Джоанна Флюк - Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder

“That’s all right,” Lonnie said. “You can ride home with Bill from there. Just give me the keys and I’ll have your car dropped off at your place later.”

* * *

“I’m so sorry about your cheesecake, Hannah,” Andrea said, taking another bite. “I never should have taken it with me to Mayor Bascomb’s office.”

“It’s all right, Andrea,” Hannah assured her. “You didn’t know what was going to happen.”

“I know, but . . . it’s so good!”

“Yes, it is,” Norman said, taking another bite of his slice. “It’s the best cheesecake I’ve ever tasted.”

“I think so, too,” Delores echoed the sentiment.

Michelle nodded. “And so do I.” She turned to Hannah. “Do we have enough to give Mike and Lonnie a slice when they get here?”

“We certainly do. And Mother will have several pieces left over for Doc.”

“Oh, good!” Delores looked relieved. “I know he’s going to ask me for some when he gets back from the hospital.”

By tacit agreement, they’d all decided not to ask Andrea any questions about what had happened at Mayor Bascomb’s office until after Mike and Lonnie had interviewed her.

“I’ll cut slices for anyone who wants some right now and put the rest in the refrigerator for you and Doc,” Hannah told her mother, getting up to go to her mother’s kitchen. The moment she got there, she picked up the phone to call Doc. There was an important question she had to ask him.

“Doc!” Hannah said when Doc picked up the phone. “I need to ask you something.”

“If it’s about Mayor Bascomb, I can’t answer it yet, Hannah.”

“No, Doc. It’s not that. I was just wondering what kind of tranquilizer you gave Andrea. She’s acting almost normal and she was a wreck before you gave that shot to her.”

“So you really need to know, Hannah?”

Hannah took a moment to consider that question. “No, I guess I don’t. But I’m curious. And I’m also wondering if I should refill her champagne glass.”

“Have Mike and Lonnie gotten there to interview her yet?”

“No, not yet.”

“All right then. Has she eaten anything?”

“Yes, she had a slice of my Triple Chocolate Cheesecake. And she admitted she had one earlier before she took Mayor Bascomb a slice.”

“Good. Then she can have two glasses of champagne, no more,” Doc said quickly.

“Two? In spite of the fact that you said only one glass right after you gave her the injection?”

“That’s right. Two glasses won’t hurt her a bit.”

“But . . . I didn’t think people who’d taken some kind of tranquilizer could have alcohol.”

“That’s right. They can’t.”

Hannah began to frown. “But . . . you gave Andrea a tranquilizer, didn’t you?”

“Did she calm down, Hannah?”

“Yes, right after you gave her the injection. By the time we got up to the penthouse garden, she was completely calm.”

“I’m glad it worked so well. It was the power of suggestion, Hannah.”

Hannah’s frown grew deeper. “What do you mean, Doc? You did give her some kind of injection, didn’t you?”

“No, but she thought I did. It was all smoke and mirrors, Hannah.”

“Then you gave her a placebo instead?” Hannah asked.

“No, it wasn’t even an injection. I just gave her a little pinch and a second or two later, I rubbed the spot. Andrea thought I’d given her a tranquilizer, but it was all the power of suggestion.”

“Well . . . it worked,” Hannah admitted, and then her suspicious mind gave her a nudge. “Have you ever done anything like that with me, Doc?”

“No, it wouldn’t have worked with you.”

“Why not?”

“Because you’re curious by nature and you question everything. You would have asked me what I gave you, how large the dose was, and what effect it would have on you. That’s one of the things I admire the most about you, honey. You have an inquiring mind.”

Hannah didn’t say anything, but she felt very complimented and she began to smile.

“I’ve got to go, Hannah. They just buzzed me to come downstairs. Did you save a piece of that cheesecake for me?”

“Yes, there’s plenty left, Doc.”

“Just don’t let Mike see it or there won’t be any left!”

Hannah laughed. “I won’t. Since Lonnie’s already eaten the main course, I’ll feed Mike and Bill the rest of the noodles and Stroganoff Light. Then they can have coffee and cheesecake.”

“Don’t let Mike start looking for a second slice.”

“He can look, but he won’t find it. I wrapped up the rest of the cheesecake and put it in the vegetable drawer of mother’s refrigerator.”

“Good girl!” Doc sounded relieved. “After Mike finishes the rest of the stroganoff and has a piece of your cheesecake, there’s no way he’ll open your mother’s vegetable drawer to pilfer a cucumber that’s seen better days, or a limp stalk of celery.”

TRIPLE CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F., rack in the middle position.

For the Crust:

2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs (I used Nabisco Nilla Wafers – measure AFTER crushing)

6 Tablespoons salted butter (¾ stick)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Cheesecake Batter:

1 and ½ cups white (granulated) sugar

3 eight-ounce packages brick-style cream cheese (I used Philadelphia in the silver packages) softened to room temperature

1 cup mayonnaise (I used Best Foods which is

Hellman’s in the east)

6 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup milk chocolate chips (I used Nestle)

1 cup white chocolate chips (I used Nestle White Baking Chips)

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (I used Nestle)

For the Topping:

2 cups sour cream

½ cup white (granulated) sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For Decorating:

Sweetened whipped cream

Chocolate curls

Edible flowers

Raspberries or strawberries

To prepare your pans:

You will need an 8-inch or 9-inch springform baking pan, the kind with a removable bottom. You will also need a jellyroll pan with sides or a cookie sheet with sides that is large enough to hold your springform pan. Line it with a sheet of foil to catch any drips.

Prepare your springform pan by spraying it the inside with Pam or another nonstick cooking spray.

Cut a circle of parchment paper large enough to cover the bottom of your cheesecake pan.

To make the crust:

Place your crushed vanilla cookie crumbs in a small bowl. Add the melted butter and the teaspoon of vanilla extract. Use a fork from your silverware drawer to mix the crumbs with the butter and vanilla. When everything is thoroughly mixed, dump the crumb mixture into the bottom of your prepared springform pan.

Spread the crumb mixture evenly over the bottom of the pan and 1-inch up the sides.

Place your springform pan inside your freezer to chill while you mix up your topping and cheesecake batter.

To Make the Topping:

In a small bowl, mix the 2 cups of sour cream, half-cup of white sugar, and teaspoon of vanilla extract together. Once everything has been thoroughly combined, refrigerate the bowl with the topping.

To Make the Cheesecake Batter: