Blended Bribes

by Jessica Beck

  Manny answered with a shrug as we heard sirens coming from the road above us. “That will be Chief Erskine,” Jake said.

  Tyra tried to get away when she heard that, but Jake wasn’t going to let her go anywhere. “Struggle all you want, but I’ve got you,” he told her.

  “You should be so lucky,” Tyra said in disgust.

  I laughed at her response, something that made her even angrier. “You’ve made yourself a mortal enemy, Suzanne Hart.”

  “Somehow I’ll have to learn to live with the terror of knowing that,” I said with a smile.

  As Chief Erskine escorted Tyra back up the hill and to his waiting patrol car, she was still staring at me with a glare that would melt ice in winter.

  I wasn’t worried too much about her, though.

  By the time she got out of prison for arson and attempted murder, I had a feeling that I’d be a distant memory for her, and even if it weren’t true, I’d take my chances.

  After all, I had Jake watching over me, and besides, I was pretty good about looking out for myself, too, when it came right down to it.

  If Tyra did decide to come after me, she’d have her hands full.

  I would make sure of that.

  Chapter 26

  Grace and I were heading to the Union Square police station to give the chief our statements when I decided to give Gabby a call and catch her up on what had just happened.

  “Gabby, we have news,” I said as I put my phone on speaker. I was really getting to love that setting. “But first, have you had any luck getting your memory back?”

  “No, it’s still mostly just one big blank,” she said. “I’ve been getting vague shadows of a few of my memories back since I woke up, but I’m afraid that I’m never going to know what really happened in my shop.” She sounded so lost that I felt my heart ache for her.

  “I can’t even imagine how terrible that must be for you, but at least there’s something to be happy about. We cracked the case. It was Tyra,” I said.

  “What? No. Really? Why?”

  “Apparently she was angry about your profit margins, at least that’s what she told us, but I have a feeling that it had more to do with Manny preferring you over her than it was about the money.”

  “Really? So maybe Manny wasn’t lying when he said that he loved me after all,” Gabby said, the wonder thick in her voice.

  “I don’t know about that, but Tyra admitted hitting you with an iron from your donation box and then setting ReNEWed on fire to cover up what she’d done. If it matters, she thought that you were already dead when she did it.”

  “Well, it matters to me,” Gabby said, and then she got quiet.

  “Gabby, are you okay?” I asked her when there was too much silence for too long on the other end for my taste. “Gabby?”

  “It’s back!” she said suddenly. “I remember everything now! Suzanne, you did it.”

  “I didn’t do anything,” I said, “but even if I did, I didn’t do anything by myself. Grace was with me every step of the way.”

  “Of course I know that. The doctors told me that it could come back in bits and pieces over time, something might trigger my recall unexpectedly, or those particular memories could just be gone forever. I remember Tyra coming back to my shop after our fight. She followed me to the back, and I got tired of her constant whining about how I’d cheated her. I turned my back on her just long enough to pick up the phone to call Chief Grant, and that was the last thing I remember.”

  “That must have been when she hit you. At least you’re safe now.”

  “What happened to her?” Gabby asked tentatively. “Is she dead?”

  “No, she’s on her way to the police station even as we speak,” I reported. “You don’t have to worry about her coming after you anymore. In fact, you can send Bo on home now if you’d like.”

  “I’ve got a feeling that I’m stuck with Bo, at least for as long as Penny’s still on duty,” she said with a hint of laughter in her voice. “He finally got the nerve to ask her out again, and she said yes. His only stipulation was that they couldn’t go out until we figured out who tried to kill me.”

  “And we just did that, didn’t we?” I asked her, grinning even though she couldn’t see my face.

  “You did. You and Grace,” Gabby said solemnly. “Thank you. Both of you.”

  “You’re more than welcome,” Grace chimed in for the first time.

  “You’re there, too, Grace? Thanks to you both, then. I don’t know how I would have gotten through this without the two of you.”

  I thought about what had happened over the past few days and how Grace and I had put our lives in jeopardy once again. It was entirely possible that something would have triggered Gabby’s memory without any help from us, so it was conceivable that we hadn’t needed to do anything.

  But would she have recovered those lost moments in time to save her own life?

  And then I thought about Manny.

  There were a great many things I didn’t like about the man, but he’d stepped up when he hadn’t had to, and that counted for something, at least in my book. If Grace and I hadn’t followed him as he’d chased Tyra down, he would probably be dead now, so our efforts had not been in vain. While it was true that he’d had Tyra pinned to the ground when we’d found them, there was no doubt in my mind that she would have found some way to pull that gun on him and kill him before he could force her out of those woods. Then it would have just been a matter of Tyra waiting patiently and finishing the job she’d started when everyone else let their guards down, and worse yet, she would probably have gotten away with two murders in the process, and none of us would have been the wiser. If we hadn’t kept pressuring her in the first place, Tyra probably wouldn’t have acted so rashly with Manny, so it was entirely possible that the attempted murder and arson would have gone unpunished, with Gabby’s murder following soon after to make sure that one last loose thread was severed forever.

  “You’re most welcome,” Grace said. “When are they going to let you out of there?”

  “They want to keep me one more night for observation, but we’ll have to see about that,” Gabby said with great confidence. I didn’t doubt her ability to talk herself into an early discharge, and clearly she didn’t question it herself.

  “Have you had any more time to think about what comes next, Gabby?” I asked her.

  She paused for a few moments, and then she said, “Like I said before, I’m going to step back and take a little time to figure things out. My insurance will cover the shop and everything in it. I was always careful about being fully covered, so I don’t have to worry about money for the rest of my life, as long as I’m careful with it. Honestly, I’m not really sure what I’m going to do, but that’s the beauty of it, Suzanne. I don’t have to know this very second.”

  After we got back into town, Grace asked me to drop her off at the police station. She wanted to check in with Stephen, and I couldn’t blame her. I’d spoken briefly with Jake at the Union Square police station, and we’d agreed to catch up at home again.

  As I waited there for him, I tried to decide how I was going to approach what I had to say to him. I didn’t want him to think that I was pushing him away, but I had to tell him that he belonged in law enforcement and that he couldn’t turn his back on it a minute more.

  If that meant that we’d have to make sacrifices, then so be it.

  I knew that I was lucky to have him in my life, luckier than even I realized at times, but I couldn’t keep him at home anymore.

  He had to find his purpose in life again, and I was determined to do whatever I could to make sure that he found it.

  Chapter 27

  “Suzanne, I’ve decided what I want to do with the rest of my life,” Jake said as he burst into the cottage. “Hear me out, okay?”

  “Sure,” I said, realizing that this was getting to be a habit for him, insisting that I not comment until he was finished with what he had to say. What was t
hat about? Was I getting to be a little too chatty for him?

  “This case told me that my particular set of skills is needed out there, so I’m going to keep consulting, but I’m not going back to work full time,” he said. “I’ve done that before, and I can’t stand the grind. I was just getting the toughest cases when I was an inspector, and it was getting harder and harder on me. Frankly, I don’t need the pressure, but if I consult, taking cases every now and then only when something intrigues me, then the way I see it, it’s the best of both worlds. Sure, I’ll have to be away every now and then, but never for long periods of time, and I can turn down any job I don’t want to take. Besides, we could use the extra money, but that’s not really why I want to do it. I felt alive solving those robberies, but part of it was because it was my choice to do it, and not because I was taking orders from a boss. I’ve seen enough of how you live your life at the donut shop to realize that I want to be the one in control of my own destiny. It’s worth more to me than any paycheck or insurance plan could ever be.” He stared at me a moment and then asked, “What do you think?”

  “First of all, I don’t think I ever want to hear you tell me that I have to hear you out without interrupting,” I said, scolding him a bit. “We’re a team, remember?”

  “You’re right. I’m sorry,” he said, clearly regretting his earlier behavior. “I just really want this, and I wanted you to hear everything before you weighed in. I agree though, it’s a bad habit, and I give you my word that it’s the last time I’ll ever do it. From here on out, feel free to say whatever you’d like to me, any time you want.”

  “How gracious of you,” I said, adding a quick smile to show him that I was just teasing. “As to your statement, I am in full agreement with everything you just said. In fact, I was trying to figure out a way to convince you that this would be perfect for you and that you had to keep consulting. I don’t want you to be a state police inspector ever again, but you need something in your life, and I think consulting is perfect. It’s especially true since you’ve had time to step away from your old job and be able to remember what you loved about the work in the first place. I’m very excited for you.”

  “I’m excited for me, too,” he said as he wrapped me up in his arms and hugged me fiercely.

  I felt bad for the women Manny Wright had led astray with promises of love and the empty spaces they must have felt in their hearts to need to hear them so much. I completely understood the desire to be loved after what I’d gone through with Max, and even though I knew that I didn’t have to have a man in my life to make me happy, I also realized that when it was right, it made everything better.

  Then again, if I’d had to deal with any more Maxes, I probably would still be single, but I’d found the perfect man, not necessarily for every woman out there, but for me, and I was never going to take that for granted.

  Life was just too short to treat something so special any other way.

  RECIPES

  Lemon Candy Drop Donuts

  One day I was looking around for something to use to add some zip to my normal lemon-flavored donuts, and I happened upon a bag of hard lemon candy drops. After all, they are tart and sweet, and they offer the unmistakable taste of lemon, so I thought, why not?

  The first batch I made, I didn’t crush the candies fine enough. With the second batch, they were closer to powder, which worked but lacked a bit of crackle when they were bitten into. The third batch, like Goldilocks and the Three Bears, turned out to be just right. Even if you’re not fond of hard candies, don’t be afraid to smash them up thoroughly and use them in your batter. You can also reserve a little and sprinkle this tart, sugary powder on top of your donuts, whether you ice them first or not. I double-baggie three or four lemon candy drops and smash them with a rolling pin to crush them to the size I like. By the way, this step is very therapeutic!

  Ingredients

  1 cup flour, unbleached all-purpose

  2 tablespoons crushed lemon hard candies

  1 teaspoon baking powder

  1/4 teaspoon lemon peel, grated

  1 dash salt

  1/2 cup whole milk

  1/3 cup granulated sugar

  4 tablespoons butter, melted

  1 egg, beaten

  2 teaspoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed

  1/2 vanilla bean, scraped

  Directions

  In a bowl, mix the flour, crushed lemon candy, baking powder, lemon peel, and salt until everything is thoroughly incorporated. In another bowl, combine the whole milk, sugar, butter, egg, lemon juice, and the vanilla bean seeds.

  Mix this well, and then slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet until they are combined, being careful not to overmix, as this could cause denser donuts.

  Bake these donuts in a 375°F oven or in your donut maker for 6 to 8 minutes, then remove them to a cooling rack. You can make a simple lemon glaze using melted sugar, lemon juice, and a little grated lemon peel, or dust them immediately with powdered confectioners’ sugar and then sprinkle on a little of the leftover crushed hard lemon candy.

  Yields 8 to 10 donuts.

  Peanut Brittle

  Okay, I know it’s not a donut, but I’ve been known to branch out to other treats as well, and this certainly qualifies. In the future, I’m thinking about incorporating some finely broken-up brittle into my next peanut donuts, so if it works out, I’ll keep you posted.

  A word of warning about this recipe. Peanut brittle is best made by adults, and adults only. I’ve never made it with children nearby, and I wouldn’t recommend it. We are dealing with some very hot temperatures here, and melted sugar can burn, and burn fiercely, so be extremely careful, especially when moving it from the pot onto the cookie sheet. I’m not trying to scare you off from making this delightful treat, but you should be aware that it isn’t without an element of risk, so consider yourself warned.

  Ingredients

  1 cup whole granulated sugar

  1/2 cup light corn syrup

  1/8 teaspoon common table salt

  1 cup dry roasted lightly salted peanuts, shelled

  2 tablespoons butter, salted or unsalted both work here

  1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

  1 teaspoon baking soda

  Directions

  Combine sugar, corn syrup, and table salt in a medium-sized heavy saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture starts to boil. Let it boil without stirring approximately 5 minutes, or until a candy thermometer reads 300 to 304 degrees, depending on the doneness preferred.

  Add the peanuts, and then continue to cook for 2 to 3 minutes until it reaches 280 degrees (the peanuts will cool the mixture down when they are added). Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the butter, vanilla extract, and baking soda. Be careful here. The baking soda reacts with the mixture, causing it to bubble up. This is what lightens the brittle enough to allow you to eat it without breaking your teeth, so don’t skip this step!

  Carefully pour this mixture out onto a buttered baking sheet and spread it out with a spatula that’s been coated with cooking spray.

  Allow it to cool for an hour, and then break it apart and enjoy.

  Brittle can be stored in an airtight container to make it last, but I’ve never personally tried it myself, since it never lasts that long around my house!

  Spicy Lemon-Orange Donuts

  One of the many reasons I love the holiday season is the opportunity to pull out all of the stops and make delightful treats without guilt. Okay, without too much, anyway! This is an exquisite donut recipe that can easily be converted to muffins. Give it a try. It’s a real winner, at least in my house, and as an added bonus, it makes my house smell like Christmas any time of year!

  Ingredients

  1 cup granulated sugar

  1 cup milk (2% or whole will do nicely)

  2 egg yolks only, beaten

  1/2 stick butter (1/4 cup) melted

  2 tablespoons orange extract

&nb
sp; 2 tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed

  1 1/2 tablespoons canola oil

  1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

  The zest of one orange, finely grated

  The zest of one lemon, finely grated

  Candy orange slice wedges, cut into small pieces

  3–4 cups flour

  1 tablespoon baking powder

  Directions

  Mix the sugar, milk, egg yolks, melted butter, orange extract, lemon juice, canola oil, cinnamon, orange zest, and lemon zest. Sift the flour and baking powder together in a different bowl. If preferred (and I heartily recommend it), cut and add candy orange slice wedges and mix into the dry ingredients until combined well. Then add the dry ingredients to the wet, stirring well as you go. This will make a very stiff dough.

  Chill the dough for at least 1 hour, then turn it onto a floured surface. Knead it into a ball, and then roll the ball out to 1/2 to 1/4 inches thick. This may look a little lumpy, depending on if you used the candy wedges. Cut out the rounds.

  Heat enough canola oil to fry the donuts at 375°F, and then add the donut rounds and cook for 2 minutes on each side, being sure not to crowd the donuts in the pot as they cook. Drain them on a cooling rack, and then dust them with powdered sugar or eat them plain.

  Makes approximately 1 dozen donuts.

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