Well Frosty’s eyes, we were finally getting somewhere on this mystery!
Before jumping on I-90 to head over to Cle Elum, St. Nick insisted that we swing by Old Mill Country Store to pick up some feed for the reindeer milling in the bed of the pickup. Flying always leaves them famished. Like a kid in the candy store, Blitzen hungrily pointed his nose at bags of oats and sweet feed and tapped his hoof on his favorite seasoning, a savory mineralized salt block. Becky McDowell helped us pick out some rugged coats for the work team back at the sleigh and set them aside. With all the bags of feed loaded in the back with the happy deer, who were leaning into the wind like they were able to fly again, we hit the road. Soon after, they were settled in at the barn and happily munching away.
We headed downtown where we caught our first glimpses of the flurry of activity of the town getting ready for its big annual Christmas in Cle Elum festivities. We waved at Vision Cle Elum director Kerri Farnum as she guided the hanging of a lightpost wreath with one hand and talked on her cell phone with the other. She paused long enough to wave back and flash us a signature huge smile, before going back to multi-tasking the preparations.
Mindy texted again that she found the perfect undercover disguise to fit in. “At Second Time Around consignment shop. Saw a poster for Roslyn’s 1st Annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Jamboree coming up this weekend. Spoke with Laura Masterson here at the shop and she said she just got in a whole new shipment of Christmas sweaters! The hardest part is picking one out! They’re so adorable I might have to get some for the rest of the lady elves, too. Don’t tell them, want it to be a surprise. And oh look at the great price on this lovely A-list gown, shoes and bag for the North Pole Extravaganza Ball. I’ll be back for them once we solve this case.” I was remembering how she nimbly floated across the dance floor at last year’s post-production wrap party when I snapped back to focusing on the tasks at hand.
Despite his assurances that he was just fine, Santa was beginning to look a little woozy. I wanted to get the Clauster checked out, for my peace of mind if nothing else. As we walked into the KVH Urgent Care – Cle Elum the big comforting fireplace in the lobby reminded us of home and immediately put us at ease. When his name was called, Santa was relaxed and insisted, “I’m in good hands with these medical professionals; now go find the answers my boy, we need that dust! Tallymaker will stay with me. You go meet that smart Mintycane at that museum.”
