Killer Crullers (30 page)

“Should you be doing that?” I asked.

“What? The list is strictly volunteer, not associated with any government agency at all.”

“But it’s not really a disaster, is it?”

Trish nodded. “You bet it is. Cam Hamilton has been mayor long enough. If getting your mother elected isn’t a number one priority, I don’t know what is.”

More folks were signing, most likely more than we needed. “You should be the one running her campaign,” I said. “You’ve got a lot of ties to the community, and folks around here respond to you.”

“They respond to you, too,” she replied.

“Maybe if they’re craving donuts,” I said, “But you’re a natural leader.”

“Don’t sell yourself short. I wouldn’t know how to run a mayoral campaign.” She looked around the crowded restaurant, and then added, “I wouldn’t mind being head of PR, though. I can spread the word like nobody’s business.”

I nodded. “With my momma’s approval, you’ve got the job.”

Trish looked pleased by the honor when my best friend, Grace Gauge, walked into the diner. “I didn’t know we were having a party.”

“It’s better than that,” I said. “Momma’s running for mayor.”

“It’s about time,” she said. “Where do I sign the petition?”

“Over there,” I said as I pointed to a crowd midway through the diner. “You’d better hurry, though. Slots are filling up fast.”

“Not without me,” she said as she pushed her way into the mess.

A few minutes later, Momma rejoined us, with Grace close behind her. My mother looked a little surprised by the outpouring.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“We got one hundred twenty-seven signatures,” she said, clearly a little dumbfounded. “I kept telling them we had enough, but people kept insisting that they have the right to sign. It’s a bit overwhelming.”

“You can be stunned tomorrow,” I said. “Right now, we need to get these signatures to the courthouse so we can get you registered. Are you sure you want to do this? It’s still not too late to back out.”

“Is that what you want, Suzanne?”

I laughed. “Are you kidding me? I’d love to see you wipe the floor up with that windbag.”

“Even if it makes life a little harder for you?”

“Momma, you need to be mayor of April Springs, and no one else. I’m voting for you twice if I can figure out a way to do it.”

Grace said, “It’s not that tough. First thing you need to do is—”

“I don’t want to hear that,” Momma said. “Let’s go to the courthouse before I change my mind.”

*   *   *

As Momma and I walked back to the courthouse, I said, “You’re sure you want to do this, right?” Grace had stayed behind to grab a bite at Trish’s, but she’d promised to catch up with us later at the house.

Momma frowned a moment. “There is one thing I’m concerned about. I have my fingers in a great many pies around town,” she said. “It might not be appropriate for me to run for public office. After all, I just chastised Cam for something some might justifiably accuse me of doing myself.”

Even I didn’t have any idea what kind of businesses my mother owned a part of in the April Springs area, and I was her only child, not to mention her roommate since my divorce from Max. She played her cards close to the vest, and I had a hunch she liked it that way. “The difference is, folks already know that about you. No one expects you to stop what you’re doing, but your contacts could make life around here a lot easier. Are you planning on bidding on any jobs that involve city or county government?”

“Of course not,” she said.

“Then I don’t see the problem.”

“There’s something else to consider, as well. The job comes with a great many headaches, I’m sure,” Momma said, though I could see that she was beginning to like the idea of being mayor.

“But just think. You’ll be Grand Marshal of the Pageant Parade, and you get to give away keys to the city whenever you feel like it, too.”

She laughed shortly. “Leave it to you to name those two functions of the position. If I were to do this, I would be intent on allowing folks a voice in how they are governed, and not just dictate to them like Cam does.”

I joined her smile with one of my own. “Just picture the expression on his face when we walk in and he learns how fast you got those signatures,” I said. “It’s nearly worth it just to see his face.”

“You’re right,” she said, waving the sheets filled with signatures in the air. “I’m running for mayor.”

“I meant what I said. I’m backing you a thousand percent, and if you’ll have me, I’ll be your campaign manager,” I said, getting into the spirit of her declaration.

Momma looked at me warily. “Does that mean you’ll take orders from me?”

“About the campaign, sure,” I conceded. “Everything else is off limits, though.”

She nodded. “I’ll take whatever you give me.” Momma bit her lower lip, took a deep breath, and then said, “I suppose that makes it official. I’m running.”

“Let me get out my jogging shoes, because I’m going to be right beside you.”

ST. MARTIN’S PAPERBACKS TITLES BY JESSICA BECK

Glazed Murder

Fatally Frosted

Sinister Sprinkles

Evil Éclairs

Tragic Toppings

Killer Crullers

Praise for the Donut Shop Mysteries by Jessica Beck

“A delight. Suzanne Hart is a lovable amateur sleuth who has a hilariously protective mother
and
great donut recipes! Readers will have a blast with this book.”

—Diane Mott Davidson,
New York Times
bestselling author of
Fatally Flaky

“A tribute to comfort food and to the comfort of small-town life. With great donut recipes!”

—Joanna Carl, author of
The Chocolate Cupid Killings

“If you like donuts—and who doesn’t?—you’ll love this mystery. It’s like a trip to your favorite coffee shop, but without the calories!”

—Leslie Meier, author of the Lucy Stone mysteries
New Year’s Eve Murder
and
Wedding Day Murder

“The perfect comfort read: a delicious murder, a likeable heroine, quirky Southern characters—and donut recipes!”

—Rhys Bowen, Agatha and Anthony award–winning author of the Molly Murphy and Royal Spyness mysteries

“A yummy new treat in the culinary mystery genre. Skillfully weaving donut recipes throughout a well-plotted story, the author proves that life after divorce can be sweet; all you need are good friends, your own business, and comfort food. Delicious!”

—Tamar Myers, author of
Death of a Rug Lord
and
The Cane Mutiny

“A clever plotted cozy mystery with a wonderful small Southern town …
Fatally Frosted
is a great follow-up to
Glazed Murder
. Suzanne is a great heroine. Ms. Beck has a sure-fire winner!”

—Fresh Fiction

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

KILLER CRULLERS

Copyright © 2012 by Jessica Beck.

Excerpt from
Drop Dead Chocolate
copyright © 2012 by Jessica Beck.

All rights reserved.

For information address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.

ISBN: 978-0-312-54231-3

St. Martin’s Paperbacks edition / January 2012

St. Martin’s Paperbacks are published by St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.

eISBN 978-1-4299-5089-3