Raspberry Danish Murder (Hannah Swensen #22)(25)

“Is Mike investigating both murders? I know that sounds weird, but that candy could have been intended for Ross.”

“Unfortunately, that’s true.”

“And both you and Mike are investigating both murders? The one that could have happened and the one that did?”

“That’s right.”

“What can I do to help you, Hannah?”

“Come over for dinner tonight.”

Norman looked surprised. “I already told you I’ll come.”

“Yes, and coming for dinner will help me investigate.”

“How?”

“I want you to tell Mike and me anything you know about P.K.’s personal life. And then I want you to tell us what you know about Ross’s background that I don’t know.”

“You probably know more than I do, Hannah.”

“Not necessarily. We really didn’t discuss his family or his past. When I was in college and we were all living in the same apartment building, he told me that his mother died giving birth to him and he lived with his grandmother until his father got married again. Ross’s fiancée, Linda, showed me his mother’s photo. It was sitting on a table in their living room.”

Hannah stopped and sighed. “That photo was one of the things Ross didn’t take with him when he left. It’s still sitting on the dresser in the bedroom.”

“What else do you know about his background?”

“After Ross moved back here to go to work for KCOW, he said that when he grew up, his family lived next to Senator Worthington’s family.”

“That could be important, Hannah.”

“I don’t know if it is, or not. Mike knows that Ross knew Senator Worthington. They talked about it.”

“Do you know why Ross’s family didn’t come to your wedding?”

“No. Ross said he asked them and they couldn’t make it, but I was so busy with the Food Channel Contest and all, I didn’t think to ask why. And looking back on it now, I realize that I have no idea how many relatives Ross has or where they live.”

Norman patted her shoulder. “That’s all right, Hannah. Everything happened very fast.”

“Yes,” Hannah said, and then something very surprising happened to her, something that had never happened before. Two tears rolled down her cheeks and she had to swallow hard before she could speak again. “Engaged couples usually ask questions of each other like, Where do you want to live after we’re married? And, Do you want children? We never did that. There just wasn’t time. I know I loved him and I think he loved me. But . . . I’m beginning to think that I really didn’t know Ross very well at all!”





OATMEAL LEMON COOKIES




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





The Cookie Dough:



2 cups brown sugar (pack it down in the cup when

you measure it)

1 cup (2 sticks, 8 ounces, ? pound) salted butter,

softened

1 large egg

? cup whole milk

? cup sour cream

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

? teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon lemon zest (the finely grated yellow part

of the lemon peel)

2 and ? cups all-purpose flour (pack it down in the

cup when you measure it)

1 and ? cups quick-cooking oatmeal (I used Quaker

1-minute)

1 teaspoon lemon extract (if you don’t have it, use

vanilla extract)





The Topping:



? cup lemon juice

? cup white (granulated) sugar





Prepare your cookie sheets by spraying them with Pam or another nonstick cooking spray or lining them with parchment paper.





Place HALF of the brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer.





Add the 2 sticks of salted, softened butter.





Sprinkle the other half of the brown sugar on top of the softened butter.





Beat on MEDIUM speed until the mixture is light and fluffy.





Continue to beat and add the egg to your mixing bowl. Beat the brown sugar, butter, and egg mixture until it is lighter in color and thoroughly blended.





With the mixer running on MEDIUM speed, add the milk and the sour cream. Mix thoroughly.





Add the baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Then add the lemon zest and beat until they are well combined.





Add one cup of the flour and mix it in thoroughly on LOW speed. Then add the second cup of the flour. Once that is mixed in, add the remaining half cup of flour and mix it in. The dough should be fairly stiff.





Turn off the mixer and scrape down the bowl with a rubber spatula.





Sprinkle in the quick-cooking oatmeal, turn the mixer back on LOW speed, and mix in the oatmeal.





With the mixer still running on LOW speed, mix in the lemon or vanilla extract.





Take the bowl out of the mixer, scrape it down again with the rubber spatula, and give your cookie dough a final stir with a wooden spoon.