Vanilla Vices (3 page)

Chapter 3

“W
ow, it’s really odd seeing
you here this time of the morning, Suzanne,” Trish said when Grace and I walked into her diner.

“How about me?” Grace asked her, smiling. “Aren’t you surprised to see me?”

“I expect to see you any time, day or night,” she answered with a grin of her own. “Are you two hungry? As you can see, I’ve got plenty of room.” She waved a hand around the diner. It was empty, with one notable exception. Old Mr. Quimby, the man Jake had rented a room from before we’d been married, was sitting by a window doing a crossword puzzle in ink. He smiled at us briefly and then went back to his puzzle. “He spends every morning with me after my breakfast rush is over,” Trish explained. “I think he’s got a bit of a crush on me, and the way my love life has been going lately, I might just learn to reciprocate the emotion.”

Trish’s luck with men was horrid, and I’d hoped once that she’d found her true love when she’d started dating a friend of mine, but James Settle had been murdered, and she hadn’t had the heart to pursue anything since. “Don’t worry. I believe your time will come,” I said.

“I hope you’re right,” she said. “So, if you aren’t here for brunch, you must be looking for information.”

“You’ve heard about Cr…er, Dan, haven’t you?”

“You’re kidding, right? It’s just about the only thing the entire town is talking about,” she said, nodding. “He was in here a few days ago saying that he was going to die alone. Who knew how right he’d turn out to be?”

“Actually, someone
was
with him,” Grace said.

“Yeah, you’re right, the killer was there, too. It’s just a shame that it wasn’t someone who cared about him.” She looked at us both askance. “You two aren’t digging into this, are you? I heard the state police sent some hotshot from Raleigh over to handle it. How does Jake feel about getting knocked off the case?”

“I don’t think he minds all that much. After all, he’s got his hands full as it is with something else,” I said, not wanting to say too much.

Apparently I didn’t have to. Trish’s face darkened as she said, “I’ve been going over it again and again in my mind, but I just can’t imagine what happened to Linda.”

“Did you know her?” Grace asked.

Trish looked at her pointedly before she spoke. “Yes, and as a matter of fact, I still do. I believe with all my heart that she’s fine; she’s just missing, that’s all.”

“I didn’t mean to…” Grace stammered.

“Sorry, I suppose I’m a little sensitive about it right now. Her husband is my second cousin; did you know that? Peter adores that woman. My aunt told me this morning that they’ve had to sedate him, he’s so distraught about her disappearing like that.”

“Were they okay?” I asked her softly.

“Do you mean were they getting along?” she asked me with an edge in her voice that was uncharacteristic for her. “Suzanne, he dotes on her, and it’s no act. I don’t know what he’s going to do if she doesn’t turn up soon.”

“I’m sure they’ll find her,” I said.

“I am, too,” Trish said, clearly troubled by the prospect that they might not. “Now, how can I help you with your investigation? I was a fan of Crazy Dan’s, and I don’t much appreciate someone taking one of my friends from me.”

“We’re looking for folks who might have more knowledge about his day-to-day life than we do,” I said.

Before I could bring Benny’s name into the conversation, Trish did it for me. “You should talk to Benny Flint. Those two men were like brothers, fighting just as much but having each other’s backs when anyone else was involved.”

“That’s a great idea,” I said, not sharing that we’d already gotten the same advice from Gabby Williams. “Do you have any idea where we might find him?”

“Funny, but you didn’t miss him by more than three minutes,” she said. “If you hurry, you should easily be able to catch up with him. He said something about walking up Springs Drive toward the dump. Do you have your Jeep?”

“We’re on foot,” I said.

“No worries. I’ve seen Benny out walking before. He’s the kind of person who stops and looks at every little thing along the way. I’m amazed he ever gets anywhere, as slow as he moves. Just a word of warning, though.”

“What’s that?” I asked.

“Suzanne, have you had much to do with Benny in the past? Is he a donut fan, by any chance?”

“He’s been in a few times trying to buy day-old donuts, but I don’t sell them; I give them away, mostly to the church.”

“So, that’s why he’s not a big fan of yours,” she said.

“He doesn’t like me? Did he say that? I never thought much about him one way or the other,” I admitted. “A lot of people come by the shop, and I know that I can’t always make everyone happy.”

“Benny holds a grudge, and I believe he has one against you. If I were you, I’d go grab a dozen donuts before you approach him to warm him up a little first. I’m sure he’ll be a lot more receptive to you if you give him some treats first.”

“We would, but she can’t,” Grace answered before I could.

“What do you mean, you can’t?” Trish asked me. “I know the Blake women are running the place today and tomorrow, but aren’t you even allowed to go into your own shop?”

“I’m not even going to ask you how you knew about our agreement,” I said. “I told them that I’d give them some space. There’s nothing ominous about it.”

“If you say so,” Trish replied. “I’m just saying, if I were you and I wanted something out of Benny, I’d take him a few free donuts.”

“Then that’s exactly what we’ll do,” Grace said. “Thanks, Trish. I hope they find Linda soon.”

“From your lips to God’s ears,” she said.

Once we were outside the diner, I said, “Grace, you know as well as I do that I can’t go into Donut Hearts.”

“You don’t have to,” she said. “I’m happy to do it for you.”

“You can’t just expect Emma to give you free donuts.”

“Who said anything about free?” she asked as she pulled a twenty from her pants pocket. “I’m planning to pay for them. What kind do you think Benny would like?”

“Get an assortment,” I said. “You don’t have to do this. You know that, don’t you?”

“I know that I don’t have to, but I want to,” she said with a smile. “While I’m inside, is there anything in particular that you’d like me to look around for, say donuts or hundred-dollar bills spilled on the floor?”

“I’d be amazed if you saw either thing, but no, you don’t have to do any spying for me. I trust them.”

“Good. Wait for me here. I’ll be right back.”

Standing there and watching while Grace went into Donut Hearts alone was one of the hardest things I’d ever done, but I stood my ground. After what felt like forever, she came out holding a donut box in her hands. Smiling, she held them up in the air as though they were some kind of trophy.

“How did it go?” I asked her.

“Perfectly,” she said. “Emma says hi, by the way. She wanted to know why you didn’t come in for them yourself.”

“What did you tell her?”

“That you were a woman of your word,” Grace answered. “I think you’ve got it wrong, though. She’s fine if you go on in and say hello.”

“Maybe tomorrow,” I said, relieved that it would be okay with her. “Right now, we have a dozen donuts to deliver and some questions to ask.”

“Then let’s go find Benny and see if he has anything to add to the conversation about what happened to Dan,” Grace replied.

We caught up to him just outside City Hall. “Benny, do you have a second?” I asked him as we approached. He’d been staring up at the town clock, and we’d clearly caught him off guard based on the way he jumped a little when I spoke.

“What is it, Suzanne?”

I’d had warmer welcomes in my life, so it was time to deploy a little donut diplomacy. “I thought you might like some donuts.” I held the box out to him, but he didn’t take it.

“Are they old and stale?”

“No, sir, they were freshly made this morning, every single one of the dozen inside.”

“Did you make them yourself?” he asked, still watching me. If he noticed Grace standing beside me, he hadn’t shown it yet.

“No, but my team did,” I said.

“Why didn’t you make them yourself?” He glanced at the box and then back at me. “Is there something wrong with them?”

“Are you seriously going to be that picky about getting a box of free donuts?” Grace asked him, clearly getting exasperated by the situation.

I was afraid that she might have offended him, and I half expected to see him leave, but instead, after a few seconds, he cracked a crooked grin, and I could see a few teeth missing when he smiled. “No, I suppose not. Much obliged,” he said as he reached for the box. Flipping the lid up, he surveyed the selection, and then he smiled. “Want one?”

I thought it would be rude to refuse, and besides, I wanted to see how Emma and her mother’s donuts stood up to mine. “Don’t mind if I do,” I said as I grabbed one of the yeast donuts. It had a light glaze on it, but nothing else to enhance the flavor. Just about anybody could make a decent donut if they slathered it with chocolate or injected it with cream, but a yeast donut without anything extra was a tough thing to fake. I took a careful bite, feeling the glaze in the bite first and then testing the soft layer of donut beneath it. There was a tenderness to the bite that left me feeling just a little sad. This might have been even better than what I served.

“Don’t you like it?” Benny asked me, and I looked up to find him carefully studying my expression. “Is it no good?”

“Just the opposite, as a matter of fact. It’s delicious.”

Benny surprised me by nodding. “You know, I totally get that.”

“I’m glad that you do, because I’m lost,” Grace said.

“She doesn’t want to be replaced as easy as that,” Benny explained.

Grace looked at me, and I shrugged. “He’s right. This is wonderful. It may even be better than the ones I make.”

“Let me taste that. It
can’t
be as good as yours.” Grace took a bite, and then she frowned. “I think you’re delusional, Suzanne. This is fine, but it’s not nearly as good as the ones you make.”

“You
have
to say that because you’re my friend,” I said.

“No, I have to tell you the truth
because
I’m your friend.”

Benny took a different donut and had a bite for himself. “I’m not an expert. This is good, but so are yours. Can’t they both be tasty?”

“Of course they can,” I said. “Sorry we forgot to bring you something to drink.”

“I think I can manage on my own without it,” he said, proving his point by polishing off the donut he’d sampled and then starting on another one. Almost as an afterthought, he offered the box to Grace and me again. “Want another?”

“Thanks, but I’m stuffed,” I said.

Was it my imagination, or did Benny look a bit relieved as Grace echoed my sentiment? “Mind if I sit and eat? Eating while I’m standing up gives me indigestion.”

“Be our guest,” I said as I followed him to a nearby bench. Grace and I took a seat on either side of Benny as he carefully studied the contents before choosing his next treat. The man really was a fan of donuts. Either that, or he couldn’t say no to anything he got for free. I’d heard rumors around town that his lifestyle was supported by what he could find, barter, and sell, and I had to imagine that some days were better than others. His clothes were mostly clean, though they’d been patched more than a few times over the years, and he needed a haircut. I didn’t envy him his lifestyle, and he must have seen it in my eyes.

“You’re glad we’re not switching places, aren’t you?” he asked with a grin between bites.

“What makes you say that?” I asked, afraid to acknowledge that he’d seen right through me.

“I see it enough every day to know it right off the bat,” Benny said. “The funny thing is, I was just thinking the same thing about the two of you.”

“Seriously?” Grace asked him.

“Seriously,” he echoed. “You both have jobs you have to go to every day. If you don’t show up, people will notice. Nobody expects me to be anywhere. I take my time going through life, stopping to see what there is to see and not hurrying on to the next big thing in my day. I can enjoy every moment of a day like today and feel the brisk wind in my hair and the warm sun on my face. Nature is all around me, even in town, and I enjoy every minute of it.”