Donut A Day

by Sattler, Gail

  Matt buried his face in his hands. He should be going in to talk to Jeff and have himself pulled off the case, but he couldn’t. He was in too deep, and there was no way out. Regardless of the fact that she didn’t feel the same way as he did, she trusted him to take care of her, and he was responsible for her.

  Worse, he trusted his fellow officers with his own life, but he didn’t trust them with Sarah’s.

  Matt stood and strode into the kitchen. After another frightening episode, he knew what would calm her, and that was a good dinner.

  It was a good thing tonight was his turn to cook because he planned to give her a meal she’d never forget.

  Eighteen

  Sarah hit the button to open the main door, then set the scalloped potatoes on the table. She could tell when Matt phoned to tell her that he was going to be late that he’d had a bad day. She was glad she told him that today she would do the cooking since he was on day shift.

  She smiled as she sliced the meatloaf. The dinner she made today paled in comparison to Matt’s cooking. One day last week, he’d made a stew with dumplings like none other she’d had in her life. He’d told her that he didn’t know how much he enjoyed cooking until she came into his life.

  Sarah didn’t know if that was a good thing or not, because as much as she enjoyed it too, her pants didn’t fit like they used to.

  She’d already unlocked the door when he buzzed, allowing him to come right in after he knocked. He immediately flopped down at the table.

  “What a day. I’m just wiped. That smells good. Can I do anything?”

  “Yes.” Sarah set the meatloaf on the table and joined him. “You can pray.”

  Matt froze for a second, tipped his head slightly, and looked at her. He didn’t say anything, but she thought a smile flitted across his face before he quickly bowed his head. He cleared his throat, said a short but heartfelt prayer of thanks, and they immediately dug into the food.

  “I don’t want to wreck this meal, but I have to talk to you about something. There’s something strange happening at Donnie’s. Stranger than usual. Kincaid walked in, but this time, instead of trying to charm me, he barged straight into Donnie’s office. I’m sorry. I couldn’t help myself. I went into the closet.”

  “Sarah. . .”

  She waved one hand in the air. “Don’t interrupt me. Kincaid said he’s noticed the place has been crawling with cops lately. Donnie told him he heard about some kind of donut-eating contest you guys are doing.”

  Matt grinned from ear to ear. “Yeah. The contest was Ty’s idea. He named it, ‘A Donut a Day.’ Everyone in the department stops in to Donnie’s once a shift to buy a donut. It’s an elimination game based on the pick of the day. I won last round.”

  Sarah tried her best to give him a dirty look, but he didn’t take the hint. “Donnie assured Kincaid that no one had any idea what was going on. So it’s bad that Kincaid noticed, but it’s good that Donnie isn’t taking it seriously. But then, Kincaid suddenly got really serious and accused Donnie of skimming some of the money, and they started arguing.”

  All traces of Matt’s smile disappeared. “That happens. You have to understand that when people are laundering money, there is no paper trail. When you have two people who each want their share of sums of money, and everything is verbal, they often don’t come up with the same figures when the day is done. Add money for drug sales going in and out of an amount that hasn’t been written down, and you’re asking for trouble. I was wondering how long it was going to take that to happen.”

  “So Donnie’s stealing already stolen money?”

  “Or Kincaid wants more than originally agreed. As well, since this is drugs and drug money they’re dealing with, one or both of them could be taking free samples, which further clouds judgment and the ability to remember numbers.”

  “This is really bad, isn’t it?”

  Matt shrugged his shoulders. “It’s good for us, because this is where they can get sloppy. But it’s bad for you, because you’re right there. I want you to stay clear of those guys when they get together. Whatever you do, don’t take sides, even in something as simple as comments about the weather.”

  “But Donnie is my boss!”

  “I know. I wish there was something I could do. We think we’ve found out where Kincaid is getting his supplies, but we have a few more names to check and a few holes in the supply chain. It looks like the end is getting nearer. But until then, I want you to stay away from them, and—”

  Sarah held up her hands to cut him off. “I know. And stay out of the closet.”

  ❧

  Sarah grumbled to herself as she swept up the litter around the table the Ronsky clan had just deserted. She had just swept everything into one pile when the front door opened. Kincaid burst in, a duffel bag slung over his shoulder. This time he didn’t even look at her or ask permission. He headed straight for Donnie’s office.

  Remembering Matt’s statement that their information was still incomplete, Sarah reached up to the locket and pushed the button.

  Donnie’s door slammed shut. Raised voices echoed through the door, but not of a volume where Sarah could understand what was being said.

  Kristie appeared beside her. “I don’t know what’s been going on around here, but something’s not right. That guy seems to come in at the strangest times, and I just don’t like him.”

  “I know what you mean,” Sarah mumbled. “I think it might be a good idea to go behind the counter and stay there until it’s over.”

  Sarah looked up at the time. She’d buzzed Matt a number of different times when Kincaid walked in. The last time she’d buzzed, the police hadn’t made it with an undercover person in time to follow Kincaid. Even though she was becoming increasingly nervous about the situation, she wished there were something she could do to make Kincaid stay longer, so the police had more time to get there. However, last night Matt had warned her to keep her distance. Seeing the foul look on Kincaid’s face today, that seemed like excellent advice, and Sarah fully intended to take it.

  She handed the dustpan to Kristie. “Hold this, and we can both get out of here in a few—”

  The front door banged open. Larry, Moe, and Curly Joe and another man she’d never seen before strode in.

  “Oh, no,” Kristie whimpered. “I’ve seen them here before too. I don’t think they’re here to apply for a job.”

  They walked straight for Donnie’s office, not looking to the left or right.

  “Wait!” Sarah called out. “I don’t think—”

  The tall one turned and gave Sarah such an evil glare that she felt a chill from head to toe. She couldn’t move.

  The man with the tattoo yanked Donnie’s door open. “I knew you’d be here, Kincaid. I think we should talk.”

  The four men stepped inside, and the door slammed shut.

  Kristie glanced to the main entrance, then back to Sarah. “There’ve been so many cops in and out of here lately, but there are none here now. Where’s a cop when you need one?”

  Sarah’s hand hovered over her locket. “There just might be one here in a few minutes.”

  A muffled crash echoed from Donnie’s office, reminding Sarah of the first time the three men showed up. This time, it sounded like more had hit the floor than just Donnie’s calculator.

  Sarah dropped the broom to the floor. “Get out of here. Go behind the counter and stay there. I’ll be right back.”

  Without waiting for Kristie to move or reply, Sarah ran straight for the closet.

  She saw one of the men with a gun trained on Kincaid, who was backed into the corner. Everything had been knocked off Donnie’s desk, including his computer, except for the duffel bag Kincaid had just brought. The man with the tattoo and the new man held Donnie against the wall. The tall man stood inches from Donnie’s face.

  “I think you owe me a little money. Where is it?”

  Donnie shook his head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”


  The man punched Donnie in the stomach. He tried to double over, but the other two men kept him upright.

  Sarah thought she was going to throw up. She flicked open the locket and pressed the button.

  Just in case the two presses were too far apart, she started counting to twenty.

  When she got to five, the man hit Donnie again. “I don’t have anything!” Donnie called out.

  When she got to fifteen, the man snickered. “Maybe I’ll help you remember.”

  He pulled a gun out of his pocket, turned, and ran out the door.

  Sarah hit the button again.

  Kristie screamed.

  Sarah froze. She had told Kristie to get behind the counter, but she hadn’t made sure Kristie actually moved.

  Suddenly, the man shuffled back into Donnie’s office with Kristie, his fingers entwined in her hair, and the gun pointed to her head.

  “Does this make you remember?”

  “Don’t give it to him!” Kincaid bellowed. He was rewarded with a punch in the stomach.

  Tears streamed down Kristie’s face. Sarah ran out of the closet. Matt had told her that it would be about five minutes, maybe more, by the time a police officer arrived after the second push of the button. She didn’t know how much time had elapsed, but she knew it wasn’t much, yet already so much had happened.

  She ran into the kitchen, straight for the phone, but before she reached it, footsteps echoed from the doorway.

  Sarah ducked so she was below the level of the counter.

  A male voice sounded from the entrance to the kitchen. “I know you’re in here!”

  From her position, Sarah glanced to the still-open closet door. She would never make it back to the closet without being seen.

  Kristie screamed again.

  Sarah’s gut clenched. She had no idea how many seconds or minutes had passed since she’d pressed the button the third time.

  The man crossed the room and yanked the phone off the wall. “Come on, Sarah. Where are you? You know you can’t hide from me forever.”

  Sarah covered her mouth with her hands and forced herself to breathe. The man knew her name, although she didn’t know how. She wished she could tell how much time had gone by, but she couldn’t. She fumbled with the locket, pressed the button again, and did the only thing she could think of.

  She began to pray.

  ❧

  Matt stepped out of the squad car to investigate a vehicle he had pulled over for a speeding infraction when the vibration started on his hip. His gut clenched, and he ran the last few steps to the driver’s window.

  “Stay in the car,” he said to a young male, one of many young males in the older sedan, all of whom were wearing baseball caps, on backwards. He reached to the button on his portable radio. “16Bravo4.”

  “16Bravo4 copy.”

  “There’s something happening at Donnie’s Donuts. Hold on a few seconds.”

  “Copy.”

  Matt counted to twenty, then counted another five. “Kincaid just walked into Donnie’s Donuts. Send a plain car.”

  “16Bravo4 copy. ETA eight minutes.”

  “16Bravo4 copy.”

  Matt heaved a sigh of relief. He didn’t like Sarah in the same building as Kincaid, but he’d told her to keep her distance. If she stayed away from trouble, trouble wouldn’t go looking for her.

  If she did get in trouble, he didn’t know what he would do. He loved her more than life itself. He could tell she at least liked him to some degree, yet he had to know where she was at spiritually before he could deepen their relationship. At the same time, part of him didn’t want to know. He was too afraid the answer wouldn’t be what he needed to hear.

  Yet, last night, for the first time she hadn’t simply asked him to say a generic “grace.” She’d specifically asked him to pray. A while ago, she’d borrowed his Bible, then bought her own. She showed him how she’d started making her own notes. Even though they were sloppy, he had told her that he was proud of her. That had proven what he’d heard from Dave. Sarah had been to church at least a couple of times on her own in the past month, plus she’d attended every Wednesday night Bible study meeting, even when he couldn’t go. That had to mean something good.

  Still, he didn’t know where her heart really lay. He was too afraid that if he confronted her, like Nanci, any so-called decision to follow Jesus would be because of him as a condition of their relationship. Sarah had to come to the decision by herself, for her own reasons.

  He had been trying to step back and let her go at her own speed, but he couldn’t do it anymore.

  This current rotation finished the run that had him working every weekend, and he could finally attend church. After the service, he wanted to sit down and talk to Sarah without having to think about Donnie’s Donuts and all that went with it. He had to find out where she was in her spiritual walk—then make a decision. To keep on the way he was going, loving her so deeply, yet not knowing for sure that she shared his faith, was tearing him apart.

  “Uh. . .Officer?”

  Matt blinked and stared at the kid behind the wheel. “Sorry,” he mumbled. He cleared his throat, stiffened, and reached toward the driver’s open window. “May I see your driver’s license and registration, please?”

  Matt accepted the documents and looked over them with his flashlight. “Have you consumed any alcohol today?”

  “No, sir.”

  “Step out of the car, please.”

  Matt purposely stood too close and inhaled deeply as the young man exited the car. He didn’t detect the odor of alcohol, nor did he smell strong mints.

  “Do you know you were exceeding the speed limit?”

  Before the young man answered, another vibration began on Matt’s belt.

  Without waiting for an answer to his question, Matt hit the button for the portable radio. “16Bravo4. Code One to Donnie’s Donuts. I’m on my way. ETA four minutes. Send at least one other car.”

  “16Bravo4 copy.”

  Another vibration started on Matt’s belt. He nearly threw the young man’s documentation back at him. “Consider this a warning and go straight home.”

  Matt ran all the way to his car, flicked on the lights and sirens, and roared off. He’d barely gone a half-dozen blocks, and the vibration started again.

  Matt stomped the gas pedal all the way to the floor. He didn’t know what was going on at Donnie’s Donuts, but he prayed that whatever it was, he wouldn’t be too late.

  As he pulled into the parking lot, he hit the button for the radio. “16Bravo4 arrived at Donnie’s. I’m going in.” He didn’t see anyone in the restaurant area at all, not even the Ronsky clan, and no staff, which was too odd. He ran to the entrance with one hand on his portable radio.

  Through the glass, he could see that Donnie’s door was open. He couldn’t make out specifics, but he detected movement. From where he stood, he could see the entire restaurant. He didn’t see anyone, or any movement, except for inside Donnie’s office. “16Bravo4. Request immediate backup.”

  The words had barely left his mouth, when a second squad car pulled up. It was Ty. Matt nodded, and both he and Ty pulled out their guns. Matt pulled the door open as quietly as possible. They went inside, guns poised, ready and alert for the slightest movement.

  Outside Donnie’s door, Matt nodded to Ty. They stepped into the opening in unison. Matt aimed his gun at a man holding a clerk hostage. Ty aimed at a man who was pointing a gun at Kincaid. He didn’t see Sarah anywhere.

  Matt’s heart sank. He had only been expecting to see the men inside the office talking. If he had known it was a hostage situation, he would have stayed outside and called for the emergency response team and a hostage negotiator. But it was too late for that.

  “Drop your weapons!” he called out.

  The clerk whimpered. “Help me!” Tears streamed down her face.

  The man with the tattoo laughed, and Curly Joe pressed the gun into the woman’s temple. She squeezed her eyes s
hut, and her whole face tightened. “I think you’ve got it backwards, cop. I think you should drop your weapons.”

  Matt tensed. He didn’t know if any more members were on the way or how long they would be. Larry, Moe, and Curly Joe knew that holding Kincaid at gunpoint was a futile threat, but holding the clerk gave them a definite advantage and a no-win situation for Matt.

  Ty didn’t lower his gun, nor did Matt. “You have nowhere to go. More units are arriving at this very minute. You might as well give up and save us all some time.”

  “I don’t think so. Our little friend here,” he motioned his head toward Donnie, “will be opening the safe. I’m going to get what I came for, and then I’ll be on my way with the little lady, who I will let go when I’m good and ready.” He moved the gun. “I’m going to count to five, and if you don’t put the guns down by then, I’m going to—”

  “Fire! Fire!” Sarah’s voice shrieked from the distance.

  The fire alarm screeched above them.

  Curly Joe looked up at the ceiling. “What the. . .”

  In a split second, Matt lowered the gun marginally and fired, hitting Curly Joe in the leg.

  Curly Joe released the clerk and dropped to the ground. Matt lunged forward and grabbed the gun out of his hand.

  Behind him, through the ringing in his ears from the gunshot blast and the blaring of the fire alarm above, Matt heard a scuffle and the smack of a gun hitting the hard, tile floor. “Dear God, please let that be Larry’s gun, and not Ty’s,” he muttered.

  Ty’s voice sounded strong and even behind him. “Put your hands on your heads, and turn around. You too, Kincaid. You have the right to remain silent. . .”

  The clerk’s knees buckled. She sank to the ground, covered her face with her hands, and sobbed.

  The main door opened and closed. Keeping his gun trained on Curly Joe where he lay on the floor, Matt turned his head for an instant to see a man’s back as he ran and disappeared into the night.

  “Kristie! Kristie! Are you okay?!” Sarah burst into the room. She wrapped her arms around the clerk, even though the woman was taller than Sarah, and led her out of the room.