Read Online Sinister Sprinkles by Jessica Beck - Free Book Online Page A

adorned her beloved stuffed animals in Santa suits, from their shiny black boots to their red and white caps perched precariously on their heads, though Moose had presented a particular challenge for her because of his antlers. I thought she’d been crazy naming her business after her favorite three stuffed animals, but I had to admit, they were a crowd pleaser, perched on a shelf in a place of honor above the cash register. I couldn’t wait to see the outfits Emily had planned for St. Patrick’s Day.
    “Let’s get something to eat,” I said. “It looks like The Boxcar is open.”
    “Sure, that sounds good.”
    “I know what my mother considers a balanced breakfast. The sausage pile has to match the stack of bacon on your plate, and the eggs outweigh them both. You’ve got to be stuffed, and I just gave you donuts.”
    She smiled. “Okay, so I’m not hungry. That doesn’t mean I can’t join you. I’ll have coffee and keep you company while you eat. Come on, let’s go.”
    We walked down the abandoned tracks, now covered with a layer of snow, toward The Boxcar grill.
    Trish smiled at us as we ascended the stairs, then pointed at the Donut Hearts bag in Grace’s hands. “You’re not really going to bring food into a diner, are you?”
    “No, ma’am,” Grace said. “This is inventory that Suzanne had to liquidate, so I agreed to take it off her hands. Believe me, I’d never break your rules.”
    Trish’s faked grimace broke into a smile. “Fine, but you’d better make sure that inventory stays in the bag while you’re here.”
    “I can check it with you, if you’d like,” Grace said. “I’m really too full to eat them anyway.”
    Trish laughed. “Then you came to the right place. I can see why a diner might appeal to you,” she said.
    “I’m here to keep Suzanne company,” Grace said. As she handed Trish the donuts, she said, “Honestly, you’re welcome to them.”
    She peeked inside the bag, then looked at me. “Do you mind, Suzanne?”
    “Help yourself,” I said. “But I thought no one could bring food to your diner?”
    “I make the rules, I can break them,” she said as she tucked the bag behind the counter.
    As she led us to a free booth in back, Trish asked us in a lowered voice, “Have you heard the news?”
    “About Max and Muriel being missing?” I said.
    Grace grabbed my arm. “What? What happened now?”
    Trish said, “Don’t look at me. That’s all I know. Suzanne, have you heard anything new?”
    I shook my head as I slid onto the bench seat of the booth. “Just rumor and idle speculation.”
    Trish’s eyes lit up. “That’s what I like the best. What have you got?”
    “Feed me first, and then I’ll tell you,” I said.
    Trish shook her head in mock disgust. “I can’t believe you’re withholding information on me.”
    “Believe it,” I said. “I’ll have a turkey club with no tomato, fries, and a Diet Coke.”
    “Diet?” Trish asked.
    “I’m trying to cut back,” I said.
    “Diet it is.” She turned to Grace. “Do you want anything?”
    “Make it two diet Cokes,” she said.
    “You two are a couple of wild gals out on the town, aren’t you? Hang on, I’ll be right back.”
    As soon as she left, Grace whispered, “Before she gets back, tell me everything you know, and don’t you dare leave anything out.”
    “There’s really nothing to tell. Chief Martin came by the donut shop early this morning wanting to know if I’d seen Max, and when I told him no, he informed me that Muriel Stevens was missing as well. Emma said she thought they were off somewhere together.”
    Grace shook her head. “She had to be joking. Honestly, I don’t see them as a couple, do you?”
    “It’s hard to see Max with anyone but me,” I admitted, “unless we’re talking about Darlene Higgins. I saw that plainly enough.”
    “Have they made any progress in that investigation?” Grace asked as Trish slid the diet Cokes in front of us and nudged Grace to