Cream Puff Murder (Hannah Swensen, #11)(49)

Andrea nodded. “We’ll drive out together. Just tell us what you want us to do.”

“I want one of you to help me interview Tad. And I want the other one to take cell phone pictures of the interior of the mall security station, including shots of the monitors. I want to know which rooms at Heavenly Bodies have security cameras.”

“Why take photos when you could just ask?” Michelle wanted to know.

“Because I’m not official, and they’re not supposed to give out that information to just anyone.”

Michelle thought about that for a moment. “I get it. If they told just anyone the exact locations of their security cameras, crooks could avoid them.”

“I’ll take the pictures,” Andrea volunteered. “I just got a new cell phone, and the camera’s really sharp.”

“Okay, then I’ll help with the interview.” Michelle turned to Hannah. “What sorts of questions do you want to ask him?”

“I’m sure someone from the sheriff’s department has interviewed him already, but he’s on duty five nights a week. He may know something about the members who came out on a regular basis for personal coaching from Ronni.”

“Background,” Andrea said.

“Exactly.” Hannah paused to yawn widely. “If we had a cot back here, I’d be tempted to take a nap before I drive back out to the mall to take those last two exercise classes.”

Lisa came into the kitchen carrying one of the glass display jars they used to showcase the day’s cookie selections. “I need more Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Cookies. It’s a good thing we made extra, Michelle. They’re going like hotcakes.”

Hannah sighed, catching a whiff of the heavenly aroma as Lisa began to fill the cookie jar. “Chocolate. It’s everything I shouldn’t have, and everything I crave.”

“Relax,” Andrea reached out to pat her hand. “You can have one as long as it’s only one. You spent double the required time on the cross-country ski machine this morning.”

“I did?”

“Yes. I timed you. If I hadn’t said anything, you probably would have gone on for another ten minutes.”

“But I hate that machine! I guess I must have been so busy thinking about the case and how to proceed, I lost track of time.”

Lisa brought her a cookie and Hannah had all she could do not to stuff it in her mouth all at once. Instead, she made it last a whole two minutes even though it just about killed her.

“Would you like another?” Lisa asked her.

“No! I mean, yes, of course I’d like another. But no, I know I shouldn’t have one.”

“That’s good willpower, Hannah,” Andrea complimented her.

“It’s not willpower, it’s a precaution. Just get those luscious cookies out of my sight before I grab the jar, run out the door, and lock myself in my cookie truck so I can eat every one.”





DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL COOKIES

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



Hannah’s 1st Note: This is an adaptation of Friar Rudolf’s recipe for Chocolate Sauerkraut Cake.



1 cup softened butter (2 sticks, 8 ounces, 1/2 pound)

3 cups white (granulated) sugar

4 large eggs, beaten (just whip them up in a glass with a fork)

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup cocoa powder (plain American cocoa—I used Hershey’s)

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup buttermilk

5 cups flour (pack it down when you measure it)

2 cups chopped (and drained and rinsed) sauerkraut

Prepare the sauerkraut by rinsing it off with cold water under the faucet, and draining it in a sieve or colander. Rinsing is very important. Make sure you rinse it well. (You will chop it later when it’s thoroughly drained.)

Hannah’s 2nd Note: This is easier with an electric mixer, but you can do it by hand.



Beat the softened butter with the sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the beaten eggs and mix them in thoroughly.



Mix in the vanilla extract, cocoa powder, and baking soda. Stir (or beat on low speed) until everything is well incorporated.



Add half of the buttermilk (1/2 cup) and half of the flour (21/2 cups). Beat until smooth.



Add the remaining half of the buttermilk and the remaining half of the flour. Beat until smooth.



Hannah’s 3rd Note: If you used an electric mixer, remove the bowl with the cookie dough. You’ll have to add this last ingredient by hand. Even finely chopped sauerkraut tends to wrap itself around the beaters.



Dump the sauerkraut on a cutting board, and chop it finely with a knife. You can also chop it in a food processor, using the steel blade and a pulsing motion. It’s very important to chop it up into tiny little pieces.



Measure one cup of sauerkraut, packing it down in the cup. Pat the sauerkraut dry with paper towels, and add it to the cookie dough. Stir it in thoroughly.



Drop dough by heaping teaspoons onto cookie sheets that you’ve greased or sprayed with Pam (or other nonstick cooking spray), 12 cookies per standard-size sheet.



Bake the cookies at 350 degrees F. for 10 to 12 minutes. Let them sit on the cookie sheet for 1 minute, and then transfer them to a wire rack to cool.