Jessica Beck - Donut Shop 18 - Dangerous Dough Read Online Free PDF

to
have any sweet tea?   That’s about
the only thing I really missed while we were in Europe.”
    “You’re in
luck.   I made a fresh batch this
morning,” Grace said.
    After my first
glass had been drained and then topped off again, Grace and I sat in the living
room and talked about how we should approach the case.  
    “Where should we
begin?” Grace asked.   “I’ve picked
up on a few things from Stephen, but he’s been reticent to speak with me about
the case much.   My boyfriend can be
pretty tightlipped when it comes to his job.”
    “That’s perfectly
understandable,” I said.   Besides, I
already knew what Acting Chief Grant thought.   There was potential for conflict between
Grace and me.   I realized that we
were in a delicate area, and the less we touched upon it, the better, as far as
I was concerned.   “Well, here’s what
I’ve managed to learn so far,” I said, and I started relaying everything that
I’d learned from Momma on the drive back to April Springs.
    “Can I ask you a
question?” Grace asked after I was finished.
    “Go ahead.”
    “If Jake has
agreed to investigate this case, then what exactly are we doing?   Isn’t he likely to be offended by us
digging into his own investigation?”
    “I haven’t told
you that part yet.   He’s given us a
green light to go to Granite Meadows and look around because one of his old
adversaries from his state police days is now in charge of the investigation
for his old boss.”
    “Why am I
guessing that was done as a punitive measure?” Grace asked.
    “I don’t know, because
you’re smart, savvy, and you know people?” I asked.
    “That must be
it.   So, what do we know about
Alex’s life in Granite Meadows?”
    “Just that he was
a cop there before he came here,” I said.   “Right now, the rest of the details are kind of sketchy.”
    “That’s
okay.   We’ll figure out how to fill
them in.   Let’s go.”
    I had to
laugh.   “That’s just one of the
things I love about you, my friend.”
    “What’s that?”
    “Your complete
and utter willingness to dive into the fire with me at a moment’s notice.”
    “What are friends
for?” she asked.   “If they don’t
stand by your side when you need them, they aren’t really friends in my
book.   You’d do the same for me, and
you know it.”
    “You’d better
believe it,” I said as we got into the Jeep and starting driving toward Granite
Meadows.   I’d have to catch up with
Emma and Sharon soon so we could figure out what we were going to do about
Donut Hearts, but in the meantime, I had a murder to investigate with my best
friend.
    “Should we have
packed our bags for an overnight stay?” Grace asked me.
    “It’s less than
an hour from here.   I think we’ll be
pretty safe commuting while we investigate.”
    “Sure, I get it.”
    “Get what?” I
asked her.
    “You’ve got a
brand-new husband at home.   Why on
earth would you want to leave him so soon?”
    “Jake has nothing
to do with it,” I said.
    “Nothing?”   As she asked it, there was a mischievous
glint in her eye.
    “Maybe not
nothing, but that’s not the main reason that I don’t want to stay.   I have a donut shop to run, remember?”
    “You’re
kidding.   You’re actually going back
to work tomorrow with everything going on?”
    “Of course I am,”
I said.   “I’ve been away too long as
it is, and I miss it.   Are you
really all that surprised?”
    “Now that I think
about it, I realize that I shouldn’t be,” Grace replied.   “There’s a lot of you wrapped up into
that place these days, isn’t there?”
    I thought about it
for a moment before I answered, keeping my outward attention focused on the
road in front of us.   When I spoke
again, I knew exactly what I wanted to say.   “You know better than anyone but Momma
that I never wanted to be a donutmaker when I was a little girl.   To be honest with you, I kind of fell
into it, seeing that the