Red Velvet Cupcake Murder (Hannah Swensen, #16)(55)

Yield: 12 yummy muffins

Chapter Nineteen


As Hannah prepared to turn in the alley that led to the parking lot behind The Cookie Jar, she noticed that the street ahead was lined with cars. Every single parking spot was taken, even the spot in front of her mother’s antique shop, all the way to the end of the block. Perhaps Claire was having a sale at her dress shop, but it was unusual for her to open in the morning. Ever since she’d married Reverend Bob Knudson and moved into the parsonage with Reverend Bob and his grandmother, Claire’s hours had been noon to five.

The alley was crowded, too. One whole side was lined with cars. It must be a sale. She’d never seen this many cars on their block before. She pulled into her parking lot and found that it was also crowded. Thankfully, her spot was open. What in the world was going on?

When she opened the back kitchen door at The Cookie Jar, a buzz of voices floated out to greet her. It sounded like the coffee shop was packed with customers. As she stepped into the kitchen, she saw Jack Herman refilling several of the large display jars they kept behind the counter.

“Hi, Jack,” she greeted him.

“Hello, Hannah.”

Hannah smiled. It was a good day for Lisa’s dad. He’d been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s over a year ago, and there were times when he forgot who she was.

“It’s noisy out there.” Hannah gestured toward the coffee shop and then she turned to hang her purse on one of the hooks by the back door. “Do we have a lot of customers?”

“We do. It’s crowded, Hannah. And we’re selling lots of cookies. Coffee, too.”

“That’s good. Is Claire having a sale at her dress shop next door?”

“No, Claire is here. She brought Grandma Knudson down the hill and they’re sitting at a table with Ava Schultz and Betty Jackson. Betty ate four cookies already. She loves our new Chocolate-Covered Peanut Cookies.”

Hannah felt more than a little uncomfortable. She’d missed less than a halfday’s work and she was already out of step with what was going on. “I didn’t know we had a new cookie.”

“It was Marge’s idea when she couldn’t find chocolate-covered raisins to make Chocolate-Covered Raisin Cookies. Florence had chocolate-covered peanuts so she changed the recipe a little bit and just used those.”

“Very smart,” Hannah said, still feeling a little like an intruder in her own cookie shop.

Jack glanced up at the clock on the wall. “Only fifteen minutes to go,” he said, picking up the two cookie jars he’d filled and heading for the swinging door that separated the kitchen from the coffee shop. “I’ll be right back. I need to talk to you, Hannah.”

Hannah was still just as puzzled as she’d been when she walked in the door. Only fifteen minutes to go for what? What in the world was going on today?

“Uh-oh!” she groaned as her mind settled on the obvious conclusion. Lisa was telling the story of how Hannah had found Doctor Bev’s body. But how could she tell that story when Hannah hadn’t even told her about it? Unless . . .

“Michelle,” Hannah said, under her breath. She’d told Michelle everything last night and Michelle could have told Lisa. But why would Lisa tell the story without running it past her first?

“Hannah!” Lisa came rushing into the kitchen. “Dad said you were out here. Do you want to listen to the story of how you found Doctor Bev’s body?”

Hannah shook her head. “Not really. Finding her was bad enough. I don’t want to hear all about it again.”

Lisa was silent for a moment and then she sighed. “You’re upset that I’m talking about it, aren’t you?”

“I’m not upset. It’s what we always do. But why did you start telling the story before you checked with me?”

“Because Michelle and I thought you might need the money for your defense fund and we decided to make hay while the sun shines. She talked to Howie this morning and Howie said he’d cut his fees in half for you, but it’s going to cost an arm and a leg if you’re charged and the case goes to trial.”

Lisa had just used two clichés in a row, but Hannah didn’t call her on it. She was too busy with the two other clichés that were warring in her mind. One was Don’t borrow trouble, and the other was Expect the best, but prepare for the worst.

“We were just trying to help you, Hannah. But if you want me to stop telling the story, I will.”

Hannah thought about that for a moment and then she shook her head. “Don’t stop. You go right ahead and tell it. I have nothing to hide and the fact that you’re talking about it might convince everyone in town that I had nothing to do with Doctor Bev’s death. As a matter of fact . . .” Hannah paused and considered what she’d been about to say. She gave a brief nod and continued. “As a matter fact, let’s do a second act tomorrow.”

“What’s the second act?”

“It’s the story of how Mike came out to the condo to take me down to the station. And how Norman called Howie Levine to meet me there. You can even cover the salient parts of the interrogation. I told Michelle all about it last night and you can get all the details from her.”

“Great! I’ll tease it at the end of the story today and that will bring them in tomorrow.” It was Lisa’s turn to pause and look thoughtful. “Actually . . . we could even do a third act.”