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“An unexpected gift from a secret Santa arrived” Jude relayed to Ken after she had just signed for the wrapped gift. It was in a box wrapped with patterned paper and a red bow, the card was glued onto the front with the message typed out.It didn’t take Ken long to run down the stairs to see what his wife was talking about, it was Christmas Eve and the Donaldson’s had made their yearly pilgrimage to their log cabin in the middle of the woods. It had been their little ritual ever since Ken had semi-retired.Living in Los Angeles had lots of perks with all of the glam and glitter but out in the wild the air felt fresh and clean.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Are you going to open it?” Jude asked holding the package with trembling fingers.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“It has to be from the company, we do this every year”Jude raised her eyebrows knowing exactly how the secret Santa idea was supposed to work the only thing was he had already received one this year. Her husband looked flushed and as she held it close there was a distinct smell of perfume.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Do you have a secret admirer!?” She asked him suspiciously.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Absolutely not you know that you have always been the one for me”He was starting to feel guilty and didn’t know why, who would possibly know where their cabin was? He had never given the location out to any of his work colleagues. There had been plenty of opportunity to conduct a secret affair with Sarah who worked as his PA but he loved his too much to even consider that and besides she was far too young for him. Beads of sweat were forming on his forehead as he tried to ponder what was inside the box.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Will you just open it up?” Jude shouted now starting to feel angry.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Yes of course” he replied.Snow was starting to fall outside and large flakes were beginning to stick to the window, as he peeped inside his expression changed to one of horror and he pulled a contorted face.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“It’s a finger!” He gasped.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“What are you talking about Ken!?”Jude became aware of the fact that her husband might be teasing her and decided to take a closer look. With sheer terror she screamed trying her best to forget seeing the withered old finger. It was encased in a red lined cushion, no other words accompanied it and the Donaldson’s couldn’t understand who could have done such a thing.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Have you upset someone at work? It has to be one of the sickest jokes I’ve &nbsp;ever known!” Jude stammered.Ken couldn’t speak as his mind turmoil, he filled a glass full of whisky and sat at the table, it was the heady mix of expensive cologne sprayed on the outside of the box combined with the horrific contents that made him feel nauseous. Christmas was supposed to be a time of all things good and cheerful not this!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“I honestly can’t explain who would do such a grotesque thing from the company Jude, you have to believe me!”Keeping the box at a safe distance he tried to think of where the finger had come from, suddenly there was another knock on the door which made the couple jump. Jude cautiously looked out of the window to see a shadowy figure standing in the snow.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“It’s the delivery man again!” She shrieked.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Well let’s open the door and see what he wants”Ken decided to confront their unexpected guest this time to see if he could get some answers.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Good evening, I’m afraid I have made a delivery to the wrong house, could I ask for the parcel back?”The man seemed to be in his late fifties and had a sinister appearance, the couple felt uneasy.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Of course but unfortunately we have already opened it, would you be so kind as to explain why there is a finger inside?”The stranger shuffled his feet in the snow trying to keep warm. “It was meant to be a gift from a dead mother to her son” he replied.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“What do you mean a single finger for a present!?” Jude asked in horror.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“No mam did you look underneath the finger?” he asked.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“The label was typed ‘An unexpected gift from a secret Santa’” Ken gasped.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Correct it was the only way that the dying mother could smuggle her priceless ring out of the hospital, now allow me to show you what I mean”He waited for Ken to pass him the box and lifted the finger out, the sight nearly caused Jude to faint until the sight of the glistening diamond clustered ring brought her to her senses. It was the most beautiful object the couple had ever seen and they realized how expensive it must have been to buy.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Now do you understand?” the man asked.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“So why did you deliver it here?” Ken was still confused.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“There happens to be a log cabin further down the road where this should have been delivered, may I apologize for any inconvenience caused”He handed them a handful of dollar notes as compensation then disappeared back into the snow carrying the parcel with him. Ken closed the door shutting out the cold night air and turned to his wife. “Well that is one Christmas eve we will never forget”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Ken I’m so sorry that I didn’t trust you”As they snuggled up in front of the fire he smiled at the thought of the scarf he was going to wear from Sarah as a secret Santa gift. He had decided not to tell Jude about it in case she took it the wrong way, it was the main reason why he knew that Sarah could never have sent this package.The Donaldson’s had the best Christmas ever in their not so secret hideaway in the woods, the extra dollars came in very handy for them to put towards a cruise. It had been something that Ken had promised his wife and now they had the chance.The following Christmas they were on board the smart cruise ship toasting to the secret Santa gift delivered to the wrong address. 																										THE END

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Finger of Suspicion

neale

Neale Holden

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A Finger of Suspicion

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Neale Holden

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