Read Custard Crime: Donut Mystery #14 (The Donut Mysteries) for Free Online Page A

her.
    “From what Evelyn told me, Julie was her closest living
relative, and unless she changed her mind in the last few days before she died,
I got the distinct impression that Julie was set to inherit everything that
Evelyn had.”
    “Is that very substantial?” I asked.   “I thought that Evelyn was pretty much
broke.”
    “Oh, she had money, and I’m talking serious cash,”
Gabby said.   “She just didn’t want
anyone in town to know about it.”
    “Was Chief Martin even aware of it?” I asked.
    “No, this all happened after they split.   Evelyn inherited five hundred thousand
dollars from her great aunt last month, and the kicker was that Julie didn’t
get a dime of it in the old lady’s will.   She resented Evelyn for it, and she didn’t mind who knew it.   If she’s the one who did it, it wasn’t just
so she could get Evelyn’s meager possessions.   She wanted the bigger prize of all that
money Evelyn had just gotten herself.”
    “I’ll look into both of your tips,” Jake said, and
then he stood and offered his hand.   “Thank you for the information.   I appreciate it.”
    He stood there in silence with his hand extended and
a simple smile on his face as he waited for Gabby to respond.   I wasn’t sure who to bet on, but I was
thrilled when Gabby finally gave in, stood, and took Jake’s hand in hers.   “I must say, you’re a little more
formidable than I thought you’d be,” Gabby conceded with a frown.
    Jake just laughed, and to my surprise, Gabby joined
in before she walked away.
     
    After she was gone, I asked Jake, “What was that all
about?”
    “What are you talking about?” he asked as he sat back
down and continued to study the menu.
    “You know exactly what I’m talking about.   That last bit at the end when you got
her to leave,” I said.
    “Suzanne, it’s going to take more than someone like
Gabby Williams to back me down, no matter how formidable this town might think
she is.   I wanted her to know that I
wasn’t going to put up with it, and she got the message, loud and clear.”
    “Why do I feel as though I should be taking notes on
how to handle her in the future?” I asked him with a smile.
    “No notes necessary.   Just watch and learn,” he said with a
smile, and then Jake signaled to Trish.
    She joined us quickly, and when she got to our table,
she asked, “What would you two like?”
    Jake pointed to me first, and I ordered a burger and
fries.   After I was finished, he
held up two fingers as he added, “We’ll take two.”
    “Coming right up,” Trish said as she hurried away to
place our order.
    Evidently the way Jake had handled Gabby had not gone
unnoticed among the current patrons of the Boxcar Grill.   No one else dared approach us after
Gabby’s abrupt dismissal, something that I was most thankful for.
    While we waited for our food, Jake asked me quietly,
“Suzanne, what do you think of Gabby’s information?”
    “Well, I suppose that it’s fair to say that we’re
friends in the oddest sort of way, but I’m by no means the woman’s biggest
fan.”
    “That’s not what I asked you.”
    “I wasn’t finished answering yet.   There’s something you should know about
her.   If Gabby tells you something,
you should take it seriously.   She
has more leads in this town than anyone else, so if she smells smoke, you can
bet your badge that there’s a fire somewhere nearby.   There may only be a kernel of truth within
everything that she says, but you can rest assured that it’s there if you dig
hard enough for it.”
    “That’s good to know.   Do you know Robby Chastain personally?”
    “Sure,” I said.   “He used to be an electrician.   The day that man retired from his job, he invested every dime of money
he had and every ounce of energy into making his yard a showplace.   It’s no wonder that tree drove him
crazy.   I know exactly which one
Gabby had to have been talking about.   It’s an old beaten-down