Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder (Hannah Swensen #1)(55)

Hannah gave the appropriate laugh, even though she’d heard that particular comment about Max about a million times before. “Did you know that Max had an early-morning meeting in his office on Wednesday?”

“He did?” Betty seemed genuinely surprised. “But he was supposed to leave at five-thirty, and that’s awfully early for a meeting. Are you sure?”

“That’s what I heard.”

Betty thought about it for a moment and then she shrugged. “Anything’s possible, especially if it was about money. I know that Max was in the office early. They asked him to give the opening speech and I typed it up for him on Tuesday night. I left it on my desk and it was gone when I came in the next morning.”

“You’re sure that Max picked it up?”

“I’m positive. He left a yellow sticky, reminding me to order new file folders.”

Hannah decided not to tell Betty that Max had still been at the dairy at six-fifteen. It would only worry her. “Have you tried to call Max at the convention?”

“Of course I have. They told me he wasn’t registered at the Holiday Inn, but I didn’t expect him to stay there. Max is very picky and he just hated his room last year. It was right next to the ice machine.”

“How about the other hotels in town?”

“I tried them, but they all say he’s not registered.”

“Could Max be sharing someone else’s room?”

“Max?” Betty laughed so hard, her ample bosom shook. “Max isn’t the type to share. He always stays alone.”

“Did you have him paged on the convention floor?”

“Of course I did. They’re having a big banquet tonight and I called before I left home. Max didn’t answer my page.”

Hannah began to frown as an idea formed in her head. “Was Max driving to Wisconsin alone?”

“Yes. Gary Mielke asked him to carpool, but Max didn’t want to ride with him. And if you’re thinking that he was in an accident, I already checked with both highway patrols and he wasn’t. I really expected him to call in before now and it’s got me worried.”

Hannah was worried right along with Betty, and she wondered if Max had made it to the convention at all. “You said that Max didn’t want to ride with Gary Mielke. Do you know why?”

“Yes, but I really shouldn’t tell you.” Betty began to twist the handle of her burgundy clutch purse, a sure sign that she was uncomfortable. “It’s…uh…confidential.”

“If you want me to try to find Max for you, you’d better tell me. I promise I won’t tell anyone else.”

“All right, Hannah.” Betty twisted her purse handle again, and Hannah wondered whether the thin strip of leather would snap. “The Mielke Way is our biggest competitor and Max is working on a way to take over Gary’s operation. That’s why he didn’t want to ride with him.”

“Then Gary doesn’t know about Max’s plans?”

Betty gave her a look that had “idiot” written all over it. “Max doesn’t let anybody know what’s going on until it’s a done deal. That’s the way he operates.”

“But Max told you?”

“Not exactly. I just happened to pick up the extension in my office when Max was talking to some loan company about buying up the paper on one of Gary’s loans.”

Hannah didn’t believe that Betty had just happened to pick up the extension. Betty was nosy and that was why she was such a valuable contact. “Has Max ever done anything like this before?”

“Are you kidding? You don’t get as rich as Max is by selling cream and butter.”

“How do you know for sure?”

“You can’t work for a man for twenty years without picking up a word here and there. Max is a regular shark when it comes to buying up businesses, foreclosing properties, and turning big fat profits on them.”

Hannah was about to ask another question when she saw Andrea waving at her. She patted Betty on the arm and made her excuses. “Andrea’s waiting for me and I’ve got to run. Thanks, Betty.”

“But how about Max? Do you think he’s all right?”

“I’ll find out,” Hannah promised, and then she quickly added up the new facts she’d learned. Ron had seen Max on Wednesday morning and now Ron was dead. And Max was supposed to be at the Buttermakers’ Convention, but no one had seen him and he hadn’t called in. Had Max shot Ron and fled the country? It was a distinct possibility. It was also possible that Max was lying low at the convention and he’d call Betty when all the excitement had died down. If Max thought he was safe, he might even waltz back into town as big as you please and act all shocked and saddened about the horrible crime that had cost Ron his life.

“What is it, Hannah?” Betty looked anxious.

“I’m just thinking. When is Max due back?”

“On Tuesday night.”

If Max decided to call in, Betty might tell him about the questions she’d asked. That would alert him and he’d hop the first plane out of the country. Hannah couldn’t let that happen. Somehow, she had to keep Betty silent.

“I just realized something, Betty. You’d better not mention that you talked to me. If Max finds out that we’ve been discussing him, he’ll get really upset.”