Christmas Eve in Gemson

Christmas Eve, 1956. John Knox, Detective, Gemson Police Department, was finishing his shift and heading out the door. His last shift of the year, he had taken off the week between Christmas and New Year's to spend time with the family. They were visiting his brother and sister-in-law at their lake house in Tennessee, hitting the road as soon as Lucy had ripped open her presents from Santa.

Amanda had been the one to buy those presents, of course. Knox had no patience for shopping and never knew what to get anyone on his list, so Amanda picked up his slack, in this as in all areas of their marital partnership. There were two people he refused to let his wife shop for, though: Amanda and the light of his life, Lucy. His girls deserved a special token of his love, and it was his pleasure to brave the cold air and harsh wind to find that special gift.

Unfortunately, his schedule had kept him from the shops and markets of downtown Gemson, so he had waited until the last minute to procure the Christmas presents. He headed out the department's backdoor to avoid anyone who might delay his progress and braved the cold Gemson night. Pikes would be his best bet, he thought, Gemson's most popular department store would be where he would find his gifts. Lines of children three deep surrounded the store's windows to catch a glimpse of the holiday decorations, dolls and figures in different scenes of yuletide merriment. Such a crowd deterred him and he silently cursed his procrastination as he headed down the block to Roseman's, the only store standing in the way of Pikes monopoly.

Knox found a gold necklace and set of diamond earrings for Amanda, then a Polly Talks A-Lot for Lucy. Hopefully the doll did not talk as much as the box advertised, he was not sure he could handle that. But his little girl would love it, he was sure, so he grabbed a doll and headed to the cashier by the front door. He took his place in line, checked his watch, and once again cursed his inability to do this shopping earlier in the season. There were four shoppers ahead of him, each with arms full of packages.

A lot of shoppers meant a lot of cash, something the young man who was making his way through the Roseman's kitchen area was counting on. Most of these housewives were too busy searching for the best deal that they did not pay attention to their purses in their shopping carts, all the easier for him to pluck as he strolled through the store. Pikes had more security than Roseman's, which is why he chose this store to do his own Christmas shopping.

Knox noticed him walking out of the appliances department, that was his tip off. Why would a bachelor - he noticed he was not wearing a wedding ring - be shopping in that section of the store? Then he caught the bulge in the man's coat, slight, a civilian would have assumed he was wearing a bulky sweater. Knox kept his eye on him as he sauntered toward the front of the store.

"I'd take that stuff back if I were you," Knox whispered to him as he walked by. In the spirit of Christmas he felt like giving the thief a chance to do the right thing. Instead he took a look at Knox and ran to the revolving doors of the Roseman's entrance. Knox groaned internally, he had not planned on running after a shoplifter this or any night.

But ran he did, or at least as close to running as Knox was capable of. He dropped his own packages and chased after the thief, yelling "Stop, police!" as he did so. Knowing he had no chance in a foot race, he grabbed a nearby shopper's pair of boots out of her cart and hurled them at the thief's feet. The running man stumbled just long enough for Knox to tackle him to the ground, his weight for once a clear advantage over the skinnier man.

But the thin man still had fight in him, as a sharp elbow to his substantial stomach made clear to Knox. "Oof," exhaled Knox, "stop struggling, you! You're under arrest!" Knox slapped the side of the man's head into the department store floor, the white tile giving an audible smack upon impact.

Knox finally slipped his handcuffs onto the young man's wrists and snapped them shut. "There," he said, out of breath from the short run and the struggle on the floor, "that should do you. And on Christmas Eve, of al days?" He stood up, bringing the perp up with him, and the store's lobby erupted in applause. Resisting the urge to bow, Knox headed back to collect Amanda and Lucy's gifts. "You think you could send me the bill?" he asked. "I've got some business that just popped up."

"Certainly, certainly, officer. But this is on us," the cashier said. "As thanks for protecting our store and out city!"

"No, ma'am," said Knox. "Just send the bill to the Gemson Police Department, Detective Division." With that he turned and headed out with the arrestee, back to the station. He would call Amanda once he got back to the office, hoping she would understand why he would be late tonight.