Free Sinister Sprinkles by Jessica Beck Page A

forward. “I’ll swap you donuts for fries, how does that sound?”
    “Like you’re getting robbed,” I said.
    She shrugged. “Then let’s just call it an early Christmas present, okay?”
    “Okay, but now I have to get you something.”
    “I’m partial to your pastry pinecones,” she said with a smile. “I’m just saying.”
    I paid our bill, and Grace and I walked back outside. Since we’d been inside the diner, the sky had darkened, and fresh snow was falling again.
    “It’s really coming down, isn’t it?” I said as I pulled my coat closer.
    “I’d better go by the grocery store before I go home,” she said.
    “You’re welcome to come home with me again,” I said.
    “I don’t want to be a bother.”
    “Are you kidding me? You’re not a bother, you’re a buffer. Momma and I will drive each other crazy if just the two of us are snowbound in that house.”
    Grace bit her lip, then said, “Well, if you’re sure. Normally I like living alone, but I’m not too fond of storms of any kind.”
    “At least there’s no lightning,” I said. As I spoke, there was a diffused flash in the sky, and a few seconds later, thunder rumbled in the distance.
    I looked at Grace. Without cracking a smile, she said, “I’m just glad you didn’t say there wasn’t a hurricane.”
    “We’d better get home before this gets any worse,” I said. “The last time I saw lightning in a snowstorm, we got a foot overnight.”
    Grace shivered at the prospect. “Can we swing by my house first? I want to pick up a few things.”
    “Sure, but we have to do it on foot. My Jeep’s still at the house.”
    “Then we’d better get going,” she said. “It looks like this isn’t going to let up anytime soon.”
    *   *   *
    At least Grace’s house was on the way to my place. The sidewalks were all a mess, but there was barely any traffic on the road, so we decided to walk there. It made the going a lot easier, especially since the new snow added a little traction. The daytime temperature hadn’t gotten above freezing, but at least our plows had been followed by salt trucks, so for now, it wasn’t bad.
    “Should we get some groceries, too?” Grace asked. “I don’t have enough in my pantry to feed a mouse.”
    “If I know my mother—and if not me, who—she’ll have enough for a monthlong siege. That woman believes in being prepared for just about anything.”
    Grace nodded. “Not a bad trait at the moment, wouldn’t you say?”
    “Hey, I’m a big fan of the lady myself.” I had to admit that sometimes it took Grace’s presence for me to remember some of my mother’s good qualities. Both of Grace’s folks had passed away years ago, and Momma had kind of adopted her.
    We climbed the steps up to Grace’s porch, and before I could approach the door, she put her hand out and stopped me.
    “What’s wrong?” I asked.
    “Look,” she said. “There are footprints on my porch, and I haven’t been home since yesterday.”
    “Maybe it was the mailman.”
    “My box is on the street,” she said.
    “A neighbor worried about you?” I asked.
    “I doubt it. Suzanne, something’s wrong here.”
    “Let’s not jump to conclusions,” I said as I walked to the door.
    Grace nodded. “You’re right; I guess I’m a little jumpy.”
    “Or not,” I said as I noticed that door was slightly ajar. “You locked up yesterday, didn’t you?”
    “I always do, you know how paranoid I am about that,” she said. “Why? What’s going on?”
    I pointed to the door and said softly, “Let’s go back to the diner and call the police.”
    She backed up without saying a word, but from the expression on her face, I knew she wanted to scream.
    We hurried back a dozen paces, then she said, “I’ve got my cell phone. I’m going to call from here.”
    “I just realized that I have mine, too,” I said. “But don’t you think this is a call we should make with other people around? We’re kind of vulnerable out