Murder for Christmas

By Pamala Rush

All disclaimers apply

Mark could tell that little Jean Parker wanted to go home for Christmas. She told every child in the ward that she would be going home to wait for Santa to put the presents under her tree. For the little girl with Leukemia, Mark hoped her wish could come true.

Her chemo therapy wouldn’t be finished until after the holiday, but going home for the night wouldn’t be dangerous to her. And as a gift for all the children, Mark had hired a Santa Claus for the 22^nd of December. The man he hired was older and very jolly like Kris Kringle should be. Best of all, he had a real beard that was as white as white could be and his name was Kristopher.

Jesse and Mark led the children and their families in Christmas carols, then began to sing "Santa Claus is coming to town." The bright looks on the faces of those children almost made Mark forget about the rotten year…almost.

Steve came in as Santa was handing out the gifts and pulled Mark aside. Joe Parker, Jean’s father, was wanted for questioning in the murder of his boss, Devin Eckhardt. Joe was an insurance agent for Denton Insurance.

"Dad, I’m sorry," he said.

"I’m sorry, too," Mark replied.

He turned, went to Jean’s father, and whispered in the man’s ear. Joe looked over at Steve. "I’ll be back, baby," he said to his daughter as he kissed her little bald head. "Keep an eye on your mother."

Jean’s mother smiled up at him with a question in her eyes. "It’s nothing," Joe told her. "Keep doing what you’re doing."

The woman still looked worried as her eyes followed her husband to Steve. They spoke for a minute, then Joe nodded. Steve took him by the arm and led him away. As Joe glanced back, a tear rolled down his wife’s cheek.

Santa Claus interrupted with a jolly laugh and a package for Jean. "I bet you have been a good girl this year," he said to the child.

"A very good girl," Jean said her face wide with a smile.

"Then this is for you," Santa said as he handed the child the gift.

She held it for a moment then looked up at Santa’s jolly face. "All I want for Christmas is to be at home to wait for you to come fill my stocking," she told him.

Santa glanced up at Mark who nodded almost imperceptibly. "Well, what’s wrong with having the gift AND being home?"

Jean smiled and took the offered package. "Thank you, Santa," she said.

"You’re welcome," Santa replied. "Merry Christmas, Jean."

"Merry Christmas, Santa," Jean replied.

"Dad the evidence points to him," Steve was saying later that evening as he and Mark decorated the tree at the beach house with Jesse and Amanda. "I had no choice but to arrest him."

"I know," Mark said. "But do you really think he did it?"

Steve looked at the ornament in his hand. It was a small hand painted angel that his mother had made the last Christmas before she died. He looked back up at Mark. "No," he said earnestly. "There are several other suspects who might have done it, and who witnessed his threat to his boss."

"One of them might have decided to frame him," Mark said.

"Does this mean what I think it means?" Jesse asked.

"Yeah," Steve said as he hung the angel on the tree. "An investigation for Christmas."

Kristopher walked into a slow afternoon at Bar BQ Bob’s and sat down at the counter. He didn’t look much like Santa Claus in a big pair of jeans with bright red suspenders over a white shirt, but he was still jolly. People waved or smiled at him as he took a seat at the counter.

"Well if it isn’t jolly old Saint Nick," Jesse said as he came to take his order. "What can I get you?"

"What’s the special today?" Kris asked.

"A Bar BQ beef sandwich with a side of potato salad or coleslaw and a dill pickle for $4.99," Jesse told him in a tone that said, ‘I’ve said this a million times already, one more won’t matter.’

"Sounds good. I’ll have that," Kris said. "With the coleslaw."

Jesse turned to put the order on the rack and spin it to the cook. The cook pulled it off, looked at it and turned to make it up.

"So how’s life treatin’ you today," Jess asked Kris when he turned around.

"Pretty well," Kris said. "Do you know why Mr. Parker was arrested yesterday during the children’s party?"

"He’s been implicated in the murder of his boss," Jesse explained.

"Oh the poor man," Kris said. "You don’t think he did it, do you?"

"No, and neither does the cop who arrested him," Jess stated. "He’s trying to find out who really did it."

"I hope he can find them before Christmas. His daughter deserves to have a family Christmas at home," Kris said as the cook rang the bell behind Jesse. Jesse turned and grabbed the plate and set it down in front of his customer.

"I hope so too," Jesse said. "His little girl has had enough to deal with this year. Enjoy your meal." Jesse went off to deal with other customers.

Kris finished his meal in silence, and got up to pay for it. Jesse met him at the cash register to take his money. "How was your meal?"

"Wonderful," Kris said. "Mark was right when he said you had the best Bar BQ in town." He was silent as Jesse gave him his change. "You’ve had a enough to deal with this year, too. Give Susan a kiss for me before she goes back to Oklahoma."

Before Jesse could answer, Kris was out the door and gone. He stood with his mouth hanging open and wondering how he knew. He decided that Mark must have told him and turned to take the bill from another customer.

Mark skimmed through the pictures from the murder scene, taking note of the items which implicated Joe Parker in the crime. It was his gun that had been found to be the murder weapon, but Joe said that he didn’t have a gun the caliber that Devin Eckhardt had been killed with. The gun had the serial number which was registered to him on it. Mark couldn’t figure it out.

"Hey, Mark," Jesse said, interrupting his thoughts as he sat in the doctor’s lounge. "How’s it going?"

"Confusing," Mark replied. "I can’t figure out why the serial number from Joe’s .9 millimeter was on the .45 that killed Eckhardt. It had to have been switched somehow, but why not just steal the whole gun rather than switching the serial number’s plate?"

"I couldn’t begin to understand it either," Jesse said. "Who are the suspects besides Joe?"

"The most likely suspects are the people who heard Joe threaten Eckhardt," Mark said. "That would be Jillian Eckhardt, the wife, John Miller, Eckhardt’s partner, and Donna Johnson, his secretary."

"Who do you want me to talk to?" Jesse asked with a grin.

"You go talk to Miller, I’ll talk to Jillian," Mark said as he stood. "I’ll try to talk to Donna tomorrow…"

"Excuse me," said someone from the door.

Mark and Jesse looked up to see Kris standing by the door. "I was wondering," he began. "If I could do anything to help with the Eckhardt investigation."

Mark smiled. "You can go with Jesse if you want," he said. "I’ve got to finish my rounds before I go talk to Jillian."

"Then ‘Lay on MacDuff’," Kris said as he gestured to the door.

Jesse saluted jauntily and led Kris out the door.

John Miller’s secretary led them into his office and announced their presence. "Nice meeting you, doctor," Miller said. "What can I do for you?"

"We’re trying to find out who killed your partner," Jesse began.

"But they did," he said. "Joe Parker was arrested for it. I heard him threaten Devin two days before he was killed."

"Do you know what their argument was about?" Kris asked. Jesse glanced back at him.

"Something about the insurance on his daughter," Miller told them. "Devin was going to pull it because her care was costing the company too much money."

"Was his insurance through this company?" Jesse asked.

"Yes," Miller replied. "All of our agents are insured at a discount. Devin decided to be the Grinch who stole Christmas and pull Joe’s daughter’s even though Joe had her on the insurance before she got the Leukemia."

"Poor child," Kris said as he wandered around the room.

"Yes," Miller began before being interrupted by the secretary’s return.

"I’m sorry to interrupt," she said as she came in the door with a pad in her hand. "I forgot to write down those quotes you gave me."

Miller turned to face her and slowly rolled off several numbers to her. "I take it you got it this time."

The woman nodded. "Got it," she said then turned and left the room.

"You rattled those numbers off from memory?" Jesse asked.

"I have a photographic memory," Miller told him. "I remember every piece of information I’m given."

Jesse looked slightly interested. "If I had a photographic memory I wouldn’t have had to put in so many all-nighters in med school."

"It does come in handy sometimes," Miller said. "Was that all you needed to know?"

"Oh, yeah," Jesse said. "Thanks. Come on Kris."

Kris tipped his hat to Miller and followed Jesse out the door.

"Mrs. Eckhardt?" Mark asked the woman who was situating the dresses she was putting back on the rack. Jillian Eckhardt worked in a dress shop on Rodeo Drive.

"That’s me," she said as she finished with the dresses and turned to him. "Is there something I can do for you?"

"I’m Dr. Mark Sloan," Mark told her. "I’m a consultant with the police department. Do you have a minute to talk?"

"What do you need to talk with me for?" she asked. "They already arrested Joe Parker for my husband’s murder."

"We just want to be sure we’ve got the right guy," Mark told her. "How were you and your husband getting along?"

"Famously," she replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "He had a lot to learn about being married."

"Most people do," Mark said. "How long were the two of you married?"

"Sixteen years," Jillian said as a customer came in the store. "Someone will be with you in a moment," she called to them.

"No problem," came the woman’s voice.

Mark ignored the interruption and went on. "Why did you stay married to him for so long if you didn’t get along well?"

"The sex was good," she replied then, seeing that Mark wasn’t going to blush as she had expected, went on. "We were good in bed, but we couldn’t relate to each other outside the bedroom."

"That happens more than you might think," Mark told her. "What about his partner, John Miller? Do you think he’s capable of murdering his partner?"

"John is capable of anything," Jillian said. "Joe had a party about two weeks ago, and they spent the entire time looking at—and talking about-- Joe’s guns. John collects guns, but Joe only has a few hunting rifles that used to belong to his father. Except for the handgun. I don’t know what size or kind, but John wanted to buy it from him."

"I take it he didn’t sell," Mark said.

Jillian shook her head. "He was tempted because of his daughter’s illness, but he didn’t."

Mark nodded. "Will you be available if I have more questions?"

Jillian nodded. "Yes, I will."

Mark walked into the office as Donna Johnson was rifling around in the file cabinet. "Is there something I can do for you?" Donna asked.

Mark introduced himself. "I need to ask you a few questions about your bosses murder."

Donna nodded and sat down at her desk, inviting Mark to sit as well. "What do you need to know?"

"Do you really think that Joe Parker would kill Mr. Eckhardt?"

Donna sat back in her chair. "No," she said. "He may have threatened him, but I would have done the same if the cheapskate had cut off the insurance on MY dying child."

"Who do you think might have killed him?"

His wife was certainly capable," Donna said. "But the most likely suspect in my eyes is Mr. Miller."

"Why?"

"Miller is cagey. Creepy," Donna said with a shiver. "He never liked Devin, but his brother Hal was Dev’s best friend when they were in college. Miller took over Hal’s half of the business when he was killed in an accident last year."

"What kind of accident?"

"His brakes went out and he went over a cliff," Donna reported as she picked up a fingernail file and began doing her nails with it. "There was this big investigation, but nothing was ever proven."

"I’m sorry," Mark began. "I’m lost."

"The brake lines looked like they were cut," she said. "You know they suspected Miller of killing his own brother. All the evidence was thrown out because they couldn’t get enough. People around here think he did it though because he has been trying to be in charge around here ever since."

Mark let out a slow breath. Suddenly, Donna pointed her file at him. "You know," she began. "There have been some things in the computer that just haven’t been adding up right."

"What kind of things?"

"Money things," Donna said. "The accounts haven’t added up in weeks, and it’s been from missing money. You think Miller might be…?" She left her question unfinished.

Mark looked thoughtful. "Maybe," he said, then glanced at his watch. "I’ve got to get back to the hospital. Thank you for your time."

"No problem," Donna said. "Anything to help."

"Now I want you back here first thing the morning after Christmas," Mark told Jean Parker as he signed her release form. "I don’t want you missing any treatments." It was Christmas Eve morning, and Mark was releasing the little girl for the holiday.

"Mom will bring me back," Jean said. "When will they bring my daddy home?"

Mark looked down at her with a tear in his eye. "Soon," he said then watched as her mother pushed her away and out the door.

Steve sat down at his desk to find a colorfully wrapped package in front of him. The card said, "Please open before Christmas."

Puzzled, Steve opened the package to find a .9 mm pistol. He turned it over in his hand before finding the serial number. He shook his head in disbelief as he read the numbers.

He pushed himself out of his chair and headed down to the evidence locker to check out the gun from the Eckhardt case. Taking the .45 encased in plastic, he carefully looked at the plate which had the serial numbers printed on it. They were the same numbers that were on the .9 mm.

The two guns rested on a table in the closed BBQ Bob’s. They had closed at 2 o’clock for Christmas.

"How could they be identical?" Mark asked.

"I don’t know," Steve said. "But this is proof that Joe Parker was framed."

Jesse joined the trio of Mark, Steve and Amanda at the table. "Could a new plate replace the original one?" he asked.

"That’s what’s been done," Steve said.

"The question is," Mark went on. "Where did they get the exact serial number from Joe’s gun?"

"I think I might know," Jesse said. The three looked at him expectantly. "John Miller has a photographic memory…"

"And he got a good look at Joe’s gun at a party a few weeks back," mark went on.

"Which he memorized the numbers from," Amanda jumped in.

Steve picked up the .45. "Which he put on here so the gun would trace back to Joe." He stood with a smile. "I’ve got some pre-Christmas work to do."

"By the way," Mark began before Steve could get out the door. "How’d you get the .9 mm?"

"Someone left it wrapped up on my desk this morning," Steve said as he shrugged. "Maybe Mrs. Parker left it."

"No," Mark said. "She was with me and Jean most of the morning."

"Then who left it?"

They could only shrug at each other.

Steve knocked at the door of the Parker home with his father beside him and a smile on his face. The day had grown decidedly colder, and there was the prediction of rain before the night was over. Jean’s mother opened it and smiled when she saw who it was.

"Jean," she called over her shoulder. "I think Mark has something for you."

Jean came to the door and looked up at Mark. "Jean!" called someone from behind Mark and his son.

They parted so that the child could see her father as he stood at the open car door of a police car. "Daddy!" Jean cried and ran to him.

Joe picked up his daughter and swung her around in a big hug. "Merry Christmas!"

"Santa brought me what I wished for!" Jean cried as she held her father.

Joe held her close as he walked to join Mark and Steve on the front stoop of his house. "How can I ever thank you?"

Mark shook his head as Steve spoke. "Just have a good Christmas," he said to which Mark added, "And have Jean back to the hospital to finish her treatments."

Joe shook Steve’s hand, patted Mark’s shoulder and went forward to hug his wife and close the front door. "Now let’s go home," Mark said, turning and patting Steve on the back.

"Merry Christmas, Dad," Steve said.

"Merry Christmas Steve," Mark replied.

CJ Livingstone sat amidst piles of colorful ribbons and wrapping at Mark and Steve’s house on Christmas morning as Mark, Steve, Jesse and Amanda laughed at the child’s antics.

"I’m glad Joe gets to spend the holiday with his wife and daughter," Mark said.

"I’m with you," Jesse agreed. "The holidays are for family."

"You still upset because Susan went to Oklahoma to spend time with her parents?" Steve asked.

"I’ll get over it," Jesse replied with a smile.

"The rain stopped," Mark commented as he glanced out the window.

"Good," Steve said. "It rained all night."

"Did you hear that?" Jesse said suddenly.

"What?" Amanda asked, but Jesse shushed her.

There was the tinkling of bells in the air outside, and Jesse rushed out the door followed by the others. Amanda stopped to pick up CJ as she went out the door.

The air was still and things were deathly quiet as the five stood looking into the early morning sky. Slowly and gently, so that no one noticed at first, it began to snow. Amanda gasped when she felt the first flakes melt on her face. Looking at the sky, four adults and one child danced with joy as the snow fell harder.