Carrot Cake Murder (Hannah Swensen, #10)(26)

“There was mayonnaise?”

“Mayo and mustard.”

The light dawned, and Hannah nodded. “I get it,” she said, shaking her head.

“Get what?”

“That’s one of the reasons he came back here, to use the mayo and mustard in the kitchen refrigerator.”

“You know there was some in there?”

“Yes. We ran out of cream for the coffee, and I went to the refrigerator to get another carton.”

“And you’re sure he didn’t buy the mustard and mayo at the store?”

“I’m almost certain. Ava’s the type to keep a running tab in her mind, and she named everything he bought last night. She didn’t say a word about mayonnaise and mustard.”

Mike laughed. “So he took those from the pavilion refrigerator. That’s pretty cheap for a man who flashes money around and wears a Rolex and a diamond pinkie ring.”

“A Rolex that could be a fake and a diamond made out of paste,” Hannah reminded him.

“That’s true, but I already explained that. And that suit he was wearing didn’t come cheap. Maybe he just forgot the mayo and the mustard. And then, when he started making his sandwiches, he looked around for some.”

“Maybe,” Hannah said, giving in because fighting about it would be useless. Perhaps that was what had happened. She had no reason to think otherwise.

“Okay.” Mike gave her a warm smile. “Since you found the body, you don’t need copies of the crime scene photos, do you?”

Hannah’s mouth dropped open. What was Mike talking about?

“I can call you with the highlights from the autopsy report when it comes in.”

“That would be nice,” Hannah said carefully, still not sure why Mike was being so cooperative. She had a sneaking suspicion she’d be better off not asking, but she couldn’t resist. “Why are you volunteering all this information?”

“Because you’re going to get it anyway, one way or the other. There’s no sense in trying to keep you from sticking your nose in my case, is there?”

Hannah thought about that for a moment, and then she shook her head. “No. Lisa already asked me to help catch the killer so all the relatives can relax and enjoy the reunion again.”

“Okay, then. I’ve been thinking about it, and I’d rather have you share any information you learn with me. That way we won’t be working at cross-purposes. And the only way you’ll share with me is if I share with you. Isn’t that right?”

“That’s right,” Hannah said, surprised that she could even find her voice to speak. Mike was actually sanctioning her sleuthing! Or was he? This could be some sort of a trick. She’d have to ask Andrea and Michelle what they thought of his proposal.

“Check it out with your sisters and see what they think,” Mike continued, practically reading Hannah’s mind. “Call me on my cell when you decide.”

“Okay,” Hannah said, pushing back her chair.

“One more thing…I’ll give that cake to my team when they report back, but in the meantime, will you cover it for me? It’s just too temping. I can smell it all the way over here and it’s screaming, Eat me! Eat me!”

“I know exactly what you mean.” Hannah clamped the cover on the cake pan and gave a little wave as she headed for the door. Was Mike serious about sharing his information? Or would he withhold crucial clues so that he could solve the case first? As she went out the screen door and started down the road to join the women who were counting on her to help them fix dinner for the reunion crowd, she had the uncomfortable feeling that Mike was playing some sort of game with her and he hadn’t bothered to tell her the rules.





Chapter Nine


They were in the kitchen of Libby Thompson’s cottage. Libby was Lisa’s great aunt and her cottage was theirs to use for the reunion. It was a huge lime green monstrosity that had grown with the years until it took up three lots to accommodate the Thompsons, their children, the grandkids, and the great grandkids. Because the extended family was so huge and they all lived in the area, the cottage kitchen had been enlarged to hold two sets of double ovens, two stovetops, and two industrial dishwashers. With the exception of Sally’s kitchen at the Lake Eden Inn, it was the largest kitchen at the lake and the perfect place for multiple cooks to prepare dishes for the potluck dinner.

“Oh, dear!” Marge said, looking worried.

“What’s the matter?” Hannah asked her.

“It’s this recipe. I’m just not sure it’s appropriate.”

Hannah glanced over at the recipe. It appeared to be similar to other hamburger-tomato-macaroni casserole recipes, and Hannah didn’t see how it could be unsuitable. “It looks just fine to me. What’s inappropriate about it?”

“The name. I mean…in light of what happened last night, I thought…”

“She’s talking about Gus,” Patsy spoke up.

Hannah moved over for a second look. She hadn’t bothered to read the name before, and it was written in big block letters at the top of the recipe card. FUNERAL HOTDISH, it said.

“It’s a really good hotdish,” Marge went on. “I got the recipe from Joyce Fuechte. She’s on the Funeral Committee at St. Peter’s Lutheran in Swanville, and they served it at my cousin Ted’s funeral when everybody came back from the cemetery. What do you think, Hannah? Should we use it?”