I needed to relax and clear my mind, so I focused on the warm and cheerful room and let my mind wander.

I’d plugged the tree and window lights in when I’d come up to the attic but had left the overhead light off. There was something magical about sitting in a dark room, with only tiny white lights to illuminate the space. I knew if there was anywhere that would allow my mind to settle, it would be up here in the attic, where I’d always found solace.

As I watched the snow falling gently outside the window, I thought about my mission to unmask, or in this case, unbeard Secret Santa. Yes, I had a decision to make, but I supposed the reality was that decision would be mute if I failed to figure out who the mysterious gift giver was.

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