wasn’t about to deny anything,” I replied. “I can’t have that cloud of suspicion hanging over my head. It could ruin my business, and my life in April Springs, and we both know it.”
“You should let the police handle it.”
I shook my head, and there was no way I could keep the sarcasm out of my voice. “Yeah, because that’s worked out so well for me in the past.”
“Suzanne, you’re just trying to be difficult now.”
“I don’t have to try very hard, though, do I?” I was suddenly exhausted by our verbal sparring. I walked back, leaned over, and kissed her on the forehead. “Good night. I love you.”
“I love you, too,” she said.
I was nearly up the stairs when I heard her add, “Sweet dreams.”
It didn’t take long for me to fall asleep. Working at the donut shop and then adding too much drama to the rest of my day was exhausting. I went to sleep and tried to put everything out of my mind. Amazingly enough, I was able to, and when I woke up the next morning, I was ready to take on the world. I needed to make some progress in my investigation before my reputation took a hit it couldn’t recover from.
* * *
By ten, we’d done good business at Donut Hearts, but I could tell some of our regulars were clearly avoiding us. It didn’t take much to turn the ink on my books from black to red, and I promised myself I’d redouble my efforts to clear my name.
I was standing by the door watching cars drive past us without stopping in, and I wondered where everyone was going in such a hurry. As I glanced down the street, I saw the fellow in the clown outfit walking toward the donut shop again. As soon as he approached the door, I slid the lock in place and flipped the sign to CLOSED . It was probably a little crueler than I needed to be, but he got my message. His head dropped a little, and then I saw him walk up the tracks toward the Boxcar Grill. The overshoes he wore flapped in the grass as he walked away, and I decided that it wasn’t fair to take my problems with clowns out on him. I resolved to do a little better the next time, if he ever showed up again.
I was still watching him when I saw someone else approach the shop. It was Councilwoman Sherry Lance, and she looked confused by my CLOSED sign. I flipped it over and unlocked the door just in time. Sherry was tall and lean, with a short ponytail, piercing green eyes, and a ruddy complexion.
“Are you closing?” she asked me as I opened the door for her.
“No,” I said simply. I would have loved to give her some kind of clever explanation, and I would probably think of one in a few hours, but for the moment, my mind was drawing a blank.
She frowned at my lack of embellishment. “I heard you wanted to see me.”
“It can wait, if you’d like,” I said. “Why don’t you come on in and have a donut on the house?”
Sherry frowned and shook her head as she glanced at her watch. “I have five minutes right now, and I can’t promise that again for the rest of the day.”
“Wow, you must be busy.”
“Between my practice and town business, I’ve got a full schedule.”
I decided to make my offer again. It was amazing how much it loosened some people up to get a free donut. “Are you sure you wouldn’t like a donut and coffee while we talk?”
She shook her head. “No, thanks. If you don’t mind, could we speak outside?”
Sherry acted as though the mere presence of donuts was offensive to her. I knew some folks believed that there was nothing redeeming about what I created, but it always amazed me how adamant they were that no one else should enjoy things they considered bad, either.
“Emma, grab the front,” I called out. “Back in five.”
I left the shop, and Sherry and I took an empty table outside. The second she sat, she asked, “What can I do for you?”
“It’s about Lester Moorefield,” I said. “I heard you two didn’t get along.”
Sherry’s chin dipped. “Now where on earth would
“You should let the police handle it.”
I shook my head, and there was no way I could keep the sarcasm out of my voice. “Yeah, because that’s worked out so well for me in the past.”
“Suzanne, you’re just trying to be difficult now.”
“I don’t have to try very hard, though, do I?” I was suddenly exhausted by our verbal sparring. I walked back, leaned over, and kissed her on the forehead. “Good night. I love you.”
“I love you, too,” she said.
I was nearly up the stairs when I heard her add, “Sweet dreams.”
It didn’t take long for me to fall asleep. Working at the donut shop and then adding too much drama to the rest of my day was exhausting. I went to sleep and tried to put everything out of my mind. Amazingly enough, I was able to, and when I woke up the next morning, I was ready to take on the world. I needed to make some progress in my investigation before my reputation took a hit it couldn’t recover from.
* * *
By ten, we’d done good business at Donut Hearts, but I could tell some of our regulars were clearly avoiding us. It didn’t take much to turn the ink on my books from black to red, and I promised myself I’d redouble my efforts to clear my name.
I was standing by the door watching cars drive past us without stopping in, and I wondered where everyone was going in such a hurry. As I glanced down the street, I saw the fellow in the clown outfit walking toward the donut shop again. As soon as he approached the door, I slid the lock in place and flipped the sign to CLOSED . It was probably a little crueler than I needed to be, but he got my message. His head dropped a little, and then I saw him walk up the tracks toward the Boxcar Grill. The overshoes he wore flapped in the grass as he walked away, and I decided that it wasn’t fair to take my problems with clowns out on him. I resolved to do a little better the next time, if he ever showed up again.
I was still watching him when I saw someone else approach the shop. It was Councilwoman Sherry Lance, and she looked confused by my CLOSED sign. I flipped it over and unlocked the door just in time. Sherry was tall and lean, with a short ponytail, piercing green eyes, and a ruddy complexion.
“Are you closing?” she asked me as I opened the door for her.
“No,” I said simply. I would have loved to give her some kind of clever explanation, and I would probably think of one in a few hours, but for the moment, my mind was drawing a blank.
She frowned at my lack of embellishment. “I heard you wanted to see me.”
“It can wait, if you’d like,” I said. “Why don’t you come on in and have a donut on the house?”
Sherry frowned and shook her head as she glanced at her watch. “I have five minutes right now, and I can’t promise that again for the rest of the day.”
“Wow, you must be busy.”
“Between my practice and town business, I’ve got a full schedule.”
I decided to make my offer again. It was amazing how much it loosened some people up to get a free donut. “Are you sure you wouldn’t like a donut and coffee while we talk?”
She shook her head. “No, thanks. If you don’t mind, could we speak outside?”
Sherry acted as though the mere presence of donuts was offensive to her. I knew some folks believed that there was nothing redeeming about what I created, but it always amazed me how adamant they were that no one else should enjoy things they considered bad, either.
“Emma, grab the front,” I called out. “Back in five.”
I left the shop, and Sherry and I took an empty table outside. The second she sat, she asked, “What can I do for you?”
“It’s about Lester Moorefield,” I said. “I heard you two didn’t get along.”
Sherry’s chin dipped. “Now where on earth would
Similar Books
