Cinnamon Roll Murder (Hannah Swensen, #15)(57)

? cup heavy (whipping) cream

3 Tablespoons seedless raspberry jam

An additional cup of powdered sugar, if needed.





Measure 3 cups powdered sugar and place them in a small bowl. Do not pack the sugar down in the cup when you measure it, but do level the top off with a table knife.



Whisk the heavy cream into the powdered sugar.



Heat the 3 Tablespoons of seedless raspberry jam in a small microwave-safe bowl for 15 to 20 seconds or until it melts a bit. Mix the warm raspberry jam into the cream and powdered sugar mixture.



If the frosting is too thick, add a little more cream. If the frosting is too thin, add a little more powdered sugar.



Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set it aside to wait for the cookies to be baked.



Hannah’s 3rd Note: If there’s any frosting left over, frost some graham crackers as a special treat for the kids when they come home from school. You can also frost soda crackers, salt side down, or gingersnaps.



Yield: Approximately 3 cups of frosting.





Chapter Nineteen


The interior of Club Nineteen reminded Hannah of the Eden Lake Pavilion except that it was three times larger. The outside was stucco, nondescript grey stucco, but the interior was wood. There was a wooden floor that had been polished to a full gleam, and wooden walls that were hung with framed posters and signed pictures of every jazz group and luminary that had performed there. The tables were small and square, seating four people, but Hannah noticed that they had four hinged and rounded leaves. Once the catches on two opposite leaves were released, the table could be made into an oval that would seat six people. If all four leaves were released, the resulting round table could seat eight people. It was a clever design and Hannah wondered why more restaurants didn’t use it.

“Hi, I’m Shelby,” their waitress said, bustling up to their table. “Can I get you a drink?”

I imagine you can or you wouldn’t be working here, Hannah’s pedantic mind said, and Hannah did her best to tune it out. Of course the grammatically correct question should have been, May I get you a drink? but it wouldn’t be wise to correct their waitress and alienate her right off the bat.

“Iced tea for me,” Andrea said. “I’m driving.”

Hannah was about to ask for the same when she reconsidered. It was a cold day and she wanted something warm. “Do you have any nonalcoholic coffee drinks?” she asked.

“Yes, we do. We have a raspberry latte, a caramel latte, and a chocolate apricot latte. They’re all made with flavored syrups and milk that’s been frothed in our espresso machine.”

“Could I change my order to a raspberry latte?” Andrea asked, giving Shelby an apologetic smile.

“Sure, Honey. No problem. And you, ma’am?”

Hannah wondered just when she’d graduated from honey to ma’am. Or was it an elevation in status? It could be a demotion because she looked older than Andrea, more matron than miss. Perhaps she should have worn the wig inside, and put on makeup, and ...

“Ma’am?”

“Oh! Sorry. I’d like to have a chocolate apricot latte. And ... when we called in for reservations, we were told the owner might be here and that perhaps we might be able to speak to him. It’s about Cinnamon Roll Six.”

“Just my favorite group in the whole world!” Shelby exclaimed. And then she looked slightly embarrassed. “They’re so good. When they were here, everybody loved them. Where are they playing now?”

“The Lake Eden Inn,” Andrea answered. “The owners hired them to headline their weekend jazz festival.”

“They deserve it!” Shelby smiled. “We’re going to be asking them to come back next month. They were huge hits and everybody loved ... what’s wrong?”

She’d obviously gotten a cue from Andrea’s distressed expression, and Hannah reached out to pull out a chair. “Sit,” she said, brooking no nonsense. “You obviously haven’t heard, and I’m afraid we’ve got some bad news for you.”

“About Cinnamon Roll Six?” Shelby asked, sinking down in the chair that Hannah had pulled out for her.

“That’s right. There was a bad accident on the highway, a multi-car pileup. The band bus was in that accident.”

Shelby’s face went so pale, her bright red lipstick stood out like a beacon. “Buddy?” she asked, clasping her hands together.

Hannah shot Andrea a glance that said, Let me handle this, and then she turned her attention to Shelby. “Buddy is dead,” she said.

“Oh, no!” Shelby gasped, slumping in her chair. “Buddy just can’t be dead! I saw him last week. He came in to hear a new jazz group.” Shelby gave her a pleading glance. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sorry, Shelby, but yes, I’m sure. Buddy’s dead. He died the night of the accident at Lake Eden Memorial Hospital.”

Although Hannah hadn’t thought it possible, Shelby’s face turned even paler. Her skin was now the color of the freshly fallen snow outside, and Hannah wondered if they’d have to pick her up off the floor.

“Buddy died in the accident?” Shelby asked in a voice that shook with emotion.

“No. Buddy died later, at Lake Eden Memorial Hospital.”