Murder After Midnight

by Dianne Harman

  “Oh.” She wasn’t sure what else she had been expecting.

  “To walk Balto,” Jake continued, his eyes twinkling. “I take it he hasn’t been out since this morning. When we got here, he practically knocked me over.”

  “That’s just a sign of his affection,” DeeDee said. “Will you take Red as well? He’s Al’s dog, the one out there in the yard.”

  Jake nodded. “Yes, but first things first.” He strode out to the kitchen, and DeeDee heard a clattering of dishes, followed by the chime of the microwave oven. When he returned, he helped DeeDee sit up, and spoon fed her tiny sips of broth until the entire bowl was empty. While he was feeding her, he explained how the events of the last few days had unfolded. He started from when Al had contacted DeeDee at his and Roz’s request, to the plan he and Al had come up with to trap Jerry.

  “The entire thing was recorded by Al,” Jake explained, “but he’s missing in action right now, with Jerry’s taped confession of how he murdered Dana probably still in your car. Yours and my statements and the fact that Jerry tried to kill you today were enough for the police to arrest Jerry in the meantime. I don’t think he’s going to be a free man for a very long time.”

  “Jake, I—”

  “Ssh, drink this.” Jake held a small glass of water to DeeDee’s lips. Only when the glass was empty did he allow her to speak.

  DeeDee looked into his eyes, and saw her soul mate staring back at her. He really was her rock, her hero, the man who had proved his devotion to her despite her shabby treatment of him.

  “I love you, Jake Rogers,” she said, moving her face closer to his. “I can never expect you to forgive me for what happened between us, but please know this…”

  Jake leaned in. “What, DeeDee?” he whispered.

  Her eyes searched his, and she could see the hurt, the longing, and the unwavering devotion he had for her, in that one short glance.

  “I’m so, so sorry.” Her lips rested on Jake’s for a brief second before she pulled away again. “Thanking you from the bottom of my heart seems inadequate, after everything you’ve done for me, but it’s all I’ve got.”

  “Your thanks? Or you heart?” Jake’s face still hovered tantalizingly close.

  “Both. Can you forgive me enough to try again?”

  This time, when Jake’s lips met hers, she lost herself in his embrace. The rest of the words would come later.

  *****

  In an effort to keep herself busy and try to forget the traumatic events of the day, DeeDee ran a dust rag over the top of the mantel, shaking her head at the layer of dust that had settled there. Maybe, she should think about hiring someone to clean her house on a regular basis. On the other hand, if she wasn’t so busy with her work at Deelish, she’d have plenty of time to do her own cleaning. Either way, she berated herself for letting her housekeeping duties slip so low.

  Her love life, on the other hand, was looking up. Jake’s gracious reprieve had given her a second chance to show him how much she cared, and she’d made herself a promise she wasn’t going to blow it this time. The thought of being with him again had already transformed her outlook about the future, and her heart soared when she looked out the window and saw Jake, Red, and Balto approaching the house, fresh from their walk on the beach.

  Jake took his boots off when he entered.

  “Any sign of Al yet?” he asked, nearing her with his arms outstretched.

  DeeDee wriggled out of his hug. “Don’t start that, or I won’t get anything done. Have you noticed how I’ve let the house go?”

  Jake raised an eyebrow. “Do you really think I care about whether you vacuumed or not? I’m far more interested in knowing if we’ll have the place to ourselves later.”

  DeeDee laughed. “I’m pretty sure we will. I have news for you. I think Al’s met someone.” She winked. “A woman.”

  Jake scratched his head. “How the heck did he manage that? There’s obviously something I’ve missed.”

  “I called Cassie while you were gone to let her know the murderer had been caught,” DeeDee explained, “since she spent the day with me after Dana died until Al arrived. She was happy with the way everything had turned out, but she sounded distracted. Anyway, Cassie was telling me that she’s been asked to fill in for the restaurant critic at The Seattle Times while the regular writer is taking a sabbatical. I offered to go to dinner with her, if she needed a companion. She doesn’t. She told me she already has a date.” DeeDee beamed at Jake, who looked at her with a blank look on his face.

  “Sorry, but you’ve totally lost me, DeeDee. Is that supposed to mean something? And what’s that got to do with Al?

  “Al’s been acting kind of weird ever since he met her the first night at my house,” DeeDee said. “He bought new clothes and had a secret meeting with a friend, but he wouldn’t tell me who it was.”

  “Aha,” Jake said, sitting down on the sofa. He patted the seat beside him, and DeeDee sat down next to him. “And you put two and two together and got fifty, am I right?”

  “Yes,” DeeDee giggled, snuggling into him. “Cassie sounded so…exhilarated, is the only way I can describe it. I’m sure it’s Al. I’m so excited. Those two are going make a great couple.”

  “And what about the two people closer to home, sitting right here on the sofa?” Jake asked as he kissed her forehead, while his face turned solemn. He reached inside his pants pocket, and removed a familiar gold band entrusted with diamonds. DeeDee gasped. “You found it? I searched the yard on my hands and knees for hours looking for that ring.”

  Jake chuckled. “So did I.” He held it out to DeeDee. “Will you?”

  She held her breath. “Will I what?”

  Jake’s blue eyes melted into hers. “Will you wear this ring, as a sign of our love…and promise not to throw it at me the next time we have an argument?”

  DeeDee’s pulse quickened. “I will.” She held out her hand, and Jake slipped the band onto her finger.

  “Oh, and by the way,” he said casually. “I’d planned to ask you something on New Year’s Eve, but I never got the chance. ”

  DeeDee paused, watching Jake smiling at her. “Well?” she asked as she prodded him in the ribs. “What is it?”

  Jake leaned back and stretched. “It’s a birthday surprise. I spoke to Roz, and she said there’s no need to ask you, but you’ll love it.”

  “Jake? Are you serious? My birthday is almost three months away. Please, you have to tell me now.” DeeDee poked him again. “I’m warning you. Tickle alert.”

  Jake folded his arms and grinned. “You’ll have to do better than that, and I have something besides tickling in mind.”

  RECIPES

  SAVORY SEAFOOD CHEESECAKE APPETIZER

  Ingredients:

  Crust:

  2 cups cracker crumbs (I like Ritz.)

  ¼ cup melted butter

  1 tsp. Old Bay seasoning (If you can’t find this in the normal seasoning and spices section of your market, you can probably find it in the seafood section.)

  2 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

  ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese (I prefer freshly grated, but if time is a problem, feel free to use grated cheese which is in the refrigerated section of your market, but I’m not a fan of the ones that are not refrigerated.)

  Filling:

  2 tbsp. unsalted butter (Yes, unsalted is much better for cooking, because you can adjust the amount of salt to your taste, and I think the seafood in this recipe definitely makes it a bit salty.)

  ¼ cup shallots, finely chopped

  2 cloves garlic, minced

  24 oz. cream cheese, softened

  2 eggs (I use jumbo.)

  1 cup mayonnaise

  2 tsp. dry sherr y

  2 tsp. Old Bay seasoning

  2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

  ¼ cup freshly chopped parsley

  1 cup lump crabmeat

  1 cup chopped cooked shrimp (Since they’re going to be chopped, you can use smaller sh
rimp, which are less expensive.)

  2 six oz. cans chopped clams, drained

  Lemon wedges and chopped fresh parsley for garnish

  Non-stick cooking spray

  Directions:

  Crust:

  Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Combine the cracker crumbs, parsley, melted butter, Old Bay seasoning, and Parmesan cheese in a medium sized bowl. Spray a 9” x 13” pan with a non-stick cooking spray. Press the cracker crumb mixture in the bottom of the pan and set aside.

  Filling:

  Melt the butter over medium heat. Cook the shallots and garlic until the shallots are soft. Set aside to cool. Beat the cream cheese in a large bowl until smooth. Add the eggs and mayonnaise, thoroughly mixing together. Stir in Old Bay, sherry, Worcestershire, and parsley. Gently fold in the seafood and the shallot-garlic mixture. Put the mixture into the springform pan over the cracker crust, gently smoothing the top with a spatula.

  Cook for 55-65 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Turn off the oven, open the door, and leave the cheesecake in the oven for 30 more minutes. (This helps to prevent cracks.) Remove from oven and let cool until ready to serve. Cut into 1 ½ - 2 inch pieces. Garnish with the lemon wedges and parsley. Enjoy!

  NOTE: This is rich so don’t make the pieces too big. Your guests can always have seconds !

  CHOCOLATE TIRAMISU CAKE

  (TAKES A BIT OF EFFORT, BUT WORTH IT!)

  Ingredients:

  Cake:

  2 cups sugar

  1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

  ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa

  1 ½ tsp. baking soda

  1 ½ tsp. baking powder

  1 tsp. salt

  2 eggs (I use jumbo.)

  1 cup milk (Use regular. This is a rich dessert, and it needs regular milk.)

  ½ cup vegetable oil

  2 tsp. vanilla extract (Please don’t use imitation. There really is a difference.)

  1 cup boiling water

  Non-stick cooking spray

  NOTE: If I’m tight on time, I’ve been known to use a simple chocolate cake mix. Your choice.

  Brushing liquid:

  ¾ cup brewed coffee

  ¼ cup Kahlua or coffee flavored liqueur

  Mascarpone Filling:

  2 ½ cups mascarpone cheese

  ½ cup sugar

  1/3 cup heavy cream

  ¼ tsp. ground cinnamon

  Dusting Powder:

  ½ cup unsweetened cocoa

  1 cup powdered sugar

  Directions:

  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Coat two 9-inch round baking pans with cooking spray.

  Whisk together the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, soda, and salt. Stir in the eggs, milk, oil and vanilla. Using an electric mixer and medium speed, beat for 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water and mix until thoroughly blended. Divide the batter between the two pans and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

  Place the pans on a baking rack and let cool for 10 minutes. Remove the cakes from the pans and let cool completely on rack. When cool, split each layer horizontally in half with a serrated knife.

  For the brushing liquid, combine the coffee and liqueur.

  To make the filling beat the cheese, ¼ cup of the coffee mixture, sugar, heavy cream, and cinnamon until smooth.

  For the dusting mixture, sift the cocoa and powdered sugar into a bowl and combine.

  Assembly:

  Put a cake layer in a 9-inch prepared springform pan. Brush 1/4 of the coffee mixture over the top. Spread 1/3 of the mascarpone filling over that. Repeat with the other layers ending with the top layer. Spread the remaining coffee mixture on it. When ready to serve, remove from the springform pan and dust lightly with dusting mixture. Enjoy!

  SINFULLY DELICIOUS CARROTS

  Ingredients:

  1 ½ lbs. baby carrots

  ¼ cup unsalted butter

  ½ cup chopped shallots

  2 tbsp. honey (You can substitute real maple syrup.)

  2 tsp. dried thym e

  1/3 cup chicken broth

  1 cup heavy cream

  1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg

  Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

  Directions:

  Melt the butter in a large saucepan. Add the shallots and carrots and cook until the shallots are softened. Add the honey and thyme. Stir until the vegetables are coated with the honey. Gradually add the chicken broth and simmer until reduced by half. Stir in the cream and again, reduce by half. Stir in nutmeg. Add salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!

  NOTE: I’ve made this and eliminated the heavy cream step and it was terrific!

  CRANBERRY AND BLUE CHEESE SALAD

  Ingredients:

  Dressing:

  ½ cup olive oil

  ½ cup canola or vegetable oil

  ½ cup rice vinegar

  1 ½ tsp. salt

  1 tsp. freshly ground pepper

  Salad:

  1 cup unsweetened dried cranberries

  ¾ cup crumble blue cheese

  Approximately four 10 oz. bags of salad greens

  Directions:

  Whisk the dressing ingredients together until thickened.

  Assembly:

  Place the greens in a large bowl and top with the cranberries and blue cheese. Add desired amount of dressing to the mixture and toss. Plate and serve. Enjoy!

  NOTE: Put the remaining salad dressing, if there is any, in a jar and refrigerate. It will save up to a month.

  SAUSAGE AND SPINACH STUFFED CLAMS

  Ingredients:

  1 lb. Italian sweet sausage, casings removed (If you’d like it a little spicier, use hot Italian sausage.)

  10 oz. pkg. of fresh baby spinach

  ½ cup heavy cream

  24 littleneck clams, meat removed and finely chopped (Or whatever kind you can find.)

  1 ½ cups fresh bread crumbs

  ½ cup freshly grated Romano cheese (Sometimes I use Parmesan cheese.)

  Directions:

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place a skillet over medium heat and cook the sausage until no longer pink. As you cook it, break it into small pieces. Remove to a bowl and leave 1 tbsp. fat in skillet. Add the spinach and cook until slightly wilted, about 2 minutes. Add cream and bring to a boil, scraping up brown bits from bottom of pan. Transfer to bowl containing the sausage. Add the clams and bread crumbs. Stir until well-b lended. Place the empty clamshells in a baking dish. Stuff with the clam mixture. Sprinkle evenly with the cheese. Bake until thoroughly heated, about 15-20 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

  *****

  I'm giving away FREE paperbacks. Find out more at www.dianneharman.com/freepaperback.html

  ABOUT DIANNE

  I live in Huntington Beach, California, with my husband, Tom, a former California State Senator, and my boxer dog, Kelly. My passions are cooking, reading, and dogs, so whenever I have a little free time, I am either in the kitchen, playing with Kelly in the back yard, or curled up with the latest book I'm reading.

  Her other books are available below:

  Amazon: Blue Coyote Motel

  Amazon: Coyote in Provence

  Amazon: Cornered Coyote

  Amazon: Coyote Series

  Amazon : Kelly’s Koffee Shop

  Amazon: Murder at Jade Cove

  Amazon: White Cloud Retreat

  Amazon: Marriage and Murder

  Amazon: Murder in Cottage #6

  Amazon: Murder in the Pearl District

  Amazon: Murder and Brandy Boy

  Amazon: Murder in Calico Gold

  Amazon: The Death Card

  Amazon: Murder at The Cooking School

  Amazon: Murder & The Monkey Band

  Amazon: Murder at The Bed & Breakfast

  Amazon: Murder at The Secret Cave

  Amazon: Murder in Cuba

  Amazon: The Blue Butterfly

  Amazon: Trouble at the Kennel

  Amazon: Murdered by Words

  Amazo
n: Murdered by Country Music

  Amazon: Murder at the Big T Lodge

  Amazon: Murdered in Argentina

  Amazon: Murder on the East Coast

  Amazon: Murder at the Clinic

  Amazon: Murder at the Polo Club

  Amazon: Alexis

  Amazon: Trouble at the Animal Shelter

  Amazon: Murder in Calistoga

  Amazon: Murder on Bainbridge Island

  Amazon: Murder & The Movie Star

  Amazon: Murder in Whistler

  Amazon: Murdered by Plastic Surgery

  Amazon: Murder in Seattle

  Amazon: Murder after Midnight

  Please feel free to follow me on these social media sites:

  Website: http://www.DianneHarman.com

  Blog: http://www.DianneHarman.com/blog

  Email: dianne@dianneharman.com

  Twitter: @DianneDHarman

  Google+

  Facebook Author Page (Thriller)

  Facebook Author Page Cozy Mystery

  Amazon Author Page

  Blue Coyote Motel, an Amazon Kindle Best Seller , was a quarterfinalist in Amazon’s Breakthrough Novel Award Contest and was also a Goodreads Psychological Thriller of the Month Book.