Hot Fudge Fraud by Anisa Claire West Page A

nervous nor scared.  She only felt a numbness paralyzing her body and spirit.  Making small talk with Keith was difficult, and it was hard to believe that they had so recently shared intense intimacy.  Side by side on the plane, they seemed like total strangers.  All Melanie could concentrate on was surveying the damage of her ice cream parlor and identifying the perpetrator of the crime.
    “I’m going to press charges when I find out who did this,” she mumbled angrily, clenching her jaw.
    As the plane touched down at Charleston International Airport, Keith glanced at her stiffly, unsure of what to say.  Everything he had said so far seemed to be misinterpreted, and he didn’t want to be on the receivi ng end of her misplaced wrath anymore. 
    Tersely, he responded, “I hope you do press charges if this was the work of an arsonist.”
    “Oh I will!” Melanie repeated emphatically.  “Opening an ice cream shop has been my dream since I was 10 years old.”
    “Really?  You didn’t tell me that,” Keith commented with a raised eyebrow.
    “Well, we haven’t had that much time to get to know each other,” Melanie answered plainly.
    “ Not yet.  But I want to make sure we change that, Melanie.  I know right now you have a lot on your mind with the fire investigation, but I’m going to be there for you.  In fact, I’ll go with you right now to King Street if you want.”
    “Don’t you need to get back to work?”
    He grinned and pointed out, “I’m supposed to be enjoying a week long vacation in Ireland right now.  I don’t have to go to work until next week.”
    Melanie groaned.  “Don’t remind me.  I wish we were still in Ireland.  I feel like that whole trip went by like a flash of lightning.”
    Keith sighed heavily.  “Well that’s because it did.  Come on, let’s get the hell off this stuffy plane and I’ll drive you to King Street.”
    Grimly, Melanie navigated the labyrinth of the airport parking garage with Keith at her side.  She vowed not to cry when she saw the wreckage.  Her emotions could wait to be released until she was back at her father’s house holed up in her childhood room.  For now, she would remain as emotionless as a statue.
    Keith turned the radio on to a smooth jazz station, and the rhythms lulled Melanie’s nerves.  Grateful that he was wasn’t trying to broach a conversation, she reclined in the chair and steadied herself for the horrifying sight that awaited her.
    The sun had set in Charleston, but the air was still drenched in oppressive humidity.  Melanie fanned herself absently, thinking how exhausted her father must be from the ordeal.  What a great start to his retirement , she thought bitterly. I was worried about all the stress in his life, and now he’s probably more stressed than ever thanks to me.
    Expertly, Keith rounded the bend onto King Street.   Immediately, the signs of destruction were evident.  The fire scene had been cordoned off with police tape, and an assortment of law enforcement personnel was combing the street for clues.  Woodenly, Melanie trudged outside as soon as Keith jerked the vehicle into park.  She spotted her father in an intense conversation with a female investigator.
    Mr. Bradley glanced up for a moment as his eyes fogged with emotion at the sight of his daughter.  Melanie hurried to her father with Keith following closely behind.  Sunny leapt up and clobbered Melanie as though he hadn’t seen his owner for a hundred years.  Distractedly, she pet the dog while letting her father envelop her in a bear hug.
    “I’m so sorry, darlin’,” he whispered into her ear.
    She simply nodded and turned her attention to the investigator.  Reaching out for a handshake, Melanie introduced herself.  “I’m Melanie Bradley, the owner of Hot Fudge Fancy.”
    “Hello Miss Bradley.  I’m Detective Stacey Graydon, lead investigator in the fire.  I’ve been speaking with your father all day.  He’s told me