Fudge Cupcake Murder (Hannah Swensen, #5)(70)

After Norman had left, Hannah went through her nightly ritual of locking the door, double-checking the windows, and turning off the lights. As she got dressed for bed, she wondered whether Norman would have stayed if she hadn't made it clear he'd be sleeping in the guestroom. He'd certainly never asked to stay with her, the way Mike had. But just because he hadn't asked didn't mean he didn't want to.

Hannah sighed and climbed into bed alone. She was alone for about three whole seconds. Then there was a thump that shook the mattress, and a rumbling purr as Moishe curled up on the expensive goose down pillow she'd bought for him so he wouldn't steal hers in the middle of the night.

"You’re good company," Hannah told him, reaching out to stroke his fur three times before pulling back her hand. Moishe permitted a limited amount of affection, but any more than three pets and he'd move to the foot of the bed.

Hannah pulled up the covers and snuggled in for the night, thinking about the two men she'd entertained in her living room. Both of them had kissed her and she'd enjoyed it, although their embraces were different. Kissing Norman was like taxiing to a stop at the airport after a turbulent flight. It made her feel comfortable and safe. And kissing Mike was like trying to break the land speed record. It was exciting and thrilling. Did she prefer comfort and safety to excitement and thrills? Hannah sighed and buried her head in her pillow. It was hard to choose when she wanted it all.



HOLE IN ONE



One slice of bread (any kind)

One egg

Softened butter

Biscuit cutter or juice glass



Spray a frying pan with non-stick spray and set it aside.



Butter the piece of bread on one side. Put it butter-side-down in the frying pan. Butter the side on top. (Using a rubber spatula makes this easier.)



With a biscuit cutter or the rim of a juice glass, stamp a hole in the center of the slice of bread. Put the circle you've cut out next to the slice of bread in the pan.



Put the pan on medium heat and wait until the bread starts to fry. Then crack an egg and drop it into the hole in the bread. (If you're really hungry, you can use two eggs.) Add salt and pepper to the egg if you wish. When the egg has cooked on the bottom, flip the whole thing, bread and all, with a pancake turner. Also flip the cutout circle of bread. Fry until the egg is done the way you want it.



Tracey loves these for breakfast. She prefers a runny yolk so that she can dip the fried bread in it. If there was ever any doubt, that would prove she's my niece.





Chapter Twenty-Five





"Let's save a dozen of these for Norman as a welcome home present," Lisa suggested, pulling the last two pans of Orange Snaps from the oven and sliding them onto the bakers rack.

"That's a good idea. I'm really glad he's back in town."

"So is there anything special we have to do today?"

"Actually… yes." Hannah took a deep breath to calm her frazzled nerves. She had yet to tell Lisa about the break-in she planned to accomplish with Norman and that was because she felt slightly guilty at contemplating the commission of a crime. She knew she was being silly. She'd never felt guilty about collecting evidence in not-so-legal ways before. But this time it was different. This time she wasn't rushing into things. She'd had the whole night to think about it and she'd gone over all the things that could go wrong in her mind. Her grandmother used to say that it was wise to think before you acted, but if everyone did that, they'd be so busy thinking over the pros and cons that nothing would ever get done.

"What is it?"

"What is what?" Hannah had been thinking so intensely, she'd entirely lost the thread of their conversation

"What's the special thing we have to do today?"

"Oh, that." Hannah took another deep breath and plunged in. "I need you to hold down the fort for a couple of hours this morning. Norman and I are going over to Nettie's duplex."

"But Nettie's gone."

"I know that. If she didn't leave any windows open, we're going to pick the lock."

"But why do that?"

"Because I need to search Sheriff Grant's home office for clues."

"Not that. I mean, why break in when I've got the key?"

"You've got the key?!" Hannah's voice hit a high note that made her wonder if her high school music teacher had been wrong to seat her in the alto section.

"Nettie gave it to me when I offered to water her house-plants."

Hannah just shook her head. Lisa had surprising depths. "It occurred to you that I might want to get into her duplex while she was gone?"

"Yes," Lisa said, grinning widely, "and I didn't want you to have to break in."

"I've said it before and I'll say it again. You're a gem, Lisa."

"A diamond of the first water," Lisa said and then she giggled when Hannah gave her a surprised look. "Bonnie Surma called to order cookies for the next Regency club meeting. She used it to describe their guest speaker and I asked her what it meant."

"What did she say?"

"She told me it meant quality and it usually referred to ladies. If they're diamonds of the first water, their appearance is perfect and so are their manners and their breeding."