Page 67 - Labelle Gramercy, On the Case

Thrown for a Loss

investigation rather than an afterthought not worth confiding in. We
weren’t so different in that respect, those kids and me. But that was
because we had to maintain our position in the mall pecking order,
always a delicate balance depending a lot on perception. Lieutenant
Gramercy was an outsider, and clearly didn’t care what turmoil she
created in her wake.

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Go Nuts for Donuts was a lot closer to the table in the food court
where the mall rats were sitting. Labelle positioned herself so her
back was between them and the girl. I picked up on that and stood
close by, blocking their view even more—yes, quite a bit more. No
one else was at the counter, so the lieutenant wasted no time showing
her the badge.
The young lady had been holding tongs in one gloved hand,
expecting yet another order for one of those deep-fried confections
otherwise giving no hint of sanitary handling or preparation. A vat of
stale oil was cooling behind her, bits of rocklike dough floating on its
surface. No more production today, I guessed. Plenty of doughnuts
were left from—when: this morning?—in the display case we were
leaning on: plain, chocolate-coated, covered with confectioner’s sugar
or bright little candy pellets. Round ones, twisted ones, lumps called
‘doughnut holes’ as if they didn’t have any calories. I think if you
weren’t already nuts for the things, their sight and smell after they
had been sitting around a few hours would be enough to stop you
from eating one at any price.
“I am a police officer,” said Labelle Gramercy, in the same slightly
softer tone she had adopted with Autumn Pratt, “investigating the
escalator accident that occurred earlier this afternoon.” That seemed
a bit pompous, but she was dealing with an unknown. “What is your
name, please?”
“Meza. Meza Patamian.” She had a squeaky little girl voice,
somehow fitting perfectly her excessively made-up eyes and lips, and
frilly little company uniform. I think it was supposed to look sort of
like a strait jacket, with “Go Nuts!” embroidered on it in several
places. I couldn’t tell if it really buttoned in the back.
“Have you been working here all afternoon?”

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