Criminal Crumbs by Jessica Beck

secret. Sorry.”
    “It’s not your fault. I honestly don’t care who knows. I just can’t wait until next week.”
    “What happens then?” I asked her, stopping long enough to flip the donuts. They were nicely browned, and I was happy with the results.
    “I get my money. All of it,” she said. “Nicole has control of it now, but that all ends on my birthday.”
    So maybe the motive we’d assigned Celia hadn’t been valid after all. If she just had to wait a week to get control of her inheritance, there was no reason for her to try to kill her sister.
    “Well, let me say it early: happy birthday,” I said.
    “Thanks.” She looked into the pot. “Are we eating those plain?”
    “We could make icing or just use powdered sugar dusted on top,” I said. “Which way do you prefer?”
    “Let’s do icing. It looks so cool, don’t you think?”
    “As a matter of fact, I do,” I said. “Would you mind grabbing the powdered sugar for me in the pantry?”
    “Happy to,” she said.
    By the time she was back, the first four donuts were finished, out and cooling on the rack, and the next four were in the hot oil.
    “How hard is the icing to make?”
    “We’re doing the easy version,” I said. I measured out some powdered sugar, added a touch of vanilla extract I’d found, and then enough cold water to make a slurry from it all.
    “That’s it?” she asked. “Can I taste it?”
    “Why not?” I put a little on the tip of a spoon and handed it to her.
    She smiled brightly after she tasted it. “It’s perfect.”
    “Wait until you’ve had a donut with it,” I said.
    Just then, the kitchen door opened, and the entire crew walked in.
    “We smelled food,” Grace said. “Are you actually making donuts? This wasn’t supposed to be a busman’s holiday, Suzanne.”
    “I don’t mind,” I said as I drizzled icing on the first four donuts.
    Georgia tried to grab one, but I kept her at bay with the slotted spoon. “Celia gets the first one, since she helped me make them.”
    The woman looked as though she’d just won a prize, and after quick consideration, she chose the one with the most icing. After taking a bite, she smiled broadly. “They are absolutely delicious.”
    “I’m next,” Georgia said, and she grabbed one as well. Janelle and Dina took the last two, and I could see that Nicole and Grace were a little disappointed at being left out. “Don’t worry, there’s more on the way soon.”

    After the donuts and holes were all fried and served, I nibbled on a few holes while Janelle and Nicole did the dishes. I hadn’t protested too hard when they’d offered, and though we’d had to heat the water on the stovetop, everything was clean and back in order before long.
    “Now that breakfast is over, we really should decide what to do next,” Nicole said to the group. “I’m open to suggestions, everyone.”
    “I still think that we should send someone for help,” Janelle said.
    “On foot, through the snow, seven miles, and all of it downhill? Thanks, but no thanks,” Georgia said.
    “Aren’t there any phones at the resort? There has to be a landline somewhere,” I said.
    “I checked it already,” Nicole said. “The storm must have taken the line out as well.”
    “Has anyone tried different places on the property to see if we can get a signal on our cellphones?” Grace asked.
    “It’s awfully cold out there to be taking a casual stroll,” Dina said.
    I needed a chance to tell Grace what I’d learned from Celia, so I said, “I think it’s a great idea. As a matter of fact, I’ll go with you, Grace.”
    “Are you sure that’s wise, Suzanne?” Nicole asked me.
    “Don’t worry about us. After all, we’ll be together. Nothing’s going to happen. Are you ready, Grace?”
    My best friend seemed a little reluctant about the chilly stroll, but finally, she agreed.
    Once we were bundled up in nearly everything we’d brought and standing outside the front door together, Grace