Original subtitles

SAM: I like spending time with you.

It's clear you don't feel the same.

-I've been chasing that feeling,

but it's always been just out of my grasp.

I think I found it.

Oh, God.

[upbeat Christmas music]

♪♪ Frost on the window ♪♪

♪♪ Snow in the sky ♪♪

♪♪ Watching the lights glow... ♪♪

FRED: Thank you.

Let's have some fun tonight.

It's almost Christmas!

-I can't!

The hospital is short-staffed and I agreed to be on call.

-Such a great turnout!

-Oh, yeah.

The Fletcher's Grove Retailer's holiday party.

It's always legendary.

Get ready for a night to remember.

[both giggle]

-Also, it's the one night where I get waited on,

rather than the other way around.

-Well, I'll drink to that. -[glasses clink]

EMILY (V.O.): I know this'll sound strange

coming from someone who loves Christmas as much as I do,

but I've never been one for parties.

The crowd, the small talk, the mini appetizers

with little wooden toothpicks jammed in them...

it's all a bit much.

-Uh, I'll see you in a bit.

I'm just gonna go flirt with that cute DJ over there.

-You go, girl.

EMILY (V.O.): I also don't normally say things like

"You go, girl." What am I becoming?

It seems like the more I get to know the people

who live and work here in Fletcher's Grove,

the more I find myself becoming attached to them.

-Emily, hi! -Hi!

EMILY (V.O.): Of course, there are exceptions.

-Oh! Well, this looks delicious.

Why does everything taste so much better

when it's on a toothpick?

-Just one of the great mysteries of the universe, Brooke.

-[giggles]

MAN: Ho-ho!

Ho-ho!

Ho-ho-ho!

Merry Christmas, Fletcher's Grove!

-That was fun. -Mm-hm!

-Did you know your uncle was coming?

-No. No, I'm as surprised as you are.

-So, I'm Glenn Shaw, the owner of the book store.

And I've been running that shop for the past 18 years,

and to be honest, I...

I don't know most of your names.

As a matter of fact, I'd venture a guess that most of you

have never even set foot in my bookstore.

But that's okay, I understand. Books...

Books are old-fashioned.

Reading is hard for many of you, but because it's Christmas,

I wanted to show-ho-ho you that there's no hard feelings.

So let's put the past behind us.

Let's embrace the present.

Did somebody say... "present"?

I did!

Santa Glenn has brought along a little something

for each and every one of you.

Please do not feel the need to open them right here.

It's just a small token of my appreciation.

A little something for you, Brynn.

-Actually, my name is Brooke.

-Okay. And Fred.

A little something for you.

-Thanks.

Are you feeling okay, Uncle Glenn?

-Not yet. But...

I will be.

[Glenn laughing]

-I don't like this. Something's going on.

-Well, maybe he just got in the Christmas spirit.

-And Emily.

I put some real thought into this one.

I think you're really gonna love it.

-That's so sweet. Thank you.

-No, thank you.

I rarely find myself in the company

of a fellow classic mystery lover.

-Glenn Shaw! -Aah!

-What are you doing here? You know you're banned!

-Sue Chin, you forget, this diner has been rented out

by a private party, so technically you have

no authority over who attends.

-Leave it to you to find a loophole.

What?

-This is for you.

-What are you doing?

-Making sure it's not ticking.

-Not a bad move. Melanie!

Ho-ho-ho!

-What the heck was that about?

-I dunno.

-[scoffs]

♪♪ Morning... ♪♪

♪♪ Close your eyes, sweet dreams... ♪♪

♪♪ Little one... ♪♪

♪♪ Think of the magic... ♪♪

EMILY (V.O.): We've come into that magical time in the evening

where the crowd starts to thin, the music slows down,

and you find yourself making that

most difficult of choices...

Do I stick with safe, reliable chocolate,

or do I throw caution to the wind and go marzipan?

-What...

Oh, Glenn, hey, hang on!

Glenn?

[ominous music]

[engine starts]

[engine revs]

[scream]

EMILY: Excuse me, excuse me...

Sue?

Sue!

What happened?!

-I-I don't know!

I-I found him like this, I swear.

[people gasping]

EMILY (V.O.): Sue was right when she said

this would be a night to remember.

But I doubt this is what she had in mind.

[theme music]

[police radio chatter]

-Emily.

Hey.

-Hey, Sam.

-Uh, just a few quick questions and then you can get home.

Wanna step into my office?

-[clears throat]

-I haven't, uh, seen you around the last week or so.

-Yeah, I've been busy.

Running a Christmas store, you know,

'tis the season.

-Right. Um...

Brooke mentioned that you left the party for a few moments,

right before Glenn's body was discovered.

-Yeah, I saw Glenn leave the diner,

or, who I thought it was Glenn;

they were wearing the Santa suit.

I just wanted to say goodnight.

-Did you get a look at the person's face?

-No, no, just from behind.

Um, I-I found the Santa hat out in the parking lot, though.

-Yes, we have that in evidence now.

Thank you.

-I did notice a suspicious-looking vehicle

idling across the way.

-Any chance you got a look at the plates?

-No, it was dark, and...

and I heard Sue scream

before I had a chance to get a good look.

-Alright, well, I think that's it.

Uh...

You know, maybe you could come by the station in the morning.

Give a more detailed statement.

-Sure.

♪♪

♪♪

EMILY (V.O.): I wasn't even planning

to go to the party tonight, until Sue made me promise

to at least put in an appearance.

My recent cyber-brush with Chimera

really messed with my head.

[sighs]

EMILY (V.O.): I don't think he knows it's me,

or he would have called me out by name.

But I've underestimated him in the past, and it ended...

[countdown beeping]

EMILY (V.O.): ...badly.

Glenn's gift.

I'd say it's a welcome distraction,

if it wasn't a stark reminder of his death.

♪♪

♪♪

EMILY: Come on. No freakin' way!

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

GLENN: [background] Mm-hm...

Hah. Mass market?

Mass market paperbacks, no, I do not carry those,

as a matter of fact, thank you very much.

You can find those at the gas station,

beside the junk food, where they belong.

Thank you very-- Hello?

Hello?

Sorry you had to hear that.

You know, my nephew, Fred, he's always telling me,

"Don't alienate the potential customers,"

but I can't seem to help myself.

-I totally get it.

[sighs]

A Christmas Carol is just one of my favourite stories.

A first edition must be worth a small fortune.

-More like a medium fortune, actually.

But since I don't intend to part with it,

I don't worry about the price.

You just open that new Christmas store around the corner?

-Yeah, yeah. Uh, Emily Lane.

-Glenn Shaw. Welcome to the neighbourhood.

Now I see why you're drawn to that piece.

-Oh yeah, I do love a holiday yarn,

especially when there are ghosts involved.

-Yes.

-My parents used to read this to me when I was little.

-You remember what edition it was?

-Um, it was...

it was green with gold embossing.

Kind of Art Nouveau?

-I'm familiar.

You don't happen to still have it?

-No, it got lost along the way.

-Hm. Shame.

Wonderful edition.

Nice to meet you.

-Yeah, you too.

♪♪

EMILY: He remembered.

♪♪

Oh, um...

♪♪

What do we have here?

[intriguing music]

♪♪

EMILY (V.O.): "Marley was dead, to begin with...

"This book is your invitation to a very special event.

"Please visit the law offices of Greer & Tobin,

"tomorrow evening, 8 sharp."

-What were you up to, Glenn?

♪♪ Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way ♪♪

♪♪ Oh, what a time to have some fun riding on a sleigh... ♪♪

[door bells ringing]

-Good morning! -Hey!

-It's barely 10.

How are you already this busy?

-Ton of online orders.

Last-minute shoppers are out in full force.

-Then it's a good thing I've started Christmas break.

-Mm-hm.

-I'm extra sorry to ask you this today,

but is there any chance I could get the 22nd off?

My mom wants me to visit earlier.

-Yeah, of course. -Thanks.

My mom got Nutcracker tickets.

Third row, centre.

-I didn't know you were a fan.

-I'm not.

I quit ballet after three lessons.

But I'm getting big "I barely get to see you" energy

from my mom, so...

I don't want to say no.

-Yeah, I totally get it.

Hey, this is your first Christmas away, huh?

How's your dad dealing with the idea of that?

-I haven't told him about moving up the timeline yet,

but I'm sure he'll say, "That's fine."

He always says that, even when it's not.

-Speaking of your dad, I'm supposed to be in his office

right now giving a statement.

-Is it about that grumpy guy who ran the bookstore?

I heard what happened. So sad.

-He was actually a very sweet man.

Do you mind if I just--

-Yeah, go ahead. I've got this.

-Great.

You know, you just made employee of the month!

-Cool!

Wait... I'm the only employee!

♪♪ Oh, what fun we'll have Christmas Day! ♪♪

-What exactly is it you're invited to?

-I have no idea. That's why I'm so intrigued.

Are you not intrigued?

-I'm mostly confused.

Why is it at a lawyer's office? Why not his book store?

-You know as much as I do.

But he did give out a bunch of gifts.

-As far as we can tell, people mostly got

random second-hand books.

No one else mentioned an invitation.

You going?

-I mean, I was invited, and it would be rude not to show.

Even if the host is no longer with us.

-Well, how would you feel about a plus-one?

Like, uh, um...

professionally, of course.

-Right, of course.

-Someone at that party killed Glenn.

You need back-up.

-Do you have any suspects?

-Right now everyone in attendance is a suspect.

You included.

-Come on, I'm the one that actually got along with Glenn.

I thought Sue was gonna--

-Going to...?

I know they were seen arguing, and I know they had

some kind of rivalry going on.

So if you have any other information...

-Honestly, no, I don't.

EMILY (V.O.): Not yet, anyway.

[door closes]

-Plus one! Pfft!

SUE: My busiest week of the year,

and Glenn dies in my diner!

Now it's a crime scene!

He ruined it!

-Pretty sure it wasn't on purpose.

-That man would do anything out of spite.

And did you know Sam Wilner had the nerve to interrogate me?

And why?

Just because I openly despised Glenn

and because my fingerprints were on the knife

that he was stabbed with?

-The nerve of that man.

-Yeah, now that I've said it out loud

I can see where he's coming from.

Oh.

But of course my fingerprints were on the knife.

It's my diner.

My fingerprints are on everything.

-Sue, I just...

I gotta ask, why'd you ban Glenn from the diner?

-He came in one day about six years ago

and ordered a bowl of my famous chili.

And then he sent it back because there were beans in it.

True chili shouldn't have beans, he said.

And I banned his sorry butt for life.

-Oh...

-And then last night he tries to give me a gift,

as if we don't have half a decade

of bad blood between us?

-What did he give you?

-Ah, who cares? I-I threw it away.

If only it were as easy to get rid of the image

of his body on my stockroom floor.

That's gonna stay with me for a while.

-Yeah.

TALIA: I'm glad you could make it.

I'm Talia Greer, Glenn's lawyer.

Invitations, please.

-Emily Lane. And this is Sam Wilner.

-Do you have an invite, Sam?

-Will this do?

-Some of the others have already arrived.

-Brooke? You got an invite too?

-Emily! I did.

Along with this book.

Do you know why we're all here?

-I'd like to know as well.

-I'm sure my uncle had a good reason, rest his soul.

-All will be revealed shortly, as per Glenn's wishes.

MAN: Whoa, whoa! I'm not late, am I?

[chuckles]

I left myself plenty of time,

but I didn't account for the stairs.

-Invitation, please.

We're still one short,

but Glenn was very clear about time.

Eight sharp.

TALIA: Okay, if you'd all gather around.

♪♪

GLENN: [video] Hello, everyone.

By the time you see this...

I will be gone.

-Wait, stop the video.

When was this recorded?

-I received the envelope from Glenn several days ago.

-That doesn't make any sense.

That would mean he knew about his murder before it happened.

♪♪

♪♪

-Charles Dickens...

in his preface to A Christmas Carol,

wrote, "I have endeavoured in this ghostly little book

"to raise the ghost of an idea..."

And that has inspired me

with this little game I've created.

Be patient, stick with it, and trust me,

the reward... it'll be well worth your efforts.

Now, "There sat a jolly giant, glorious to see;

"who bore a glowing torch,

"in shape not unlike Plenty's horn,

"and held it up, high up, to shed its light on Scrooge."

And with that...

I wish you good luck.

-What is the point of all this?

-I think...

the point is to solve the clue he just gave us.

BROOKE: Hah!

Great. I'm terrible at puzzles.

-Alright, this has gone far enough.

I'll need that video. And each of you received a book.

I'll have to confiscate those as well.

TALIA: Do you have a court order for that?

SAM: This is a murder investigation.

-You know the law, Detective.

The only way you're leaving with these books

is on a volunteer basis.

-Fine.

I will ask nicely.

May I please have your books?

-Maybe we should-- -Not happening.

-Uh... Yeah, you know,

I... I'd like to keep mine as well.

There's a mention of a reward.

MAN: Yeah, exactly.

Isn't it exciting?

Glenn is just as clever in death as he was in life.

What a guy.

SAM: I'm sorry...

Who are you?

-Oh.

I'm Harvey Saltzman.

I used to run a hot dog cart out front of Glenn's old shop,

in the city, years ago.

He used to pay me in second-hand paperbacks.

-Oh...

-Yeah, to hear on the news what happened to him...

well, it really broke my heart.

-It was a shock to all of us.

-Well, this concludes my involvement.

The rest is up to you.

Good luck.

-Can you believe no one would relinquish their books?

-Why would they?

You do understand this is a treasure hunt, right?

No one's gonna just hand over their key to a possible fortune.

-Talia was right.

No judge will take my side without credible proof

this is connected to Glenn's murder.

-Let's see where this goes.

Aren't you at all curious how Glenn predicted his own death?

-Of course.

I'm just more interested in catching his killer.

-We could... divide and conquer?

You do your thing, I do mine.

-I don't know.

-Would it help if I told you I was gonna go ahead

and do it anyway?

-Alright. Fine, just...

be careful, and...

keep me in the loop, okay?

-Yep.

-Alright, uh... goodnight.

-Yep.

♪♪

EMILY (V.O.): I know Sam doesn't understand

why I'm keeping him at arm's length,

but as much as I needed that moment we shared...

I can't let it happen again.

♪♪

[mysterious music]

♪♪

♪♪

[knock at door]

-Come on in.

-Hey. -Oh, Emily.

You startled me.

I've got ghosts on the brain.

-Yeah, that's me.

The ghost of Christmas shopping.

-Heh... -I, uh... I just...

I wanted to say I'm sorry for your loss.

-Thank you.

My uncle was a complicated guy, but...

I loved him.

-You reading A Christmas Carol?

-Yeah, for the first time, if you can believe it.

-What?

-My mom even named me after one of the characters in it,

but I was never very interested.

-So, Glenn was your mom's brother, right?

-That's right.

He's the one that took care of her after she got sick.

Huntington's.

Yeah, it was a rough time.

But my uncle took me in after that,

and he gave me a job here.

Morgan says I'm wasting my potential,

but he was there when I needed him.

-Fred, what...

what happened to all the first editions?

-I don't know.

I noticed they were missing last night.

My wife thinks that they might be the reward

that Uncle Glenn was talking about in the video.

-I can understand why.

The first edition of A Christmas Carol alone

is worth big money.

-Yeah.

Morgan says that those books are our inheritance

and that nobody else is entitled to them.

But if that's what Uncle Glenn wanted,

who am I to say otherwise?

-"There sat a jolly giant, glorious to see;

"who bore a glowing torch,

"in shape not unlike Plenty's horn,

"and held it up, high up, to shed its light on Scrooge."

VIOLET: Uh, Emily!

-Yeah? -You need to see this.

There's a lot of water.

-Oh, no.

Ooh!

I think a pipe must've burst.

Can you just cover the front for me?

-Sure.

-Oh, geez.

EMILY (V.O.): What did I do to deserve this?

Oh, who am I kidding?

I've done plenty to deserve this.

Karma just took a while to catch up to me.

-Sorry to bother you in the middle of a crisis,

but a customer wants to pay with a hundred dollar bill.

-Uh, it's fine.

Just check it with the little UV light by the register.

♪♪

-Torch...

From above!

-What?

-In England, they call flashlights "torches."

"Shed its light on Scrooge."

Yes, yes, hm, where...

Hah!

Solutions!

Okay, I need to talk to Fred. Or even Brooke.

I need you to hold down the fort.

-What about the leak?

-Um, I will take care of it later.

Thank you.

BROOKE: Okay, ladies. Falling snowflake!

And hold it!

EMILY: Hey, Brooke?

Sorry...

Uh, I need your help.

-Emily, yes, just take a spot anywhere and join in.

-No, not with... whatever this is.

-Oh, this is the winter version of yoga.

It's called "snowga."

-Of course it is.

Hey, do you have your copy of A Christmas Carol?

-Uh, it's in my bag. Why, what's up?

-I think I may have solved the first clue.

But I need your book to confirm it.

-Oh! Okay.

Ladies, uh, new pose. Let's do the candy cane!

And hold! I will be right back.

Here you go.

-Okay. Let me see.

[gasps] I knew it!

All of the books have secret words

that you can only see with a UV light.

The same kind of light that all of us retailers have

to check for counterfeit money.

-Oh, how clever of Glenn! -Yeah.

Um, I think we need to get everybody

over at the Mistletoe tonight.

I'm gonna... I'm gonna make some phone calls.

Okay, uh...

-Of course, yeah. -Uh, wait!

You don't get away that easy.

Ladies, we have a new snogi!

-What? -Yeah! Take Linda's spot!

-No, I-- -Linda, give up your spot.

-You don't have-- -There you go!

-Brooke, I--

-Everyone, we're gonna put the star on the tree, okay?

And reach!

Through those fingertips and breathe, ladies!

-Sorry that took longer than I thought.

I'd rather not say why-- What?

What?!

-[loud banging] -What is--

-Don't be mad. I called him.

-I was at the diner taking a look at the crime scene,

so I was close.

-You destroyed my wall!

-Well, if I hadn't,

your entire store would have flooded.

Good news is, pipe didn't burst, it's just loose.

But I think I've got it secured.

-[phone buzzing] -Ah...

Wilner.

Seriously?

Uh, okay, okay. I'm on my way.

-You're just... you're just gonna leave me with this mess?

-There was a break-in at Glenn's lawyer's office.

-That might have something to do with Glenn's game!

I should probably go.

-No, I'm serious. Not gonna happen.

SAM: The door was forced,

which means they weren't worried about noise.

They were planning to act fast.

TALIA: But there's nothing here worth taking.

-So they left empty-handed?

-Not quite.

-So much for your promise to stay quiet and observe.

-They took the drive that had Glenn's video on it.

Strangely, they ignored the envelope of petty cash

in the drawer right next to it.

-Who else knew about Glenn's plans?

-Nobody.

Even I didn't know what was on the video.

I was told there were five invitations delivered.

Only four are accounted for.

-But wait, there were five people at the meeting.

Emily, Brooke, Harvey, Fred and his wife, Morgan.

-Morgan doesn't have an invite.

She's here as part of Fred's.

-Okay. Thank you.

-So that means there's another player out there

unaccounted for.

-And for all we know, they have Glenn's blood on their hands.

HARVEY: Boy, this sucker must have barely squeezed

through the door, huh?

It's very impressive.

-Thanks! Glad you could come.

-I ran into this one at the diner.

She pretty much insisted.

-[laughs]

Emily, what happened to your wall?

-Um... oh, don't even worry about it.

Okay, it looks like each of our books has three unique

invisible words in them.

So, assuming the pattern continues,

Fred's book will have three more.

-Yes, but didn't you say we're also missing a fifth book?

-Right, but I'm thinking that the words will form a phrase,

so it's possible we could still figure it out.

-Hmm! -[door bells jingle]

-Ah, Fred!

Thanks for coming. Can I see your book?

-I'm sorry.

I came to tell you that Morgan and I won't be taking part.

-Are you sure that's in your best interest?

It seems pretty clear that we're supposed to solve this clue

as a group.

-Yeah.

-Even so.

Good luck, everybody.

-[sighs]

[door bells jingling]

-And that's why I never married.

-[scoffs]

Okay, so what are we supposed to do now?

EMILY (V.O.): Now...

I follow a hunch and hope it leads to the final missing book.

-I'm still waiting for word from Sam on when I can re-open.

-You don't mind being here all alone?

-[scoffs] What do I have to be afraid of?

Glenn's ghost?

I dare him to haunt me.

-Hey, that gift that Glenn gave you,

it was a book, right?

-Yeah, why?

-It's possible that book was your ticket to take part

in a game Glenn had set up before he was killed.

-A game.

I put it straight into the trash bin out back.

It's probably still there, except...

-What?

-Garbage day was yesterday.

-[sighs]

SAM: Hey, thanks for your patience, Vy.

-No problem.

Gave me a chance to snoop through all your case files.

Obviously I'm kidding.

Although it did take a lot of willpower

not to sneak a peek at this one.

"Lane, Emily."

-That is nothing that concerns you.

-I bet it concerns Emily, though.

-These are standard background checks, okay?

Regular procedure for everyone who was in the vicinity

of the diner the night Glenn was killed.

If you were there, I'd have one on you too.

-Well, that's reassuring.

-You know what I mean.

-Have... you talked to Mom about my Christmas trip yet?

-No, I've been a little busy.

We haven't managed to connect. Why?

-She wants me to come a few days earlier.

-Alright, how early we talking?

-The 22nd?

-Yeah, that's fine.

-Are you sure? I could say no.

-It's just a few days, right?

Right, let's get going.

[knock on door]

-Morgan. Hey, thanks for coming by.

-My shift starts in 20 minutes, so whatever this is,

please make it quick.

-Uh, it's about Glenn's game.

-I thought Fred told you we weren't going to be involved

with the rest of you.

-No, I get it. You feel that it's unfair.

-That man manipulated my husband for years.

When are we ever going to be free of him?

-When the puzzle is solved!

-And that's what this is all about.

Grabbing a slice of Glenn's legacy.

-No, no, no. I am not in this for the reward.

As far as I'm concerned, you and Fred are welcome to it.

-What about the others?

-I mean, I can't speak for everyone else,

but I do know that you cannot solve this on your own.

You can't.

We have to work together.

♪♪

-I'll think about it.

-Great. Thank you.

Yes. Thank you.

[door bells jingling]

-But no promises. -Got it.

♪♪

-Okay...

EMILY (V.O.): It's creeping up on me again,

that itchy feeling of being watched.

What I could really use right now is a friend,

but June has gone to stay with her brother for the holidays,

and Sam...

I don't want to lead him on any more than I already have.

I've already shared too much.

♪♪

♪♪

[phone buzzing]

EMILY: [phone] Hey, Sam.

-Sorry for the late call.

I have a question for you.

-You still at work? -I came back.

Too much on my mind to call it a day.

I contacted everyone who received a book from Glenn,

and no one else had knowledge of an invitation.

-Well, if it's in Sue's book,

it's at the bottom of a landfill now.

You said you had a question?

-You knew Glenn a little, right?

He ever mention any health concerns?

-No, nothing like that.

Fred did say that his mom had Huntington's,

which has a genetic component, I think, but...

Why do you ask?

-Uh, I'm just trying to piece it all together.

How's it going with the puzzle?

-I think we're close to cracking it.

-Listen, I'd like to be more involved.

Just as added protection.

I'd never forgive myself if anything happened to you.

To any of you.

-Well, on behalf of the group, I'd say...

we'd love to have you.

-Great.

Uh, talk tomorrow.

-Night, Sam.

-Night.

EMILY (V.O.): Talking to Sam always makes me feel better.

I'm almost convinced there are no monsters

hiding in the shadows.

[mysterious music]

♪♪

[music grows ominous]

-Fred?

Uh, I just...

just bringing a little something over for Morgan.

Sam? What...?

Is everything okay?

SAM: Yeah.

I'm just updating Fred on his uncle's case.

-I had no idea Uncle Glenn

had been diagnosed with Huntington's.

Why wouldn't he tell me?

-I'm sorry, I was just-- I can come back later if--

-Oh, no, Emily, it's okay.

Please stay.

-Had you noticed any changes in your uncle?

Anxiety, depression?

-If anything, he'd been more cheerful.

My wife commented on it a few times.

She found it strange.

-Well, a diagnosis like that,

it can affect people in different ways.

He had a tough road ahead of him.

-He took care of my mom when she was suffering.

It was awful, but I would have done the same for him.

-Treatments for an illness like that, they'd be expensive.

Do you know if your uncle had insurance?

-I don't know.

But we would have found the money, somehow.

♪♪

EMILY (V.O.): Or maybe Glenn already did.

SAM: I'm trying to wrap my mind around the idea

of someone being murdered while they were already dying.

-[sighs] I wonder if the killer knew.

-Seems redundant.

Hey, how's everything with the store?

Any more issues with the leak?

-Uh, no. No, it's perfect.

Actually, the giant hole in the wall

really adds to the charm.

-I'll take care of that.

-No, you don't have to.

-I want to.

-No.

No...

possible way I could turn down such a generous offer.

-Great. -Great.

EMILY (V.O.): [sarcastic] Great.

-Wow, your ribbon curling is really improving.

Pretty soon the student will surpass the teacher.

[door bells jingling]

-Fred, hey! -Hey. Hey.

-What a nice surprise.

-I didn't get a chance to tell you at the store;

I got caught a little off guard, but I've got good news.

Morgan...

well, we, have had a change of heart.

And if it's not too late,

we'd like to work together with the group.

-This is great.

♪♪

EMILY: Okay, so...

the words we have from all of our books are right here:

"precious," "you," "solution," "seek," "will," "of,"

"memories," "Eve," "Christmas", "way," "to," "your."

-So, what now?

-So now we just unscramble them to form the clue.

-It's making my head spin just thinking about it.

-And you're still missing a book.

-That does make it more challenging, thank you,

but we're only missing three words.

-Do you think "Christmas" and "Eve" go together?

-I think that's as good a guess as any.

-Yeah? -Go ahead.

Put it up on the board.

-[upbeat Christmas music] -Okay.

EMILY: "To... Christmas Eve"?

-Yeah. -Maybe. I don't know.

SAM: Memories of, uh, Christmas Eve?

-What if it's "precious memories"?

-Yeah... yeah, yeah, yeah!

-Oh, I like that one, I like that one.

SAM: That's good. EMILY: That's good, that's good.

I got it, I got it. Uh, precious memories...

-Precious, precious, there we go.

Christmas... You...

-Solution...

♪♪

-Oh, oh...

Pause. Wait, hang on.

It's like a total mess.

[indistinct discussion]

-"...will seek you." -Okay! Seek, yes!

Okay, great!

Okay, so, here's what we have.

"Precious memories of Christmas Eve, blank,

"will, blank your way to this solution, blank, seek."

-That's almost... something.

-Yeah, we all have different memories,

so it makes no sense.

-Well, unless, unless the memory is specific to one of us.

Like maybe someone Glenn knew really well.

FRED: Well, I don't...

I am not sure what that means.

-You have no memories of Christmas Eve?

-None that I would describe as "precious."

[all sigh]

-Unless...

-Oh... he's got something!

-Yeah, what is it? What is it?

-When I was little, Uncle Glenn used to dress up as Santa,

in that same suit that he wore to the Christmas party,

and I would sit on his lap and he would read

'Twas the Night Before Christmas.

We did that almost every year.

-Well, that's a really nice memory!

-But is it helpful?

Everything with Glenn is about books.

-Yes, no, good point. But, um...

Wait, Fred, do you know if your uncle stocked

that particular book in your store?

-'Twas the Night Before Christmas? I think so.

It'd be in the Children's section.

I'll go look.

-Let's do it! -I'm going too.

-I wouldn't mind stretching my legs.

-You don't trust me? -Okay, why don't we all just go?

-I think that's a plan. -I think so, yeah.

EMILY: Let's do it.

Sam...

That's the car.

From the night of the party.

-You sure? -Yeah.

♪♪

♪♪

EMILY: That's the envelope that was stolen

from Glenn's lawyer's office.

-That's strange...

The door's open.

I'm certain I locked it.

-Stand back from the door, Fred.

-What's going on? -Is this part of the game?

-Just stay back.

[ominous music]

-This is Detective Sam Wilner.

I need you to step outside slowly with your hands

where I can see them.

[suspenseful music]

♪♪

MAN: Okay, alright. Take it easy.

I'm coming out.

What? What's this about?

-Is that your car?

NOAH: Yeah. SAM: I need you to come with me.

-What are you talking about? Why?

-Noah...?

-Oh, hey, Freddie.

Long time, huh?

-You two know each other?

-He's my brother.

[handcuffs tightening]

SAM: When's the last time you talked to your Uncle Glenn?

-Talked?

Pfft...

Maybe 18 years ago,

around the same time I left home.

-But you've seen him since?

-Yeah.

A few nights ago, I saw him arrive

at the Christmas party at the diner.

-What were you doing there?

-Trying to work up the courage to talk to my brother.

-Why now?

-I received a package from my uncle.

I don't know how he found me, but he did.

It was a book,

along with an invitation to some private event.

-Yeah, we found it in your car.

What were you doing at the bookstore?

-Well, along with the invitation, there was a key.

I figured it was a key to his store, so I tested it out.

And that's when you found me.

-Why would your uncle give you a key to his store?

-You know what, this is a great question.

I was hoping to ask him, but unfortunately

that's impossible now.

Do you have any idea who might have killed him?

-All we know is that his presumed killer

escaped by donning Glenn's Santa costume.

-Oh, no.

-Oh, yes.

-We found that in the trunk of your car.

-Wait, okay--

-It has trace amounts of blood spatter on it,

and it's a match for your uncle.

-I didn't do it. I found it after.

-After what?

-I saw someone leave the diner in the costume.

It was dark.

I figured it was Uncle Glenn, but they moved so quickly.

No way they were my uncle's age.

And then they ran behind the diner.

-You didn't recognize them? -No.

I drove around to the back to see if I could catch up to them,

and found the coat lying there.

-Why would you take it?

-I recognized it belonged to my uncle.

He wore that same coat when me and Fred were kids.

I couldn't just leave it there.

Come on, I haven't done anything wrong!

-Oh, so you didn't break into Glenn's lawyer's office

and steal this thumb drive we also found in your car?

-Okay, maybe I did one thing wrong.

EMILY: I don't get it. Why steal the USB?

Why not just come to the presentation

like the rest of us?

-He said he wasn't ready to face his brother.

Apparently he couldn't handle the situation

when their mom got sick, and he bailed.

-So what now?

-Hold him overnight, see if his story checks out.

Violet won't be happy.

Told her I'd take her skating before she goes.

-You still have time.

-Not much.

She's, uh, leaving for her mom's earlier than I thought.

-Right, yeah, she did mention that.

-What about you?

Any big holiday plans?

You must have extended family out there somewhere.

-Um, not really. I...

spent some time with my aunt and uncle on the west coast

when I was little, but I lost touch

after I finished school, so...

-Well...

if you, uh, find yourself in the mood for some

non-feline company, you could probably twist my arm.

-Yeah?

[♪♪

-I... I will keep that in mind.

I should get home to the boys, though.

It's their dinner time, so...

-Of course.

-Goodnight. -Night.

[door opens and closes]

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

[mysterious music]

♪♪

[Emily sighs]

[office phones and indistinct chatter]

-Fred?

Hey, you okay?

-Yeah, uh, just waiting to hear news about my brother.

-I just spoke to Sam.

They're not releasing him tonight.

-I see.

[office phones and indistinct chatter]

-You two didn't always see eye-to-eye, huh?

-Actually, we had a pretty great relationship as kids,

considering he's four years older.

He was my best friend.

Then Mom got sick and he just disappeared.

-Yeah, not everyone can handle that kind of trauma.

-He didn't even come to my mom's funeral.

That's unforgivable.

-And yet...

here you are.

-Guess it doesn't make sense.

-It makes perfect sense.

-Y'know, one good thing did come of this.

-Yeah?

-So, after you all left,

the police took me back to the store

just to make sure nothing was damaged or stolen.

And while I was there,

I made my way to the Children's section.

-'Twas the Night Before Christmas.

You found it, didn't you?

-Success!

It was taped to the back cover.

-Did you watch it?

-No, of course not. It was a group effort, right?

I thought we could all get together tomorrow

and watch it as a team.

-I was really hoping you'd say that.

♪♪

EMILY (V.O.): I have to admit, I'm enjoying

this little treasure hunt more than I should,

considering Glenn is dead

and his killer is still out there.

But now that we have all five books,

this should be a walk in the park.

[tires squealing]

EMILY: Aah!

[breathing heavily]

[winces in pain]

♪♪

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