Melt Down Murder

by Gretchen Allen

  She walked over toward the duo as they talked and pulled the order slip from Max’s fingers, so he wouldn’t have to step away from the conversation.

  “Two skillet sundaes. I haven’t made one of these for a while!” Yvette exclaimed when she saw the order. “Can you make sure the oven is up to temp?” she asked Vanessa.

  “On it!” Vanessa agreed, rushing to the kitchen.

  “Excuse the interruption, but I just wanted to let you know that the skillet sundaes take a bit longer to prepare since the cookie is baked to order, is that okay?” Yvette asked the women talking with Max.

  “Absolutely,” she nodded. “I’d wait all day for something that sounds that good.”

  “We’ll get them out to you as soon as we can.” Yvette grinned, and headed for the kitchen.

  She pulled out the prepared cookie dough from the walk-in cooler and placed it in a small skillet to be baked. The piping hot, thick and chewy chocolate chip cookies would be topped with mocha pecan ice cream and drenched in hot fudge and whipped cream. There was nothing better than creating something so decadent and delicious. Yvette hoped the customers would enjoy it and that Max would be inspired by her creation.

  3

  Yvette went over her packing list for the final time. After double and triple checking that everything she needed was ready to go, she realized the last thing left on the list that she needed was something that she’d have to go to her parent’s house to pick up. Yvette shot her mom a quick text to let her know she’d be stopping by and sat back in her recliner, deciding to relax for a few minutes and enjoy her morning coffee. After all, it was barely seven a.m. and she’d already been up for two hours preparing for her weekend getaway.

  She couldn’t wait to get to the lake house. It may not be the girl’s trip that she and Amelia had dreamed of, but Lake Winterwater was a perfectly suitable location for the friends to take a few days for themselves. Mark and Amelia had purchased the house together when they were dating and while they were no longer together, they had made the choice to keep the house. They rotated weeks, so both could enjoy the home that they had renovated themselves.

  “Knock, knock.” Yvette heard a voice sing-song through the open window of her living room.

  “You’re here early,” she said once Amelia let herself in.

  The two had been friends for so long, they’d felt comfortable enough to walk into each other’s homes without giving it a second thought.

  “Weird, right? I’m never early,” she laughed at herself.

  “Here I was thinking I had all this time to relax,” Yvette teased.

  “I’m looking forward to this weekend and I couldn’t sit still so I came over hoping you’d be ready too. I haven’t been out to the lake yet this summer. I’d expected to get down there a few times but with work and the trip to see my grandparents, I just haven’t had the time. Is that all you’re bringing?” Amelia babbled, stopping to gawk at the tiny luggage set by the front door.

  “How much do I really need? We’ll either be by the water or around the house the whole time. I did bring a nice outfit for tomorrow night in case we wanted to go out to dinner.”

  Amelia shrugged. “I dunno. I brought three bathing suits, a set of pajamas and four outfits. I packed two sundresses too, and I have a separate bag for shoes and one for make-up.”

  Yvette should have known better than to ask. Her friend always over packed. A couple years ago, the two had taken a week-long trip to Michigan for the Ice Cream Expo and decided to drive there. Amelia brought along four suitcases that were all full to the brim and Yvette wasn’t sure that she’d even opened two of them up the entire trip.

  “Good thing we’re taking my SUV. We’d never have enough room in your little car. Did you bring your things with you or do we need to stop by your house?” Yvette stood and looked out the window.

  “I brought everything. I think we can leave right from here if you don’t mind me keeping my car in your driveway.”

  “Of course you can. I’ll have Gavin keep an eye on it while we’re gone. He’ll be watering my plants for me anyway. It’s not like your car will be in the way.” Yvette grabbed her car keys. “I have to run to my parents and grab the coolers. I was going to stop on our way to the lake, but we could get a little bite to eat and bring it back here. We still have plenty of time to pack up the car before we have to head out.”

  Pulling her purse over her shoulder, Amelia headed out the front door behind her friend. “I saw the sign out at Brews on my way here. They have a spinach and sundried tomato quiche on special today. We should totally get that, and whatever we don’t finish we can leave for Gavin.”

  “That sounds delicious!” Yvette squinted, shading her eyes from the sun. “You parked behind me. Do you just want to take your car?”

  “Sure, we can do that but maybe we should take my luggage out first ‘cause there’s no way those coolers are going to fit.”

  Both cracking up, the women began pulling the bags out from her tiny car and tossing them into Yvette’s much larger and more practical SUV.

  The women, eager to get their vacation started, climbed in Amelia’s car and headed toward the Lockhart’s home on Cottage Street.

  4

  The first thing I want to do when we get there is call the shop to make sure everything is okay,” Yvette said from the driver’s seat.

  “No, the first thing we’re going to do is sprint to the dock and sit by the water for a while. I don’t even want to go in the house beforehand. There’s something about sitting out there that calms me. I need calm, we both do. I could have driven if you wanted to spend the whole time checking on work stuff.”

  “I don’t want to spend the whole time doing that, I only want to see how things are going. I’ve never left like this before. I mean, I’ve gone away, but Emma was always there to take my place.”

  “Vanessa is more than capable of handling things. You probably scheduled all the other staff for the entire weekend too so I’m betting everything is fine.” Amelia poked her friend in the arm.

  Yvette let out a breath. “You’re right. I do want to be on the water and I do trust Vanessa. I never understand how you don’t worry. You leave your secretary alone all the time and you’re the director of Tourism and Activities for the entire town. You’re lucky that nothing bad ever happens.”

  “To be fair, nothing bad ever happens when you leave either,” Amelia teased. “I also don’t just ‘leave my secretary alone’. I have someone that covers me when I’m gone. Carina comes over from the Senior Center and takes over all my events and tours that I have planned. Although, I do try to keep the schedule light when I’m traveling.”

  “Alright, alright. I’ll make this one phone call and I won’t let it cross my mind again.”

  “Good, ‘cause we only have a couple days here and I don’t want to spend it thinking about work. I save up my vacation time every year, and since I came home early from my trip, I get to use my time off wisely. Spending it with you at the lake house, surrounded by beautiful scenery.”

  They drove about ten minutes longer before seeing the stunning view of Lake Winterwater to the right of them. The tranquil water, glimmering with sparkles under the heat of the summer sun was a sight for sore eyes. They spotted several boats, and families playing together on the shore. It would be only minutes before they’d arrive at the house and they could join in on the fun.

  Yvette drove slowly up the road toward the house. It was exactly how she remembered. The pale blue exterior of the home was so inviting, and the backdrop boasted some of the most beautiful birch, and white oak trees she had ever seen. The women got out of the vehicle and took in their surroundings quietly before trading a look and running together toward the dock.

  “I love it here.” Amelia sat on the dock with her feet hanging off the edge into the water.

  Undoing her ponytail and shaking out her wavy, brown hair, Yvette laid down on the gently rocking dock. “Me too. I’m sorry you an
d Mark didn’t get to enjoy it together for longer. It’s a truly beautiful place.”

  “It is what it is,” Amelia shrugged. “I’m just glad we decided to keep it.”

  “Do you miss him?” Yvette sat up and looked curiously at her friend.

  “Yeah, but I don’t really think I have a right to. I’m the one that caused the breakup.”

  Yvette slipped off her sandals and put her feet in the water. “He’s the one who broke up with you.”

  “Because we didn’t seem to want the same things, but now I’m not so sure…” she trailed off, looking into the water.

  “I don’t understand.” Yvette tilted her head.

  “I miss him, and I think he might have been right. We were kind of perfect for each other and I ruined that when I told him I didn’t ever want to get married.” Amelia blew out a breath and leaned back on her elbows.

  “Well, do you?” Yvette asked, realizing that she’d been right in her assumptions of why their relationship had ended.

  “I might,” she replied slowly, “but it’s probably too late.”

  Yvette could barely contain her excitement. She knew how much Mark adored Amelia and how great of a match they really were. Her friends deserved happiness and if she had her way, she’d be getting them back together as soon as they came home from their trip.

  “I think you should talk to him, but right now, all we need to worry about is having fun. No work and no men.” Yvette jumped up from her spot, ready to get her vacation started.

  Amelia rolled her eyes. “Didn’t you say you had to call the shop and check in?”

  “Oh yeah,” Yvette snorted and pulled out her phone. “Right after I make this call.”

  * * *

  “Can you help me carry some of this stuff?” Amelia blew a wisp of hair out of her eyes.

  “Are you kidding right now? You look ridiculous,” Yvette cackled when she saw her friend.

  Amelia was pulling two suitcases behind her, had a beach bag over each shoulder and her purse around her neck. Her floppy, oversized hat was covering nearly half her face and Yvette was sure she couldn’t see where she was going.

  “I can’t help it. I didn’t want to make more than one trip. I’m excited to be here and I’d rather not spend any more time than necessary bringing things inside.”

  Yvette nudged her friend’s hat back to where it belonged and took one suitcase and a bag off of her hands. The girls carried the luggage up the steps and stopped when they reached the front door, so Amelia could dig the key out of her pocket.

  “I am so ready for this!” Yvette exclaimed as Amelia pushed the front door open.

  “Ewww, what is that smell?” Amelia dropped her bags and covered her nose.

  “Oh wow, yeah. It’s not very nice whatever it is. It’s like a mixture of rotten meat and dirty socks.” Yvette did her best not to gag. “How long has this place been closed up?”

  Amelia looked around the living room. “I don’t know the last time Mark was here, but I haven’t been here in about six months or so. Let’s open the windows or something and try to air it out a little.”

  Yvette lifted her shirt to her face to block the smell and helped slide some of the windows open on the main floor. “Want me to do the ones upstairs too?” she asked.

  “Yeah, that’s probably a good idea. I’ll be up there in just a minute, I’m going to make sure there’s no food in the fridge that accidentally got left in there the last time someone was here.”

  Yvette knew the house like the back of her hand. Granted it’d been a while since she’d been there, but she’d spent several weekends there over the last few years. Leaving the living room and making a quick right down the hallway, she went up the stairs that led to the loft. She figured she’d start there since that’s where she’d be sleeping for the weekend.

  Noticing the most horrifying thing she’d ever seen in her life, Yvette let out a blood-curdling scream before turning and running back down the stairs to where Amelia was.

  “What the heck is wrong?”

  “I… there… oh my gosh,” was all she could get out before terror took over.

  Amelia rushed to her friend’s side just as she dropped to the floor. “What’s the matter? Are you okay?”

  “We n-need to c-call the police,” she managed to say.

  “What, why? Is there someone in the house?” Amelia was panicked. “We need to get out of here.” She tried pulling her friend up.

  Yvette’s heart was racing, and she couldn’t convince her trembling body to cooperate. Her eyes welled with tears. “I don’t think it matters if we leave or not.”

  “I’m going up there myself, if you won’t tell me what’s going on. I swear if you saw a bug or something and are freaking out I’m going to kill you.”

  “No! Don’t go up there,” Yvette lunged toward her friend and grabbed her by the leg.

  “Alright, now you’re scaring me.”

  “Just trust me, you don’t want to go up there…” Yvette reached forward and took her phone from her purse and dialed the emergency numbers she hoped she’d never have to call. “Let’s go outside and wait. I don’t want to be in here for a second longer.” She forced herself up and took her friend by the arm.

  5

  When did you say you arrived?” Deputy Rodney Calhoun asked.

  “We got here around ten o’clock or so, but we spent some time out by the water talking for a little bit before we ever even came into the house,” Yvette answered, still shaken.

  “And you were the one to find the body?”

  “Yes. When we walked in, there was a really strong smell and we were going around opening windows to clear it out. I went upstairs to do those windows and that’s when I saw it…him.” Her stomach clenched.

  The deputy waved over another officer. “Can you get this young lady some water?”

  “I’m sorry. I’ve never seen something like that before. There was so much blood. I just…I’m sorry,” Yvette stuttered.

  “I completely understand. Seeing a body is never pleasant for anyone,” the deputy agreed. “I have a few more questions when you’re ready.”

  “Of course. I’ll do anything I can.” Yvette looked around the yard for Amelia. She was talking with Heath Briggs, the Chief of Police.

  “This is your friend’s property?

  “Yes. She owns it with her ex-boyfriend, Mark Kline.”

  The deputy raised a brow. “She owns it with her ex? That’s unusual.”

  “I guess. It didn’t end on bad terms or anything. They purchased the place when they were still dating and they both loved it so much that they didn’t want to give it up, so they kept it.”

  “I see. You said Mark Kline was his name?”

  “Yes, but what does he have to do with this? Oh no. Do you think it was him up there? I didn’t get a good look at his face. I saw all the blood and ran away as fast as I could.”

  “We are unsure of the identity of the body right now. That information wouldn’t be available until after the family is notified anyway.”

  Yvette’s breathing started to hitch again, and her mind began to spin. What if it was Mark up there? She hadn’t even thought of that. After the family is notified. That’s Emma. She’d be devastated. Mark was her only living relative. Amelia…

  “I have to see my friend.” She turned and raced over towards Heath and Amelia.

  “Ma’am, I just have a few more questions,” the deputy called to her as he followed close behind.

  “I’ll take care of it, Rodney,” Heath told him.

  “Yes, sir.” The deputy nodded and headed toward to the crime scene.

  “Girls, I know this is a shock, but I need you to try to hold it together and cooperate with us as best you can.”

  “I’m sorry, Heath. I can’t stand the thought that there is someone dead in my house. Who could it even be? Why were they here? No one even has keys but Mark and me.” Amelia’s body shivered. “Oh no, Mark…”

&
nbsp; “Heath, can we please call Mark?” Yvette asked when she realized that Amelia had the same concerns as she did.

  “I’m going to have to ask you to not do that. We have someone on their way to see Mark now. We need to go about this the right way which doesn’t include you two getting involved. I understand you’re both worried but it’s best that you let us discuss this with Mark,” he answered.

  “Okay,” they gave each other a look but agreed in unison.

  “Yvette, you need to see Deputy Calhoun. I know he has more questions for you,” Heath reminded her.

  “I just need another minute to compose myself.” She sniffled. “I want to offer all the help I can,” Yvette assured Heath before taking Amelia by the hand and leading her a few steps away, toward the dock.

  “I don’t think I can wait for someone to tell me if Mark is okay,” Amelia said. “I need to call him.”

  Yvette took the phone from her friend’s hand and scanned the area, making sure no one was paying attention to them and that Heath was far enough away. She dialed Mark’s number. “We’re going to. We need to know that he’s okay.”

  “You heard Heath though. He said we couldn’t.”

  “I know but I can’t wait either, so we’re gonna have to be quick. Even if we only hear his voice when he picks up.” Yvette tried to justify that doing what Heath had specifically asked her not to do was okay since they wouldn’t be discussing the murder. She hesitated a moment before pressing send.

  “Why isn’t he picking up?” Amelia swayed on her feet.

  “He’s probably at work. I’ll call the farm.” Yvette hung up and dialed again.

  When there was no answer on Mark’s office line, Yvette grabbed her friend in a big embrace. “It’s okay,” she told her.

  “What if it’s him up there? What if he’s dead? Oh, Yvette, I’m so sorry you had to see something so horrific.” Amelia burst into tears.

  Yvette was still finding it difficult to breathe and her heart was beating out of her chest, but she had to be strong. She never allowed herself to be overemotional and took pride in how well she handled difficult situations. This may have been more than just a difficult situation, but she refused to let it show that anything was getting to her.