Double Fudge Brownie Murder (Hannah Swensen series Book 18) by Joanne Fluke Page B

scooper down at The Cookie Jar.)
     
    Fill the muffin tins ¾ full.
     
    Drop a rounded teaspoon of the filling into the center of each cupcake.
     
    Bake at 350 degrees F. for 30 minutes. Take the pans from the oven and let the cupcakes cool on a wire rack or a cold stovetop burner. Do not remove the cupcakes until they are completely cool. (Rhanna says that this may take some willpower on your part because they smell SO good!)
     
    Rhanna’s Note: These cupcakes are so good you will want to eat more than one, but they are very rich. They are great for picnics!
     
    Yield: 20 to 24 yummy cupcakes that everyone will love.
     

Chapter Five
     
    “W e knocked on your door, but you didn’t answer,” Andrea said when Hannah met her sisters for breakfast the next morning.
    “What time was that?”
    “Eleven-thirty. Michelle and I couldn’t sleep so we decided to go for a midnight swim.”
    Hannah didn’t see any reason to lie about where she’d been. “I didn’t answer because I wasn’t there. I was still in Ross’s suite.”
    “You were?” A broad smile spread over Michelle’s face. “Good for you! I was wondering if that’s where you were.”
    Andrea’s eyes narrowed. “And just what were you doing in Ross’s suite?”
    “Watching his latest projects. He brought DVDs of the short films he’s going to use for his interview at KCOW Television and he asked me to critique them.”
    “So you were critiquing Ross’s films until midnight?” Michelle asked, looking disappointed.
    “Not midnight. We didn’t finish until after two in the morning.”
    “That’s not very romantic!” Michelle complained. “You should have told Ross you’d critique his films today and talked him into going to the grotto pool for a midnight swim.”
    “That does sound lovely, but I couldn’t suggest that.”
    “Why not?” Andrea asked, and then she started to frown. “You brought your bathing suit, didn’t you? I reminded you to bring it.”
    “I brought it, but all the shaping panels died and went to elastic heaven. Believe me, if Ross had seen me in that swimsuit, it wouldn’t have been romantic!”
    “Then we’ll go shopping right after breakfast,” Andrea decided. “We’ll get you a gorgeous, sexy, new swimsuit.”
    “Okay, but that’s a tall order.”
    “Not in Las Vegas. They have everything here.” Andrea pulled her phone out of her purse. “I’ll check online right now and find out where we should go.”
    Michelle was silent for a moment, watching Andrea operate her phone and then she turned to Hannah. “Let me get this straight. You were in Ross’s suite until two in the morning and all you were doing was watching his films?”
    Hannah gave a little smile as she thought of a way to neatly sidestep the question. “I can’t answer that, because a lady never tells.”
    “Not even her sisters?”
    The smile on Hannah’s face turned a bit mischievous. “Not even her sisters,” she said.
     
    “You really look great, Hannah. That swimsuit is a knockout on you. How about a nice tall lemonade?”
    “I’d love one,” Hannah said, smiling at Ross.
    “Andrea?” Ross asked.
    “Yes, please.”
    “Me, too,” Michelle said even before Ross could ask her. “I’ll go along and help you carry them back.”
    “Told you!” Andrea crowed, just as soon as Ross and Michelle were out of earshot. “Aren’t you glad you bought that suit?”
    “Yes. My checking account isn’t, but I am.”
    “And aren’t you glad I talked you into going for the dark teal instead of that boring black one?”
    “Yes. This is much better.”
    “All right then!” Andrea looked pleased as she dipped her foot in the water. “Isn’t this a real treat? There’s no place in Lake Eden where we could wear our swimsuits now and dip our toes in water that wasn’t almost frozen.”
    Hannah was about to agree with her when she thought of one place where swimsuits would be entirely appropriate. “Oh, yes there is. There’s