Grace breathed heavily, and then said, “Okay. I’ll do it.”
“We both will,” I said. “I just wish that Jake was here to back us up. It’s not going to do us any good if we trap the killer and they turn the tables on us.”
“We can’t exactly ask the police for help,” Grace said.
“No, my relationship with the Chief Martin is good, but it’s not that good. If he finds out what we’re planning to do, he’ll shut us down in a heartbeat. There’s only one option as far as I can see.”
As I reached for my cellphone, Grace asked, “Who are you going to call?”
“I think it would be neighborly if we invited the mayor over for dinner, don’t you? You heard Momma. She made more than she knows what to do with, and besides, she likes George.”
“Are we really going to drag him into this?” Grace asked me.
“Drag? Are you kidding? He’s been dying to get involved again. Besides, we really don’t have any other options left.”
“I wouldn’t mention that particular fact to him when he comes,” Grace said.
“I wasn’t planning to,” I said as I dialed the mayor’s number.
“George, what are your dinner plans tonight?” I asked as he answered my call.
“I thought I’d drift over to the Boxcar a little later,” he said. “Make me a better offer, and I’m there.”
“Don’t you like Trish’s cooking anymore?” I asked playfully.
“I love it, but it does tend to run to type, doesn’t it? I’d just about kill for a homemade meal.”
“Well, homicide isn’t on the menu, but Momma just made lasagna, and you’re welcome to join us. Can you make it in twenty minutes?”
“I’ll be there in two,” he said as he hung up.
I stood. “I’ll be right back.”
“Where are you going?”
“To tell Momma that we’re having more company.”
I made it back to the front porch fast enough, but George was already there. “What did you do, strap on a jetpack and fly over here?” I asked.
“I was in the neighborhood,” he said. “Thanks for the invitation.”
“You’re most welcome. Momma was delighted to hear that you’d be joining us.”
George started to stand. “You didn’t ask her first? Suzanne, I can’t stay under those circumstances.”
“Sit back down, your honor,” I said with a grin. “This isn’t entirely a neighborly invitation. Grace and I need your help in our investigation.”
The mayor sat back down with a broad smile on his face. “All I can say is that it’s about time. Now tell me, who are we going to go after?”
“There are three of them, as a matter of fact,” I said.
“It’s going to be a trap, is it?” George asked. “I’m happy to be the bait.”
“Actually, we were hoping that you could be our enforcer. Once the trap is sprung, we need you to be there to keep us from ending up like Jude Williams.”
“I can do that,” George said with a frown.
“Is there something wrong?” I asked.
“I’d rather be the one in danger, truth be told,” he said.
I patted his arm. “We appreciate that, but it won’t work that way. The killer has to think that Grace and I have information about him or her that we’re going to turn over to the police. Since you haven’t been involved in the case all along, they won’t buy that you’ve got it.” I paused, and then I added, “If you’re not comfortable doing it, we can ask someone else. We just thought you’d like to be involved.” He was honestly our last option, but I didn’t want to let him know that.
“No, that’s fine. I’ll do it. When are we going to spring this trap?” he asked eagerly.
“We haven’t decided yet,” I said.
“Well, if you want my opinion, the sooner the better,” George said. “If we wait too long, we could end up missing out altogether.”
“My, you’re eager to get started, aren’t you?” Grace asked him lightly.
“Yes, but I’ve got another motivation as well,” the mayor said. “Polly’s coming back home tomorrow, and I’m not sure that she’d approve of me being your muscle. If we could manage it tonight, that would be great.”
“It’s short notice, but I think we can do it,” I said. “What do you say, Grace?”
“It’s not a bad idea. How exactly are we going to set the trap?”
After a few moments of thought, I said, “How about this? We tell all three suspects that a witness is coming by the donut shop at five AM with some critical new information, and then we wait. I’ll send Emma home early on some pretext after we finish the donuts. Grace, George, if you both want to be in this, I’m afraid that you’re going to have to get up pretty early.”