Read Online A Burned Out Baker: Classic Diner Mystery #7 (The Classic Diner Mysteries) by Jessica Beck - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jessica Beck
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on the road.
“Would you like me to drive?” I asked him.
“No, I’m fine,” Moose said.
“Then pay closer attention, okay? I want to get there just as fast as you do, but I’d prefer to make it all in one piece.”
“You’re right. I’ll be more careful.”
I glanced over at the truck’s speedometer and saw that he’d backed off a little on his previous pace. Moose was actually within ten miles of the posted speed limit, something I considered amazing given his agitated state, and his clear desire to get back to the diner as fast as humanly possible.
Miraculously, we got back to The Charming Moose safe and sound. My grandfather pulled up in front, a spot we almost always reserved for our customers, but it was clear that he was in no mood to wait a second longer than he had to.
Martha wasn’t up front at her station when we got there, never a good sign.
Instead, Ellen was working the register.
“Where’s Martha?” I asked.
Ellen glanced over at Judge Dixon, who was currently nursing a cup of coffee, as she said, “She’s on break.”
“Is she ever planning to come back?” I asked softly.
“Not as long as the judge is sitting over there,” Ellen said. It was clear whose side our waitress was on in the war between my grandmother and the judge.
“Thanks for taking the register, then,” I said as I hurried to catch up with Moose, who had already joined the judge at her table.
“What did I miss?” I asked as joined them.
“Holly was just about to tell me why she came by,” Moose said as he kept glancing back toward the kitchen. He was in hot water, and what’s more, he knew it, but there was nothing he could do about it at the moment.
“I’m sorry to just drop in, but I thought this was important,” she said.
“And we appreciate it,” Moose said. “What’s going on?”
“I was at the police station taking care of some unrelated business when I happened to overhear the sheriff say something.”
I stopped her. “Hang on, Judge. You’re not about to violate any kind of ethics rule or anything, are you? There’s no reason for you to get yourself into trouble on our account.”
The judge reached over and patted my hand as her face softened. “Thank you for thinking of me, but this is fine. It’s not privileged at all.”
I hoped that Martha hadn’t seen the familiar touch, as much as I appreciated the gesture. I liked Judge Dixon, but I loved my grandmother, and if I ever had to choose between the two women, there was no doubt in my mind that I was on Team Martha all the way.
“What did he say, Holly?” Moose asked.
The judge took a deep breath, and then she said, “The sheriff is threatening to bring in outside help if he can’t wrap this case up in forty-eight hours. There’s some hotshot state police inspector who is supposed to be really good. He’s based in Raleigh, but I understand that he spends quite a bit of his free time over in April Springs.”
“I’ve never known the sheriff to bring in reinforcements before,” Moose said, clearly surprised by the news. “What’s different about this murder that he needs outside help?”
“That’s the thing. You two have caught more killers lately than he has, and I think he’s worried you’re going to run against him for sheriff in the next election, Moose.”
“What? That’s ridiculous,” my grandfather said. “If he thought that, why didn’t he say anything to me about it? We spoke not two hours ago.”
“This just happened half an hour ago, so it’s all brand new,” the judge said. “Someone must have put a bug in his ear about you, and he’s starting to wonder why you two are digging into murder again.”
“The murder victim threatened to take our diner away from us last night not three feet from where we’re sitting right now. Doesn’t he think that gives us both reason enough to do something about catching whoever killed him?”
“Easy, Moose,” she said in a calming voice. “I’m
“Would you like me to drive?” I asked him.
“No, I’m fine,” Moose said.
“Then pay closer attention, okay? I want to get there just as fast as you do, but I’d prefer to make it all in one piece.”
“You’re right. I’ll be more careful.”
I glanced over at the truck’s speedometer and saw that he’d backed off a little on his previous pace. Moose was actually within ten miles of the posted speed limit, something I considered amazing given his agitated state, and his clear desire to get back to the diner as fast as humanly possible.
Miraculously, we got back to The Charming Moose safe and sound. My grandfather pulled up in front, a spot we almost always reserved for our customers, but it was clear that he was in no mood to wait a second longer than he had to.
Martha wasn’t up front at her station when we got there, never a good sign.
Instead, Ellen was working the register.
“Where’s Martha?” I asked.
Ellen glanced over at Judge Dixon, who was currently nursing a cup of coffee, as she said, “She’s on break.”
“Is she ever planning to come back?” I asked softly.
“Not as long as the judge is sitting over there,” Ellen said. It was clear whose side our waitress was on in the war between my grandmother and the judge.
“Thanks for taking the register, then,” I said as I hurried to catch up with Moose, who had already joined the judge at her table.
“What did I miss?” I asked as joined them.
“Holly was just about to tell me why she came by,” Moose said as he kept glancing back toward the kitchen. He was in hot water, and what’s more, he knew it, but there was nothing he could do about it at the moment.
“I’m sorry to just drop in, but I thought this was important,” she said.
“And we appreciate it,” Moose said. “What’s going on?”
“I was at the police station taking care of some unrelated business when I happened to overhear the sheriff say something.”
I stopped her. “Hang on, Judge. You’re not about to violate any kind of ethics rule or anything, are you? There’s no reason for you to get yourself into trouble on our account.”
The judge reached over and patted my hand as her face softened. “Thank you for thinking of me, but this is fine. It’s not privileged at all.”
I hoped that Martha hadn’t seen the familiar touch, as much as I appreciated the gesture. I liked Judge Dixon, but I loved my grandmother, and if I ever had to choose between the two women, there was no doubt in my mind that I was on Team Martha all the way.
“What did he say, Holly?” Moose asked.
The judge took a deep breath, and then she said, “The sheriff is threatening to bring in outside help if he can’t wrap this case up in forty-eight hours. There’s some hotshot state police inspector who is supposed to be really good. He’s based in Raleigh, but I understand that he spends quite a bit of his free time over in April Springs.”
“I’ve never known the sheriff to bring in reinforcements before,” Moose said, clearly surprised by the news. “What’s different about this murder that he needs outside help?”
“That’s the thing. You two have caught more killers lately than he has, and I think he’s worried you’re going to run against him for sheriff in the next election, Moose.”
“What? That’s ridiculous,” my grandfather said. “If he thought that, why didn’t he say anything to me about it? We spoke not two hours ago.”
“This just happened half an hour ago, so it’s all brand new,” the judge said. “Someone must have put a bug in his ear about you, and he’s starting to wonder why you two are digging into murder again.”
“The murder victim threatened to take our diner away from us last night not three feet from where we’re sitting right now. Doesn’t he think that gives us both reason enough to do something about catching whoever killed him?”
“Easy, Moose,” she said in a calming voice. “I’m
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