Covert Exposure by Valerie J. Clarizio Read Free Book Online Page A

danger.
     

 
    Chapter
Nine
     
    Spinelli stood in front of the mirror and
looked at his arms as they stuck out beyond the fat suit he just
fastened to himself. He turned sideways to view himself in the
mirror before bending over to pull up the red velvet pants. The
enormous gut-roll made the task nearly impossible. He caught his
breath then bent over to pull on the big black boots he needed to
wear, again a near to impossible undertaking.
    He reached into his locker and pulled out a
matching plush red velvet coat trimmed with white fur. He threw the
coat around his shoulders and buttoned it. The coat fit snugly
around his midsection. Next, he grabbed a wide black belt with a
big gold buckle, flung it around his waistline, and fastened it on
the last notch. From the shelf in the locker, he retrieved a wig
with long white wavy hair, and a red velvet hat trimmed with white
fur and tassel at the top. He tugged the wig over his head until it
felt snug then he fastened on the matching beard. Instantaneously
the beard caused his nose and face to itch.
    Spinelli turned to face the mirror once
again. He couldn’t help but wonder how he came to be wearing a
Santa suit at the mall. He wanted to be an elf but there were no
elf positions available and Human Resources told him that there’s
no such thing as a six foot-two elf. As he stared at his ridiculous
self in the mirror, he could hear Captain Jackson’s laugh echo
throughout his head. He recalled the words she said to him the day
before, “Maybe playing Santa will do you some good. You know,
soften you up a bit.”
    He took one last look at himself in the
mirror. He reached up under his beard and scratched his itchy chin.
“Well, working a homicide undercover as Santa beats child recovery
and placement any day,” he whispered to his reflection.
    Spinelli strode out of the employee locker
room and into the busy mall, his big belly swishing from side to
side, as he walked. He didn’t recall ever being in the mall on a
Saturday during the Christmas holiday season before, and he knew it
probably wouldn’t ever happen again by choice. Hundreds of people,
mostly women with their whiny kids in tow filled the mall.
    He made his way through the crowd to Santa’s
village. He took in the sight of the wintery display as he walked
through toward the red velvet chair. He glanced at the long line of
children waiting for him. Panic rippled through his body.
    Spinelli walked past the snowy field of
colorful eight-foot candy canes and passed by the red sleigh
overflowing with presents. He stepped onto the low platform, which
housed his chair and took a seat. He glanced to the left where a
couple of elves stood wearing their green smocks and tights, as
well as, their pointy green hats and matching shoes which curled up
at the toes. They whispered amongst themselves in front of the
fifteen-foot Christmas tree decorated with large silver and gold
ornaments and big red bows. Glancing up he took notice of the large
sparkly silver star perched at the top of the tree. He shifted his
gaze toward the line of children who anxiously waited to see him. Good God, how did I end up here?
    A soft feminine voice rang in his ears, “Good
afternoon, Santa. How are you today?”
    Spinelli glanced in the direction of the
voice to find Shannon, his little Santa’s helper. The sight of her
caused his heart to beat out of control. Never in his life had he
seen anything as beautiful as the sight he saw now. He slowly eyed
her from top to bottom starting with the big candy cane striped bow
that held her thick long wavy ponytail in place. Some of her loose
red curls dangled down over the side of her face and around her
neck, resting softly on her shoulders. The white furry trim of her
scoop neck velvet dress lay upon her chest just low enough allowing
him to catch a glimpse of the tops of her small pale breasts. A
wide black belt equipped with a big shiny gold buckle snuggled her
dress to her slim waist, causing