Miss Frost Solves A Cold Case

by Kristen Painter

  “Delaney’s? And Salvatore’s? Wow, he was looking to impress.”

  “No, he wasn’t. I bought my own stuff at Delaney’s.” Although he had bought lunch. “He was just showing me around.”

  “Yeah, okay. You keep telling yourself that.”

  “Hey, are you working tomorrow night?”

  “No, I’m on day shift. We both are.”

  “Excellent.” I tied my apron. “You want to go to the spaghetti dinner at the fire hall with me? It’s a fund-raiser for the school. And Cooper invited me.”

  She went up on her tiptoes. “Um, yes.” Then she hesitated. “Did you ask if we could slide down the pole?”

  I held my hand up for a high five. “Already taken care of.”

  She slapped her palm against mine. “Nicely done.”

  “Also…” I reached into my purse and took out the wax paper bag I’d made up for her. It had an assortment of the things I’d gotten at Delaney’s. “These are for you. From Delaney’s.”

  “Thanks!” Her eyes widened as she looked inside. “Ooo, dinner is served.”

  We both laughed as Buttercup rolled up to the counter as chill as ever. “Hey.”

  “Hey,” we both said back to her.

  I handed her an apron. “Here you go.”

  “Thanks.” She pulled it over her head. “Guess it’s you and me, tonight, Lilibeth.”

  “Yep. Unfortunately for you, I’m probably still going to need help with stuff. This is only my second shift.”

  Buttercup nodded. “No worries. We got this.” She looked around. “Where’s Owen?”

  Juniper jerked her thumb toward the warehouse. “Toly called him into his office for a talk.”

  “That’s not good.” Buttercup stared at the shop’s back door.

  “Are the talks with Toly always bad?” I remembered what Juniper had told me, but I wondered what Buttercup thought.

  She frowned and shook her head. Her spikey black hair didn’t move. “Pretty much. Not always, sure, but nine times out of ten, if you’re in there, you’re in trouble.”

  Just then the warehouse door swung open and Toly came through. He headed straight for us. “Juniper, we’ll see you in the morning. Buttercup, you’re on the register as needed and also as backup for Lilibeth. Lilibeth, the dolls section needs straightening, then there’s a new shipment of building blocks to be inventoried and stocked. If you need me for anything, call. I’m off to my granddaughter’s for dinner in a little bit.”

  No one moved.

  He clapped his hands. “Off to work, ladies, off to work. Juniper, don’t keep them from their jobs. They’re on the clock.”

  Juniper gave me a look, then waved and headed for the warehouse. Buttercup started straightening a display by the front door.

  I didn’t go anywhere, just shifted my gaze to look down at Toly. He might intimidate them, but not me. Of course, my circumstances for being here were very different. “Where’s Owen?”

  Toly pushed his glasses back on his nose. “He worked this morning. He’s off now.”

  I glanced back at the warehouse before meeting Toly’s gaze again. “I thought I’d see him.” And was starting to worry that I hadn’t. I smiled. “Just trying to get to know my fellow employees.”

  Toly smiled too, but it seemed strained. “Very commendable, very commendable, but there will be time. It’s only your second day. All right, now. Have a good night. I’m off to dinner.” He scampered away like he was afraid I’d ask more questions.

  Which I would have.

  Buttercup sidled up next to me. “He’s a little squirrely, that one. All those years at the Factory must have taken their toll on him.”

  “I don’t think that’s it. But I agree that he’s squirrely. He could be a little less…bossy.”

  “Well, he is the boss.”

  “Still.” At least with him gone, I’d have no opportunity to have that talk with him. Yes, I needed to do it, but needing to and wanting to were two very different things.

  Getting the dolls straightened and reorganized took a solid hour, but I helped two little girls pick out just the right one while I was over there, which wasn’t as horrendous as I’d thought dealing with kids would be. They were cute and polite and pretty awesome. After that, I headed to the warehouse to get the new blocks that needed to be inventoried. I gave Buttercup a wave on my way.

  She returned it with a nod, her hands occupied with bagging merchandise. She’d been steady at the register most of the night. It was pretty busy with customers, more than I’d thought for a Thursday, but I realized in a town like Nocturne Falls weeknights probably weren’t too much different than weekends because of the influx of tourists.

  No wonder this place turned over so much merchandise. I could see why my dad and Uncle Kris didn’t want to close this location.

  It gave me a renewed sense of determination. I would figure this out and get this site back on track. And in doing so, I might find a real place for myself in this company. I could be a problem solver. That had a nice sound to it. And it felt purposeful, which was even better.

  Maybe this was what I was meant to do.

  I walked back through the rows of stock until I came to the aisle specifically for new arrivals. I wheeled a dolly cart into place and started loading it when I heard the apartment elevator chime. Maybe it was Juniper. I peered around the end cap to see Owen getting out. Despite his dress shirt and tie, he looked melancholy. The same as he had the first time I’d met him. Maybe that was just his face. Or he was bummed that wherever he was going required a tie.

  That seemed plausible.

  I stepped into the aisle and caught a whiff of his piney, musky aftershave. It smelled like something his dad had probably worn and Owen had never bothered to see if there was anything better. Poor guy. He was such an odd duck. “Hey, Owen. You okay?”

  He glanced up, his eyebrows lifting ever so slightly, then they fell as his eyes narrowed. “Lilibeth, right?”

  I nodded. Was my name that hard to remember?

  “Yes, I’m fine, thank you.”

  “I, uh, just wondered since Juniper said you got called into Toly’s office. I hear that’s not always a good thing.”

  “Oh, yes. No, it was fine. He just wanted to make sure I could handle the Snowy Saturday shimmer if he couldn’t be here.”

  “Is he going somewhere?”

  Owen shrugged. “He didn’t say.” Then he checked his watch. “Sorry, I have to go. I’m off to dinner.”

  That would explain the tie. And the aftershave. Must be a date. I held my hands up. “Don’t let me stop you. Have fun.”

  “Thanks.” He shuffled off, leaving me alone in the warehouse.

  I realized then he hadn’t said he was meeting someone, just off to dinner. Alone? Nothing wrong with that, but then why the rush? Odd guy, but nice enough.

  I went back to work and a new question presented itself. Why would Toly need to make sure Owen could handle the shimmer? First of all, it was part of Toly’s job as store manager. Secondly, we were all pretty capable magic-wise.

  Another new thought occurred to me. Was Toly losing his magic? I’d never heard of that happening, but anything was possible. And if he was, could that be somehow related to the employees leaving?

  But I couldn’t find a bridge between those two things. Not even a rickety one.

  I sighed and the sound was oddly loud in the deep quiet of the warehouse, reminding me I was alone. And Toly was at dinner at his granddaughter’s. I stepped out of the aisle and glanced at his office. The pebbled glass in the door was dark. I walked over, nerves prickling my skin, and tried the handle.

  Locked, as I knew it would be. Of course, locked doors weren’t much of a barrier for me. But did I want to risk it? What if Buttercup came looking for me? Or Toly hadn’t actually left for his granddaughter’s yet?

  I decided to come back later that night, after the shop was closed and everyone was asleep. Then I’d slip in and do a little digging. Ma
ybe I could find out the name of the cleaning service without ever having to talk to Toly. That would be worth it.

  I finished loading the dolly, hauled it back to the store and got to work stocking the shelves with the new stuff. The rest of the night went by pretty fast. Buttercup’s dry sense of humor and snarkiness were on point. I liked her a lot. She reminded me a bit of Lark.

  Which reminded me I hadn’t talked to my friend in forever. And that made me a little sad. I’m sure she was busy with her jet-setting friends.

  At least I was making some new ones. Whether or not they’d stick around after they found out who I really was remained to be seen. Although, did it matter? I’d be working whatever new job I was assigned to at the North Pole and they’d…still be here, I guess. While I’d be back to having no real friends.

  The whole thing made me feel a little down, which wasn’t like me at all. What I really wanted to do was go upstairs, snuggle with Spider and stuff myself full of Delaney’s Delectables.

  Instead, I trudged up to the check-out counter with an unmarked Sister Sarah doll and started digging for the pricing gun.

  “Half an hour,” Buttercup whispered.

  “Until what?” I asked, thinking something really cool was about to happen.

  “Until we’re out of here.”

  Gun in hand, I stood up. Cool enough for me. “It’s nine thirty already?”

  She nodded, grinning for the first time all evening. “Yep. You up for drinks at Howler’s?”

  I groaned with genuine disappointment. “I would love to hang out with you, but I have to work the day shift tomorrow.” By which I meant sneak into Toly’s office and do some digging. But her offer picked me up a bit. “And I’m going to that fund-raiser thing at the fire hall tomorrow night. Otherwise, I would so be taking you up on the drinks offer.”

  She wiggled her dark brows. “The firehouse fund-raiser, huh? Are you going to that because of a certain elven firefighter?”

  I laughed softly. “Yes. He asked me.”

  “Be warned. He’s not looking for anything serious. I mean, he dates a lot, for sure, but those dates never turn into anything.”

  “He told me he wasn’t interested in a relationship. Just being friends. I’m completely cool with that.”

  “Good.” She clucked her tongue. “Some chick did a number on him in the past, I can tell you that much.”

  “Really?” I leaned against the counter. “What have you heard?” This ought to be good. I knew what kind of things Cooper had said about me before.

  She shrugged. “Just that he was crazy about her, but she came from one of the major NP families, lots of money, you know, and she ditched him because she was afraid her parents wouldn’t approve of her bringing home a summer elf.”

  Was that what he was telling people? At least he wasn’t being too specific. There were a lot of wealthy families in the North Pole, but if he’d said royalty, that would have narrowed it down pretty quickly. “There are two sides to every story, you know.”

  “I’m sure, but I don’t know, for a guy like Cooper? I could get a little May-December thing happening. Even if my parents didn’t approve.”

  I needed to change the subject before I said something I shouldn’t. “You know humans use that expression to mean an older man with a younger woman.”

  “So I’ve heard, but to us it will always mean a summer elf and a winter elf.”

  “True.” I walked around to the front of the counter, more than ready to be out of here. “This is my first closing shift. What needs to be done?”

  Buttercup pulled out a clipboard from under the counter. “Here’s the list Toly likes us to follow.”

  I scanned it quickly and picked out what I thought would be the least desirable jobs. “I’ll start with cleaning the bathrooms, then I’ll sweep.”

  She made an incredulous face. “Really?”

  “I’m low elf on the totem pole, right? I’ll do the dirty work. Literally.”

  “I’m not going to argue. The cleaning stuff for the bathrooms and the push broom are in the supply closet.”

  “I’m on it.”

  Between us, we had the place tidied up and locked tight by ten thirteen. We rode the elevator up together and went off to our separate apartments.

  Spider was happy to see me. Or maybe to see his dinner. I was hoping it was both. I fed him, then since there was no Greyson hanging out like a teenage dream in my window, I fixed a frozen dinner and sat in front of the TV for a while, passing the time until I thought it was safe to head back down.

  Sitting turned into slouching, which turned into full-on horizontal lying, and I ended up snoozing a little. It worked out. I woke up a couple minutes after one a.m. with Spider curled up on my stomach. An infomercial prattled on about some revolutionary at-home fitness contraption that looked pretty much like a chair.

  Not that I’m a fitness contraption expert.

  I yawned and eased Spider to the couch, then pushed to a sitting position while doing my best not to disturb him. Because, you know, he had that big presentation to give at the office in the morning and everything.

  I got a Dr Pepper and finished off box number two from Delaney’s. Man, that stuff was good. I wondered if she could ship to the North Pole. Maybe we could work out a monthly order to be sent through the Santa’s Bag.

  Worth looking into.

  Sugared up and awake, I put on black leggings, a black hoodie with a nice big pouch pocket in the front, and my black lug-soled boots. They were the quietest I had. I looked very burglar-esque. Seemed right.

  Out in the hall, I pocketed my keys and my phone, then put my ear to Juniper’s and Buttercup’s doors. Nothing. I hoped that meant they were deep in sleep. Unless I wanted to take the fire escape, I had no choice but to call the elevator.

  But there had to be stairs, right? Wasn’t that a fire code thing? Toly hadn’t pointed them out, but by law there had to be some somewhere.

  I found a door marked Emergency on the other side of the elevator foyer. I turned on the flashlight on my phone and shone it through the small safety glass window. Yep. Stairs. But I was hesitant to open the door. What if it was one of those doors that locked behind you and the rest of the doors were locked too? What if an alarm went off?

  The locked door wasn’t such a big deal, but I did not want to explain my way out of an alarm. And having to use my ability to slip under a door twice like that would mean more recovery time at the bottom. Then there was the possibility that the resulting dizziness at the top might make me fall.

  Frost it. I was using the elevator. If anyone said anything, I’d tell them I’d left my phone in the store. That would have to do.

  I pressed the down button and waited for what felt like three years. When the chime went off with the car’s arrival, I swore the sound blasted as loud as an air horn.

  I ducked in and hit the button, urging the doors to close as quietly as possible. They didn’t, but I didn’t hear Juniper or Buttercup opening their apartment doors to see what was going on, either. Even so, my heart was racing. I was not cut out for criminal behavior.

  Half a minute later, I stood in the warehouse. For a couple seconds, that’s all I did. I needed to make sure I was completely alone, and as I waited there in the dim space, I knew I was. The whole breaking-and-entering thing was giving me hives.

  Sure, I’d done it at Bertie’s, but Bertie was out of the picture. Toly could show up at any moment. And if that happened, I guess I’d…I wasn’t sure what I’d do actually.

  I hoped I didn’t have to find out.

  The small bit of street light filtering in through the warehouse door transom and the handful of security lights in the warehouse itself gave off just enough illumination to see by, at least with elf eyes. So by the time I was sure no one had followed me down, my eyes were pretty well adjusted. I walked over to Toly’s office and tried the door. Still locked.

  I did the Saint Nick slide and went under. Inside, I leaned against the
door while I waited for everything to stop spinning. Without the benefit of the security lights, the office was almost pitch black. I could see much better out of the pebbled glass window than I could on my side of the door.

  My phone was my only option. Using the flashlight was taking a risk, but what was the point of doing this if I didn’t get to look around?

  I moved right with the hopes of getting away from the glass in the door and knocked into something metal. I winced. Probably a filing cabinet, judging by the unfortunate clanging sound.

  The upside was I didn’t knock anything over. The downside was that was going to leave a mark. With my knee throbbing, I inched around the filing cabinet and lit my phone up.

  I squinted at the brightness of the screen and knew I could forgo the flashlight. This was enough. I grabbed the handle of the top drawer and pulled.

  Locked. I tried the one beneath it. Also locked. Turned out, the whole filing cabinet was locked. Oh joy.

  But only the top drawer had a lock, which meant once opened, all the drawers would be accessible. So that was good.

  What was also good was that I hadn’t actually lied to Juniper when I said I could pick locks. I could. Simple ones. You needed a safe cracked, I was not your girl. Unless you wanted the whole thing frozen solid and shattered. That I could do. But a little lock like this? Cake. It was a skill I’d taught myself early. Like around fifth grade. What can I say? Once a snooper, always a snooper.

  But there was no way I could do what I needed to and hold the phone, but light was kind of imperative if the lock picking was going to happen.

  With no other options, I yanked my hoodie off and stuck the phone lengthwise into the front of my bra, right across my cleavage. Made for a better phone holder than anticipated. Nicely done, boobs.

  Hands free, I drew on the magic in me and spun two narrow slivers of ice from my fingertips. I regulated my body temp down to about freezing so the ice wouldn’t melt as fast. Normal ice would snap if you tried to use it to pick a lock, but this was magical elven ice. The stuff was like steel. Until it wasn’t. Which meant I still had to work fast.

  Using the light from my phone, I slipped the picks into the lock and manipulated the tumblers. A filing cabinet lock was about a two on the difficulty scale and took all of six seconds to unlatch.