Read Online Fatally Frosted by Jessica Beck - Free Book Online Page B

yours,” Officer Grant said.
    “Thank you.”
    Once they were gone, I walked back into my shop. It was odd having the place to myself at eleven o’clock in the morning. The empty racks of donuts in the display shelves looked forlorn, and from the arrangement of the signs on the cases, I noticed that Emma had put the orange cake donuts where the maple frosted belonged. Out of habit more than anything else I remedied the miscue when I heard the doorbell chime.
    “Sorry, we’re not open,” I said.
    “Not even for me?”
    I turned and saw state police inspector and boyfriend Jake Bishop standing there.
    “I thought you were on the Outer Banks,” I said as I rushed to him and threw my arms around him. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
    After our hug, he pulled away from me and said, “I wrapped it up quicker than I thought I would. What have you gotten yourself into this time, Suzanne?”
    “This wasn’t my fault, Jake.”
    “Don’t you think I know that? I had to see you, but I shouldn’t even be here until I check in with Chief Martin.”
    This wasn’t quite the support I’d been hoping for. “You should go, then. I’d hate for you to get in trouble because of me.”
    He shook his head and looked down at the floor. “You know what it’s like when I’m working on a case. I’m sorry it has to be this way, Suzanne.”
    “So am I,” I said.
    I wanted him to apologize, to hug me and tell me everything was going to be all right. Instead, he gave me one last, sad look, then walked out of my shop.
    It nearly broke my heart when he left, but I wasn’t going to let him know how much it bothered me.
    There was no reason to open again, and I knew it. That was one of the bad things about living in a small town. News—and more importantly, rumors—spread amongst the citizens of April Springs at an alarming rate, and there was no way I could stopeveryone from thinking that one of my donuts had killed Peg Masterson.
    I was rattled by my conversation with Jake, more than I was willing to admit even to myself. I should have been cleaning the donut shop over the course of the next hour since it was clear there wouldn’t be any customers today, but instead, I sat at one of the booths and managed to feel sorry for myself as a way to pass the time. By the time noon rolled around, I was feeling a little better, and I knew that it was time to start cleaning up.
    I started to lock the front door when Heather Masterson, Peg’s niece, came charging up to the shop. She was a petite young woman with short, glossy black hair and eyes so dark that they nearly matched—just like her aunt’s had been—and I’d known her for nearly fifteen years. One thing was certain: she’d grown into a lovely young lady since I’d first babysat for her long ago, though it was hard to see that with the rage now dominating her features.
    “You killed my aunt,” she screamed at me. “Why, Suzanne? What did she ever do to you?”
    I knew Heather well enough to realize that she was hurting inside, and though she was usually a dear girl, the fire in her eyes in that instant was full of hate and pain.
    “I didn’t kill Peg,” I said, trying to calm her down.
    “Don’t try to deny it, Suzanne. I heard a donut killed her, and it had to be one of yours. I thought we were friends.”
    Her face started to crumble then, and it was all I could do not to wrap my arms around her and comforther. “Heather, I swear to you, I had nothing to do with it. I’m innocent.”
    She stared hard at me for a few seconds, then said, “I don’t know what to think. I guess I just want to blame somebody, and you’re the easiest target there is at the moment. What a horrid thing to have happen to her. She was so sweet.”
    I raised my eyebrows as I stared at her.
    Heather frowned a little, then said grudgingly, “Okay, maybe sweet is going a little overboard, but I loved her, Suzanne. I know Aunt Peg could be a pain in the neck at times, but she was the last