A Frozen Scoop of Murder: A Cozy Mystery (Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book 1) (2 page)

“That’s true,” Paige agreed. “Especially the ice cream case. Call Marshall’s Heating and Cooling. They’re one of the best.”

“I hear they charge an arm and a leg,” Stormi claimed as she rounded the ice cream case to grab a scoop of rocky road.

I could always count on Paige’s sensibility and then Stormi to counter.

“Well who would you suggest Miss Smarty Pants?” Paige asked.

“I have no idea,” Stormi said as she took a bite of ice cream. “I’m just saying what I heard.”

“They’re the only game in town unless you want to call someone 60 miles away,” Paige countered.

These two were like sisters. They bickered with one another, but would sacrifice life or limb for the other. I was usually caught in the middle of their quarreling so I’d simply bow out and let them go at it. I walked back to my tiny office in the back of the store that was actually only a desk and computer. I scanned the phone book and found the Marshall’s Heating and Cooling number. I made an appointment for tomorrow morning to have my freezers checked and maintained. Then I walked out to the front of the Shoppe where my two friends remained squabbling.

“It’s done,” I exclaimed. They turned to look at me. “I’ve set up an appointment for tomorrow morning to have the freezers checked.”

“With who?” Paige asked.

“Marshall’s” I answered. Paige smiled and looked at Stormi.

“Don’t be surprised if they stick you with a hefty bill,” Stormi said as she finished scooping out the remainder of the Rocky Road from her cup.

At that moment, the front door opened and the evening crowd scurried in. I headed to the back to perform my inventory. This week would be busy, what with filling special orders, having the freezers inspected, and getting my booth ready for the festival. What I didn’t know at the time, was how this week would change my life.

*****

The next morning I arrived at the Shoppe early, around 8am. I don’t open until 10am but scheduled the heating and cooling appointment early so as not to disrupt my customers. Stormi wasn’t due in until that afternoon since Tuesday was the slowest day of the week, but here she came in all her glory.

“Storm, what are you doing here?” I exclaimed as I pulled the chairs from their upside down position on the tables and placed them on the floor.

“I want to make sure you don’t get ripped off,” she said, pulling off her lightweight jacket. “Brr, it’s cold early in the mornings. No wonder I don’t get out before the sun is high in the sky before May.”

I shook my head and smiled. Stormi was my best friend since high school. She was never at a loss for words and very opinionated. But that’s what I loved about her. I had my own opinions, but I had a knack for looking at both sides of a coin as well. I knew people let you see what they wanted you to see. Whether it was a daily cheery smile that masked a hidden depression or terrible secret, or a brusque attitude that disguised a dreadful upbringing. I was always intrigued by what made a person tick and why they behaved in a certain way. Sometimes people were an open book, while others, often those with a plastered smile on their faces, were the ones hiding a secret.

At that moment, the door chimed and I looked up. In walked a tall drink of water with a shock of black hair and emerald eyes wearing a tool belt. I glanced over at Stormi who stood behind the ice cream case with her slacked jaw. I’m so glad I didn’t listen to you Stormi, I thought. By the look on her face, she was thinking the same thing.

“Hello,” I said coming out of my trance. “You must be from Marshall’s Heating and Cooling.”

“Yes Maam,” he answered. “I’m here to perform a maintenance check on your freezers. Oh, my name is Trevor Collins.”

“My name is Tara Beckley, owner of the Shoppe, and this is my friend and co-worker Stormi Rogers.” Stormi raised her hand and waved. Wow, first time she’s ever been speechless. I have to admit, I felt tongue-tied as well. I must have sputtered and stammered as I showed Trevor around the store. I felt like such an idiot, but he only smiled and got to work.

I walked back to the front where Stormi stood wiping down the counter.

“Wow, he’s so hot I bet all the ice cream melts,” Stormi said as she tried to get a glance of him working on my large freezer.

“Have you ever seen or heard of him?” I asked.

“Are you kidding? No way he’d get past my radar,” Stormi answered. “He must be new in town. Did you see if he was wearing a ring?”

“Well no,” I answered. “My goodness, we’re acting like a couple of deprived hens and a rooster just landed in the coop.”

“Well this hen almost laid an egg when he waltzed in,” Stormi said. I giggled.

“He’s out of my league, so it’s my mission to get you two together,” Stormi claimed.

“Ummm no, it’s not your mission. He’s probably married and who says I’m looking,” I said as matter of fact as I could. I wasn’t looking. My past marriage failed and I was perfectly happy the way things were, regardless how much my friends didn’t want to believe it. If love came knocking, fine, but I wasn’t chasing after it. I gave Stormi the ‘look’ and she backed off.

Trevor walked out from the back and said, “The upright looks in good shape, but the compressor in the chest freezer will need replacing. Actually, it might be better to purchase another freezer than put the money into this old one. You might find a good used one that wouldn’t cost as much as a new compressor.”

Not the news I wanted to hear since I was working on a shoestring budget, but I needed to know.

“I cleaned around the coils so that should help with efficiency,” Trevor continued. “I’ll check out the ice cream case now.”

“Thanks Trevor, go right ahead,” I answered. I walked to the back of the store where Stormi was checking out his work.

“Does he pass inspection?” I whispered.

“In the looks department yes. In the freezer category, I have no clue,” she answered.

“Then what are you looking for?” I asked as she continued to look around the freezers.

“Heck if I know…but I’m sure I’ll know it when I see it.”

I left her to scrutinize over Trevor’s work and walked to the front.

“Trevor, do you know of anywhere I could buy a good used freezer?”

Trevor looked up as he inspected the ice cream case. “Marshalls has some good used freezers for sale. We take and refurbish used freezers and you can buy them for a fraction of what a new one costs.”

He was a good salesman. I was feeling more comfortable with him every minute.

“Okay, I might stop by there tomorrow and look at them.”

Trevor smiled and went back to work.

“Are you new around here Trevor?” I asked. I could see Stormi in the back biting her lip.

“Yes and no,” he answered.

“I grew up here and then my family moved to Atlanta when I was ten. I grew weary of city life though so when a job came up here I decided to pounce on it,” he said sliding his tools back into their slots on his tool belt.

“Do you have any family still around here?” I asked.

“Yes. You might know her. Miss Greta Haglemier is my aunt.”

I noticed Stormi’s shoulders sag as her eyes rolled towards the ceiling. She looked like I felt.

“Oh yes,” I said with a smile. “Miss Greta is a regular customer.”

“She does love her ice cream,” Trevor announced to no one’s surprise.

“Yes she does. In fact I have an order for an ice cream cake for her book club Thursday, so I better make sure all my freezers are in working order.”

“Yeah, I wouldn’t want to be on her bad side,” Trevor remarked as he wrote out the bill.

Hmmm, I thought she only had one side and it was all bad.

He handed me the bill and to my shock, it read $20.

“That’s surely not right,” I exclaimed. I knew just calling a company out for a routine check should cost at least double that amount.

“Oh that’s a new customer discount,” he said. I didn’t believe it.

“I’ll look for you at the shop tomorrow. Come in early and I’ll be there before setting out for the day making my rounds.”

“Oh, okay,” I answered completely flabbergasted. “See you tomorrow.”

“Bye Tara, oh and bye Stormi,” Trevor yelled towards the back of the store. I heard a faint bye emerge from the back as he walked out the door.

Stormi came racing to the front and grabbed my arm.

“I don’t know what’s more confusing. That hunk being related to Miss Greta or his obvious attempt to get you to the store tomorrow!” Stormi exclaimed.

“You do realize that I’m a customer who may buy one of his products and that’s why he invited me.”

“He didn’t have to tell you the time he’d be there though,” she said with a grin.

Okay, I’ll give her that. But the fact Mr. Gorgeous was related to Miss Greta all but soured the entire encounter.

“Please don’t hold that against him,” Stormi pleaded.

“What?” I asked as if I didn’t know.

“You know what…that he’s related to Miss Grouchy pants,” Stormi chided.

“Stormi, it doesn’t matter….I’m not interested in seeing anyone,” I said as I finished cleaning the tables.

“Yeah keep telling yourself that,” she grinned.

“Listen, you need to get your brother to finish my booth, like pronto,” I said changing the subject.

“Oh I forgot, Brandon said to tell you he’s almost done. Just has to paint the booth pink.”

Brandon was Stormi’s younger brother who was divorced and lived on his own. He worked a nine to five job as an accountant, but loved carpentry work so this was right up his alley and I appreciated the free labor.

“Awesome. Now all I have to worry about is making sure Miss Greta’s ice cream cake is the bee’s knees.”

Stormi laughed. “Or you’ll get stung.”

We had no idea the tumultuous events yet to unfold.

*****

The next morning I walked into Marshall’s Heating and Cooling to browse through their three chest coolers. I don’t know what I thought. That maybe they had a showroom of used chest coolers. Who knows, but I was taken aback when I saw that’s all there was. One looked like it should be taken out back and shot, while the other two didn’t appear half-bad. As I was looking over the two half way decent models, in walked Trevor from the back of the building.

“Hi Tara. I see you made it.,” he said walking over to where I was standing next to one of the chest freezers.

“Hi Trevor. Yes I’m wondering about these two.”

“Yes I would definitely not recommend this beauty over here,” he said waving his arm towards the rusted conglomeration that once was a freezer.

“I decided to give that one a pass,” I laughed.

“Good call,” He stated. Trevor then set about to go over the pros and cons of the other two freezers and the one he would recommend for my Shoppe. I decided on the Frigidaire and Trevor said he’d have it delivered and set up for me later that day. Then he took me by surprise.