Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder (Hannah Swensen #1)(27)

So Lisa had been talking to Herb. Hannah stored that away for future reference and walked back to the bakery feeling much better. Lisa was good company, and as far as anyone else was concerned, they were just going out to the casino to eat ribs and gamble.

It was time to call Norman. Hannah reached for the phone and punched out his office number. If Norman misinterpreted the reason for her call, Bill would owe her. She twisted the cord around her fingers as it rang several times and then Norman picked up.

“Rhodes Dental Clinic. Norman Rhodes speaking.”

“Hi, Norman. It’s Hannah Swensen.”

“Hello, Hannah.” Norman sounded pleased to hear from her. “Did you call your mother yet?”

“My mother?”

“She called me this morning to ask if I’d seen you. She said she’d left a bunch of messages on your answering machine, but you hadn’t called her back.”

“Guilty,” Hannah admitted. “I didn’t check my machine until this morning and then I was in a rush. I don’t suppose you happen to know what she wanted?”

“Not really. But she did ask what my intentions were toward you.”

“What?”

“Relax, Hannah. My mother’s the same way. It must be in the genes. They never stop trying to control your life.”

Hannah wasn’t about to ask Norman what he’d said. She really didn’t want to know. “I’ve got a question for you, Norman. Did Ron LaSalle come in to see you yesterday morning?”

There was a long pause and then Norman sighed. “I’m sorry, Hannah, but I can’t tell you that. All information regarding a patient’s visit is confidential.”

“Then Ron was your patient?”

Hannah heard a distinct gulp on the other end of the line. “I didn’t say that!”

“Of course you didn’t.”

“Then why did you assume that he was?”

Hannah smiled, very pleased with herself. Perhaps she’d actually learned something in that required logic course she’d taken. “If Ron wasn’t your patient, you could tell me he wasn’t. There’s no breach of ethics in that. But you said that you couldn’t tell me and that means he was.”

There was another beat of silence and then Norman chuckled. “You’re quick, Hannah. And you’re right. I guess it can’t do any harm to tell you now. Ron was my first appointment of the morning. He came in presenting considerable pain from a fissured molar.”

“A cracked tooth?”

“Yes, in layman’s terms. I’m sorry, Hannah. I’ve got a patient in the chair and I can’t talk now. Just hang on and let me check my schedule.”

Hannah waited, shifting from foot to foot. This was important. Norman might have been the last person to talk to Ron.

“Hannah?” Norman came back on the line. “I’m booked solid this morning, but I don’t have anyone scheduled for one. If you come in then, I’ll tell you all about it.”

“You want me to come in?”

“I think it would be best, don’t you? We really shouldn’t talk about something this sensitive on the phone. I’ll pick up salads and sandwiches at the cafe and we’ll have lunch while we talk. I have something very important to ask you.”

Hannah made a face. The last thing she wanted to do was have lunch with Norman, but if she wanted to help Bill solve Ron’s murder, she had to gather all the facts. And the one person left alive who could tell her what had happened during Ron’s dental appointment was the dentist himself.

“All right, Norman,” Hannah caved in to the inevitable with all the good grace she could muster. “I’ll see you at one.”





Regency Ginger Crisps




Do not preheat oven yet—dough must chill before baking.

? cup melted butter (1? sticks)

1 cup brown sugar

1 large beaten egg (or two medium, just whip them up with a fork)

4 tablespoons molasses (that’s ? cup) ***

2 teaspoons baking soda

? teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons ground ginger

2? cups flour (not sifted)

? cup white sugar in a small bowl (for later)



Melt butter and mix in sugar. Let mixture cool and then add egg(s). Add soda, molasses, salt, and ginger. Stir it thoroughly. Add flour and mix in. Chill the dough for at least 1 hour. (Overnight is even better.)



When the dough has chilled, preheat oven to 375 degrees F., rack in the middle position.



Roll dough into walnut-sized balls with your hands. Roll the dough balls in white sugar. (Just dump them in the bowl with the sugar and shake the bowl gently to coat them.) Place them on greased cookie sheets, 12 to a standard sheet. Flatten them with a spatula.



Bake at 375 degrees F. for 10 to 12 minutes or until nicely browned. Cool on cookie sheets for no more than l minute, and then remove to wire rack to finish cooling. (If you leave these on the cookie sheets for too long, they’ll stick.)



Served these at Mother’s Regency Romance Club. They asked me for something from the Regency Period. Why not?

(Tracey loves these as a bedtime snack with a glass of milk.)



Yield: 6 to 7 dozen, depending on cookie size.