Deep Fried Homicide (The Donut Shop Mysteries) Read Online Free PDF

said.  “It will absolutely be my pleasure working here with Emma every day.  And don’t you think it’s time that we were on a first-name basis?”
“I suppose,” I said, not sure how I felt about that.  She’d been Mrs. Blake to me for as long as I’d known her.
“Call me Sharon,” she said.
“I’ll try, Sharon,” I replied, but it felt weird calling her by her first name.
Emma asked, “Should I call you Sharon, too, Mom?”
“You’d better not, young lady,” her mother told her with a smile.  “There’s only one person in the world who can rightfully call me mother, and I’m not missing out on that for anything.  Is that okay with you?”
Emma hugged her mom as she said, “That’s fine with me.  I was just teasing.”  She turned to me and asked, “What should we do first, boss?”
“I’m just here today as an observer and an advisor in case anything goes wrong.  This is your donut shop for the next two weeks.  I’ll try to sit back and not comment unless I see something dangerous about to happen.”
“I’ll believe that when I see it,” Emma said, and then she turned to her mother.  “Okay, Mom, are you ready to get started?”
“I can’t wait,” she said, and the two of them got to work.  Sharon flipped on one of our coffee pots while Emma turned on the fryer, and the two of them worked in perfect tandem as they prepped for the first treats of the day, our cake donuts.  I didn’t know why I was all that surprised that they worked so well together.  After all, the mother-daughter duo had filled in for me before, just not on such a long-term basis.  While I was clearly the boss when Emma and I were there working alone, these two were equal partners.  It was a pleasure to watch them, at least it was after I’d clamped down on myself from adding anything that wasn’t completely necessary.  They might not have done things my way, but their methods were certainly sound ones.
“How are we doing so far?” Emma asked after the cake donuts were finished and the dough was raising for the yeast ones.  It was time for our traditional break, and the three of us were outside in the cool morning air.
“I’m taking notes on how to improve my techniques,” I said, only partially joking.
“I’m sure that you’re just being gracious,” Sharon said.
“Honestly, the more I think about it, I’m not even sure why I’m here.  You two clearly don’t need me.”  It felt odd saying that about my own shop, and it was even stranger knowing that it was indeed true.
“Don’t kid yourself, Suzanne.  My daughter and I might be able to fill in while you’re away,” Sharon said, “but we’ll never replace you, nor do either one of us ever want that.  Do we, Emma?”
My assistant shook her head.  “No way.  I’m perfectly content with my usual role at Donut Hearts.  This is going to be a tough few weeks, and I have a hunch that I’ll be ready to get things back to normal as soon as we can.  Not that I’m complaining or anything.  Suzanne, you’re doing the right thing taking care of Jake.  He needs you more than this old donut shop does right now.”
“I can see that,” I said.
“How does he like all of the attention he’s been getting in the press?” Sharon asked.
“He hates it,” I said.  “Jake was never one to go for the spotlight, and he can’t wait until he’s yesterday’s news.  That’s a direct quote, by the way.”
“It will happen soon enough,” Sharon said.  “Tell him I said that he should enjoy it while he can.”
“I would if I thought that it would do any good, but the man’s just not built that way.”  The timer went off, and as the mother and daughter team headed back inside, I paused.  “You two clearly have things under control here.  If you don’t mind, I think that I’m going to head back home and catch a quick nap before I have to pick Jake up.”
“Are you sure?” Sharon asked.  “We don’t want to run you off from