Nice: An Eye Spy Christmas

People, DB noted, got crazy around Christmas.

Oh, they were pretty much crazy all year round, but Christmas brought with it its own special brand. Santas with bells and begging pots on every corner. The jolly old fat one himself also in every department store, complete with long-legged blond elves. And don't get him started on the music.

It started the day after Halloween in the department stores and not too long after that on the radio. He couldn't escape it. It followed him wherever he went. Like at the office. He swore he could hear Jingle Bell Rock coming from his door as he headed down the hall.

Oh yeah, definitely getting louder.

He went in, aiming a glare at Sandra. He'd let her decorate. He'd let her bring in those silly coffees with strange names like gingerbread house mocha. He'd even let her put out a big bowl of candy canes for the clients, and keep eggnog on hand to offer to anyone who spent more than two seconds in the office -- and that included the mailman.

But really -- the radio on full blast with those damned carols all day long? No. He'd had enough. This was supposed to be his sanctuary. He wouldn't have minded so much if he couldn't hear them from his desk, but even with the door closed, he could.

Before he could snap at her, Officer Joe Donners popped up from where he'd been sitting, no doubt trading favorite Christmas memories with Sandra. "Got a minute, DB?"

"Sure. Come on in." If his voice sounded more like, "No, leave me the hell alone," so be it. It certainly wasn't stopping Joe from following him.

He sat, lit up a cigarette as Joe took a chair, and gratefully pulled in a lungful of smoke. "What do you want?"