Jessica Beck - Donut Shop 18 - Dangerous Dough

by Jessica Beck

  “Well, in her defense, he was wearing a mask,” I said with a smile. “Can I get you anything, Chief?”

  “Interim chief,” he corrected me.

  “I’m not saying that,” I replied. “Until someone else comes along, you’re doing the job, so why shouldn’t you at least get the title?”

  Chief Grant just shrugged, and then he turned back to Jake and handed him something. “Here’s your key. Sorry again about that. You’re welcome to look through any files I have on the case, but that’s about all I can do for you.” In a lower voice, Stephen added, “That’s rubbish, of course. I’ll do whatever I can to help, but I was told that I had to tell you that first thing.”

  Jake grinned. “Understood. I’m guessing you and Manfred had a little chat yesterday.”

  Stephen nodded. “I suppose you could call it that, but if I wasn’t allowed to reply, could you really call it a conversation? It was really more like a lecture. The man’s not all that fond of you, is he?”

  “That’s putting it mildly,” Jake replied. “No worries. I won’t go through him, but I don’t mind going around him.”

  “Given your status, you need to be careful,” Stephen said. “I got the distinct impression that he’s just dying to shut you down.”

  “There’s no doubt about it, but I’ve been outsmarting the man for years, and I don’t think a change in job titles is going to affect that any. Thanks for the key,” Jake finished as he tucked it into his front shirt pocket.

  “Glad to do it,” he said.

  “Care for something while you’re here?” I asked him again.

  “I really shouldn’t,” Stephen said with a sigh as he looked at rack after rack of my treats.

  “Three quarters of my customers could probably say that, but I’m sure glad that they don’t.”

  “Okay, you twisted my arm,” the chief said with a grin. “I’ll take one lemon-filled donut and a coffee to go, please.” He started to get out his wallet when Jake said, “Don’t worry about it. This one’s on me.”

  My new husband winked at me, and I winked right back. Then I told him, “That’ll be two dollars and forty-nine cents,” as I held out my hand.

  Jake looked surprised by my request for payment. “I thought I had carte blanche here.”

  “You do, but only for what you consume yourself,” I said with a smile.

  “Fair enough,” Jake said as he pulled out his wallet. He handed me three singles as he said, “Keep the change.”

  “Wow, my very first tip of the day,” I said as I put what was left in the tip jar by the register.

  “Can I walk you over to the station?” Stephen asked Jake. “I can at least run interference for you with Inspector Simpson.” The interim chief hadn’t offered to pay in Jake’s place, which made me happy. I figured that I might as well start training my new husband from the start, and showing by example was much easier than simply laying out the rules for him.

  “See you later,” Jake said as he gave me a quick peck.

  “Bye,” I replied, but I wasn’t sure that he’d even heard me. He was already engrossed in a new conversation with Stephen Grant about their mutual cases, and I knew that at least for now, I’d lost him. Jake was like a border collie; he liked and needed to work in order to be happy. I just hoped that once this case was finished, he’d find something that fulfilled him in April Springs. I knew some folks believed that a happy wife meant a happy life, but I liked to think of it as a happy man made for a happy plan. It wasn’t quite as good a rhyme as the standard, but it worked for me. It suddenly occurred to me that he hadn’t shared his idea with me about approaching the situation in Granite Meadows. I’d have to get it from him later, though. Traffic in Donut Hearts was starting to pick up, and it took everything I had to keep up with the demand.

  Twenty minutes later, after I’d served several of my regulars, the mayor himself walked in. “George, it’s good to see you,” I said, and after hesitating a moment, I decided that the situation warranted a hug, though I fully realized that it wasn’t anywhere near the mayor’s comfort zone.

  “You, too. Did you bring me anything back from Paris?” he asked me with a grin.

  I was ready for him and for anyone else who happened to ask me that question. “As a matter of fact, I did,” I said as I handed him a euro coin. Jake and I had forgotten to exchange them for US dollars when we’d gotten back into the country, so we’d decided to use them as tokens when we got back to town instead. They made interesting presents for folks who had never been out of the States, and besides, they were a great deal less expensive than any souvenirs we could have bought. “Here you go.”

  The mayor took the coin with interest and studied it for a moment before replying. “It’s kind of neat, isn’t it? Thanks. That’s a thoughtful gift,” he said as he pocketed the coin.

  I felt a little bad about that, since we’d put no thought into it at all, but he didn’t have to know that. “Are you here for a treat? Is Polly gone again?”

  “I’m afraid that’s over,” George said sadly.

  “No! What happened? You two were perfect for each other,” I said.

  “Maybe so, but we both decided that a long-distance relationship wasn’t going to work at our age. She’s selling her house and moving in with her daughter to help take care of her kids. I can’t say that I didn’t see it coming, but it doesn’t make it any easier to take. Now I’m not only out a lady friend, but I also have to look for a new secretary, too. Do you have any thoughts?”

  “For a replacement secretary or a new girlfriend?” I asked him with a gentle smile.

  “Maybe both,” he answered in kind. I knew that George was upset, but I was glad to see that he wasn’t going to let it affect his disposition.

  “Don’t look at me,” I said. “I’m a happily married woman and the proud owner of a donut shop, so I strike out on both counts.”

  He shook his head as he laughed. “I wasn’t asking you to fill either position. I just figured you might know of someone, being how you have your finger on the pulse of April Springs.”

  “I’m not sure I’d say that,” I answered.

  “Suzanne, most folks find their way into this place sooner or later. Think about it.”

  “Okay, but in the meantime, how are you going to manage at the office? According to what you’ve told me in the past, Polly pretty much ran the place.”

  “I’m not quite the figurehead I may have let on,” George said. “I think I can keep things together for the time being. Besides, one of the secretaries from the Register of Deeds has volunteered to help out until I can find someone more permanent.”

  “It wouldn’t be Harriet Light by any chance, would it?” I asked him slyly.

  “As a matter of fact it was. How did you know that?”

  I had to laugh. “George, that woman has had a crush on you for as long as I can remember. Surely you knew that, didn’t you?”

  “Harriet? Why, I’m at least twenty years older than she is. The thought never even crossed my mind. What would people think?”

  “I personally believe that they’d applaud. George, it’s not like she’s a teenager. Harriet is a widow in her forties. No one’s going to bat an eye if you two start going out.”

  “I’m not at all sure about that,” he said. “Let’s change the subject, if that’s okay with you.”

  “Hey, you’re the one who brought it up. Can I get you something, or did you just come by for some good conversation?”

  He studied the display cases for a moment before he ordered, though I could easily guess what he was about to have.

  George surprised me, though. “I’ll have a glazed donut with chocolate sprinkles and a chocolate milk, but I’d better get it to go. I need to wade through a pile of paperwork now that Polly’s quit her job.”

  “You’re kidding me,” I said, surprised by his request.

  “Why would you be surprised that I’d be overwhelmed with work with my secretary gone?”
/>   “I’m talking about the donut and drink order,” I said. “Are you sure that’s what you’d like?”

  “What can I say? I feel like shaking things up a little.”

  “Good for you,” I said as I filled his order.

  After I made change for him, I watched him leave the shop. George didn’t act all that upset about Polly’s departure, and I had to wonder if there was more to the story than he was letting on. Should I have pried a little more? Had she asked him to move with her? Had he begged her to stay? I might never know, because if George had wanted to tell me more, he would have volunteered the information. It appeared that he was doing his best to move on with his life, so I decided that I was going to respect his wishes.

  At least I was going to try to.

  Only time would tell if I’d be able to do it or not.

  I was still musing about our conversation when Brandon Morgan walked into the donut shop.

  I didn’t realize it at the time, but things were about to get really interesting.

  Chapter 11

  “I thought you hated donuts,” I said with a smile as Brandon came into my shop.

  “No, not really,” he said, trying his best to match mine, but failing miserably.

  “Really. The reason I say that is because I’m pretty sure that was you I saw picketing out front when I had my problems with Lester Moorefield a few years back,” I said. That particular confrontation hadn’t ended well for Lester, but not because of anything that I’d done, though some of the townsfolk had suspected that I might have had a hand in the radio show host’s demise.

  “Suzanne, that was a long time ago. I’m a big enough man to admit when I’ve made a mistake, and I’m sorry to say that I was wrong to do what I did back then. What do you say? Can we let bygones be bygones? How about a donut?”

  “Sure, I’m not one to hold grudges. What would you like?”

  He studied the display case. “What’s the healthiest donut you have on the menu?”

  That was easy. Back before Grace had come around to the joys of my calorie-laden donut treats, I’d made a few special ones just for her. “Let’s see. Today I’ve got vegan vanilla cake and a blueberry banana that uses yogurt.”

  “Wow. Seriously?”

  “You’d be surprised by how many folks like to indulge a little but still maintain a modicum of healthy ingredients.”

  “How do they taste?” he asked as he looked at them skeptically.

  “Tell you what. I’ll let you taste a bite of each first. If you don’t like either one of them, you don’t have to pay me a cent.”

  “But if I do?”

  “Then you pay double what they cost anyone else,” I said with a grin.

  “Why don’t I just buy them outright from you instead?” Brandon asked.

  “You could certainly do that if you’d like to, but I’m trying to prove a point here. Just because something’s healthy doesn’t mean that it can’t taste good, too.”

  “If you feel that way, then why do you serve so many selections of the unhealthy options?”

  Was he seriously going to stand there in my donut shop and argue with me about my offerings? “Brandon, I never recommended a steady diet of my fare to anyone, but every now and then it feels good to indulge. So, what do you say? Are you willing to take me up on my offer? How lucky are you feeling?”

  “What’s to keep me from lying?” he asked.

  “Not a thing in the world but your conscience,” I said.

  “Why not? What have I got to lose?” he asked.

  “Five bucks, from where I’m standing,” I said with a smile as I retrieved one of each of the donuts we’d just been discussing.

  He didn’t want to like them. I could see it in his gaze as he studied my offerings.

  I watched as a sense of amazement covered his face when he took his first bite. “Say, this is really tasty.”

  “I told you so. Now try the other one.”

  Brandon took a bite of that one as well, and then he frowned as he shook his head.

  “What’s the matter, don’t you like it?” I asked. I’d been sure that I’d offered him two winners.

  “I don’t like it, I love it.”

  “Then why the frown?”

  “I owe you five bucks,” Brandon said as he dug out his wallet and slid a five across the counter. “You know what? I don’t even mind being proven wrong.”

  “Good for you,” I said. “How about if I throw in one more of each donut to go? That way you’re getting your money’s worth, and I still get to make my point.”

  “No, a bet’s a bet. You won fair and square,” he said. “How about some coffee?”

  “Do you actually drink that? Isn’t it bad for you, too?”

  “Not in moderation,” he said. “Speaking of coffee, that was too bad about how Alex Tyler died. Who would have dreamed that he drank poisoned coffee from your donut shop.”

  “I’m sure that it wasn’t poisoned when it left here,” I said, immediately going on the defensive.

  “No doubt you’re right,” he said. “Does your boyfriend have any idea who might have done it?”

  “Haven’t you heard?” I asked him as I showed him my wedding ring. “He’s my husband now.”

  “Congratulations,” Brandon said automatically. “He’s still working on the case, though, isn’t he?”

  “In a manner of speaking,” I said.

  “Does he have any leads yet?” Brandon asked me, his voice lowered to a near whisper, as though he were having trouble getting the words out.

  It was rather curious behavior, and I had to call him on it. “Why all of the sudden interest in what happened to the new police chief?”

  “What do you mean?” Brandon definitely looked a little guilty when I’d asked. “We’re just talking.”

  “Maybe so, but the last time you were within a hundred yards of Donut Hearts, you were holding a sign that said, ‘Donuts Kill!’ Now you’re in here eating my treats and asking me questions about a murder that doesn’t concern you. Or does it?”

  “Like I said, I’m just making polite conversation,” he said. “Can I get these to go? I need to be somewhere.”

  “Sure thing,” I said.

  As I started to bag his partially eaten donuts, Emma came in through the kitchen. “Suzanne, we’re running low on flour. Would you like me to call—?” The second she saw Brandon, she faltered, and her sentence died in the air mid-delivery.

  “I already called him,” I said. “More is on the way.”

  “Good. Fine. I’ll just get back to work, then.” My assistant was gone in an instant, and Brandon was looking in her direction with a curious expression that defied explanation.

  “Thanks for the donuts,” he said as he held up the bag and shook it a little.

  “Come back anytime,” I said.

  The moment he was gone, I opened the door to the kitchen. “Emma, would you mind coming here for a second?” If I stood in the doorway, I could carry on a conversation with her and still watch the front.

  “What’s up, boss?”

  “That’s what I want to know. The instant you saw that Brandon Morgan was in the donut shop, you couldn’t get out of the front fast enough. Do you two have some kind of history that I don’t know about?”

  “Me and Brandon? Yuck. You’re kidding, right?”

  “Well, there’s got to be some reason you acted so weird around him.” I thought about it for another moment, and then I made an educated guess. “He’s on your dad’s list of suspects, isn’t he?”

  Her expression told me that I’d scored a direct hit. “What? No. I never said that. No way.”

  “Emma,” I said softly. “I won’t tell anyone where I got my information.”

  “I can’t,” she said. The way her voice quivered, I could tell that she was on the edge of tears.

  “That’s okay. You don’t have to tell me a thing.”

  “Dad would kill me,” she said, a pleading quality in her
voice that it pained me to hear.

  “I get it. We’re good.” I closed the door and faced the counter. While Emma hadn’t confirmed anything outright, I was pretty sure that I was on the money.

  At that point, I did what any self-respecting concerned citizen would do.

  I decided to call the police.

  Well, not just any police. I knew that my husband had recently retired from being an officer of the law, but he was still working as a cop, and I wasn’t certain that I could ever think of him any other way. “Jake, I’ve got a hot tip for you.”

  “I’ll take it,” he said. “I’m still trying to get settled in over here. Evidently Manfred is on the move, because he hasn’t been in here all morning. What have you got?”

  “You should look for some kind of connection between Alex Tyler and Brandon Morgan.”

  There was dead silence on the other end of the line for a few moments, and then Jake finally spoke. “How did you know about that?”

  “About what?”

  “While we were in Paris,” Jake explained, “Alex arrested Brandon for speeding, and the two of them got into a pretty ugly confrontation right on the street. I’ve got him on my list of folks to interview. How did you know about him? Don’t tell me. Emma told you, didn’t she?”

  I knew that I was dancing close to the edge of the truth by not telling him everything, but I had to protect Emma’s involvement, too. I decided to slant my response to deflect Jake’s suspicion of my assistant. “As a matter of fact, the man just paraded into the donut shop asking questions about Alex’s murder, and he wanted an update on the progress you were making on the case.”

  “What’s so odd about someone coming into Donut Hearts? I thought that most of the town ate there sooner or later. As for the case, the whole town’s talking about it, so that doesn’t make Brandon Morgan all that different if he wants to hear about how we’re doing.”

  “The thing is, though, Brandon was one of the protesters outside the shop when I was battling Lester Moorefield,” I explained. “Seeing him in here is like finding a lump of coal in a bag of marshmallows. He just didn’t belong.”