The bell on the door made a slight jingle. It was past hours, however; Erica Roberts was notorious for working late into the night and so some still stop by, but tonight was different. Despite the restaurant next door being in full swing, it was still quiet in the store. There was a clear walk-in fridge in the Florist shop and a thin woman wrap in layers of clothes within it arranging a new piece. Specks of red, white and green surrounded her. This arrangement was to be given as a present for an anniversary, so it needed to be completed on time. The cooler was designed by Erica’s father as there was no back room for those who desired peace while they worked. A dark figure entered the store and spotted the woman. She had not acknowledged his presence and he was uncertain she had heard him. He did not look at the flowers laden about the store before entering the cooler with her. It was at this moment that she placed a flower down and looked up. She was greeted by not a face but black fabric with only slits for eyes. She began to tremble and shrank back to the corner placing herself almost entirely under a shelf.
“If you’re wanting money, I’m sorry, but I haven’t sold anything today. I’ve only been working on commissions.” She was clutching the leaf trimmer in her hand tight her knuckles white. “I am not after money, Erica you know who I am.” His voice was one that she knew, and she loosened her grip slightly on the trimmers but did not release entirely. “Junior? Why are you covering your face like you’re going to rob me?” “I am sorry Erica, but I didn’t want your cameras seeing my face.” Erica tightened her grip again but began to come closer slightly. “Is it cause you’re in trouble with the law?” The man said nothing but placed his hand in his pocket. He was tense and had his weight was placed onto the ball of his feet. Perched ever so slightly forward, like he was going to pounce.
Erica looked around begging for a second exit. She was trapped inside, there was no way for her to leave aside from the door. Flowers surrounded her leaving no clear space aside from the reflective shelving. Only one side of the cooler was glass as the box was made of insulated metal to keep the cool air in and in this case a person as well. The only way out was past this man. There were three cameras in the store and was placed in front of the cooler, but it would not catch a clear picture of what happens inside.
“Well let’s step outside this cooler Junior and just warm up a bit, then you can tell me why I can’t see your face.” Erica tries to smile a little bit. Her features too large for her gaunt face. She could feel Junior staring intensely at her face. “I am sorry but that isn’t going to happen. I have a question for you though Erica.” Erica’s face lost the last of the color in her face as realized as something awful was going to happen to her.
“Do you still want to die as badly as you did when I was married to you?”
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Erica Roberts body was found at 1:03 am on September 16th, 2017 it was an exceptionally cold night and the manager of the restaurant was concerned for the flowers. She had brought food as well but unfortunately, the recipient could no longer eat. She was shot twice once in the arm, the second time on the top of her head. It was estimated that she had only been dead for a couple of hours. Neither employees nor patrons of the restaurant remember the sound of gunshots. At 2:46 am detectives arrived at the home of Erica Roberts to inform the family and her only son opened the door.
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