by Joanne Fluke
“It’s not you, Andrea,” Mike said quickly. “It’s just a case of burnout. Lonnie and I have been doing interviews all day and we haven’t learned anything that amounts to a hill of beans. Both of us are getting tired, and we need to take a break.”
That suited Hannah just fine. She wouldn’t have to mention their meeting with Herb and Lisa, the talk with Earl about the vehicle’s footprint next to Herb’s car, and Norman’s discovery that Cyril hadn’t taken in any vehicles with fluid leaks in the past three days. She also wouldn’t have to go into the college yearbook discovery and the insights into the lives of Richard and Robert that Stephanie had given them, including the fact that they’d attended the same college in Wisconsin during Richard’s freshman year. Actually, when she thought about the intelligence they’d gathered, it turned out to be quite extensive. They’d learned a lot, but she’d wait to share it with Mike.
“Stay and join us for dessert, Andrea,” Michelle urged. “We’ll talk about something else. I can always tell you about the tryouts I held for the play. We’re doing Our Town and Greg Jacobson tried out for the part of Stage Manager. He told me he thought he’d be perfect since he’d been the stage manager for the last play.”
“But Stage Manager is a character name in Our Town, isn’t it?” Andrea asked.
“Yes, a speaking part. And the minute I told Greg that, he backed out so fast he left skid marks on the floor.”
“Okay, I’ll put on the coffee,” Andrea said, heading toward the coffee machine.
“And I’ll set out the cupcakes,” Michelle offered. “They look just incredible, Hannah, and I love the little Peeps marshmallow chicks on top.”
“They’ve got Peeps shaped like little Christmas trees,” Hannah told her. “Lisa thinks we should make them for Christmas, too.”
“Good idea,” Andrea said. “I could use them on top of Christmas Whippersnappers.”
Once the coffee was ready, they all gathered around the dining room table for dessert. As she’d expected, Mike ate two cupcakes and asked if she had extra that he could take home. Hannah boxed up several for Mike, several for Andrea, and left the rest with Michelle.
“Thanks for the cupcakes, Hannah,” Lonnie said as Hannah and Norman slipped into their parkas and prepared to leave. “Michelle and I can have them for breakfast.”
“You can have them for breakfast,” Michelle countered. “I’m going to have a dry piece of toast and one scrambled egg. I ate so much tonight, I don’t think I’ll have to eat for a week.”
It felt strange walking out her own front door for the second time in a week and walking down the outside, covered staircase with Norman. She couldn’t help thinking that she ought to be staying behind, getting into her pajamas, and going to bed in her own bed. She had to remind herself that she didn’t have her own bed any longer. When Delores and Doc had redecorated the condo, they’d replaced all her bedroom furniture. That was a good thing. It would have reminded her of the nights she’d spent with Ross, when the marriage wasn’t really a marriage, and the love he’d had for her wasn’t love at all. Everything had seemed new and beautiful then, but she knew better now.
“You’re very quiet, Hannah,” Norman commented as he opened the passenger door of his car for her.
“Yes,” Hannah admitted.
“Were you thinking about Mayor Bascomb’s murder?”
“I’m always thinking about that,” Hannah said, sidestepping the question he was really asking. “Can we stop by The Cookie Jar, Norman? I forgot my murder book on the counter at the workstation, and I might want to go over some things with you tonight or in the morning.”
“Of course,” Norman said quickly, taking the winding road to the complex and turning on the access road that led to the highway. They were both silent until Norman turned onto the highway that led to Lake Eden.
“I wonder if Stephanie was right this afternoon,” Hannah said, half to herself and half to Norman.
“About what?”
“We were talking about the way Mayor Bascomb always interceded when Bruce did something wrong. Stephanie said they used to fight about it and she thought that Bruce would never be a responsible adult until he had to be accountable for his actions.”
“That sounds reasonable to me,” Norman said. “Bruce probably figured he could do whatever he pleased, even get into serious trouble, because his uncle would take care of it for him.”
“It was clear that Stephanie thought her husband was ruining Bruce’s character and she had a theory about why.”
“What was the theory?”
“She thought it was because they’d never had children of their own and the mayor was trying to mold Bruce into his image. And she followed that up with something that really shocked me.”
“What was it?”
“Stephanie said she was glad they hadn’t had children because the mayor would probably have acted the same with a son of his own.”
Norman took a minute to think about that. “She could be right,” he said at last. “Did she have an explanation for why Mayor Bascomb was so protective of Bruce?”
“Yes, she told me about the relationship between the mayor and his brother, Robert. Robert was four years older, and the doctor told his mother that it was doubtful she’d ever have another child.”
“But she did and it was the mayor?”
“That’s right. Everyone in the family treated him like the miracle baby who could do no wrong. And then, when Richard was in school, Mr. Bascomb died.”
“So Mrs. Bascomb took over the job as both parents?” Norman guessed.
“No, Stephanie said Mrs. Bascomb was devastated by her husband’s death.”
“I think I can predict what happened next,” Norman said.
“Go ahead.”
“Left without a father and with a mother who couldn’t cope, Robert took over as Richard’s father.”
“Exactly right!” Hannah said, impressed with Norman’s insight. “How did you guess, Norman?”
“I had a psychology class or two in college. And we had quite a few psychology lectures in dental school.”
“Because some people are fearful of going to a dentist?”
“That’s part of it. Since we’d be working so closely with patients, they taught us how to deal with problems like that.”
“Do you think Stephanie could be right with her theory about the mayor and Bruce?” Hannah asked him.
“She could be. It’s entirely possible, Hannah.”
“Do you think I should bring all this up with Robert?”
“I don’t think it could hurt to ask, but you don’t think Bruce killed Mayor Bascomb, do you?”
“Bruce is in the clear. He was in jail at the time.”
“Where was Robert when Mayor Bascomb was killed?”
“Driving to Lake Eden. When Stephanie found out that the mayor was murdered, she called Robert to tell him. Robert didn’t answer his house phone so she called him on his cell and found out that he was on his way to here.”
“Robert already knew about his brother’s murder?” Norman asked.
“No, he was driving to Lake Eden for Bruce’s trial, and he’d stopped at the truck stop near the Minneapolis airport to get his car fixed.”
“What was wrong with his car?”
“Stephanie didn’t ask and he didn’t tell her.”
“Did Stephanie know the name of the truck stop?”
“No, but she did tell me another couple of things, though.”
“And they are?”
“She told Robert that if he was too tired or upset, he should stay over at the truck stop and drive to Lake Eden in the morning.”
“That’s good advice.”
“I know. Robert promised that if they couldn’t fix his car, he could see that there was a motel right across from the truck stop and their vacancy light was flashing.”
“Did Robert stay over?”
“No, Stephanie told me that he drove to Lake Eden late that n
ight. And she also told me something else . . .”
“What’s that?”
“While she was on the phone with Robert, his waitress came to refill his coffee. She heard Robert thank her, and he called her Mitzi.”
“Okay,” Norman said, turning off the highway, driving through town, and parking by Hannah’s back kitchen door at The Cookie Jar. “So do you want to do it, or would you prefer that I did?”
“Do what?”
“Call the truck stop to find out what was wrong with Robert’s car?”
“Whoa!” Hannah said, staring at Norman in shock.
“Sometimes I think that you’re reading my mind!”
“Come on. Let’s go in,” Norman said, getting out of the driver’s seat and hurrying to open Hannah’s door. “As soon as we get in, I’ll look up truck stops that are close to the airport.”
“Thank you, Norman. I’ll put on the coffee. This could take a while.”
“Maybe, maybe not.” Norman stepped to the side so that Hannah could open the door with her key. “You didn’t answer my second question. Once we find the right truck stop, do you want to call? Or do you want me to do it?”
“You can do it, if you don’t mind,” Hannah said as she pushed open the door and flicked on the lights. Then she glanced at Norman and saw that he looked delighted at the prospect of making the call.
To Hannah’s surprise, it didn’t take long to find the right truck stop once Norman checked them out on his phone. There was only one really large truck stop, and its description included the fact that there was a Sleep Tight Motel right across from the truck stop restaurant.
“Are you sure you trust me to do this?” Norman asked Hannah.
“Absolutely,” Hannah told him, reminding herself that she was absolutely, positively not going to suggest questions to ask when Norman was on the phone with the truck stop. Not completely sure that she could refrain from interfering, Hannah decided not to listen. She would go into the coffee shop to get something or other while Norman was on the phone, and she wouldn’t come back into the kitchen until he had finished the call. She turned to a blank page in her murder book, pushed it over to Norman along with a pen, and stood up.
“Go ahead and make the call, Norman, and write down any useful information you get. I have to do something in the coffee shop.”
Norman looked at her in surprise for a moment and then he smiled. “Okay. Don’t worry, Hannah. If Mitzi’s working, I’ll get us the information we need.”
It was one of the hardest things she’d ever done, even harder than telling Andrea she’d help her learn to bake, but she got up and went through the swinging door to the coffee shop. She had the urge to stand by the door and try to listen, but she made her feet carry her to the stool Lisa used when she rang up sales on the cash register, and she sat down to look out the window.
Main Street was deserted. The snow was falling gently and she thought about how much she loved owning a successful business in her hometown. Her whole family lived here in Lake Eden. It was nice to be so close to everyone she loved. Dinner tonight had been especially wonderful with both of her sisters there. They had separate lives and separate obligations, but somehow they managed to get together at least once a week now that Michelle was home from college and Andrea had hired Grandma McCann to help with Tracey and Bethie.
Thoughts of the dinner they’d enjoyed brought a smile to Hannah’s face. Sally’s Corn Salad had been perfect with the burgers that Lonnie had grilled on the balcony, and Andrea had been all smiles as everyone complimented her on the salad she’d made.
SALLY’S CORN SALAD
Ingredients:
4 cups white shoepeg corn (I used Green Giant . . . three of the 11-ounce cans)
1 green bell pepper, chopped (You can also use ½ red bell pepper and ½ green bell pepper.)
8 ounces shredded Colby cheese and Monterey Jack cheese (I used the 8-ounce package.)
⅓ cup finely chopped onion (I used a bunch of green onions, cleaned and chopped. Use up to 2 inches up of the stem.)
1 cup mayonnaise (I used Best Foods, which is Hellmann’s in the East.)
9.25-ounce package of Fritos Chili Cheese Corn Chips
Directions:
Open and drain the cans of white shoepeg corn. Place the corn in a medium-size mixing bowl.
If you haven’t already done so, wash and cut the green bell pepper in half lengthwise. Take out the stem and the seeds. Then chop the pepper into small pieces.
Add the chopped green bell pepper to your mixing bowl.
Sprinkle the shredded Colby and Monterey Jack cheese over the top.
Add the third-cup of finely chopped onion on top of the shredded cheese mixture.
Measure out 1 cup of mayonnaise and spread it over the ingredients in your mixing bowl.
Use a rubber spatula to mix everything together. Continue to mix until everything is well blended.
Cover your mixing bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate it until you are ready to serve it.
Immediately before serving, mix in the package of Fritos Chili Cheese Corn Chips. Toss them in until they are evenly distributed.
Hannah’s 1st Note: You don’t mix in the Fritos Chili Cheese Corn Chips in advance because they will get soggy. If you mix them in right before serving, they will still be fresh and crunchy.
To Serve: You can either put salad tongs in the bowl, or let everyone serve themselves, or dish it up in individual bowls.
Yield: At least 6 servings.
Hannah’s 2nd Note: If you have leftovers, don’t worry about it. Simply buy another smaller package of Fritos Chili Cheese Corn Chips to add to the leftover salad right before serving.
PEEPS EASTER CUPCAKES
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F., rack in the middle position.
Cupcake Ingredients:
4 large eggs
½ cup vegetable oil
½ cup whole milk
1 cup (8 ounces by weight) sour cream
12-ounce (by weight) bag of white chocolate or vanilla baking chips (11-ounce package will do, too—I used Nestlé.)
1 box Yellow Cake Mix, your choice (the kind that makes a 9-inch by 13-inch cake or a 2-layer cake—I used Duncan Hines.)
5.1-ounce package of DRY instant vanilla pudding and pie filling (I used Jell-O.)
To Decorate:
18 to 24 miniature Peeps to place on top of the frosting
Directions:
Prepare your cupcake pans. You’ll need two 12-cup cupcake or muffin pans lined with double cupcake papers.
Crack the eggs into the bowl of an electric mixer. Mix them up on LOW speed until they are light and fluffy, and are a uniform color.
Pour in the half-cup of vegetable oil and mix it in with the eggs on LOW speed. Continue to mix for one minute or until it is thoroughly mixed.
Add the half-cup of whole milk and mix it in on LOW speed.
Add the cup of sour cream and blend it in thoroughly.
Shut off the mixer and open the bag of white chocolate or vanilla baking chips.
If you have a food processor, attach the steel blade and pour the chips into the bowl.
Process the chips in an on-and-off motion until they are chopped into small pieces.
If you don’t have a food processor, place the chips on a cutting board and cut them into smaller pieces with a sharp knife.
Place the smaller pieces of chips in a bowl and set them on the counter to add to your cupcake batter later.
Open the box of cake mix and sprinkle HALF of the dry cake mix on top of the contents in your mixing bowl.
Turn the mixer on LOW speed and mix for 2 to 3 minutes, or until everything is well combined.
Shut off the mixer and sprinkle in the 2nd HALF of the dry cake mix. Mix it in thoroughly on LOW speed.
Shut off the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
Open the package of instant vanilla pudding and pie filling and sprinkle in the contents. Mix it i
n on LOW speed.
Shut off the mixer, scrape down the sides of the bowl again, and remove it from the mixer. Set it on the counter.
Sprinkle the white chocolate or vanilla baking chips into your mixing bowl and stir them in by hand with a rubber spatula or mixing spoon.
Use a rubber spatula or a scooper to transfer the cake batter into the prepared cupcake pans. Fill the cups three-quarters (¾) full.
Smooth the tops of your cupcakes with a rubber spatula and place them in the center of your preheated oven.
Bake your Peeps Easter Cupcakes at 350 degrees F. for 15 to 20 minutes.
Before you take your cupcakes out of the oven, test one for doneness by inserting a cake tester, thin wooden skewer, or long toothpick into the middle of a cupcake. If the tester comes out clean and with no cupcake batter sticking to it, your cupcakes are done. If there is still unbaked batter clinging to the tester, shut the oven door and bake your cupcakes for 5 minutes longer.
Take your cupcakes out of the oven and set the pans on cold stove burners or wire racks. Let them rest in the pans until they cool to room temperature and then refrigerate them for 30 minutes before you frost them. (Overnight is fine, too.)
Frost your cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting. (Recipe and instructions follow.)
Yield: Approximately 18 to 24 cupcakes, depending on cupcake size.
To Serve: These cupcakes can be served at room temperature or chilled. When you serve your cupcakes, accompany them with tall glasses of icy-cold milk or cups of strong, hot coffee.
CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
½ cup (1 stick) salted butter, softened to room temperature
8-ounce (net weight) package, brick-style cream cheese, softened (I used Philadelphia in the silver package.)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon whole milk
4 to 4 and ½ cups confectioners (powdered) sugar (no need to sift unless it’s got big lumps)
