Raspberry Danish Murder (Hannah Swensen #22)(51)

It started to snow as she pulled out of the alley and Hannah sent up a little prayer that the snowflakes would remain light and sparse. She was really looking forward to dinner tonight at the Lake Eden Inn. Sally always had wonderful entrees, and breads, and sides, and desserts. Come to think of it, everything that Sally served was wonderful.

There weren’t many cars on the road and Hannah made good time driving to KCOW Television’s headquarters. The bar cookies she’d cut smelled enticing and her stomach gave a hungry growl as she pulled into the multi-level parking structure. She had spent a busy morning baking and she hadn’t taken time for lunch. That meant she hadn’t eaten anything since the breakfast that Michelle had made almost eight hours ago, not counting the cookies she’d tasted with Norman. She parked in a spot marked for visitors, retrieved her platter of bar cookies, and got out of the truck to walk across the concrete floor to the back entrance.

There was a buzzer by the back door and Hannah pressed it. A moment later a voice came over the intercom.

“KCOW-TV. Could I please have your name?”

“Betty?” Hannah asked, recognizing the tinny voice that floated out of the speaker. “Betty Jackson?”

“Yes. Hannah?”

“Yes. Are you working here now, Betty?”

“Yes, for a three-month job, and if I’m lucky, the lady who went out on maternity leave will decide to stay home with her baby. It’s her first and her husband just got a promotion, so it could happen.”

“If it does, do you think that you’ll get her job?”

“That’s what I’m hoping. Did you come out here to see anyone in particular, Hannah?”

“Actually . . . no, I didn’t. I just dropped by with some Chocolate Cashew Bar Cookies for your break room.”

“Right. Of course you did.”

Even though the intercom didn’t catch many vocal nuances, Hannah recognized sarcasm when she heard it. For a split second, she considered what she should do and she decided to act as if she hadn’t understood. “Whatever do you mean, Betty?” she asked in the most innocent voice she could muster.

Betty laughed. “Don’t play dumb with me, Hannah. Everybody knows that you’re investigating. You always do.”

Hannah decided that there was no reason not to admit it. “You’re right, Betty. Do you think anyone will talk to me?”

“Sure, no problem with that, Hannah. People like you and that’s all everybody out here’s been talking about anyway. It’s been the prime topic of conversation ever since it happened. There’s even an office pool about when you’d get here to question us.”

“You’re kidding!” Hannah was shocked. As far as she knew, she’d never been the subject of an office pool before. “You are joking, aren’t you, Betty?”

“Got me there, but there could be an office pool for that. They’ve all been wondering when you’d get around to us. Hold on a second and I’ll buzz you in. Come up the stairs and through the first door on your left. That’ll take you right into the reception area, and that’s where I am. I have to taste those treats you brought to make sure they’re suitable for everyone else.”

Hannah laughed, and a second or two later, the buzzer sounded and the lock on the door clicked as it released. She pulled the door open, stepped through, and started up the steps. When she got to the top, she found Betty Jackson, resplendent in a stretchy gold blouse that had extended as far as its fabric would allow, and black slacks that actually made her more-than-plump legs look thinner.

“Hi, Betty,” Hannah greeted her. “You look good. Have you lost weight?”

“Yes, twenty-two pounds. I’m on the one-zee diet.”

“What’s that?”

“Eat what you want, but only eat one. It works as long as you don’t count a whole boatload of mashed potatoes and gravy as one.”

Hannah laughed. “Obviously, you haven’t done that. You really do look thinner, Betty. I noticed it right away.”

“Thanks.” Betty looked pleased as she ushered Hannah down the hall. Hannah noticed that she glanced at the platter of bar cookies every now and then.

It didn’t take long for them to arrive at the break room door. Betty pushed it open, ushered Hannah inside, and motioned toward a table.

“Would you like to taste one now?” Hannah asked her, already knowing the answer.

“Yes, but whatever you do, don’t let me have more than one. I bought all new clothes and they won’t fit if I put any of that twenty-two pounds I lost back on.”

“Okay, I won’t let you have more than one,” Hannah promised. “Do you want to eat it right now before anyone else comes in?”

“That’s a real good idea.” Betty went to the coffeepot and poured two cups. She handed one to Hannah and, once she’d added low-calorie sweetener to hers, she sat down across the table and watched expectantly as Hannah removed the foil wrap from the platter.

“Here, Betty.” Hannah picked up one bar cookie with a napkin from the dispenser on the table and handed it to Betty. “Let me know how you like them.”

“My pleasure,” Betty responded, taking a bite. A moment later, a rapturous expression spread over her face and she was smiling as she swallowed. “Oh, my!” she breathed. “Everything you bake is great, but these are pure heaven!”