Freezing Point by Elizabeth Goddard

computer.
    â€œThere are some similar sketches on the wall out there,” Casey said.
    Jesse nodded. “Yes. I can tell how big I need to make the blocks of ice. I’ve been working a few days on preparing blocks for my next sculptures.”
    He gave her a quizzical look. “This is the sort of stuff you wanted to know, right? How it’s all done?”
    Casey nodded. “Well, that and I’ll want to interview you personally. This is all very intriguing. Keep talking.”
    She tugged out a small notepad and her pen, wishing she had her camera.
    Jesse tugged a navy blue hoodie over his head that saidHelms Ice on the front and tossed a pair of gloves and a cap at Casey, then pulled a pair of thin white gloves over his hands.
    â€œFollow me.” He led her into another room connected to his office.
    Casey stepped inside after him, realizing it was a refrigerated room. “Now this is definitely freezing.”
    â€œBelow freezing, actually. Twenty degrees to be exact.” He shut the door behind her. “You can have a seat on that stool by the counter, if you’d like.”
    A huge chunk of ice rested on a table. “As you can see, I’ve already drawn out a design on this. I use a special kind of chalk that contains ammonia and penetrates the ice.”
    â€œBut how did you get a block of ice that size?”
    A wry grin spread over his face. “This is an ice company, remember?” He chuckled. “We make ice here. See those two machines over there? They’re working to make ice right now. They freeze the ice from the bottom up while water is circulating through. That keeps the air bubbles out, keeps the ice for sculptures from becoming cloudy. Takes three to four days.”
    â€œWow. How much does that chunk on the table weigh?”
    â€œThe machine creates three-hundred-pound blocks. For a large sculpture like what I’m working on today, I have to fuse the blocks together. First I cut them to the right size for the sculpture I have in mind, then sand them to a smooth surface. Then to fuse them, that’s done by heating up an aluminum sheet and what amounts to ironing them. The chunk on the table is just over five hundred pounds.”
    Jessie strode to a desk and opened a small box then moved back to Casey and held out his palm. In it lay two small foam cylinders.
    â€œWhat are these?”
    â€œEarplugs.”
    Confused, Casey lifted the earplugs and wondered whyshe would need them. She watched Jesse, admiring his form as he marched to the other side of the refrigerated room.
    He glanced over at her and pointed to his ears, then to Casey’s surprise, he lifted a chain saw.

SIX
    I nside the refrigerated room, Casey sat on a stool and shivered, despite Jesse’s jacket and the knit cap and gloves she now wore.
    She glanced at the clock on the wall. Eleven? Her stomach already growled like a man-eating tiger. She wasn’t sure she would make it all the way to lunch. Hopefully, the guy would break for one.
    Jesse held the chain saw high in the air and squeezed the throttle, revving the motor. She had the strong impression that he did that for her benefit.
    He sent a mischievous smile her direction, confirming her instincts—he was showing off.
    A smile slipped onto her lips as she took a sip of her coffee, what she now thought of as Jesse’s signature brew. She’d need to top it off again soon because it was fast growing cold. She would definitely have had her fill of caffeine by the day’s end. Unfortunately, that could lead to another sleepless night.
    Jessie pressed the chain saw against the ice, sending a plume of frozen water into the air. She had the feeling he enjoyed the feel of power in his hands. Watching Jesse grind away at the ice with the chain saw, she couldn’t ask very many questions at this juncture. So, she sat back and enjoyedwatching the ice take shape under his careful and expertly placed