Hannah smiled. This boded well for their marriage. “I hope everything works out, Tom.”
“So do I. I know we should spend more time together. It’s just that Lynne’s been busy doing commercials for a cosmetic company and I’ve been swamped with work. It seems like we’re never home at the same time anymore. And that’s why I called this morning and booked a twenty-day cruise. I know Lynne doesn’t have any assignments until the middle of next month, and I’ve told all my clients that I won’t be available by phone or e-mail during that time.”
“That’s wonderful, Tom,” Hannah said. “Does Lynne enjoy being on the ocean?”
“She loves it. And I booked the owner’s suite on her favorite cruise line.”
“Which one is that?”
“Gala. Lynne really enjoys their specialty restaurants and the Jacuzzi on the top deck. She likes to sit in the Jacuzzi with me and watch the sun set over the water.”
“That sounds lovely,” Hannah commented, but her mind was racing. The beach towel that Norman had found in the clubhouse had been taken from a ship in the Gala fleet. “Does Lynne have a favorite ship?”
“Yes, the Expedition. We were on it for our honeymoon.”
Find out more, Hannah’s suspicious mind prodded her. But before she could open her mouth, her rational mind reminded her, Lots of people go on cruises. This may not mean anything at all.
But it could mean something, her suspicious mind argued. Think of a way to find out more.
Okay. Think of a way, but be very careful, her rational mind cautioned. If Tom is the person who pushed Clara down and stole her phone, you don’t want to ask anything that’ll let him know that you suspect him.
Hannah thought fast, remembering what she’d noticed in her condo clubhouse. Ask Tom if he lost a pair of binoculars, her suspicious mind prodded.
No, don’t do that! her rational mind argued. That question is way out of left field.
What do you mean? Hannah’s suspicious mind asked.
It’s simple. If Tom is the person who pushed Clara down in the snow, stole her phone, took her door key, and gained access to the clubhouse, you’ll tip him off that you know. Besides, why would he go in the condo clubhouse and use his binoculars? It just doesn’t make sense.
Oh, yes it does! I thought you were the rational one here! Just let me explain it to you. Clara took a photo of Tom and Tom knew it. He didn’t want to be seen right outside the condo complex so he pushed Clara down, stole her phone and her door key, got in the clubhouse, and probably stayed there for several nights.
That tells us what you think he might have done, but why would Tom stay in the clubhouse instead of going to Minneapolis? And why did he need those binoculars?
Hannah thought about the table where she’d found the binoculars. It faced her building and it would enable Tom to watch for anyone entering her condo.
Very good! both sides of her mind exclaimed at once. And then her suspicious mind carried it even further. Tom was watching to see if Ross would come out to her condo.
But how will you discover if that’s true? the rational part of her mind asked.
The Buffalo Plaid hat! the suspicious part of Hannah’s mind answered the question. Tom left his coat and hat on the rack by the front door in the coffee shop. All I have to do is figure out some way to look at that coatrack.
“Let me put on another pot of coffee,” Hannah said, smiling at Tom. “You’re still shaking from the cold and you’re going to need more than one cup. I’m going up front to grab your coat from the rack. You have to get warm for the drive out to the Lake Eden Inn.”
“Thanks, Hannah,” Tom said, still cupping his hands around his coffee mug and lifting it to take a sip. “But am I keeping you here when you want to lock up and leave?”
“Not at all,” Hannah said quickly, gesturing toward the chocolate cooling on the work station. “I still have to dip some peanut butter candy balls in this chocolate and put them in the cooler for the night. Don’t worry, Tom. I was going to work for another half hour or so anyway. Just let me put on that pot of coffee and I’ll get your coat.”
Hannah refilled Tom’s mug, put on another pot, and then she made her escape to the coffee shop. She hurried to the coatrack by the front door, lifted Tom’s parka from the hook, and gave a little gasp as she spotted his hat. It was black-and-green Buffalo Plaid exactly like the one in the photo that Norman had enhanced! She had to tell Mike right away!
If you call him on the phone, Tom will hear you, her rational mind cautioned.
That was true and Hannah knew it. Instead of using the wall phone, she drew her cell phone from the pocket of her apron and took a photo of the cap. Then she typed in a short message that read, TOM LARCHMONT’S HAT. COME TO FRONT DOOR QUICK! HERE AT TCJ!
Leaving the hat on the hook, Hannah hurried back to the kitchen, clutching Tom’s coat. “Here,” she said, slipping the parka over Tom’s shoulders. “This should help.”
“Thanks, Hannah.” Tom slipped his arms in the sleeves and pulled the parka closely around him. “It’s helping. I’m feeling warmer already.”
“Good. Just let me get the peanut butter balls and start dipping them in chocolate. Then, as soon as they cool, you can have one.”
Hannah made a quick trip to the freezer to retrieve her frozen peanut butter balls and brought them back to the work station. Then she picked up one of the frozen balls by the end of the food pick and dipped it into the melted chocolate. After she’d coated it, she set it on the cookie sheet that was lined with wax paper. “I’m thinking about buying a pair of binoculars,” she said in a way she hoped would sound casual. “Have you ever used binoculars, Tom?”
“Yes, when I go out to a job site, I sometimes use them to survey the work in progress before I actually talk to the contractor.”
“You survey construction sites?” Hannah was puzzled. “But I thought you were an investment counselor for large, corporations.”
“That’s right and I sometimes recommend investing in real-estate projects like sports arenas, shopping malls, and apartment and condo complexes. I always check out past projects and those in progress to make sure the work being done matches the blueprints the builders provide.”
“Oh. That sounds like interesting work. Do you have a background in construction?”
“Yes, my father owned a construction company.”
“So you know what to look for then.” Hannah knew she had to get the conversation back to binoculars. “I can see where binoculars would come in handy for you. What type of binoculars would you recommend for someone like me?”
“That all depends on how you want to use them. If you’re talking about bird-watching, I’d recommend binoculars with high magnification, true color, and an excellent focal range. Tell me why you need binoculars.”
Hannah thought fast. “I’m planning a river boat cruise and I want to get a cabin with a balcony. I’d like to be able to watch the shoreline for scenic places to visit, and I want to watch for indigenous wildlife along the shores.”
“Then you should look into Bausch and Lomb.” Tom gave a little smile. “For a moment there, I thought you wanted to spy on your neighbors.”
Hannah shook her head. “My neighbors aren’t that interesting, but I might use binoculars on my landing. There’s a pine grove behind us and I might be able to spot a porcupine or a deer.”
“You could probably see things like that with the naked eye. You must have a good view from the second floor.”
He knows where you live, the suspicious part of Hannah’s mind pointed out.
Don’t freak! You may have mentioned it to Lynne, and Lynne may have mentioned it to Tom, the rational part of Hannah’s mind made that connection. You don’t keep where you live a secret. Everyone in Lake Eden knows, and Tom was here for the filming of the movie.
“Are you warmer now?” Hannah asked as she refilled Tom’s coffee cup again.