Cinnamon Roll Murder (Hannah Swensen, #15)(68)

French Crumble:





1 cup all-purpose flour

? cup cold butter

? cup brown sugar





Put the flour into the bowl of a food processor with the steel blade attached. Cut the stick of butter (? cup, 4 ounces, ? pound) into 8 pieces and add them to the bowl. Cover with the ? cup of firmly-packed brown sugar.



Process with the steel blade in an on and off motion until the resulting mixture is in uniform small pieces.



Remove the mixture from the food processor and place it in a bowl.



Pat handfuls of the French Crumble in a mound over your pie. With a sharp knife, poke several slits near the top to let out the steam.



Place your pie on a baking sheet with sides that will catch any drips. Bake it at 350 degrees F. for 50 to 60 minutes or until the apples are tender when pierced with the tip of a sharp knife and the French Crumble is golden brown.



Hannah’s Note: Sally always serves this pie with all the sides people could possibly want. She has vanilla ice cream, cinnamon ice cream, sweetened whipped cream, crème fraiche, and sharp cheddar cheese. She also offers plenty of strong coffee, or her Special Cinnamon Coffee.





Chapter Twenty-Two


Hannah could barely believe the change she saw in Devin Murphy. Only two nights ago, when Devin had first met the keyboard player from Cinnamon Roll Six, he’d been as awestruck and as eager as a puppy wanting to please. Tonight, as he took his place with the rest of the band, he seemed completely self-assured. “I think Devin just grew up,” Hannah whispered to Michelle.

“I know,” Michelle whispered back. “Lonnie says the only time he’s ever really confident is when he’s playing his music.”

The program started with several classic jazz numbers, and Hannah watched Devin with interest. He was good, very good, and she was proud that Kirby Welles at the Jordan High music department had helped to produce such a talented performer.

Hannah watched with interest as Sally got up from her front row seat and walked to the microphone. But instead of saying a few words about their featured band as everyone expected, she just smiled at her husband and said, “Most of you don’t know this, but I used to sing at a club in Minneapolis. I was singing Something Cool by Billy Barnes when Dick walked in one night, and ever since then, it’s been our song.”

That was the Cinnamon Roll Six’s cue to start playing, and Hannah was amazed as Sally began to sing the song that June Christy had made famous. She’d never guessed that Sally could sing so well. The whole audience was silent, mesmerized by the song and Sally’s melodic voice.

“That was terrific!” Michelle exclaimed when the last note had faded away.

“Yes, it was,” Hannah responded, wondering why Sally had given up what must have been a promising signing career to become a chef. They were friends, and it was something Hannah would ask when the time was right.

Once the applause had dwindled and Sally had taken her seat next to Dick again, the band began another number.

“Take Five,” Michelle whispered, and Hannah knew that her youngest sister wasn’t suggesting a five-minute break. It was the jazz piece that Paul Desmond had written and the Dave Brubeck Quartet had made famous in the sixties. It showcased the alto sax and keyboard players, and Hannah crossed her fingers for luck. This was Devin’s chance to show how talented he really was.

Hannah found that she was holding her breath as Devin picked up the unusual time signature and superimposed contrasting rhythms and meters. Instead of simply duplicating what Brubeck had done, which would be no easy task in itself, Devin put his own twist on it.

She gave a little smile as Tommy Asch joined in on the alto sax, playing the Paul Desmond part. He was excellent, but Devin was the real star of the piece.

And then she was lost in the music, the rhythms, the complicated and intricate interplay of the instruments. It was a world of bright shining notes sequencing as trippingly as glissandos, intricate and unexpected harmonies, and pure melodic pleasure. And then the final note sounded, tugging her back to reality as applause filled the room.

“Wow!” she mouthed, turning to Norman.

“Wow is right!” he said, close to her ear. “I had no idea Devin was that good!”

“Neither did I. And to think all he needed was a chance to ...” Hannah stopped speaking, suddenly realizing that she hadn’t checked to see if Devin had an alibi for the time of Buddy’s murder.

“You’re not thinking what I think you’re thinking, are you?” Norman asked.

“I probably am. Of course I don’t believe it for a second, but I have to check it out.”

“It’s okay,” Michelle said, leaning close to Hannah. “Lonnie already checked it out.”

“He investigated his own cousin?”

“Yes. Devin asked him to check out his alibi. He knew what it would look like since he was hanging around with Buddy in the hospital and then he got Buddy’s job when he was killed.”

“Where was Devin when Buddy was murdered?” Norman asked as they followed the crowd out of the room.

“With Felicia Berger. She’s a nurse’s aide this year at the hospital, and she came in to tell Buddy that a doctor would come in to splint his hand in a few minutes. Felicia knew Devin from high school, and she asked him if he’d help her fold up some of the chairs they didn’t need in triage any longer and take them to storage.”