Sinister Sprinkles Part 28

"Spoilsport," she said with a smile.

"That's me, one big killjoy," I said.

After the yeast dough was finished mixing, I turned the machine off, pulled out the dough hook, and covered the big bowl with a towel, and it was the official beginning of our early-morning break.

"Are you sure you don't want to come outside with me?" Emma asked as she started to bundle up in her heavy coat and mittens.

"I'm positive. You have fun, though."

She unlocked the door and walked outside, while I poured myself a nice mug of coffee and settled in on our best sofa where I could watch the snow falling in steady waves of white. The town had added a streetlight across the way a month ago-part of the mayor's new downtown revitalization plan-and I'd had mixed emotions about it. It did make me feel safer having nearby illumination, particularly given my odd nocturnal hours, but it also killed one of the things I liked about working so early in the donut shop every morning. Before, it had felt like we were up before the rest of the world, toiling to make other people's days a little better. The light killed part of that feeling, but I had to admit that as I watched the snow swirling down into the cone of light under the lamp and jumping to life, it was a pretty spectacular sight.

Emma came in three minutes later, covered in snow.

"That didn't last very long, did it?" I said, then sipped more coffee.

"It's coming down hard," she said as she shook her jacket off before hanging it up.

I stood and got some newspapers we'd been saving, just in case we got more snow. "Put your boots on these," I said as I handed the stack to her.

"Wow, I don't believe I've ever seen it snow this hard. Do you think anybody will be able to get to us this morning?"

"It shouldn't be a problem today," I said. "The snow's not that hard to drive on. It's ice that will kill us."

"Then let's hope it keeps snowing," Emma said.

I watched it cover the parking area in front of the shop. "I don't know if I'm going to wish for that, either."

Emma grabbed a mug of coffee, and took a seat beside me. After taking a healthy swallow, she said, "This is so good."

"It's nice," I agreed.

She looked at me carefully, then asked, "Suzanne, is there something on your mind? You seem kind of distant today."

I hadn't said a word about Grace or Max, but it was foolish thinking Emma wouldn't notice. We worked too closely together for there to be many secrets.

"I'm sorry. I've got a lot on my mind this morning."

"If you want to talk about it, I'm a good listener."

I stood, then patted her shoulder. "I know you are. I just have to digest it all before I'm ready to talk about it. Thanks for offering, though."

"I'm here if you need me," she said.

That's when the timer went off, ending our break.

"Time to make the donuts," I said, grinning at her, emulating the old donut commercial I'd loved as a kid.

"Suzanne, if there's one thing I've learned about this business, it's always time to make the donuts."

We got back to work, and by the time we opened at five-thirty, we had display cases full of donuts, but from the way the snow was still pelting down outside, n.o.body was going to be able to make it in to eat any.

Or so I thought.

As I looked out the window, I heard a rumbling coming down Springs Drive, and I looked outside to see a plow lumbering up the road.

It appeared that my two favorite plowmen were back.

Bob and Earl came in, shook the snow from their hats, then walked up to the counter together.

Bob, the big, gregarious one of the two, said, "Man alive, it's coming down out there. We had trouble getting our plow out of the garage this morning, didn't we, Earl?"

His slightly-built partner merely nodded, which was his preferred method of communication. Working so closely with Bob, Earl probably found it an easy habit to acquire, since Bob enjoyed talking so much, whether he had anything in particular to say or not.

"Let's see," he said as he rubbed his hands together. "What looks good? You know what? It all looks great. What do you think, Earl?"

His coworker smiled. "Hmm."

I got them two coffees, then grabbed a tray for their orders. "Another dozen donuts this morning, gentlemen?"

Bob patted his expanding waistline. "I'd better start with five. My overalls are getting a little snug."

He slapped his partner on the back, and I half-expected the happy blow to send Earl to his knees, but he didn't even rock from the impact. It was pretty clear that Earl was stronger than he looked.

He held up three fingers, and said, "Pumpkin."

I got his donuts, then turned to Bob. "And you?"

"Surprise me," he said.

As I grabbed some of my best donuts, I asked, "Is it as bad as it looks out there?"

He shook his head. "No, not yet, but the National Weather Service is saying that this one's going to get worse before it gets better. By noon, we're supposed to have eight inches, and then it's really going to start cranking up. They're saying we could have two feet by nightfall."

"You're kidding," I said. We hadn't had two feet of snow since I'd been a little girl, and that was long ago.

"No, ma'am, I never joke about snow acc.u.mulations, not in my line of work." He looked outside at the falling snow, then added, "We're going to get these to go, if you don't mind. I've got a feeling it's going to be a long day."

I did as he asked, then said, "As long as it keeps snowing, I'll keep refilling your coffee cups on the house. How's that sound?"

"Like you're going to lose money on us," Bob said as he frowned.

"Are you kidding me? I'm counting on you two to keep the roads open so my customers can get here." I smiled at them both, then added, "Besides, I figure I'll more than make up for it with all the donuts you're going to buy."

He laughed, a sound that rattled the windows. "You will at that. I can always get bigger coveralls," Bob said.

He looked over at Earl, who was standing patiently by, and asked, "Are you going to stand there all morning gabbing, buddy, or are we going to go plow some snow?"

"Snow," Earl said, and the men left with their orders, back to their jobs making the roads safe for the rest of us.

By seven, we'd had no other customers, and I'd pitched in to help Emma with the dishes. I left the dividing door between the kitchen and the front open in case someone came in, but I wasn't worried about the money in the till. Max knew if he pulled that trick again, I'd skewer him with one of my long wooden donut turners.

We did all we could in back, and as I threw a dish towel over my shoulder, I said, "You can go home, if you want to. It looks like n.o.body's going to make it in today."

"If you don't mind, I'd just as soon stay here with you."

"You know you're welcome to, but I thought I'd offer."

"If I go home, Dad will find something for me to do, but if I stay, he'll think I'm working hard." She shrugged, then added, "It hasn't exactly been easy around the house lately."

"Is he still giving you a hard time about what happened here?"

Emma nodded, the sadness easy to see in her eyes.

I'd promised to help Max, but not to the point of hurting Emma. "Can you keep a secret?" I asked.

"I don't know, I guess it depends on the secret."

"It's one that will make you feel better, but you can't tell anyone else. At least not until later."

She looked at me and arched one eyebrow. "Okay, I'll admit it. You've got me curious."

"We weren't robbed the other day," I said.

"You took the money?" she asked, a hint of hurt in her voice.

"Don't be silly. Max did. He was watching the store, and the second you disappeared, he rushed over and cleaned us out."

"How do you know that?" Emma asked.

"He told me yesterday."

She looked startled by that declaration as well. "You've talked to him? I thought the police were looking for him."

"They are. He hid in the back of my Jeep yesterday when we closed up shop, but then he took off again. I honestly don't have a clue where he's hiding now." As I looked outside at the snow, I added, "But I hope it's someplace warm."

She shook her head. "I appreciate you telling me that, but it still doesn't help."

"We're getting the money back," I said, not understanding her att.i.tude. "It's not lost after all."

"I left my post," she said. "That's what matters."

"We're not in the military," I said. "You didn't desert in the face of enemy fire or anything."

"Try telling my dad that," she said.

Well, at least I'd tried to make her feel better.

I was surprised to see Wilma come trudging through the snow to get to my shop, since she wasn't exactly a regular customer of mine.

As she took off her heavy parka and put it on the rack up front, I said, "Good morning. You're a brave soul facing this kind of weather for a donut."

She barely glanced at me as she said, "I thought my customers deserved a treat this morning. Would you get me two dozen donuts, any a.s.sortment? I figure if they're willing to face this snow to get their hair done, they're ent.i.tled to something special."

As I grabbed two boxes from under the counter, I said, "It's nice of you to think my donuts are special."

Wilma smiled at me, then I saw her eyes go to the counter where I had some of my Christmas decorations. When she saw my nativity scene, the stand-up forest of snow covered mountains, the mini-tree lit with small lights, my fully-stocked gumdrop tree, the carolers, and the stuffed snowmen, she did a double take and stared openly at the display until she saw me notice her fixation.

I said, "I know it's a bit much, but Christmas only comes around once a year."

"And you're taking full advantage of it, aren't you?"

"Why not?" I asked. "If you don't mind my asking, I heard something around town that disturbed me. Were you and Darlene fighting around the time when she was murdered? I'm not saying you killed her. I'm just wondering if everything was okay between the two of you when she died."

"They were fine," Wilma said, "and anyone who says otherwise is a liar." She eased her tone a little as she added, "I never really had anything to do with her outside of work, but we didn't have to be best friends to work together. As a matter of fact, I've never even been to her place, and she's certainly never stepped foot in mine. That didn't make us enemies, though. You'd be amazed how many of the girls who work for me have no idea what my house looks like. I like to keep things that way, too. It gives us a kind of distance, you know? I learned early on that it doesn't pay to get too overly familiar with your employees."

"I don't know, Emma and I are pretty close," I said.

"Has she been to your house?"

I thought about it, and realized that I didn't know. "I can't say," I admitted.

"Thanks, you just made my point."

I got her donuts, took her twenty, then made change. "Do you have a lot of appointments scheduled for today?"

"Suzanne, it's three days before Christmas. Everyone wants to look good for the holidays." She stared at my ponytail, then added, "But I could squeeze you in if you'd like. Why don't you lock up and come to the shop with me this morning? It won't take long, I promise."

"No thanks," I said. There was no way I was going under her scissors. "I'm afraid my customers are just as hungry for what I do as yours are for you. Everybody likes donuts at the holidays."

She shrugged. "If you change your mind, let me know."

"Oh, you can bet on that," I said.

Half an hour later, a few brave souls started making their way through the snow to Donut Hearts.

George came in, and shook the snow off his hat.

"Why didn't you answer your cell phone?" he asked accusingly.

I patted my pockets, then I remembered where I'd left it. "Because it's still at home. I was recharging it last night, and I forgot to bring it with me this morning."

"That explains it. Try your phone."

"I just told you, it's at home."

He frowned as he pointed to the wall behind me. "I mean that one."