“No, he was hiding, was the reason,” my dad said. Always a quick learner.
“Here’s something interesting,” Trooper said. “I don’t know if he was showing off or what, but Pierre told me that after he read that article, et cetera, et cetera, he called around to Alaskan diners, including the Bear Claw, and asked if there was a cherry cheesecake mousse on the menu. He got a lot of noes, but whoever answered at the Bear Claw said, yes, there was, and that’s all Pierre needed.”
Trooper looked at me when he finished. I looked at Victor, who looked at Nina, who looked at Tammy, who looked at Bert, who closed the loop on me. We all shrugged a “wasn’t me” shrug.
“What happened to Genevieve’s letters?” Chris asked. “And the translations?”
“I bagged the ones we found in Pierre’s pocket,” Trooper said. “For evidence. Those were the originals, from Oliver’s desk drawer, and that he took from Charlie’s scanner.”
“What?” Chris asked. A primary source, gone. Not something a journalist wants to hear.
“And I asked Lacey to hand everything over to Trooper,” I said. “The French and the English versions. And I deleted the email she sent me with the translations. Without reading them.”
Chris heaved a sigh. “Why? I don’t get it.”
“Genevieve was the only real innocent in all of this. We’d caught Oliver’s killer. We didn’t need any other clues or evidence. There was no reason to further violate her privacy. To read the letters now, other than for a trial, would have been prurient curiosity.”
“If we even need them, with that video confession,” Trooper said.
No one disagreed. Not out loud, anyway. And Mom gave me a wide, approving smile.
“Can we eat now?” Victor asked. He’d been silent throughout, as had his sister and friend. I was glad I never had to question him or ask about his alibi. He seemed happy and quite agreeable when I asked if he would be interested in the job of head chef. Now, of course, it was his job to write that ad for someone to work under him.
“I have one more question,” Mom said.
Mom’s question might have been the hardest one to answer. “How could the Oliver I knew for twenty years have done such hateful things? Stealing a recipe your classmate created. Taking money for that recipe. Abandoning a young woman who loves you. How did I not know this?”
Trooper took it on. “Could it be that we never fully know anyone?”
After a moment of silence, appropriate for Trooper’s thought, murmurs passed around.
“Heavy.”
“Wow.”
“Oh, my.”
“Geesh.”
“Oh, man.”
“Whoa.”
“Really.”
“Zoinks.”
“Uh-oh.”
Benny’s response was a pleasant trill, during which he jumped on my lap.
“Now?” Victor asked. “The moose meatloaf is ready.”
“Not yet. First, we’ll have the ceremony,” Trooper said.
Not everyone knew about the plan Trooper and I had formulated, but it was clear soon enough.
I took one of Benny’s front paws in my hands.
“Raise your right paw,” Trooper said, his voice as solemn as he could manage. I helped Benny raise his paw. “Do you solemnly swear to uphold the laws of Matanuska-Susitna Borough in the State of Alaska, so help you God?”
I nodded “Yes,” in case Benny’s purring hadn’t been loud enough.
Trooper pulled out a glittery ball, adorned with a deputy’s patch. He tossed it on the floor near my feet. “If a tabby can be mayor of Talkeetna, ours can surely be a trooper’s deputy.”
Benny jumped off my lap and chased the ball, catching it easily.
The applause was deafening.
BEAR CLAW DINER FAVORITE RECIPES
CHERRY CHEESECAKE MOUSSE
INGREDIENTS
1 lb pitted sweet cherries, fresh or frozen
1 ½ tsp unflavored gelatin
1 8-oz package cream cheese
½ C confectioners’ sugar
4 oz white chocolate baking squares, melted
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 C heavy whipping cream
DIRECTIONS
Chop cherries in food processor or blender.
Pour into saucepan; stir in gelatin. Let stand for 1 minute.
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat.
Cook and stir for 1 minute or until gelatin is dissolved.
Pour into bowl. Refrigerate for 45 minutes or until mixture begins to thicken.
In separate bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Beat in confectioners’ sugar, white chocolate, and vanilla until combined.
Fold in cherry mixture.
Beat whipping cream until soft peaks form.
Fold whipping cream into the cherry cream cheese mixture.
Pour into large dessert bowl or separate dessert dishes.
Cover and refrigerate for 3 hours or until set. Serves 8 to 10.
MOOSE MEATLOAF
INGREDIENTS
1 lb ground moose meat
1 egg
1 small chopped bell pepper
salt and pepper to taste
seasonings to taste
½ C parmesan cheese
DIRECTIONS
Combine the moose meat lightly with all ingredients except the cheese. Place the meat mixture in a loaf pan, then sprinkle cheese on top before baking.
Bake at 400 degrees for about 45 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F.
Serves 6 to 8.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thanks as always to my critiquers: Sara Bly, Nannette Rundle Carroll, Ann Parker, Sue Stephenson, and Karen Streich. They are ideally knowledgeable, thorough, and supportive.
A special word of thanks to friends who also provided advice and photos throughout the project: Alaska resident Kris Hutchin, Ann Damaschino, Ellen Kirschman, Nancy Kors, Susan Lawson, Jo Mele, Gail Meyers, Judith Overmier, Lyn Roberts, Leslie Rupley, and Sheryl Ruzek.
Special thanks also to expert ice climber and frequent Talkeetna visitor, William McConachie, who showered me with information and outstanding photographs of the Last Frontier.
My deep gratitude goes to my husband, Dick Rufer. I can’t imagine working without his support. He’s my dedicated webmaster (minichino.com), layout specialist, and on-call IT department.
Thanks to my agent, Lois Winston, for her hard work and welcome attention, and to the copyeditors, artists, and staff at Berkley Prime Crime for all their work on my behalf.
Finally, my gratitude to my Berkley editors: Michelle Vega, who has been a mentor, support, and friend through a dozen books; and Jennifer Snyder, my dedicated, talented, and newest editor. I hope we also have many projects together!
About the Author
Elizabeth Logan is the pseudonym for a long time mystery writer who has published series with Berkley and Minotaur.
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Mousse and Murder Page 26
