Cinnamon Roll Murder (Hannah Swensen, #15)(50)

4 ounces cream cheese (half of an 8-ounce package) minced parsley to sprinkle on top (optional)





Fry the bacon in a frying pan on the stovetop until it’s crispy. Let it cool to room temperature, and then crumble it into the bottom of your baking pan.



In an electric mixer, beat the eggs with half of the milk (that’s ? cup). Continue to beat until the mixture is light and fluffy.



Add vanilla extract and salt. Beat until they’re well combined. Mix in the flour and beat for 40 seconds.



Add the second half of the milk (another ? cup) and beat until everything is light and fluffy.



Pour half of the mixture over the bacon crumbles in the 8-inch square pan.



Cut the cream cheese into 1-inch-square cubes. Place them evenly over the egg mixture in the pan.



Pour the second half of the mixture over the cream cheese.



Bake at 375 degrees F. for 45 to 55 minutes, or until it’s golden brown and puffy on top.



Hannah’s 3rd Note: This breakfast entree is excellent when served with biscuits or crispy buttered toast.





Chapter Seventeen


It was eight-fifteen the next morning and the winter sun was already melting the snow at the sides of the exit ramp when Andrea turned off the highway.

“Why are we stopping here?” Hannah asked, as they pulled into a parking spot right next to the green and white striped awning over the front entrance of Perkins Family Restaurant.

“You need to get ready. My meeting with Swartznagel Realty is in forty-five minutes.”

“But I am ready ...” Hannah stopped and stared hard at her sister. “At least I thought I was ready. Tell me, Andrea. What is there about me that’s not ready?”

“It’s your hair. It just won’t do, Hannah.”

Hannah had a sinking feeling in the bottom of her stomach. Michelle had predicted this. “What’s wrong with my hair?”

“It’s too ...” Andrea paused and Hannah could tell she was searching for a word. “It’s just too memorable.”

“What does that mean?”

“It’s like when witnesses give descriptions of somebody they saw holding up a bank, or breaking into a house. They always notice a person’s most memorable feature. Sometimes it’s a tattoo, sometimes it’s a birthmark, and sometimes it’s the fact the perp had a scar. You know what I mean. In your case, it’s your hair.”

“My hair is a disfigurement?”

Andrea gulped. “No! Of course not! It’s just that it’s ... distinctive. People notice it because it’s so ... unusual.”

“By distinctive you mean bright red, kinky, and unruly?”

“Well ... yes. And I want you to remember that you put it that way. I didn’t. Don’t get me wrong, Hannah. Your hair looks good on you. You wouldn’t be our Hannah without it. But the thing is, I don’t want Doctor Bev’s mother to be able to describe you that accurately.”

“So?” Hannah held her breath. If Andrea had brought a bottle of black hair dye, she was going to refuse to use it. There was no way she was going to color her hair.

“So Bertie Straub gave me a wig for you to use as a disguise.”

Hannah couldn’t help it. She laughed. She’d never worn a wig in her life and all she could think of was the fake blond wig Delores had worn when she’d gone undercover in her black leather biker chic outfit at the Eagle.

“What’s so funny?” Andrea asked. “A lot of people wear wigs.”

“I know. I was just thinking about the blond wig Mother wore out at the Eagle.”

Andrea laughed. “I agree that was pretty awful, but she was trying to look cheap to fit in out there. This wig isn’t like that one at all.”

“I’m glad to hear that. Tell me what kind of wig you brought for me.”

“It’s a brown wig. I thought brown would be the best color because it’s nondescript. This wig is streaked with blond because Bertie didn’t have any plain brown ones, but a lot of people with nondescript brown hair streak it with another color.”

“Don’t let Michelle hear you say that! She has brown hair.”

“I know, but her hair isn’t nondescript. It’s not really brown, either. It’s more of a ... a chestnut color. And it shines in the light like ... like ...” Andrea stopped, lost for a descriptive metaphor.

“Like liquid chocolate?” Hannah suggested.

“Exactly! And that’s distinctive. I’m talking about plain brown here, the kind of brown paper bag brown.”

“Okay, but I still wouldn’t mention it to Michelle.”

“I won’t. Now let’s go in and try on that wig. I can hardly wait to see what it looks like on you.”

“Can’t I just leave my hair as it is and have Doctor Bev’s mother think I’m wearing a wig?”

“Hannah! You know that won’t work!”

Andrea stared at her in such dismay that Hannah relented. “Okay. Fine. This is your show, and I’ll wear the wig. You’ll have to help me get it on, though.”

“Oh, I will! That’s no problem. Let’s go in and have coffee. I could use another cup. And then we’ll go to the ladies room and you can try on your wig. It’s going to look great on you, Hannah. You’ll see.”