Page 30 of Merry Christmas, You Filthy Animal
“I know who you’re talking about. She’s with Dwight.”
“Dwight?” I ask. “As in Dwight Yokel?”
Sherry nods again. “They were talking on the bench yesterday in Ornament Park. Then I saw them walk off together.”
She’s with Dwight?
No fucking way.
Like I said, not that I noticed, but she is far too attractive to be with a guy like Dwight. He’s a fucking disease. And she... well, she’s not—and I’ll leave it at that.
“Were they holding hands?” I ask.
“No, but they were sitting close, talking, almost secretively.”
Gross.
Woof.
Can’t even imagine sitting close to Dwight, let alone talking to him.
Makes me judge this girl.
“So you think they’re up to something?” I ask.
“I think so. Wait, she’s in the new cottage on the property next to yours?”
I nod. “She is. Why?”
Sherry worries her lip. “Hold on.” She pulls up her phone and presses a few buttons before she says, “Hey, where are you? Great. Come to Warm Your Spirits. Now.” She hangs up and then sips her coffee.
“Who was that?” I ask.
“BKJ.”
I feel myself still. “You called BKJ?”
“Yup. I did.”
BKJ, also known as Bob Krampus Junior, the son of Bob Krampus and currently in training to be the next Santa Claus of Kringletown, is a silent man. One who doesn’t tend to ride the gossip train. Very aloof, you never know what he’s thinking, and frankly, he terrifies me. An intimidating fellow with a beard that’s already gray, galoshes that stomp through the streets, and a shovel always in his hand.
“Why, uh, why does he have information?”
“I heard him talking to his father about something this morning. I couldn’t quite put the details together. All I heard wassign, a mention of the property next to yours, andnew girl.”
“A sign?” I say, feeling my heart start to pound a little harder.
I knew it.
I knew something was up.
Turning in my seat, I call out, “Cole, get over here.”
Done with his muffin, he throws away his trash and then brings Florence over to the counter, where Tanya takes her and starts bouncing her up and down.
“What?” he asks.
“Remember when I said I thought there was something strange going on?”
