Chasing Santa |Pushing Daisies Christmas Story|

Chapter Seven: Mark

Chapter Seven: Mark

"Where's Emerson?" Ned wondered aloud.

"Probably investigating."

Ned figured that this was probably true and didn't think much of it as he took in the crowd that had gathered. Families and people of all ages had showed up for the opening on Christmas Eve. Some were dressed up quite nicely in the colors of green and red, but others sported their worst holidays sweaters.

Ned watched one of the workers talking to a stressed Damien and he overheard him say,"Relax, you were here every day all day to make sure this ran smoothly."

"That's not what I'm worried about."

Ned's attention was brought when Chuck tugged on his coat sleeve.

"Did you hear that?" She asked, her eyes swimming with ideas.

Ned only shook his head no.

"There's going to be a visit from Santa."

Ned's eyes widened. "We need to find that suit."

Pushing through the crowd of guests they peered inside rooms until the found exactly what they were looking for. Inside a storage room hung a deep red suit along with a snowy white beard.

"You think that's it?"

Ned rubbed his hand against the fabric of the coat and stopped when it came to the large pocket. Reaching in, his hands grabbed a few berries and took it out to show Chuck.

"Yep, I'm pretty sure."

"It still doesn't make sense to me why someone would go to the trouble of painting them."

Ned stared down at the berries trying to get a sliver of an answer from the mystery before him. "I guess all we can be sure of is that the killer is here tonight."

As soon as the words left the Pie makers mouth the door opened and another person walk inside.

They all yelped, including the intruder, when they realized they weren't alone.

"Who are you!" Ned exclaimed.

"Mark!"

One of Mark's hands flew up as in a sign of surrender, he had only heard the last few words that Ned had said and was quite certain he walked into something he shouldn't have.

"What are you doing?" Chuck asked.

"Getting my suit."

"Your suit?"

"Yes?"

"He's the killer?"

Chuck meant to whisper for only Ned to hear, but mark gasped and retorted, "I didn't kill anyone."

"Where were you at 10:30 p.m. last friday?"

"I was here! Aaron wanted me to be in my costume for when the people from the magazine came. I brought it in here the day before so I wouldn't forget, but when I came on Friday it wasn't here. I had to rent a new one."

Mark finished and showed them the other cheaper looking suit he had in his other hand. "I went to tell Damien about it but he strangely wasn't around. I'm just glad he didn't question it after the fact."

Mark went to grab the suit but Chuck slapped his hand away.

"Ouch!"

"Sorry," She said with an apologetic smile, "Evidence."

Mark grumbled under his breath and walked out of the closet, leaving the two with their thoughts.

"If Mark wasn't wearing the suit, then who was?"

At that very moment, the killer was hiding in the shadows waiting for the right moment to attack. Chuck and the Piemaker had no clue what was coming when suddenly they felt a blow to the head and everything around them went black.