Jessica Beck - Donut Shop 18 - Dangerous Dough Read Free Page B

mother asked us.   “You’ve got to do something.”
    My attention was
on the road, so I didn’t see who Momma was looking at, but I just assumed that
it was me.   “I’ll do what I can,” I
said.
    “Suzanne, I know
that ordinarily you’re quite capable of investigating murder on your own, but
we have an expert at our disposal now.”   I saw her turn in her seat as she looked at my new husband.   “Jake, what do you say?   Will you do it?”
    “Sorry.   I’d love to help out, but I’m retired
now,” he said without much hesitation.
    “Nobody’s asking
you to step in and be the police chief,” Momma said, “but we all know that
Stephen Grant is in over his head when it comes to murder.”
    “I can appreciate
that, Dot, but remember, I don’t have any standing in the case,” Jake said.
    “That’s never
stopped me before,” I replied, glad
at the prospect of Jake digging into this.   Momma was right.   While I’d
had my share of success in the past solving a few murders, my husband had made
a career of it.   Only just recently retired
from the state police as a special investigator, he would be perfect for the
job.   “Come on, it’s fun from our
side of the law.”
    “I wouldn’t
exactly call it fun,” he said.   “I
like having the authority to compel folks to cooperate with my investigation.”
    “I’ve got that
covered,” Momma said with the hint of a smile.
    “How did you
manage that?” Jake asked her.
    “I’ve already
spoken to George.   The mayor told me
that all you need to do is say the word and you will be the April Springs Interim
Special Investigator.”
    “That title
didn’t even exist yesterday, did it?” Jake asked skeptically.
    “See, what did I
tell you?   You’re an excellent
detective,” Momma said with a smile.   “Jake, I wouldn’t ask you to do this if it weren’t important.   It’s killing Phillip to be suspected of
murdering his successor, even if it is just idle gossip and Stephen Grant’s
speculation at this point.   You’ve
got to do something.”
    “Momma, even if
your husband weren’t a suspect, my employees and friends clearly are,” I chimed
in.   “You need to do this for our
family, Jake.   We need you.”
    Jake was silent
for some time, and I knew better than to speak while he was mulling something
over.   At one point I saw that Momma
was about to say something, but I gave her a quick head shake, and she stifled
it quickly.   She might know a great
many more things than I did, but no one in the world knew my husband as well as
I did.   That might not even be true,
but I was going to assume that it was until I was proven wrong.
    After what felt
like an eternity, he finally spoke.   “Let me get this straight.   Stephen
Grant will be in charge of the police force in general, correct?”
    “Correct,” Momma
answered.
    “And my duties
will consist solely of finding Alex Tyler’s killer.”
    “That’s the way
that I understand it,” she replied.
    “Fine, but I’m
going to have to call my former boss before I take this on,” Jake said.
    I let my gaze
shift from the road to my rearview mirror momentarily.   “Jake, you don’t work for him
anymore.   You don’t have to ask him
permission for anything.”
    “That’s where
you’re wrong, Suzanne.   When it
comes to foul play that involves a law enforcement officer, the state police
investigative unit has priority and jurisdiction.   I can work around the edges, but the
heart of the case will be handled by one of my former coworkers.   I just hope it’s not Simpson.”
    I’d heard him
mention the man’s name a time or two in the past, and it had never been flattering.   “Can you get him to assign one of your
friends?   How about Terry
Hanlan?”   I’d gotten to know Terry
earlier, and it would be comforting to have him around.
    “No, he’s working
a case in Franklin at the moment,” Jake said.
    “How could you
possibly know that?” I asked