Raspberry Danish Murder (Hannah Swensen #22)(63)

Hannah checked another item off her mental checklist. She knew that occasionally, when someone had one too many drinks, resentments flared. “So Scotty wasn’t a heavy drinker?”

“No.” Dick shook his head. “I never saw Scotty order a mixed drink. He was a beer man, but only tap beer. He never drank bottled beer and a glass of beer would last him at least an hour, sometimes longer. Heavy drinkers generally go for something with more alcoholic content, like hard liquor or fortified beer or wine. I know what you really want to know, Hannah, so I’ll cut to the chase. There’s no way Scotty left here drunk the night he was here with P.K.”

Dick’s phone rang and he turned around to answer it. A moment later, he was back. “That was Sally. Your table’s ready and she wants to know if it’s all right to join you for dessert. She said she has some information for you.”

Once they’d assured Dick that it would be fine if Sally joined them for dessert, Hannah, Michelle, and Norman left Dick’s bar. They walked down the hallway to the restaurant and entered the alcove that contained the receptionist’s stand.

Dot Larson was working as the hostess and she greeted them warmly. “Hi, guys! Sally said you were coming out for dinner. She saved a private booth for you and she asked me to take you there.” Dot turned to Hannah. “Did Dick tell you that Sally wants to join you for dessert?”

“Yes, he did, and we told him that was just fine. Thanks for asking, Dot. How’s the baby?”

“He’s not a baby anymore. If you ask him, he’s a big boy now. And that means he gives my mother a run for her money!”

“Your mom is still babysitting for you?” Michelle asked her.

“Yes. She wants to babysit until Jamie gets in preschool. Then it’ll be only half-days. That’ll be two years from now, Lord willing and the creek don’t rise.”

Hannah smiled. “You always say that.”

“That’s because my grandmother came from delta country and they were flooded out every four years or so. And before I forget, Sally wanted me to remind you to enter our Christmas decorating contest. All you have to do is join a committee, bring your favorite ornament from home, and hang it on your tree. All employees vote and the three best Christmas trees win a trophy.” Dot turned to Norman. “Follow me, and I’ll show you which booth Sally chose for you tonight and introduce you to your waitress. She’s new, but she’s really good and I know you’ll like her.”

With Dot in the lead, the three of them climbed up the steps leading to the raised area on the far side of the dining room. They walked past the curtained booths and stopped at the one on the far end.

“Sally saved this one for you,” Dot told them. “She told me that she had something important to tell you. I’m thinking that it’s either about the convention, or P.K.’s murder.”

Hannah just smiled. She doubted very much that the bulk of Sally’s conversation would be about the convention. She wouldn’t have needed to put them in a curtained booth if that were the case. Hannah was almost certain that Sally wanted to tell them something about P.K. that might relate, in some way, to the murder investigation. Hannah’s curiosity was piqued, but she knew it wouldn’t be satisfied until after they’d finished their entrées and it was time for dessert, coffee, and whatever Sally had to impart.

“Just one more thing before I leave,” Dot said after they were seated. “Sally says she really wants you to try her new appetizer.”

Hannah almost groaned. She knew she’d eaten far too much of Dick’s pizza dip and now there was another appetizer to try.

“It’s called Crunchy Salty Cheesy Prosciutto and Asparagus Rolls, and they’re very light and not at all filling,” Dot said, as if she’d somehow read Hannah’s mind.

“They sound great!” Michelle commented, taking a sip of the wine that she’d brought with her from the bar. “I love asparagus. I think it’s my favorite vegetable.”

“And it goes so well with prosciutto,” Norman added.

Hannah felt her appetite beginning to return. “What does Sally use for the wrapper?” she asked.

“Puff pastry rolled out thin,” Dot told them. “They’re great with phyllo dough too, but it’s a lot harder to work with. They’re baked in a hot oven so they turn out nice and crisp and they’re served hot.”

Yes, her appetite was definitely coming back, Hannah decided as she thought about Sally’s new creation. Perhaps she could have an entrée after all and still have room for dessert.

Their waitress arrived and poured more wine for Michelle and a glass for Hannah. She was carrying a glass of iced tea for Norman, and she set it down in front of him. She whisked away his nearly empty glass, handed it to her busboy, and turned to them again. “Dot told me you wanted to try Sally’s new appetizer, and that’s baking right now for you. Have you thought about what you’d like for an entrée, or would you like a little more time?”

“I’m ready with my entrée order,” Michelle told her. “I’ll have the center-cut pork chop with fingerling potatoes. I know that comes with carrots in sweet mustard sauce, but could I have creamed spinach instead?”

“Certainly,” their waitress responded. “All of the entrees tonight come with Piccadilly Cheese Mini Muffins that we include in the bread basket. Is that all right, or would you rather have sourdough soft rolls?”