Evil Elf wanted to ruin every child in the world, and he was stuck. He crouched behind a snowbank outside Santa's grand castle, its candy-cane towers glowing red and gold. Somewhere inside sat the Naughty and Nice list. If he stole it, he would rewrite every name into the naughty column and keep it there forever. But the castle had a thousand windows, and he had no idea which room hid the list. He gnawed the white ball on his green toque and cursed. "A heist needs a target," he muttered. "I can't rob a castle I don't understand." He had watched the gates for three days. Elves marched in and out with sacks and toys. None of them carried the list. It was hidden somewhere deep, and Evil Elf could not begin. Then a small shape stumbled through the snow toward him. A young reindeer, no bigger than a colt, with a bright red nose that glowed like a warm coal. It shivered and blinked at him with wide, trusting eyes. "Are you lost?" the little reindeer asked. "I can't find my way back to the workshop." Evil Elf smiled. His plan arrived all at once. "The workshop! Yes. I work there too, friend. I got turned around myself. Show me the way inside and we'll both be warm again." The reindeer's nose brightened. "You know the way to the record room? That's near my stall." "The record room." Evil Elf's heart jumped. "Of course. Take me straight there. I have papers to file." The reindeer trotted ahead, happy to help. Evil Elf followed close, tugging his black belt tight. The young animal led him around the castle wall to a small side door left open for the reindeer. They slipped inside together. Warm air and the smell of gingerbread washed over them. Down a long hall the reindeer went, hooves clicking on tile. It stopped at a tall wooden door carved with a snowflake. "Here," it said. "The record room. Papa keeps all the important lists inside. Even the big one." "The big one," Evil Elf whispered. He pressed his hand to the door. It was locked. But it did not matter now. He knew the room. He knew the way in. His long heist finally had a beginning. He patted the reindeer's head. "Good work, friend. You've helped more than you know." The reindeer beamed, then tilted its head. "But your name isn't on the workshop roster. I checked it this morning. Should I go tell Papa a new elf is here?" Evil Elf froze. The trusting eyes now looked uncertain. If the young reindeer spoke to Santa, the whole castle would learn a stranger stood at the record room door. Evil Elf had found his target at last. Now he had to silence the one creature who could give him away.