Blackberry Pie Murder (22 page)

“But there’s some question in your mind that the Jennifer who came back after running away isn’t the sister you knew in the past?” Hannah asked, seeking to clarify it for all three of them.

“That’s exactly right.” Carly sighed deeply and took a sip of her iced tea. “I don’t think she’s really Jennifer. I think she’s just pretending to be my sister Jennifer.”

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“What makes you think that?” Hannah asked the most important question.

“Little things. Just little things, like she didn’t remember what I gave her for her birthday right before she ran away.”

“How many years ago was that?” Hannah asked, even though she knew the answer to her own question because Michelle and Carly had been in the same high school class and their birthdays were ten months apart.

“Sixteen years ago.”

“Do you remember what Jennifer gave you for your birthday that year?” Michelle asked her.

“Yes. It was a doll with blond hair and blue eyes. She told me it looked just like me.” Carly stopped and swallowed hard. “I just loved that doll. I still have it. And Jennifer was the one who planned my party. She even baked me a cake with a big number four on it.”

“What did you give Jennifer for her birthday?” Hannah asked.

“Bath beads. They were really pretty and they were in a round see-through plastic case. They came in all sorts of colors and they looked like jewels.”

“What did Jennifer say when you asked her if she remembered?” Michelle leaned forward, waiting for the answer.

“She said, ‘I’m so sorry, Carly. I don’t remember. I really don’t remember very much about that last year at home. I hope you’re not hurt, but I don’t want to lie to you and say I remember, when I don’t.’”

Michelle nodded. “That was a good answer, Carly. Maybe she really doesn’t remember.”

“Or maybe she’s not really Jennifer and she never knew,”

Carly said, looking a bit sick at the prospect. “I realize that doesn’t prove anything, but it’s just one of several things.”

“Tell us some of the other things that make you suspect her,” Hannah said.

“Well . . . there’s the bath. Jennifer loved baths. I remem-180

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ber that. It’s why I gave her the bath beads. They melted when you put them in the bottom of the tub and ran bath water in, and they smelled so good.” Carly turned to Hannah. “I’m not sure they even sell them anymore, but you know what I’m talking about, don’t you?”

“I know,” Hannah told her.

“Jennifer didn’t sleep well the night before last, so before I went to bed last night, I asked her if she wanted me to run her a nice, relaxing bath. She used to love taking long baths right before bed. She’d give me a bath and then she’d clean out the tub and take one herself while Mom was reading me a bedtime story.”

“That’s nice,” Michelle said.

“I know. It’s one of my fondest memories. But when I asked her if she’d like to take a bath, she said thank you for offering, but she preferred showers to baths.”

“People do change their preferences,” Hannah pointed out.

“I did,” Michelle said. “I used to love taking baths, but now I’d rather take showers.”

Carly sighed. “I know all that. I prefer showers now, too.

It’s just that . . . well . . . something’s not right about Jennifer.

I asked her what she used to hide in her napkin and pass to me, and she didn’t remember what I was talking about.”

“What were you talking about?” Hannah asked her.

“Sweet potatoes. Jennifer really hated yams and sweet potatoes. She used to take a small helping just to please Mom, but she’d hide the pieces in her napkin when no one was looking. Then she’d pass it to me and I’d get up to get more milk or something and throw her napkin in the trash. It was our secret.”

“That was years ago, Carly,” Michelle said. “Maybe she just didn’t remember.”

“Maybe, but one of these nights when I don’t have to work, I’m going to make sweet potatoes and see if she eats them.”

“Does she remember anything about her life with you before BLACKBERRY PIE MURDER

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she ran away?” Hannah posed the question that was upper-most in her mind.

“Yes. That’s part of the problem. She remembers a lot.

And some days I’m sure she’s really Jennifer. But other days, I think she’s not.”

“Does she know things that only Jennifer would know?”

Hannah followed up on her initial question.

“Yes. She remembered all the names of her teachers, even the ones that aren’t there anymore. And she described the cabin we used to have on Eden Lake. And when Mom got out the birthday tablecloth she always used for us when we were kids, she remembered that.” Carly looked from Hannah to Michelle and then back again. “Do you both think I’m crazy for doubting her?”

“No,” Hannah said, before Michelle could reply. “But if she’s not the real Jennifer, why is she here pretending to be Jennifer?”

“That’s what I can’t figure out. It’s not like we’re rich or anything like that. And we don’t have anything valuable to steal. As far as I can see, there’s nothing for her to gain by pretending to be Jennifer.”

“Have you told your mom about your suspicions?”

Michelle asked the question before Hannah could.

“No. I wouldn’t do that to Mom. What if I’m wrong?”

“Do you think your mother believes she’s Jennifer?” Hannah asked the next question.

“I know she does. Mom’s so happy that Jennifer’s back.

She’s all relaxed now and she smiles all the time. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her so happy.”

Hannah felt a surge of sympathy for Carly. No wonder she needed to talk to them! “So even if you have doubts, you feel you can’t discuss them with your mother?”

“That’s right, especially because I can’t put my finger on anything concrete. It’s just a gut level feeling I have. And I only have it once in a while.”

“But do you still like Jennifer?” Michelle asked.

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“Yes. That’s the strange thing. Even when I doubt she’s really my sister, I still like her a lot.”

“Do you think part of your doubt is due to jealousy that your mother is so happy about someone other than you?”

Michelle asked. “Think about that before you answer, Carly.

If you do feel jealous, it would be entirely natural.”

Hannah held her breath. Michelle had asked a very difficult question of Carly.

“I’ve thought about that,” Carly answered. “And I don’t think it’s due to jealousy on my part. I’m more concerned with seeing Mom hurt if I’m right and she’s really not Jennifer.” Carly turned to face Hannah. “That’s why I wanted to talk to you, too. I know you’ve solved a slew of murders in the past couple of years. And that means you’re a really good investigator. Would you . . . could you . . . investigate Jennifer and find out if she’s really my sister?”

! % { # 9 *

CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT CRACKLES

(Nutella Cookies)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F., rack in the middle position.

1 cup melted butter
(2 sticks, 8 ounces, 1⁄2 pound)

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

you measure it)

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 and 1⁄2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1⁄2 teaspoon salt

1 cup Nutella
(like peanut butter, but made with

chocolate and hazelnuts)

2 beaten eggs
(just whip them up with a fork)

3 cups all-purpose flour
(no need to sift)

Microwave the butter in a microwave-safe mixing bowl to melt it. Add the brown sugar and the vanilla. Stir until it’s blended, then add the baking soda, baking powder and salt. Mix well.

Measure out the Nutella.
(I spray the inside of my mea-

suring cup with Pam so it won’t stick.)
Add it to the bowl and mix it in.

Pour in the beaten eggs and stir them in.

Add the flour and mix until all the ingredients are thoroughly blended.

! % { # 9 *

183

! % { # 9 *

Form the dough into walnut-sized balls and arrange them on a greased cookie sheet, 12 to a standard sheet.
(If

the dough is too sticky to form into balls, chill it for a

half-hour or so and try again.)

Push the dough balls down just a tiny bit so they won’t roll off the sheet when you slide them into the oven
. (Yes,

that’s happened to me—it’s a horrible mess, even with a

self-cleaning oven!)

Bake at 375 degrees F. for 8 to 10 minutes. The balls will flatten out, all by themselves.

Cool the cookies on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes and then remove them to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Yield: 5 to 6 dozen chocolaty, nutty treats, depending on cookie size.

! % { # 9 *

184

Chapter

!
Sixteen
#

It was the best night’s sleep she’d had in four days. Hannah woke up at four-thirty and sat up in bed. Moishe was purring beside her, curled up on his own pillow for a change, and he opened one eye, his good one, to stare at her in surprise.

“Who did you expect? Norman?” she asked, smiling at her furry friend. “You’re home, and so am I. And doesn’t it feel absolutely wonderful?”

Moishe didn’t comment. She didn’t expect him to. He just rolled over so that she could rub his back and scratch the base of his tail. Hannah chuckled softly under her breath.

She talked to Moishe frequently, just as if he could understand her and answer her questions when she asked them.

She was thinking about what she’d do if he opened his mouth and answered her in a tiny cat voice. She’d be so shocked that she’d probably have a heart attack on the spot. And that would put an end to her silly questions.

“Daylight in the swamp,” she uttered her usual morning greeting to him. “Let’s go out to the kitchen and see if the cat fairies left you something good to eat.”

Almost as if he were responding to her words, Moishe got to his feet, gave a little shake, and dropped down again in a belly stretch with his front legs extended as far as they could 186

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reach toward the foot of the bed and his back legs stretched out behind him so that they touched the edge of his pillow.

Stretched out like that, Hannah noticed that he covered well over half the length of the bed.

“You’re a really long kitty,” she told him. “No wonder you’re always trying to take over my half of the bed. And this is a king size bed. They don’t come any bigger than king size.”

“Rrrrroww!” Moishe responded, just as if he were answering her.

“Okay. Let’s go.” Hannah sat up on the edge of the bed and reached for her slippers. She pulled them on, shrugged into her robe and padded down the hall with Moishe playing tag with the belt of her robe.

The kitchen light was on and fresh coffee was in the pot.

Hannah poured herself a cup, fed Moishe, and was just sitting down at the kitchen table to drink her coffee when Michelle came out of her bedroom.

“Morning, Hannah,” Michelle greeted her.

“Good morning, Michelle.”

“Are you going to take your shower right away, or can I use your exercise machine for a quick five-minute workout?”

“You can use it. My eyes aren’t fully open yet. The last time I wasn’t fully awake for my shower, I slumped to the floor, fell asleep on my back with my mouth open, and almost drowned.”

“Really?” Michelle looked shocked.

“No. I’m just kidding. But it’ll be at least twenty minutes before I’m ready to take a shower. Go work out and have fun . . .

if that’s possible.”

“It’s possible,” Michelle said with a smile. “I love to work out first thing in the morning. It’s so invigorating.” Then she turned on her heel and headed back the way she’d come.

“She loves to work out first thing in the morning,” Hannah repeated to Moishe. “At times like this, I feel like Carly. You heard what she said about Jennifer last night. If Michelle BLACKBERRY PIE MURDER

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likes to work out first thing in the morning, she can’t possibly be my sister.”

They were standing outside Hal and Rose’s Café when Rose McDermott flicked on the lights, turned the sign that hung on the door from closed to open, and unlocked it to let them in. Hannah and Michelle trooped in and sat at the first booth so that Rose wouldn’t have to walk far.

“What’ll it be?” Rose asked, coming up with two cups and the coffee pot without being asked.

“Coffee, please,” Hannah answered. “I didn’t get my full four cups this morning. And then you can tell us what’s good for breakfast.”

“Everything’s good,” Rose gave her standard answer. “If it wasn’t good, I wouldn’t have it on the menu.”

“Do you have toast cups this morning?” Michelle asked her.

“I always have toast cups, honey. Do you want one?”

“Yes. I just love your toast cups. I tried to make them, but mine don’t turn out as good as yours do.”

Rose looked puzzled. “But you watched me make them the last time you were home from college. There’s no mystery about them.”

“I know, but I must have done something wrong.”

“Did you pre-cook the bacon?”

“Yes. And I drained it on a paper towel.”

“Did you use a three and a half inch cutter for the bread?”

Michelle nodded. “Yes, just the way you do.”

“And you buttered the muffin cups?”

“I did.”

“You put the shredded cheddar in the bottom right after you put the bread rounds in?”

“Yes, exactly the way you said I should.”

Rose looked puzzled. “Then I don’t understand it. That’s exactly what I do.”

“Maybe it’s because I have an electric stove. Your oven is gas, isn’t it?”