The Kid Who Stole Christmas (6 page)

“Hmm.” Shannon thought for a moment. Then she shrugged. “Well, it’s no use driving ourselves crazy looking for him all over the store. He could probably hide so well in here that we’d never find him. I’ll just page him. That’ll bring him running.”

But it didn’t. Shannon tried again, thinking he might not have heard the first time, with the same result. No Leo.

“Could he have fallen asleep somewhere?” Paul wondered.

“Maybe,” Shannon said. “But he’s been so wound up lately. He wouldn’t have left the building, would he?”

“Never has,” Paul said. “Not without asking, I mean. Besides, it’s snowing like mad out there.”

Thinking that could be the answer, Shannon went to the locker where the boy kept his coat. It wasn’t there. Encouraged, she took a quick tour around the building, looking out every window. At any moment she expected to spot him out there building a snowman. But all she saw was falling snow and irritated shoppers.

Concerned now, they started a department-by-department search, asking every clerk. But since Leo had been around off and on all day, no one could pinpoint a time when they had noticed he
hadn’t
been around for a while. The last time Shannon had seen him was when he’d been coaching Rick.

“Nope,” Rick said when they asked him. “Once he finally got it through my head that Dopey wasn’t one of the reindeer, he left me on my own. I don’t remember his saying he was headed anyplace particular.”

By this time, the store was getting ready to close, and Shannon’s normally buoyant attitude was starting to crumble. She paged the boy again, the worry in her voice plain.

“Leo! Leo Lyon! You report to me this instant, young man! Or you’ll get enough coal for Christmas to open your own power plant!”

When that failed, too, she started to cry. Even the fact that it was Rick who held her didn’t fully register.

“Hey,” he cajoled softly, “don’t worry. We’ll find him.”

“I’m not so sure about that,” Paul announced, returning to the toy department after making his final check of the store. “I’ve looked high and low and yelled until I’m blue in the face. He’s not here.” Then he held up a piece of paper. “And I found this in the dollhouse.”

Shannon snatched it from him, impatiently brushing away her tears so she could read it. Even then it was a struggle, since Leo had written it himself.

Shannon read the note aloud so the employees gathered around could hear. “`I can’t say much about my mission. Spies are everywhere, and the government agents have sworn me to secrecy. We’re off to fight evil, and deliver Arnie to all the boys and girls of the world.’” Tears sprang again to Shannon’s eyes. “And he signed it Agent X.”

“That’s a new one,” someone said.

“What government agents?” someone else wanted to know.

Paul’s face was pale. “He kept talking about spies watching him. I told you there was something weird going on,” he exclaimed, looking accusingly at Shannon.

“Oh, Lord!” she wailed. “Leo’s been kidnapped!”

Chapter Five

“A
re we there yet?”

“No, kid,” the one called Irv replied. “Soon. Right, Agent Joey? We’ll be there soon, huh?” He sounded worried.

The bald one muttered something under his breath. He was driving, and wasn’t at all happy about it. According to him, the roads were slicker than snot.

Leo thought that sounded pretty slick. He was sitting in the back seat of their nifty, fully equipped luxury four-wheel drive, a can of soda in one hand and a double-fudge brownie in the other. From his position, he couldn’t even see the road, but that was okay, because there wasn’t much to see, anyway. It was pitch black outside, and snowing heavily.

They were on their way to what Joey called a safe house, from which they could direct their campaign against the forces of evil who threatened the Arnie shipment. At first, Leo hadn’t been so sure about coming with them. But then, after swearing him to secrecy, Agent Joey and his brother Agent Irv had shown him their official badges and explained why it was necessary.

Since Lyon’s was the rightful owner of the shipment, it was necessary for a member of the Lyon family to be with them, in case some important decision had to be made on the spot. But they thought the excitement would be too much for Pop, so Leo would have to come in his place.

Leo was proud to be of help. Besides, they designated him Agent X, and gave him an official badge, too. They had also given him his favorite supper at the Taco Shack, the one Pop never let him order because it gave Leo gas. And there was a sackful of brownies for dessert. Not to mention the cooler at his side filled with his pick of sodas.

If this was government work, Leo might have to change his mind about becoming an executive at Lyon’s. After they gave him a medal for saving the Arnie shipment, he could probably have his pick of jobs. Maybe even president of the United States.

“Have you ever met the president, Agent Joey?”

“Huh?” Joey took his eyes off the road momentarily, and saw to his horror that Leo was out of his safety belt. “Jeez! Put that belt back on, kid!”

“It’s Agent X,” Irv reminded him solemnly, “you gotta use the code names, Agent Joey.”

“I’ll give
you
a code name, you putz! Get that kid back into that belt!”

Irv turned around in his seat and made sure Leo was buckled in. “There. Snug as a bug.”

“Shannon always says that,” Leo remarked. “When she helps me with my coat, or something.” He looked at his cartoon-character watch and frowned. “I hope she found that note. She doesn’t like it when I worry her. Can I call her later?”

“Everything’s fine, kid,” Joey said reassuringly. “It’s all been handled. No reason to get upset.” But he reached over and thumped Irv on the arm with the back of his hand. “Give Agent X a cookie.”

Irv passed back what was left of the package to Leo. Most of the rest were presently stuffed in his mouth. He made a face, and Leo laughed so hard, soda came out his nose, which set Irv off, as well. Soon, they were both howling with laughter, much to Joey’s dismay.

“Oh, man,” he muttered. “This is going to be some couple of days. Like baby-sitting
two
eight-year-olds.”

He was so perturbed, he almost missed his exit, and then nearly slid into a ditch making too fast a turn. This chain of events sobered up his passengers some, but Irv still had the giggles. Joey whacked him on the arm again.

“Just help me look for the driveway, will you?”

“Sure thing, Agent Joey.”

“That’s it!” Joey exclaimed. “I’m making a new rule. From now on, I’m just Joey, okay? Just Joey. And you’re Irv, and he’s Leo. Got that?”

“Got it,” Irv said. “Just Joey.”

“Roger,” Leo agreed. “Want a cookie, Just Joey?”

That started Irv off all over again. Joey groaned and looked skyward. “Why me?” he asked.

“Shannon says that a lot, too,” Leo observed.

They found the driveway Joey was looking for without further incident. He pulled down it, the headlights of the four-wheel drive sweeping across the thick pine trees lining each side. When he reached the house, he pushed a remote control attached to the visor and the garage door slid up. A light went on inside the garage at the same time, like a warm yellow beacon in the cold, black night.

Once inside with the engine off, a profound silence descended upon them. “Cool!” Leo said. “Like a hideout.”

Irv chuckled. “Yeah! Cool!”

With a long-suffering sigh, Joey opened his door and stepped out. He got some bags out of the back, handing a couple to Irv. Leo insisted on helping, so they put him in charge of the cooler. Together, they trooped to the entrance of the house, where Joey had to use a credit card to get inside. This also turned on a number of lights throughout the house.

“Nice system,” Joey said, nodding his approval.

“Nice house,” Irv said admiringly.

Leo just stood there with his mouth agape. It was hard to impress a boy who had grown up in some pretty nice homes, himself, and an entire department store of goodies to play with, as well. But he was more than impressed. He was agog.

“This isn’t a house,” he managed to say at last. “This is a playground!”

He was sure there were plenty of things there for grown-ups, like a nice kitchen and lots of books and stuff. But all Leo could see at the moment was the home entertainment center, the focus of which was an enormous big-screen television complete with stereo surround sound. Attached to it were the usual tape and disc players, and a satellite tuner. But the best part was the most elaborate game system he’d ever seen. His little computer-friendly fingers itched to attach themselves to the controls.

Joey nudged Irv. “Look at that face,” he whispered. “I told you. We don’t have a thing to worry about. By the time the kid comes up for air, it’ll all be over.”

“Whatever you say, Joey.” Irv glanced at his watch. “Hey, my favorite show’s on! Dibs on the big screen!”

“No way!” Leo exclaimed, sprinting into the entertainment room. “I’m going to see if they’ve got Wolves of Doom.”

“Kids,” Joey said, chuckling.

Now that they were safe from prying eyes, he felt more relaxed. This would be a breeze. They had lots of food, and plenty to keep the kid occupied. The shipment of Arnies had to arrive at Lyon’s dock sometime soon. And then it would be payback time.

* * *

“O
F COURSE
we’re going to hand it over,” Pop Lyon said.

Shannon was standing in Pop’s office on the fourth floor, where she and several other employees, including Rick, had come to break the news to the old man. Much to their surprise, however, he already knew, having received a phone call just moments earlier.

Pop Lyon had good days and bad. This was obviously not one of his best, judging by the way his hands shook. But there was still fire in his pale blue eyes and in his voice as he spoke. Even at eighty, he was in control.

“We will comply with all their other demands, as well,” he said, looking from one face to the other. As he spoke, he wheeled himself into a position to confront the group, to show them he meant business. “No word of this to the media. No outside intervention at all, including the police.”

“But Pop,” Paul objected. “That’s not how it’s done. I still have some friends down there. They’ll know how to handle things without—”

“I said no!” Pop interrupted.

The effort made him cough. He had a nurse in attendance, and she brought him a glass of water. She glared at Paul, as did several others.

When he recovered, Pop continued vehemently. “I am not jeopardizing the welfare of my grandson for a crate of toys! That’s all they want, and I’m happy to oblige. Let them have the damn things. I hope they choke on them.”

“And if they don’t give Leo back? What then?”

Pop turned his head sharply to see who had spoken. So did everyone else. Much to Shannon’s dismay, it was Rick. As a newcomer, he was not as well versed in the fine points of handling Pop as the rest of them.

“Who are you?” Pop asked, wheeling himself closer to the man in the Santa Claus suit. “Do I know you?”

Rick shook his head. He had removed his beard and hat, but still felt conspicuous standing there in his red suit with its white fuzzy trim. The old man’s intense scrutiny didn’t help any. But he had to speak up.

“His name is Rick Hastings, Pop,” Shannon interjected. “I hired him this afternoon, to fill in for Hans when he needs a break. Madge recommended him.”

“I did not!” Madge exclaimed, emerging from the crowd just inside the office door. “I’ve never seen him before.”

Shannon paled. “Isn’t this your sister’s cousin’s nephew, or whatever?” she asked, suddenly feeling incredibly inept for even considering such a vague recommendation in the first place.

“No. Roger couldn’t make it today. The storm stranded him in Vail. Or so he said.”

“Then who...” Shannon trailed off, staring at Rick as if at some new species of bug. “You lied.”

“I did no such thing,” Rick told her. “You were the one going on about Roy Rogers and Madge. I just nodded.” He shrugged. “So sue me. I needed the job.”

There was general concerned muttering among the other employees. Pop rapped his cane on the floor for attention. He could walk, when he needed to, but arthritis made it quite painful for him. Everyone quieted down.

“What do you know about Leo’s disappearance, young man?”

“Nothing more than anyone else,” Rick replied. “I was only wondering if it’s wise to be in such a rush to give away the shipment, when you can’t be sure that whoever has Leo will give him back once they have it.”

“But I
am
certain they’ll release him,” Pop returned. “Because after they have that shipment, there will no longer be any profit in keeping him. I’m also certain there will be no way of proving they had anything to do with it afterward, so I won’t bother trying.” He smiled grimly. “In return, I’m sure they’re taking very good care of Leo. It’s a little like honor among thieves, I suppose. That’s the way the Bayers have always done business.”

Those assembled gasped. Shannon was the first to voice what they were all obviously thinking. “Of course! The Bayers!”

“Hold it. Do you know for a fact it’s the Bayers?” Rick demanded, his voice suddenly sharp. “Or is this merely supposition?”

Shannon was staring at Rick again. Was it her imagination, or had that coldness she’d seen in his eyes before increased? She didn’t know what was going on, but since she was the one who had allowed him into their midst, she now felt responsible.

“Just who are you?” Shannon demanded. “What’s your interest in this, anyway?”

“I have plenty at stake here,” he returned, his voice cracking like a whip. Rick looked at Pop again. “Now, answer my question. How do you know it was the Bayers?”

“That’s about enough of that, pal.” Paul had stepped closer to Rick. “Pop doesn’t need this stress.”

With his bulk, Paul could be a very intimidating man. But then, Rick was a rather commanding presence, himself. At the moment, however, neither of them had a thing on Shannon. She put herself between them, glaring at Rick.