“Deck the halls with boughs of Holly, tralalala, lalalala,
‘tis the season to be jolly, tralalala, lalalala…”
Yvonne Williamson was singing to herself as she laid another length of tinsel onto the tree, smiling as Lisa and Charlie put some decorations up on the wall. It was two weeks until Christmas, but it was tradition in this household that the house was decorated well in advance.
“I love Christmas,” Lisa said, “and once we are done here, we can do our Christmas photo.”
“Are you sure you want us to do this,” Yvonne said, “I did hear of a family who got into a lot of trouble with something similar last year.”
“Oh come on Mum, it’ll be fun,” Charlie said as he looked at his mother.
“Well, all right,” Yvonne said, “make sure you have your Christmas jumpers on when your father gets back.”
“Well now, and what do we have here,” Mark said as he came in, taking off his great coat and putting it onto the coat stand. While he was wearing his suit, Yvonne had on a red jumper with a large Santa on the front, dark leggings and knee length black leather boots. Lisa had put on a green sweater with snowmen, a denim skirt and black Ugg boots, while Charlie had on a black sweater with a large Christmas pudding on the front, jeans and sneakers.
“We’re ready for the Christmas photo,” Charlie said “or rather, we will be ready when you have us all ready.”
“Okay then,” Mark said with a smile, “let’s go into the front room. Have you managed to sort the lights out?”
“Three lengths, straightened out and waiting for you,” Yvonne said as they walked into the front room. “So I see,” Mark said, “so who is going to be first?”
“I will,” Yvonne said as she sat down, and put her hands together in front of herself while Mark took the first set of lights, wrapped it round her arms and body and loosely secured them to her sides. Yvonne smiled as she watched Mark then wrap the lights around her wrists, and then down and around her ankles. She then looked on as Lisa sat next to her, and her father bound her with the second length of lights.
“Do you want me between them Dad,” Charlie said as he watched.
“Yeah I do – can you guys make some room?”
“I guess so,” Yvonne said as she and Lisa moved to the side, Charlie then sitting between them as Mark bound him in the same way.
“It’s weird this,” Charlie said as Mark tied the lights round his ankles.
“What is?”
“Been tied so loosely,” Lisa giggled.
“And for that, it’s time to be quiet,” Mark said as he picked up a roll of blue duct tape, tearing a strip off and smoothing it over their lips one by one. As they looked up, he picked up the camera and said “all right then – say Good King Wenceslas.”
“Gdddknwmsslsss” all three of them said as Mark took some photographs, and said “great – now, would you all like to stay that way while I order some pizzas?”
“Llrlrtt,” Lisa said, Mark smiling as he turned on the television, and then went out to use the telephone…
“Did it seriously take that long to have the pizzas delivered,” Yvonne said as she came back down the stairs.
“Yeah – sorry about that, but at least we got the extra photos with the lights turned on for each of you.”
“For private use only,” Yvonne said as Mark handed her a glass of wine. “Well, they’re out, and only two more weeks to Christmas.”
“Yeah – we have the firm Christmas meal on Wednesday as well, so let’s hope it’s a nice quiet few days before then.”
“Don’t say that,” Yvonne said as the phone started ringing and she went to answer it.
“Williamson home?
“Yeah – hang on, I’ll bring the phone through.”
“Who is it,” Mark said as Yvonne brought the telephone through, pressed the speaker button and placed it on the coffee table.
“Hey Mark, Yvonne,” a man with an Australian accent said, “sorry to disturb your Christmas preparations, but we need your help.”
“Brian,” Mark said as he leaned forward, “what’s the problem?”
“It’s time for Jay and Mrs McPhee to do a favour for us – and you’re going to need some special help, which should be knocking on your door tight about – now.”
As they both heard the knock on the door, Yvonne went and opened the door, saying “well, this is an unexpected surprise- do they know you are here?”
“Nope – this is under the wire,” Sarah Holderness-Carter said as she came into the front room. “I’m in a local hotel – hey lover, I made it.”
“Good – Sarah has the details, and she’ll tell you why she is there. I’m bringing the twins over for Friday, so I’ll see you all then. Good luck.”
“I’ll get another glass,” Yvonne said as the call ended, and she took the phone away. “This must be serious if you are here,” Mark said, “and Ophelia needs to assist.”
“I’ll explain when Yvonne comes back,” Sarah said as Yvonne returned with a third glass, taking a folder from her large bag as the wine was poured. From it, she drew a photo showing a tall, bearded man, a woman with long brown hair streaked with grey, a ten year old boy and a nine year old girl.
“This,” she said as she put the photo on the coffee table, “is Greg Paulsen, the CEO of Paulsen Electronics. The women is his wife Nora – both are 45. The boy is Greg Jr, the girl Paulette.”
“Paulette Paulsen?”
“The irony is not lost,” Sarah said with a smile. “Paulsen Electronics manufacture microchips for a number of contractors, but those we work for have suspected for some time some of their trade is to – less friendly clients. We do not believe Paulsen knows, but someone high up in his organization does.”
“So Jay Edwards and Mrs McPhee pay their usual visit,” Mark said, “but why are you here?”
“Two things – first, we have to do this on Tuesday night, for reasons I will explain later. Secondly – Nora’s maiden name is Nora Cholmsky.”
“Oh my…” Yvonne looked at Sarah as she said “THAT Nora Cholmsky?”
“The same – I am here to make sure she remains calm, and also deals with what happened to her.”
“What happened to her?”
“When she was a fourteen year old, she and her mother were kidnapped in Sardinia, and held hostage for five months. Whatever happened in that time has never been made public – but she carries some deep scars in her. I hope to help her face and deal with them – a Christmas gift if you will.”
“Okay then… What can you tell us,” Mark said as he looked at his friend.
“Let’s start at the beginning – residence plans…”