Jessica Beck - Donut Shop 17 - Old Fashioned Crooks Read Online Free PDF Page B

donut
shop.   I always trudged through the
snow in the steady gray night and made my donuts regardless of the weather.   After all, the men and women who kept
our streets clear deserved a treat, and so did any brave and intrepid soul willing
to venture out into the winter wonderland.
    As Sharon and I
settled in at the table in front of Donut Hearts where our breaks always took
place, she surprised me by saying exactly what I’d just been thinking.   “I hope we get lots and lots of snow
this year,” Sharon said after she took a deep sip of warm coffee.   “The almanac says that we’re due.”
    “I was just
thinking the same thing,” I admitted.   “I’ve got all of my supplies laid in, so I’m ready, if and when it
happens.”
    “Do you mean at
the cottage?” Sharon asked me.
    “No, though I
have food and firewood aplenty there as well.   I’m talking about the donut shop.   We never seem to lose power here, so if
I have electricity to run things, I can always make donuts.”
    “I remember the
time George borrowed someone’s snowmobile and came by to collect you and Emma
during a particularly heavy snowfall.   My daughter still tells that story to this day.”
    I recalled it as
well, back before the mayor had become the mayor and was just a retired cop who
helped me occasionally with my investigations.   Momma hadn’t been married then, but at
least I’d known Jake.   Sometimes it
was hard to remember a time when he wasn’t in my life.   “It was quite a ride,” I said.   “You know, I probably don’t say it
enough, but it’s truly wonderful having your daughter here.”
    “Suzanne, she
loves this donut shop nearly as much as you do,” Sharon said.   “I can’t tell you how much Ray and I
appreciate you making room for her.”
    “She’s my most
valuable asset.   As long as I’m
running Donut Hearts, she’ll be here if she wants to be.   Truthfully, I can’t imagine running the
place without her,” I said, and then added hastily, “not that I don’t
appreciate all that you’re doing, as well.”
    “Oh, I know that
I’m capable enough, but I can’t match my daughter’s skills, and honestly, I’m
fine with that.   Her offerings of
coffees alone set her apart from anything that I would ever even dream of
attempting.”
    “Emma does have a
flair for the unusual,” I said.   I
glanced at the timer and saw that we had a few more minutes left on our
break.   I was wondering if I should
ask Sharon about Emma’s boyfriend, or if I should just leave it alone, when she
made the decision for me.  
    “Suzanne, Emma
wanted me to ask you something, but if I’m overstepping my bounds, please let
me know.   No hard feelings.”
    “Go on.   Your daughter and I usually have a
pretty open dialogue that covers just about everything, so I’ll extend the same
privilege to you if you’d like.”
    “I’d greatly
appreciate that.”   Sharon took a
deep breath, and then she said, “Emma wants to know if you’ll investigate
Rick’s murder.   If you haven’t
already decided to look into it, she asked me to implore you and Grace to find
out what really happened to him.”
    “We’re already
digging around some,” I admitted, “but we don’t want to make things any worse
for Emma than they already are, so we’re reluctant to speak with her about him
until she’s ready.”
    “As you said
earlier, my daughter is tougher than she looks.   She knows that Chief Martin is good at
what he does, but she also believes that you manage to get to the heart of
matters that aren’t as readily apparent to others.   For what it’s worth, I think so myself.   We’d both consider it an enormous favor
if you’d do it.”
    “First of all, it’s
important that you remember that I never do anything alone.   Even with a great deal of help from others, more times than not it boils down to Grace
and me simply getting lucky.”
    “Do you know my
definition of luck, Suzanne?” she asked