Hot Coffee Iced Santa (Roasted Love Cozy 2)

Lily stood behind me admiring one of the newest works at Roasted Love. I had to agree with her. The artist had captured the wooded area on the north side of West River. The receding sunlight displayed varied sunset hues on the frozen pond in the background. Once more, my thoughts went back to Frank Duvall's frozen body in the freezer at Steven's Steakhouse and Steven Landers' sudden appearance on my street the night before.

"Let's get our break in," I said to Lily. "It will have to be a short one. The decorating has to be finished today or we'll be into next year before it is done."

"I'll help you when I'm not serving a customer," she said. "I'll get the ribbon and greenery for the counter. Are we putting up stockings this year?"

"They didn't look so good," I said. "I don't have time to get more. And since I don't sew, it looks like we'll skip them this year."

Before I knew it, Lily had decorated the counter with a complete festive look. I had forgotten how artistic she could be. Next she spent her time between handing me garlands and serving the few customers in the shop. A gust of cold wind swept into the foyer. I was climbing off the ladder when the door opened. I glanced around. The dark hair and muscular frame was very familiar.

"Hi, Laila," called Daniel. "You, too, Lily." He brushed snow off his pant legs and brushed his boots back and forth on the mat. "Do you want any help with that ladder?"

"I'm just about finished," I said. "You timed it just right."

His laughter filled the room. "I have a way of doing things like that. Can you grab a coffee or something else you like? I have pictures you may want to see."

Lily told us she could handle the shop. I looped the end of the la

st garland around the thin nail and climbed down. Lily folded the ladder and carried it away. Daniel and I sat across from one another as the steam rose from his latte and my cappuccino. He pulled a large envelope from a thin briefcase.

"I kept them in here so they wouldn't get wet," he explained. "These are pictures some of the employees at Steven's Steakhouse took from inside the freezer."

I leaned forward in my chair. This would give me a chance to have a closer look at the crime scene. For the first time, I took my time looking at the outside lock on the freezer in the first photo he pushed toward me. The more I studied it, I was sure the murderer had jimmied it with a strong instrument of some kind. I knew from working at Roasted Love that tools were kept for minor repairs. I tried to think about what tool was in our toolbox that would do this kind of damage. Nothing came to my mind. Daniel slid a photo of the inside of the freezer across the table. It looked the same as the day I saw it except there was no body on the floor.

"Do you see anything that may give a clue?" he asked me.

I shook my head no. "Not at first glance," I said.

Again, I studied the photo. My eyes skimmed the shelves of frozen food on the left. Everything seemed to be in order. I looked at the far wall and floor.

"What is that on the floor in back?" I asked. When Daniel looked blank, I said, "It looks like some dark spots on the floor." I bent down to get a better look. "Look at that!" My voice drew the eyes of the five customers in the shop to our table. I lowered my voice. "The spots turn into a blob. It looks like there are spots and then a long line of the same stuff."

"What do you make of that?" said Daniel.

"I think Frank was killed near the far wall of the freezer and then dragged to the door. The dark areas could be his blood. How was he killed?"

"I don't know the manner of his death. But if you are on the right track, maybe he was killed with the same instrument used to damage the lock on the freezer door."

"I wonder why he was dragged to the door," I said. "Why not just leave him where he was murdered?"

"It could have been a last minute decision of some kind. Maybe the murderer thought it was too risky to drag him much farther," said Daniel. "He left him there when he changed his mind."

The adrenalin surged inside me. We discussed the possibilities of someone who worked at the Steakhouse could have done it. I ruled Cassie Johnson out. "She couldn't have dragged him like that," I said. I didn't mention thoughts of Steven Landers.

"She could have had help," said Daniel. "Or there is the chance that Frank let someone in. It could have been someone he knew and was all right letting in the door."

"That doesn't explain why he was wearing the Santa suit."

I shuffled the pictures again. Other than the stains on the freezer floor and the broken lock, things looked normal.

"Have you thought that the stains you are looking at are animal blood stains? It is where they keep frozen meat," said Daniel. His eyes told me even he knew that was a weak premise.

"I doubt they freeze dripping meat," I said. "They would have it wrapped the right way to keep anything from seeping onto the shelves or the floor. And, what about risking contamination? I'm sure it is Frank's blood."

My statements were said with finality. This time the devil's advocate missed the mark. My eyes locked with the dark ones across from me. The recurring humor was evident. Then he grew serious.

"They haven't charged Steven yet," said Daniel. "There is no doubt they are seriously suspecting him. He has some things on his side, though. He told me he had overheard Frank and Cassie arguing about something."

His hesitation caused impatience within me. That wasn't lost on Daniel.