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“You have the list?” Kai asked, getting right to business, as was his way. “Shall we go to the workshop?”
“I don’t have the list finalized yet.”
Kai furrowed his brow. “Shouldn’t it be made and in the process of being checked twice at this point?”
There was a beat before Matteo chuckled. Kai, normally so taciturn, occasionally let slide a wry remark like that, but it always took Matteo by surprise. “Soon. I promise. The visiting American has taken up more of my time than I’d like. But yes, let’s go to the workshop and take an inventory—see where our holes are. I came to tell you that I’ve been pulled away on some palace business tomorrow, so I won’t be able to help you sort the food delivery.” Kai’s brow furrow deepened. It was interesting how no one knew that underneath his gruff, seemingly unflappable exterior, Kai was actually quite a worrywart. “Don’t worry. Every year we think we’re not going to make it, but it always gets done. It’s only nonperishables arriving tomorrow, so take delivery and I’ll come Saturday morning and we’ll deal with it all.”
“It’s going to be a lot of work this year without Torkel.”
“We’ll manage.”
Kai grunted and grabbed his coat. Matteo was still wearing his—Kai wasn’t the kind of person who took guests’ coats. They tromped across the crunchy snow to Kai’s workshop, which, like his house, was a log cabin. Unlike his house, which was cozy and well-appointed on the inside, the workshop was a mess. To Matteo’s eyes, anyway, but it always seemed to be a kind of organized chaos Kai effortlessly navigated, so Matteo never remarked on it. As he’d said, the job always got done.
Kai led him to a table stacked high with books. “I picked these up in Zurich last week. They didn’t have your whole order in, so I’ll have to go back next week.”
“I’ll do it. I have to be there anyway on the twenty-second to pick up the Christmas cakes—I assume that won’t be too late for the rest of the books. Books are easy to slide into baskets last-minute. And I’ll take these with me tonight.” Matteo generally kept books and some of the other small items at his apartment in the run-up to Christmas, in an attempt to clear actual workspace in Kai’s cabin.
Kai grunted again, which Matteo took to signal agreement. “What else?” he asked.
“Toys.” The next table contained a mixture of store-bought toys—games and dolls and science kits—and Kai’s handmade creations. Kai was known for his handcrafted wooden marble runs and train sets. “Everything is under control here, assuming your final numbers aren’t a lot higher than last year’s.”
“I really will have the list done, and broken down by family and category of need, by the middle of next week,” Matteo vowed, to himself as much as to Kai. They moved on to a table piled high with clothing. “I’ve a major donation from Helly Hansen—fifty children’s coats. May I have them sent here?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you.” He tried to infuse his thanks with the urgency he felt. Over the years, his Christmas project had expanded beyond his ability to contain it within the walls of his apartment. He wasn’t sure what he would do without Kai. His workshop was large, and it was remote, both of which were key to the success—and secrecy—of their mission.
“You look tired,” Kai said, startling Matteo. “Is it the American?”
“She’s been here less than a week, so I don’t think I can blame her. Alas.” He was trying to be glib, but he was now worried that his existential exhaustion was outwardly visible.
“I have some unfortunate news,” Kai said, startling Matteo.
“All right,” Matteo said, bracing himself.
“I think it’s possible that Imogen is onto us,” Kai said.
Matteo relaxed. “I’m fairly certain she is.”
“She is?” Matteo had to chuckle at Kai’s shocked expression.
“She’s made a few remarks that suggest she knows it’s us. Is it really that surprising? Imogen’s a smart woman.”
“Mm.” Matteo could see Kai adjusting to this new information. “She is that.”
“In fact, I’ve often thought about coming clean and enlisting her help,” Matteo went on. “She’s very well-connected. Perhaps too well-connected, which is why I hesitate. If this endeavor gets any bigger, we won’t be able to pull it off in one night.” Though as soon as the observation was out, he wondered if perhaps itwasworth thinking about bringing in someone else. Matteo had been trying to reassure Kai, but they were already feeling Torkel’s absence.
Perhaps they needed a management consultant. He barked a laugh and immediately clamped a hand over his mouth. Kai hadn’tnoticed, though. He was staring into space, probably thinking about Imogen. Matteo cleared his throat. “Well then, if everything is in order here, I’ll be going.”
Kai grunted and waved his hand, dismissing Matteo. Time to go home and get as much done as possible before he blew an entire day tomorrow wrangling Ms. Delaney.
Chapter Six
Twenty-six days until Christmas
The next morning, Cara met Mr. Benz at the appointed time in front of the palace and was surprised to find him behind the wheel of a car.
“No driver?” she asked when he got out and held the passenger-side door for her as if hewerea professional chauffeur.
