Red Velvet Cupcake Murder (Hannah Swensen, #16)(83)

“None, but I know who it’s from.”

Mike looked surprised. “You do?”

“Yes. Norman recognized the handwriting. And the fact that it was addressed in green ink convinced him that it was from Doctor Bev.”

Mike’s eyes narrowed. “And you’re sure the button is from Barbara’s blouse? Maybe somebody else had the same outfit.”

“No. We noticed the buttons the night of the party. Barbara told us her outfit was a designer original from Beau Monde Fashions. Claire would never sell two outfits that were exactly the same.” When Mike looked perfectly clueless, Hannah laughed. “Never mind. It’s something a guy would never understand. Let’s just say that I’m almost positive no other woman in town has a button like that.”

Mike stared at the button for a moment and then he looked up at Hannah. “So what do you think? Was Doctor Bev trying to tell you that she attacked Barbara?”

Hannah shook her head. “I don’t think so. That would mean that she felt guilty and wanted to confess. And I don’t think she ever felt guilty in her life.”

“You’re probably right about that.”

“There’s another reason I don’t believe she attacked Barbara. What possible motive could she have? She barely knew Barbara.”

“So you have any idea why she sent the button to you?”

“None whatsoever. Norman and I talked about it. It could be something as simple as the crime scene techs missed the button when they searched the penthouse and she found it later.”

Mike shook his head. “I’m almost sure that didn’t happen. I was there and I saw them go over every inch of the place.”

“How about the penthouse garden?”

“They raked all the dirt and vacuumed everything else. If that button was there, they would have found it.”

“How about outside in the rose garden where Barbara landed?”

“They raked that, too. I don’t believe Doctor Bev found that button in or around the hotel. I think she came across it somewhere else.”

“Okay, but why did she send it to me?”

“Because she knew you were Barbara’s friend and you’d visited her in the hospital.”

“How would she know that?”

“Roger may have mentioned seeing you there.”

“Why didn’t she just hand it to me on the Petersons’ front porch?”

“She might have mailed it already.”

Hannah was silent for a moment and then she shook her head. “Time for truth, Mike. You know and I know that none of this makes any sense. Agreed?”

Mike didn’t look happy, but he nodded. “Agreed.”

“Doctor Bev sends me a button from the blouse Barbara was wearing when she was almost killed, and then, right after she mails it, Doctor Bev is murdered. What does that tell you?”

“What does it tell you?”

“It tells me that Doctor Bev knew who tried to kill Barbara. And that person murdered Doctor Bev before she could tell anyone about it.”

Mike was silent for a long moment. “You could be right,” he finally said.

“I know I’m right. But that doesn’t get us any closer to identifying the killer, does it?”

“Not really. Did you find out anything new, Hannah? I know you’ve been working on this.”

“A few things, but I’m not sure where they fit. How about you?”

“Same here. I’ve got a bunch of unrelated facts that don’t seem to form any sort of a pattern.”

Hannah sighed and then she looked him straight in the eyes. “I’ll tell you if you’ll tell me.”

“Deal,” Mike said. “But if you tell anyone we shared information, I’ll deny it.”

“I’ll never tell. How about you?”

“I won’t tell either.” Mike reached out to take her hand and squeeze it. “Our secret?”

“Our secret,” Hannah agreed, squeezing back. “How about coffee, cookies, and clues in that order? I’ve got some Four Alarm Brownie Cookies you might like. They’ve got chopped jalapenos in them.”

“Sounds good to me,” Mike said. “I’ll pour the coffee.”

“And I’ll get the cookies.” Hannah headed to the baker’s rack to dish up the cookies. When she came back, Mike had already set their mugs of coffee on the stainless steel work island and he was taking his notebook out of his pocket.

Hannah set the plate of cookies in front of him, but she kept the shorthand notebook she called her murder book in her hand. “So we’re really going to do this?”

Mike opened his notebook and shoved it over to her. “Here you go. Get ready to read.”

“And here’s mine,” Hannah said, opening hers to the first page and handing it over.
THREE-WAY BROWNIE COOKIES

1. Fruit And Nut Brownie Cookies

2. Hot Stuff Brownie Cookies

3. Four Alarm Brownie Cookies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F., rack in the middle position, for all three types of brownie cookies.

1. To make Fruit and Nut Brownie Cookies, follow the recipe below:

2. To make Hot Stuff Brownie Cookies, leave out the cinnamon, raisins, and chopped nuts. Add one small can of chopped green chilies, well drained and patted dry with paper towels.