Fudge Cupcake Murder

    'That's right. And I could really use Bill's help. Cut me a little slack here, Hannah. Suspending Bill hurt me just as much as it hurt him.'

    Hannah didn't dignify that statement with a response. Instead she just stared at Mike until he dropped his eyes.

    'Well…' Mike said, shifting from foot to foot. 'I'd better run. I'll see you later.'

    Not if I see you first! Hannah thought, not voicing the reply she would surely have given in junior high. She kept her lips zipped, waited until Mike had driven off, climbed into her cookie truck, and headed off to her catering job.

Chapter Six

    It was after one in the afternoon when Hannah climbed back into her cookie truck. The catering had gone well and the event had been a success. Marge Beeseman signed up the volunteers she needed for her book drive, the ladies of the Friends of the Lake Eden Community Library loved the Cherry Winks, and Hannah managed to dodge a bullet with her mother. It was obvious that Delores didn't know about her son-in-law's suspension. And since Andrea hadn't yet broken the news, Hannah had decided that it wouldn't be nice to tell her and usurp her sister's position.

    Hannah took a deep breath as she pulled up in Andrea and Bill's driveway. This would take all her tact, and tact wasn't her long suit. Bill would be upset over his suspension and Andrea would be upset if Hannah offered one word of criticism about the lunch she'd prepared.

    Since Andrea's Volvo was in the driveway, Hannah parked her truck behind it and got out to press the front doorbell. She could hear the chimes ringing inside and she grinned. Andrea and Bill had one of the new musical doorbells and it was playing the first four bars of the Viking's fight song. Viking supporters were nothing if not loyal.

    When Andrea pulled open the door, she looked apologetic. 'Sorry it took me so long. I was just finishing the toast.'

    'Oh,' Hannah said, stepping inside and sniffing the air.

    Carbon. Andrea had burned the toast. 'Anything new I should know about?'

    'Nothing. Come on in, Hannah. Bill's in the kitchen waiting for you.'

    Hannah followed her sister down the hallway and into the bright, sunny kitchen. When Andrea and Bill purchased this house, the kitchen had been a prime selling point. It was called a 'gourmet kitchen' and Hannah envied the built-in double ovens, island stovetop with a barbecue grill in the center and padded benches around it on three sides for entertaining. It would be great fun to grill shish kabob appetizers while your guests watched. Even main courses would be more fun. There was a rotisserie attachment that allowed you to cook roasts or a whole chicken while your guests watched their entree turn slowly over the grill.

    Andrea's kitchen was truly ideal. To start with, it was huge, the size of most dining rooms and kitchens combined. There was an alcove for the round oak kitchen table and a rustic brick fireplace that made the huge room cheery. There was a fire in the fireplace now, and Hannah was almost positive that Bill had built it. Andrea didn't like to bother with a fire, because she seldom spent much time in the kitchen.

    Hannah spotted Bill at the window seat in front of the bay window that overlooked the tree-lined back yard. As she walked over to greet him, she thought again of what an attractive couple her brother-in-law and sister made. Andrea was gorgeous with her long blonde hair, china blue eyes, and petite figure. She even looked good now, when she was eight months pregnant. Bill was Andrea's exact opposite with dark brown hair, brown eyes, and a football quarterback's physique. Last year he had started to put on a little weight around the middle, but since he had been working out with Mike every morning, his spare tire had completely disappeared. 'How are you doing, Bill?'

    'Okay, considering. Andrea said you've got some ideas.'

    Hannah glanced over at her sister, but Andrea was busy assembling sandwiches at the counter. 'Um… sure, I do. We'll figure something out, Bill. Don't worry.'

    'Here's lunch!' Andrea announced, carrying a tray to the kitchen table. 'We can talk about it after we eat.'

    'Thanks, honey.'

    Bill gave Andrea a smile as he walked to the table and sat down in a chair. Hannah followed suit, but her smile slipped alarmingly as she caught sight of the sandwiches piled on the platter. She knew they were toasted peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, but she wouldn't have guessed it if Andrea hadn't told her what she was planning to make. The toast was just this side of incinerated and the filling that leaked out between the slices of toast was tan and bright green!

    'What kind of jelly is that?' Hannah asked, staring at the plate of sandwiches.

    'Mint. I thought I had a full jar of grape in the pantry, but all I could find was the mint. Help yourself, Hannah. They're better when the toast is still hot.'

    Hannah sighed, hoping she sounded disappointed. 'Thanks, Andrea. The sandwiches look delicious, but I'm going to have to pass.'

    'But why?'

    'I did a stupid thing. I filled up on cookies while I was catering.'

    'Oh, Hannah!' Andrea's lips tightened. 'I made these just for you.'

    'I'm sorry,' Hannah said, and she was. But she was pretty sure she wasn't as sorry as she would be if she ate one of Andrea's peanut butter and mint jelly sandwiches.

    'But you knew I was making lunch. I told you.'

    'I know you did. It's just that Mother came over to talk to me and…'

    'Say no more,' Andrea waved away any further explanations. 'I always eat when Mother's around, too. It's comforting. I think it's a throwback to childhood when she was always criticizing us.'

    'Was?' Hannah's brows shot up at her sister's use of past tense.

    'Yes, at least as far as I'm concerned. I did what she wanted. I got married, I gave her a granddaughter, and pretty soon she'll have a grandson to spoil. I don't get criticized anymore. Mother saves it all up for you.'

    'It's true,' Hannah said with a sigh. 'Mother doesn't seem to realize that what's right for you isn't necessarily what's right for me.'

    'Of course it's right for you. You just haven't found the right man yet. And it's certainly not the man we thought it might be! That rat! I still can't believe that he could…”

    'Great sandwiches, honey!' Bill interrupted, heading Andrea off at the pass. 'The mint jelly's really different. I like it.'

    'Really?' Andrea gave Bill a radiant smile.

    'Absolutely.' Bill turned to Hannah. 'Since you're not eating, talk to me, Hannah. Do you have any great ideas for proving my innocence?'

    'Maybe. At least I got some information. I know that Sheriff Grant was killed between eight and nine-thirty last night. And I know that you had a fight with Sheriff Grant before you left the station.'

    'We did exchange words,' Bill admitted, 'but that's all we exchanged. Sheriff Grant offered me a raise if I backed off on the campaign. I told him I wouldn't.'

    'And that's when he shouted that you'd only win over his dead body?'

    'That's when. Of course he didn't mean it. He said that a lot. Ask anyone at the station.'

    'I believe you,' Hannah said, meeting Bill's eyes. 'How about calling in some markers at the station? I'm sure you have friends who could tell you what's going on in the investigation.'

    'I do. And they would. But I can't ask them, Hannah. A suspended detective can't interfere in any way with an ongoing investigation. It's in the rulebook.'

    'Forget the rulebook. If you don't interfere, you could get charged with a murder you didn't commit! You're not going to just sit here twiddling your thumbs and waiting for Mike to catch the killer, are you?'