Free Fatally Frosted by Jessica Beck Page A

Mary?
    It wasn’t fair to Emma or her mother, either. Theyhad made me proud, and I was going to do my best to convince my assistant that she was the perfect donut-making substitute whenever I wasn’t around, even though I had a bad feeling that after this, she wasn’t going to be interested in the job anymore.
    I hauled the trash out back to my Dumpster and was having trouble tipping it in when I heard someone behind me ask, “Can I give you a hand with that?”
    I didn’t even have to turn around to know that it was George Morris, a balding ex-cop in his sixties who was one of my best customers and good friends.
    “I could use it,” I admitted, and he took one handle while I took the other. We threw the trash away, and I wished I could clear me name that easily.
    “It’s a real shame, isn’t it?” he said as he carried the can back inside for me.
    “In more ways than one. I still can’t believe someone would use one of my donuts as a murder weapon, you know?”
    George shook his head. “Suzanne, that donut didn’t kill Peg Masterson. The poison on top of it did.”
    “Have you heard anything else about it?” I asked. Though George was retired, he still kept in touch with a lot of his friends on the force, and so far, Chief Martin had let him hang around the squad room as long as he didn’t try to work any of the cases. His observations had been invaluable to me in the past, and I wanted to make sure he stayed in the chief’s good graces.
    George frowned, then said, “There hasn’t been anything formal announced, but it’s pretty clear that’s what happened. How are you holding up?”
    “I’m a wreck,” I admitted.
    “Don’t worry, things won’t stay this bad. I heard that the chief was calling the state police to see if he could get Jake to give him a hand.”
    “He’s already here,” I said.
    George smiled at me. “See? Things aren’t as bad as they might seem.”
    I admitted, “I’m not sure how good a thing it is that Chief Martin called him.”
    George shook his head. “Your luck’s not running so hot right now, is it?”
    “I don’t know. I still have my friends. You believe me, don’t you?” I asked as I bolted the door behind me.
    “You shouldn’t even have to ask,” he said. George looked around the kitchen. While it was my habit to clean as I worked, apparently Emma had a different idea.
    “So, where should we get started?” he asked.
    I frowned. “On what? I’m not sure we should butt into this murder investigation, at least not yet.”
    George shook his head. “It’s too soon, I agree. I was talking about getting this place cleaned up.”
    “You don’t have to hang around and help,” I said.
    He grinned. “I know I don’t have to, but I want to. Do you have an extra apron hanging around here?”
    I walked to the storage closet and pulled one off a hook. “If you’re serious, this should fit you just fine.”
    He put it on and tied it. “Don’t you think I’m capable of washing a pot or two?”
    “I know you can do it, I’m just not sure why you’d want to.”
    George said, “What else is there to do? Do you want to wash or dry?”
    I laughed and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
    He rubbed the spot, then asked, “What was that for?”
    “For being here,” I said.
    “Like I said before, it’s no big deal.”
    “Well, it is to me.”
    It was so nice having company as we cleaned up Donut Hearts.
    George and I had just finished washing the dishes when there was a knock at the front door. When I peeked out through the kitchen door, I could see who it was without them seeing me.
    It was Jake Bishop, and from the scowl plastered on his face, I had a pretty good idea that he wasn’t coming by to ask me out.

 
     
HOBO DONUTS
    Kids in particular love these, and they’re so easy to make, we do them all the time. The batter’s kind of messy, but it’s worth the trouble. Prep is easy to do while the oil’s heating, so you don’t have long to wait