Tracy Tam: Santa Command by Krystalyn Drown Read Free Book Online

touched her arm as if she were trying to remember. “No.”
    “Okay,” Beth said as if the matter was settled. “How about we say it was magic?”
    “How about we don't?” Tracy whipped out a tiny notebook and pen and scribbled something down. “I've given you my hypothesis—”
    “And I've proven your hypothesis incorrect. When that happens, you need to modify it.”
    Tracy paused mid step and let that sink in. Her pen hovered over her paper. “Modify it to what?”
    “I gave you an alternative theory.” Beth took Tracy’s notebook and scribbled the word “magic.”
    “And I denied it.”
    “Why?”
    “Because magic doesn't exist.” Tracy took the notebook back and crossed out Beth's answer.
    “Hm, I've heard that before.”
    Phil marveled at their banter. He was beginning to see what brought Tracy to Santa Command. She was one of those kids who needed to understand everything. He had been one of those kids, which eventually led him to his job.
    Tracy frowned. “You still haven’t answered my question.”
    “I have, but you haven’t accepted the answer.” Beth continued walking.
    They passed several of the control rooms, including the one Phil had been working in before Tracy arrived. Several dozen employees rushed past them, seeking out different control rooms and different Santas. Fortunately, Walt wasn't anywhere around. He would ask them to explain themselves. How could Phil do that when he didn't have a clue where Beth was taking them?
    Of course, Tracy would be the one to ask. “Where are we going?”
    Beth led them down a side hallway. “I'm taking you to see something more concrete. But I guarantee you won't find scientific answers for everything you see tonight.”
    “I bet I will,” Tracy said.
    “I don't make bets.” Beth stopped in front of a door with a keypad lock above the handle. “Ah, here we are.”
    Phil, who had been following along like Tracy, stopped short when he saw what room they were standing in front of. He suddenly understood what Beth meant about meeting Mrs. Claus.
    He pulled Beth around the corner and lowered his voice to a whisper. “This is a very bad idea.”
    “Maybe,” she said, “but what do you think she's going to do if we lock her in that dressing room again?”
    “Sneak out,” he admitted.
    “Exactly. You brought her here. You need to make sure she has enough information that she knows to keep quiet.”
    Beth was right. A little information was dangerous. Tracy might blab to all of her friends. But if she knew why she couldn’t talk about it, then maybe they could turn this disaster around.
    “Fine,” he said, “but we're not telling Walt about this.”

CHAPTER TWELVE
     
    Tracy
     
    The sign on the door said “Main Frame.” Tracy knew enough about computers to know what that meant. This was where it all happened. But even if she didn't know that, the sweat beads on Phil's forehead told her she was about to walk into something big. Would she see how the illusions worked? Would she meet E. Higgens? Would she find out why there were two adults in business clothes working at the North Pole? She hadn't had the chance to work the last one out in her head, and now she didn't have to. Beth had taken her to the exact place she needed to go. All of their secrets were held in this one room. It must be huge!
    Tracy placed her hand on the doorknob. “You know, I've got a lot more questions.”
    “I'm sure you do,” Beth said as she punched the code into the keypad. “And we're going to do our best to answer them.”
    “Thanks.” Tracy opened the door, ready to gasp in awe. But when she saw what was inside, her hopes plummeted.
    The room was smaller than her parents' closet and just as boring. There was a plain wooden desk pressed up against one wall, with a single large computer sitting in the middle. A cartoon screen saver of a roaring fireplace danced across the monitor. The room didn't even have a window. Where were the flashing lights? Where