Miss Frost Solves A Cold Case

by Kristen Painter

“I’m going out to dinner with the woman I worked my shift with. She’s really nice. Juniper Trembley. She was about to tell me something today, then we got interrupted with Toly and customers and couldn’t finish our conversation.” I ran a brush through my hair. “Anyway, we should be able to dig back in at dinner. I think she trusts me. Or is starting too.”

  “Sounds like you’re doing very well.”

  “I’m trying. Do you know what Snowy Saturdays are?”

  “No, what are they?”

  “You pretty much answered that question.” I gave him the same explanation Juniper had given me.

  He thought for a moment. “That might explain why that store is so successful. I wonder if we should do that in all the stores. I’ll have to talk to Kris about it, see what he thinks.”

  “Um, maybe wait until this is over? Otherwise Toly might wonder how you found out.”

  “Good point. All right, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  “Dad, wait. Did you find out about the visitor record?”

  He nodded. “Yes. That’s got to be Toly’s rule. HR didn’t have anything on that.”

  Hmm. Toly was a task master and a fibber. “Two more things then. How long are the lunch breaks supposed to be? Legally, I mean.”

  “I’d have to check Georgia laws. Each store is governed by the state it’s in.”

  “There’s no company policy on this? With the perks of housing and the cleaning service, I would think breaks would be covered too.”

  “I’ll find out as soon as I can. Good enough?”

  I could Google it, I supposed, but this way my dad got to help me. Which I think he liked. “Yes, thanks. Second thing. Is there a quota the store has to meet?”

  He narrowed his eyes. “You mean like sales? Not that I’m aware of, but I’ll check on that too.”

  “Cool. Love you.”

  “Love you too.” His image vanished and the snow settled.

  I put the globe back on the side table in the living room, grabbed my purse, gave Spider’s tummy a little scratch since he was lying on his back on the sofa like a man with no shame, and went out into the hall.

  Juniper was just stepping out of her apartment. “Ready to eat?”

  “Is no ever an answer to that question?”

  She grinned. “Let’s go.”

  We headed for the elevator as I asked, “Where to?”

  She pushed the button. “A place called Howler’s. It’s a little touristy, but very supernatural friendly, and get this, the owner is a werewolf.”

  I probably should have acted more surprised, but this was not new information to me, thanks to Greyson. Who hadn’t tried to get in touch with me, I’d noticed. “Bridget, right?”

  The doors opened and we got on.

  Juniper looked a little shocked. “Yes. How did you know?”

  “I ate there last night. She waited on me since I sat at the bar.”

  “Yeah, but how did you know she was a werewolf? Most elves can’t figure that stuff out. Is that one of your powers? Because that would be cool.”

  “No, nothing so amazing. Someone told me. That’s all.”

  The lift touched down. We got out and I gestured to the bikes. “Are we riding or walking?”

  “I’d prefer to walk.”

  “Me too.”

  As we pushed through the vestibule door, Juniper stopped.

  “Hang on.” She opened her purse and started digging through it. “I think I forgot my credit card. I had it out to buy something online.”

  “You need to run back up?”

  “Maybe…”

  “What are you doing by that elevator?” a voice barked.

  We both turned to look. Toly stood in the doorway to his office, his gaze pinning us.

  Juniper sighed. “I’m just looking for something in my purse. I’m not touching the stupid elevator.” She pulled her credit card out. “Got it. Let’s go before he has a meltdown.”

  We pushed through the door and onto the street.

  It was a beautiful night, but any warmer and I’d have to change out my boots for sandals. If I owned sandals. Which I did not. “He sure is touchy about that elevator.”

  “Yeah, I guess if there’s an issue, the town will blame him, and then he’ll get in trouble with corporate. I sort of get it, but we all know to leave it alone, and we’re not kids. No one has any burning desire to take a ride in that thing.”

  I did. A little anyway. “Any idea where it goes?”

  “Down?” She laughed. “Don’t know, don’t care.”

  I changed the subject since that one seemed dead. “So, we’re having dinner at a place run by a werewolf. That’s not something you get to say every day.”

  Juniper nodded. “That’s for sure. And the food there is good and not too expensive. Which I’m sure you saw. Plus, it’s served in mass quantities. Which I’m sure you also saw.”

  I laughed. “I did, and I’m not ashamed to say I cleaned my plate.”

  Howler’s wasn’t a far walk so we got there a few minutes later. Thankfully, the dinner crowd hadn’t really descended yet, and we snagged a booth. Those always felt more private to me, which was good, because Juniper and I needed to talk.

  We settled in, got drinks, and placed our orders (the prime rib special for both of us and an appetizer of loaded potato skins to share). Juniper was really easy to hang out with. That was a little different than being with Lark. Truth be told, Lark was a touch high maintenance. But you overlooked that stuff in friends, right?

  With the food on its way, I started the conversation. “How long have you worked at the shop?”

  “Just shy of two years.”

  “You like it then?”

  She nodded and sipped her Coke. “I do. It’s a good job. I like working with people and this town is great.”

  That was for sure. “But?”

  “But Toly can be—” She smirked. “I shouldn’t be telling you this stuff. You just started. You’re supposed to be in the honeymoon phase when everything is peachy.”

  I used the backstory I’d been given. “Hey, it took me a year on the waitlist to get here, but I’m not some Pollyanna who thinks everything is perfect. I want to know what I’m dealing with.”

  She sighed. “Toly can be a little odd. Lately more often than not. You saw how he was tonight.” She shook her head. “I think it’s his granddaughter, but he doesn’t talk about it much. It’s just what I’ve picked up from bits and pieces I’ve overheard.”

  This was getting interesting, but I wasn’t sure it had anything to do with elves leaving the shop. “Like what?”

  She leaned forward, her glass between her hands. “First of all, you have to know that he requested the manager’s job when he retired, specifically so he could live in Nocturne Falls and be near his granddaughter. She runs a B&B here in town. She’s the only family he’s got, as far as I know. Or at least the only family he’s still in contact with.”

  “Makes sense that he’d want to be near her, then.” I drank some of my Dr Pepper. Elixir of life, that stuff.

  “Sure. But about six months before I got here, her husband filed for divorce.”

  “So two and a half years ago.” Which is when the workers started disappearing. But I couldn’t make the connection between the two things. Yet.

  “Yep. I have no idea what happened and probably never will, but now she’s running the business by herself and having a hard time making a go of it. Or was. I haven’t heard much about it lately.”

  “Having Toly here is probably a big help.”

  “Totally. But that’s about the same time he started acting, I don’t know, more serious? More stressed?”

  “Makes sense, though, right? His granddaughter’s having trouble, struggling. He’s got to be upset by that.”

  Juniper nodded. “Absolutely, but he shouldn’t be taking it out on us. Also, that’s right around the same time corporate started pushing those Snowy Saturdays.” She rolled her eyes. “Toly monito
rs whoever he puts in charge of it relentlessly to make sure they get the shimmer right.”

  The potato skins arrived, so we put the conversation on pause to nosh, resuming after we’d both downed our first one.

  “You think he’s under pressure from corporate too, then?”

  “Yep. I’m sure his job isn’t easy, not with the stresses of his granddaughter’s stuff going on too, but there are days when you just don’t want to be around him.”

  It occurred to me that I might be able to wrap this thing up sooner than anticipated if what Juniper was saying about Toly was true. And I had no reason to think otherwise. Maybe the missing workers had gotten fed up with the cranky old guy and bailed. But that wouldn’t explain why Bertie had left all his stuff and sweetie-pants Spider behind. Unless Toly had fired him and taken away his keys so that Bertie couldn’t get back in. That was a possibility. “Is that why workers have left?”

  “Could be.”

  “You don’t sound convinced.”

  “Well, they just stop showing up. You’d think if it was because of Toly, they’d file reports with HR or say something to someone, you know? They’d at least complain to the rest of us. Or threaten to leave.”

  “Did Bertie give any hints he was leaving?”

  She shook her head. “Nope. There one day, gone the next.”

  “Nothing happened right before he left? No blowout with Toly, no personal issues, nothing? It’s really weird to me that a guy would leave and not take his cat. Or any of his stuff. There were clothes in the closet, shoes on the floor, and mail on the counter. I don’t know who moves and leaves everything.”

  Juniper squinted, half a potato skin in her hand. “That is really strange.”

  “Did the rest of them leave that way too?”

  “Can’t say. It’s not like I went in any of their apartments, you criminal.”

  I laughed, almost choking on my last bite of cheesy, bacon-y potato goodness. “Hey, I wasn’t accusing you of anything. But maybe you saw someone moving stuff?”

  “Not that I remember. And I know the day Bertie left because I had to cover his shift.”

  “Speaking of Bertie, maybe I should have a look around his place again.”

  Her eyes lit up. “Can I come?”

  “I don’t know. What if we get caught? Better that only one of us gets in trouble.” Actually, bringing her along would mean she’d figure out my lock picking abilities were limited to the simplest of locks.

  “How about you go in and I stand guard?”

  I snorted. “That won’t look weird at all, you hanging out in the hall in front of an empty apartment.” But clearly she wanted to come. And it could be a good bonding experience, securing her trust in me even more. “How about if I text you once I’m inside and the coast is clear?”

  She grinned. “Cool.”

  Our food arrived, and we dug in. The conversation shifted to how good the food was and then silence as we devoured it. In a sadly short amount of time, we finished.

  Juniper put her fork down and leaned back. “Now is probably not the right time to tell you they make a killer peach cobbler here.”

  I wiped the last of the steak juice off my face. “I think now is the perfect time. Want to share one?”

  We looked at each other then both said, “Nah,” at the same time. Laughing, we ordered two with ice cream when the server came to refill our drinks and check on how our dinner was. She cleared our plates and went to get our desserts, leaving us to savor the feast we’d just put down.

  “Thanks for inviting me to join you for dinner.”

  “You’re welcome,” Juniper said. “You want to walk around town for a bit after? Or we could go down to DOA and get some drinks. Check out the local talent.”

  “I take it DOA is a bar?”

  “Yep. Stands for Drinks On Arrival.”

  “Cute name, but why not stay here?”

  A male presence stopped her from answering.

  “Staying here sounds like a great idea.” Cooper Sullivan slid into the booth next to me, all smiley and flirty like we’d asked him.

  Juniper seemed happy enough to see him, giving him a sly look in return. “Why? Are you buying?”

  “Sure, what do you want?”

  For him to leave. But I smiled. And wished he was ugly. That would make ignoring him so much easier. “Nothing for me, thanks. I had a couple drinks last night and they were more than I could handle.”

  Juniper put her hand on the table between us. “Didn’t you just get in yesterday?”

  “Yes. So?”

  “So you’re not supposed to drink twenty-four hours after leaving a magical plane. Everybody knows that.”

  “They do?”

  Cooper nodded. “Absolutely. It’s like being jet lagged. But worse.”

  “Well, I didn’t know that.” But then most of my traveling was done with my parents for official business, and there wasn’t much drinking involved in that. “Huh. Maybe I’ll have a drink after all.”

  Cooper shrugged. “I’m happy to buy you one, but don’t feel pressured.”

  I stared at him and his nice guy response. I had to remind myself again that he thought I was Lilibeth. If he knew who I really was, he might be acting differently. Make that would be acting differently. I looked over at my tablemate. “What are you having, Juniper?”

  “Glass of whatever sweet wine they have.”

  I made a face. “You mean like mulled wine?”

  “No, silly. Something like a moscato.”

  “I don’t know.” I was a little embarrassed to admit I’d never heard of it, but like I mentioned, bars in the NP had a fairly limited menu.

  Our desserts arrived, buying me a little more time to decide.

  Cooper closed his eyes and took a deep inhale. “Howler’s peach cobbler. Just about the only dessert worth eating.”

  He’d always loved peaches. Summer elves loved fruit the way winter elves loved sweets.

  He unfolded his lanky form and stood. “I’m gonna make a bar run and get those drinks while you two enjoy your cobbler. What do you say about that wine, Lilibeth?”

  “I’ll try it, I guess.”

  “Be right back.” He left us alone again.

  I lifted my brows as I sank my spoon into the cobbler’s sugared crust. “Do you have a little crush on him or does he have a little crush on you?”

  She snorted. “Neither. I mean, I know him pretty well and we hang out as part of a larger group, but we’re just friends. He’s not really my type.” She devoured a piece of peach with a hunk of ice cream melting off it, gave a little satisfied sigh, then licked her lips. “I think his crush is on someone else.”

  “Oh, no. Not me.”

  Juniper nodded, looking as satisfied as Spider after a full bowl of kibble. “Oh yes, you.”

  “No, thanks.” I tried to focus my attention on the best cobbler I’d ever eaten, but Juniper didn’t seem ready to drop the subject of Fireman Sullivan.

  She made an incredulous face. “Why not? He’s the total package. Or don’t you like handsome men with incredible bodies and honorable jobs?”

  “Sure, as much as the next woman, but I can’t be in a relationship.” Not with him. Been there, done that, got the heartache.

  “Why? Did you just get out of one?”

  I sighed. I hated to lie to Juniper any more than I already was. Plus, there was that whole thing where Cooper’s connections within the community might help me with my mission. That was reason enough for me not to completely shut him down just yet. “You really think he likes me?”

  She nodded, grinning. “Yes. When he gets back, I’ll give him a chance to prove it to you.”

  “Wait—”

  Cooper returned, his big hands cradling two glasses of wine and a mug of beer. “Here you go. Two moscatos.” He set all three down, handed Juniper and me our drinks, and took his seat beside me again.

  For a moment, I had a flashback to college. A nice one. We’d often gon
e out to the little pub near the campus to watch whatever sports game was happening, and we’d always sat next to each other like this. Same side of the table or booth. Cooper liked it that way. Liked to have me close.

  Until he’d had enough of dating the Winter King’s daughter.

  Cooper lifted his glass in a toast. I took my drink and raised it to meet the others. “Here’s to new friends.” He looked at me. “Cheers.”

  “Cheers,” Juniper and I replied.

  I sipped the wine. It was pretty delicious. “Juniper, you were right. This is good.”

  “Told you.” But the twinkle in her eye wasn’t about wine. She grabbed her purse. “Gotta hit the ladies’ room. Be right back.”

  And just like that, Cooper and I were alone. Was that what she’d meant about giving him a chance to prove he liked me? Nervous energy trilled through me. I never thought I’d be alone with Cooper again. Or this close to him.

  He turned to face me. “So how do you like Nocturne Falls?”

  “I haven’t seen much of it, but what I have has been pretty cool.”

  He nodded. “I might be able to get one of the guys from the station to show you around. If you want. Not trying to set you up or anything, just offering.”

  Not what I’d been expecting. And so much for Juniper’s theory. Which I decided to test. “You mean you don’t want to show me around yourself?”

  He shrugged and stared at his beer. “Sure, I could. But right up front I should tell you I’m not looking for…you know, anything.”

  If he’d set my hair on fire I’d have been less surprised. “I wasn’t really implying…”

  He laughed, a little self-consciously. “It’s not because you aren’t pretty or anything like that. I just don’t think…never mind. If you want to go out sometime, that would be fine. As friends, though.”

  “Right. As friends.” Wait, what was I saying? Had I just agreed to a date with Cooper Sullivan that I had set myself up on?

  I gave the side eye to the glass of wine in my hand. Maybe alcohol and I just didn’t mix.

  “Okay then.” He sipped his beer. “You like sweets, right?”

  “Is there a winter elf who doesn’t?”

  He smiled. “When do you work tomorrow?”

  “Not until five. I have the evening shift.”