Chapter 48
FORTY-EIGHT
ALLIE
THAT WAS UNEXPECTED
We entered to find a little coffee shop. The tables were topped with red and green table clothes, wreaths on the walls, and a Christmas tree in front of the large window. We stood at the counter when a woman wearing jeans and a red shirt popped through a door.
“Can I help you?”
Rachel nodded. “We’re here to get the desserts for Emily’s wedding.”
She motioned for us to follow her through a door.
“It’s been a catering day from hell.”
The kitchen was small with a long stainless-steel counter, two large stoves, and three refrigerators.
“Something happened after I closed up yesterday and both freezers quit working. That’s where a majority of Emily’s items were.”
I stepped forward. “What can I do to help?”
Lexi sighed. “Kiss ass.”
“Well, the café next door let me put some trays in their freezer, but there’s no more room.” She pointed to several boxes on the counter. “If I don’t find a freezer to store these for the next hour or so until we have access to the reception kitchen, we’re screwed.”
Kristina nodded. “Is there anywhere else on the block we can ask about freezer space?”
She shrugged. “Well, there’s a guy who rents apartment seventeen above us. I don’t really know him, but he seems okay.”
This was my chance to be a superhero and solve the day’s problems. “I can go ask him. Just a few hours, right?”
“Yes, even one hour would be amazing.” She beamed up at me. “I’ve just started this business and the last thing I need is a wedding debacle to ruin it.”
I grabbed two boxes and Allie took the other. Her ocean eyes twinkled as she looked up at me.
As if sensing something, Lexi jumped between us. “Let’s go.”
We climbed a flight of stairs and Rachel knocked on the door as she adjusted her boobs. “This is for Emily. I’m pulling out the big guns.”
Allie elbowed her in the arm. “Big guns?”
“Okay, a strong set of mediocre guns, but I’m in it to win it.”
The door cracked open, and I could see one eyeball looking out at us.
“What?”
I cleared my throat. “Hello, sir. I’m Levi Dawson and these are some friends of mine.”
Rachel mumbled. “Playing fast and loose with the friend thing.”
“You’re not the cops?”
“Uh, no. Not the cops.” This was taking an odd turn. “We have a friend getting married tomorrow and the caterer downstairs had a freezer issue. We wanted to see if there’s any way we could store these little boxes in your freezer for an hour?”
The door cracked open further to show that this man was in need of a comb. His light brown hair was shaggy and shot out in every direction. “You want to store wedding food in my freezer?”
“Just for an hour.” I developed a quick incentive. “And I’ll give you one hundred dollars for helping us out.”
Rachel nodded. “That’s a good idea, Levi. I’ll pitch in twenty-five.”
Finally, I had a thought that didn’t make Rachel want to stab me. Score.
The door opened further to show our new friend wore a green SpongeBob sweatshirt that appeared to be in need of a spin around the wash cycle while his brown eyes darted about.
“You want to put wedding food in my freezer?”
Allie flashed her amazing smile that made my heart do a dirty tango. “Yes, please.”
His hands went through his hair. “Uh, I don’t know about this.”
Rachel shimmied her shoulders and oddly thrusted her bust at him as his brow popped up.
Kristina stepped forward. “Sir, could you please help us. It’s just an hour and you’ll even get some cash out of the deal. The boxes are small, and we would be so grateful to you.”
The guy ran his hand over his forehead; he appeared to be suddenly sweating. What was happening?
“Umm, well, okay.”
I nodded. “Thank you. We can follow—”
“No!”
We all jumped.
“I mean, I’ll take them.” He grabbed my box. “Just set them on the floor, and I’ll get them.”
I reached in my back pocket to grab my wallet when he let out a yell. “What have you got there? Is that a gun?”
What the what? “I was getting your cash.”
He flashed a tense smile. “Oh, okay.”
I set the cash on the box and tried to get a peek into his apartment, but he pulled the door closed.
“We’ll be back in an hour.”
He nodded as the rest of the boxes were set on the floor and he disappeared into the apartment. We all exchanged a WTF look and headed downstairs.
We got the most of the food in the van and when the girls were still inside getting items, I pulled Allie into a little hall off of the caterer’s kitchen.
“We’re supposed to be stopping this.” She pretended to be irritated before she threw her arms around my neck and kissed me.
“Nope, not until we leave Colorado.”
She rubbed her nose against mine. “I don’t think I totally agreed to this.”
“You want this.”
“Levi, I do not want—”
“I know. You want nothing. I get it.”
* * *
We entered the kitchen to find ourselves in Lexi’s cross hairs. She marched over and grabbed my arm. “You swore on Miller Lite you’d behave today. NO talking to Allie alone, not happening. Now you get your ass to that van and load in the rest of the frickin’ wedding food. You got me?”
I saluted because it felt right. “Yes, ma’am.”
Her eyes squinted at me, and I got the hell out of there.
Food loaded into van: check. Hot cup of coffee in hand: check. Allie giving me hopes I had a shot at something more than closure: check. No, wait, not a check. Well, sort of a check? A light check that could be erased? Yup, no fucking clue, I couldn’t read her.
The caterer walked out behind us. “Whew! Thank you all for your help on this. The last thing we need is an upset bride coming for us.” She laughed.
“I called and you can get into the reception kitchen now. If you’re okay getting the items upstairs and heading to the reception hall, I’ll stop by in a few hours. ”
Allie nodded. “Absolutely. We’re good.”
She gave us a wave. “Thank you.”
As she left, Lexi pointed. “What’s going on?”
To the side of the building was an alley. And parked inside were two cop cars.
“Do you think everything is okay?”
The answer came swiftly as the door flew open and two officers led our freezer friend out of the building in handcuffs. He saw us and yelled, “You got the wrong guy! They did it! They’re crazy!”
He was put into the backseat of the car before we went inside and hauled ass upstairs. The hall that was now filled with yellow crime scene tape and an officer was standing guard outside the door.
A door across the hall opened and a woman stepped out.
Allie walked over. “Do you know what’s going on?”
“I don’t know for sure, but that guy seems a like a nut job.” She whispered, “There’s always weird sounds coming from his place late at night.”
Kristina whispered, “What kind of sounds?”
She leaned in closer. “Like maybe an electric saw or something?”
Lexi’s gasp nearly sucked the fire extinguisher from the wall while Kristina’s eyes were softballs.
The stranger looked around before continuing. “And on December 13th, which is Taylor Swift and author Mary Lee Painter’s birthday by the way, he had a ginormous deep freezer delivered.” She nodded. “I think he’s the Super Saver Serial Killer.”
Now I was leaning in. “The what?”
“Several months ago, some people went to the Super Saver grocery store and were never seen again. They went in for Goldfish crackers, and vanished. I think it’s him.”
Rachel’s grabbed Lexi’s hand. “And he chopped them up and put them in his freezer?”
She gave a knowing nod. “I wouldn’t be surprised.”
“Shit.” Allie looked up at me.
The lady waved her hand in the air. “I’m going to check my police scanner to try to get some dirt.” She disappeared back into her apartment.
Allie shook her head. “Emily’s wedding food is in the freezer with dead people? She’s going to kill us.”
Rachel stomped her foot. “What are we going to do? Emily’s desserts are in there with feet or arms? I need alcohol, stat.”
I clapped my hands. “Everybody calm down. First of all, that lady may be crazy.”
“I’m not crazy.” Muffled through the door as we all jumped and quickly moved a few feet away.
The police officer took a step towards us. “I’ll need you all to leave.”
Lexi looked at me. “What do we do, Levi?”
I shrugged. “How would I know?”
“Well, you had some experience with this kind of shit back in the day. I believe you’re the only one here with a criminal record. I thought you might have a clue.”
“I never dealt with murder.”
She shrugged. “We don’t know that.”
“Yes, we do.” I walked to the police officer. “Excuse me sir, the man that lives here had let us store some wedding reception food in his freezer an hour ago. It looks like you’re really busy here, but we just wanted to get our desserts real quick.”
His head shook. “This is the scene of an investigation and nobody will enter. The detectives should be here soon to proceed.”
Kristina flashed a smile. “Hello officer. Thank you for your service. Our friend is getting married tomorrow, and due to a freezer issue at the caterer’s business below, we were allowed to store some reception food there for an hour.
We really need to get it because it’s for a wedding. Super important stuff.”
“I see. Looks like you’re in a pickle.”
Lexi nodded. “Yes. So you’ll let us get the food?”
“No can do. And I need you all out of this hallway pronto.”
Rachel leaned in close. “Please, please help us. Our friend Emily will be crushed. And then she’ll likely crush me, her Maid of Honor. If you want to avoid another crime scene at the Whispering Pines ballroom tomorrow, you have to let me grab them real quick.”
“I’m unable to help you. Please kindly leave or I’ll haul you out of here.”