Devil's Food Cake Murder (Hannah Swensen, #14)(79)

Hannah turned to see Lenny heading for the other end of the bar. He was an average-looking guy who might have bordered on handsome if he’d lost twenty pounds, ditched the ragged sideburns, and gotten a good haircut. “It looks like some kind of a box. It’s long and rounded on the ends, and it’s covered with blue velvet.”

“It’s a jewelry case, the kind jewelers use for expensive necklaces,” Andrea told her. “When Bill gave me pearls last Christmas, they came in a velvet box just like that.”

As they watched, Lenny carried the box over to a man at the other end of the bar who opened it, glanced inside, and nodded. The man handed Lenny some folded bills which Lenny counted, and then Lenny shook his hand. The man, who was wearing a quilted parka vest, thrust the jewelry box in his inside pocket, and then he headed out the door.

“What was that about?” Andrea asked.

“I’m not sure, but the guy in the black cowboy shirt just handed Lenny some kind of ticket and a wad of money. And now Lenny’s going back into the office again.”

This time Lenny didn’t stay in the office for long, and when he came out, he was carrying a blue velvet ring box.

“Here you go,” he said handing it to the guy in the cowboy shirt. “You got this back just in time for her birthday.”

The ticket, the money, and the phrase you got this back clicked together in Hannah’s mind. “Do you think Lenny’s running a pawnshop out of the office?” she asked Andrea.

“That’s exactly what I think he’s doing. And that’s why he locks the office.”

“I wonder what type of things he has in there. So far all we’ve seen is jewelry, and …” Hannah stopped speaking as Andrea grabbed her arm. “What is it?”

“What if it’s more than a pawnshop? What if Lenny fences stolen goods, too? And what if he’s got some of the jewelry from that robbery in the Cities?”

Hannah shook her head. “That doesn’t track. It’s much too rich for Lenny’s blood. He can’t afford to fence anything that expensive.”

“Okay, so let’s say he didn’t fence it. Let’s say he’s just keeping it for the robbers and charging them storage while they look for a buyer. Does that track for you?”

“It’s better, but I still don’t think that Lenny could …”

“Shh!” Andrea hushed her. “Lenny’s coming this way! You’ve got to get a look in that office, Hannah. Some of the jewelry could be there, and then Bill would get credit for recovering it.”

“Okay, I’ll do my best,” Hannah promised, and then she pasted a smile on her face.

“Ladies.” Lenny slapped down two napkins and moved their wine glasses on top of them. “I see that Silky forgot to give you napkins. Can I get you another drink as an apology?”

“Only if you pour this out and fill our glasses with ginger ale,” Hannah said, smiling at him. “I’m sorry I missed you at the coffee shop today. I was in the kitchen baking.”

Lenny looked puzzled for a moment, and then he smiled back. “Hannah. I didn’t expect to see you out here. Don’t you like the high-quality white wine we serve?”

Hannah shook her head and leaned forward so no one else at the bar could hear. “It’s awful. What kind is it anyway?”

“I don’t know. It comes in a white box with a blue stripe, and it says High-quality White Wine on it.” Lenny laughed at his own joke, and Hannah joined in. “What brings you way out here?” he asked her.

“This,” Hannah answered, setting the bag of cookies she’d brought on the bar. “You left before I could give these to you. It’s a new recipe I got from my friend, Edwina Gadsby, and I’m trying it out with my customers. They’re called Chocolate-Covered Raisin Cookies.”

Lenny cocked his head. “Edwina Gadsby. That name’s familiar.”

“It should be. Her folks owned the Lake Eden movie theater until it burned down when I started high school.”

“Right! They called it The Great Gadsby, and they had matinees on Saturday for half price.” Lenny looked thoughtful. “Are the chocolate-covered raisins in the recipe like the Raisinets we used to buy at the candy counter?”

“They’re not only like them, they are them. Florence ordered Raisinets for me at the Red Owl, and that’s what I used in these cookies.”

“Then I’m going to like these a lot. Thanks, Hannah. I’d better put these away so my waitresses can’t snag them all. I think I’ll lock them up in the office.”

“That reminds me,” Hannah said quickly. “Do you have a phone in the office that I can use? I forgot to charge my cell phone and I need to make a private call.”

“Sure. I’ll unlock it.”

“Great! Is it okay if I close the office door so I can hear better? It’s really noisy in here.”

“Fine with me, but if you think this is noisy, you should hear it on Saturday night.” Lenny motioned to her. “Come with me.”

Hannah slid off her stool and brushed close to Andrea. “Distract him when he gets back,” she said. “You can ask him about the gold dollar.”





CHOCOLATE-COVERED RAISIN COOKIES

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