Read Powdered Peril for Free Online Page B

but then again, he didn’t run off in the other direction, either.
    “Where’s Penny?” he asked.
    “She had to go,” I replied. “Where do you have Grace stashed? I need to give her these clothes.”
    “Don’t worry about it, Suzanne. I’ll take them to her,” he said as he reached for the bag.
    I wasn’t about to let them go, though. “Hang on a second. Is there a reason I can’t talk to her myself?”
    He was clearly getting exasperated with me, but I had to give him credit. He managed to hold it in check. “Suzanne, she’s fine, but you can’t go back in the restricted area where we’re keeping her. We just recovered the splinter, so as soon as she gets dressed, I’m taking her to my office. There’s nothing you can do here.”
    “You don’t honestly believe that she killed him, do you?” I asked, fighting to keep my voice quiet.
    He wouldn’t commit to it, though. “Like I said, it’s too early to say anything. Now, can I have her things? I thought you had a donut shop to run.”
    “Nan’s handling it,” I said. “How do you know her, by the way?”
    He just shrugged. “Ask her if you want to know.”
    “Why are you being so difficult all of a sudden?” I asked.
    “I’m sorry if I’m curt, but I don’t have time for this,” he said, and held out his hand again. “I’ve got a murder to solve. Now, if you want Grace to have that bag, hand it over. Otherwise, she can stay in her bathrobe until we’re finished. I don’t care much either way right now.”
    He wasn’t bluffing; I could see it in his eyes. I gave him the bag, and as he walked away, I said, “Tell her to call me as soon as you’re finished with her.”
    He didn’t answer me, so at least it wasn’t an outright rejection.
    I thought about all of the things I could do just then, but then I realized that there was only one place I needed to be.
    It was time to go back to Donut Hearts and see if Nan was still handling my shop without a bit of help from me, or if the sky was falling in on her in my absence.
    I honestly wasn’t sure which outcome I was hoping for. After all, I wanted to feel needed in my own place.
    *   *   *
    The shop was crowded when I walked in, but Nan didn’t seem the least bit flustered. She smiled at me as she cheerfully waited on her next customer, and I moved in closer and stood just behind her. When she finished that order, I tapped her on the shoulder and said, “Thanks, Nan. I can take over now.”
    “Are you sure? I don’t mind, honestly.”
    Her positive attitude about being in front was a real change of pace for me, since Emma hadn’t been a big fan of waiting on customers, but I needed my work at the donut shop to get a little taste of normal back into my life. “Thanks, but I’ve got it. You’re the best.”
    “It was nothing,” she said as she stepped away and went into the kitchen, but I could see a slight grin on her face as she left.
    “Who’s next?” I asked, and started waiting on the rest of my customers.
    *   *   *
    Once there was a lull, I opened the kitchen door and called out, “Nan, do you have a second?”
    “Of course,” she said as she dried her hands on a dish towel and joined me. She nearly had the morning dishes finished, and I was really impressed with her efficiency. “What can I do for you, Suzanne? Is there somewhere else you need to go? I’d be happy to take over again. All you have to do is ask.”
    “I’ve got it covered. I just wanted to thank you again for pitching in. I also want to assure you that this isn’t going to happen very often.”
    “It was fun. Did you see the tray of samples I put out?”
    I had to think about what she was talking about for a second, and then it hit me. “The orange and apple disasters. I remember.”
    “They were nothing of the sort,” she said with a hint of reproach in her voice. “I hope you don’t mind, but I took the liberty of naming them Orange and Apple Surprise.”
    “I don’t mind