Death Over Easy

by Maddie Day

  “The second part I am aware of.”

  “Well, I literally bumped into her later while I was looking for my father. She’d been drinking, and she told me she didn’t think her father loved Sue. And didn’t like her, either. For what it’s worth.”

  The detective regarded me. “Such information regarding their relationship is new to me. I’ll take it under advisement. Did you have anything else?”

  “No. Except . . . thank you for working on these cases.”

  Henderson lifted a shoulder and dropped it. “We were getting pretty close to Broward. Sorry you had to bear the brunt of his attack.”

  “Hey, all’s well that ends well, right?” It was one of Adele’s favorite phrases.

  “I’ll be a lot happier when the second homicide case has ended well, too. And we’re not there yet. Thank you for being forthcoming, Ms. Jordan.” She turned and strode down the hall.

  Chapter Forty-nine

  I could barely pry my eyes open the next morning. I hadn’t done a lick of prep last night because we’d arrived home so late. I’d set my alarm for five o’clock to compensate. When I got my eyelids wide enough open to see the clock, I was instantly awake. It read six-thirty. Gah. I was in big trouble.

  Abe had decided not to go to the ER last night. Instead, we carefully cleaned his injured neck, and he had me pat clean the back of his head with hydrogen peroxide. He’d spread a thin layer of antibiotic ointment on the narrow neck cut. Then we’d both fallen into a deep sleep. I had no idea how he had roused himself at his usual early hour without waking me, but he was definitely gone.

  My gaze fell on a note addressed to me next to the clock. I leaned over and unfolded it.

  Let you sleep in. No worries in the kitchen.

  I’m off to check in at work and hope to be

  released home to rest.

  Love, Abe.

  I wrinkled my nose. No worries? With customers due to arrive in half an hour, I wasn’t sure how I wasn’t supposed to worry. I hurriedly washed up and dressed. I pulled my hair back, laced up my work tennies, and dashed food into Birdy’s bowl.

  When I opened the door to the store, I froze. And sniffed. And smiled. The air was redolent with the fragrance of coffee, the perfume of sizzling sausage, the aroma of biscuits baking. Danna worked the stove and Turner had set all the tables, stocked the caddies, and straightened the chairs.

  “Am I dreaming?” I asked. I heard Birdy reply so I quickly locked the door to the apartment before he could sneak in.

  Danna laughed. “We thought we’d let you sleep in a little for once.”

  “Did Abe put you up to this?”

  “Not really,” Turner said. “Coffee?”

  “Bless your fabulous heart.” I sank into a chair and watched the machinery of my helpers run like it had been freshly oiled.

  Danna brought me a piping hot mug. “My mom got a report you’d captured that awful man. She heard Abe was hurt, and you and Roberto almost were. So I called Turner and we came over really early to help out. Abe saw us when he was leaving, and he went back in and left you a note.”

  My throat thickened with the thoughtful gesture. I took her hand and squeezed it in both of mine. “I can’t thank you both enough. Is there anything left to do?”

  “Just have your coffee.” Danna extricated her hand. “We might get kind of a flood of people who are going to be curious about what happened. We’ll have plenty of work for all three of us once we open.”

  How did I get so lucky?

  “Danna, have you heard from Isaac? Is he all right?” Was I really asking if he’d been arrested, too?

  She gave me a thumbs-up. “He’s good. Spent the night at home. Went into the state park to work today. The detective seems to be leaving him alone for now.”

  “I’m glad to hear it.”

  Turner pulled out two pans of biscuits and slid in two more. Danna returned to the grill and moved sausages and bacon around. I finished my coffee, carried the mug to the sink, and slid an apron over my head. I grabbed a biscuit and a piece of bacon so I wouldn’t run out of steam in the next few hours until the lull. When seven o’clock hit, I was ready. I headed for the door to unlock it and turned the sign to OPEN.

  We had the usual assortment of locals and festivalgoers who kept us on our toes for the next two hours. And sure enough, every once in a while somebody would ask about the excitement last night.

  The latest was a pair of South Lick women who always came in together. “Heared you captured another killer last night, Robbie. Good for you,” one said, her eyes bright with what she must perceive as proximity to a hero.

  “Not exactly,” I protested. “But I understand the sheriff’s detective does have someone in custody.”

  “The bad guy was staying right upstairs, wasn’t he?” the other asked. “Weren’t you afraid you’d be killed in your bed?”

  I winced. “No, frankly I wasn’t. Can I get you ladies anything else this morning?” When they said no, I left them their check and moved on.

  I took a quick break to text Abe. Thanks for the sleep-in. Hope you’re not hurting too much. Did they let you off?

  He didn’t reply right away. He could be home sleeping, or maybe the workload was urgent and they’d asked him to put in a full shift, after all. After last night, I was nervous Sue’s killer would go after him for reasons I couldn’t even guess. It was a dangerous world out there, as we’d been shown only a scant ten hours earlier. I turned my back on the bustling restaurant and pressed his number.

  It rang. And rang. And rang some more. I was about to disconnect when a sleepy Abe said, “Mornin’, Robbie.”

  I wasn’t sure I’d ever felt so relieved. “I’m just checking up on you. Sounds like you were sleeping.”

  “I was. Boss told me to go home and heal.”

  “Good advice. Your door is locked, right?”

  “Locked up tight. Don’t worry. I’ll be fine, sweetheart.”

  My eyes filled. I blinked away the emotion and sniffed.

  “Hey, are you crying?” he asked. “Didn’t I say I’d be fine?”

  “You did. And I’m glad.” Behind me Danna dinged the READY bell. Silverware clattered and bacon sputtered. “I better get back to the breakfast rush. Give me a call when you wake up, okay?”

  “You got it. Love you.”

  “Love you,” I whispered in return. I took a deep breath and faced my restaurant again.

  By nine-thirty when Adele came in a couple of tables had freed up. She made a beeline for me and enveloped me in a hug to top all hugs.

  “Hey, I can’t breathe,” I told her after a full minute.

  She held me at arm’s length. “I can’t decide if I’m so proud of you I could bust, or if I want to slap you upside the head. A little bit of both, I spose. Going and getting yourself all tangled up with criminals again. I declare, Roberta Jordan.” She shook her head, and then hugged me again. When she let me go, she sniffed and swiped at both eyes. “Look at me, I’m turning into a sentimental old fool.”

  “Hey, you know I love you any way you turn,” I said, my own eyes filling in return.

  Turner dinged the READY bell and Danna had her arms full of dirty dishes.

  “Go sit down and I’ll bring you coffee.” I kissed Adele’s lined cheek, as soft as new flannel.

  I delivered four breakfasts, poured Adele coffee, and looked up to see Roberto and Maria approach.

  Adele jumped to her feet. “You two set right here with me. I’m glad we get one more chance to visit. You’re heading home today, am I right?”

  “Yes, we are,” my father affirmed.

  “It’s been real good to see you both,” Adele said. “You come back any old time.”

  “We come back,” Maria said.

  “Did you sleep well?” I asked her as Roberto pulled out a chair for her at Adele’s table.

  “Yes, grazie a Dio.”

  “Good.” I kissed my father’s cheek—not soft like Adele’s, but freshly s
haven and smelling like rainwater from the aftershave he always wore—and said I’d get them both coffee. By the time I got back, Buck had come in and ambled up to their table.

  “Good morning, Buck.” I did not kiss him on the cheek, but I did take a second look. His expression was far more somber than usual. “Looks like you have some bad news.”

  “Welp, it’s good and it’s bad. Mind if I set down?” he asked Adele.

  “Please. Then tell us what’s up.”

  Buck glanced at me, his eyebrows up in a hopeful look.

  I laughed. “Yes, I’ll bring you coffee and order up your usual breakfast. Don’t start until I’m back.”

  I asked Danna to make him one of nearly everything, grabbed a mug and the coffeepot, and headed over to hear Buck’s news.

  “It’s this way.” He spoke softly so as not to broadcast to the whole restaurant. “Our esteemed sheriff’s detective made another arrest real early this morning in the case of Ms. Berry’s homicide.”

  “But that’s got to be good, right?” I asked, puzzled.

  “Yes, ma’am. That’s good. Problem is, Detective Henderson came into possession of evidence indicating Glen Berry was the perpetrator of the crime.”

  I sucked in breath, focusing on him.

  “Yep, he up and killed his own sweet wife. Local businessman and all. It’s a crying shame.”

  Voices had hushed around us. Buck hadn’t kept his voice as low as he’d hoped. Customers glanced over and then away, and a new buzz of excited discussion swelled and grew. I felt eyes on us from behind me, too, and saw Danna and Turner looking our way.

  “Well, I never,” Adele said with a sorrowful head shake. “Leaving that poor Paula as good as an orphan, too.”

  Paula, who had been deadly correct last night regarding her father’s lack of love for Sue.

  “He sure put on a good show of grieving for Sue,” I said, thinking back, even to his performance last evening at the park.

  “Some of the best criminals do, Robbie.” Buck poured a half cup of sugar into his coffee and stirred. “Heck, some murderers might as well get nominated for one of them Oscars, they’re that good of actors.”

  Roberto spoke softly in Italian to Maria. “What was the evidence?” he asked Buck.

  “Seems the couple who found Sue’s body the other morning saw a car driving away,” Buck said. “Later they saw another vehicle with the Berry liquor store bumper sticker and they recognized it. Turns out there are traces of blood in the car, too. It isn’t all Anne has, but it put the final nail in the coffin for Glen Berry.”

  “So to speak,” Adele said.

  I kept picturing my murder puzzle. All the names, all the possibilities. “And Beth Ferguson is off the hook for both crimes.”

  Buck nodded. “That she is.”

  “Isaac, too,” I added, glancing Danna’s way.

  “Isaac, too,” Buck confirmed.

  Detective Henderson had to be happy about a second All’s well that ends well in as many days. I knew I was.

  Recipes

  FRIED APPLES

  Danna and Robbie prepare fried apples as a special to celebrate the bluegrass festival.

  INGREDIENTS

  ½ cup butter, cubed

  6 medium unpeeled tart red apples, sliced

  ¾ cup sugar

  ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon

  DIRECTIONS

  Melt butter in a large cast-iron or other oven-proof skillet. Add apples and ½ cup sugar; stir to mix well. Cover and cook over low heat for 20 minutes or until apples are tender, stirring frequently. Add remaining sugar and cinnamon. Cook and stir over medium-high heat 5 to 10 minutes longer.

  ASIAN SPICY SESAME NOODLE SALAD

  Turner re-creates a dish he ate at a restaurant for a lunch special. Robbie also takes it to widower Glen Berry as a condolence offering.

  INGREDIENTS

  1 package soba or rice noodles

  2 tablespoons sesame oil

  1 tablespoon soy sauce

  1 tablespoon sugar

  4 tablespoons unflavored rice vinegar

  Dash red pepper flakes

  1 sweet red pepper, diced

  1 cucumber, peeled and diced

  1 cup snow or snap peas, trimmed and sliced lengthwise

  DIRECTIONS

  Boil noodles according to directions on package. Drain, toss with one tablespoon sesame oil, and let cool.

  In a serving bowl, whisk together the rest of the oil with the soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, and pepper flakes. Add the noodles and prepared vegetables and toss. Adjust seasonings to taste.

  Serve chilled or at room temperature.

  JANE CARTER’S SUGAR CREAM PIE

  A Hoosier favorite, this recipe is kindly shared by Jane Carter. Robbie makes the pies for her restaurant customers.

  INGREDIENTS

  1 stick butter

  1 scant cup sugar

  ¼ cup cornstarch

  2 cups milk

  ½ cup half-and-half

  ¼ teaspoon salt

  1 teaspoon vanilla

  Cinnamon

  1 pre-baked and cooled piecrust (either homemade from your favorite recipe or obtained at the store)

  DIRECTIONS

  In a medium-sized saucepan, melt butter, sugar, and cornstarch, stirring to dissolve. Add milk, half-and-half, salt, and vanilla. Cook until thick, stirring constantly.

  Pour into prepared crust and sprinkle with cinnamon. Chill at least two hours before serving.

  KAHLÚA BROWNIE ICE CREAM SANDWICHES

  Phil makes these for the lunch dessert special.

  INGREDIENTS

  Kahlúa brownies (recipe in Flipped for Murder)

  1 quart vanilla or coffee ice cream

  Aluminum foil, cut into eight-inch squares

  DIRECTIONS

  Remove ice cream from freezer to soften slightly. Cut cooled brownies into three-inch squares, then slice crosswise with a sharp knife. If the knife sticks, dip it in water before cutting.

  Spread a scoop of ice cream a quarter inch thick on bottom half of brownie. Cover with top, wrap in foil, and place in freezer. Repeat for all brownies.

  CHICKEN WITH WINE-MUSHROOM SAUCE

  Maria enjoys this dish at Hoosier Hollow restaurant.

  INGREDIENTS

  2 tablespoons butter

  1 pound boneless and skinless chicken breasts,

  cut in half lengthwise

  Salt and pepper to taste

  1 medium onion, chopped

  12 ounces white mushrooms sliced

  3 cloves garlic, minced

  1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

  ¼ cup white wine

  1½ cups half-and-half

  ¼ cup minced parsley

  DIRECTIONS

  Add the butter to a large skillet and melt over medium high heat.

  Season chicken breasts on both sides with salt and pepper. Place chicken breasts in skillet and cook on both sides, about 5 minutes per side or until no longer pink inside. Remove chicken from skillet and keep warm.

  Reduce heat to medium. Add onion to skillet and cook for a couple minutes until onion is translucent and soft. Add mushrooms and stir. Season mushrooms generously with salt and pepper. Cook about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic and cook for another minute. Sprinkle the flour over the onions, mushrooms, and garlic, and stir. Add wine and cook off the wine for a couple more minutes.

  Add half-and-half and cook 3 minutes, stirring occasionally or until sauce reduces a bit and thickens. Return chicken to the skillet and integrate with the sauce.

  Garnish with parsley and serve hot over rice, pasta, or buttered potatoes.

 

 

 
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