"What a day Bernard. I tell you, ever since I came down here to these streets, it's been one worry after another."

Kris sat back in his leather seat letting out a sigh as he conversed with his driver and Head Elf Bernard at the wheel of his 1932 Cadillac, custom painted cherry red and pearl white Limousine. Bernard nodded in agreeance with his boss as he turned over the engine and proceeded away from the office. 

"Home? Mr. Claus?" 

Bernard asked from the front doing his best to peer over the steering wheel as he adjusted himself on top of the phone book beneath him. Kris rubbed his eyes as he let out a slight yawn, feeling the car turn a corner. 

"You know, we're not at the workshop anymore Bernard, you don't have to call me Mr. Claus." 

Kris chuckled which made Bernard chuckle as well as they drove through the city toward Kris's cottage on the outskirts of Detroit. Looking forward to unwinding after the long day he closed his eyes for a moment, which proved to be a mistake. 

Suddenly he was seeing flashes of his memory against his inner eyelids. His body jerked in the back seat as Bernard noticed while driving. More flashes as Kris grunted then his eyes shot open as he sat up. 

"You alright back there, Mr. Cl... er I mean, Santa?"

Bernard questioned trying to divide his attention between the rear view mirror and the front of the car. 

"Huh? Oh.. yeah.. I'm.. I'm alright now.. I think."

Kris muttered, pausing a moment as he gathered himself.

"Just a.. a headache I'm sure. Maybe I've been working too hard."

He added and Bernard agreed with a nod turning his eyes back to the road, which was now bordered with trees and fields. Kris smiled recognizing the road, knowing they were only a few minutes away from getting to his cottage. He sat back again trying to relax, this time he avoided closing his eyes as he wasn't sure what that was before. 

The limousine pulled up a small road and parked in front of a little picket fence. Behind stood a quaint front yard with a tree on the right side of the path that led to the wide door to a simple cottage. Bernard exited the vehicle and went around to open the door for Kris, who stepped out and grabbed his coat from the seat next to him. Just then the front door swung open and two elves came barrelling down the walkway and out the gate, one of them carrying a box in his hands. Both of them screaming and shouting at the same time, totally incomprehensible as Kris and Bernard look at each other puzzled. 

"Alright alright, Calm down now. What's the problem? One at a time, please." 

Kris asked, eyeing the box and noticing his elf's hands trembling as the other elf speaks up. 

"Sa.. Santa.. thi.. this package came... today!"

The cute sparkly short elf muttered trying to get the words out. Kris looked over at Bernard who shrugged. They were both concerned now as Kris took the box from the elf. The ribbon already undone and opened Kris knew his elves had opened it and assumed what must be inside was responsible for their behaviour. Curiously Kris opened the box as Bernard and the other two elves watched him. Suddenly Kris's eyes went wide with shock. Or was it fear?

"Santa?" 

Bernard asked looking up at Kris as his face worried him. Suddenly Kris dropped the box and darted into his cottage and over to his phone. Lifting the handle and as quick as his fingers could he dialed a secret special number and waited through the ringing for someone to answer. Bernard and the other two elves come back inside with Bernard holding the now partially closed box. He hadn't looked himself, only brought the box in for his boss. They stood by as Kris spoke on the phone, glancing back at them and lowering his voice. 

Bernard listened to him mumble and give his name and some other info and waited nervously on the phone a moment. 

"What do you mean there's been a problem? I'll say there's been a damn problem! She left a package on my doorstep! How did she even know where to find me!? What the hell do you mean she "escaped"?!?" 

Kris shouted into the phone. This conversation startled Bernard as he had never seen his boss this way. Then it made him curious as his eyes slowly lowered to the partially open box in his hands. Now Bernard swallowed the knot in his throat and slowly opened the box. His eyes spotting a simple red and white bonnet with red stains all over it and a card. Glancing up at Kris still on the phone Bernard slowly opens the card and reads it to himself. 

You thought you could hide from me, Dear? 
Thought you could get away?!
You thought WRONG, SWEETIE!
I'll see you soon!

-Mrs. Claus