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

place was for sale at the only moment in my life when
I could afford to buy it.   Breaking
up with Max was really painful, and I poured myself into Donut Hearts to get
away from it.   A funny thing
happened, though.   Instead of a way
to hide from my life, the shop showed me a new one altogether.   I can’t ever imagine a time when I don’t
want to do it.”
    I saw Grace
nodding out of the corner of my eye.   “I was worried about you for a long time after Max,” she said.   “Everything you’re saying about the
donut shop is absolutely true.”
    I grinned at
her.   “Well then, if you knew the
answer to the question already, why did you go ahead and ask it?”
    “I knew.   I just wasn’t sure that you did,” she said.
    “Fair
enough.   We’ve got a little time; let’s
talk about how we’re going to investigate Alex Tyler’s former life in Granite
Meadows.”
    “Well, the
logical first step would be to go where he used to work,” Grace answered.   “That might be a little tough to do,
though, since he was a cop.”
    “There are ways
around that, but we need some information first.   We don’t even know where he used to
live.”
    “Ah, that’s
something that I can help with,” she said as she pulled out her cellphone.
    “I forgot that
you used that thing for more than making calls,” I said with a laugh.
    “You joke, but I
can’t imagine ever being without it.   Now let’s see.   I’ve got my
search engine up, so I’ll type in Alex Tyler, Granite Meadows, North Carolina,
police officer, home address.   That
should do it.”
    “That’s a lot of
information you’re giving it,” I said.
    Grace said, “I’ve
come to realize that the more specific the question, the more accurate the
answer.”
    “That makes
sense.   What does it say?”
    As she started
scrolling through the listings, she finally said, “Bingo.   We need to go to 3441 West Mulberry in
Granite Meadows.   That’s where he
used to live up until a few weeks ago.”
    “That’s all well
and good, but my Jeep doesn’t have GPS.”
    “There’s no
need,” Grace said as she shook her phone at me.   “I’ve got it right here.”
    “Is there
anything that it can’t do?” I asked her.
    “If they can
figure out a way to have it rub my sore feet at night, I’d buy two of them.”
    “Doesn’t the
April Springs interim police chief do that for you already?”
    She laughed.   “Sometimes, but not as often as I’d
like.”   After a moment’s pause, she
said, “The coordinates are now entered.   All we have to do is follow directions and we’ll be there.”
    “Do you trust it
that much?”
    “What makes you
ask me that?” Grace inquired.
    “I once read
about a man who followed his GPS blindly and winded up driving into a river.”
    “Some common
sense might be in order, too,” Grace said, “but so far, it hasn’t led me too
far astray.”
    “Good, because we
don’t have a ton of time for any wild goose chases.   What’s our plan when we get to his old
address?”
    “We start
knocking on doors and we talk to his neighbors.   Hopefully we’ll get someone nearby who’s
as nosy as Gabby Williams is in April Springs.”
    Gabby ran the
gently used clothing store near the donut shop.   It was called ReNEWed, and besides
having some really nice things for sale, expensive clothes that had been barely
worn, it was a hotbed for gossip.   If Gabby didn’t know it, some folks in town said that it really didn’t
happen.  
    “We should be so
lucky,” I said.
    Grace
laughed.   “I never dreamed that
anyone would say knowing Gabby was lucky.”
    “That’s not
true.   She’s been a friend to me
since I’ve been at Donut Hearts,” I said.
    “Suzanne, are you
actually defending her?”
    I was as startled
by the idea as Grace was.   Gabby had
been a thorn in my side on more than one occasion in the past, so why was I
standing up for her now?   I wasn’t
exactly sure.   It just felt as
though