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.I’m sorry it has to be this way, Suzanne.”“So am I,” I said.I wanted him to apologize, to hug me and tell me everything was going to be all right.Instead, he gave me one last, sad look, then walked out of my shop.It nearly broke my heart when he left, but I wasn’t going to let him know how much it bothered me.There was no reason to open again, and I knew it.That was one of the bad things about living in a small town.News—and more importantly, rumors—spread amongst the citizens of April Springs at an alarming rate, and there was no way I could stop everyone from thinking that one of my donuts had killed Peg Masterson.I was rattled by my conversation with Jake, more than I was willing to admit even to myself.I should have been cleaning the donut shop over the course of the next hour since it was clear there wouldn’t be any customers today, but instead, I sat at one of the booths and managed to feel sorry for myself as a way to pass the time.By the time noon rolled around, I was feeling a little better, and I knew that it was time to start cleaning up.I started to lock the front door when Heather Masterson, Peg’s niece, came charging up to the shop.She was a petite young woman with short, glossy black hair and eyes so dark that they nearly matched—just like her aunt’s had been—and I’d known her for nearly fifteen years.One thing was certain: she’d grown into a lovely young lady since I’d first babysat for her long ago, though it was hard to see that with the rage now dominating her features.“You killed my aunt,” she screamed at me.“Why, Suzanne? What did she ever do to you?”I knew Heather well enough to realize that she was hurting inside, and though she was usually a dear girl, the fire in her eyes in that instant was full of hate and pain.“I didn’t kill Peg,” I said, trying to calm her down.“Don’t try to deny it, Suzanne.I heard a donut killed her, and it had to be one of yours.I thought we were friends.”Her face started to crumble then, and it was all I could do not to wrap my arms around her and comfort her.“Heather, I swear to you, I had nothing to do with it.I’m innocent.”She stared hard at me for a few seconds, then said, “I don’t know what to think.I guess I just want to blame somebody, and you’re the easiest target there is at the moment.What a horrid thing to have happen to her.She was so sweet.”I raised my eyebrows as I stared at her.Heather frowned a little, then said grudgingly, “Okay, maybe sweet is going a little overboard, but I loved her, Suzanne.I know Aunt Peg could be a pain in the neck at times, but she was the last bit of family I had left.”Heather’s parents had died while she was still in high school.They’d gone on a camping trip without her, and a heater had malfunctioned in their motor home, filling it with deadly carbon monoxide.And now, two weeks from her twenty-first birthday, she’d lost her aunt.The reason I knew Heather’s birthday was approaching was because we shared the same day and month, something that had bonded us closer when she’d been younger.No matter how grown up she looked like on the outside, this was a frightened and sad little girl standing in front of me.“I’m so sorry.I know it’s got to be really hard on you.”Her tears started to slowly escape, though neither of us mentioned them.“I’m the one who should be apologizing.I shouldn’t come charging in here blaming you.You’re just about the only friend I have left in this town these days.Suzanne, I’m sorry I yelled at you.”“You don’t owe me an apology.I just hope the police find out who killed her, and soon.”“Me, too.” She wiped at her cheeks, swiping away the tears, then said, “I’ve got to go start planning her funeral.I’ll be staying at her house until I get this all sorted out.”“You could always stay with Momma and me.You’re welcome, you know that.You shouldn’t be alone at a time like this.”“I’ll be all right.It will give me some time to grieve by myself.But thanks for the offer, Suzanne.I really do appreciate it.”As she walked away, I saw Heather’s shoulders slump.I knew losing her aunt had been a blow to her, and I realized just how much it must have shaken her.Seeing her like that gave me one more reason to find out who had killed her aunt, and why.I locked the shop door, then I stared at the empty racks on the display shelves inside.There would be no food donation today, though I had promised Father Pete I’d have something for them at the church.The sad thing was, the folks who counted on my contributions and needed food would have nothing to eat from my kitchen that day, and there wasn’t a thing I could do about it.I called the church to tell Father Pete that I wouldn’t be able to help after all.The only problem was that his secretary, Roberta Dowd, wouldn’t put me through to him.“I’m sorry, Suzanne, but he can’t be disturbed.His orders were most specific, and I mean to follow them.”“Roberta, I just need a second of his time.I won’t take long, I promise.”She paused, then said, “I didn’t want to come out and say it, but I should tell you that we’re not interested in any of your food donations at the moment.”“Father Pete actually said that?” I thought we had a better relationship than that.What kind of minister ducked someone who was only trying to help?“He shouldn’t have to say it.Given what happened today, do you honestly think we’d want any contributions from your shop? How do we know that another donut isn’t tainted as well?”I tried not to scream as I said, “I wasn’t calling about making a donation.I wanted him to know that I wouldn’t be able to help out today after all
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