Cinnamon Roll Murder

of minutes, and then they’ll sleep all night.”

“Cuddles seems to be having a great time here,” Mike said, snapping his notebook shut.

“She’s fine.” Hannah knew the interview was over and she was relieved. Recalling the sight of the bus driver dangling above her had not been pleasant.

“Do you think she misses Norman?” Mike asked the same question that Michelle had earlier.

“Yes. I’ve seen her go to the window by the stairs and look out, as if she’s waiting for him to come and pick her up. She looks sad. And before you say anything, I don’t think I’m imagining things.”

“I believe you, and I think you’re right. Cuddles just adores Norman. Every time I went out there to see him, she was right there. If we went into the kitchen, she followed us. And if we went into the den, she tagged along. My sister has a cat and he doesn’t do that. How about Moishe? Does he follow you around?”

“Not unless it’s breakfast and he wants his food. Or dinnertime and he’s hungry. Moishe’s more independent. He’s not waiting for anybody to come and get him. He knows he’s home.”

Mike looked away for a minute. When he turned back, there was a sheen of moisture in his eyes. “It’s sad,” he said. “Cuddles really loves Norman, and Norman loves Cuddles. I’ve been out there a couple of times for dinner since Bev and Norman got engaged.”

Hannah was perfectly silent. She didn’t know if she wanted to hear what was coming next.

“Norman’s not happy. I think he’s making a big mistake by marrying her.”

Again, Hannah was silent. She agreed completely and there was nothing for her to say.

“They’re not good together. As much as Norman tries, his heart’s not in it. And she’s ... clingy. I don’t know what she’s doing, what she’s up to. But I do know she’s not right for Norman.”

“Sour grapes?” Hannah asked, and then she regretted it. Mike had dated Doctor Bev, and she was prying.

“Not sour grapes. I wouldn’t go out with her again on a bet. There’s something wrong there, something that gets the cop in me anxious.”

“You think she’s a criminal?”

“No, nothing like that. It’s just she’s not ... real.”

“What do you mean?”

“My instincts tell me she’s playing a part. I thought I knew her. I really did. But she’s different with Norman than she was with me.” Mike’s eyebrows furrowed in a frown. “The way things are now, I wouldn’t trust her as far as I could throw her.”

Hannah wasn’t about to touch that one with a telephone pole. She just sat and waited for Mike to say more.

“I know why they’re getting married. Norman told me. We’re friends, good friends, and we talk. I’m all he’s got now. He needs someone to talk to, and Bev won’t let him see you anymore. Norman told me that every time he says he wants to see Cuddles, she begs him not to. She told him that the cat dander gets into his clothes and gives her a terrible allergic reaction.”

Oh sure! Hannah thought sarcastically. If she’s that allergic to cats, she couldn’t treat any of her patients who have cats. And she certainly couldn’t visit Norman at his place, because Cuddles once lived there.

“You don’t believe that?” Mike asked, noticing Hannah’s suspicious expression.

“Not really.”

“Well, neither do I. I think it’s just an excuse to keep him from coming out here and seeing you.”

Hannah thought back. Norman had come to see Cuddles a total of twice since he’d gotten engaged to Doctor Bev. On both of those occasions, he’d acted terribly guilty, and Hannah was convinced that Bev hadn’t know where he’d gone. “You could be right,” she said.

“Norman told me about Diana and how, after they broke up, Bev didn’t tell him she was pregnant. My question is ... why didn’t she? Why didn’t she tell him? He would have married her back then. What was she waiting for? And why did she wait this long to find him and tell him? It just doesn’t make sense, Hannah. There’s something wrong there. And I don’t want to see my best friend hurt.”

BUTTERAMA CAKE

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F., rack in the middle position.

Hannah’s 1st Note: Cassandra told Mother she got this cake recipe from her aunt. They made it in a Bundt pan and called it Kentucky Butter Cake.

The Cake Batter:

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

2 cups white (granulated) sugar

4 whole eggs***

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

? teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 cups all-purpose flour (pack it down in the cup when you measure it)

1 cup buttermilk (If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, you can use cream. The cake will taste a bit different, but it’ll still be wonderful.)

*** - If Andrea were making this cake, I’d have to tell her to crack the eggs and take them out of the shell before adding them to her mixing bowl.

Get out a 9-inch by 13-inch cake pan (metal or glass, either will do) and either spray it with Pam or another nonstick baking spray or butter it generously on the inside. (If you use butter, this could bring the total butter count up to a pound!)

To make the cake batter:

By hand in a large bowl or with an electric mixer (it’s easier with a mixer, of course) beat the butter for a minute or two.

Sprinkle in the white sugar, beating as you sprinkle. Mix the butter and the sugar together until they turn into a light, fluffy mixture.

Add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition.

Add the salt, baking powder, baking soda, and vanilla extract. Mix them in thoroughly.

Add 1 cup of the flour and beat it in.

Mix in half (? cup) of the buttermilk. Mix it in thoroughly.

Add the second cup of flour and mix well.

Mix in the rest of the buttermilk (? cup).

Add the remaining cup of flour and beat until the batter is smooth and without lumps.

Pour the cake batter into the 9-inch by 13-inch cake pan you prepared. Smooth out the top with a rubber spatula so that it’s evenly distributed in the pan.