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long time ago. I made a few mistakes. Nobody’s perfect.”
    “Agreed. But given your history it seemed prudent to monitor your activities.” A meaningful glance made George squirm. He could see where this was going and he didn’t want to go there.
    Pierce folded the paper and put it back in his pocket. Extracting another paper, he repeated the process of unfolding and studying it. “On Wednesday, three weeks ago, you visited Penney’s. While there you acquired some merchandise without paying for it. To be specific, one pair of Deerfoam slippers, two packages of socks, and a necktie.”
    George started to protest, but Pierce stopped him with a raised hand. “At Mark’s Apparel, Etc., you lifted a watch, sweatshirt—extra large—and several packets of handkerchiefs.”
    “I don’t…” George sputtered.
    “Please, sir,” Pierce said quietly. “Let me continue.”
    “No,” George said. “I’ve heard enough.” He studied Pierce with a professional eye. “I don’t remember seeing you around. I can’t believe you were following me.”
    Pierce smiled. “You’re good, Mister Grimes. Very good. But so am I. Avoiding detection is as important to my profession as it is to yours.”
    “So,” George said with a sigh, “what now? Are you turning me in? Why didn’t you do something at the time?”
    “I had my reasons,” Pierce said. “Are you willing to make a deal?”
    “What kind of deal?”
    Pierce looked around the room furtively. “I am a fair-minded man. And a compassionate one. You see, each Christmas I find a family in need and help them. A present or two to each member. A bag of groceries. And a turkey for their Christmas dinner.” He cleared his throat and sat up straight. “This is all done anonymously.”
    How noble , George thought, but said nothing.
    “I’m a man of modest means. As you can see, this can be expensive. I must depend on donations in order to continue this effort.”
    “Donations?” George let the word slip off his tongue with an edge of sarcasm.
    Pierce ignored the inflection and nodded. “The Marines have Toys for Tots, a very worthwhile endeavor. But I like to think that my way is a little more personal, if not as far reaching. It does my heart such good to see the family I helped enjoy a Christmas that would otherwise be difficult.” A sigh, somewhere between contentment and regret, escaped his lips. “But, alas. I must rely on people such as yourself to continue.”
    “You want the loot,” George said.
    “A rather indelicate way of phrasing it, but, yes. All donations gratefully accepted.”
    “How much of it?”
    “Oh, all of it, of course.”
    George stood up angrily. “No way! I worked hard for that and I got people of my own to take care of. I’ll give you half.”
    Pierce’s laugh was without humor. “Mister Grimes, you don’t appreciate the position you are in. A word from me and you are facing serious jail time. This is no longer petty theft. By my accounting you have taken over one thousand dollars in merchandise.”
    “You’d look bad reporting me at this late date,” George said. “You’re in this as deep as I am.”
    “On the contrary,” Pierce replied. “An anonymous phone call to my supervisor. He would ask me to look into it. A surprise visit to your home, and…” He held up the list.
    George snorted. “It’s too late for that. You can’t prove I didn’t pay for the stuff. It’s in my house and I don’t need receipts. Hell, who keeps receipts once they get the stuff home?”
    “Oh, I anticipated that,” Pierce said smugly. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a cell phone.
    “These gadgets come in handy,” he said. “They allow you to talk to anyone no matter where you may be. Like Macy’s for example.”
    “I don’t understand,” George said.
    “They also take pictures.” Pierce pressed a button and held the phone out for George to see.
    “Recognize anyone?” Pierce said.
    George flushed as he looked