Red Velvet Cupcake Murder (Hannah Swensen, #16)(47)

Hannah wisely said nothing. Her sister had been trying to talk her into getting conference calling, call-waiting, and automatic this and that ever since she’d first moved into her condo.

“I told Norman you’d call him back just as soon as you got off the phone with me. That’s okay, isn’t it?”

“That’s exactly what I was planning to do.”

“Good. I thought he sounded a little funny, but maybe we had a bad connection. I’m leaving now and I’ll be there in less than forty-five minutes.”

Hannah hung up the phone, got herself another glass of lemonade from the huge jug she kept in the bottom of her refrigerator, and returned to the couch. It was time to call Norman.

“Hannah,” Norman said, sounding pleased that she’d called. “I tried to call you earlier, but you were talking to Andrea.”

“I know. Andrea told me. I got your message, but Andrea called just as I was about to pick up the phone to return your call.”

“Are you all right?”

“I’m okay. How about you? That was really a shock.”

“Yes, especially since I was in the car with her less than four hours before it happened. She asked Tracey to go for a ride with her, and I didn’t think she should go alone, so I went along to chaperone her.”

“I know all about it. Tracey told me this afternoon.”

“I don’t think you know the whole story. Once Bev dropped Tracey off at the real estate office, she drove out to the Lake Eden Inn and insisted that I take her to lunch.”

“Dentist-napping?”

“That’s about what it amounted to. I wouldn’t have gotten in the car in the first place if it hadn’t been for Tracey.”

Norman sounded so sincere, Hannah nodded even though she knew he couldn’t see her. “I know that, Norman.”

“You know that Bev and I were through, don’t you?”

“I know.”

“She stopped by the clinic this morning and called me from her cell phone. She asked me to go for a ride and I told her I didn’t think it would be appropriate.”

Hannah smiled. That sounded like Norman. “What did she say to that?”

“She said it was just a ride and anyone could go along. She just needed someone local to show her the back way to the lake. I said okay, and I sent Doc Bennett out to show her the right road.”

“Oh, boy!” Hannah said under her breath. She had no doubt that Doctor Bev had been as mad as a wet hen. And at that moment, something else occurred to her. “You said you went to lunch with her. Tell me about that.”

“There’s not much to tell. Ask Sally and she can tell you how uncomfortable I was. I didn’t want to say anything that could possibly be misconstrued.”

“I understand that, but how about lunch? Did Doctor Bev have a lot to drink?”

“Just sparkling water. She said it was too early in the day and Roger had gotten her into the habit of having martinis at five.” Norman stopped speaking for a moment and Hannah knew the wheels were spinning in his mind. “You were thinking that she had too much to drink at lunch and that’s why she had the accident?”

“Yes.”

“Well, that’s not it. She didn’t have anything alcoholic, at least not at lunch. And she didn’t eat either. What puzzles me is Bev was a very good driver. As far as I know, she’d never had an accident before this. It makes me wonder if something went wrong with the car.”

“You must be very upset, Norman.”

Norman sighed so deeply that she heard it clearly over the phone. “I’m not very upset. And maybe that should be upsetting in itself. I don’t feel anything for her anymore, Hannah. I wrote Bev off that last night I confronted her in the Cities. When I danced with her at the grand opening of the hotel, she was like a stranger to me. I felt no connection at all. Does that make sense to you?”

“It makes sense. She wounded you in the past so you put on your protective armor. You squelched any feelings you might have and felt nothing.”

“That’s exactly it. Do you think that’s bad?”

Hannah realized that Norman sounded sad and a little anxious. It was clear to her that he needed a friend. “I don’t know. Have you eaten yet?”

“Eaten?” Norman gave a little laugh. “Now there’s a real non sequitur!” There was a long pause. “You know, I don’t remember eating. And all I had was coffee at lunch. I don’t think I’ve eaten since breakfast.”

“Well, get in the car and come out here. Andrea’s driving out, and Mike’s coming over later to take my statement about the accident. I’m going to make pancakes and sausages for everybody.”

“Are you sure you’ll have enough?”

“I always have enough,” Hannah promised. “Come out here, Norman. I really want to see you. And bring Cuddles if you want. She’s always welcome.”
OATMEAL APPLE PANCAKES

Hannah’s 1st Note: This recipe calls for you to mix everything up in a food processor. If you don’t have a food processor, you can use a blender. You could also use a food grinder to grind up the oatmeal and then mix everything up by hand. I think you could also substitute instant oatmeal , (the kind in little packages that you make in the microwave), for the quick-cook oatmeal and then mix everything up by hand.