The Unknown Elf

Four

MARIE FOLLOWED CLARENCE down the hallway, keeping an arm's length from him. She harbored bruises from their previous jaunt down the hallway and didn't feel like adding more. She was just glad he'd let her wash the tear streaks off her face before heading off to find Dena once more. It didn't matter since the security chief had already seen them, but it did make her feel better about everything.

"So..." She let her voice trail off as they walked. "Is Dena Santa's secretary too?" She'd noticed that the elf in question had not been outside Santa's office when they'd left.

Clarence didn't even check his stride. "Of course not. Don't you know anything?"

Marie looked at his back and grit her teeth. "I guess not. I'll try to be more observant next time so that I'll know everything in advance." That, or learn how to read minds.

The Head of Operations didn't say anything. Instead, he quickened his pace, forcing her to jog to keep up. His legs were definitely longer than hers. It was something he took full advantage of, if only to express his own feelings on the situation.

Marie was out of breath by the time they'd reached their destination but tried to quiet her breathing as much as possible. Clarence was breathing without difficulty. Did he ever sweat? She tried to take a moment to gather herself back together but couldn't help but stare at the change in scenery.

A bright green and pink desk sat in a corner of the open office area. A purple chair stood behind it. In front of the odd furniture sat three comfortable looking yellow chairs. A hallway led off to a bank of smaller rooms. Marie blinked a few times at this unexpected sight. Clarence had to pull her arm to get her into the first chair. He took the third seat over and crossed his arms in a huff, making sure to maintain as much distance between them as possible.

Noticing their arrival from inside her private office, Dena entered the open office. She noted the seating arrangement, but chose to ignore it for the moment as she smiled. "Hello again. What can I do for you?"

Clarence slid the paper Santa had given him towards the younger looking elf. "Marie needs her file put in the computer and to get her ID card," he said, sounding like he had something stuck in his throat.

Dena nodded. "Let me boot up this old thing. It'll only take a second." She walked around the desk and tapped in the glass looking top.

Marie cast a puzzled look at Clarence. "What's she doing?"

Clarence scowled back. "She's making a file. What does it look like?" He leaned further away in his chair. "Just stay in your seat and don't come any closer to me."

Marie bit her lip but slid back in her chair. For lack of any better place to stare, she focused on Dena's forehead, waiting for the inevitable.

Dena finally looked up and pushed a stray strand of hair out of the way. She'd put most of her hair up into a ponytail, but the one bit had somehow escaped. "Well then, let's get started." With that, she started to fire off questions, recording the responses on her desktop.

Some questions were more personal than others. Some were more mundane, reminding Marie of a personality profile quiz. She answered with what truth she dared. It surprised her how efficient and professional this funny elf had become.

Many questions were left unanswered, much to Clarence's annoyance, but not Dena's. "Trust has to be gained on both sides," Santa had told her and she agreed. They would have to tread with care around this one. There were things here that Clarence hadn't been told yet, things Santa thought best not to tell him. Dena just wondered how some of those things had happened, like the scar on Marie's back. Rachel said it had come from a gunshot wound. And then there was the haunted look she kept seeing in her eyes. Clarence might choose to ignore it, but she wouldn't.