Chilled to the Cone

by Ellie Alexander

  Kerry and Thomas raced toward me, their flashlights blazing a stream of light on the pathway.

  “It’s Dean!” I screamed, ready to collapse. “He’s behind me.”

  They sprang into action.

  My knees buckled. I sank onto the dewy grass as they went after Dean.

  Dean’s tall frame came into the beam of Kerry’s flashlight.

  “Stop, police!” Kerry shouted.

  Dean came to an abrupt halt. Then he started jogging backward.

  He was no match for Kerry, even in her short red dress and three-inch heels. She reached for her gun and commanded him to stop.

  Dean froze.

  Everything happened in a whirl of motion. Thomas tackled Dean and Kerry cuffed his hands behind his back. I heard the sound of sirens nearby, but stayed on the grass, trying to catch my breath and make sense of what had happened.

  A squad car sped toward the park with its lights flashing. Thomas gave them orders to secure Dean in the back of the car until the Professor arrived.

  “Hey Jules.” He strolled in my direction with his hands in the pockets of his slacks. “How are you doing?”

  I stood. “I’m fine, but what about Addie?” I wiped dew from my hands and pointed to Namaste.

  “What about her?”

  “Dean tied her up and gagged her. He was threatening to kill her when I walked in.” I licked my lips, suddenly desperate for a glass of water.

  Thomas’s phone rang. “Hold that thought, Jules,” he said, taking the call.

  I swallowed hard, trying to get rid of the dry feeling in my mouth.

  Thomas hung up the phone. “That was the Professor. He’s on his way. Another team of officers have already gotten Addie. They’re bringing her here. She’s okay.”

  That was a relief.

  I waited while the site of Thomas’s romantic proposal turned into sea of glaring lights and police activity.

  As Thomas had mentioned, Addie appeared a few minutes later, escorted by a uniformed officer. She was wrapped in a blanket.

  “You two hang tight for a second,” Thomas said. “We’re going to need to take both of your statements.” He conferenced with the police officer who had found Addie.

  “How are you doing?” I touched her shoulder.

  She wiggled her fingers. Deep red marks lined her hands from where Dean had bound them. “I want to kill him, but otherwise I’m fine.”

  “He set the fire, didn’t he?” I asked, already knowing the answer. “Does this have to do with the fact that he was your dealer?”

  She touched her finger to her throat and cleared it. “How did you know?”

  “I heard a rumor. Everything sort of clicked right now.”

  Addie wrapped the blanket tighter around her shoulders. “It’s not like it’s a huge deal. I mean marijuana is legal in Oregon.”

  “Right, but through the proper channels. Not when you’re getting it from some dude out of the back of a milk cart on the railroad tracks.”

  “I know. I’m an idiot. Dean saw me smoking behind the studio one day a few months ago. He told me he’d make me a deal. He said he had a secret grow lab on the farm. His stuff is really pure and cheap.”

  “Then what happened?”

  “The cameras. He freaked out when I installed the cameras. I was hoping to catch the Wizard, who I now realize was Lars, but they have footage of Dean. I wasn’t his only client. He took my laptop, my phone, everything digital. I think he was going to try to erase it and take off.”

  “You’re okay?” I surveyed her body for any signs of serious injuries. I thought of the missing cameras and the milk suddenly appearing in our fridge. Dean had used his delivery service as a way into the building. He must have stolen the cameras and then tried to set Namaste on fire.

  Thomas returned. He removed his phone from his suit jacket and asked me to take him through everything that had happened, while Kerry interviewed Addie.

  Shortly after I finished, I spotted the Professor’s unmarked car pull in front of the basketball courts.

  “Duty calls.” Thomas crossed both fingers. “Let’s hope I can salvage this night.”

  “Thomas, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know what else to do.”

  He patted my shoulder. “Jules, we caught a killer. That’s a win, and it comes with the territory. What can you do?” He glanced at Kerry. “She won’t ever be able to say that the night of our engagement was dull or uneventful.”

  I waited near the gazebo where Thomas’s romantic dinner sat untouched.

  “Juliet.” Mom hurried toward me. “I came with Doug. I’m so glad you’re okay, honey.” She exhaled and hugged me.

  “I’m fine, but I feel terrible for Thomas. His proposal was ruined.”

  We watched the other squad car take Dean away. Kerry finished interviewing Addie. She, Thomas, and the Professor huddled near the swing set.

  Addie breezed past us. “I’m going to my studio. The police said they’ll need to do a search and will have more questions for me. Do you want to come with me?”

  “I’ll wait here for a few. As long as you’re okay?”

  She knotted the blanket around her waist so that it didn’t touch the ground. “I’m fine. Dean should be worried though. I can’t wait to testify against that creep.” She stomped down the path and into the moonlight.

  Thomas, Kerry, and the Professor came over to the gazebo.

  The Professor bowed to Thomas. “Many apologies for the interruption. I shall take it from here, you two.”

  Thomas laughed. “Ah, it’s kind of perfect isn’t it? Right, Kerry?”

  Kerry beamed a smile in return.

  “This is better, actually.” Thomas handed Kerry the box of donuts. Then he dropped to one knee. Mom pressed her hands together and grinned. The Professor placed one arm around Mom’s shoulders and the other around mine. “Ah, the sweet twist of fate,” he whispered.

  “Kerry, we met on the job. We’re going to spend our lives on the job, so it’s only fitting that I ask for your hand in marriage, while you’re doing what you do best—tackling a criminal in that red dress.” He lifted the lid to the donut box.

  Kerry clasped her hand over her heart in a rare show of emotion.

  “Will you eat donuts with me every day, Kerry?” Thomas pointed to the ring box tucked in the center of a glazed donut.

  “I will!” She reached for the box, opened it, and gasped.

  Thomas stood and slid the ring on her finger. Then they kissed.

  We clapped and cheered.

  They laughed. Kerry held up her finger to show us the dazzling ring.

  We left them to finish their romantic dinner in peace. I was happy—thrilled—for Thomas and for Kerry. They were starting the beginning of something new. I smiled knowing that I was too.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  A few days after Dean’s arrest, I found myself at the tasting room at Uva. Carlos told me to meet him at the winery because there was something he needed to share with me that was sure to resolve the limbo we’d been living in for good.

  “Mi querida, I’m so happy you came. I have something for you.” Carlos laced his fingers through mine. He looked debonair in his well-cut khaki slacks, white shirt, and khaki jacket. “Julieta, I will always cherish our time together. You have my heart forever, and now I want to give a symbol of my love to you.”

  He pressed his hand over his heart.

  “Okay.” I had no idea what he was talking about.

  “Close your eyes, and trust me.” He led me outside onto the deck that looked out to the organic vineyard. “Go ahead, open your eyes.” Sunlight streamed on the grapevines giving them an angelic glow. Mount Ashland rose like a massive green wave in the distance. Honeybees buzzed along the neat rows. “Isn’t she spectacular?”

  “Yes,” I agreed. “I’m still not sure I understand though.”

  A trace of delight crossed Carlos’s face. “This is my gift to you, mi querida. A way for us to hold a piece of ea
ch other, of the land and the sky together.”

  “Okay.” I raised one eyebrow.

  “You do not understand?”

  “No.”

  He kissed my forehead so tenderly that it was hard to breathe.

  Carlos bent down and reached into a leather satchel. He removed a bundle of paperwork held together with a large rubber band. “My gift.”

  I took the papers. It looked like some kind of a contract. “What is it?”

  “Uva. It belongs to us now.”

  “What? How?” I was having a hard time forming words.

  “Let’s say that I made Richard Lord a deal he couldn’t refuse. You and I and Lance own it completely. The vineyard it is ours.”

  “Carlos.” Words failed me.

  He beamed. “I knew this would make you happy. It is the right thing. Uva should belong to us—to you. I feel you in the earth every day I’m here. When the light hits the vines like this in the mornings and they glow, it makes me think of you.”

  I couldn’t believe what he was saying. Spots danced in my vision. I wasn’t entirely sure if it was from the sun or my shock. “Thank you. But, how? I can’t believe Richard would give up Uva, even for a good price.”

  Carlos studied my face. “Everyone has a price. Even Richard Lord.”

  “You bought him out? Really?”

  “Si.”

  I threw my arms around him, soaking in the scent of his woodsmoke aftershave and the soft caress of his lips on mine. When we finally broke apart, he pressed his hands together. “You are happy, si?”

  “Yes. Shocked, but definitely happy. I don’t know how you did it.”

  “They say it is good to have some mystery in a marriage.” Carlos winked.

  “What about Lance?” I watched as a red-tailed hawk circled overhead.

  “Lance is on our team. He will continue to be a partner. I think this is okay with you?”

  I thought back to the night we went out to dinner. Is that what Carlos and Lance had been plotting? Carlos’s meetings hadn’t been about getting a new contract on the ship. He’d been working to buy out Richard Lord.

  “That’s perfect. I don’t know what to say other than thank you.”

  “Your face right now is the only thanks I need.” Carlos trailed a finger along my cheek. Then he turned my head toward the vineyard. “This is our future, Julieta.”

  If a heart could burst from happiness, mine was in danger of exploding.

  We spent a while savoring the views and mapping out plans. I was so caught up in the moment that I nearly forgot I was due at the bakeshop. “Carlos, I have to go. We’ll talk more tonight.” I left him with a hug.

  In a daze, I drove to Torte, barely noticing the blooming purple and yellow vetch on the hillside and the lingering snow on the summit of Mt. A.

  “Morning, boss,” Andy greeted me when I walked in the front door. “I made a special drink for you that you’re either going to love or hate.”

  “Well, when you sell it like that, I can’t wait to try it.”

  “I don’t know if you’ll think that once you taste it.” Andy grinned. He handed me a milky black latte.

  “What is this?” I stared at the dark drink.

  “Smell it.”

  I took a deep inhale of the steamy latte and immediately smelled notes of toasty coconut. “Coconut?”

  “Yep. It’s a charcoal latte. You remember how I told you I was inspired after the fire?”

  “Yeah?”

  “This is my inspiration. Charcoal. It’s hot right now—pun intended by the way.”

  “Nice.” I chuckled. The drink was jet-black and had the slightest hint of a smoky aroma.

  “Bethany gave me the idea a while ago. A bunch of social influencers are baking with charcoal. I’m sure you’ve seen it around, but I couldn’t figure out a way to put it in coffee until the fire. Give a try and tell me what you think.”

  I took a timid sip. To the delight of my taste buds, the latte wasn’t gritty or bitter. It had a lovely coconut flavor mingled with a touch of earthiness. “Wow, it’s delicious. Who knew? Charcoal.”

  “Right?” Andy pointed to the specials board. “As long as you’re cool with it, we’re going to put it up today and see how it does.”

  “Go for it.” I took the charcoal latte and went downstairs.

  To my surprise, Mom was in the kitchen, wearing our signature-red Torte apron and rolling out shortcrust. “You’re here early,” I noted, taking off my jacket and tying on an apron.

  “I thought you might want some company.” She gave me a knowing look. “I hear you might have some news.”

  “What? You know?” I looked around the kitchen. “Does everyone know?” Marty was out on bread deliveries, Steph had her headphones in at the decorating station, and Sterling was either distracted with a soup on the stove or doing a great job pretending to be completely occupied.

  Mom squeezed my hand. “No, honey. Carlos asked Doug and me our opinion.”

  “How did he do it? Richard Lord never budges for me.”

  “No idea. He didn’t tell us that part.” Mom shrugged.

  “And I thought that Carlos was going to leave.”

  “Did you?” She raised an eyebrow. “Have I ever told you what Dad used to say?”

  “About what?”

  She brushed flour from her hands and traced the crust with a pastry knife, cutting a perfect freehand circle. “He said that optimists get a bad rap.”

  “How so?”

  “You, like your father and myself, are an eternal optimist.”

  “Am I?”

  “Yes. Trust me on this one, honey, you are. That’s not my point, though. Dad always felt like there was this pervasive idea that sadness and melancholy were reserved for pessimists. It’s not true. You can be both. You can be heartbroken. You can be sad, lonely, filled with grief, and you can still be an optimist.”

  “What’s the difference?”

  “The difference is that optimists—like us—know that the sadness, the grief won’t consume us. They’ll likely change us. Maybe those feelings will stay with us, but they won’t define us. What I’m trying to remind you of is that you know who you are and how strong you are at your core. Even if Carlos had left, you would have been fine. You’re fine exactly as you are, which is one of the reasons Carlos loves you so much.”

  Her words resonated on every level.

  “Thanks, Mom. I needed to hear that.” I gave her a quick hug and got to work on cake orders.

  The Professor dropped by around lunch to give us an update on Dean. “Afternoon, my favorite ladies. I thought you might like to know that Dean will be arraigned tomorrow. He has made a full confession not only about killing the Wizard—Jim—but also about his involvement in drug trafficking. It should be—knock on wood—an open-and-shut case.”

  “That’s good,” I said.

  “Indeed. A confession makes the prosecution’s case much easier. The team was able to recover the digital files. We have video evidence of Dean dealing on the tracks. Our team seized over six-thousand marijuana plants from his property. That’s nearly three tons. It will be destroyed. Dean has been growing and selling on the black market for six months. He’s been charged with murder, illegal manufacturing, delivery, possession, and money laundering.”

  “What about the cows? What’s going to happen to his farm?”

  “There is no farm. He confessed to purchasing milk from the grocery store and repacking it in glass bottles.”

  I could feel my mouth hang open. “No wonder his milk didn’t taste particularly special.”

  “Why was he so desperate to break into Namaste?” I asked. “Was he worried that the surveillance cameras were going to show him dealing?”

  “That and more.” The Professor stretched one leg over the other. “There’s also footage of Jim’s murder on the files. It was quite disturbing to watch, but the footage shows the assault that led to Jim’s death. He confessed that Jim had planned to co
me to us with proof of his drug dealing. Dean will be spending many, many years behind bars.”

  “What a relief.” Mom offered the Professor one of her spring lemon tarts.

  “I’m sure Laney will take some comfort in knowing that you’ve caught her dad’s killer.”

  “Oh, I’m glad you mentioned Laney. There’s been an interesting development there. Laney will be receiving his 401k in its entirety.”

  “That’s great news.” I was relieved for my friend. No amount of money could bring her father back, but the cash would certainly ensure that Nana’s Street Food would continue to thrive.

  “What about Lars?” Mom asked.

  The Professor nibbled on the lemon tart. “His fate will rest in part in terms of who decides to press charges. Hunter, Addie, you. He did confess to tagging the buildings in the alley and your fridge, and stealing a variety of items from his father’s shop.”

  “I have some thoughts on that,” Mom said. “There is going to be plenty of manual labor to be done on the new space. It seems like a fitting opportunity for some volunteer labor.”

  “But can he be trusted?” I asked.

  “I spoke with Hunter about that very thing. I think with some direct supervision and his father’s watchful eye, we can feel confident in that.”

  “Fine with me. I’d much prefer not to have to press charges, as long as he never does something like that again.”

  “As the Bard said, ‘They whose guilt within their bosom lies, imagine every eye beholds their blame.’ I do believe Lars will feel the weight of community eyes upon him, and I choose to hope that those watchful eyes will steer him forward on a new course.”

  I appreciated that they were both willing to give Lars another chance.

  “Was Lars the person Lance and I saw digging in the dumpster?”

  “Ah.” The Professor held up a finger. “I have another favorite quote for this, ‘A little more knowledge lights our way.’”

  “That’s not Shakespeare,” Mom said.

  “No—Master Yoda. Although one could argue that Star Wars has much in common with the Bard.” He brushed his hands together. “I digress. We’ll save that discussion for another day. I too believed that Lars must have been the person you saw, but in new light—hence information from a very scared Sky—I came to realize that Sky was indeed in danger. He saw Lars imitating Jim but unbeknownst to him, he saw Dean too.”