Cream Puff Murder (Hannah Swensen, #11)(61)

“What notes?” Hannah asked when Andrea had closed her phone and returned it to her purse.

“Bill gave me a list of things he thinks you should do to solve the case. I’ll tell you all about it later.”

“I’ve got notes, too,” Michelle told her. “One set from Lonnie, and another set from Rick.”

“Same here,” Norman added. “Mike came in this afternoon and gave me a whole list of things he thought you should do.”

“Catching a killer by committee,” Hannah said with a sigh. Even though she wasn’t looking forward to getting instructions from four different sources, she’d have to listen to all of their suggestions and either accept or reject them. Mike, Lonnie, Rick, and Bill were expecting the impossible if they wanted her to accomplish everything a whole division of detectives would do on a murder case.

“Ready?” Andrea said, pushing back her chair.

“Ready,” Hannah answered. It was going to be another long night, just like the previous several nights. As she followed Andrea out of the alcove, she felt a little silly for even hoping that maybe, perhaps, possibly she might get a full night’s sleep.



If anyone had asked Hannah to describe Detective Stella Parks in one word, that word would be formidable. She was tall, perhaps even an inch or two taller than Hannah. Although her hair was gray and she was clearly a woman in her fifties, she looked to be in excellent physical shape, and Hannah added the phrase fit as a fiddle to the list of clichés that Bill had ascribed to her. She wasn’t beautiful, and Hannah doubted that most people would call her pretty, but she was striking with her silver hair, deep blue eyes, and strong features.

“I’m glad to meet you, Hannah.” Stella reached out to shake Hannah’s hand. It was a no-nonsense grip, and Hannah added down to earth to her list of clichés. “Bill’s told me that although you’re not officially sanctioned, you’ve helped the department solve several homicide cases in the past.”

“Well…yes, that’s true,” Hannah said, wondering exactly what Bill had told her.

“Are you working on Miss Ward’s murder?”

Cuts straight to the chase. Hannah’s list of clichés grew longer. She attempted to think of an answer that wasn’t an outright lie, and came up with, “You don’t have to worry, Detective Parks. I’d never interfere in an official investigation.”

“Call me Stella.” Her deep blue eyes bored into Hannah’s, and Hannah had the fleeting thought that being interrogated by Detective Parks would not be a pleasant experience. “You didn’t answer my question. Are you working on Miss Ward’s murder?”

“Well…yes. Yes, I am. Unofficially, of course.”

“Of course. I’m the detective. You’re not. I think we’re going to get along just fine, Hannah, as long as you keep that distinction clear. Do you think you can do that?”

“I know I can do that,” Hannah assured her.

“Good. Now let’s get down to business.” Stella took another sip of her coffee, but her eyes never left Hannah’s. “I’m at a disadvantage here. I don’t know the people or the area, and I’m shorthanded. My staff consists of two boys who couldn’t find their…” Stella stopped and cleared her throat. “Who couldn’t find their feet in a dark room with both hands. I’d like to know that I can count on you, Hannah. How about it?”

“You’ve got it,” Hannah said quickly. “Is there anything in particular you want me to do?”

“Do what you usually do. Talk to people. Listen to people. Bill’s told me that information just seems to land in your lap. I want you to share that information with me, even if you don’t think it’s important. Let me be the judge of that.”

“I can do that.”

“Good. Just call me every day and tell me what you’ve learned. I’ll be out in the field most of the time, so I’ll give you my personal cell phone number. You can always leave voice mail if you can’t speak to me personally. Are we clear on that?”

“We’re clear.”

“Good. Thank you, Hannah. You’re a valuable resource and I’m going to enjoy working with you.”



Hannah’s mind was still spinning when they got back to her condo. She felt as if she’d been co-opted by a master, but she didn’t really mind. The important fact was that Detective Parks actually wanted her help.

“The Kitty Valet is empty again,” Michelle reported after a quick trip to the kitchen. “How can one cat eat that much?”

“I don’t know. And I’m beginning to think it’s impossible.”

“You think Moishe’s carrying off his food and stashing it somewhere?”

“I don’t know what else to think. He still jumps up in my arms when I come home, and it doesn’t feel as if he’s gained any weight. He doesn’t look any heavier, either.”

“How much food is he going through?”

“Two complete food tubes a day, sometimes three. That’s enough to feed a dozen cats. All that food can’t just disappear off the face of the earth, so he’s got to be hiding it. I just haven’t been able to discover where.”

“Do you want me to fill up the Kitty Valet again?”