The Christmas List: A Novel

There was a gentle knock on the door and Linda walked in. Kier looked up at her as he shut the lid to the music box. She sat down in one of the chairs in front of his desk.

“Nice party,” he said.

“You paid for it.”

“How much . . .” He stopped and held up his hand. “I don’t want to know. I thought I told you to go home.”

“I just had a few things I needed to finish up. What did you do to Vance?”

“Usual stuff. Broke him. Drove him to his knees. He was crying, wasn’t he?”

“He asked me if you were dying.”

“I get a lot of that lately.”

“He told me that you’re a good man.”

“Yeah, now I know you’re joking.”

“I have a Christmas present for you.” She reached inside her purse and brought out a scrolled piece of parchment tied with a red bow. She handed it to him.

“What’s this?”

“Open it.” He untied the bow, then unrolled the paper. A smile grew on his face as he read what she’d written. “You found her.”

“It wasn’t easy. I thought it was hopeless but then Mallorie over at the title company noticed a discrepancy on the foreclosure document. When Celeste purchased the home she had signed with a different last name than the one she used when she relinquished it. I guess she was still using her married name.”

Kier looked back at the paper. “So she’s a waitress.”

“At a little diner in West Jordan. She’s working tonight.”

“On Christmas Eve?”

“Yes.” A smile crossed Linda’s face. “I have an idea. A really wonderful idea.”

Kier looked at her. “Well, let’s hear it.”