Free Mint Cookie Murder by Leslie Langtry

decision between Häagen-Dazs and Ben & Jerry's (which, of course, it would be).
    "So…" Kelly said as she checked the reflection in the freezer doors to see if anyone was sneaking up on us. "What do we do?"
    I pulled out my phone and hit the camera function, scanning the opposite direction so it looked like I was just checking text messages.
    "Riley's probably in the parking lot checking to see who's in the car. He'll come in and tell us what's up."
    We'd played this game before…in Somalia, in Buenos Aires, and at a weird little farmers' market in Reykjavik. It usually worked the same way. The vegetables were a little different, that's all. I liked frozen foods though. You could seriously injure someone using a frozen pizza as a concussion Frisbee or just braining someone with a frozen turkey.
    Riley appeared with a basket over his arm. He moved slowly, checking out the frozen dinners. From the look on his face I guessed he'd found the whole section horrifying. After a few seconds of lingering looks at the frozen blueberries, he joined us.
    "There's no one in the car. I called the back plate in, but I suspect it won't lead us anywhere," he said quietly.
    "Oh, yippee," I said. "That means he's here." I picked up a tube of frozen sausage and weighed it in my hands. It would make a nice bludgeon.
    "Kelly, go get in your car, and go home," I said.
    "I don't think so." My friend selected two small, frozen turkey breasts, one in each hand.
    Riley broke character and looked at her. "Seriously. Listen to Wrath. Go home. Put the car in the garage and lock the doors. It's too dangerous for you here."
    Kelly shook her head. "Nope. Besides, someone could get hurt. You might need a nurse."
    "Don't be ridiculous! Go home!" I insisted.
    "No." Kelly gave me that look, and I knew there was no point arguing any further.
    I shrugged at Riley. "She stays."
    Riley ground his teeth. "Perfect."
    Ffffffffffffffffffffffffffft! A silenced round hit the display case next to us.
    Riley and I dropped to the floor, dragging Kelly with us. We knew that sound. That was a bad sound. Above us, a small hole had formed in the glass door, and an explosion of Rocky Road ice cream framed it, which was a terrible waste. This was followed immediately by the lights going out, even in the freezers. Looked like there'd be no ice cream tonight.

 
CHAPTER TEN
     
    "Do you think anyone heard that?" I asked.
    "Heard what?" Kelly asked. She spotted the small hole in the case. "Oh."
    "I guess that answers my question," I mumbled.
    "Did you see the people who shop this late?" Riley asked. "A zombie has more energy."
    A bored, male voice came on the loudspeaker, directing people to the main exit due to the power failure. Emergency lights came on in a few places. We heard footsteps and the few shoppers who were out at this hour grumbling as they made their way out. By that time, the three of us were headed toward the loading dock as quietly as we could.
    Whoever was shooting at us hadn't popped out to say hello, so we figured we'd just find our own way out. I took the lead, Riley the rear, with Kelly in between us. I didn't care if I was the target—there was no way I'd let my best friend get caught up in this.
    Riley was the only one with a gun. Kelly and I at least had our frozen food weapons. We heard no other shots as we passed through baked goods, although I did eye the carrots in produce. Unfortunately all they had were baby carrots—which would take too much time to kill someone with. A watermelon and cantaloupes would work for hurling, but if we could get out unscathed, that seemed to be the better plan.
    We passed through the plastic strips that passed for a door to the employees-only entrance to the dock. It was empty. The employees must've gone out the front with the customers. It looked like your standard, boring, cement holding area. Food and other items were stacked against the walls.
    "Did you see anyone?" Riley asked as we regrouped.
    Kelly shook her