Free Blueberry Muffin Murder by Joanne Fluke Page A

left her car in the center of the alley and got out. When she arrived at Hannah's side, she was breathless. 'Did you say dead?'
    'That's right,' Norman said, moving close to Hannah. 'Someone killed her last night while she was baking the Winter Carnival cake.'
    'In my shop,' Hannah added. 'Now it's a crime scene and Bill and Mike are going to close it down.'
    'That's terrible!' Delores gasped.
    'Yes, Hannah said, not sure if her mother was referring to Connie Mac's demise, or the fact that The Cookie Jar would be closed.
    'A murder scene right next door,' Delores moaned. 'Now no one will come to tour the Ezekiel Jordan House.'
    Hannah glanced at Norman, who was having trouble keeping a straight face. Delores wasn't concerned that her daughter's business would be closed, or the fact that Connie Mac was dead. Her only worry was that people wouldn't come to see her historic re-creation. 'Relax, Mother. Most people are fascinated by murder scenes. Since they can't get into The Cookie Jar, they'll take your tour and peek through the windows.'
    'Do you really think so?'
    'Absolutely.'
    'Maybe you're right. I went to a lot of work, you know, and everything is absolutely authentic for the . . . ' Delores stopped speaking and her eyes narrowed. 'Who found her?'
    Hannah winced. It would come out sooner or later, and it might as well be now. 'I did.'
    'Hannah! You've simply got to stop finding bodies. I swear you attract them like a magnet. If you're not careful, everyone's going to get the wrong impression of you.'
    'That's unfair,' Norman objected. 'Hannah just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.'
    'That's exactly what I thought . . . the first few times. But five? That's enough to make people wonder. If she's not careful, no decent person will want to associate with her.'
    Norman gave Hannah's hand a squeeze and then he stepped up to Delores. 'I'm not afraid to associate with Hannah, and I certainly don't have the wrong impression of her.'
    'Well . . . I'm glad to hear it.' Delores backed off slightly. 'You're a good man, Norman.'
    'I try to be.'
    Delores turned back to Hannah. 'Where did you find her?'
    'In my pantry.'
    'Don't' tell anyone. If people hear that she died in your pantry, they won't want to eat your cookies you'd better throw everything out and start fresh.'
    Hannah didn't follow that logic at all, but she nodded. 'Yes, Mother. I'll do that just as soon as they let me back in.'
    'Good. If you're sure you're all right, Hannah, I have to run. You have no idea how many last-minute things I have to do before we open to the public.'
    'I'm fine, Mother. Go ahead.'
    'I'd stay to lend moral support, but ' '
    Norman held up his hand to interrupt her. 'Don't worry, Delores. I promise I'll take care of Hannah.'
    'All right, then.'
    Hannah watched as Delores turned and walked back to her car. Then she looked over at Norman. 'You'll take care of me?'
    'Just a figure of speech. I figured she'd like that sort of thing.' Norman glanced up as another car turned into the alley. 'Is that Andrea?'
    'Yes, and Tracey's with her. Bill must have called her to tell her what happened.'
    Andrea pulled up and got out of her Volvo. The passenger door remained closed, and Hannah assumed that she'd told Tracey to stay in the car until she assessed the situation.
    'Hannah! You poor thing!' Andrea rushed up to her. 'Bill told me all about it. Have they taken her away yet?'
    'Not yet. Doc Knight's still in there.'
    Andrea waved and the passenger door opened. A moment later, a small blond-haired bundle in a bright pink parka hurtled across the snow toward Hannah.
    'Hi, Aunt Hannah.' Tracey gave her a hug. 'Mommy said you found another one, and now Grandma's going to be so-o-o mad at you.'
    Hannah glanced down at Tracey's earnest face, and she had all she could do not to laugh. 'Oh, well. That's nothing new.'
    'Grandma never gets mad at me. Why does she get mad at you, Aunt Hannah?'
    'Because I'm all grown up and I'm supposed to be