Deep Fried Homicide (The Donut Shop Mysteries) (16 page)

“Don’t mind us.  We’re just brainstorming,” Jake said.

“About what, exactly?”

“How to flush Rusk out,” Terry said.  “We both realize that if we don’t do something soon, our boss is going to swoop in here and run him off for good, and that’s not going to help any of us sleep better at night.”

“Have you come up with anything yet?”

“Not so far, but we’re working on it,” Jake said.  When he spotted the Donut Hearts box, he asked me, “Donuts for breakfast again?”

“Are you actually complaining about that?” I asked him with a smile.

“No.  It’s not that.  They’re good, but they can’t hold a candle to the ones that you make,” he said.  How did he manage to feign reluctance as he picked up a lemon-filled donut?

“You don’t have to eat it, you know,” I answered with a hint of laughter in my voice.

“I don’t want to offend Emma and her mother,” Jake said, and then he took a large bite.

“I’d hate to do that myself,” Terry said as he grabbed one for himself.

“Should I leave you two alone so you can get on with your planning session?” I asked.  “I don’t mind.  All you have to do is ask.”

“Thanks, but we both need to mull over this before we talk again,” Jake said.

After we ate, sharing a little pleasant conversation that didn’t involve crazed murderers, Jake said, “That was good, but I’m getting a little restless.  Suzanne, how would you feel about taking a little walk in the park?”

“Funny, I was just going to suggest it myself,” I said.  “Jake, are you sure that you’re up to it?”

“If I’m not, there are plenty of benches where I can rest that are scattered all over the place, so I think I’ll be fine.”

“You don’t mind if I tail you both, do you?” Terry asked.

“We’re perfectly safe in the park,” Jake replied.

“You probably are, but I’m not going to have Rusk take a run at you on my watch.”  There was a new air to the state police inspector’s tone, one that didn’t allow any room for debate.  I’d heard it in Jake’s voice a few times in the past myself, and it amazed me that Terry had it as well.

“What about the cottage?” I asked.

“He won’t mess with it if you’re both out,” Terry said.  “Just to be sure, though, I’ll sweep it myself when we get back.  No worries on that account.”

“Jake, is that okay with you?” I asked.

My boyfriend shrugged his shoulders as he said, “It seems that I don’t have any choice in the matter.”  Before Terry could reply, Jake turned to him and said, “You know how it is.  I appreciate your point of view, and of course, you’re right.  I know it in my heart, but I’m just not crazy about admitting it.  Right now, I’m well aware of the fact that I couldn’t bring down a teenage girl shoplifting lipstick in a department store.”

“Don’t sweat it, my friend.  You’ll be back before you know it,” Terry said, putting a kindly hand on Jake’s good arm.

“You bet I will.”  Forcing himself to smile, Jake turned to me and asked, “Now, who’s ready to take a walk?”

“I am,” I said happily.  It would be good for both of us to get outside for a little exercise and fresh air.  “While we’re out, we can stop by Donut Hearts and see how they’re doing.”

“Please, just no more donuts,” Jake said overdramatically.

“Don’t worry.  You’re safe.  I just want to chat with Emma and Sharon,” I admitted.

“So, there’s an ulterior motive to this walk, is that it?”

“No, the main motive is to get you moving,” I told him.  “Me being able to pop into my donut shop will just be a happy bonus.  Besides, you two don’t have to go inside.  You can sit out front and get back to making your grand plans.”

“In that case, I’m on board one hundred percent,” Jake said with a grin.  “Let’s go.”

It was a beautiful morning to take a walk in the park, with the sun warming the day nicely as we strolled around at a leisurely pace.  Terry was kind enough to give us some space, and for a brief time, I nearly forgot that he was even there.  We only had to stop twice to rest on our brief walk to the donut shop, and I was proud of Jake for doing so well so soon after going through such a traumatic experience.

“Hey, you did great,” I said when we got there as he collapsed onto one of the chairs I kept out front for folks who liked to dine on their donuts al fresco. 

“I guess so,” he said, a little out of breath.  “You wouldn’t happen to have any water in there, would you?”

“I’ll go grab you a bottle,” I said as Terry joined us.  “Would you like anything from inside?”

“No thanks.  I’m good,” he said as he glided down onto the chair beside Jake.

“Showoff,” Jake said with a hint of a grin.  It was clear that he was pleased with his progress, no matter how much he might complain about it.

“You’ll be back in the saddle in no time,” Terry said.  “Don’t worry; you’ll get your wind back soon if you can keep up that pace.”

“I’d better.”

“And so the prodigal returns,” Emma said with a smile as I walked into Donut Hearts.  It felt odd being on the wrong side of the counter while the store was open.

“I need to grab a water for Jake, and then I’ll be right back,” I said as I took a bottled water from the open fridge beside the counter.  “Put this on my tab.”

“You got it, boss,” she said.  Emma and I kept tabs on what we took from the shop, more because of inventory control than actually collecting money.  I liked things to add up, especially when we ran our totals at the end of every month.

“Here you go,” I said as I gave Jake the water.

He barely noticed me as he took it from me.  “Thanks.”

“I’ll be back soon,” I told the men.

Jake nodded absently as he said, “Take your time,” and Terry didn’t even manage that.

I had a hunch that I would have been able to finish the shift inside without either one of them ever noticing my absence.  These two men had remarkable powers of concentration when they were working on a problem.  I didn’t even feel bad about my motive to get Jake out and walking. 

It had done what I’d hoped, and now I had a chance to see how my donut shop was really doing.  Maybe, for just a few minutes, I’d get back that sense of normalcy that I’d been missing over the past few days.

Chapter 15

“I’m back,” I said as I walked inside Donut Hearts again.  “Did you miss me?”

“More than I can ever express,” Emma said with a grin.  I knew that working the front wasn’t her favorite job to do at the donut shop, and I was a little surprised to find that her mother wasn’t running the counter instead.

“Where’s your mom?” I asked as I looked around at the nearly spotless front area.

“At the moment, she’s up to her elbows in dirty dishes, gaining a new appreciation for what I do more and more by the hour,” Emma answered.

“You’re not making her do
all
of the dirty bowls, trays, cups and dishes, are you?”

“No, I helped her out a little before we opened, and I’m lending a hand at the end of the day, too.  She’s not nearly as fast at it as I am.”

“That’s because you’ve had lots and lots of practice,” I said.

She smiled.  “You bet I have.  I’ve got to say, I have a new respect for you as well, Suzanne.  Running this place without you even for a few days has really taught me a lot.”

“How so?”

“My question for you is: How do you manage to do this every day without going crazy?” she asked me.  “It’s absolutely exhausting.”

“You should know.  You’re here with me six days a week,” I reminded her.

“Sure, but that’s just as your assistant,” Emma said.  “It’s a whole different ballgame being the one in charge.  I’ve got to say, I’m truly impressed.”

“Don’t worry.  You’ll get the hang of it soon enough,” I assured her.

“I hope you’re right.”  Emma leaned closer and lowered her voice as she added, “I can’t believe they caught Heather spying on you this morning.  Wild, huh?”

“It was wild, all right.  If Grace hadn’t come along, I’m not sure we would have ever caught her.  In a way, it’s kind of crazy the way it worked out.”

“As long as she’s back in jail, that’s all that matters,” Emma said.  “Dad’s planning to run the story this afternoon in a special edition of the paper.  He’s planning to drag up the old case, and he’s even including Heather’s mug shot with the story.”  Emma’s father and Sharon’s husband, Ray, ran the town newspaper, and he never could pass up a good story.  He’d even run a piece on Jake’s heroics the day before, but I’d kept it from my boyfriend.  I was certain that Jake wouldn’t approve of the glowing praise in the article, nor the photograph Ray had chosen to use.  Where he’d managed to find Jake’s photo from his police academy graduation was beyond me.  Even I had trouble recognizing my boyfriend from the grainy photo.

  “How’s Jake doing, by the way?” Emma asked.

“I’m encouraged by how quickly he’s healing, to tell you the truth.  He even walked over here with me from the cottage.”

“He’s here?” Emma asked as she looked around outside.

“Yes, but he probably won’t come in this time.  He’s outside with his guardian angel, as a matter of fact,” I said as I explained Terry Hanlan’s presence to her.

“Inspector Hanlan sounds like a good friend to have,” Emma said.

“He is at that,” I answered as the front door opened.  I half-expected to see Jake or Terry come in, but it was my ex, Max, instead.

“I just said hi to Jake,” Max said as he approached.  “So, you’re back making donuts already, are you?  That break didn’t last very long, did it?”

“I’m not working, Max.  I’m just here visiting.”

“It must be killing you standing on the sidelines,” he said good-naturedly.

“Not as much as you might think,” I answered.  “How’s Emily doing?”  Max and Emily Hargraves had been engaged recently, but unlike Max and me earlier, they hadn’t made it all the way to the altar, though they were still dating.

“She’s absolutely perfect,” Max said with a sincere grin.  Honestly, I never thought I’d be able to say it, but I was happy that my ex-husband had found his one true love at last.  “As a matter of fact, that’s the real reason that I’m here.”  He turned to Emma and said, “Emily’s craving a chocolate éclair again.  Please tell me that you have at least one left.”

“I happen to have two,” Emma said happily.

“Even better.  I’ll take them both.”

As Emma boxed the treats up, I said, “I haven’t been by her shop lately.  How are the guys dressed at the moment?”  The guys I was referring to were Emily’s shop’s namesakes, Two Cows and A Moose, named in honor of her childhood stuffed animals that still played prominent roles in her life.  She had dressed them in some outlandish garb in the past, and it had turned out to be a real drawing power for her store.

“That’s a funny story.  We had just watched an old movie of Robin Hood, so she has them dressed in felt outfits, hats included.  I made them all tiny bows and quivers filled with real little arrows in keeping with the general theme.  If I say so myself, they look great.”

“I’ll have to get by and see them before she changes them again.  Is she still keeping that scrapbook with pictures of all of their outfits?”

“It’s the only way she can keep track of everything,” he said.  It was clear that Max had fully bought into the premise that Cow, Spots, and Moose were just as real as anyone else, something that I knew Emily loved him for.  In the end, it seemed that the two of them were a great match, despite my earlier misgivings about the pairing.

“Have you two had a chance to reschedule that wedding of yours?” I asked.

Max shrugged.  “We’re in no hurry, but when we do, you’ll be one of the first ones to know.  After all, we wouldn’t be together if it weren’t for you.” 

“Don’t give me too much credit,” I protested.

“You shouldn’t be so modest, Suzanne.  You did me the biggest favor anyone has ever done for me in my life the day you talked Emily into giving me another chance.”  He lightly kissed me on the cheek, paid for the éclairs, grabbed the box, and then took off.

“I still can’t get over how well the two of you get along these days,” Emma said.

“Hey, people can change.”

“I know that they can, but it doesn’t feel like they do all that often.”

“Then that’s even more reason to celebrate it when it does happen,” I said.  “How has business been over the past few days?”

Emma frowned a little as she said, “It’s good, though I’ve had a few complaints that my donuts aren’t as good as the ones you make.  I don’t see how that’s possible, since I’m using the same recipes that you use, but it’s true.  I taste samples every now and then of the ones that Mom and I create, but they don’t have that little something extra that yours seem to.”