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"At least think about it," Norman urged, reaching out to take her hand. "This is very important to me, Hannah."
"It's important to me, too. Give me some time, Norman. I'll think about it tonight and let you know what I decide in the morning."
"That's good enough for me.T Norman stood up and smiled at her. "I know you'll do the right thing. You always do."
It was a good exit line and Norman took it, going out the door without another word. Hannah was left in a thoughtful mood as she started the dishwater, did her nightly check of the exits, and made sure everything was securely locked. Once that was done, she loaded up the leftover cookies and placed them in a box. She was just carrying it to the back door when the telephone rang.
Hannah groaned. She had a good notion to walk straight out the door and lock it behind her, but it was difficult to ignore a ringing phone. She set the box she was carrying on a stool and walked over to pick it up. "The Cookie Jar. This is Hannah speaking."
"What are you doing there so late?"
It was Andrea and Hannah sighed. "I was just about to leave, but the phone rang."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hold you up."
"That's okay," Hannah said, starting to grin. "I had to come back to answer the phone anyway."
"No, you didn't... I mean ... That doesn't make any ... You're kidding me, right?"
"Right." Hannah laughed out loud. Andrea's sputtering reaction was even better than she'd hoped for. "What did you want to tell me?"
"Two things. I couldn't get your pillow at CostMart, because they were all out. They're getting more in, but not until later in the week. I made them give me a rain check so you'll still get the sale price."
"Thanks, Andrea." Hannah was grateful. She probably wouldn't have thought to ask for a rain check. "What's the second thing you had to tell me?"
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"Mother called and she told me she was going to investigate Rhonda's murder."
"That's true. She told me the same thing."
"You've got to talk her out of it, Hannah. You're older and she'll listen to you."
"No, she won't. She's never listened to me."
"Just try it. Tell her she can't do it."
"Why not?"
"Because Mother doesn't know anything about investigating murders, and all she'll do is mess up the case for Bill and Mike. She might even get into trouble."
"That's possible," Hannah agreed.
"And that's why you have to talk her out of it. I don't want Mother to get into trouble. Just tell her that you're going to take over and she'll back right off. That's what she really wants anyway."
Hannah sighed deeply. "I know."
"Then it's all settled and you'll investigate?"
"Nothing's settled. I haven't made up my mind yet."
"But you have to do it. Say you will, Hannah. I have a vested interest."
"Everybody seems to have a vested interest. Mother wants me to investigate because she found Rhonda's body and she feels obligated. Lisa wants me to investigate because she likes to take over the workload. And Norman wants me to investigate because Mike and Bill won't let him tear the Voelker place down until the case is solved. What's your vested interest?"
Andrea was silent for a moment. "It's not as important as theirs."
"What is it?"
"I want you to investigate because I'm bored and I want to help."
"How can you be bored when you're building The Cookie Jar float?"
"I already took care of that."
"You mean it's all finished?"
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"Not exactly. But when Janice Cox saw my plans, she volunteered to build it. Tracey's classmates and the people at the Senior Center are helping her."
Hannah chuckled. Andrea was a master at delegating authority. Janice would end up doing all the work and she'd never realize what had hit her. "What's the float like?"
"I'm keeping that a secret until the morning of the parade. By the way, I talked to Mayor Bascomb and he wants our float to lead off the parade, right behind his convertible."
"Really?" Hannah was surprised. Usually that honor went to the oldest business in town.
"It's all arranged. Now I need something else to do. This inactivity is driving me crazy. I just know I'll get horribly depressed if you don't let me help you investigate."
"But even if I do decide to investigate, I can't let you help me."
"Why not?"
"Because you're pregnant and murder investigations are dangerous."
"I know, but I'm not talking about going along with you, or anything like that. I can make calls and gather information. You'll let me do that, won't you?"
"Sure," Hannah said, responding once again to the pleading note in her sister's voice. It was the very same note that had convinced her to return her sister's library books, help her with her homework, and bake cookies for her friends. "You can help me if I decide to investigate."
"You will. You won't be able to resist. Besides, Bill wants you to."
"Really?" Hannah took that with a grain of salt. Andrea tended to hear only what she wanted to hear. "What makes you say that?"
"When he called me to tell me about Rhonda, he said this case would be different since you weren't involved."
"And that made you think he wanted me to investigate?"
"Absolutely. He sounded sad when he said it and I read between the lines. Bill wants your help. I'm sure of it."
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"Okay, if you say so."
"What shall I do first?" Andrea asked, sounding eager.
"You're jumping the gun. I haven't decided to do it yet."
"But you will and we might as well get started. Give me some phone calls to make. I'm sitting on the couch with my feet up because that's what Bill wants me to do, but I'm right next to the phone."
Hannah was about to say she couldn't think of any calls for Andrea to make, when she remembered the two takeout dinners that had been in Rhonda's trash can. "Grab the Yellow Pages and make a list of the restaurants in a ten-mile radius of the Voelker place. Call them and ask if they served takeout dinners over the weekend. When you get a yes, ask if their menu included osso buco."
"Got it. Why do you need to know?"
"There were two containers of osso buco in Rhonda's trash can."
"Two?"
"That's right, but one wasn't touched. I figure Rhonda must have been expecting company. There were also two plastic wineglasses with dried red wine in the bottom. The person she invited showed up, but didn't eat."
"That doesn't matter. The fingerprint guys should be able to get a print off the wineglass."
"No, they can't."
"How do you know that?"
"Because they don't have it. The garbage truck came before Mother found Rhonda's body and I tossed out the bag."
Andrea groaned. "That's bad luck! What are the chances of the garbage truck showing up on the very day Mother finds Rhonda's body?"
"One in seven. They pick up every week. But that's why I need you to check out that takeout."
"Okay. Don't worry, Hannah. I won't mention it to Bill, since we're already on top of it. And just as soon as I find that restaurant, I'll call you at home and tell you."
After Hannah hung up the phone, she retrieved her box of
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day-old cookies. She was just opening the back door when her phone rang again.
"I don't care who you are, I'm not going to answer," Hannah snapped, turning on her heel and walking out. She was going home to Moishe and her boring vegetable salad. Her caller could just call back when she opened in the morning.
The air outside was hot and humid, nearly eighty degrees with a moisture content to match. As Hannah walked the short distance to her truck, she heard the grumble of thunder in the distance. The blacktop in the parking lot was spongy under the soles of her shoes, and she felt the perspiration break out on her skin.
The sun was still up and Hannah knew all about the greenhouse effect. She opened the driver's door of her truck, reached in to stick her key into the ignition, and pushed the buttons to lower all the windows. Her leftover Chocolate Chip Crunch Cookies would be mush if she didn't cool off the interior of her truck. Judging by the brief moment her arm had been inside the truck, it was almost as hot as her oven.
Thunder sounded again, low and rumbling like the growl of some predatory beast. Hannah stood there with the cookie box balanced in her arms and thought about the melting point of chocolate. Who would want to eat a mushy Chocolate Chip Crunch Cookie? Even if it was free? She stashed the box in the back of her truck, grabbed the bag that contained the Chocolate Chip Crunches and marched back inside The Cookie Jar to put it in her walk-in cooler. Driving home with chocolate in the back of her truck was too much of a temptation anyway. She'd give the bag to Jed and Freddy when they came hi to finish the pantry shelves in the morning.
Hannah was just sliding into the driver's seat when her mother's car pulled into the lot. Delores parked behind her, so she couldn't back up, exited her car, and rushed up. "I'm