by Laura Childs
“That whole incident was very unfortunate,” Jenny said. “But Harvey convinced me that Trueblood had to go, too.” She ducked her head nervously. “You see, Trueblood was building town houses down near the Gulf sturgeon pens and he was funding this huge water study. Somehow, he found out about the fish pens! He called Harvey and threatened to turn us in, to expose everything!”
“He threatened to turn you in? Just like that?”
Jenny’s scrawny shoulders crept up to her ears. “Well, he wanted money.” She spat the word out like she was talking about camel dung. “He wanted a cut. A huge cut.” She shook her head. “I guess home sales haven’t been so good lately.”
“You killed two men for money,” Carmela said.
“Well,” Jenny said. “It was a lot of money.”
A hand suddenly descended on Carmela’s shoulder. She whirled around, only to find Quigg smiling at her, his warm hazel eyes dancing with excitement.
“You did it!” Quigg cried out joyously. “You solved Lash’s murder!”
“How . . . how on earth did you find out?” Carmela stammered.
“Yeah,” Babcock said, his jaw barely moving. “Who let you in?”
“I’ve been here all along,” Quigg said. “Showcasing my wine.”
“I ran over and grabbed him,” Ava said, giving a mischievous smile. “I figured he deserved to share in the good news. He should know that his good name has been cleared.”
“Is that true?” Quigg focused on Babcock. “Am I really cleared?”
Babcock stood there stolidly. Looking like he’d rather hawk a rat, rather have his fingernails pulled out one by one.
Carmela nudged Babcock. “Tell him,” she said. “He deserves to know.”
Babcock grimaced. “As much as it pains me to say this, Mr. Brevard, you are officially off the hook for the murder of Martin Lash.”
“Thank you!” Quigg cried.
“The thanks should go to Carmela and her . . . ahem . . . rather unorthodox compadres here. They managed to locate the fish pens that were the source of all this mayhem.”
“We exposed the entire operation,” Ava said.
Babcock continued, “In the face of such overwhelming evidence, Mrs. Harvey Jewel has also given us what we believe is the beginning of a full confession. Of course, we need to take this to the district attorney and . . .”
But nobody was listening, they were cheering so loudly.
Quigg put his hands on Carmela’s shoulders and gazed at her lovingly. “Babe . . . I could kiss you for this!”
Babcock hastily broke off his speech and said, “Oh no you don’t, she’s mine!”
Carmela gazed at him expectantly. “I am?”
“Was there ever a doubt?” he asked.
“Well . . . yeah.”
“Not in my mind,” Babcock said.
“Me neither,” Ava added.
“A toast,” Squirrel said. He grabbed a bottle of Perrier-Jouët champagne and began pouring flutes for everyone. “To true love.”
Quigg stared at Squirrel. “Who are you guys again?”
Ava jumped in to explain. “Squirrel and Moony are the guys who helped us find the fish ponds.” She wrapped her arm around Squirrel and said, “This is Squirrel, and that handsome fella over there is Moony.”
“Looks like I’m much obliged to you boys,” Quigg said. “I owe you a ton of thanks.”
Squirrel actually blushed through his sunburn, but it was hard to tell which embarrassed him more—Quigg’s compliment or Ava’s semi–choke hold. As if he wanted in on the good vibrations, too, Cooter sauntered over and plopped down at his master’s feet.
“Hey, whose dog?” Quigg asked. He glanced at Babcock. “Police dog? Drug sniffer?”
“Oh, hell no,” Babcock said.
“He’s mine,” Squirrel said. “One of my bayou pooches.” He eyed Quigg carefully. “Say now, Ava tells me you own a restaurant right here in the French Quarter.”
“That’s right,” Quigg said. “Mumbo Gumbo, one of the finest places you’d ever want to dine at. And if you ever want to enjoy dinner there, rest assured you’d be my special guests. Anything you want to eat, any wine you request.”
“We was wondering,” Moony said. “Do you know the fella who owns that place called Scarlett’s Cabaret?”
“Well . . . sure,” Quigg said. “That’s Raymie Savoy’s place. But that bar is kind of a . . .”
“Have you got any juice there?” Squirrel asked.
“I do,” Quigg said. “But, you know, it’s kind of a rough joint.”
“No problem,” Squirrel said, scratching his belly. “We’ll fit right in.”
“In that case, I’d be happy to arrange for you to sit in the VIP section,” Quigg said. “Just let me know when you’d like to go.”
“Now?” Moony said.
Quigg grinned. “Well, why not?” He chuckled. “You know, boys, I just might come along with you.”
* * *
Babcock grabbed Carmela’s elbow and steered her away from the crowd. “Carmela, we need to talk.”
“I know,” she said, a sinking feeling suddenly making her stomach ache. “We’ve had a pretty tough week, you and I.”
“What I’ve been thinking is . . .”
Carmela held up a hand. “I know. You want to break up with me.” Her voice was shaking now and she fought hard to control it. “I know I deserve this. I know I’ve been driving you crazy.” She blinked away tears as she gazed up at him. He was so good-looking, so dear to her, and now she’d let him slip away. “But if sometime . . . you could find it in your heart . . .”
Babcock shook his head. “That’s not what I was going to say.”
“Oh.” Carmela stared at him, befuddled. “Then what . . . ?” Did he want to yell at her some more? Tell her what a fool she’d been? Well, fine, she’d go ahead and let him have at it. She knew she probably deserved it.
“I was going to say that maybe we should get married.”
Carmela’s mouth literally dropped open. “What?” It came out more as a mouse squeak.
“What I was going to say was . . .”
Carmela waved a hand impatiently. “I got that already. Skip to the last part.”
“Maybe we should get married?” Babcock said.
“Edgar, you’re scaring me. This isn’t some kind of joke, is it?”
“No joke. You want me to get down on bended knee?”
Carmela thought about it. “No. That would be too weird.”
“What’s weird is that we’re arguing about this,” Babcock said.
“Are we?”
“Of course. Then again, we argue about everything.”
“So why would you want to marry me then?” Carmela asked.
Babcock squinted at her. “Because I love you?”
“I can’t quite tell if that’s a heartfelt declaration or a quasi-question.”
“A little of both, I guess.”
Carmela thought for a few moments. “If we did get married, nothing would change . . . right?”
“I never thought it would.”
“I wouldn’t have to . . . oh, I don’t know . . .” Carmela tried to think of some odious task, something Shamus would have expected her to do. “Do wifely things like cook stewed okra or clean the lint trap in the clothes dryer, would I?”
“I’m sure I can handle those particular things myself.”
“Then . . . okay. Yes, I will marry you.” Carmela’s heart was thump-thump-thumping out of her chest with joy as she held up a finger. “But not this very moment in time. I really, really love you, but you have to give me, like . . . oh my gosh . . . maybe six months. Okay?”
Babcock grinned from ear to ear. “That’s great, Carmela! Fantastic!” Then he hesitated. “Wait a minute. What’s going
to happen in six months?”
Carmela reached up, twined a hand in his hair, and pulled his face down to meet hers. She kissed him lightly on the lips and then gazed at him, a crooked smile lighting her face. “You never know,” she whispered. “You just never know.”
Scrapbook, Stamping, and Craft Tips from Laura Childs
Road Trip!
When creating a scrapbook page to showcase your most recent vacation, consider using a road map as your background. Tear a page from an old atlas or grab a car map and glue it on your page. Arrange your photos in a fun collage style and be sure to include ticket stubs, programs, hotel postcards, luggage tags, and other memorabilia you picked up on your trip.
Lollipop Flowers
Paper lollipop flowers are easy to make. Create a template for your flower petals and then cut out a dozen or so petals using tissue paper or crepe paper. Using a lollipop or Tootsie Pop as the center of your flower, tape the bottom of your petals to the lollipop stick and then pull the petals into shape, fashioning a lovely rose or daisy. The lollipop sticks can then be attached to a stiff pipe cleaner if you want a longer stem. These make great favors for kids!
Journal Your Page
A scrapbook page doesn’t necessarily have to have photos. You can also journal your scrapbook page. With colored pens and a few freehand doodles, tell a story about a visit with a special friend, a trip to the museum, or a solitary walk through the woods. You can use free verse, rhymes, or even create a kind of rebus, where drawings illustrate some of your words. Whatever you do, tell your story straight from the heart.
Collage with Paper Napkins
These days paper napkins come in the most elegant designs and patterns, making them perfect for creating a collage. Napkin designs feature Renaissance angels, Parisian street scenes, autumn motifs, bridal-inspired designs, and so much more. Even background motifs like an elegant paisley or floral design will work well in a collage. And a pack of paper napkins is often more affordable than fancy paper.
Wrap the Map
For fun and inspired gift wrap, tear out pages from an old road atlas or use a map. Imagine an art history book wrapped in a map depicting the streets of Rome. Or a wedding gift wrapped in a map of Jamaica, the honeymooners’ destination. Use the map as you would wrapping paper and then tie an elegant gossamer bow around it!
Punch It Up
Sharpen your favorite paper punches that have gone dull by punching them through a piece of tinfoil a few times. Your punch will soon be crisp and sharp again.
Wedding Scrapbook
For a perfect wedding scrapbook, start with a theme. Hearts and flowers, elegant lace, your wedding venue, etc. Organize your photo of the big event and add short stories as well as captions. A photo of you walking down the aisle (or watching your daughter walk down the aisle) will be more memorable if you share your inner feelings (yes, goose bumps, heart thumping, and all the good stuff!).
Favorite New Orleans Recipes
Mini Cranberry Crab Cakes
⅓ cup cream cheese, softened
¼ cup crabmeat, drained, flaked, cartilage removed
½ tsp. sugar
2 Tbsp. scallions, finely chopped
1 (1.9-oz.) pkg. frozen miniature phyllo tart shells
⅓ cup whole-berry cranberry sauce
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a small bowl, combine cream cheese, crab, sugar, and scallions until thoroughly blended. Place tart shells on an ungreased baking sheet. Fill each shell with 1 Tbsp. crab mixture. Top each crab mound with 1 tsp. cranberry sauce. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until heated through. Makes 15 mini crab cakes.
Cajun Pork Roast
2 lb. boneless pork loin roast
1 Tbsp. cooking oil
3 Tbsp. paprika
½ tsp. cayenne powder
2 tsp. oregano
2 tsp. salt
½ tsp. ground white pepper
¼ tsp. nutmeg
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Rub pork loin with oil. Combine all seasonings in a small bowl and then rub onto meat. Place roast in shallow pan. Roast for approximately 1 hour, then let rest for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing. Serves 4.
Crock-Pot Lemon Chicken
4 chicken breasts, boned and skinned
¼ cup lemon juice
¼ cup brown sugar
¼ tsp. oregano
¼ tsp. paprika
1 (6-oz.) can mushrooms
Place chicken in Crock-Pot. Sprinkle with lemon juice, brown sugar, and seasonings. Then add mushrooms without draining them. Cook on high for approximately 2 hours. Serves 4.
Crock-Pot Cajun Pecans
1 lb. pecan halves
4 Tbsp. butter, melted
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. dried thyme
½ tsp. onion powder
¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
Combine all ingredients in your Crock-Pot and mix well. Cover and cook on high for 15 minutes. Remove cover, stir, and turn Crock-Pot to low setting. Cook for another 2 hours. Transfer pecans to a baking sheet and allow them to cool.
Big Easy Caramel Corn
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
⅔ cup corn syrup
1 cup butter, melted
1 tsp. cream of tartar
2 to 3 gallons popped popcorn
In saucepan, bring first 5 ingredients to a boil, stirring constantly. Place popcorn in a large bowl and carefully pour caramel mixture over it. Stir immediately to evenly coat popcorn. Enjoy!
Boo and Poobah’s Favorite Dog Cookies
2½ cups whole wheat flour
½ cup nonfat dry milk powder
1 egg
½ cup vegetable oil
1 beef bouillon cube dissolved in ½ cup hot water
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Combine all ingredients in large mixing bowl. Stir until blended, then turn out onto a floured surface and knead gently for about 2 minutes. Using a floured rolling pin, roll dough out to about ¼-inch thickness. Use round cutter or bone-shaped cutter to cut out dog cookies. Place on ungreased baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes. Remove from pan and cool on wire rack. Makes about 40 cookies.
Apricot Barbecued Ribs
5 lbs. pork ribs or spare ribs
1 (16-oz.) can apricots, drained
¼ cup brown sugar, packed
1 tsp. chili powder
½ cup ketchup
½ cup white vinegar
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
Place ribs in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a rapid boil, then cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes. Drain ribs and arrange in a large, shallow baking dish. Combine apricots, brown sugar, chili powder, ketchup, white vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce. Blend until nice and smooth. Pour sauce over ribs, turning to coat. Cover and marinate in refrigerator 4 to 8 hours, turning occasionally. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Remove ribs from marinade and place on a lightly greased rack in broiler pan, reserving marinade for basting. Bake for 40 minutes, basting twice. (Hint: these ribs can also be cooked on an outdoor grill.) Serves 4 to 6.
Cranberry Muffins
1 cup cranberries, fresh or frozen
½ cup sugar
2 cups flour
4 tsp. baking powder
¾ tsp. salt
1 egg
1 cup milk
4 Tbsp. melted butter
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Chop cranberries and sprinkle with half the sugar. Sift flour, baking powder, salt, and remaining sugar together. Beat egg slightly, combine with milk and melted butter, and then add to dry ingredients. Stir only until blended. Fold in cranberries. Pour batter into a buttered muffin pan and bake for approximately 25 minutes. Yields 12 medium-siz
ed muffins.
Baked Avocado Egg Rolls
2 large, ripe avocados, diced
juice of 1 lime
4 oz. (½ pkg.) cream cheese
2 Tbsp. sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped
¼ cup onion, minced
2 Tbsp. cilantro, chopped (optional)
pinch of red pepper flakes
salt and pepper to taste
9 egg roll wrappers
vegetable oil
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place diced avocados in medium bowl and stir in lime juice. Stir in cream cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, onion, cilantro, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper. Mix well. Lay out egg roll wrappers. Place 2 to 3 Tbsp. of avocado mixture down the middle of each wrapper. Fold one point of wrapper down over mixture, then fold in the two sides. Using a bit of water on remaining wrapper tip, fold that in and seal. Brush egg rolls lightly with vegetable oil. Place on lightly greased baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Turn rolls over and bake for another 10 minutes. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
Keep reading for an excerpt of Laura Childs’s next Cackleberry Club Mystery . . .
Egg Drop Dead
Coming December 2016 in hardcover from Berkley Prime Crime!
IT was an autumn of particular intensity. Of riotous colors and delft blue skies, cool nights with smoke curling out of chimneys. Halloween was barely a week away and Suzanne Dietz was feeling mighty pleased with herself as she glanced at the puddle of black silk lying on the car seat next to her. She’d just picked up the wicked witch costume that her neighbor Laurel Kennedy had sewn for her. The woman was a creative genius when it came to three yards of fabric, six yards of black scalloped lace, and a Singer sewing machine. Suzanne, on the other hand, managed to impale her finger every time she picked up a needle to sew on a button or whipstitch a hem. Which is why she was congratulating herself for outsourcing such an odious task and looking forward to her role as a well-stitched witch at the Cackleberry Club’s upcoming Halloween celebration.