Red Velvet Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke

Pie.”
    “Sounds wonderful.” Norman gestured toward the bag she was holding. “Open it. It’s for you.”
    Hannah opened the bag and pulled out a bottle of champagne. But it wasn’t just any bottle of champagne, and she gripped the bottle even tighter. “Dom Perignon,” she breathed, reading the label.
    “I thought you might like it.”
    “Like it? Like it? This is om Perignon. It’s even more expensive than the champagne Mother likes!”
    “I know, but this is a split. It wasn’t as expensive as a whole bottle and it only holds two glasses.”
    “Then you’re going to have some champagne with me?” The surprise was clear in Hannah’s voice. Norman didn’t drink and she knew the reason why he didn’t. Was tonight some kind of an exception?
    “Not for me, thanks. I brought it for you.”
    Hannah’s heart beat a little faster as something occurred to her. “Enough for two glasses, but you don’t drink. Are you trying to get me . . .” She paused, trying to come up with the right word, but settled for a euphemism that fell short of what she was intending. “Are you trying to get me compliant ?”
    “Compliant?” Norman gave a short laugh. “That would be a lost cause! There isn’t enough champagne in the world to get you compliant . Just remember that the more champagne you drink, the sexier I look.”
    Now it was Hannah’s turn to laugh and she did. It was the first good laugh she’d had since she’d visited Barbara at the hospital and it felt good.
    “It’s good to hear you laugh, Hannah.” Norman looked pleased. “But really, suit yourself. Drink it all, or don’t drink it all. That’s completely up to you. If you don’t want the second glass, that’s okay with me.”
    Right. Sure . Hannah’s mind went into sarcasm mode. You brought me a bottle of one of the best champagnes in the world, champagne I’ve never tasted before and probably won’t ever get the chance to taste again. And you actually think I’m going to drink one glass and dump the rest down the garbage disposal?!
    When Hannah looked over at Norman, she saw that he was grinning. Had he guessed she was having an internal dialogue with her mind? “You’ve got to be kidding about throwing part of this out.”
    “You bet I am. Let’s enjoy the night, Hannah. I know I will. Both of us need to relax and have fun, now that we’re about to gear up for two more investigations.”
    Hannah blinked in surprise. “I know you’re talking about Clayton Wallace. We have to prove his death was accidental so we can get that insurance money for his son. But you said two investigations.”
    “Yes. We have to investigate Barbara’s fall.”
    Hannah put two and two together and swallowed hard. “Then Barbara wasn’t imagining things when she said someone tried to kill her?”
    “Doc and I don’t think so.”
    “Then you believe she has a brother who surfaced for the party and pushed her off the roof?”
    “No, I don’t believe the brother part of it. She’s clearly confused about that. But we do think someone attempted to kill her. Doc and I came up with a possible scenario, and I’ll tell you all about it after dinner. Right now I want to open this champagne for you.”
    Norman took the bottle and opened the champagne while Hannah got an empty champagne glass for her and a tall glass of lemonade for him. She was about to go back into the kitchen for the appetizer tray that she’d prepared when Norman reached out to stop her. “Sit down, Hannah,” he invited, patting the couch next to him.
    “Just let me get the cheese platter and then I will.”
    “The cheese platter can wait. Try the champagne first. I want to see if you like it.”
    “Of course I’ll like it,” Hannah said with a smile as she sat down beside him and accepted the glass. She took a sip and gave a blissful sigh. The champagne was every bit as good as its publicity. “Lovely,” she breathed. “Are you sure you . . .”
    “No, thanks,” Norman