Cranberry Crimes

by Jessica Beck

  “Need? No, of course not. Want? That’s something else entirely. What happened with Trish’s ticket?”

  “It’s a long story, so I’ll tell you tomorrow,” I said as I saw the diner owner approaching with our food order.

  “Until then,” Grace said, and I put my phone away.

  After we ate, the place had cleared out considerably. Trish was still overwhelmed with the piles of dirty dishes everywhere, so we all pitched in and cleared the rest of the tables for her, carrying the now-full bins to the front.

  “Where should we put these?” Jake offered.

  “That table will be fine,” she said. “I think I’m going to close early. Tonight has been a lot to process.”

  “I bet,” I said as I handed her the sizeable tips we’d collected from the tables we’d cleared. “How much of a hit are you going to take because of this?”

  “Wait. Here’s ours, too,” Momma said as she shoved more money at Trish.

  “This is too much, Dot,” Trish protested.

  “Nonsense,” Momma said. “You earned every penny of it.”

  I noticed that Trish didn’t protest too much. As she counted the cash in her hand and rang it into the register, she looked at us in wonder. “Actually, I made more than I would have if I’d charged everyone full price and still took in their tips,” she said. “Maybe that should be my new policy. No charge for food, but tip whatever you want.”

  “I believe tonight was a special circumstance,” Momma said.

  “I know. I was just teasing. Thanks again. For everything.”

  “Oh, we’re not finished yet,” Momma said. “Don’t worry about legal representation. I have an excellent attorney in Charlotte who is going to be more than happy to represent you.”

  “I’m not sure I can afford an excellent attorney,” Trish said with a wry grin. “I was kind of hoping for one that was barely competent, and that’s still going to be a stretch.”

  “No worries about his fee. He owes me a favor, and I mean to collect.”

  “On my behalf?” Trish asked. “Dot, I couldn’t accept that from you.”

  “I’m afraid you have no choice,” Momma said as she kissed Trish’s cheek. “You’ve been such a good friend to my daughter over the years that you feel as though you are one of my own.”

  “Hearing that is actually nicer than getting a free lawyer,” Trish said, looking as though she was fighting back tears yet again.

  “Let’s get out of here before she has a well-deserved meltdown,” I suggested. After the others filed out, I hugged her as I added, “We’re here if you need us.”

  “I can’t tell you how much that means to me,” she said.

  “Hey, you heard Momma. You’re like family to us, and we’d do anything for our own,” I said. “Try to get some sleep tonight, okay?”

  “I’ll try, but I’m not making any promises.”

  I found Jake outside waiting for me, though Momma and Phillip had already gone. “Suzanne, I could cancel my thing in Hickory tomorrow if you’d like me to.”

  “You go on. Grace and I have this covered, but don’t forget, I want you back in time for the party.”

  “There’s no way I’m missing that,” he said. “Shall we head home?”

  I stifled a yawn as I agreed. “Sounds like a solid plan to me. I’m beat, and it will be time to make the donuts again soon enough.”

  Truer words were never spoken. I loved my job, but sometimes it got a little tiring doing the same thing day in and day out.

  But then again, I was grateful for something valuable to do with my time, and I was overjoyed that soon enough, Jake would have something in his life as well.

  Chapter 3

  “Suzanne Hart, please,” a woman’s voice requested when I answered the phone at Donut Hearts the next morning. The entire town had been buzzing about Jasper’s party. Many of them had been invited to the festivities, though only a select few were included in the sleepover afterward.

  “This is Suzanne,” I told her, and then, as I handed Nick Williams his change, I said, “Thanks.”

  “I don’t understand. Why are you thanking me?” she asked me.

  “I wasn’t. I was waiting on a customer. Don’t worry, I can multitask. Now, what can I do for you?”

  There was a long pause, and then the woman asked, “Are you talking to me now?”

  “I am,” I said, wondering how I’d gotten onto this particular conversational merry-go-round.

  “My name is Bethesda Long. I’m coordinating the festivities for the Finney party tonight.” I’d heard of Bethesda. She was Union Square’s preeminent party planner, and from what I understood, she charged a premium for her services. Leave it to Jasper to go all out for his hundred and thirty-seventh birthday party.

  “Congratulations,” I said. “Was that all you needed to talk to me about?” I asked her as another customer approached. “What can I do for you today?”

  “That’s what I’m trying to get to,” Bethesda said, clearly growing as impatient with our conversation as I was.

  “Not you,” I said.

  The customer looked at me with raised eyebrows.

  “You,” I told him as I pointed in his direction.

  “Well, which is it?” she asked, clearly frustrated.

  “Bethesda, call me back in two minutes. I’ll get my assistant up front and we can speak uninterrupted.”

  “I don’t have two minutes,” she said stiffly.

  “Then I suppose we’re finished,” I replied. “Thanks for calling. Bye now.”

  After I hung up, I told the man, “My apologies. I had someone on the phone who just wouldn’t get to the point. Now, what can I get for you?”

  “Coffee, black, old-fashioned donut, one.”

  Wow, that was succinct. I filled his order, took his money and made change, and then I called out to Emma in the kitchen. “Got a second?”

  “Sure thing, boss.”

  “Take the front. There’s a phone call that I’m about to have to answer.”

  Emma looked at me, puzzled. “Suzanne, how could you possibly know that?”

  At that moment, my cell phone rang. I grinned at her as I explained, “Who knows? Maybe I’m psychic.”

  “Maybe you are,” Emma said as she moved out of the kitchen out to the front.

  “Thanks for calling me back,” I said as I answered my phone. I’d glanced at the caller ID, and I’d recognized the number from earlier.

  “Will we be disturbed again?” Bethesda asked.

  “I don’t think so, but I’d still advise you to make it dance, just in case.”

  “Very well. I’ll get to the point. The baker supplying tonight’s birthday cake has canceled on me at the last minute.”

  “I’m sorry, but what does that have to do with me? I bake a fair cake, but my mother makes the best ones in the family. Ask anybody.”

  “Unfortunately, there has been a change in Mr. Finney’s request. Instead of cake, the guest of honor would now like eighteen dozen donuts instead. He’s willing to pay a premium for his request, but I assured him that there was no way you could supply such an expansive order on such short notice. I’m afraid he was rather insistent though, so if you’ll just tell me no, and I can relay the information to him for you and move on to one of my other contingency plans.”

  “I can do that,” I said. Fortunately, we’d just gotten a fresh shipment of supplies delivered, and I had everything on hand that I’d need.

  “Good,” she said, clearly relieved. “I’ll give Mr. Finney your regrets.”

  “Hang on. You didn’t understand. I want to make them for him. After all, how many one hundred and thirty-seventh birthday parties do most people get?”

  “Surely you don’t have
time for that,” she said.

  “As a matter of fact, I have more than enough time.” I’d wanted to see Jasper anyway, but this was the perfect opportunity to finagle an invitation before everyone else arrived. “I’ll just need to go over a few details with you in person, and then I can get started.”

  “I’m afraid I’m not going to be able to leave the residence today,” she said firmly.

  That was what I’d been counting on. “I suppose I can make my way out there.” I glanced at the clock. “In fact, I can be there in half an hour.”

  “I understand. I can write you a check for the deposit when you arrive, with the balance delivered upon the receipt of donuts.”

  Did she honestly think I was refusing to work for one of my favorite customers without getting partial payment up front first? The woman clearly misread me, but since it worked in my favor, I decided not to correct her. “Good. Then we’re on the same page.” I had a burst of inspiration as I added, “I have a temporary catering aide I’ll be bringing with me as well.” I just hoped Grace was off work already and that she could come with me.

  “Very well. I’ll see you both shortly.”

  “Bye, and thanks for calling,” I replied.

  “I’m afraid that Mr. Finney would have it no other way,” she said. I knew firsthand how stubborn the older man could be.

  In fact, it was a common trait we shared.

  I walked back out front and saw that we had less than ten minutes left in our workday, even though it was just ten till eleven in the morning. It made sense in the donut-making world, though, since I’d started my shift at three a.m.

  “Do you have any plans this afternoon?” I asked Emma. “You don’t have class today, do you?”

  “No, I’m off. As a matter of fact, I thought about going shopping in Hudson Creek,” she said.

  “How would you like to make enough money to make that trip a lot more fun tomorrow?” I asked her.

  “I’m intrigued. What’s up?” Emma asked me.

  “We just got a surprise order for eighteen dozen donuts for Jasper Finney’s party this evening, and they’re paying us handsomely for the privilege. Instead of your normal wages, I’ll give you time and a half, or we can split the profits down the middle after we take out our expenses. It’s your call.”

  “I’ll take the profit split,” she said with a grin nearly before I could finish making my offer.

  “You don’t even need to think about it first?” I asked her, smiling at my donut shop protégé.

  “No, ma’am. I haven’t been taking business courses for nothing.”

  “Good. That’s what I was about to suggest anyway. We should both make out just fine, given what they’re paying us.”

  “Then let’s make some donuts,” Emma said with more enthusiasm than even I could muster. Then again, I had quite a few years on her. I’d been young and full of energy once upon a time, but that was before I’d started running Donut Hearts.

  “Slow down, girl. We’ve got some time before we need to get started, and I need to run out to Jasper’s place first. Do you mind finishing up here, making out the deposit, and dropping it off at the bank while I’m doing that?”

  “No worries. I’ve got it under control. Should I call Mom in to help out, too?”

  “Do we really need her?” I asked.

  “No. Of course not. I was just trying to share the wealth, that’s all,” Emma admitted.

  “You know what? It might be fun to have her working with us. Go ahead and invite her. We can split the profits into thirds, and we’ll all make out,” I said.

  Emma frowned for a moment before speaking. “I didn’t mean it that way, Suzanne. I’ll split my half with her. You deserve half all to yourself.”

  I didn’t feel like getting into an argument about it with her. “First call her and see if she’s free. Then we’ll discuss the cash disbursement arrangement.”

  Emma nodded. After a quick phone conversation, she said, “It doesn’t matter. Mom’s tied up.”

  “Then our problem is solved. It was nice of you to offer, though.”

  My assistant shrugged. “The older I get, the more I realize I won’t have my folks around forever. It really makes you appreciate them, doesn’t it?”

  I’d lost my own father several years earlier, and if anything, I’d grown closer to my mother than we’d ever been in the years since, even moving back in with her after my divorce. “I get it. You could always buy her something special with part of your share.”

  “That’s a great idea,” Emma said. “Now shoo. You have a meeting to get to.”

  “Let me call Grace first,” I said.

  “Call her as you drive over there,” Emma insisted. “I don’t want you jeopardizing our extra income.” Her smile told me that she was only partially teasing.

  Fortunately, Grace was home, which I found out after a twenty-second drive down Springs Drive to her place. If I’d had five more seconds, I could have made it all the way home, but I wasn’t heading there, at least not just yet.

  “Feel like taking a road trip with me?” I asked Grace over the phone as I sat in her driveway in my Jeep.

  “You know it. Swing by and pick me up.” That was one thing I loved about Grace. She didn’t need to know the details. All I had to do was make the offer, no matter what it was, and she was in.

  “I was hoping you’d say that. Look out the window. I’m in your driveway.”

  “Cool. Okay, I’ll be out in a second,” Grace said, and she was nearly as good as her word. My best friend had changed from the fancy suit she’d no doubt worn to work into casual slacks and a blouse. The funny thing was that her leisure attire was always nicer than my fanciest outfits. I just seemed to feel most comfortable in blue jeans and T-shirts, while she fit in perfectly in the corporate world and the glamour of her position in a cosmetics company.

  As Grace got into the passenger side of the Jeep, she asked me, “Where are we going?”

  “I’m supplying the donuts for Jasper’s party tonight, so I need to run out to his place to clear a few things up first,” I said as I pulled out of her driveway and started toward the Finney estate.

  “Why didn’t you mention that when we spoke last night?” she asked me.

  “Mainly because I just found out myself,” I admitted.

  “Correct me if I’m wrong, but if that’s the case, shouldn’t you be making donuts right about now instead of running around town with me?”

  “Don’t worry. We have time to do both,” I said.

  “We? You don’t think I’m helping you produce the order, do you?” Grace asked, clearly appalled by the possibility.

  “Not ‘you and me’ we, ‘Emma and me’ we,” I explained.

  “That’s a convoluted sentence, even for you, Suzanne. So, if you two are making donuts, why are we going out to Jasper’s place?”

  “I made up an excuse, but the truth is, I’m worried about him,” I explained. “If I wait to speak with him tonight at the party, I’ll never get him alone. Jasper’s been acting odd lately.”

  “How could you tell?” Grace asked, and then she quickly added, “I didn’t mean that the way it must have sounded. It’s just that Jasper Finney has always danced to the beat of his own drum.”

  “Isn’t that marched?” I asked her.

  “March, dance, it’s all the same to me. He’s an odd bird,” Grace answered.

  “Remind me never to go dancing with you. Or marching either, for that matter,” I said with a smile.

  “The question is,” Grace said, “what makes Jasper’s actions remarkable at the moment?”

  “Well, for one thing, he gave me a letter yesterday,” I admitted.

  “He mailed it, you mean,” Grace tried to correct me.

&n
bsp; “No, I chose my words carefully. He was at the donut shop yesterday, and he handed it to me.”

  “What did it say?” Grace asked.

  “I don’t know,” I admitted.

  I glanced over as I was driving and saw that my best friend was frowning in my direction. “Let me get this straight. Jasper handed you a letter yesterday, but you haven’t opened it yet so you could read it. Are you sure he’s the one that’s been acting a bit off lately? Maybe the donut fumes are finally getting to you.”

  “There’s no doubt about it, but I didn’t read it for a perfectly valid reason,” I explained.

  “Why not? Was it in French? You were never really very good at the language in high school,” Grace said before I could go into any more detail.

  “Why would it be in French?” I asked her, honestly curious about how her mind was working at the moment.

  “I don’t have any idea,” Grace said. “It’s your story.”

  “So how about letting me tell it, then?” I asked her, doing my best not to shake my head in disbelief. I wasn’t sure if she was joking with me or if she was honestly having trouble following our conversation, but we didn’t have a great deal of time before we arrived.

  “Go on. I’m listening,” Grace answered, and as I looked over at her quickly again, I saw her wink in my direction.

  Good. She’d just been pulling my leg after all.

  “He asked me not to read it until he was dead,” I explained.

  “I’m sorry,” Grace said, her voice full of contrition.

  “Why?”

  “I thought we were just goofing around. I didn’t know Jasper was dying,” she said.

  “He’s not, at least not any more quickly than the rest of us,” I amended.

  “It’s an odd request then, isn’t it?” Grace asked. “Are you telling me that you weren’t even tempted to peek at it?”

  “I was tempted, all right,” I admitted.