Killer Crullers (3 page)

I glanced at my watch. “I thought you were supposed to get started today.”

“Hey, you’re supposed to be glad to see me, no matter the circumstances.”

“You know I am,” I said as I hugged him again. “I just don’t want you to be late on your first day because of me.”

“Nothing to worry about. My first inquisition isn’t until four, so there’s still plenty of time to get there. Is there any chance you’ve changed your mind about taking a few days off and going with me? Asheville’s beautiful this time of year.”

“It’s beautiful every time of year,” I said, “but I can’t. I have donuts to make.”

He nodded. “And crullers to create before you sleep.”

I must have looked oddly at him when he mentioned crullers, because he asked, “Was it something I said?”

“No, it’s just that I had a bad experience with crullers today.”

That didn’t clear things up for him. “Did they burn, or were they raw inside?”

I shook my head. “They were fine when they left the shop, but I wasn’t all that crazy about what one of my customers did with them after they were gone.”

“Nobody died, did they?” Jake asked, suddenly very serious. My donuts had been used for evil in the past, and I shuddered whenever I thought about it.

“No, it was more like a case of assault.”

Jake laughed at that. “How do you assault someone with a donut?”

I said, “Some crazy man bought a dozen crullers from me and headed over to Gabby Williams’s shop. By the time I got there, he’d thrown over half a dozen against the glass door and front windows of the place. Needless to say, Gabby was not amused.”

“I can’t imagine that she would be,” Jake said. “Why the pastry barrage, anyway?”

“He claimed that Gabby stole cash and a valuable brooch from his aunt’s coat when she brought it in for resale.”

“How much cash are we talking about?” Jake asked, and I could see his gaze go into full-tilt police-investigation mode.

“Ten thousand dollars, and who knows how much the jewelry was worth.”

Jake frowned. “That’s a felony.”

“
If
it’s true,” I said, “but I don’t believe it for one second. Gabby is many things, and everyone knows that I’m not her biggest fan, but I refuse to accept the idea that she is a thief.”

Jake held his hands up as though he were defending himself. “Hey, take it easy. I’m on your side, remember?”

“Sorry, I guess I’m just a little sensitive about the plight of the small business owner. It’s hard enough to get by without having folks accuse you of wrongdoing. Gabby’s really bothered by this, and I am, too.” I neglected to tell Jake that Desmond had threatened me, too. After all, it had been in the heat of the moment, and I was certain that he’d already forgotten about me. Gabby, I was sure, was another story entirely.

“That’s one of the many reasons I care so much about you,” Jake said as he gave me a kiss. Though we were in a deep, committed relationship, Jake couldn’t bring himself to tell me that he loved me. I understood why, and promised myself that I’d be patient with him. He’d told me early in our relationship that he’d only been able to tell one woman in his life that he loved her, and that had been his late wife. I tried to tell myself that I didn’t mind not hearing those three words from him, and usually I was able to let it go, but it would have been nice, just once, to hear him tell me that he loved me.

“Suzanne, if you’re sure you haven’t changed your mind, I’ve got to scoot.”

“Sorry, I’d really love to, but I can’t. I’ll see you this weekend, right?”

“Barring a major catastrophe,” he said with a grin.

“So then, it’s a fifty-fifty proposition?”

“That sounds about right,” Jake said, and then he left.

I was on my way to the bank when I heard a car horn behind me. I looked up in annoyance, but it quickly turned into a smile when I saw that it was Grace Gauge, my best friend. I was nearly at the bank, so I waited to respond until I could pull into the parking lot. Grace joined me, getting out of her fancy company car and heading for my Jeep.

“Are you done for the day already?” I asked her as we met in front of my car.

“Why not? You are.”

“Sure, but I start a lot earlier than you do.”

Grace smiled at me. “Hey, it’s not my fault if you’re the early bird. I’ve got things under control in my territory, and everyone under me is finally working hard, so I don’t have to crack any whips or knock heads.”

“How are you keeping them so dedicated to the company?”

Grace smiled. “What can I say? My people love me. Well, they fear me a little, too, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. If someone starts to slack off, I just let them know that there’s a pile of résumés from people eager to take their places; it’s amazing how motivating that can be.” She looked me over from head to foot, and then added, “I’ve got say, Suzanne, I don’t see any evidence.”

“Of what?” I asked, honestly confused.

“The Great Donut Massacre,” Grace said.

“It was more like a cruller skirmish,” I admitted. “How did you hear about it?”

“How do you think? In the same convoluted way any rumor gets spread around April Springs,” she said. “I’m sure it wasn’t as spectacular as I heard. In that version, there were iced donuts hanging from you and Gabby Williams like you’d both just been decorated for Christmas.”

“It was a handful of crullers, and they all hit her building. We both escaped relatively unscathed.”

“Care to tell me about it?” Grace asked.

“How about over lunch?” I suggested. “After I make this deposit, I’m free.”

“Lunch it is,” Grace said. “I’ve got a few calls to make, so I’ll meet you out here when you’re finished.”

I went into the bank, deposited my day’s receipts, and on my way out, Desmond Ray walked in.

“I saw that ugly Jeep of yours out front, so I knew I’d find you here,” he said, blocking my way out of the building. “You need to butt out of this, Suzanne. It’s between Gabby and me.”

“I wouldn’t be involved at all if you hadn’t used my crullers to assault her.”

He shook his head. “I never hit her, just her precious shop, and don’t flatter yourself. You were just within easy reach of her place with ammunition for sale. She deserved worse than that.”

I couldn’t let him get away with talking like that about Gabby. “I believe her. Your aunt must be mistaken.”

Desmond raised his voice, and I saw some of the folks in the bank looking our way. So much for keeping a low profile around town. “You’re as bad as she is. What happened, did she give you half the money she stole from my family so you’d keep your mouth shut? When I’m done with her, I’ll settle my score with you, donut girl.”

“You’re as crazy as a bag full of rabid bats,” I said, something my uncle Ned had been fond of saying when confronted with someone else’s insanity.

Bennett Jenkins, the aging security guard for the bank, walked over to us. “Is there a problem here, folks?”

“No, we’re fine,” I said as I brushed past Desmond and left.

I half expected Desmond to follow me, but when he didn’t, I told Grace, “Let’s go.”

“I’m fine with that, but where are we headed?” She must have noticed my expression. “Suzanne, is something wrong?”

“We’ll talk about it later. I’ll meet you at the Boxcar Grille.”

As I drove to the Boxcar, I had to wonder if Desmond was focusing on me, now. If he was, I didn’t like it. Maybe the next time something like that happened, if it ever did, I’d keep my nose out of it.

Fat chance that could ever happen, I admitted to myself.

*   *   *

I waited by my Jeep in the diner parking lot, but Grace apparently decided not to follow me. I gave her four minutes, and then dialed her phone number.

“You didn’t get lost, did you?” I asked as I reached her.

“No, I think I can find the Boxcar on my own. Sorry, but one of my underlings just called. It turns out that all the wheels aren’t turning as smoothly as I’d thought.”

“Did you wave those applications under her nose?” I asked.

“I was just kidding before. Suzanne, I hate being managed with fear, and I won’t do it to the people under me, no matter how tempting it might be sometimes.”

“Does that mean you have to cancel lunch?”

I heard her laugh as I saw her drive up. “Not a chance. Erica is just going to have to get herself out of this jam herself.”

She hung up, and joined me by the Jeep. Before we went in, I said, “Grace, I really don’t mind if you need to go.”

“Not a chance,” she said as she steered me toward the Boxcar. “We’re going to have a long and leisurely lunch, and then I’ll deal with Erica.”

“If you say so,” I answered. I had no desire to change her mind. Hanging out with Grace was one of my favorite things to do, and in a way, it made up for the fact that Jake was so far away most of the time. If I had the chance, I planned to surprise him in Asheville while he was there, but for the moment, I had enough on my hands to keep me busy. I yawned, and realized that it may have just been after one
P.M.
, but my internal timepiece constantly reminded me that I’d been up since one-thirty that morning.

“Let’s go in, I’m starving,” she said as we walked into the converted train car that was now one of my favorite places to eat. Trish met us at the front counter with a grin so broad I thought her face was going to explode.

“Why are you so happy?” I asked as she led us to a free table. “Did you win the lottery or something?”

“It’s even better than that,” she answered with a smile.

“Did you get a new man in your life?” Grace asked with a twinkle in her eye.

“Hardly,” she replied with a shrug. Trish had a notoriously difficult time finding a boyfriend. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that she was so picky. She’d once claimed that the man for her hadn’t been built yet, and I’d realized that might be what it would take to satisfy her high standards. I knew Jake had his flaws, but I loved being in a relationship with him. I wasn’t sorry for my friends; both Trish and Grace were wonderful young women, fun to be around, and funny in their own ways. None of us needed a man to complete us, or to even make life more interesting, but there were times when they did come in awfully handy.

“So, what’s the good news?” I asked.

She looked carefully around us, and then leaned forward. “Allison turned in her notice today. She’s gone.”

I knew that Trish had hired Allison Jackson as a favor to her mother, Lilly, or more likely, because of an implied threat. Lilly was much feared, and little loved, in our small town. I sometimes thought it odd that of the folks who had been killed around town, Lilly had never made the list as either suspect, or even more likely, victim. It just showed that fate could be a cruel and capricious woman, indeed.

“Allison actually quit?” I asked. A thought suddenly occurred to me. “Oh, no. You don’t think she’s going to apply at the donut shop next, do you?” I wouldn’t hire her, and Lilly couldn’t make me, but that still didn’t mean that I wanted to get on her bad side. It was hard enough dancing that fine line with Gabby.

Trish took my hands in hers. “Don’t worry, you’re safe. She’s getting married.”

Grace looked amazed by the declaration. “Someone actually proposed to her? The girl is so dense she’d have trouble pouring water out of a boot.”

“From what I heard today, none of that matters. Kevin Kraus is in love, and his little Alley Cat isn’t about to work another day of her life.”

I grinned. “He actually called her his Alley Cat?”

“I heard it myself,” Trish said. “It’s dreadful, isn’t it? But who cares? She’s out of my hair, that’s all that matters. What can I get you ladies?”

“We were going to just order cheeseburgers,” Grace said, “but this is reason enough to celebrate.” She pretended to study the menu, and then declared, “We’ll still have the cheeseburgers and Cokes, but bring us pie after we’re finished.”

Trish nodded, and then leaned forward. She nearly whispered as she said, “Tell you what. You two saw me through my troubling times with that nincompoop. The pie’s on the house.”

“That sounds good,” Grace said before I had a chance to comment.

“We shouldn’t take advantage of her,” I said to Grace after Trish left.

“Are you kidding? You heard her. We’re helping her celebrate. How rude would it be if we didn’t join in?”

“Okay, but I’m going to bring her donuts sometime soon to make up for it.”

“You have a good heart, Suzanne.”

After Trish delivered the sodas, Grace said, “Now, tell me what happened out in front of Gabby’s shop today.”

“It’s really nothing,” I said, trying to keep my voice low. The last thing I needed was for all of April Springs to hear yet another version of the day’s events, no matter how deeply my story was rooted in reality.

“Come on, give.”

Grace wasn’t going to fold. “I was innocent enough this time, if you can believe it. A man came in and ordered a dozen donuts, so I sold him iced crullers I had on hand.”

Grace nodded. “Did Simon Henson stick you with another order without paying?”

“For the last time,” I agreed. “Anyway, I told him to enjoy them, and he said they weren’t for eating. I followed him outside to Gabby’s, and when he dropped his guard, I bought them back from him.” I grinned, and then admitted, “Okay, I stole them, but I flipped him a ten, so we were more than even. He actually threatened me, too, can you believe it?” I didn’t tell her what had happened at the bank.

“Why was he pelting her place with crullers in the first place?” she asked.

“That’s where it gets tricky,” I said. “It was Desmond Ray, and he claimed that his aunt Jean left ten grand and a diamond brooch in the coat she sold to Gabby.”

Grace shook her head and asked, “If she bought the coat, doesn’t that mean that she owns what’s in the pockets, too?”

I hadn’t thought of it that way. “It doesn’t matter, because Gabby swears that the pockets were all empty.”

Before I could explain my point further, Grace said, “I bet it matters to Jean and Desmond.”

“Gabby claimed that there wasn’t anything in the pockets except lint, but Desmond didn’t believe her. They had quite a row on the street, and my crullers were in the middle of the action.”