Killer Crullers by Jessica Beck

and he promised me that I’d never have to deal with the Rodgers man again.”
    “Any idea what the business was?” I asked.
    “I haven’t a clue. I just know I wasn’t about to pay him fifty thousand dollars for an obligation I hadn’t taken on.”
    I was about to press her further when there was a knock at the door. Jean looked troubled as it continued. “People have been knocking all day, but I can’t bear to see anyone.”
    “Would you like me to take care of it?” I asked.
    “That would be wonderful,” she said as she settled back on the couch.
    I walked to the front door and opened it, prepared to rebuff any and all visitors.
    Then I saw that it was Grace.
    “Can I give you a hand?” I asked as I held the door open for her.
    “There’s a tray of coffees in the car. Would you mind grabbing them for me?”
    “Not at all.”
    As I retrieved the coffee, I found Grace waiting on the porch for me. “I was beginning to wonder if you were ever going to answer the door, Suzanne. What took you so long?” she asked in a muted voice.
    “I was sleuthing,” I admitted. “Do me a favor and go along with whatever I say, okay?”
    Grace’s eyes lit up. “You’ve got it.” I knew she was always up for a chance to stretch her acting skills. I didn’t have the heart to tell her it was her cleaning abilities I’d be using instead.
    Grace carried the grocery bags in, and I handed Jean a cup of coffee.
    “Bless you, Suzanne,” she said as she took it from me.
    “Don’t bless me; Grace is the one who brought them.”
    Jean smiled again, but then it died just as suddenly, as though she’d forgotten, for just an instant, the murder. “Then bless you both.”
    “Should I put these away for you?” Grace asked.
    “I’ll do it myself,” Jean replied.
    “I don’t mind, really I don’t,” Grace replied.
    “Dear, then how will I ever find anything? Besides, you and Suzanne have enough to do as it is.”
    Even though I’d warned her that something was coming, she looked slightly confused. “We do?”
    “You’d better have a chat about it while I take care of these groceries,” Jean said as she went into the kitchen and began putting things away.
    I turned to Grace and said, “We’re going to clean Desmond’s room so his cousin can move in tonight. Do you have a few hours to spare?”
    Grace looked at her watch. “That would be fine. I just have to be home by six.”
    “Are you going out again tonight?” I asked. She hadn’t said a word about that to me on the drive over to Jean’s house.
    “I can cancel it if I need to,” she said, though it was clear that she’d be reluctant to do so.
    “Nonsense, we’ll have plenty of time. It’s just one room.” I went to kitchen and asked Jean, “That’s right, isn’t it?”
    “Yes, it shouldn’t take long. Would you mind getting started? I want to have fresh linens on the bed when Jenny arrives.”
    “Who’s Jenny?” Grace asked.
    “I’ll tell you as we clean,” I said. “Jean, do you happen to have any boxes around here?”
    “Check the pantry,” she said as she pointed to a door directly off the kitchen.
    I opened it, and was stunned to find a stocked storage area that was nearly as large as Jean’s kitchen. I wasn’t sure what major disaster she’d been preparing for, but I was certain she’d be able to handle it, including flood or famine. Sure enough, there were a few large empty boxes stored under one of the shelving units.
    “Thanks,” I said as I retrieved them. “Grace, we should get started.”
    I turned to Jean, who was openly crying now. As much as I wanted to snoop around in Desmond’s room, I didn’t want to cause this woman any more pain than I had to. “Are you sure about this?”
    She nodded. “It’s like a bandage, isn’t it? It’s best to rip it off in one motion and allow yourself to start healing.”
    “Let’s go, Grace,” I said, and then turned back to Jean. “Where exactly is his