Sugar Coated Sins

by Jessica Beck

  I pulled the paper out of the envelope and saw that she wasn’t exaggerating. The original hadn’t been in great shape based on the creases and smudges, but the photocopier had taken the image to a whole other level of graininess.

  As I frowned at the copy, Jan said, “It’s just about worthless, isn’t it?”

  “I’d love to see the original,” I said. “Don’t they usually list the names of the people in the photos?”

  “I doubt that Ray would have bothered, though I do remember him asking us for our names when the photo was taken. Maybe he can help you out.”

  “Maybe,” I said. It appeared that I was going to have to eat a little crow. The only way I was going to see the original and get Ray’s list of names was by apologizing for blowing him off, something that I was not all that eager to do. “Do you want this back?”

  “No, you keep it, for what it’s worth. There were two copies in the file.”

  “Thanks,” I said as I tucked it behind the counter. “Are you sure I can’t get you something? After all, you went to a lot of trouble for me. This is the least I can do.”

  “It was no trouble at all,” she said, and then she glanced back at the display case. “What are those?”

  I’d hoped that she’d been pointing to my new nut-shaped donuts, but instead, she was pointing at the blueberry donut holes. “They’re blueberry.”

  “They’re so tiny, I don’t suppose one would hurt,” she said.

  I grabbed a couple and put them in a bag. “Would you like some coffee to go with them, too?”

  “Thanks, but I’ve already exceeded my caffeine intake for the day.” She gently shook the bag and smiled as she added, “Thanks for the treat.”

  “You’re most welcome.”

  After Jan was gone, I pulled the copied photo out again. I could make out a few faces in the murky image, but I doubted that I could swear to anyone’s identity in a court of law. I folded it in half and set it aside again.

  The rest of the day was quiet enough. Even though I’d made just a dozen of the nut-shaped donuts, we still had seven left, so that particular idea was probably dead. I hated having leftovers, and any donut that didn’t pull its own weight would soon leave the rotation until I could come up with a new angle. Surprisingly, the twists I’d made on a lark had sold out rather quickly, so I decided to make more the next day to see if it was a trend or just a fluke.

  Grace came by just as we were about to close for the day. “Are you ready to start sleuthing again?” she asked me.

  “Not just yet. I need about ten minutes, but at least we have some bribes we can use for our suspects,” I said as I pointed to the three boxes of unsold donuts.

  “Not a good day for Donut Hearts?” she asked. Grace had learned to gauge my sales based on how many donuts I had left at the end of business hours.

  “It was okay. I never seem to sell as many in the warm months,” I said. “That’s all right, though. It’s not nearly as upsetting as the days when I expect to sell a lot and don’t, for no rhyme or reason that I can determine. How was your morning?”

  “Well, nobody got fired, but no one got a raise, either, so I suppose that overall it was a wash.” She grinned at me as she said it.

  “That’s an interesting way to look at it,” I said as I started counting the money in the till to see if it matched the report I’d just run. There was no doubt about it; the numbers were down, but not so much that I’d have to start cutting back on things like food and clothing, at least not as long as the trend didn’t continue for long. Emma took off just as I finished making out the deposit slip, and as I locked up, Grace asked, “So, after we stop by the bank to deposit that, what are we going to do?”

  “I’ve been thinking about that,” I said as I took two of the three boxes of donuts from Grace. If I couldn’t use them or give them away during the remaining part of my day, I’d just have to discard them, since I hated stale donuts. I had the photo under my arm, so it was a little hard to balance.

  Grace must have noticed. “What’s that?”

  “Jan came by. It’s a photo from the newspaper when the time capsule was buried.”

  “That’s going to help tremendously,” she said.

  “Not as much as you’d think,” I answered, and then I explained its poor quality to her.

  “We could always throw ourselves on Ray’s mercy and ask to see the original.”

  She saw me squirm a little at the suggestion. “Suzanne, what did you do?”

  “What makes you think I did anything?”

  “Because I know you too well.”

  I finally admitted my earlier talk with Ray. When I was finished, I half expected Grace to be angry with me, but instead, she just smiled. “No worries. I would have done the same thing myself.”

  “I’m planning to apologize to him this afternoon.”

  Grace frowned. “I don’t see why you should.”

  “We want to see that original photo, don’t we?”

  She thought about that for a moment, and then she said, “Let me ponder that a little.”

  “Take your time. I’m in no hurry to debase myself in front of Ray Blake, trust me.”

  “So, what do we do in the meantime?” Grace asked me.

  “We need to dig back into Benjamin Port’s life just before he lost it. That means looking into where he worked and, more importantly, who he worked with. We also need to check out where he lived and talk to any neighbors who might remember him.”

  “If they’re even still around,” Grace said a little skeptically.

  “I know it’s not much, but it’s the best I’ve got. If you’ve got any other suggestions, I’d love to hear them.”

  She shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t, so let’s go with your plan. So, where exactly did Benjamin work when he died?”

  “I’m not exactly sure. Let me check.”

  “Who are you calling, Gabby?”

  “No, I’d rather avoid speaking with her again unless I have something to tell her. I thought I’d give my momma a call.”

  Grace smiled. “Excellent. I’m willing to bet that your mother knows something about Benjamin if anyone in town does.”

  Chapter 13

  Momma answered on the fifth ring, and she sounded a little on edge when she spoke. “Hello, Suzanne. What can I do for you?”

  “How do you know that I’m not just calling to say hi?” I asked, pretending to be offended that she’d assumed that I needed something.

  “I’m sorry. Forgive me. It’s been one of those days. It’s good to hear from you.”

  “You, too. How have you been?”

  “Fine. And you?”

  “Just peachy,” I said. There was no easy way to segue into it, so I decided to dive right in. “Did Phillip tell you about what we found in the time capsule?”

  “He did,” she said, suddenly guarded. “I don’t really approve of him getting back into police work, and I told him so in no uncertain terms. It’s too dangerous.”

  “He’s just researching a few things for Jake,” I said in my stepfather’s defense. “Apparently he loves digging into the town’s past.”

  “I know, but I’m not pleased at all that his research involves a local murder, no matter how long ago it may have happened.”

  “Momma, like it or not, your husband was a law enforcement officer. I doubt that he’s putting himself in danger, but if he is, I’m sure he can handle himself.” I marveled that I was in the odd position of defending my stepfather to my mother, a surreal moment if ever there was one.

  “I understand all of that on an intellectual level, but on an emotional plane, it’s entirely different.”

  “Speaking of the time capsule, did you know Benjamin Port very well?”

  “Why do you ask?”

  “I’m just making polite conversation.” She’d busted me, but there was no reason that I couldn’t continue to protest that there had been no ulterior motive when I’d called.

  “We d
id business together a few times, but most of my dealings have been with his sister, Lisa.”

  “Did they work together?”

  “Of course they did. Didn’t you know? They owned Port Resources jointly, but when Benjamin died, she took over the company completely.”

  “Funny that I’ve never heard of it. Is it in town?”

  “Yes,” she said, “but I’m not surprised that they were off your radar. They’ve always kept a low profile. As a matter of fact, they have a small office near the hardware store, but you’d never know it. I don’t believe they even have a sign on their door.”

  “What exactly is it that they do?”

  “Suzanne, this doesn’t sound like idle chatter to me. That’s really why you called, isn’t it? You’re on one of your fact-finding missions, aren’t you?”

  There was no way I was wriggling out of this now. “Can’t my call be two things, catching up with you and getting a little information at the same time?”

  “I suppose that it can,” she said. “As to what they do, they’re into a little of everything. The business owns a few small properties around town and has a percentage in a few ongoing businesses as well. In addition, I believe they own some timber rights and some natural gas rights as well. Taken a piece at a time, they aren’t very big, but given the diversity of their portfolio, they manage quite well for themselves.”

  “So, they’re a smaller version of what you do, though not anywhere near on your level,” I said. Dorothea Hart was many things besides being my momma. She owned so many businesses and properties around April Springs that I wondered how she managed to keep up with it all. As to what exactly was in her portfolio, the truth was that I had no idea myself.

  “Well, I’ve been at it quite a bit longer than either one of them have,” Momma said. “So, you’re digging into another murder. Is Grace helping you again, or are you doing it on your own?”

  “Grace is back on board,” I said.

  “Good. At least there’s that.”

  “You realize that of the two of us, I’m the calm and sane one of the pair, don’t you?” I loved Grace like a sister, but she was the danger seeker of the two of us, and for some reason, it was important for me that my mother knew that.

  “That’s why you two balance each other out, Suzanne. It’s also why I’ve always approved of your friendship. Please try to stay out of trouble, would you?”

  “Hey, I’m not making any promises. Before you go, do you happen to know where Benjamin lived when he died?” If I was going to openly mine her for information, there was no reason to keep being coy about it.

  “He rented one of the lofts above the bank.”

  “Wow, those places are supposed to be really nice, aren’t they?”

  “They are now, but they weren’t always so elegant,” Momma said. “When Benjamin lived there, they were quite a bit more bohemian.”

  Knowing what a ladies’ man he’d been, I couldn’t stop myself from asking. “Did you ever visit him there, Momma?”

  “Suzanne, are you asking me what I think you’re asking?” she asked a little sternly.

  “Forget it. I withdraw the question. I don’t want to know.”

  “Well then, since you brought it up, I’m going to answer you, anyway.”

  “Really, it’s okay. You don’t have to.” What had I gotten myself into? I didn’t want to know if my mother had enjoyed a dalliance with the town’s Casanova.

  “There are two apartments above the bank. While I was never in Benjamin’s space, I have visited my friend Betty Mathis there quite a bit in the past.”

  Betty was one of my mother’s lifelong friends, and I knew for a fact that the two of them still had dinner together occasionally.

  “Do you think she might be able to help me in my investigation?” I asked.

  “I don’t see why not. She still lives in her loft apartment. Would you like me to call her for you and tell her that you’re on your way?”

  I had planned on tackling Lisa first, but if Momma was going to wrangle me some time with Betty, I decided to go with it. “That would be great. Grace and I would love to speak with her. Do you think she’d mind if we both came over?”

  “It can’t hurt to ask,” Momma said. “Let me give her a ring, and then I’ll call you right back.”

  After we hung up, I brought Grace up to date on my mother’s responses to my questions, since she’d already heard my side of the conversation. “We can always tackle Lisa after we speak with Betty,” I finished.

  “If you think Jake won’t mind,” she said.

  “I’ll double-check with him after we see Betty.”

  “Aren’t you going to get permission to speak with her before we go?”

  “Are you trying to make a point, Grace?” I knew that my friend treasured the independence of our investigations, but the game had changed since Jake had taken over as sheriff.

  “Not at all. I just don’t want you getting into hot water with your husband.”

  “Tell you what. Why don’t you let me worry about that, okay?” I asked her with a grin.

  “Sounds good to me. I’ve actually got plenty to keep track of just focusing on my own life,” she added with a chuckle.

  My phone rang, and after I answered it, my mother said, “If you go over there right now, she’s expecting you.”

  “Thanks, Momma. You’re the best.”

  “Why would I be anything but?” she asked with a laugh.

  “Grace, are you ready to go talk to Betty Mathis?”

  “You bet I am.”

  Her enthusiasm was a little too much for the situation. “Remember, she’s not a suspect. Betty is one of my mother’s oldest and dearest friends, so we need to be careful about how we handle this.”

  “Got it. Be subdued.”

  She looked more chastened by my warning than I liked. “Don’t worry. You can still be yourself. Just tone it down a notch.”

  “One notch it is,” she said a little more brightly. “I can do that. I’m sure that I can do that. At least I hope I can.”

  “If you have any problem, I’ll be right by your side to keep you in check.”

  “That’s all well and good, but who’s going to keep you in line?”

  “Funny, I always thought that was your job,” I said with a huge grin.

  “Suzanne, I’m glad we’re doing this together,” she said happily.

  “So am I.”

  “Have you ever been in one of these lofts before?” I asked Grace as we pulled into the parking lot behind the bank. While the financial institution took up the first two floors, the top section had been divided into two separate living spaces, at least according to my mother.

  “No. I wasn’t even sure that I ever really knew that they were up here,” she said.

  “This should be interesting,” I said as we rang the buzzer by the back door. There was a clicking sound, and then I heard Betty ask through a small speaker, “Suzanne, is that you?”

  “It is. I’m here with Grace Gauge.”

  “Come on up, ladies.” There was a short buzz, and I grabbed the door. The remote door lock was probably a blessing for the folks who lived there. The stairwell was fairly narrow, and there was no elevator in the building. As we climbed to each landing, we were met with solid steel doors, no doubt put in for the bank’s security system. At the top, there was one final small landing with two doors side by side. One had an austere doormat, while the other had one filled with images of flowers and hummingbirds.

  To my surprise, the door with the plain mat opened before we could knock on the other one. “Ladies. Welcome.” She must have seen the hint of uncertainty in my glance. “That’s where Nan Vasco lives. Can I really call what she does there that? She’s only in town one month out of the year to visit her daughter. It’s almost as though I have the entire top floor to myself.”

  We walked into her living space, and I saw that it was loft living at its finest. Air ducts ran along the ceiling, painted
matte black to match the corrugated metal ceilings, and roof rafters from the old building were stained a deep brown shade that had to have come with age. The floors were hardwood oak, and in places, the gouges in them were readily apparent. There were only two room dividers in the entire massive space, and they only went halfway up to the ceiling. I saw a ladder in one corner of the loft going up to a skylight access panel in the roof, but the day was overcast, so the window didn’t shed much light. Last of all was the wide expanse of windows along the front wall. Looking down, I could see Springs Drive, the Cutnip hair salon, and, in the distance, St. Theresa’s. If I leaned a little to the left, I could even see where the town clock had once stood. Now the space was surrounded by yellow police tape, but I knew that soon enough, the clock would be back in its proper position. Whether the time capsule would be buried back where it had once been interred was still yet to be determined.

  “It’s quite a view, isn’t it?” Betty said as she moved beside me. She pointed two stories below us to where a mountain of cardboard boxes was stacked against the front of the building. “The bank is replacing all of the old furniture downstairs to make it look more modern, and they’re waiting for the City to come take all those boxes away. It’s a bit of an eyesore right now, but you should see this view at Christmas. It’s really beautiful with all the lights in town lit.”

  “This is glorious just the way it is,” I said. “How did you happen to get this space to live in?”

  “Didn’t you know? My family owned this entire building, once upon a time. When the bank decided to buy it, my grandfather insisted that he retain a three-hundred-year lease on the third floor. As lovely as it is, it’s still the cheapest place in town to live, and with the rent I’m able to charge Nan, I manage to live quite comfortably, as long as my spending habits remain modest.”

  “Nan didn’t always have the space next door, did she?” I asked her.

  Betty frowned. “Yes, your mother told me that you’d want to bring up the unpleasantness from before. I made a mistake renting the companion loft to Benjamin Port, and I almost immediately regretted the decision. You can’t imagine the string of women who came in and out of that apartment! It was all so unsavory, to say the least.” She patted the brick wall nearby. “Even with all this masonry, his music still managed to seep over into my space. I’ll be honest with you. If he hadn’t died so suddenly, I would have instituted eviction procedures soon enough.”