Blackberry Crumble Read Free Page A

cut Sadie off by putting the newspaper on the table.
     
    Sadie couldn’t help but look down. Her own face stared up at her. She immediately looked to the masthead. The Denver Post —the largest newspaper in Colorado. Sadie wasn’t aware of the Post having run anything about her for several weeks. Where was that photo from, anyway? Her hair looked fabulous.
     
    “I realize coming to you this way isn’t exactly proper,” the woman said, drawing Sadie’s attention away from the newspaper. “But I don’t have time to waste. I don’t know if you believe in fate, Mrs. Hoffmiller, but I do. I believe in cosmic forces playing out in our lives from time to time, and I believe that this article coming out right now is no coincidence.” Her voice was soft, but intent, confident, and yet not overbearing.
     
    Right now? Sadie looked back at the paper, noticing the date for the first time. Friday, August 10th. That was today . She read the headline—“Modern Miss Marple: A Magnet for Murder?”—and felt a swirling heat take hold of her stomach as recent insecurities of sticking her nose in too many places it didn’t belong began rising from the corner of her mind where she’d been trying to stash them.
     
    “Mrs. Hoffmiller,” the woman said, causing Sadie to look up once more. “I really do need your help.” The woman’s face changed in an instant, her expression falling and her eyes filling with tears. “I think my father may have been murdered.”
     
    Blueberry Muffin Tops
     
    1⁄2 cup shortening
     
    1⁄4 cup butter
     
    1 egg
     
    1 cup sugar
     
    1 teaspoon vanilla
     
    1 1⁄2 teaspoons lemon zest (can use 1 teaspoon lemon juice instead)
     
    2 tablespoons milk
     
    2 cups all-purpose flour
     
    11⁄2 teaspoons baking powder
     
    1⁄2 teaspoon salt
     
    1 cup fresh blueberries, or frozen blueberries (no need to thaw)
     
    Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, cream the shortening, butter, egg, sugar, vanilla, lemon zest, and milk. In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients. Add to shortening mixture until just mixed. Fold in blueberries, careful not to crush the berries. The batter might be a little crumbly.
     
    Drop by teaspoonfuls (or 1-inch scoops) onto parchment or silicone-mat baking sheet (blueberries stick like crazy).
     
    Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until muffin tops are golden brown. Cool on cookie sheet for two minutes before moving to a rack to cool. Makes 3 dozen.
     
    Optional glaze
     
    11⁄2 tablespoons butter
     
    1 cup powdered sugar
     
    2 tablespoons lemon juice
     
    Mix all ingredients together. Drizzle over cookies while cookies are still warm.
     
    Note: A streusel topping might taste really good too!
     

Chapter 2
     
    Sadie blinked at the other woman. “Murdered?” An all too familiar thrill rose up from her open-toed, navy sling-back sandals and left her spine in an all-out tingle.
     
    The woman nodded and wiped quickly at her eyes, seemingly embarrassed over her tears.
     
    “What makes you think he was murdered?” Sadie asked automatically. Before the woman had a chance to answer, Sadie’s eyes were drawn to the newspaper again—“Magnet for Murder?” She started feeling squirmy.
     
    The doors at the back of the gym opened again, and laughter echoed through the room as four women—all Latham Club members—entered, their heads bobbing as they talked to one another while they clicked across the hardwood floor in their heels. Sadie looked at the clock. Ten minutes before the official start.
     
    “My name is May Sanderson,” the woman said, glancing warily at the other women. She opened her purse and began rummaging through it. After a moment she pulled out a pen, then leaned forward, writing something in the margins of the newspaper still lying on the table between them. “This is my cell phone number,” she said when she straightened. “Please call me when you’ve had time to think about what I’ve said. Money isn’t an issue, but time certainly