by Joanne Fluke
Hannah’s whole body began to shake and she grabbed the arms of the chair to steady herself. “But . . . why would Ross want to disappear?”
“I don’t know, but I plan to find out.”
Hannah heard the determination in Mike’s voice. “You think he left me, don’t you?”
“I don’t know, but he ran for some reason.” Mike took one look at the tears that were still running down her face, and reached out to pat her shoulder. “That reason may have nothing to do with you, Hannah. Before I came outside to get you, I called P.K. first. He said that Ross got a telephone call and said he had to leave work right away. It was right after their lunch break at twelve-thirty. Where were you then?”
“Michelle and I were at The Cookie Jar. We decided to mix up some cookie dough for tomorrow, to get a head start on things. If Ross had some kind of emergency, why didn’t he call me?”
“I don’t know, Hannah, but. P.K. said Ross told him that he might have to be gone for a while.”
“Did Ross tell P.K. why he had to leave?”
“Not really. He just said it was personal. P.K. thought that maybe you were sick or you got into an accident or something like that. He was relieved to find out that you were okay.”
Okay? Hannah’s mind shouted. My husband left me and I don’t know why. I’m not okay. Not at all!
There was a knock on the door and Hannah turned toward the sound. “You’re wrong, Mike! That must be Ross. He just left his things here and went out for a walk around the complex.” It was difficult, but she managed to get up on her feet. “I have to go let him in!”
“It’s not Ross.” Mike reached for her hand. “It’s probably Norman. I called him. I have to go down to the station, but Norman’s going to stay with you until Michelle gets home.”
Hannah felt numb as she walked toward the door with Mike to let Norman in. Her mind simply wouldn’t process the fact that her husband had left without a word, without a note, without any kind of explanation, less than two weeks after their wedding. She had only one ray of hope, one thing to hold onto so she wouldn’t slip into deep despair.
Ross had taken their condo key with him. And that meant he planned to come back to her.
BANANA CREAM PIE MURDER RECIPE INDEX
Hannah’s Banana Cream Pie 16
Salted Pretzel Crust 16
Banana Cream Pie Filling 17
Whipped Caramel Topping 19
Spumoni Whippersnapper Cookies 30
Oven French Toast 46
Orange Fudge Cookies 55
Tropical Angel Cookies 67
Brownie Candy 84
Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff and Noodles 94
Cheesy Beer Muffins 98
Butterscotch Crunch Cookies 115
Cheese Pops 119
Pretzel Patties 123
Cheese and Sausage Breakfast Bake 130
Citrus Sugar Cookies 140
Turkey Stack Sandwich 154
Special Corn Chowder 157
Salted Caramel Bar Cookies 170
Orange Marmalade Bar Cookies 190
Cheesy Pepperoni Bites 208
Peach Muffins 246
Peanut Butter Cheesecake with Chocolate Peanut Butter Sauce 258
Cheery Cherry Cookies 279
Pumpkin Scones with Sugared Cinnamon Glaze 298
Baking Conversion Chart
These conversions are approximate, but they’ll work just fine for Hannah Swensen’s recipes.
VOLUME
U.S. Metric
½ teaspoon 2 milliliters
1 teaspoon 5 milliliters
1 Tablespoon 15 milliliters
¼ cup 50 milliliters
⅓ cup 75 milliliters
½ cup 125 milliliters
¾ cup 175 milliliters
1 cup ¼ liter
WEIGHT
U.S. Metric
1 ounce 28 grams
1 pound 454 grams
OVEN TEMPERATURE
Degrees Degrees British (Regulo)
Fahrenheit Centigrade Gas Mark
325 degrees F. 165 degrees C. 3
350 degrees F. 175 degrees C. 4
375 degrees F. 190 degrees C. 5
Note: Hannah’s rectangular sheet cake pan, 9 inches by 13 inches, is approximately 23 centimeters by 32.5 centimeters.
Please turn the page for an exciting sneak peek of Joanne Fluke’s
THE STEPCHILD
coming soon wherever print and e-books are sold!
Prologue
A tear rolled down her cheek, even though she was trying to be big and brave the way she’d promised. She couldn’t help it. She didn’t want to be here on the train, going to a new Mommy and Daddy. She wanted her real Mommy and Daddy back, and so did Baver. He cried so hard when they took him away.
Dorothy Miller gave her husband a pleading look as she noticed the tears in Sheri’s eyes. She knew the anguish the little girl must be feeling, leaving for a new home only days after being separated from her baby brother. Dorothy didn’t agree with the adoption system one bit but her opinion made no difference. The agency claimed to have only the good of the child in mind but Sheri was too young to understand that.
“Why don’t I take Sheri Bear out on the observation platform for a couple of minutes,” Irvin Miller suggested, responding to the plea in his wife’s eyes.
Dorothy watched a flicker of interest cross the child’s face and she nodded. “Bring her in when we pass Carlson’s Crossing, Irv. We don’t want our big girl to catch a cold right before she meets her new Mommy and Daddy,” she cautioned.
“I won’t catch a cold,” Sheri promised, standing up quickly and tugging at Irvin’s hand. “Let’s go!”
Dorothy flashed her husband a grateful look as they left. She was terribly worried about Sheri. This was the first sign of interest the little four-year-old had shown since her brother was taken away. Perhaps everything would be fine after all, but Dorothy couldn’t suppress a sense of foreboding. It was always bad business to separate families; someone would suffer for it.
Several of the passengers turned to smile as Sheri pulled Irvin down the aisle. She was a beautiful child with her long, golden hair and big, blue eyes. Dorothy just wished that she had been able to talk the orphanage into letting her stay with them permanently. All the protests they’d made hadn’t been one bit effective when it came to keeping Sheri’s little brother, and now they’d lost again. Dorothy knew in her heart that both children would have been happier together and with them, but she and Irvin were too old to qualify according to the agency rules. There was something wrong with Christian charity when it meant breaking up families, and nothing anyone could say would convince Dorothy otherwise. Father O’Malley had told them that the Lord moved in mysterious ways, but Dorothy was convinced that the Lord needed a good talking to when it came to adoption rules. She and Irvin could have given both children a good home if only the orphanage had listed to reason.
Darkness was beginning to fall as Sheri walked out on the platform. The wind whipped around her, and she tightened her grip on Uncle Irvin’s hand as he pointed out at the tracks. She followed his finger with her eyes and saw a rabbit running fast in the circle of light cast by the train. Baver would love to see the rabbit, she thought sadly.
Tears welled up in Sheri’s eyes again. She had a big job to do now. She had to find Baver so they could go look for Mommy and Daddy. Mommy and Daddy were hiding somewhere, just like a trick. All she had to do was get Baver and find them.
The tears came faster now and Sheri held Irvin’s hand even tighter. She wanted to stay outside a while longer with the wind rushing past her face. But most of all she wanted to forget where they were taking her. If only everything were the way it used to be . . .
* * *
The engineer was alert as the train neared Carlson’s Crossing. He was always nervous when he came to this particular intersection; it was a bad one, hidden by a sloping curve in the road. Everyone who lived out here knew ab
out it, but he still had visions of some out-of-state motorist zipping around the curve and right into the path of his train. He gave his standard warning blasts and then another just to calm his nerves. No one could fail to hear the piercing whistle.
* * *
There were lights in her rearview mirror. They were coming closer. The car bounced on the winter potholes that hadn’t been filled in yet as she took the curves faster than the posted speed. The car lurched and there was a frightened whimper from the child beside her but she couldn’t slow down now. She had to get away from him. He was following her, chasing her, but she would never let him catch her. She was a good driver and the car was powerful.
Perhaps she’d go home later and have it out with him again, listen to the endless accusations, but not tonight. Tonight she would escape him, drive until she sobered up a bit and felt able to cope with the whole rotten world. Didn’t he know that was why did she drank? So that she could cope with things instead of being afraid all the time?
“Mama!” the child whimpered, the small voice rising to a terrified scream. “Mama! There’s a train coming!”
“S’all right, honey,” she said, gritting her teeth and managing to keep the heavy convertible on the road. “Don’ worry about a thing. Mama’s going to take care of that bastard! Just see if I don’t!”
“Mama, I’m scared!” The child’s voice broke into her thoughts again, “Please, Mama! Not so fast!”
“Quiet!” Her teeth were chattering now, so loudly that they sounded like firecrackers in her head. The top was down and it was cold, the wind whizzing past their heads in icy blasts. She should have put the top up but they hadn’t had time. There hadn’t been time to do anything except run, and that was just what she was doing. She’d lose him somehow and drive to Grey Eagle, have a little warm-up drink in that nice little rustic bar her father had liked. They’d have food for Kathi and she could feel the warmth of the liquor in her body again. Then her teeth would stop chattering. But first she had to get away from him. He was following her . . . both of them were...that shameless whore too. Damn him!
“Mama! The train!”
The child was terrified, and for a moment the woman paused, looking in the rearview mirror, her foot lifted from the accelerator. Then she grinned and her foot thumped down all the way to the floor. The car leaped forward. They’d beat the train and he’d be stuck there at the crossing. He’d be stuck, and she’d be free to go on and drink as many doubles as she wanted tonight without his nagging reminders and polite warnings about her drinking. He could sit there at the crossing until hell froze over, for all she cared; he’d never catch her tonight. Tonight would go her way. Was one night out of so many too much to ask?
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the child cover her face with her hands. No cause to worry . . . they were going to make it. They were going to beat that train and then they’d be free. There was a road right past the crossing and she’d turn off there so he’d never find her. It would serve him right, the sanctimonious bastard. For once she’d beat him at his own game.
* * *
The car lights were not visible until they were almost upon the crossing. The engineer felt his heart leap in his chest and he gave another shrill blast on the whistle to warn the speeding convertible. He leaned forward jerkily as he peered into the wedge of light and then he hit the brakes and offered up a quick, wordless prayer. That crazy damn fool was going to try to beat the train!
* * *
She heard the scream as the brakes ground against the metal wheels. For the first time, fright penetrated her hazed mind. Of course they were going to make it, but . . . my God! She’d be playing right into his hands if they didn’t. He wanted her out of the way so he could take up with that whore of his. He’d be happy if the train hit her. Then he’d have everything he’d ever wanted, except the money. He’d never get that . . .
* * *
The engineer hit the whistle again but the car kept on coming, like an insect charging an elephant. It took time for the tons and tons of metal to stop and he didn’t dare lock the brakes in place or they’d derail for sure. There was an instant when time stood still and he could see the determined face of the woman behind the wheel and the little girl in the seat next to her, mouth opened in a frightened scream. Reality faded and he was watching the whole thing in slow motion, hearing the sickening crash, seeing the flicker of the stop-action frames behind his eyes as the car spun and disintegrated, flames ballooning up from the wreckage like hungry demons.
The train swayed for a moment, the giant metal beast fighting to right itself on the metal girders of the rails. There were screams from the passengers as they were thrown from side to side in the car. He heard the screams and he knew his own mouth was open, screaming too, although he could not hear the sound of his own voice. The train tipped at a crazy angle and something sharp struck his head.
God no! They were falling, lurching and rolling as the train left the tracks. The giant, lumbering baby was severed from its shining metal cord. Then the blackness came up to meet him and the screams of the passengers faded until everything was cold and silent. The moon was bloodred but he no longer saw.
She was there and then she was not, the force of the crash lifting her in painful arms and hurtling her into the brushy darkness along the side of the tracks. There was another girl very close to her but she was not crying. Her blue eyes were open and she looked like a broken doll. There was pain, she hurt everywhere, and she screamed out for someone to help her . . . to take her to Mama! The bright orange light hurt her eyes and the noise was so loud no one would ever be able to hear her. The Tiger had promised, he had promised that the train wouldn’t ever come off the tracks but it had and it had hurt her. Her dress was torn, and all dirty and sticky with something that looked shiny black in the flickering light. She’d get a spanking for that. The dress was new and now she’d got it all dirty.
“Good God! The poor little thing!” She could see big hands covering the other girl with a blanket, pulling the blanket over her face.
“Christ! Over here!” a loud voice called out and then she was lifted gently, carefully, but it didn’t make any difference. Everything hurt.
“Easy boys. Looks like she’s in a coma,” a low voice said, and there was a sting in her arm like a bee bite. Something warm and heavy was pressing her eyelids down so she didn’t have to see the flickering orange lights anymore and everything was dark and the hurt was all gone and she wished that she could remember why she was crying . . .
Chapter One
Kathi Ellison shivered a little a she pushed the shopping cart to the meat section and examined the steaks. It was always so cold in this part of the store and her feet were wet from the rain. Usually David went shopping with her but she hadn’t asked him today because she wanted to pick out something very special for dinner tonight. It was their first anniversary. She had moved in with David Carter exactly a month ago and tonight they were going to celebrate.
The tall, blond co-ed made a wry face as she mentally added up the price of the items in her shopping cart: fresh mushrooms, broccoli, a loaf of San Francisco’s renowned sourdough bread, and the steaks. Even though Vivian and her father were always cautioning her to eat right, Kathi was sure they wouldn’t approve of the way her allowance was being spent this month. And they would certainly disapprove if they knew what occasion was going to be celebrated in Kathi and David’s small off-campus apartment. The Ellisons had no idea that their daughter was living with David, and Kathi wasn’t about to tell them now. It wouldn’t be right to make her father worry when the senatorial election was less than a month away. No one would find out that Doug Ellison’s daughter was “living in sin.” She was still listed in the college register as being a resident of the girls’ dorm, and her former roommate collected all Kathi’s mail and messages. Kathi knew that she’d eventually have to tell her parents—- but after the election, not before.
Carrying her purchases in a large sa
ck, Kathi skipped over puddles as she hurried back to the apartment. She wanted to beat David home today and have their anniversary dinner ready to eat by the time he came home from the library. She hadn’t even mentioned the fact that it was their anniversary. David would be surprised. She hurried a little faster as she thought of how pleased he would be.
Even though Kathi’s yellow rain slicker covered her long legs and her hair was tucked carefully under the matching rain hat, she was still soaked by the time she got to the apartment building. The lobby door shut behind her and Kathi fumbled in her purse for her keys, wiping her feet carefully on the welcome mat outside the apartment door. She didn’t want to track up her freshly cleaned floor, which she’d done an excellent job waxing, even though she wasn’t used to housework. Even Sally, the Ellisons’ maid, would have to admit that Kathi was turning into a good housekeeper.
Kathi had just located her key when the door swung inward and strong arms pulled her into the apartment.
“Oh, David!” Kathi gasped. “You scared me . . . I didn’t think you’d be home for another hour at least!”
“I got through a little early,” David explained, taking the bag from her and setting it on the table. “Hey, you’re soaked to the skin. Let me help you out of those wet things.”
Kathi gave a pleased giggle as David helped her out of her raincoat and then proceeded to tug off her college sweat shirt as well.
“That’s not wet!” she protested. “What are you doing?”
“My mother always said to take a hot shower after you’ve been out in a cold rain,” David advised, trying to look solemn. “I just got home a few minutes ago myself, and I haven’t had time to take mine. We could save on water if we took a shower together.”
“Always practical, aren’t you?” Kathi teased, ducking under David’s arm and running toward the bathroom.