Blueberry Muffin Murder by Joanne Fluke Read Free Book Online Page A

that's another reason I bailed out of the tour'. I didn't want to find out what Connie Mac wanted from me."
    The phone rang and Lisa got up to answer it. She listened for a moment and then she handed it to Hannah. "It's Janie Burkholtz. She's calling from Connie Mac's cell phone."
    'Great," Hannah said with a smile. She hadn't spoken to Janie for years. "Hi, Janie. I'm sorry we missed you when Andrea and I came out to the inn. What's up?"
    "Your mother said I should call you, Hannah." Janie sounded on the edge of panic. "We've got a real disaster on our hands. Mrs. MacIntyre's supply van went into the ditch on the way here and the Winter Carnival cake was ruined."
    "That's terrible. Was anyone hurt?"
    "No. The driver's fine and there were no passengers. All the other supplies came through just fine, but Mrs. MacIntyre is determined to bake a replacement cake and we have to find some commercial ovens to use."
    "How about the school?" Hannah suggested.
    "I already spoke to Mr. Purvis and they're replacing the kitchen floor this weekend. And I tried the inn, but Sally's serving hot appetizers tonight and she's using all of her ovens."
    "The kitchen at the community center?"
    "That won't work either. Edna's baking rolls and she'll be there until midnight or later."
    "Really?" Hannah's surprise was reflected in her voice. "I thought Edna was buying breadsticks and setting them out in baskets."
    "She was, but Mrs. MacIntyre thought crescent rolls would be a nice touch with the salad course."
    "I see," Hannah said and sent sympathetic thoughts Edna's way. Baking crescent rolls for two hundred guests was a lot of work.
    "Your mother suggested that I call you before you left for the night She thought maybe we could use your ovens."
    Hannah hesitated, She didn't like the idea of Connie Mac baking in her kitchen, but Janie was on the spot and the Winter Carnival cake was important, "Sure, Janie. We were just getting ready to lock up. Come on over when you're through with the pictures. We'll wait."
    "We're all through. We finished a couple of minutes ago," Janie said, still sounding stressed. "Thank you, Hannah. You don't know how much this means to me."
    "No problem."
    "Can you hold on for just a second? Mrs. Macintyre wants something."
    "Sure. Take your time." Hannah covered the mouthpiece and turned to Lisa, who was staring at her curiously. "Connie Mac wants to use our ovens. Her supply van went into the ditch and the Winter Carnival cake is mush. I told Janie they could bake here."
    "Then I'd better make sure everything's clean." Lisa jumped up and grabbed a bottle of cleaning solution and a sponge. She wiped down the door of the cooler and then she started to giggle. "What?"
    "Now you know what Connie Mac wants from you. And you gave it to her, just like everybody else in town."
    "Hannah?" Janie came back on the line. "Mrs. Macintyre is very grateful and she wants to do something for you in return.'
    "That's not necessary, Janie."
    "But she insists. Norman is going to bring over his equipment and take Mrs. Macintyre's picture in your kitchen. She thought you'd want to hang it over your counter in the coffee shop."
    "That's. . . uh. . . very nice of her." Hannah hung up the phone and snorted. Hell would freeze over before she'd hang Connie Mac's picture over the counter in her shop!
    Blue Blueberry Muffins
    Preheat oven to 375'F, rack in the middle position
    ' cup melted butter (1 ' sticks) 1 cup sugar 2 beaten eggs (just whip them up with a fork) 2 teaspoons baking powder ' teaspoon salt 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries (no need to thaw if they're frozen) ' cup blueberry pie filling 2 cups plus one tablespoon flour (no need to sift) ' cup milk
    Crumb Topping: ' cup sugar 1/3 cup flour ' cup softened butter (' stick)
    Grease the bottoms only of a 12-cup muffin pan (or line the cups with cupcake papers). Melt the butter. Mix in the sugar. Then add the beaten eggs, baking powder, and salt, and mix thoroughly.
    Put one tablespoon of