by Joanne Fluke
“Got it.” Hannah waited until Norman had unrolled the paper, but just as she was about to set the whiteboard down on the paper, a furry shape hurtled from the top of the couch, ducked under Tracey’s present to skid on the paper with claws out and all four feet extended like miniature rakes.
“Uh-oh,” Norman said, reacting to the loud ripping sound.
“Uh-oh is right, but I think we know where to cut. It’s right before the paper you didn’t unroll.”
“Very funny. Will you throw one of his mice for him so we can get this done?”
“Sure, but we’ll have to hurry. That’ll only distract him for a minute.”
“A minute’s better than nothing.” Norman waited until Hannah picked up one of Moishe’s play mice. “Wiggle it a little with your right hand so he knows you’re going to throw it. Then put your left hand down on the edge of the paper. I won’t unroll it until the mouse leaves your hand.”
“Okay. Ready?”
Hannah clamped down the edge of the paper with one hand and wiggled the mouse with the other. When Norman said he was ready, she pegged the mouse down the hallway, picked up the whiteboard and plunked it down in the proper position and intercepted Moishe as he came flying back. “It worked,” she said.
“Don’t speak too soon.” Norman cut off the paper and reached for the tape. “I still have to wrap it and tie a ribbon around it. Maybe you’d better throw the mouse again.”
Hannah lugged her pet over to the Kitty Kondo and snatched another mouse from the stash on the second level. The first mouse she’d thrown was still in the hallway. Moishe had left it there and raced back as he saw Norman begin to roll out the paper. “I’m sure not this is going to work twice,” she said, “especially when you unwind the ribbon.”
“Let’s try. I’m going to need you to put your finger on the ribbon so that I can tie a knot.”
Hannah kept a tight hold on her pet as she wiggled the mouse in what she hoped was an enticing manner. He seemed interested, but his attention was definitely divided between the mouse and reel of ribbon that Norman was holding.
“Now!” Norman said, and Hannah sent the play mouse flying to the very end of the hallway. Then she whirled and placed her finger on the knot Norman had just made with the ribbon. There was time for him to make one loop of a bow before disaster struck in the form of a furry paw with unwavering aim that knocked the spool of ribbon out of his hand and sent it flying.
Norman groaned. Hannah did the same. And then they turned to stare at the cat that was gleefully chasing red velvet ribbon all over the living room rug. Hannah was the first to speak.
“The way I see it,” she said, “there are only two possible solutions to our problem, other than taping all four of Moishe’s paws together.”
“And you wouldn’t do that…” Norman paused and cocked his head. “…would you?”
“Of course not. That would be cruel. I have another solution, though.”
“You’re not going to lock him up, are you?”
Hannah shook her head. “I’ve got something even better in mind.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m going to open a can of salmon and dole it out piece by piece. And you’re going to wrap presents alone as fast as you can.”
Things had turned out rather well Hannah thought. An eight-ounce can of salmon had been just the right size to distract an overly curious feline during the wrapping of sixteen presents. Perhaps the bows were not as elaborately tied as they might have been without a cat in the room, but Hannah knew it was a much better job than the one she would have done by herself.
The Nancy Dunn Cookie Bars were out of the oven and cooling on wire racks, Moishe was stretched out blissfully on the top of the couch snoring lightly with salmon-scented breath, and Hannah and Norman sat on the couch discussing Larry Jaeger’s murder case.
“I wonder what Larry did before he came to Lake Eden,” Hannah mused. “I know he left Dr. Love fifteen years ago, and she doesn’t know where he was for all those years.”
“We might be able to find out where he was if he used the same business name,” Norman suggested.
“I know what name he used,” Hannah said, remembering the conversation she’d had with Mike and Larry at Elf Headquarters. “Larry was talking about the sign that he made when he was in junior high school and how it’s hung at the front of every business L. J. Enterprises has ever owned.”
“Then we’ll start with L. J. Enterprises,” Norman said, getting up and going to Hannah’s computer. “You don’t mind if I use your computer?”
“Not at all. Do you want more coffee and a couple of Nancy Dunns? I think they’re cool enough to cut.”
“Sure. This shouldn’t take long, especially if some of his businesses had Web sites.”
By the time Hannah came back with more coffee and a plate of Nancy Dunns, Norman had the printer running. “You found something?” she asked.
“I found the business he opened before he came to Lake Eden,” Norman told her. “It was called Hollywood Home Theater and it was in Madison, Wisconsin.”
“He sold movies?” Hannah guessed.
“He sold big screen television sets,” Norman corrected her. “Technicians called the Cast and Crew installed them in people’s living rooms, complete with theater seats and sound. Unfortunately the business didn’t make it for long.”
“How long?”
“It went bankrupt after only five months. There’s a link to a newspaper story. Hold on while it downloads.”
Norman clicked on the link and read the text. “It’s a story that was carried by the Wisconsin State Journal. It’s about Salvatore Bianco, one of Larry’s investors in Hollywood Home Theater. When the business went bankrupt, he lost his entire retirement and he committed suicide.”
“That’s awful!” Hannah said.
“Yes, especially if Larry pulled the same kind of scam and cheated his investors.”
“He probably did. You’d think big screen televisions would go over big in a city as large as Madison. Practically everyone there follows the Packers and…”
“What?” Norman asked as Hannah suddenly stopped talking.
“Big screen television sets. I just remembered. That’s what Miss Whiting’s homework was about.”
“And you think it might not be a coincidence?”
“That’s exactly what I’m thinking. But how did Miss Whiting find out about Larry’s last business?”
Norman smiled. “There’s only one way to find out.”
“Right. I’ll drive out to the college and ask her first thing tomorrow.”
“Correction. We’ll drive out to the college and ask her first thing tomorrow.”
“Good. Your car’s more comfortable and your heater’s…”
Hannah stopped in mid-sentence again, but this time Norman didn’t ask why. “Larry’s flat screen?” he asked her.
“That’s right. Do you think there’s a connection?”
“There could be. Somebody killed Larry and his TV. And Larry owned a business that sold them and went bankrupt, cheating at least one investor we know out of his retirement and his life. That’s a lot of coincidence to swallow.”
“It’s too much of a coincidence.” Hannah reached for her steno pad and proceeded to write down what they’d learned, what they suspected, and the interview she needed to have with Miss Whiting. She was just closing the cover when there was the sound of a key in the lock.
“Hi, Hannah,” Michelle breezed in with a smile on her face. “Hi, Norman. What smells so good?”
“Nancy Dunn Bar Cookies.” And then, before her sister could ask, Hannah explained. “They’re date and oatmeal cookie bars, and they’re so good they melt in your mouth.”
Michelle looked disappointed. “If I’d known you were baking I wouldn’t have stopped for a chocolate sundae on the way here.”
“Too bad,” Norman said. “I just had one and they’re fantastic.”
“Well…I prob
ably have room for a small one.” Michelle made a beeline for the plate and picked one up. “Your tree’s beautiful. I’m so glad you got one this year.”
“Me, too,” Hannah said. Michelle was right. The tree was beautiful.
“Where’s Moishe?”
“Right there on the top of the couch,” Hannah told her, pointing at her sacked out cat.
“But he always comes over to greet me.” Michelle looked worried. “Is he sick?”
Hannah shook her head. “It’s just a food coma. I had to feed him a whole can of salmon to keep him distracted while Norman wrapped the Christmas presents.”
“Well, you’d better not put them under the tree!” Michelle gave a little laugh. “I talked to Andrea and she said you’ve already had a couple cat-astrophies this year.”
“That’s true. We’re just hoping the tree’s secure enough to last until Christmas Eve.”
“Oh, that reminds me,” Michelle said, taking another Nancy Dunn. “Are you doing Christmas Eve dinner this year?”
“Of course. I always do Christmas Eve dinner.”
“And you’re doing it here?”
“I always do it here.”
“Oh, good. Do you think I can invite someone from the college for dessert? They’re doing a dinner out there, but you always have something really fantastic for dessert.”
“Of course. Invite anyone you like. Just make sure to tell me how many friends you’re bringing. We’ll start at six with appetizers and I’ll serve the Minnesota Plum Pudding at eight.”
“Thanks, Hannah. That’ll be perfect. Mother already told me about your plum pudding and she said it was incredible.” Michelle glanced at her watch and sighed. “It’s only nine-thirty, but I’m beat and I’d better get to bed. We went through the whole show three times today and tomorrow morning’s dress rehearsal.”
“Good night, Michelle,” Norman called out as she turned to go.
“’Night, Norman. ’Night, Hannah.” Michelle hesitated and then she walked back to the coffee table and took another cookie bar. “I have to keep up my strength,” she said, heading off to the guest room with a grin on her face.
NANCY DUNN BAR COOKIES
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.,
rack in the middle position.
8-ounce package pitted dates, coarsely chopped
1 and ½ cups orange juice (I used Minute Maid)
2 and ½ cups all-purpose flour (pack it down when you measure it)
1 and ½ cups firmly packed brown sugar
½ teaspoon salt
1 and ½ cups softened butter (3 sticks, 12 ounces, ¾ pound)
2 cups Quaker Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
1 cup shredded coconut (for the batter)
1 cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)
½ cup shredded coconut (for a topping)
In a medium size saucepan combine the dates and the orange juice. Do not cover. Bring the mixture to a boil.
Reduce the heat to simmer and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, or until thickened, stirring occasionally.
Move the saucepan to a cold burner and let it cool.
In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and salt. Mix it thoroughly.
Cut in the softened butter with a pastry blender, or two knives until the resulting mixture is crumbly. (You can also do this with a food processor and cold butter cut into pieces. Use the steel blade in an on and off motion until the mixture is crumbly.)
Stir in the oats, coconut, and nuts. Mix thoroughly.
Spray a 9-inch by 13-inch cake pan with Pam or another nonstick cooking spray.
Measure out 4 cups of the oat mixture and set it on the counter to use for a topping. Press the remainder of the oat mixture in the bottom of your baking pan.
Spread the date mixture evenly over the crust to within a quarter-inch of the edges.
Sprinkle the date mixture with the remaining oat mixture.
Sprinkle the remaining half-cup coconut on the top and pat it down gently.
Bake at 350 degrees F. for 35 to 40 minutes, or until light golden brown on top. Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
When completely cool, cut into bars. Store them in a tightly covered container.
Yield: Makes 36 rich, delicious bars.
Chapter Twenty-Three
“I’d better be going, Hannah.” Norman stood up and carried his coffee mug into the kitchen. “It’s almost ten and you need your sleep.”
“That’s true. What time shall we go out to the college? I know Miss Whiting has an eight o’clock class.”
“I’ll pick you up at The Cookie Jar at eight-thirty and we’ll catch her after her class. I’ve got the morning clear tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Norman.” Hannah was about to get up to walk him to the door when someone knocked.
“I’ll get it,” Norman told her, heading to the door. “Who is it?”
“It’s Hannah’s mother,” Delores called out so loudly that Hannah could hear her right through the closed door. “Let me in, Norman. It’s cold out here.”
Norman wasted no time ushering Delores into Hannah’s living room and Hannah got up to take her mother’s coat. “How about a cup of coffee?” she asked.
“Only if it’s made, dear. I don’t want to put you to any trouble.”
“It’s made. And I wouldn’t mind making it if it weren’t.” Hannah hurried to the kitchen to pour coffee and came back out with several more bars to slip onto the plate Michelle and Norman had come close to devouring. “Have a date bar with your coffee, Mother.”
“Well…perhaps one. Nancy made dinner for us and it was lovely. She said she didn’t feel like going out.”
“How about the alibi?” Hannah asked, hoping her mother had been successful in finding a way to prove that Dr. Love was nowhere near the Crazy Elf Christmas Tree lot when Larry was murdered.
“I struck out, dear. No phone calls made or received, no one walking by on the sidewalk, no noises that she could remember, nothing to place her at home when Larry Jaeger was killed.”
“Okay. It was a long shot and I know you gave it your best try. We’ll just have to prove that someone else shot Larry,” Hannah said, trying to look confident for her mother’s sake. “How about Earl? Did you have more luck with him?”
“Actually…” Delores frowned deeply and shook her head. “No. I didn’t have any luck at all. He said his uncle and aunt didn’t have children and he had no cousins in the area. I asked him about investing with Larry and whether you might have seen him out at the Crazy Elf Christmas Tree Lot and he never gave me a straight answer. And then, when I asked him where he was between nine and nine forty-five on the night Larry was killed, he said, Somewhere. I dunno. I thought I was asking the right questions, but Earl was terribly evasive.” Delores stopped speaking and gave a deep sigh. “Maybe I’m not very good at this after all.”
Norman reached out to squeeze Delores’s hand. “You’re very good at this. Don’t think you aren’t, not for a second. You’re forgetting that you discovered a very important clue when you went undercover in that Karaoke bar.”
“Well…yes. But that was then and this is now. This time I didn’t get anything at all.”
“Nonsense,” Norman said, and Hannah could have kissed him for being so nice to her mother. Actually, she could have kissed him just for being Norman.
“It’s possible you were given an important clue, and you just haven’t realized it yet,” Norman went on reassuring Delores. “Tell us all about your afternoon.”
“Well…I hope you’re right,” Delores said, brightening considerably. “The first thing I did was go to the mall to get…”
When her mother stopped speaking, Hannah knew what caution had just crossed her mind. “Go ahead, Mother. She’s in the guest room sleeping.”
“I went out to the mall to get a new pair of boots for Michelle,” Delores said in a much lower voice. “I found just the thing at The Glass Slipper and I brought them up here to show y
ou.”
Delores opened the bag she’d brought in with her. She pulled out a boot-size box and lifted the lid. “Aren’t they just perfect for Michelle?” she asked.
“Perfect,” Hannah agreed, exchanging glances with Norman. The boots were fawn-colored suede with lovely beadwork butterflies on the sides.
“They were terribly expensive, but I just knew Michelle would wear them and love them.” Delores turned to Hannah. “I’m right, aren’t I, dear?”
“Absolutely. Michelle’s going to adore them.”
“Are they suede?” Norman asked, pulling Hannah back to the more important issue.
“That’s right.”
“They have beautiful beadwork,” Hannah commented. “Did they happen to have any men’s boots?”
“No. The owner told me there was a pair and someone came in and bought them. They were only for display, but the owner sold them because it was too late to special order any more before Christmas. It was the same with Michelle’s boots. I’m just lucky they were her size.”
“That’s interesting.” Hannah exchanged another glance with Norman. “Did you happen to ask who bought the man’s pair?”
“Yes, but the owner didn’t know his name. All he could remember was that he was from Lake Eden. I was curious because the boots were so expensive. I couldn’t help but wonder which local man paid that much for dress boots.”
“Yes, we’re wondering that, too,” Norman said.
Delores turned to give him a sharp look. “Is there a special reason you’re wondering?”
There was another meaningful look between Hannah and Norman. Norman gave her a nod, giving his consent to tell Delores about Carrie and the man with the suede boots.
“It’s the man I told you about this morning, Mother.” Hannah turned to her mother.
“The one in the private booth with Carrie?”
“Yes. He had suede boots similar to the ones you bought for Michelle. And from what you just told us, he must have bought them at The Glass Slipper.”
