“Of course she does. She mentioned your Butterscotch Crunch Cookies the last time I talked to her.”
“Great! I’ve got some in the freezer. I’ll get them out and then let’s go and talk to her.”
Michelle grabbed Hannah’s hand as she headed for the freezer. “Wait!”
“What?”
“How about Ross?”
Hannah felt an immediate stab of guilt. She’d forgotten all about the fact that Ross was in their bedroom, changing into comfortable, television-watching clothes. “I’ll go ask him if he wants to go for a drink at the Lake Eden Inn with us.”
Ross was sitting on the bed, putting on his slippers, when Hannah opened the door to the master bedroom. “Hi, honey,” she said, coming in and closing the door.
“Hello, Cookie. I took a quick shower and I’m almost ready to vegetate in one of those reclining couch chairs in front of our incredible home theater.”
“I can see that,” Hannah said with a smile, noticing that he was wearing one of his monogrammed sweatsuits.
Ross frowned slightly. “That’s what I told you I was going to do. It’s okay with you, isn’t it?”
“Of course it’s okay!” Hannah said quickly. “I’d change too, but . . .” she stopped speaking, not exactly sure how to go on.
“But what, honey?”
“But I have a chance to talk to a friend of Michelle’s who might know something about Tori Bascomb’s murder.”
“Right now?”
Hannah noticed that the frown on her husband’s face had grown a bit deeper. “Yes, but that’s okay. It can wait until tomorrow. I just thought you might want to go out to the Lake Eden Inn for a drink. She’s a cocktail waitress out there and she doesn’t get off shift until they close.”
“Oh, Cookie! I’d go with you in a flash, but I’ve got an early call tomorrow. And to tell the truth, I can barely keep my eyes open. It’s a little hard to get back into the work routine after that wonderful week we had together on the cruise.”
“I know,” Hannah told him. “I feel the same way. I got really tired at work today, but then I got my second wind. Don’t worry about it, honey. I can always talk to her sometime tomorrow.”
Ross nodded, but he didn’t look happy. “Yes, but this is a murder investigation. I really should be helping you with things like that, but . . . to tell you the truth, I’m just too beat tonight and I’m afraid I wouldn’t be any help to you at all. Of course I’ll go with you if you really need me, but . . .” he stopped speaking and began to look worried. “Tell me the truth, Cookie. This person you want to see isn’t a suspect, is she?”
“No, not at all!” Hannah hurried to reassure him. “She’s got an air-tight alibi. It’s just that she may have some information I need.”
“You said she’s a friend of Michelle’s?”
“Yes. They went to high school together.”
“I hate to ask this, I know Michelle’s had a long day, too. But . . . will she go to see her friend with you?”
“Absolutely. She’s already offered. I just thought that you might like to go along with us.”
“Then you won’t be upset if I stay here and fall asleep in front of our TV?”
Hannah laughed. “I won’t be upset. I used to fall asleep in front of the television all the time. I’d start a movie, fall asleep in the middle, and when I woke up there’d be something else on.” She sat down on the bed next to Ross and put her arms around him. “It’s okay, Ross. You stay here and relax. Michelle and I will drive out there, find out what we can from her friend, and be home as fast as we can.”
“No hurry. I’ll probably fall asleep the moment you two leave. Those couches are really comfortable. Drive safe, Cookie. Will you promise to wake me when you get home?”
Hannah smiled. “It’s a promise.”
“Good. I’ll probably be sleeping through some late-night movie with Moishe.”
That comment earned Ross another hug. It was good to know that she wasn’t leaving Moishe alone. Ross seemed to genuinely like Moishe and it was clear that Moishe liked him, too.
*
A country-western song was playing on the speakers when Hannah and Michelle entered the bar at the Lake Eden Inn. The stools at the bar were fully occupied, but that was fine with Hannah. She wanted a table anyway, so that Tricia could wait on them. She gave Dick, who was shaking some colorful cocktail, a wave of greeting and headed for the table in the corner with Michelle following closely behind her.
It took a moment, but then Tricia saw them. She smiled, picked up an order pad, and hurried to their table. “Hi, Michelle.” And then she turned to Hannah. “Hello, Hannah. I didn’t get a chance afterwards, Hannah, but I’ve got to compliment you on your wedding. It was the most exciting wedding I’ve ever been to. I really enjoyed it!”
“Thank you, Tricia,” Hannah said politely, not mentioning that she’d rather not remember the state she’d been in when she’d arrived at Holy Redeemer Lutheran Church.
“So how’s married life?” Tricia asked her.
“It’s good, Tricia,” Hannah responded, giving her a smile.
Tricia looked only slightly older than the Jordan High student Hannah remembered, the girl Michelle had brought home from school for Hannah’s cookies. The only change Hannah noticed was that that now, Tricia wore her hair piled up in a loose knot on the top of her head and she was wearing makeup. She was no longer the freshly-scrubbed high school student whose mother didn’t allow her to wear any makeup except lipstick to school.
“You look really good, Tricia,” Hannah complimented her, “but you’re making me feel old. You’re all grown up.”
“So is Michelle,” Tricia pointed out.
“Yes, but it happened gradually. I was around to see her grow up. I don’t think I’ve spent any time with you since you two graduated from high school. How’s the world treating you, Tricia?”
“Good. Very good. I’m engaged, Hannah.” Tricia pulled an engagement ring from the pocket of her cocktail waitress apron and placed it on her left hand. “I don’t usually wear it at work because if the guys know I’m engaged, the tips aren’t as good.”