Second Honeymoons Can Be Murder (A Baby Boomer Mystery Book 6) Read online

  “Do you want to tell us more about what happened?” Nancy asked. I could tell from the expression on her face that she wouldn’t quit asking me until she’d heard every single detail.

  “I’ll try,” I said, biting my lip and attempting to put on a brave face. “But it won’t be easy. If it hadn’t been for the dogs, and Jim arriving just in time, I don’t know what would have happened.”

  “At least you and Mike are reconciled,” Claire said. “That’s right, isn’t it? All is well in mother/son land?”

  “Yes, thank goodness. He was horrified when he found out what Carrie was really up to. Jim, Mike and I, had a long session with Deputy Armstrong last night after Carrie was carted off to jail. Mike came clean and told Armstrong everything, including the fact that it was Carrie who’d encouraged him to lie. She was setting him up all along. Just to get back at me and hurt me as much as possible.”

  I paused for a minute, then said, “I’m not sure if I’m supposed to tell you this, but apparently Armstrong was already suspicious of Carrie, especially when she found out there were no female servers in the hotel dining room that night. She realized it was possible that Carrie had made the call anonymously, but she couldn’t figure out why she’d do it.”

  “That’s what I want to know, too, Carol,” Claire said. “Why did Carrie hate you so much? We all went to school with Charlie, and she didn’t hate us? At least I don’t think she did. Maybe she would have gotten around to us in time.”

  “Carrie blamed me for her mother’s suicide,” I said. “Even though I never even met the woman.”

  “But that’s absolutely crazy,” Nancy said. “Why?”

  “Apparently Charlie used to talk about me at home a lot,” I said. “About how I was his first real girlfriend, and how special I’d always be to him. When he insisted that his daughter be named after me, it sent his wife over the edge. Especially because she was already dealing with postpartum depression.” I paused in my sad tale and took a large gulp of coffee. I needed the caffeine desperately.

  “But Carrie was just a baby when her mother died,” Nancy argued. “That doesn’t make any sense. How could she know that her mother committed suicide…and because of you? I can’t imagine Charlie telling her.”

  I shook my head. “He didn’t. But Carrie was babbling nonstop in the patrol car on the way to the sheriff’s office. Carrie’s mother left a suicide note saying I was the reason why she had to kill herself, because Charlie never loved her the way he loved me. And Charlie saved the letter. Heaven knows why he did such a stupid thing. If he’d destroyed it, he’d probably still be alive. Anyway, Carrie found the letter a few months ago.”

  I started to cry. “I can’t blame Carrie for hating me. Not really.”

  “Poor child,” Claire said. “What a tragedy. It doesn’t sound like she’ll ever stand trial, though. I’m sure her lawyer will plead insanity.”

  “I guess when Jim and I were hired for The Second Honeymoon Game, and Charlie made such a big deal about it, Carrie saw her big chance for revenge. She decided she had to eliminate me,” I said.

  “But how?” Nancy asked. “How did she do it?”

  “I don’t have all the answers,” I snapped. “I’m sure Deputy Armstrong will figure it out.”

  “Maybe Carrie switched cars at the beach,” Claire suggested. “All those white Mercedes sedans looked alike to me.”

  “That makes sense,” Nancy said. “Remember, Bernardo said he heard a car on the causeway. It could have been Carrie, driving to the parking lot and switching the car she’d rigged to explode for the one you and Jim took to the beach. She set the timer, or whatever she used, and left the parking lot in your car. Poor Charlie turned the ignition switch and, well, boom….”

  “Maybe,” I said. “I remember hearing that Carrie had fixed all the Mercedes so they operated on the same key. I guess it could have happened that way. But right now, I’m exhausted. I’m not going to try and figure it out.”

  Claire opened her mouth once more. “I hate to bring this up, but what about the television show? Is it still a go? And will there be a memorial service for Charlie today?”

  I yawned again. “The memorial service is off. And, according to Jim, the television show’s on hold indefinitely. Bernardo has pulled out his money, and Kurt Armitage is scrambling to find a new backer. Unfortunately, Bernardo’s also taken back his private jet, so we may have to hitchhike our way back to Fairport.”

  My cell phone pinged, and I realized I had a text from Jenny. With an attachment. I squinted to decipher it without my glasses.

  Thought you’d like to see how our home improvement project is coming along. You’ll meet the finished project in twenty-eight more weeks.

  Love, Jenny and Mark

  It was a sonogram. We were having a baby!

  Key Lime Pie—a Gift from Florida

  Several years ago, Key Lime Pie was chosen by the Florida legislature as the Official State Dessert. And if you try these recipes, you’ll immediately agree. Be sure to use real key limes. Their taste really makes a difference.

  Enjoy!

  White Chocolate Key Lime Pie with Coconut Graham Cracker Crust

  A light and refreshing dessert to enjoy on a warm summer's evening. Your guests will think you slaved for hours, but it comes together in a snap, making a lovely presentation!

  GRAHAM CRACKER AND TOASTED COCONUT CRUST:

  1 1/2 c graham cracker crumbs, approx. 9 whole crackers

  3 T white sugar

  1/3 c unsalted butter, melted

  5 T shredded coconut, preferably unsweetened

  FILLING:

  3/4 c white chocolate chips, melted (Nestles works well, as does Ghiradelli's white chocolate melting chips)

  14 oz sweetened, condensed milk (not evaporated milk)

  8 oz mascarpone cheese, room temperature

  1/2 c plus 2 T fresh squeezed lime juice (juice of appx. 5 large key limes)

  1 T lime zest

  1.) To prepare the crust: Preheat oven to 325. Combine graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, sugar and coconut in a large bowl and stir until well mixed. Press evenly into an ungreased 9-inch (preferably glass) pie plate, working part way up the sides. Bake 10 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely. You can use a pre-made crust, but you’ll miss the coconut, trust me!

  2.) To make filling: Place chocolate chips in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at medium power (50%) at 30 second intervals until melted, stirring after each interval. Stir until smooth. Combine melted chocolate and sweetened condensed milk, mascarpone, lime juice and lime zest. Whisk or beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Pour into cooled crust and smooth top. Chill at least 4 hours, or place in freezer for 15-20 minutes just before serving. Top/pipe decoratively with freshly whipped cream, or if preferred, serve whipped topping separately. Garnish with toasted coconut flakes and lime slices and/or zest.

  Recipe provided by Sandra Tatsuno, Dennis MA

  Fully Loaded Key Lime Pie (about 519 calories per slice)

  CRUST:

  Crush 2 c graham crackers until fine

  Or a half and half mix of graham crackers and your favorite cereal (honey nut Cheerios works great but corn flakes or rice chex works well too)

  Add ½ c softened butter

  2 T sugar

  Mix well and press into 9-inch pie plate

  To bake: Bake at 350 for 10 minutes, let cool

  FILLING:

  1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk

  3 large egg yolks

  ½ c Key Lime juice

  ¼ c buttermilk

  Add filling to cooled pie shell

  Bake 350 for 10-12 minutes.

  Cool and serve with whipped cream.

  Gluten Free Key Lime Pie (about 510 calories per slice)

  CRUST:

  Crush 2 c gluten-free graham crackers or crunchy cookies of your choice crushed until a fine crumb

  Add ½ c softened unsalted butter


  2 T white sugar

  Mix well and press into 9-inch pie plate

  Bake at 350 for 10 minutes, let cool

  FILLING:

  1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk

  3 large egg yolks

  ½ c Key Lime juice

  Add filling to cooled pie shell

  Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.

  Cool and serve with whipped cream.

  Reduced Calorie Key Lime Pie (about 290 calories per slice)

  CRUST:

  Crush 2 c reduced-fat graham crackers crushed into a fine crumb

  Add ½ c reduced fat butter substitute

  2 T Splenda

  Mix and press into 9-inch pie plate

  Bake at 350 for 10 minutes, let cool

  FILLING:

  1 14 oz fat-free sweetened condensed milk

  ¾ c egg substitute

  2 T Key Lime juice

  ½ c reduced fat Greek yogurt

  Add filling to cooled pie shell

  Bake at 350 for10-12 minutes.

  Cool and serve with non-fat whipped cream

  Recipes provided by Chef Paulette DiAngi, Osterville MA

  About the Author

  An early member of the Baby Boomer generation, Susan Santangelo has been a feature writer, drama critic and editor for daily and weekly newspapers in the New York metropolitan area, including Cosmopolitan magazine. A seasoned public relations and marketing professional, she has designed and managed not-for-profit events and programs for over 25 years, and was principal of her own public relations firm, Events Unlimited, in Princeton NJ for ten years. She also served as Director of Special Events and Volunteers for Carnegie Hall during the Hall's 1990-1991 Centennial season.

  Susan divides her time between Cape Cod MA and the west coast of Florida. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers and the Cape Cod Writers Center, and shares her life with her husband Joe and two very spoiled English cocker spaniels, Boomer and Lilly. Boomer also serves as the model for the books’ front covers, and Lilly is pictured on the back cover of this title.

  A portion of the sales from the Baby Boomer Mysteries is donated to the Breast Cancer Survival Center, a non-profit organization based in Connecticut which Susan founded in 1999 after being diagnosed with cancer herself.

  You can contact Susan at [email protected] or find her on Facebook and Twitter. She’d love to hear from you.