Candy Cane Murder (Hannah Swensen #9.5)(43)

“Melinda Ann Ames?” Hannah asked, remembering the photo album with the initials M.A.A. on the cover.

“Ames was Melinda’s maiden name. Reynolds was the name of her first husband. And she never bothered to get a divorce from Cornell Reynolds.”

“Cory?”

“One and the same. They had a good thing going, living in luxury at Wayne’s expense. They had it made until Wayne told Melinda that he was divorcing her so he could remarry his ex-wife.”

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“Then they had to do something quick if they wanted the good life to continue,” Bill picked up the story. “So Cory killed Wayne right before he was ready to leave for his Santa appearance, put his body in the trunk of his car, and drove out to the Lake Eden Inn. When he got there, everyone was already inside, so he dumped Wayne’s body behind the snow bank, left the trail of candy canes that you found in the road, and went inside to play Wayne as a Santa with laryngitis.”

“And I bought it,” Hannah muttered. “I was standing right next to him and I didn’t know he wasn’t Wayne.”

Norman patted her on the shoulder. “Don’t feel bad. He had us all fooled.”

“Can you charge Melinda for conspiring with Cory to murder Wayne?” Michelle asked.

Mike shook his head. “I wish we could, but the D.A. says there’s not enough evidence. Cory won’t talk and Melinda’s being very careful not to implicate herself.”

“So she’s going to get off with no charges at all?” Andrea looked highly disappointed.

“That’s right,” Bill answered her, “but she’ll also get off with no money. Cory and Melinda were still married when Melinda tied the knot with Wayne. According to Stan Levine, that’s bigamy and it makes any claim she has on Wayne’s estate invalid. Thanks to you and Hannah, we know about Wayne’s daughter. She’s his closest living relative and she’ll inherit.”

“That’s perfect!” Hannah was pleased. “Maybe now Jenny will move back here with her friends.”

Grandma McCann appeared in the doorway, carrying baby Bethany. Tracey walked beside her, bearing the tray that Hannah had brought with Candy Cane Bar Cookies.

“Sorry,” Tracey said, setting the platter on the coffee table.

“Bethany and I had two from the middle.”

Hannah laughed. It was true. There were two bar cookies missing from the middle of the platter. “That’s okay. How did you like them?”

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“I’m not sure,” Tracey said, reaching out for another. And then when Andrea gave her a censorious look, she pulled her hand back. “May I have another one, please?”

“Yes.” Andrea struggled to keep a straight face.

“Chock-it!” Bethany said, reaching out toward the platter.

And then, when everyone turned to look at her, she repeated, “Chock-it!”

“Did she just say chocolate?” Bill asked Andrea.

“I think so. I don’t know what else it could be.”

Bill started laughing. “But she hasn’t even said Daddy yet!”

“That’s my niece,” Hannah said, grabbing a bar cookie and holding out her arms for another niece after her own heart.

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CANDY CANE BAR COOKIES

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F., rack in the middle position.

1 cup butter (2 sticks, 1?2 pound) 1 cup white (granulated) sugar 1 egg (just whip it up with a fork in a glass) 1?4 teaspoon peppermint extract 1?2 teaspoon salt

2?3 cup finely crushed miniature candy canes (mea -

sure after crushing)

6 drops red food coloring 2 cups flour (not sifted—pack it down when you measure it.)

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (that’s a 6-ounce bag)

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (that’s a 12-ounce bag)

Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl for 1 minute 30 seconds on HIGH. Set it on the counter to cool.

Place the sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer (you can also do this by hand, but it’ll take some muscle,) add the egg, and beat it until it’s a uniform color.

Add the peppermint extract, salt, and finely crushed miniature candy canes. Mix it all up.

Add the 6 drops of red food coloring. Mix it in thoroughly.

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Feel the bowl with the butter. If you can cup your hands around it comfortably, you can add it to your mixing bowl now. Mix it in slowly at low speed. (You don’t want it to slosh all over!) If it’s still too warm to add, wait until it’s cooler and then do it.

Add the flour in half-cup increments, beating after each addition.

Take the bowl from the mixer and stir in one cup chocolate chips by hand.

Spread the batter evenly into a greased (or Pammed) 9-inch by 13-inch pan. Bake it at 350 degrees F. for 25

minutes or until it feels firm on the top.

Remove the pan from the oven and sprinkle it with the remaining two cups of chocolate chips. Immediately cover the pan with a piece of heavy-duty foil or a cookie sheet.

(That keeps the heat in.) Let it sit for three minutes. Then take off the cookie sheet, or foil, and spread out the melted chips like frosting with a rubber spatula or frosting knife.

Cool completely and then cut into brownie-sized pieces.