Page 94 of Don't Shoot Me Santa

He ignored it, tightening his hold around Aaron.

It rang again. And again.

“For fuck’s sake,” Aaron groaned. “Answer it before I shove it up your fucking arse.”

Kenny huffed a laugh and wriggled free, roaming out to the kitchen where he’d left his phone charging. He answered without checking the screen.

“Dr Lyons? It’s DS Parry. Sorry to intrude on your snow day…”

“You’ve got another one,” Kenny said flatly.

“Yeah.”Parry’s voice was grim.“Afraid so.”

He staggered back into the lounge as Aaron, still wrapped in the duvet like some pagan ghost, wandered sleepily through the space, squinting around and mouthed, “You seen my phone?”

Kenny mouthed back,“Coat?”Then addressed Parry as Aaron jumped off to the hallway. “What have you got?”

“Scene’s outside St. Joseph’s. Right beside the nativity display. With the snowfall, it’s a mess. Prints are vanishing fast, but the body’s intact. We’re preserving what we can.”

“Same presentation?”

“Mostly. But… this one’s different.”

“How so?”

Parry hesitated.

Aaron came up behind Kenny then, wrapping the duvet around them both, resting his cheek on his back.

“There’s a mobile on the body. Found unlocked. Placed in the victim’s hand with another gift tag.”

Kenny’s pulse jumped. “What does it say?”

“The gift tag says, Love, Santa.

“And the phone?”

“It was open at last call.”

“Who were they trying to call?”

Another pause.

Parry cleared her throat.“Aaron. Pride flag emoji. Contact name: ‘Gay Jumper.’”

Aaron stilled.

Kenny turned slowly in his arms, phone still pressed to his ear as he watched Aaron’s face drain of colour.

Parry’s voice cut through the silence.“We’ve got a team tracing the number.”

“No need.” Kenny held Aaron’s gaze. “He’s here. With me. That’smyAaron.”

Chapter sixteen

Winter Song

The snow was fucking relentless.