Killer Crullers (2 page)

Gabby frowned, and then looked at me. “Suzanne, what do you think I should do?”

I didn’t even hesitate. “If you don’t have anything to hide, you should let him look around. That’s what I would do.”

I saw the chief smile, but it started to fade when I added, “Don’t worry about your things getting mussed. We’re going to witness the search ourselves.”

Gabby nodded and turned back to him. “That’s the deal, then, take it or leave it. You may search my business, but Suzanne and I get to watch you do it.”

The police chief looked at me and frowned. “What’s the matter, Suzanne, don’t you trust me?”

“Chief, it’s not a matter of trust. I just want Gabby to be protected.”

He shrugged. “Suit yourself. You’re both free to watch.”

As Chief Martin reached for the radio on his belt, I asked, “Who are you calling?”

“We need to get this over with quickly, so I’m calling in for backup.” He hit the transmit button, and then called out, “Grant, I need you at ReNEWed, right now.”

I heard the officer reply in the affirmative, and I was glad the chief had called him. He was my favorite cop on the force, and often stopped in for donuts, both when on duty, and off.

When Officer Grant arrived two minutes later, he flashed me a quick grin, and then turned to his boss. “What can I do, Chief?”

“You can help me search this shop,” he said.

Grant nodded, and then asked, “Anything in particular we’re looking for?”

The chief nodded. “Ten grand in cash and a diamond brooch.”

“A what?” Officer Grant asked.

“It’s a pin,” Gabby explained curtly, “and don’t bother looking too hard; you’re not going to find it.”

Officer Grant clearly didn’t know how to respond to that.

After we all walked inside, the first thing the police chief asked to see was the safe.

“What makes you think I have one?” Gabby asked.

“I know you,” Chief Martin said. “You’re careful with your money, so you’re not about to leave it lying around. You’re too sensible for that.”

Gabby nodded. “I like to think so.”

As we all headed for the back, the police chief said, “Gabby, before we even open it, don’t try to tell me you’ve got ten thousand dollars on hand in your safe.”

She shook her head. “I wouldn’t dream of it. You should know, though, that I keep five thousand dollars in small bills on the premises at all times, and any jewelry I might take in to resell.” Before the police could ask any questions, Gabby continued, “There are a few rings, a necklace, and a small emerald pin there at the moment, but no diamond brooches.”

He’d whistled softly when he’d heard the amount of cash. “That’s a lot of money on hand for such a small shop, isn’t it?”

She explained, “Chief, I deal in a strictly cash business. I am constantly buying and selling items, so I need that size of reserve, but I won’t keep more than five thousand here on hand at any time.”

“You don’t mind if I confirm that myself, do you?” the chief asked.

“Be my guest,” Gabby said as she opened the safe, being careful so that none of us saw the combination. I envied her having a safe, not because of the steel, but because she actually needed one. The proceeds from a day selling donuts would fit into a shoe box, nothing nearly substantial enough to require a safe to store until I could make my deposit.

The chief looked inside, counted the money, inspected the jewelry, and then nodded. “Thanks. You can lock it back up.”

Officer Grant asked, “Does that mean we’re finished here?”

“Not a chance. We’re just getting started.” He turned to Gabby and said, “I’m sorry about this, but it’s going to take a while, and you’re going to have to close while we conduct our search.”

“If it will help clear my name, I’m more than willing to cooperate. Suzanne, would you help me with my sign up front?”

Why on earth did she need my assistance to lock the front door and hang a sign in the window? I wasn’t about to question her, though, so I followed her to the front. Was it my imagination, or did the chief continue to watch us as we made our way to the door?

“Thank you, Suzanne,” she said as she lightly touched my hand at the door.

“For what?”

She looked at me as though I were a little slow. “For being here so I don’t have to face this alone. I know folks around town have an image of a tough old broad when they think of me, but this is quite unnerving.”

“I’m glad I can help,” I said. “Do you need my sign? I have one that says
BACK IN AN HOUR
that I’d be glad to loan you.”

“I’m hoping they won’t be here that long,” she said, “but if they are, I’ll just set the hands on my
BACK AT
clock.”

She set the sign for 1:30, and then locked the door. As she did, I saw Emma hurrying up the street toward us.

“I need a second,” I told Gabby. “Would you mind letting me out?”

“Suzanne, you’re not deserting me, are you?” The look in her eyes was enough to tell me that she truly was unsettled by what was happening to her. Gabby was ordinarily the queen of her domain, and having the police rummage through her wares was bound to shake her up.

“I just need to tell Emma what’s going on,” I explained.

“You’re going to tell her the whole humiliating story, aren’t you?” Gabby asked.

“No, but I need to tell her why I just took off like that,” I said.

Gabby nodded, and then unlocked the door.

I opened it a crack as Emma stood on the other side.

“What’s going on, Suzanne? Why did you just disappear?”

“I’ll explain later, but do you mind closing up the shop for the day?”

She frowned. “I already did. It’s after twelve, after all. That’s okay, isn’t it?”

“It’s fine,” I said. “After you finish the dishes, don’t worry about sweeping the front or doing the deposit. I’ll take care of them myself later.”

“The floor’s already been swept, and the cash register report is on your desk,” she said. “I hope you don’t mind, but I wasn’t exactly sure when you were coming back.”

“You did perfect,” I said.

“Suzanne,” Gabby said beside me, “we need to get back.”

I nodded, and then turned back to my assistant. “Thanks, Emma. I’ve got to go.”

“Sure thing,” she said, as Gabby shut the door and locked it soundly. I could see the look of confusion on my assistant’s face, but I’d have to clarify it later. Right now, I had to help Gabby.

We were walking to the back of the store when I heard the police chief say aloud, “What’s this?”

Had he found something that he shouldn’t have? I couldn’t imagine what it might be, but I hoped that it wasn’t ten grand in cash, or worse yet, the diamond brooch the police were looking for.

EGGNOG DONUTS

We were having fun in the kitchen just before Christmas one year, and on a lark, I added whole eggnog instead of milk to the recipe. Wow, what a nice result. These are easily one of our favorite donuts to make these days when eggnog’s available in the store.

INGREDIENTS

Mixed

• 1 egg, beaten

• ½ cup sugar, white granulated

• ½ cup eggnog (whole milk can be substituted)

• 2 tablespoons butter, melted

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (omit unless using milk instead of eggnog)

Sifted

• 1½ cups all-purpose flour

• 2 teaspoons baking powder

• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg

• Pinch of salt

DIRECTIONS

This one’s easy! Mix the beaten egg, sugar, eggnog, and melted butter in one bowl, and in another bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt. Slowly add the sifted ingredients to the wet mix just until it’s combined. Drop bits of dough using a small-sized cookie scoop (the size of your thumb, approximately). Fry in hot canola oil (360 to 370 degrees F) 1½ to 2 minutes, turning halfway through.

Yield: 12–16 donuts

CHAPTER 2

“What is it? Let me see what you’ve found,” Gabby commanded as we hurried to the back room.

Chief Martin held a receipt up in the air. “It’s an itemized purchase slip dated yesterday and made out in the name of Jean Ray.”

“Do you see a brooch, or cash, listed there?” Gabby asked a little crankily. Honestly, I was amazed how well she was holding it all in, but I could tell from the tone in her voice that she wasn’t far from losing it.

“No, but it proves you bought a coat, a hat, and two sweaters from her,” the police chief said.

“I never denied it,” Gabby said, her voice growing louder with each syllable.

Chief Martin shrugged. “Where are the items listed here?”

Gabby walked past him to the rack closest to her back door. I knew that was where she sometimes stored the gently used clothing and accessories she took in, and it was a handy place for her to go through the inventory before she sent it all out to be dry-cleaned and gussied up a little before anything hit her sales floor. She pulled the items in question from the rack and put them down on the counter by the door. “Be my guest. Explore away.”

The chief did a thorough search, and after he was finished, he turned to her. “There’s nothing in any of the pockets, or even the hat band, for that matter.”

“That’s exactly what I told you that you’d find,” Gabby said. “As I said before, the Rays are both mistaken accusing me of anything.”

The police chief just shrugged, and then he went back to his search. I noticed that Officer Grant was still out on the sales floor, so while Gabby watched the chief, I decided to watch his employee. Okay, it might have been an excuse to get away from the pair of them, especially knowing how volatile the situation was, but I’d promised Gabby my help, and I was going to do the best that I could for her.

Officer Grant looked at me as I came out from the back. “What was the commotion about?”

“The chief just searched the items Gabby bought from Jean.”

“He came up empty, of course,” Grant said as he continued his search.

“Of course he did. Does that mean you trust Gabby?” I asked, being careful to keep my voice low as I did.

Grant smiled slightly. “Not exactly. I just know that if Gabby Williams were ever inclined to steal something from a customer, she wouldn’t be dumb enough to leave it just lying around after she took it. If that cash or that brooch were ever here, they’re long gone by now.”

“Not exactly a vote of confidence, is it?” I asked.

“Hey, you asked, I answered,” he said, “and if you quote me on any of it, I’ll tell my boss you imagined it.” Officer Grant added the last bit with a grin, and I couldn’t help smiling slighty myself.

As he continued his search, I found a stool where Gabby sometimes perched, and watched his progress. He didn’t seem to mind one bit having an audience.

Twenty minutes later, the police chief joined us up front, with Gabby close on his heels.

I couldn’t help myself as I asked, “Did you have any luck?”

“Of course he didn’t,” Gabby answered for him.

Chief Martin appeared to ignore the jibe as he looked questioningly at his only reinforcement. When Officer Grant shook his head, the chief nodded, and then moved to the other side of the store.

In forty-five minutes, the officers finished their search at nearly the same time.

“There’s nothing here, Chief,” Officer Grant said.

In reply, the police chief said, “Go back to the station,” and Grant did as he was told. I let him out, and then turned to the chief. “Can I go ahead and leave this unlocked? After all, Gabby has a business to run.”

He wanted to say no, I could tell by his rigid stance and the frown on his face, but he glanced at Gabby and must have known that he didn’t want to have that particular fight on his hands. “Go ahead.”

I took the sign out of the window, then I unlocked the door. The chief started to leave, but before he did, he turned to Gabby and said, “Thank you for your cooperation.”

Gabby smiled broadly at him, and then said, “It was my pleasure to be of assistance.”

After he was gone, Gabby slumped against the counter where she’d been standing.

“I’m glad that’s over,” I said.

Gabby just shook her head. “I only wish it were, but Desmond isn’t about to give up that easily. He’s coming back, that you can be certain of.”

So much for my celebration. As I started to go, I said, “Gabby, if you need me, I’m just a phone call away.”

“Thank you, Suzanne. I might just take you up on that.”

After I left her, I popped back into the donut shop to make sure everything was in order. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust Emma. In fact, when I took one of my rare days off, she ran the shop for me, with the help of her mother. I just knew that I wouldn’t be happy until I’d gone over everything again myself. My life, not to mention my entire savings, were invested in Donut Hearts, and I wanted to be sure that everything there was in perfect order.

I was still going over the books when there was a tapping at the front door.

What was that all about?

I walked out front, and to my happy surprise, I found Jake standing there smiling at me.

I hurried to the door and opened it for him. “What are you doing here?” I asked breathlessly as I hugged him. Jake wasn’t as fond of public displays of affection as I was, but I was slowly breaking down his resistance.

My boyfriend, a state police investigator, managed to break free from me, and then grinned. “I’m happy to see you, too, Suzanne.”

“I thought you were going to be in Asheville all week,” I said. A friend of Jake’s, another investigator who’d retired to take a teaching position at the University of North Carolina-Asheville, had asked him to guest lecture for a week in his criminal justice classes, and before Jake could answer, he was told by his supervisor that it was important that Jake do it, so he’d reluctantly accepted the assignment. It wasn’t that Jake didn’t want to help his friend, but he had a real dislike for public speaking of any kind, and he’d once told me that he’d rather face an armed criminal than an audience.

“I’m headed to Asheville right now,” he said. “I really wasn’t in any position to turn Grayson down. I’m not sure what he has on my boss, but whatever it is, I wish he’d share it with me. I could use a little blackmail information myself.”