XI.

Aleph watched the woman leave the house.

Through his team of surveillance experts, he found out the woman’s name was Kay but that was just about all they found out. There was something about the house that made their surveillance tactics fail on almost every occasion. To make matters worse, nowhere could they find a date of birth, employment history, or anything that any normal human has in terms of a history.

Aleph was bothered by something else. If Santa was having an affair with the woman, why didn’t he go with her when she left the house?

Maybe he wasn’t having an affair with her. Maybe___

She’s holding Santa Claus against his will. But that was impossible. Wasn’t it?

It would make sense why his scouts hadn’t seen the man ever since he had met the woman. Could he just be hiding out in the house enjoying post-coital bliss? Maybe. But Aleph’s instincts told him there was something else. It was important that he find out what that was because if Santa was not being unfaithful, that would change the business arrangement with Mrs. Claus.

Aleph spoke telepathically to his partner Dali who was stationed behind the house. “New plan. Find a way into the house, identify our target, and verify if the infidelity was consensual. ”

Dali answered. “Will do. You suspect something?”

“Maybe. Something doesn’t seem right. I’m not sure our target wants to be in that house. ”

“And if that’s the case?”

“If that’s the case, you let me know and I’ll make an executive decision to cancel the hit on our target. I imagine our client will want the woman neutralized but I’ll have to verify that. ”

“Okay. I’m proceeding into the house right now. ”

“Be careful, Dali. ”

“Always am. ”