He turned back slowly to face the crowd. His face was etched with shame as he looked towards Samantha.

  “You’re right, madam, I was not in the spa. I was with Rosita.” He looked towards the actress across the room. “I lied, because I didn’t want my wife to find out.”

  “You slime!” Marsha, in the role of Mrs. Duncan, hissed at him. “You are disgusting.”

  “Perhaps he’s not the disgusting one, Mrs. Duncan. Because you claimed that Rosita was with you at the time of the murder. Which leaves you as the only person without an alibi. I accuse you, Mrs. Duncan, of murdering your lover, Count Allistair,” Samantha said.

  “Your lover?” Sir Duncan gasped.

  The entire crowd gasped as well. The host of the murder mystery stepped forward.

  “An official accusation has been made. If the accusation is correct, then the game is over, if it is incorrect, the game will continue, however the accuser will be out of the game.”

  “Samantha!” Jo grabbed her hand. “We have to go.”

  “Wait, I just…”

  “Now.” Jo looked into her eyes.

  “Okay. Let’s go.”

  As the host continued to ramble on about the rules of the game, Samantha, and Jo, walked towards the door. As they opened the door Samantha heard the host congratulating her on winning the murder mystery. She wanted to celebrate, but she knew that had to wait, Jo had something important to tell her.

  As they walked towards the dining hall, they passed Walt in the lobby on the way and signaled for him to join them.

  “I found the body.” Jo announced as she turned to face them both. “It’s in a freezer in the storage room. Eddy’s gone to take pictures for evidence.”

  “Finally!” Samantha sighed with relief.

  “But that doesn’t tell us who killed Howard.” Walt frowned. “Were there any clues in the freezer?”

  “I don’t think so. Well, his body was covered in a bedspread.”

  “Hmm, that’s interesting. Maybe it was Howard’s, or maybe it was the murderer’s. If it wasn’t the bedspread from his room that was used, then maybe we can figure out whose it was,” Walt said.

  “How can we do that? There are hundreds of rooms here.” Samantha shook her head.

  “I’ve been in close contact with the housekeeping staff since I arrived here.” Walt smiled. “They told me that part of their bedbug prevention consists of putting the sheets and bedspreads through high heat before returning them to the beds. So they don’t have them just stored in the closets. If someone used their bedspread, and then needed to replace it, they would have had to request a new one from the staff, and the staff keep strict records of what comes in and goes out so they can ensure that all of the bedding has been put through the heating process. It’s actually a very impressive system.”

  “So we can find out who requested a new bedspread and that should at least tell us who moved the body?” Jo looked between the two of them. “It’s our best lead so far.”

  “All right, I’ll contact the staff, and find out who ordered new bedspreads.” He glanced at his watch. “How long has Eddy been gone? Shouldn’t he be back by now?”

  “Yes, he should.” Jo frowned. “I told him to be fast.”

  “We should go check on him. I want to see the body, too, maybe there’s another clue that might have been missed.” Samantha walked towards the door that led to the bar.

  “I’ll text you as soon as I hear anything from the staff. Let me know when you find Eddy please.” Walt walked towards the laundry room.

  When Samantha stepped through the door to the bar, she noticed Ben stocking the shelves.

  “Afternoon ladies. Interested in a drink?” He smiled at them.

  “No, thanks. Have you seen Eddy?”

  “Eddy? No. Should I have?”

  “He was on his way here about ten minutes ago.”

  “Oh, I might have missed him, I just got here a minute ago.” He shrugged. One of the other barmen walked towards him.

  “Baxter, we’ve got a problem with the ice blocks.”

  “What now?” Ben frowned.

  “There aren’t enough since the other freezer is down.”

  “That’s all right, we’ll just have to make them last. Go out to delivery and see if the road is going to be clear in time to bring more tonight.”

  “All right, I’ll be right back.”

  “Okay.” Ben nodded and turned back to Jo and Samantha. “Like I said, I haven’t seen him.”

  “Mind if we take a look in the back?” Jo locked eyes with him.

  “Why would you need to look in the back?” He laughed. “Do you think Eddy was raiding the storage room for booze?”

  “Certainly not.” Samantha studied him. “He might have been looking back there for evidence, related to Howard’s disappearance.”

  “Might have been? What do you think is back there?” He stepped around the bar and walked towards them.

  “Baxter.” Jo repeated the name. “I thought your name was Ben?”

  “It is. Baxter is my last name. Most of the guys behind the bar call me that. All of the guests call me Ben, so it helps me figure out who is trying to get my attention.”

  “If it’s no bother we’d really like to take a look. It’s not like him to just disappear.” Samantha’s cell phone buzzed in her hand. She glanced down at the text that Walt sent.

  The only request came from Ben’s room. The bartender.

  Her stomach twisted as she looked up from the phone to Ben, who paused right in front of both of them.

  “What are you two up to?” He grinned as he looked between them. “I can tell, you’re being sneaky.”

  “Oh no, we’re just looking for Eddy so we can celebrate.” Samantha shrugged.

  “Celebrate?”

  “Yes, I won the murder mystery.”

  “Oh? I didn’t think they announced the winner yet.”

  “Just a few minutes ago.”

  “I guess I missed it. I’ve been in here stocking for a little while.”

  “I thought you said you just got here?” Jo crossed her arms. Samantha nudged Jo’s foot with her own. Jo glanced over at her.

  “We should go. Eddy’s probably back up in his room by now.” Samantha grabbed Jo’s hand. “Let’s go, Jo.”

  “What? Are you sure?” Jo looked from Samantha to Ben.

  “That’s probably a good idea. There will be a pre-dinner rush soon. Unless you ladies would like to stay, and have a drink? On me?”

  “No thanks.” Samantha tugged harder at Jo’s hand. “We have to go.”

  “In such a rush.” Ben cleared his throat. “It makes me think you really are being sneaky.” He strode past them and closed the door to the bar, then he slid the lock shut.

  “What are you doing?” Jo scowled.

  “It’s him, Jo.” Samantha pulled her towards the door that led to the storage room. When she tried to open it, she found that it was already locked. Ben turned back to face them with a small, tight smile.

  “You have caused me a lot of trouble. I had no intention of hurting anyone, other than Howard, but since you insist, I have no other choice. You can join your friend.” He picked up an ice pick from behind the bar. Instantly, Jo wondered if that might have been the murder weapon. Eddy said it was a long tool. She could recall Ben using the ice pick to break apart blocks of ice for their drinks. She guessed there would be more than one of them.

  “Just what are you planning on doing, Ben?” Jo stared at him.

  “Come with me.” He gestured to the door that led to the storage room.

  Samantha opened her mouth to scream, but Ben slammed the ice pick against the door right beside her head.

  “Do you think you’re still going to be alive by the time help comes? Hmm?” He glared into her eyes. Samantha closed her mouth and looked over at Jo. Jo shook her head just enough for Samantha to see.

  “I’ll be quiet.”

  “Good. Now, let’s go.” He pushed them ahead of him to the door. Once he unlocked it, he pushed them through it, then pulled the door closed behind them. As soon as Jo saw the freezer her stomach sank. She was certain that would be where her life ended. He jerked the door open to the freezer, then gestured for them to step in. “Let’s go, inside.”

  “Ben Baxter.” Jo stared at him. “Your father is Dan Baxter, isn’t he?”

  “He was.” He locked his eyes to hers. “A long time ago, he was.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, because of Howard, I didn’t have a father.”

  “You mean, you’re his son?”

  “No.” He laughed. “I’d hate to be part of that gene pool. No, I’m not his son. I’m Dan Baxter’s son. A man who could have lived a good life, who could have been a great father, but instead Howard wrapped him up in his lies and his cons, and he lost everything, even the will to live.”

  “What are you saying?” Jo tried to keep his attention. “Did something happen to your father? Did Howard hurt him?”

  “Howard drained every bit of hope from my father. He took everything from him. He killed my father, even if my father was the one that pulled the trigger. Now get inside.” He gave Jo a light shove.

  “No.” Samantha took a step back. “I’m not going in there.”

  “Yes, you are.” Jo grabbed her hand and tugged her forward.

  “Jo! No!” Samantha struggled to escape her grasp, but Jo tightened her grip.

  “Sam, trust me.” She looked into her friend’s eyes.

  “That’s right, listen to Jo. She knows what’s best.” Ben shoved Samantha hard from behind until she stumbled into the freezer. She slipped on the icy floor and skidded across it until she slammed into something soft and cold.

  “Ouch.” With a grunt, Eddy opened his eyes.

  “Eddy?” She straightened up and looked into his eyes. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m freezing.” He grabbed her and held her close to him. Jo rushed over to both of them and wrapped her arms around them as the door to the freezer swung shut.

  “What are we going to do?” Samantha moaned. “This is it, we’re never going to get out of here.”

  “Sh, I need to think.” Jo rubbed her hands along Eddy’s arms as Samantha stroked his cheeks and neck.

  “Have you been in here this whole time?”

  “Yes. Someone sneaked up behind me and shoved me in here. I didn’t even get to see his face.”

  “It’s Ben, the bartender.” Samantha shook her head. “I never would have guessed.”

  “He’s the son of Howard’s business partner, the one who he opened the car lot with.”

  “Ouch, they lost everything.” Eddy’s voice trembled with the cold.

  “From the sound of it, Dan Baxter lost a lot more.” Samantha rubbed her hands together.

  “There has to be a way out of here.” Jo rushed up to the freezer door. They weren’t dressed for the cold, and Samantha’s body already trembled from the temperature change.

  “Why didn’t you let me fight him, Jo?”

  “Because he would have killed you, Sam. You didn’t see the look in his eyes. He’s cold, very cold, and he doesn’t care who he kills. I could see it in him. If you had fought him, you wouldn’t have survived. At least this way we have a chance of escaping. Walt knows where we were going. He’ll find us, I know he will.”

  “Right, and get shoved in here with the rest of us.” Samantha shook her phone in her hand. “This thing isn’t working.”

  “No reception.” Eddy shivered. His lips had begun to turn blue.

  “Eddy, are you sure you’re okay?”

  “I’m better than him.” He tipped his head towards the body covered in the bedspread.

  “Not funny, Eddy.” Samantha nestled closer to him and tried to warm his exposed skin. Even though she was freezing, she knew he’d been in the freezer several minutes longer. “Please Walt, please find us.”

  “If anyone can, Walt can. Just try to stay warm. Don’t worry about me, Sam.”

  “I’m always worried about you, Eddy.” She held him closer.

  Jo wrapped her arms tighter around both of them.

  “We just have to stay warm. Just for a little while.”

  Eddy’s teeth chattered as he nodded. He wanted to be optimistic, but he wasn’t. Walt might figure out where they were, but what were the chances that he would discover them in time?

  20

  Walt waited eagerly for a text back from Samantha. He was sure that all of his friends would be impressed that he’d figured out who the killer was. After a few minutes passed with no text in return, he started to get anxious. They had been heading to the bar. What if Ben caught them? He hurried down towards the bar. All of the guests in the resort were gathered in the lobby and café, discussing the murder mystery. He picked up snippets of conversation.

  “I can’t believe she figured it out so fast.”

  “It would have been more fun if it lasted longer.”

  “Next time, we leave the detectives at home.”

  Walt did his best to ignore the comments and headed through the dining hall to the bar. As he approached the door, he heard something slam against it. His heart lurched and he froze where he stood. He thought about calling out for Jo and Samantha, but his instincts told him not to. If Samantha hadn’t texted him back, then it was very likely she was in trouble. He tried the knob on the door, but found that it was locked. He recalled that there was another entrance to the bar, through the kitchen, and through the storage room. As quietly as he could, he opened the door off the dining hall that led into the kitchen. Once he was through it he remained very still. He could hear voices.

  “Jo! No!” He recognized the panic in Samantha’s voice, and was sure that something terrible had happened. He heard Ben’s voice next, then the sound of a heavy door closing. After a few minutes he heard Ben’s footsteps as he walked away. He waited another full minute to be sure that Ben was actually gone. Then he rushed in the direction he believed the voices came from. It was the storage area of the kitchen. There were multiple closets, and boxes piled all over. It took him a few seconds to realize that the door he heard close, was the door to the freezer. He grabbed the handle and tugged. No matter how hard he pulled he couldn’t get the door to open.

  “Samantha! Jo!” He pounded on the door. “Are you in there?”

  He heard something that sounded like muffled voices from inside. His panic increased as he knew they wouldn’t survive long in the cold temperature. He looked for something to pry the door open with, but couldn’t find anything. He needed help. Without time to consider other options he dialed Bart’s number.

  “Bart! It’s Walt. Jo and Samantha are stuck in a freezer in the kitchen! I need security, I need help, I can’t get the door open.”

  “We’re on our way, Walt.” Bart hung up the phone. Walt wasn’t sure if he would come. Jo had been very suspicious of him. What if he decided to take his time to send help? He had to figure out how to get the door open himself. Again, Walt pulled at the door. He couldn’t understand why it wouldn’t open. It shouldn’t have been locked. Then he saw it. Ben had wedged a piece of metal in the hinge of the freezer to prevent it from opening. He kicked it hard until it was free. Just as he swung the door open to the freezer, Bart and two security guards arrived in the kitchen.

  “Walt? Walt! Where are they?” Bart’s voice carried through the kitchen storage area.

  “Back here!” Walt peered into the freezer. “Jo? Samantha? Are you in there?”

  “We’re here.” Samantha helped Eddy to his feet and tried to push him ahead of her.

  “I can’t, I can hardly move.” Eddy shuddered.

  “It’s okay, just keep trying, Eddy, we need to get you out of here.”

  “I’ve got you, Eddy.” Jo grabbed his cold hand and pulled him forward. The more Eddy moved the more flexible his body became. He stumbled out of the freezer and fell into Walt’s arms.

  “Yikes Eddy, you’re ice cold.” Walt struggled to support his weight.

  “Get a medic down here, now!” Bart barked into his radio.

  “It’s Ben, the bartender.” Jo shuddered and rubbed her arms. “He’s the one that killed Howard, and put Howard’s body in the freezer.”

  “Ben?” Bart swallowed hard. “I’ll be sure to find him.”

  “He put us in the freezer just a few minutes ago, he can’t be far.” Samantha narrowed her eyes. “He was going to kill all of us.”

  “Ben wouldn’t do that.” Bart cleared his throat. “I’ll find him!” He ran out of the room as the medical staff arrived to evaluate Eddy. After a few minutes and some warm towels, Eddy was finally able to feel his body again.

  “Wow, that was close. I wasn’t sure if anyone would come looking for me in time.”

  “Too close.” Samantha shook her head. “I had no idea Ben was behind all of this.”

  “I’m sorry, I never put the two last names together.” Walt’s shoulders slumped. “If I had maybe you never would have been in danger.”

  “Walt, it’s not your fault. You’re the only one that figured it out. Did you ever find out who Howard’s son is?”

  “It’s Jeremiah. I was able to find a record of his birth and confirmed it.”

  “Do you think maybe they worked together?” Samantha shivered and pulled the blanket that the medical staff gave her, tighter around her shoulders. “Maybe Ben and Jeremiah decided to get rid of Howard.”

  “I don’t know, but I don’t think Ben worked alone.” Jo pursed her lips.

  “What do you mean?” Eddy looked over at her.

  “I’m not sure yet. Let’s go make sure that Ben gets arrested.”

  “There’s something happening in the lobby.” Walt poked his head out into the hallway. “Maybe they’ve got him.”

  When they reached the lobby they found Bart, with Ben in his grasp, and two other security guards around him.

  “You’re not going anywhere, Ben. It’s done, the police are on their way.” Bart shook his head.

  “Fine, I don’t care. Howard got what he deserved, and that’s all that matters.”

  A few of the actors and actresses as well as some onlookers gathered around the group.