“Tree thieves,” I explain quickly. “Four men. I caught them on video. They’re driving a truck disguised as a cheese supplier, and they’re heading this way right now. Everett and Gabe are pursuing them on snowmobiles.”
Junior Deputy Harris looks like he might pass out. His face goes ashen as he reaches for his radio.
“I need to call the sheriff,” he stammers.
“The sheriff is out of town,” I remind him. “We don’t have time!”
“But I’ve never handled anything like this before,” he admits. “I’m supposed to call in the sheriff for any serious situation.”
I take a deep breath, trying not to shake. “That’s your job! You’re the only law enforcement officer here right now.”
“Maybe we can block them with your patrol car?” Finn suggests.
The deputy looks around frantically at the crowd. “My car is parked three blocks away. By the time we get through all these people…”
“Think!” Charlie snaps her fingers in front of his face. “What would the sheriff do?”
Deputy Harris looks like a deer in headlights. “I don’t know. Set up a roadblock?”
“This guy is useless. We have to take matters into our own hands,” Charlie says to us, then to the deputy, “No offence.”
“The Christmas tree!” I shout, “Come on, Oxford!”
I race toward the stage where Mayor Reynolds continues his droning speech about the merits of merging with neighboring towns.
“Mayor!” I call, climbing the steps to the stage. “Mayor Reynolds! It’s an emergency!”
He turns, his expression shifting from annoyance to alarm as I rush toward him, Oxford at my heels.
“What is this?” he sputters, backing away from the approaching llama. “You can’t bring that animal up here!”
“It’s the twerking omega!” someone calls from the crowd.
“And the Christmas llama!” calls another voice, followed by laughter and scattered applause.
Mayor Reynolds leans away from his microphone. “Young lady, I’m in the middle of my speech. Please leave the stage immediately.”
I don’t wait for him to finish. I grab the second microphone from its stand, my heart pounding against my ribs.
“Everyone, please listen!” My voice booms through the speakers, silencing the murmurs. “There’s an emergency! The tree thieves who’ve been stealing from Perfect Pines are heading this way right now!”
Mayor Reynolds tries to take the microphone. “Miss, please—”
I sidestep him. “Four men are driving through town in a cheese truck with stolen trees. And they’re coming down Main Street any minute. We need to stop them!”
The crowd stirs, faces turning toward me with a mix of confusion.
“Everett Pine has provided Christmas trees for everyone this Christmas,” I continue. “When the other suppliers couldn’t deliver, Perfect Pines stepped up. Everett and Gabe worked day and night to make sure every family in Snowflake Valley had a Christmas tree. Now it’s time to repay that kindness.”
I point to the massive Christmas tree standing at the edge of the square. “We need to move that tree and block the road. It’s the only way to stop them before they get away!”
“Everyone, remain calm,” the mayor says, his voice strained with forced composure. “I’m sure this is all a misunderstanding—”
“It’s not!” I counter, refusing to back down. “I filmed them stealing trees. They chased me with axes! Everett and Gabe are pursuing them right now, but they’ll escape if we don’t help!”
The crowd’s murmuring grows louder.
“We need to act now!” I shout over the mayor’s attempts to regain control. “That Christmas tree is big enough to block the road. If we all work together, we can move it!”