Devil's Food Cake Murder (24 page)

Hannah watched as a smile spread across Grandma Knudson’s face. Reverend Matthew had said something to make her happy.

“That’s sweet of you to say, dear! I think of you like a grandson, too.”

After Grandma Knudson hung up the phone, Hannah turned to her for confirmation. “Reverend Matthew told you that his cousin Paul was the murder victim?”

“Yes. Poor Matthew was very upset, Hannah. His voice was shaking when he called me.”

“I’m sure he was,” Norman said. “It must have been very difficult for him to identify his cousin.”

“And even more difficult to know that someone he once trusted, his cousin Paul, had impersonated him,” Marguerite said. “That’s a real betrayal.”

Clara nodded. “Just like Judas, except it wasn’t for twenty pieces of silver. I wonder what it was for.”

“I’m going to try to find out,” Hannah promised.

“And I’m going to help her,” Norman added. “I’m taking the whole week off so we can work on this together.”

“Me, too,” Michelle said, nodding quickly. “Don’t worry, Grandma Knudson. Just leave everything to us. We’re going to get to the bottom of this!”

Hannah glanced over at her sister. Michelle was doing a nice job of reassuring Grandma Knudson, but she wished her baby sister had used slightly less positive language. Just leave everything to us was fine. They didn’t want Grandma Knudson to worry and wonder about Paul’s murder. But the promise that Michelle had given her, We’ll get to the bottom of this, was a bit too much for Hannah. Of course they’d try to get to the bottom of it, but there was always the chance they might fail. They’d been lucky so far in solving Lake Eden murder cases, but there was always the possibility that the solution to Paul’s murder might elude them.

They visited for another couple of minutes, talking about other things. Once Hannah thought that Grandma Knudson had calmed down again, she motioned to the others, said that she had to get back to The Cookie Jar, and they left.

“If you don’t mind, I’m going to jot down some notes on the drive back,” she told Norman when he opened the passenger door for her.

“That’s fine with me. You can read them to us when we get back to…just a second. I’ve got a call and I have to take it.” Norman tossed her the keys. “Start the car so you and Michelle can keep warm.”

As Hannah and Michelle watched through the car windows, Norman answered the call. He listened and then an exasperated expression crossed his face.

“I wish we could hear,” Michelle said. “Norman doesn’t look happy.”

“No, he doesn’t. It must be some sort of emergency. I hope nothing’s wrong with Carrie or Earl.”

Norman paced as he talked, a half-dozen steps forward, and then a half-dozen steps back. They could see his face when he moved toward them, and Hannah thought he looked annoyed with his caller.

“I don’t think it has anything to do with Carrie or Earl,” Michelle said. “Norman looks more irritated than worried.”

“And if it was a real family emergency, he’d hurry back to the car and drive wherever he had to go,” Hannah added.

Ten minutes passed before Norman came back to the car. Hannah was glad she’d turned on the heater, because he was shaking a little from the cold. “Is everything okay?” she asked him.

“No. There’s a dental emergency and I have to get down to the clinic. It’s going to take a while, so I’ll drop you off at The Cookie Jar and catch up with you at home, if that’s okay with you.”

“Sure,” Hannah said. “That’s fine.”

“If you and Michelle go anywhere, just leave a note on your door.”

“Will do,” Hannah promised, but she didn’t feel good about it. Something was wrong. She wished she knew what it was, but Norman was being secretive again.

HOMEMADE SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK

1/3 cup boiling water

4 tablespoons butter

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup powdered milk (I used Carnation Nonfat Powdered Milk, but I’ve also used my local grocery store brand.)

In a blender, or using an electric mixer set on LOW, blend together the boiling water and butter.

Add the sugar and let it run for a few seconds.

Add the pure vanilla extract and let it run for several additional seconds.

Shut off the blender or mixer, pour in the powdered milk, and then blend or mix on LOW until the resulting mixture is thick.

Use immediately, or store in a covered container in the refrigerator. This homemade version of sweetened condensed milk will last for up to one week in the refrigerator.

Yield: This recipe makes the equivalent of one 14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk that can be used in pies, cakes, cookie bars and flans.

Hannah’s Note: My Grandma Ingrid made this up every Sunday morning and put it in the refrigerator to use in coffee for the whole week.

SUBSTITUTE FOR SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK

(for anyone who needs to avoid milk or dairy)

2 large eggs

1 cup brown sugar (pack it down when you measure it)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 Tablespoons flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

Hannah’s 1st Note: This is easy to make if you use an electric mixer. You can also make it in a blender. You must make it fresh for each recipe you bake.

Beat the eggs until they’re of a uniform color and thoroughly blended.

Add the brown sugar and mix it in.

Add the vanilla extract. Mix it in.

Add the flour and beat for one minute, making sure it’s thoroughly incorporated into the mixture.

Add the baking powder and the salt. Beat for another minute.

Set the resulting mixture aside on the counter until you need it in your recipe. Then add it when your recipe calls for sweetened condensed milk.

Hannah’s 2nd Note: This substitute can be used in any BAKED dessert recipe, including pies, cakes, and cookie bars. DO NOT use it in frostings or candy.

Yield: One recipe makes enough to substitute for one 14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk. (That’s the store-bought size.)

“Hannah?” Michelle came out of Hannah’s condo kitchen with a cup of hot chocolate. “Did you know there’s a ball of socks on top of your refrigerator?”

“Another one,” Hannah said with a sigh, glancing over at Moishe, who looked totally uninterested in their conversation.

“Moishe?” Michelle asked, noticing Hannah’s glance at her cat.

“He’s the only one who lives here besides me. And I really don’t think I’m sleepwalking with socks in my hand. Maybe you’ll be able to tell which one of us is doing it, now that you’re staying here.”

“But Moishe can’t get your sock drawer open…can he?”

“Don’t forget you’re doubting the abilities of the stubborn feline who managed to chew his way through the back of a locked cabinet to get at his food,” Hannah reminded her.

Michelle gave a little shrug. “That’s true. Have you checked the back of your sock drawer?”

“That was the first thing I did.”

“And?”

“No holes anywhere. The drawer is solid wood, and it’s heavy. If I’m not doing it, Moishe is. But I can’t figure out how he’s pulling out that drawer.”

“Maybe I can. I’ll keep an eye on him. And on you, too. Sleepwalking’s not all that unusual, you know, especially in times of high stress. Are you stressed, Hannah?”

“Who, me? What could I possibly be stressed about? Just because my cat’s exhibiting unusual behavior, Mike is about to warn me not to get involved in Paul’s murder case and I already am, Mother keeps adding items to the menu for her book launch party, and Norman’s spending more time with Doctor Bev who’s prettier, and younger, and has a perfect figure. That couldn’t possibly lead to stress, could it?”

“Forget I asked. You’re stressed,” Michelle pronounced. “I can tell because you just got sarcastic. You never get sarcastic when you’re not stressed.”

“That’s probably true,” Hannah admitted.

“I saw her, you know.”

Hannah knew precisely which her Michelle was referring to. “What did you think of her?”

“Everything you said with one addition. She’s a fake.”

“What?”

“She’s a fraud,” Michelle repeated. “There’s something about her that doesn’t ring true. Nobody’s that sweet and perfect. She’s like…a dental doll.”

Hannah was confused. She’d never heard of a dental doll before. “What’s a dental doll?”

“You must have see those career dolls that mothers buy for their daughters. The girl astronaut, the girl teacher, the girl lawyer, and the girl doctor. I’m sure there’s got to be a girl dentist that looks just like Doctor Bev.”

“You don’t think she’s a real dentist?”

“That’s not it. I think she’s a real dentist, but I also think she’s playing some sort of part. She’s acting, Hannah. I can spot an actress a mile off. She’s playing sweet, and nice, and everybody’s friend, but she’s not really that way inside. I just wish I knew what she’s up to.”

Hannah thought about that for a long moment. Perhaps Michelle was right. When she’d seen Doctor Bev in action at the birthday party, she’d thought that there was something a bit disingenuous about her.

“Well? Do you think I’m totally wrong?” Michelle asked.

“No. I had similar feelings about her, but I thought it might be just jealousy.”

“You don’t have anything to be jealous about! You’re a much better person than she is!”

Hannah walked over to give her a hug. The Swensen family wasn’t usually that demonstrative, but Michelle deserved a hug. “What would you like for dinner?”

“Red meat. I’m taking you out to the Corner Tavern for a double burger. I worked a couple of extra hours last week and I’ve got the extra cash.”

“But you don’t have spend it on me.”

“I’m not spending it on you, I’m spending it on us. Besides, ever since Grandma Knudson mentioned that beef stew she was going to make for Reverend Matthew, I’ve had a hankering for red meat!”

Of course they didn’t go straight to the Corner Tavern, not after Hannah told Michelle that she’d recognized the voice of the woman Grandma Knudson thought was Paul’s counselee.

“Alice Vogel?” Michelle sounded surprised. “Why was she meeting with Paul?”

“She wasn’t meeting with Paul. Alice thought she was meeting with Matthew Walters. She used to date him when they were in high school, and rumor has it that she still had feelings for him.”

“Interesting. And you think she was with him in the church office on Sunday night?”

“That’s my guess. Doc Knight said the murder took place between midnight and two in the morning, so Alice isn’t a suspect if she left before midnight. It’s even possible she saw Paul’s killer when she was leaving the church.”

“Let’s stop by the bowling alley to talk to her on our way out to the Corner Tavern,” Michelle said. “I want to see her reaction when you tell her that Reverend Matthew was really his cousin Paul.”

Hannah brought cookies. Hannah always brought cookies. “Ready?” she asked Michelle as they walked up to the bowling alley entrance.

“I’m ready. Which cookies did you bring?”

“Nutmeg Snaps. Alice just loves them.”

“So do I. That’s JoAnn Hecht’s recipe, isn’t it?”

“Right.”

“Where did she go after she left her catering job with Sally?”

“She moved to California and opened her own company there. I wish she were still here. She could cater Mother’s book launch party, and I could just go and have fun.”

A blast of warm air, the good-natured banter of bowlers, and the smell of fresh popcorn from the popcorn machine rolled out to greet them as Hannah pushed open the door.

One look at the bowlers who crowded every lane and Hannah knew that Club League was in full swing. There wasn’t a lot to do in February in Minnesota. Outdoor recreation was limited to sledding, skating, and ice fishing, and no one braved the subzero temperatures on a night that was this cold. Instead, it looked as if almost everyone Hannah knew was bowling. Club League was fun because you didn’t have to actually join a league. All you had to do was belong to a club, get together with four friendly members, and take part in the tournament. If your team lost, you were out. But if your team won, you went on to play another club team. The club tournament winning team won baseball caps embroidered with their names and the date they won. That gave them bragging rights.

Several of tonight’s bowlers must have been winners in the past, because Hannah spotted Cyril Murphy wearing a green cap, and Digger Gibson sporting an orange cap.

“Alice is behind the refreshment counter,” Michelle said, steering Hannah in that direction. “She waved at us when we walked in. What are you going to ask her?”

“Leading questions, the kind that are designed to get her to talk.”

“Like what?”

Hannah shrugged. “I don’t know, but don’t worry. I’ll think of something before we get there.”

Gus York was standing in line, waiting for Alice to pour him a beer. Hannah noticed that Alice emptied the bottle into a large disposable paper cup before she handed it to Gus. The last time she’d bowled, which had been at least six months ago, Alice had simply given bowlers the bottle. Perhaps there’d been too many incidents with dropped or broken beer bottles.

Once they’d exchanged a few words with Gus and he’d left, Hannah turned to the person she’d come to see. “Hi, Alice,” she said handing over the cookies. “These are Nutmeg Snaps. Lisa said you liked them.”

“Oh, I do! They remind me of Christmas.”

Hannah was surprised. “Really?”

“I think it’s because of the nutmeg,” Alice explained. “I always grate some fresh nutmeg on my eggnog during the Christmas season.”

“Makes sense,” Hannah said, sliding onto one of the stools at the counter and motioning for Michelle to do the same. “You know my youngest sister, Michelle, don’t you?”

“I sure do. Hi, Michelle. How’s it going with college?”

“Really well, thanks. I’ve got a couple days off, so I’m home to help Hannah. She’s really busy this week.”

“I figured she would be.” Alice turned to Hannah. “Are you going to try to catch Matthew’s killer?”

“Well …” Hannah hedged slightly. “I generally like to leave all that to the professionals, but Grandma Knudson asked me to see what I could find out.”