Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder (Hannah Swensen #1)(111)

“Very nice,” Hannah said, wondering how Andrea could possibly walk in heels that high. “I hope you’re not showing a farm.”

“I’m not, but why?”

“Those heels are pretty high for the country, especially if you have to walk up banks of snow.”

“High heels are better than flat heels. I can dig in with these and I don’t slip.”

Hannah’s mind flashed back to a documentary she’d seen about mountain climbing and the pitons they used as footholds to scale steep slopes. She could visualize her sister in the Himalayas, digging in with her heels and walking right up to the top of the mountain, passing veteran climbers and their Sherpas alike.

“Why are you smiling like that?”

Hannah knew Andrea wouldn’t think her mental image was funny, so she made up something on the spot. “I couldn’t even walk in those things, much less climb snow banks.”

“I know you couldn’t. You never bothered to practice. Remember how I used to walk up and down on the living room rug in my heels?”

Hannah remembered, and the memory brought on another smile. Andrea had clocked miles on their lime-green living room carpet wearing heels and whatever old clothes she’d put on after school. Sometimes it was jeans and high heels. In the summer, it was shorts and high heels. Occasionally it was pajamas and high heels.

“If you’d practiced as much as I did, you’d be comfortable in high heels.”

“No, I wouldn’t. I have lousy balance and no inclination to break my neck.”

“Well, whatever.” Andrea patted her shoulder bag purse. “This purse wasn’t made by the same manufacturer, but I think it’s a good match with my boots.”

“Looks good to me,” Hannah said. She’d never bothered having shoes and purses that matched, but both her mother and Andrea insisted that mismatched accessories were a fashion no-no.

“Bill called me a couple of minutes ago and said he might drop by. You clued in Lisa, didn’t you?”

“Yes, if you’re talking about her fictional aunt. And she knows that Candy is a runaway who’s supposed to be my college roommate’s younger sister.”

“How about Candy? Does she know who she’s supposed to be?”

“Not yet. I thought I’d let you tell her. You’re the one who made up her cover story.”

“All right. Where is she?”

“In the front helping Lisa. I’ll go get her and introduce you. Be really careful. She’s still a little nervous, and she might run if you say the wrong…”

Hannah stopped speaking as the swinging door between the coffee shop and the kitchen barged open and Candy rushed in. She didn’t look to the right or the left. She just made a beeline for the back door, jerked it open, and rushed out.

“Uh-oh!” Hannah gasped. “I’d better go catch…”

For the second time in a row, she stopped speaking in midsentence, but this time it was from sheer relief. Norman was coming in the back door, and he had Candy by the arm.

“We’ve got to stop meeting this way,” he said, grinning down at her. “Why were you running like that? I thought you and Hannah worked things out.”

“She called the cops!” Candy gasped. “She promised me she wouldn’t but she…”

“No, I didn’t,” Hannah interrupted.

“Well, one just came in the door. And Lisa must have known what you were going to do, because she said ‘Hi’ to him!”

“Bill?” Hannah guessed, turning to Andrea.

“Bill,” Andrea concurred, getting up from her stool. “I’d better go out there before he comes back here.” She turned to Candy. “Nice to meet you, Candy. Bill’s my husband and he won’t bother you. I’m going to tell him that you’re Hannah’s college roommate’s sister.”

“What was that again?” Candy asked, looking perplexed.

“Hannah will explain everything. But I want you to know that you don’t have to worry about a thing. There’s no way we’re going to let you spend Christmas at the county children’s home.”





CHOCOLATE MINT SOFTIES




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



2 one-ounce squares unsweetened baking chocolate

? cup (1 stick, ? pound) butter at room temperature

2/3 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

1/3 cup white (granulated) sugar

? teaspoon baking soda

? teaspoon salt

1 large egg

1 teaspoon peppermint extract

? teaspoon chocolate extract (if you can’t find it, just use vanilla)

? cup sour cream

2 cups flour (pack it down in the cup when you measure it)

? cup very coarsely chopped pecan pieces (you’ll want some big pieces)



Line your cookie sheets with foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Leave little “ears” of foil sticking up on the side, large enough to grab later. (This is so you can slide the cookies and the foil right off the sheet when they’re baked.)



Unwrap the squares of chocolate and break them apart. Put them in a small microwave-safe bowl. (I use a 16-ounce measuring cup.) Melt them for 90 seconds on HIGH. Stir them until they’re smooth and set them aside to cool while you mix up your cookie dough.