Black Beans & Vice by J. B. Stanley Read Free Book Online

doubled, bringing much-needed income to small-business
owners. Milla had told James several times that she'd made sales
to tourists who'd asked her numerous questions about the "real"
people described in The Body in the Bakery. Of course, Milla always tactfully replied that she hadn't been around when the actual
events occurred, so she couldn't attest to the truth of Ms. Alistair's
version.

    James turned away from the window and strode out to the circulation desk, his fists balled in irritation. The morning had gone
from bad to worse. First, Eliot's declaration, then Mrs. Waxman's
unexpected retirement, and now, the return of a troublesome exgirlfriend.
    "Are you okay, Professor?" Francis asked as he passed by with
the shelving cart.
    A hunger pang awoke in James' belly and he looked at his
watch without really noticing the time. "Hold the fort, Francis. I'll
be right back."
    "Aye, aye, Captain!" Francis saluted and gave the cart a mighty
heave toward the open space where patrons lined up to wait for
assistance checking out. Scott darted from behind the Information
desk and deftly caught the cart. In a continuous and fluid motion
he pushed it toward the Children's Corner while giving his brother
a thumbs-up behind his back.
    James never left the library during the morning. Occasionally,
he'd meet one of the supper club members for a casual lunch at
Dolly's Diner or he'd eat a sandwich in the Bronco while running a
few quick errands, but he and the twins had a system for handling
midmorning coffee breaks. James would brew the coffee around ten o'clock, as he had this morning, and then he'd take a mug
into his office to review emails or complete necessary paperwork,
such as balancing the budget or placing orders to the library supply company. When he reappeared at the circulation desk, Scott
would venture into the break room next. He'd repair a few hardcovers while bolting down a Twinkie and a cup of milky coffee or a
Mountain Dew. He'd then switch off with Francis.

    In this relaxed manner, all three enjoyed a leisurely morning's
work. They never got behind because they all worked during this
respite. No one kept track of the length of these sit-down times
and no one took advantage of them.
    Yet now, James Henry, Head Librarian, was blatantly leaving
the building just as the coffee pot finished percolating. Knowing he was unbalancing their perfect system, he jumped into the
Bronco and drove northwest to the nearest Wawa. Once inside, he
filled up a Styrofoam cup with French Vanilla-flavored coffee, and
selected half a dozen doughnuts from the Krispy Kreme display.
    "Were these baked this morning?" James asked the clerk.
    "Yessir. The truck came in at five-thirty. They were still warm
enough to fog up the glass after the deliveryman unloaded them."
    James pulled the bag to his chest and inhaled the scents of
chocolate, cinnamon, powered sugar, baked dough, and glazed icing. "That's exactly what I wanted to hear."
    Inside the privacy of the Bronco, he reached into the bag and
pulled out the doughnut on top. At this point, he didn't care which
of the six varieties his fingers closed around. Any one of them
would do. Unhinging his jaw like a python attempting to swallow
his oversized prey whole, James sank his teeth through the layer of chocolate icing and into the soft, cake-like dough. An explosion of
sugar coated his teeth, gums, tongue, and the roof of his mouth.
For a moment, he was completely lost in the overwhelming power
of the sensation. It was heavenly. It was, he admitted silently, a total high.

    It took all of forty-five seconds for James to consume the
doughnut. He then licked his fingers, took a sip of coffee, and
leaned back against the seat with a sigh of contentment.
    "I needed that," he murmured, noting how his anxiety had
drained away. He immediately felt calmer and more optimistic.
Turning the engine on, James pulled out of the Wawa parking lot
and headed back to