Fatally Frosted (20 page)

That’s when I remembered my cell phone, and the missed call.

I checked it, and heard Jake’s voice. “Suzanne,
call me as soon as you get this. I need to talk to you.”

Whatever it was, it didn’t sound good. I excused myself, went up to my room, and called Jake back.

“We’ve got a lot to talk about,” Jake said.

“First things first,” I said as I looked out the window at the park below. “How’s your niece?”

“The fever broke. She had some kind of infection, but they think she’s going to be all right.”

“That’s great news,” I said.

“I’m sorry I took off like that, Suzanne.”

“You were worried. I understand completely. When are you coming back?”

“I’m hoping to make it sometime tomorrow,” he said.

I looked out my window and saw someone watching the house from the shadows of a large tree. There was still some light out, but I never would have seen them if I hadn’t been looking out my window at that exact moment.

“Jake, I’ve got to call you back.”

“What’s going on?” he asked. “I can hear something’s wrong in your voice.”

“I’ll call you later,” I said, and then I hung up.

I quickly dialed George’s cell phone number. “Somebody’s watching my house. Do you still have your gun?” He’d told me once he’d kept his service
revolver after he’d retired, too attached to it to give it up, so he’d paid to keep it instead.

“Sure. Don’t go outside. I’ll be right there.”

“Should I call Chief Martin?” I asked.

“I can handle this myself,” he said.

As soon as we hung up, I began to regret calling him. I should have dialed 911, and left George out of it.

When I tried to call him back, there was no answer.

A little belatedly, I dialed the police number and got Officer Grant, the cop who frequented my donut shop the most.

“I need a favor,” I started off.

“Let’s see. The going rate is a dozen donuts an hour. If you’re ready to pay the price, I’m your man.”

“This is serious. There’s a prowler outside my house.”

His jovial mood disappeared instantly. “Then it’s not a favor, it’s a police matter. I’ll be right there.”

“Hang on. There’s something you should know. I called George Morris first, and he’s on his way over here, too. He’s armed.”

“Suzanne, remind me to tell you how insane that was after this is over.”

He hung up before I could defend my actions, not that there was a defense.

I kept my vigil for the prowler, but I had a sudden thought. Momma was still downstairs, and she had no idea someone was watching our house. I grabbed my softball bat and raced down the steps, just as my mother had one hand on the front doorknob.

“Stop,” I shouted.

“Suzanne, what’s wrong with you? I’m going back out to the glider.”

“Not at the moment you’re not,” I said as I pushed myself between her and the door. “There’s someone outside watching our house.”

She peered around me and looked out the window. “I don’t see anyone.”

“I already called George, and the police are coming, too.”

My mother shook her head. “That’s an awful lot of firepower for just a prowler,” she said. “Why did you call both?”

“I called George first, then I realized it was a mistake. If something happens to him because of me, I’ll never be able to forgive myself.”

“Don’t worry, child, it will be all right.”

“I wish I could be as sure as you sound,” I said.

I looked out the window through the curtains, trying to see who would show up first. I couldn’t see anyone from that vantage point, but then again, I hadn’t figured I’d be able to.

In the distance, I saw George carefully approaching, and just behind him was Officer Grant. The police officer must have gotten George’s attention, because I saw my friend stop, turn, and wave Officer Grant away.

When he wouldn’t, the two had a brief discussion, and then I saw them approach together.

They peered into the undergrowth of several trees, and as I saw them stop at the massive tree where the prowler had been, I felt the muscles in my stomach tighten.

A minute later, they came out from under the
tree’s canopy and walked out in the open toward the house.

I met them on the front porch. “He was right there. I swear it.”

George said, “Well, he’s gone now.”

“Are you sure it wasn’t just somebody out jogging?” Officer Grant asked.

“I can tell when someone’s out for a run or standing there watching me,” I said.

“Playing some softball later tonight?” he asked.

It was only then that I realized I was still holding onto the aluminum bat. “It’s a girl’s best friend,” I said. “I’m not all that comfortable around guns, but I figure this will protect me well enough.”

“I’ve seen you play softball,” George said. “I’m pretty sure you’re right.”

Officer Grant nodded, then said, “I’ve got to get back to the station and fill out a report.”

“Can’t we just keep this between us?” I asked.

“No chance. I had to log it to get permission to leave the station. I’ve got desk duty tonight, and the chief watches us pretty close so we don’t slip out.”

“Thanks anyway,” I said.

He tipped his patrolman’s hat to me. “Part of the service, Suzanne. Good night, George.” He started to walk away, then added, “The next time you try something like this, I’m going to do my best to get your gun permit pulled. You’re not a cop anymore, remember?”

“You do what you have to do,” George said, “and so will I. If one of my friends needs me, I’ll take care of them first, and worry about getting permission later.”

“Suit yourself,” he said, and then headed back into the woods.

George and I watched him go, and then I said, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called you in the first place.”

“I didn’t need backup, Suzanne,” he said. “I could have handled this prowler all by myself.”

I patted his shoulder. “I know, but what can I say? I worry about you.”

“There’s no need to. I’m retired; I’m not dead.”

“I get it,” I said. “Since you’re already here, why don’t you come in for a cup of coffee?”

“Thanks, but I’ve got to be getting back home.” He looked around the park filled with trees, then said, “If he shows up again, call me.”

I didn’t answer; I just smiled at him. I wouldn’t make that mistake again, but I didn’t have to rub his nose in it, either. “Good night.”

“Night,” he said as he left.

I walked back inside, and found Momma standing by the door. “They didn’t find him, did they?”

“No. I’ve got a suspicion Officer Grant thinks it was in my imagination, but someone was out there, and they were watching us.”

Momma shivered slightly, then dead-bolted the front door. “I think, for tonight, we’ll sleep with our windows closed and our front door locked.”

“I know you like the nighttime breezes, but I think that’s a good idea,” I said.

“What did Jake have to say when you two talked?” Momma asked as I started back up the stairs.

“His niece is going to be all right,” I said.

“That’s good news indeed.” She hesitated, then asked, “But how about the two of you?”

“We’re still working it out,” I said.

“Give him time, Suzanne. Most good men are worth the effort.”

“Was Dad a lot of work?” I asked.

“You’re kidding, right? I had him nearly fully trained when he passed away, but it was a daily struggle.” Her soft smile denied the severity of the words. It was clear to everyone who knew her that my dad had been the love of my mother’s life, and it was easy to see that she missed him every day.

“Ninety percent is the best you can ever hope for, right?”

She nodded. “We have to leave them a little spirit, don’t we?”

“I couldn’t even get Max into double digits, so I’m not the one to comment.”

I called Jake back once I got upstairs, debating whether or not to tell him about the prowler, but it was a moot point.

His phone went directly to voice mail. I left a message that said, “Sorry about that. We had a little excitement here, but everything’s fine now. Call me tomorrow. I’m going to shut off my telephone and go to bed.”

After the call, I did as I’d promised and I shut off my phone, turned out the lights, and tried to get to sleep, knowing that there might be someone out there watching me.

Surprisingly, I managed to nod right off, and by the time I got up, I was beginning to think that I might have misread the situation myself.

At 5:30 that morning, we were ready to open, but I was having trouble with the floor mixer again, so I asked Emma, “Would you mind getting the door?”

“Happy to do it,” she said.

My assistant poked her head through the door, and then came straight back into the kitchen.

“Maybe you’d better do it,” she said.

“Why? Is Jake out there?” Was that the kind of grand gesture I’d been hoping for?

“No, it’s George.”

“You’re right. I’d better take care of him,” I said as I brushed past her.

As I unlocked the door, I let George inside. “You’re early. I didn’t think we were meeting until noon.”

As he took his seat at the bar, George asked softly, “Can we talk here without her hearing us? I don’t want to drag Emma into this.”

I said, “Don’t worry about her. She’s got her iPod on while she’s working on the dishes. It’s the only time I’ll let her listen to it, and if I want to get her attention, I have to stand right in front of her and wave my hands in her face. Why, what’s so urgent?”

George said, “This couldn’t wait. First things first. Did the prowler come back last night?”

I shook my head. “No, we didn’t see anything, and I’m beginning to wonder if it wasn’t just some innocent jogger that I accused of watching my house. My nerves are more than a little on edge right now.”

George said, “It’s understandable if they are.”

As I got him coffee, I said, “We’ve got some nice orange slice donuts today, if you are feeling like trying something different. It’s a new recipe.”

George said, “Why not? I’ll try one.”

I fetched him a donut from my latest recipe. I’d been working on incorporating different things into my donuts, and my latest attempt was mixing fruit or candy in with my batter. I thought this latest attempt was a winner that might go into my rotation, but I wanted to field-test it first.

I watched him taste his sample, and I got a grimace from George instead of the smile I’d been hoping for.

“What’s wrong?” I asked him.

“Nothing,” he said as he took a healthy swallow of coffee.

“George, I can’t fix it if I don’t know what’s wrong with it.”

He hesitated, then said, “It’s a little sweet for my taste.”

“They need a little more work then, don’t they?”

“Hey, don’t pull them on my account,” George said. “I’m no donut judge.”

“That’s not true. I respect your opinion.”

As I got him his usual fare, I said, “Is that why you came by, just to check up on me?”

“No, I’ve got some news to share,” George said.

“I hope it’s good. I could surely use some,” I said as I took his sample donut and threw it away. I knew if I left it on the counter, he’d peck at it out of politeness, and donuts should be eaten for pleasure, not out of a sense of obligation.

“I’ve learned something interesting about Peg’s late husband. It’s true he worked for a large corporation, but he wasn’t its CEO.”

“What did he do?” I asked.

“He was a maintenance man,” George replied. “His base salary was never much, and from what I understand, Peg was nearly broke when he died.”

“But that was before the divorce settlement from her second husband,” I said.

George shook his head. “That man never had five grand at one time in his entire life, let alone the fifty Peg supposedly got.”

“What are you talking about, George?”

“That book you found should have been shelved with the rest of the fiction. From what I’ve been able to find out, Peg would have been lucky to raise a thousand dollars if she had to.”

This was getting even more confusing. “She had nice things. Grace and I saw them in her house.”

“I’m not doubting you. All I’m saying is that she was as close to broke as you could be. I don’t know where she got her furnishings, but I’m willing to bet they’re all copies instead of real antiques.”

“Why would she do that?” I asked.

“People do the strangest things,” George said. “I once arrested a man who claimed to be the real King of England. Talk to him about anything else, and he was perfectly rational, but when it came to his succession to the throne, he was so convincing I almost bought it. For whatever reason, Peg’s ledger is full of what might have been, not what was.”

“Then how has she supported herself? Peg’s never had a job as long as I’ve known her.”

“That is the question, isn’t it? She lives in a modest house, and it’s not even hers, most of it belongs to the
bank. Still, with taxes, utilities, and pesky things like food and clothing, I have no idea how she managed to support herself.”

“I think I do,” I admitted.

George said, “Don’t keep me waiting in suspense. How did she do it?”