Otto followed Lars down the path back to the farmhouse. Otto moved quietly but it turned out to be unnecessary as Lars wasn’t naturally observant and had never met anyone he wasn’t expecting around the farm. So he was scared out of his skin when Otto yanked his arm, twisted it up and pushed him up against a large pine tree.
“Hey, what the,” started Lars.
“We are going to be very quiet. Understand?”
Lars nodded his head affirmatively.
“I am going to make this easy on you and your family,” said Otto.
“Anything, really, anything,” said Lars desperately.
“No macho bullshit. No this is my land crap. Got it?” said Otto very firmly.
Lars nodded again.
Otto pulled him a bit away from the tree without turning him around. He didn’t want the hassle of being recognized and everything that entailed.
“Who?” asked Otto.
“I am not sure what you mean?”
Otto sighed very audibly.
“Okay, okay, no bullshit. I get it. It was Lenny,” said Lars.
Otto took this in and was processing the possibilities.
“I know, I know. He’s crazy and harmless, right?”
Otto answered, “Lenny?”
“Yes. We needed the money. And the virus he wanted is harmless,” said Lars.
“To humans, yes. To supernaturals it is quite dangerous,” said Otto.
“Oh,” said Lars realizing what was going on.
“You keep quiet and you won’t hear from me again,” said Otto.
Lars nodded.
Otto let go of him and walked back down the path. He pulled out his phone and sent a text.
#
Miriam said to the group, “I just got an interesting text.”
“Yes,” said Mr. Claus impatiently.
“Chill, we’re all on the same side,” said Leroy.
“Hold your horses. I am trying to process this,” said Miriam.
“But we’re on the clock here,” said Mr. Claus.
“This is from Benjamin, a friend from Denmark. And, no, not that kind of friend. I know him professionally,” said Miriam and looked at Leroy.
She winked at him and turned back to her phone.
“He says that the whole thing has been arranged by her brother. And that he’s sorry. He sent me their address,” said Miriam.
“A good friend, indeed,” said Mr. Claus.
“Wow, not much brotherly love there,” said Leroy.
“How do we know it’s legit?” asked William.
#
Viggo got Otto’s text and immediately typed another one on his phone.
#
In the middle of their discussion about the text to Miriam, Mr. Claus put a finger up when he felt his phone buzz in his pocket. He pulled it out and read the message he had just received.
“It’s a text from Viggo,” said Mr. Claus.
“And?” said Leroy.
“It’s Lenny,” said Mr. Claus.
“That’s Benjamin’s brother,” said Miriam.
“Let’s roll,” said Mr. Claus.
