Read The Blonde Before Christmas: a Barb Jackson Mysteries holiday short story for Free Online Page B

coffee shop at the main entrance again.
    We picked our way around the kids and their parents until we were near the rear of the tree where I'd spotted the body the night before. Sure enough, the mall supervisor was there, along with two security guards, I recognized one of them as Eric, whom I'd met the night before.
    "There he is." I motioned discreetly in the man's direction. 
    We approached the men calmly so as not to attract any attention to ourselves. I hadn't seen Detective Smith again, and I wanted to keep it that way.
    "Ms. Jackson? I didn't think I'd see you again." Eric, the security guard we'd met before, stepped toward me and held out his hand. I took it.
    "It's nice to see you again. You remember my friend Kelly."
    "It's nice to see you again, Kelly." He nodded once at her then shook her hand.
    "I'm surprised the mall is open today after what happened."
    "We couldn't close. Not on Christmas Eve." The portly man standing to Eric's left stepped forward. "I'm Reginald Moore, the mall supervisor."
    I introduced Kelly and myself.
    "I know who you are," Reginald said. "Eric pointed you out last night. I'm sorry you had to go through that. Finding a body ," he said, whispering the last word, "has to be a traumatic experience."
    I glanced at Kelly. "Um, sure. It was horrible," I lied. I mean, it wasn't pleasant, but it wasn't traumatic, either. "Did you know him long?"
    Reginald shook his head. "No. Actually I'd never met the man. We were in search of a Santa because our first one quit to take a job at the Northside Mall, and Bambi recommended Marvin."
    "Does Bambi have a job here other than as an elf on the holidays?" I asked curiously.
    Eric was regarding me with an odd expression, but I ignored him.
    "Yes, she works up in human resources but comes down and helps out as an elf during the holidays." He pointed to the tree. "It gives her some extra hours, and you know we all could use some extra cash this time of year."
    "Certainly," I agreed. "How did she know Marvin?"
    Reginald frowned. "Now, I don't know that really." He rubbed the small patch of hair on his chin. "I never thought to ask."
    Something caught his attention. "If you'll excuse me, I have something to take care of. It was a pleasure meeting you ladies." 
    "It was nice meeting you," I said to Reginald as he hurried away.
    I turned to the security guard. "It was good to see you again, Eric." I smiled at him.
    He squinted his eyes at me. "Nice seeing you again too, Ms. Jackson." Then he leaned down and whispered in my ear, "I thought the police were handling the case."
    "They are," I assured him, "but they need a little help from time to time."
    "Do they know that?"
    "Not exactly."
    His expression lifted, and he smiled. "If you need anything, just let me know."
    I nodded and tossed a salute his way.
    When we were out of earshot of Eric, Kelly said, "So now we know how Marvin the alcoholic got the job as Santa. He and Bambi were having a fling, and so she gave him the job."
    "We need to talk to her." I said.
    "I knew you were going to say that."
    We stopped beside the winter wonderland scene when we were right next to the red velvet rope separating us mere mortals from the great Santa Claus (number three).
    "It looks like all of the elves are wearing name tags," I said. "Can you see them well enough to read the names?"
    "No." Kelly shook her head. "But I'm thinking that one right there is Bambi." She jerked her head toward a tall, buxom redhead with obviously plastic-surgeon-altered body parts.
    "Why do you think that's her?" I asked with a frown.
    "I just do."
    I shrugged.
    We stood beside the tree and watched as the woman we assumed was Bambi shot T-shirts and other fluffy goodies out of her air cannon. After about five minutes she stopped and stood on a stool.
    "Boys and girls, Santa will be taking a thirty minute break, but don't worry because he'll be right back, so have your lists ready."
    She stepped down from the stool and ducked under the red