Christmas Sweets Read online

  Books by Joanne Fluke

  Hannah Swensen Mysteries

  CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE MURDER

  STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE MURDER

  BLUEBERRY MUFFIN MURDER

  LEMON MERINGUE PIE MURDER

  FUDGE CUPCAKE MURDER

  SUGAR COOKIE MURDER

  PEACH COBBLER MURDER

  CHERRY CHEESECAKE MURDER

  KEY LIME PIE MURDER

  CANDY CANE MURDER

  CARROT CAKE MURDER

  CREAM PUFF MURDER

  PLUM PUDDING MURDER

  APPLE TURNOVER MURDER

  DEVIL’S FOOD CAKE MURDER

  GINGERBREAD COOKIE MURDER

  CINNAMON ROLL MURDER

  RED VELVET CUPCAKE MURDER

  BLACKBERRY PIE MURDER

  DOUBLE FUDGE BROWNIE MURDER

  WEDDING CAKE MURDER

  CHRISTMAS CARAMEL MURDER

  BANANA CREAM PIE MURDER

  RASPBERRY DANISH MURDER

  CHRISTMAS CAKE MURDER

  CHOCOLATE CREAM PIE MURDER

  JOANNE FLUKE’S LAKE EDEN

  COOKBOOK

  Suspense Novels

  VIDEO KILL

  WINTER CHILL

  DEAD GIVEAWAY

  THE OTHER CHILD

  COLD JUDGMENT

  FATAL IDENTITY

  FINAL APPEAL

  VENGEANCE IS MINE

  EYES

  WICKED

  DEADLY MEMORIES

  THE STEPCHILD

  Books by Laura Levine

  THIS PEN FOR HIRE

  LAST WRITES

  KILLER BLONDE

  SHOES TO DIE FOR

  THE PMS MURDER

  DEATH BY PANTYHOSE

  CANDY CANE MURDER

  KILLING BRIDEZILLA

  KILLER CRUISE

  DEATH OF A TROPHY WIFE

  GINGERBREAD COOKIE MURDER

  PAMPERED TO DEATH

  DEATH OF A NEIGHBORHOOD WITCH

  KILLING CUPID

  DEATH BY TIARA

  MURDER HAS NINE LIVES

  DEATH OF A BACHELORETTE

  DEATH OF A NEIGHBORHOOD SCROOGE

  DEATH OF A GIGOLO

  Books by Leslie Meier

  MISTLETOE MURDER

  TIPPY TOE MURDER

  TRICK OR TREAT MURDER

  BACK TO SCHOOL MURDER

  VALENTINE MURDER

  CHRISTMAS COOKIE MURDER

  TURKEY DAY MURDER

  WEDDING DAY MURDER

  BIRTHDAY PARTY MURDER

  FATHER’S DAY MURDER

  STAR SPANGLED MURDER

  NEW YEAR’S EVE MURDER

  BAKE SALE MURDER

  CANDY CANE MURDER

  ST. PATRICK’S DAY MURDER

  MOTHER’S DAY MURDER

  WICKED WITCH MURDER

  GINGERBREAD COOKIE MURDER

  ENGLISH TEA MURDER

  CHOCOLATE COVERED MURDER

  EASTER BUNNY MURDER

  CHRISTMAS CAROL MURDER

  FRENCH PASTRY MURDER

  CANDY CORN MURDER

  BRITISH MANOR MURDER

  EGGNOG MURDER

  TURKEY TROT MURDER

  SILVER ANNIVERSARY MURDER

  YULE LOG MURDER

  HAUNTED HOUSE MURDER

  INVITATION ONLY MURDER

  Published by Kensington Publishing Corporation

  CHRISTMAS SWEETS

  JOANNE FLUKE

  LAURA LEVINE

  LESLIE MEIER

  KENSINGTON BOOKS

  www.kensingtonbooks.com

  All copyrighted material within is Attributor Protected.

  KENSINGTON BOOKS are published by

  Kensington Publishing Corp.

  119 West 40th Street

  New York, NY 10018

  Compilation copyright © 2019 by Kensington Publishing Corp. “Twelve Desserts of Christmas” copyright © 2006 by Joanne Fluke “Nightmare on Elf Street” copyright © 2013 by Laura Levine “The Christmas Thief” copyright © 2012 by Leslie Meier

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

  Kensington and the K logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.

  ISBN: 978-1-4967-2692-6

  ISBN-13: 978-1-4967-2692-6

  ISBN-10: 1-4967-2692-8

  Table of Contents

  Also by

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  THE TWELVE DESSERTS OF CHRISTMAS

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  NIGHTMARE ON ELF STREET

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  THE CHRISTMAS THIEF

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  THE TWELVE DESSERTS OF CHRISTMAS

  JOANNE FLUKE

  Dear Hannah Fans,

  I’m really excited about seeing my Hannah Swensen story “Twelve Desserts of Christmas” in print again! I wrote it in 2006, and Hannah has experienced a lot of life since then. She’s received three proposals, accepted one, danced at her mother’s wedding reception, become an aunt twice-over, and solved more than twenty-five murder cases. Life speeds past at warp speed in Lake Eden, Minnesota, the little murder capital of the world!

  In “Twelve Desserts of Christmas” you’ll find twelve of my favorite dessert recipes. Hannah has been asked to bake desserts for a boarding school a few miles from town. It’s the holiday season, but six children are still at the boarding school, unable to go home for various reasons. Hannah brings joy and plenty of sweet treats to the kids and the two teachers who have volunteered to stay with them.

  Of course there’s a mystery. There’s always a mystery. And, just as you expect if you’ve read the Hannah series, Hannah plays a major part in solving it. There’s plenty of fun, some wonderfully yummy recipes, a generous helping of humor, and a little romance to sweeten the story.

  I do hope you like “Twelve Desserts of Christmas” and I hope you’ll read Hannah’s other books. Her newest adventure will debut in March 2020 and it’s called Coconut Layer Cake Murder. And now I have to sign off because my stove timer is ringing and I have a Coconut Layer Cake about to come out of the oven! It smells simply mouth-watering, and I wish you were here to share it with me.

  Life is short, so eat dessert first!

  Joanne Fluke

  Chapter One

  It was a mild day by Minnesota standards. The temperature was in the low teens, and there was no wind to kick up the foot and a half of snow on the ground. The skies were leaden gray and more snow was predicted before the day was over, but Julie Jansen didn’t have time to think about the weather.

  She fairly flew across the quad, sprinting for the oldest and most impressive brick building on the campus. Only the corrugated rubber soles on her snow boots kept her from wiping out as she
hit the patch of ice that always formed near the flagpole. Julie was breathing hard as she pulled open the heavy door to the main building and stopped at the cloakroom to make a lightning-fast switch from boots to shoes. Then the race was on again and she dashed down the hallway, breaking the school rule about running in the halls, her dark blond ponytail whipping from side to side the way it had when she’d been a cheerleader at Jordan High. There’d been no time to braid her hair and put it up in the elaborate style she wore in the classroom to make her look older. She’d slept through her alarm, and there had been barely enough time to dress. It was departure day at Lakes Academy and Julie was late for the final faculty meeting before Christmas vacation.

  Julie skidded around the corner, the ends of her silk scarf flapping, and headed into the home stretch. Perhaps they hadn’t started yet. Maybe Dr. Caulder had gotten a last-minute call and she could slide into her chair before he came in. But her hopes died a quick death as she neared her destination. The door to the conference room was standing open and she could hear the headmaster’s stentorian voice. His head was turned away from the door and Julie did her best to slink in unnoticed, but just as she thought she was going to succeed, he turned to look her way. Julie sank into her chair, her cheeks hot and her breath coming in little puffs from the exertion. Could her students possibly be correct when they claimed that Dr. Caulder had eyes in the back of his head?

  “We’re so glad you decided to join us, Miss Jansen,” Dr. Caulder intoned, and thirteen pairs of eyes turned to stare at her disapprovingly. The fourteenth pair, a warm brown color that reminded Julie of melted chocolate, held only compassion for her embarrassment and what Julie hoped was the beginnings of romance. Matt Sherwood, the second-newest teacher at Lakes Academy, knew exactly why she was late. They’d attended the Christmas program in the auditorium and after their students had left, they’d taken a stroll under the tall pines that stood like sentinels outside the main gate of the academy and he’d held her close to his side. Shivering a bit after the cold excursion, Julie had suggested sharing the thermos of hot chocolate the cook always left out for teachers who worked late, and they’d stayed up until almost three in the morning.

  Julie tore her eyes away from Matt’s and turned to the headmaster to apologize. But instead of scowling, Dr. Caulder was smiling at her! That was ominous, and Julie clamped her lips shut and let her gaze skitter away. When she’d first arrived at the academy in September, one of the older teachers had told her that the only time Dr. Caulder ever smiled at a teacher was when he was getting ready to put one over on her.

  “Ah, the enthusiasm of youth!” Dr. Caulder’s smile grew a bit wider. “I happen to know that Miss Jansen was up very late last night, but here she is, only five minute late, ready to share her love of learning and her zest for life with us.”

  Uh-oh, Julie groaned under her breath. Dr. Caulder must have had his spies out last night. It was recommended that teachers retire before midnight and most of the older staff did just that. But someone had spotted her with Matt and squealed on them. If Julie ever found out who the rat with the big mouth was, she’d . . .

  “This is one of the reasons I’m sure Miss Jansen won’t mind filling in for us this year. If my wife and I weren’t expected at her sister’s, we’d be glad to shoulder the responsibility. Unfortunately, it’s a bit late to change our plans. We’ll be back here the day after Christmas to assume charge.”

  What’s he talking about? Julie shot a silent question to her co-conspirator in late-night conversation, but Matt gave a little shrug of the broad shoulders she found so attractive. It seemed her partner in after-curfew crime didn’t know either.

  “As always, we’re the last to know,” Dr. Caulder said with a sigh. “The reasons are varied, some legitimate and others . . . shall we say, impossibly lame?”

  There were several titters from the older members of the staff. Julie shot another glace at Matt and was pleased to see that he looked almost as puzzled as she felt.

  “Six unfortunate children will be staying here over the semester break,” Dr. Caulder went on to explain, “three girls and three boys. That means two teachers, one male and one female, must be in residence to supervise them. This is where you enter the picture, Miss Jansen. Because you’re unmarried and have no pressing family obligation, I would appreciate it if you’d stay with the girls. Of course you certainly have the option to decline. And if you do, we’ll simply have to make other arrangements.”

  Julie thought about it for a moment. She didn’t have anywhere she had to go for Christmas. Her parents were taking the Christmas cruise they’d always dreamed of, and she’d planned to spend the holidays with her older brother. They’d never been close, and David and his wife would probably be relieved if she canceled. Then her nieces wouldn’t have to double up to give her a bedroom.

  “Miss Jansen?”

  Julie drew a deep breath and jumped in with both feet. “I’ll be glad to stay, Dr. Caulder.”

  “Excellent! All of us appreciate your sacrifice.”

  Julie noticed with surprise that there were smiles and nods around the table. It seemed all she had to do to be accepted by the rest of the staff was to take a job nobody else wanted. She smiled back and waited for the other shoe to drop. Dr. Caulder needed a male teacher for the boys and there were only two unmarried male teachers on the staff. One was Mr. Leavenger, the math teacher. He was only a year or two away from retirement and a bit of a curmudgeon. Spending Christmas vacation with Mr. Leavenger as her sole adult companion would seem endless, but she could handle it if she had to. The only other unmarried teacher was . . . dared she hope?

  “Mr. Sherwood,” Dr. Caulder voiced the name that was dancing across the screen of Julie’s mind. “I notice that you have no family commitments. Would you mind staying here with Miss Jansen and supervising the boys?”

  “Not at all.”

  “I thought not,” Dr. Caulder said dryly.

  Matt had answered so quickly, Julie’s cheeks felt hot and she hoped she wasn’t blushing. The kiss they’d shared at her door had been a lot more romantic than casual. And as far as Julie was concerned, it certainly beat their former colleague-to-colleague friendship. A little tingle of anticipation swept from the top of her head right down to her toes. If the speed of Matt’s answer was any indication, perhaps he was starting to feel about her the way she already felt about him.

  * * *

  There was the usual bustle as the parents arrived. Suitcases were dropped and spilled open, apologies filled the crisp air as parents collided in a headlong rush to hug their children, and students hollered out their good-byes to their friends. The first car left, followed by the second, and less than an hour later the last car drove away through the freshly fallen snow, leaving six dejected children and two concerned teachers in their wake.

  Julie glanced down at the three girls she was shepherding. Six-year-old Hope looked more dejected than hopeful, her older sister Joy wasn’t at all joyful, and Serena, the oldest of the girls at almost thirteen, was about as far from serene as a girl could get. One look at Matt’s boys and Julie knew they were in big trouble. Spenser, who’d just turned fourteen, and Gary and Larry, ten-year-old twins whose parents were getting a divorce, didn’t look any more cheerful than the girls. She had to do something to take their minds off the fact that they wouldn’t be with their families this Christmas.

  “Let’s plan something special for this afternoon,” Matt said, beating Julie to the punch. “We’ve got the whole place to ourselves and we can do anything we want.”

  “Anything?” Julie asked him, winking at the girls.

  “Well . . . almost anything. What did you have in mind, Miss Jansen?”

  Julie gave him a mischievous smile. “I want to borrow a pair of roller skates and skate down the main hallway.”

  “But that’s against the rules, Miss Jansen,” Serena pointed out. “It’s double demerits.”

  “Then it should be double the fun. What do you ha
ve to do to get a single demerit?”

  “Well . . . you get one if you eat in your room, and one if you run in the hall.”

  “Okay. Let’s do those too! We’ll eat ice cream in our rooms straight out of the carton.” Julie noticed that this drew smiles from all the kids, so she went on. “I ran in the halls this morning when I was late to the teacher’s meeting, and it was great. We can line up and have a race from the front door all the way to Dr. Caulder’s office and back again. And when we’re done with that, we’ll let Hope decide what’s next. How about it, Hope? What would you like to do?”

  “I want to talk real loud in the library.” Hope’s eyes began to sparkle. “That’s against the rules.”

  “And I want to dance on top of my teacher’s desk,” Joy chimed in. “What do you want to do, Serena?”

  “I want to draw a mustache on Dr. Caulder’s picture.”

  Larry gasped loudly. “You can’t do that! He’ll find out . . .”

  “. . . you did it,” Gary took over his twin’s thought, “and he’ll give you a million demerits!”

  “No, he won’t, not if I wash it off before he gets back. What do you want to do, Spense?”

  “I want to climb up to the bell tower and throw snowballs.”

  “Us too!” Gary seconded it. “Larry and I . . .”

  “. . . always wanted to do that,” Larry finished the sentence for him.

  “No way,” Matt said, and everyone turned to look at him. Was he going to be a stickler and enforce the rules? But then Matt started to grin, and everyone knew he’d been teasing. “I won’t let you climb up to the bell tower unless I get to throw the first snowball.”

  “Deal!” the boys shouted, and Julie noticed that everyone was wearing a smile . . . everyone except Hope, who looked worried again.

  “What is it, Hope?” Julie asked her.

  “I saw Mrs. Dryer leave. Are we going to starve to death before she comes back?”