Blueberry Muffin Murder

by Joanne Fluke

  Like lightning, an image popped into Hannah’s mind—one that made her shiver. It was Connie Mac’s skull, crushed by an object that Doc Knight had thought was a baseball bat. Alan Carpenter’s skull had also been crushed in the very same way. And there had been a splinter from a baseball bat in Norman’s ski cap.

  As Hannah watched, Greg began to walk up the aisle, holding the bat like a club. He paused near the center of the store, and an awful smile crossed his face. It was the smile of someone who’d slipped off the edge into madness, a cross between a grin and a leer, which made Hannah’s mouth go suddenly dry and her heart pound frantically in her chest. She’d never thought to see a smile like that on the face of one of her friends. But she had to stop thinking of Greg as a friend. He was the killer. He’d injured Norman and murdered Connie Mac and Alan.

  The chilling smile seemed frozen on Greg’s face as he started forward again. He was humming something under his breath, and as Hannah listened, he began to chant a phrase in a high-pitched, childish voice. “Come out, Hannah. Come out, come out, wherever you are.”

  There was a singsong lilt to Greg’s voice that made Hannah’s blood run cold. Greg was insane, dangerously insane.

  “Red Rover, Red Rover, send Hannah over,” Greg called out. And then he laughed, an eerie sort of giggle. “You’re it, Hannah. I’m going to tag you. You can’t get in free this time.”

  Hannah swallowed hard. All the games they’d played in the vacant lot at the end of the block were mixed up together in Greg’s deranged mind. But this was no game. Greg had come out here with the intention of making her his next victim.

  “I know where you’re hiding. You can’t fool me, Hannah Banana.” Greg moved forward again, toward the back of the store. “You’re in the office. I saw your flashlight and I’m going to get you.”

  Hannah gasped. Andrea was in the office. She couldn’t let Greg go back there! With an inventiveness born of desperation, Hannah scuttled to the next display table, the one that held the heavy crystal vase that Andrea had admired. She grabbed it and pegged it toward the far wall as hard as she could.

  The expensive vase shattered with a satisfying crash, and Greg whirled around toward the spot where the vase had landed. “So that’s where you are, you naughty girl! Clumsy Hannah. Now see what you’ve done?”

  Greg stalked past the display table where Hannah was hiding. She held her breath, preparing to run, but he didn’t stop. He was wiggling the bat, the same way a power hitter might wiggle it before he hit a homerun, as he strode toward the place he thought she was hiding.

  Hannah knew she had to warn her sister to stay hidden. Greg didn’t know that Andrea was here, and if she stayed under the desk, she’d be safe. Hannah took a deep breath and called out at the top of her lungs. “You can’t catch me, Greg Canfield!”

  The moment the words had left her mouth, Hannah crouched low and scooted toward another display table. Greg whirled toward the place she’d been, but Hannah was already across the aisle, crouched low behind a table holding a silver service.

  “Where are you, Hannah? Come out, come out!” Greg stalked forward, his bat at the ready.

  “Why did you murder them, Greg?” Hannah asked.

  Greg turned again toward the sound of her voice, but Hannah had moved behind another display table. She had to keep calling out and moving, leading Greg away from Andrea.

  “They took everything!” Greg surprised Hannah by answering her. “Annette left me when she found out about Redlines, and it was all Connie Mac and Alan’s fault!”

  “Did they deserve to die?” Hannah asked, scooting to another position the moment the question had left her mouth.

  “They did a bad thing. I had to punish them.” Greg’s voice had grown softer, and Hannah wasn’t sure whether that made him more dangerous or less dangerous. “You understand, don’t you, Hannah? They deserved the ultimate punishment.”

  “Do I deserve to die?” Hannah asked, moving crab-fashion to another counter.

  “I’m sorry I have to kill you, Hannah, but I don’t have a choice. The minute Grandma told me you’d gone to the mall, I knew you were going to find out. And I can’t let you tell anyone what I did.”

  “They’ll find out.” Hannah moved again, crouching low.

  “No, they won’t. They’ll think it’s the ghost. They’re so stupid, they believe in ghosts!” Greg laughed again as he moved in Hannah’s direction. And then he started to chant, “Starlight, moonlight, hope to see the ghost tonight. Starlight, moonlight…” Greg stopped and gave another chilling laugh. “Remember that, Hannah? Remember the game we used to play? You were always the ghost. Now I’m the ghost and I get to scare you!”

  Greg’s back was turned and this was her chance. Hannah inched her way to the display of cast-iron skillets. She reached up and grabbed the biggest one, the same size Grandma Ingrid had used to fry chicken, and ducked back down again. And then she called out again to the madman who’d once been her friend. “I never thought you’d hurt me, Greg.”

  “I won’t hurt you,” Greg responded, moving toward the display of cast-iron cookware. “You deserve it for sticking your nose in where it didn’t belong, but you won’t feel a thing. Remember how good I am with a bat? I never miss the ball. I didn’t hurt them, either. I made sure of that. I’m not a bad person.”

  As Greg lunged for the spot where he thought she was hiding, Hannah darted to the counter directly behind him and stood up. But before she could swing the heavy spider, Andrea popped up from the counter directly in front of Greg. She was holding a fire extinguisher in her hand, and as Hannah watched in total shock, her sister pulled the handle and foam spewed out, directly into Greg’s face.

  The next few seconds passed with what seemed like the speed of lightning. Greg hollered and dropped the bat, reaching up instinctively to cover his eyes. And while he was momentarily incapacitated, Hannah swung the frying pan, connecting solidly with his head. Greg didn’t even whimper. He just crashed to the floor like a bale of hay that had been thrown down from the back of a truck. On his way down, he took out a Thanksgiving serving platter and several champagne glasses with silver rims, but Hannah didn’t give a second thought to the damage. She just stepped over her former friend to hug her sister tightly.

  “I did good, huh?” Andrea asked, looking a bit shocked at her own bravery.

  “You were great,” Hannah said, not about to spoil the moment by correcting her sister’s grammar. “I think he’s out cold, but I’ll sit on him to make sure he doesn’t try to get up again. You’d better call the sheriff’s station.”

  “They’re already on the way and they’ve got Greg’s whole confession on tape. I held up my cell phone so the dispatcher could hear, and she patched the call through to Mike and Bill.”

  “Good for you!” Hannah declared, plunking herself down on Greg’s back. She was careful to keep the frying pan at the ready, just in case. “Flip on the lights and see if you can find something we can use to tie him up.”

  After Andrea had raced off to the front counter, Hannah reached down and took Greg’s wrist. His pulse felt steady, and now that the lights were on, she could see no sign of blood. She’d swung the frying pan as hard as she could, but she’d been a lot gentler on Greg that he’d been on Connie Mac and Alan.

  Andrea came back at a run and handed Hannah a roll of red satin gift ribbon. The words “Connie Mac’s Kitchen Boutique” were stamped along the length of the roll in gold. “How about this? It was all I could find.”

  “It’ll do,” Hannah told her, not missing the irony as she bound Greg’s hands and feet with an unending reminder of the store that had replaced his. Then she stood up and stared down at Greg. She thought she’d known him, but she hadn’t. People could change a lot in twenty years. And Greg hadn’t known her, either. He’d assumed that once he called out for her, she’d simply present herself like a lamb to the slaughter.

  “Are you okay?” Andrea asked, catching Hannah’s pensive mood.
/>   “Yes, thanks to you. Where did you get that fire extinguisher?”

  “It was hanging on the wall in the back room, right next to the door.”

  “And you just spotted it hanging there?”

  Andrea shook her head. “I knew where it was supposed to be. It’s a legal requirement for every retail establishment in the county.”

  “And you knew that because you’re a real estate agent?”

  “That’s right. Can I ask you a question, Hannah?”

  “Sure.”

  “I thought you were going to take Greg’s head off when you hit him with that frying pan. How did you learn to swing like that?”

  “In Little League, I guess.”

  “But Dad took me to all your games, and you always struck out.”

  “That’s true, but Greg’s head is a lot bigger than a baseball. And I guess I just wasn’t motivated enough back then.”

  Andrea nodded and then cocked her head to the side. “I hear sirens out on the highway.”

  “Me, too. It must be Mike and Bill.”

  “What are we going to tell them, Hannah?”

  “As little as possible.”

  “You’re right.” Andrea looked thoughtful. “I’ll take care of Bill. You take care of Mike.”

  The noise of the siren was louder now. It sounded as though more than one patrol car had responded, and that was good. Mike and Bill wouldn’t ask too many questions if other officers were present. Hannah heard them pull into the parking lot, and she turned to her sister. “You go down and let them in. I’ll stay here and watch Greg.”

  “They can get in. They’ve got a passkey.”

  “Is that something else you know because you’re a real estate agent?”

  “No, the dispatcher told me.”

  The sirens made a dying bleep and then the back door banged. Hannah could hear heavy footsteps on the stairs, and much sooner than she thought possible, the glass door banged open and a total of six deputies rushed in, Bill and Mike in the lead.

  “We’re okay!” Hannah shouted out. “We’ve got him tied up back here.”

  “You take Mike, I’ll take Bill,” Andrea reminded her, and then she rushed out to throw herself into her husband’s arms.

  After the four other deputies had carried Greg off, Hannah turned to Mike. He didn’t look happy, and Hannah knew she had to say something. “I’m sorry, Mike. I know I shouldn’t have come out here without telling you, but one thing led to another and…are you mad at me?”

  “Mad isn’t the word.”

  Hannah sighed. A hunk of granite was more yielding than Mike was being right now. “You’ve got to believe me, Mike. I didn’t know that Greg was the killer. I’m as shocked as you are.”

  “Well…at least no one got hurt. Why did you come out here, anyway?”

  “Andrea and I were looking for clues. I know we shouldn’t have done it without telling you, but I figured that I could save you some time by doing some of the legwork. I was only trying to help you.”

  “Some help! You almost got yourself killed!”

  “But I didn’t know that was going to happen. Do you really think I would have brought Andrea out here with me if I’d thought it was dangerous?”

  “No. I guess not.”

  Hannah stared up into his face. His frown lines had smoothed out, and she could tell that he was relenting somewhat. “We were going to come straight to you and Bill with anything we found.”

  “You’re sure about that?”

  “Oh, yes. Absolutely.”

  “All right. I believe you,” Mike said and pulled her into his arms. “You don’t leave me a whole lot of choice, Hannah. I’ve got to figure out some way to keep you safe.”

  Hannah looked up to study his expression. He didn’t look angry, but there was no telling what was running through is mind. “You’re not going to lock me up, are you?”

  “No, I’ve got something else in mind.”

  “What is it?”

  “We’ll start by having dinner at the inn tomorrow night. Right after that, I’m going to show you what to do in a clinch.”

  Hannah wasn’t sure what to say. Was Mike talking about self-defense classes again? Or did he have something else in mind? She was still trying to think of a response when Mike bent down and kissed her, and then she stopped thinking altogether.

  Several minutes later, or perhaps it was longer, Mike released her. “I have to get back to work, Hannah.”

  “But why? You’ve got Greg’s confession. The case is closed.”

  “There’s still a ton of paperwork to do.” Mike turned her around and marched her toward the door, where Andrea and Bill were waiting for them. “And I really ought to make you do it, since you seem to be angling for my job.”

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Hannah glanced at her reflection in the mirror that hung above the bar at the Lake Eden Inn. Mike had gone off to check on their reservations, and she was feeling very sophisticated tonight. She was wearing her new green silk dress, the one that Claire Rodgers had selected for this very special night. Hannah had dashed next door to Beau Monde Fashions on her prelunch break, and even though Claire had given her a discount, she’d still spent a small fortune on just the right outfit.

  The dress really was beautiful, and Hannah knew it looked good on her. The deep green brought out the color of her eyes, and it made her hair look more auburn than red. Since she’d always believed that her hair could double as a beacon to warn sailors away from dangerous rocks, this was a minor miracle.

  Even Moishe had seemed impressed with Hannah’s new look. He’d curled up in the middle of her bed as she’d dressed, and when she was finished, he’d followed her down the hallway, purring and rubbing up against her expensive real-silk nylons.

  How could nylons be silk? Hannah thought about that inconsistency for a moment before turning her mind to other, more pressing matters. Even though it had been late, she’d gone to see Mrs. Canfield the previous evening, to tell her that Greg was in jail for the murders of Connie Mac and Alan Carpenter. Fearing that she’d be forced to deal with hysteria, tears, or perhaps even worse, Hannah had been relieved to find that her elderly neighbor had taken it in stride. Mrs. Canfield would be all right. Minnesota women were tough.

  Thinking about Greg had depressed Hannah, and after she had fed Moishe and crawled into bed, she’d turned her thoughts to the clinch that Mike had mentioned. By the time she’d dropped off to sleep, she’d managed to convince herself that Mike had simply chosen a unique way to tell her that he’d planned a romantic evening. Hannah wasn’t averse to a bit more romance in her life. There was only one thing that bothered her about the evening that Mike had planned, and that was…

  Norman. And there he was, in the doorway with Carrie and Delores. Hannah sighed and a wave of guilt washed over her. Why hadn’t Norman taken their mothers to the Corner Tavern?

  “Hi, Hannah. You look really pretty.” Norman came over to take her hand. “I didn’t know you’d be here tonight. How about joining us?”

  “Uh…well, actually…”

  “Hi, Norman.” Mike chose that moment to return. “What are you doing out here?”

  “I got roped into taking the mothers out to dinner. They’re celebrating tonight, but they won’t tell me why.”

  “Really?” Hannah’s curiosity was aroused. “I spoke to Mother this morning, and she didn’t mention anything about a celebration. It’s not Carrie’s birthday, is it?”

  “No, that’s in June. How about your mother?”

  “Not until September fifteenth. I wonder what…”

  “Hi, Mike. Are we late?” Bill interrupted Hannah’s speculations as he rushed up with Andrea.

  “You’re fine. Sally’s setting up for us right now,” Mike answered, and then he turned to Hannah to explain. “Bill told me that he was taking Andrea out for dinner tonight, and I thought we’d make it a foursome. That’s all right with you, isn’t it?”

  “Of course,” Ha
nnah said. What else could she say when Bill and Andrea were standing right next to her?

  “Hey, Norman,” Mike said, reaching out to pat him on the shoulder. “There’s no reason why you should be stuck with the mothers alone. Do you think they’d like it if we all sat together?”

  You’ve got to be kidding! Hannah thought with a sigh, her dreams of a romantic candlelight dinner with Mike vanishing into thin air.

  “They’d love it, but are you sure we won’t be intruding?” Norman looked a little worried.

  “Not at all.” Mike thumped Norman on the back again. “We’re practically all family anyway.”

  “Okay. I’ll go tell them. And I’ll find Sally and say that we need a table for seven.”

  Hannah struggled to keep the pleasant smile on her face. At least Mike had said that he considered himself a part of her family. But he’d also implied that he considered Norman and Carrie a part of his family. Since Norman was supposed to be his rival, Mike was obviously unclear on the concept!

  Once Norman had left, Bill and Mike began to chat about police business, and Andrea hoisted herself up on the stool next to Hannah. “How did you know?” she hissed.

  “Know what?”

  “That I was pregnant. I went to see Doc Knight this morning and he confirmed it.”

  Hannah shrugged. “I guess it was because you were eating so much, and you only do that when you’re pregnant. Are you upset about it?”

  “I was at first, but that’s only because it was such a shock. You should have seen Bill’s face when I told him. He was really happy and that’s why we came out here for dinner.”

  “That’s nice,” Hannah said, but part of her wished that Bill had chosen another restaurant.

  “I’m really sorry we horned in on your party. I know you wanted to be alone with Mike, but Bill didn’t tell me until it was a done deal. I tried to call you to give you a heads-up, but you’d already left.”

  “That’s okay.”

  “You look really nice, Hannah. I love that dress. Did you get it at…oh-oh! Here comes Mother!”