The Owl on Christmas Eve

The case file

Christmas Eve, 9:40 pm. Marwood's department store on Tidewater Street closed at eight for the staff party. At a quarter past nine the inspector came with a warrant for the Hollin Trust's account book, which Mr. Venning swore was in the office safe. The safe was open and empty. At 9:35 a boy carried a parcel in the store's gray ribbon aboard the Saltholm packet, which sails at eleven. The purser, warned by the desk, opened it: the account book.

In the half hour before the inspector came, four people were upstairs at Marwood's, one each in the office, Santa's grotto, the fireside window and the dispatch room. Each had one thing a ledger could leave in: a parcel for the boat, a Santa sack, a gift box or a document case. Three of them tell the truth. One is lying, and the liar took it.

Who was there

• Mrs. Celia Marwood, owner of Marwood's department store. Silver hair, a gray silk scarf, and a kind word for every shop girl by name.
• Polly Gwinnell, window dresser. Glitter in her hair, head of windows since Mr. Slade left, and dressing the Christmas morning window.
• Bertie Coombe, the store's Santa Claus. A real white beard, the red coat, and a sack of presents for the staff's children.
• Silas Venning, agent of the Hollin Trust, resigning. His resignation in his document case, and a voice on the telephone he would know anywhere.