by Jessica Beck
“No, thanks, I’ve already had my breakfast, and I’m headed out to lunch now.”
“You can put it in a bag and take it home for later,” I said as I grabbed a plain cake donut and slid it into a bag. As I handed it to him, I said, “It’s still all I’m able to pay you for your help.”
He took the bag, and then asked, “What, no coffee anymore? I used to get both when I worked for you.”
I laughed despite my reservations. “One coffee to go, it is. You drive a hard bargain.”
George smiled at me. “I don’t know; you’re no pushover yourself.”
I filled a to-go cup, then gave it to him. “Now I know you’re lying,” I said with a grin.
“When do we start?” George asked, now all business.
“As soon as I finish closing up the shop I’m going to call Grace. Why don’t you disappear for twenty minutes, and then come back.”
“You’re not going to do anything without me, are you?” The look of concern on his face was clear.
“I have a lot of work to do before I can leave Donut Hearts,” I said. “Come on, George, don’t be so paranoid. It doesn’t suit you.”
“Point taken. See you later.”
After he left the shop, I watched him walk away. I wasn’t sure if it was just my imagination, but I could have sworn that George’s limp had suddenly gotten better. I suspected that having a purpose again was taking his mind off his injury. He was right. I had no business trying to tell him how to run his life. If he wanted to take a few risks in order to feel alive, I wasn’t going to stop him. All I could do was try to make them more manageable, and I couldn’t do that if he was off investigating on his own.
I kept working in the front, and a little later, Emma came out drying her hands on a dishtowel. “The dishes are done and the trays are clean.” She glanced at the case. “I see you boxed up the last couple of dozen donuts. Anything else I can do to help out here?”
“No, we’re good. I’ll balance the register, and then I’m taking off myself.”
She grabbed a broom. “I can sweep up if you’d like.”
“I took care of that already,” I said. “Emma, are you stalling for some reason?”
“I don’t want to go home,” she said, and I saw her fighting tears.
“Why not?” I asked softly.
“Dad means well, but he’s going to ask me a thousand questions about Emily, and I don’t know how to answer a single one of them. She’s not a story to me; she’s my friend.”
“Mine, too,” I said, touching her shoulder softly.
“You’re going to find her, aren’t you?”
“I don’t know,” I said, not wanting to give her false hope.
“You’ve got to,” she said, the pleading in her voice heartbreaking to hear.
“That’s what George said, too,” I said. “I’m calling Grace, and then I’ll see what I can do. In the meantime, you can’t keep avoiding your dad. Tell him what you just told me, and ask him to give you a break. He’s not a bad guy if you give him half a chance.”
“I know,” she said, and suddenly tried to smile. “I’m okay.”
“Good girl,” I said, and let her out. The cash register balanced out, to my unending joy, and I prepared the bank deposit. When I was ready to lock up, I grabbed my phone and called Grace at home. I knew she was there doing paperwork, part of her responsibilities as a supervisor for her company.
“Hey,” I said, when she picked up.
“I was just getting ready to call you,” she said.
“What about?”
“Believe it or not, I’ve got a problem. Someone I know just disappeared.”
It didn’t even surprise me that she’d already heard about Emily. “Trust me, I know. She was last seen at the Donut Shop this morning.”
“What are you talking about, Suzanne?”
I was baffled by her response. “Emily Hargraves,” I said. “Isn’t that who you’re worried about?”
“No, someone else in town is missing. It appears as though we’ve got an epidemic on our hands.”
ST. MARTIN’S PAPERBACKS TITLES
BY JESSICA BECK
Glazed Murder
Fatally Frosted
Sinister Sprinkles
Evil Éclairs
Praise for the Donut Shop Mysteries by Jessica Beck
“Jessica Beck’s Glazed Murder is 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
“Jessica Beck’s debut mystery, Glazed Murder, is 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.
EVIL ÉCLAIRS
Copyright © 2011 by Jessica Beck.
Excerpt from Tragic Toppings copyright © 2011 by Jessica Beck.
All rights reserved.
For information address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
ISBN: 978-0-312-54107-1
St. Martin’s Paperbacks edition / May 2011
St. Martin’s Paperbacks are published by St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
eISBN 978-1-4299-8049-4
First St. Martin’s Paperbacks eBook Edition: April 2011
