Tragic Toppings by Jessica Beck Read Free Book Online Page B

the slightest chance they’re still alive? That’s even more reason to check on them, isn’t it?”
    Grace took a deep breath, and then nodded firmly. “Okay, let’s do this.”
    “You don’t have to, you know,” I said.
    She let out a breath, and then said, “No, I’m all right. Well, I’m not really, but I will be. You can count on me.”
    I nodded, took her hand, and as we walked toward the tree, as Grace looked up, she asked, “Do you think it’s someone we know?”
    “I still can’t tell from here, but there’s a good chance that it is.”
    I neared the body, being careful about where I stepped in case there were footprints, though the ground was mostly just dirt and gravel.
    As I got closer, I could finally tell for sure that it was a man.
    I was still ten feet away before I could make out the face.
    It was Tim Leander, our town handyman, and there was no doubt in my mind that he was long past any help we might have given him.
    The man was clearly dead.
    *   *   *
    I don’t know how long Grace and I stood there looking up at him, but the next thing I knew, there were footsteps behind us. Chief Martin, still dressed in his best suit, came running up to join us. “The dispatcher just called me,” he said as he neared us.
    “It’s Tim Leander,” I told him dully. It was finally sinking in that a man I truly liked and admired was dead, and there was an ache in my chest that felt as though someone had hit me.
    Chief Martin approached more cautiously and looked up at the handyman. “Who would want to kill him?” he asked softly. “It just doesn’t make any sense. The man didn’t have an enemy in all of April Springs. He’s done good work for me a dozen times over the years, and I’ve never heard a bad word spoken against him.”
    “I still can’t believe it,” I answered. Tim was a friend, and a frequent visitor to Donut Hearts. I’d miss seeing his smile, but it was going to be a long time until I’d be able to wipe the image of his dead body hanging from that tree branch and replace it with an image from a better time for all of us.
    Three squad cars were pulling up now, driving into the park and ignoring the footpaths entirely. I knew they had to do it, but it felt like an added violation of the sanctity of the park.
    I’d almost forgotten about Grace when she asked the police chief, “Is there any chance that it was suicide?”
    I started to answer when the chief beat me to it. “I don’t think it’s likely. He would have had to climb the tree, tie the rope around his neck, and then throw himself over. There are easier ways to die.”
    “I can’t think of many worse,” I answered.
    “Then you’re a lucky woman,” Chief Martin answered. “I can think of more than I even want to consider. Do you have anything else to add to that 911 call you two made?”
    “No,” I answered. “We were walking back home after eating at the Boxcar, and we found him hanging there.” I glanced at my watch, and suddenly remembered his date with Momma. “What are you doing back so early?”
    “Your mother had a headache,” he said curtly. It was clear he didn’t want to talk about it. “Why don’t you two wait back at the house?”
    “Will you be stopping by on your way out?” I asked. I wanted to know what he and his officers found out, even if it meant waiting up all night.
    “Not tonight,” he replied cryptically. I wondered how real my mother’s headache had been, or if it had just been an excuse to end a bad date early.
    “Come on, Suzanne,” Grace said as she tugged at my arm.
    I wasn’t sure I wanted to give up that easily, but I realized that I wasn’t going to learn anything else tonight, at least not from the police department. “You’re right. Let’s go.”
    We walked back to the house together, and Grace shivered as we neared the front steps.
    “Are you cold?” I asked.
    “Not from the temperature.” She tried to shake it off, and then said, “Listen, if you