This is still as exhilarating as it was the first time I read it. It's timeless. I love how this begins with a description of THE GIFT and it's location and Broots' thoughts about it. It was a stroke of genius to start this novella that way. This is all about THE GIFT. From there you tell us how Miss Parker procured THE GIFT and Jarod's role in that, which confirms Broots' suspicions of Jarod's involvement. You tie it back to that with your shiny ribbons of gold Mirage.

You fully immersed me in the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping, the crowd, the music, the ever present and loud AF salvation army bells, Miss Ella Fitz singing Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. Parker had to put some effort in finding the perfect GIFT for the ghoul who has everything.

You lighten the dark series up even more with this gem "Of all the shops in all the cities in all the world, Frankenboy walks into this one."

Then we hear the MOST Miss Parker thing that Miss Parker has ever said:  "The lines are four hundred miles long anyway. Why the hell not?"

Everyone hates shopping for christmas.

I love that Parker corrects Jarod's "mr" with "doctor scrooge."

It's her reason for murdering Raines that makes this all the more plausible. A child. Her child. I'm guessing it's Jarod's child, too. I love that you didn't make that child be THE GIFT. Coerced parenthood is terrible, it's a curse, not a gift. I love THE GIFT is ding dong Raines is dead. A gift Parker gave to herself. A gift that Parker gives to Jarod and his family. It's a GIFT that will spare many people pain. Her reasons really are in keeping with the spirit of christmas, the good will towards humankind.

This might be my favorite novella of yours. I'm always blown away by this one, and it's always like I'm reading it for the first time. Bravo, Mirage, and have yourself a merry holiday time.

Thank you for this. Exquisite work as always. I've enjoyed every word so far and I'm feeling all of the old Pretender feelings. The same old feelings, the same old series. You bring a much needed modern and fresh slant to the table. This could easily be the next Pretender movie. Because of your story telling abilities I already see this all happening as I read. You really know the characters, and you write them well. More please?