Cream Puff Murder (Hannah Swensen, #11)(84)

“Tad’s leaving with the flowers,” Andrea said, just as shocked as Michelle. “And he looks really embarrassed. She must have said something mean to him.”

“Look at her now. She’s laughing,” Norman said, and his brows knit together in a disapproving frown.

“She’s laughing at him,” Hannah said.

“I can’t help but feel sorry for him.” Michelle looked sympathetic. “Those flowers must have cost him a bundle.”

“He looks like he’s ready to break down in tears,” Andrea commented as the security guard passed by the camera. “I wonder what Ronni said to him.”

Hannah motioned to Norman. “Can you put it on pause?” And then she turned to Michelle. “Find out.”

“Find out what Ronni said to him?”

“Right. Lonnie was there. He must have heard it. Call him, and we’ll wait.”

It took only a few moments to get the answer, and when they did, they could scarcely believe their ears. “She actually called him a little toad?” Hannah asked.

“That’s right. Lonnie repeated her words exactly. She said, Get out of here you little toad! I wouldn’t invite you to my birthday party if you were the last man on earth.”

“That’s really harsh,” Norman said, shaking his head. “No wonder he looked so dejected.”

They watched for another few minutes, but it was more of the same. And then Mike lifted Ronni up on the counter and she said something to the crowd that had them applauding. Everyone began gathering up glasses, bottles, and snacks. Mike went behind the counter to get the platter of cream puffs, and in less than two minutes the room was vacant and the lights were off again.

“They moved the party to the Jacuzzi,” Hannah said, knowing she was right. “And that’s all we’re going to see on this tape.”

Norman fast-forwarded to the end just in case someone had left something and come back to get it, but the lights stayed off and the Snack Shack remained vacant. He rewound the tape, returned it to the sleeve, and shrugged. “That was a waste of time.”

“Not for me,” Michelle said, and Hannah knew she was thinking about how honest Lonnie had been in his account of the party and how completely unromantic he’d been around Ronni.

“Not for me, either,” Hannah said for exactly the opposite reason.



“What now?” Andrea said, after Michelle and Norman had left. Michelle was meeting Lonnie at the hospital to visit with Rick’s wife, and then they were going out for pizza. Norman had promised Carrie and Delores he’d drop by Granny’s Attic to help them move some heavy antiques. They would meet up later at The Corner Tavern for dinner, and they had a reservation at seven.

Hannah glanced at her watch. “It’s only three. We’ve got four hours until dinner.”

“I know. I’m thinking about running out to Heavenly Bodies and catching up on my exercises. I didn’t go this morning.”

“Neither did I, but you know that already. You discussed it with Norman last night.”

Andrea looked a little nervous. “I hope you don’t mind, but it was for your own good. I was really worried you’d fall asleep on the drive home. I hope you stayed over…unless he drove you home, of course.”

“Yes.”

“Yes, what?”

“I didn’t drive home alone last night.”

“So Norman took you home? Or you stayed with him?”

“Yes.”

Andrea stamped her foot so hard Hannah was almost afraid she’d poke a hole in the ceiling of Phil and Sue’s downstairs unit.

“Which! I want to know which!”

Hannah took pity on her sister. Andrea looked ready to fall on the floor and start beating her fists on the rug in frustration. “I stayed with Norman.”

“Oh. Well…good.” There was a moment of silence, and then Andrea spoke again. “I don’t suppose you’re going to tell me anything about it. I mean, where you slept and…and things like that?”

“No.”

“Oh, well.” Andrea sighed deeply. “I didn’t figure you would. So do you want to follow me out to the mall and finish our exercise routines for the day?”

“Sure. It beats mopping the floor and watching it dry.”



They parked right next to each other at the back door. Andrea got out of her Volvo first, and she was standing at the entrance with her hands on her hips when Hannah joined her.

“Well! If that doesn’t beat all!” she exclaimed, clearly frustrated. “My key doesn’t work, and the sign says they’re closed.”

Hannah stepped closer to read the sign. The outer door to Heavenly Bodies was closed, and the sign said they wouldn’t reopen until six o’clock tomorrow morning. “Does that mean we get to drive to Bertanelli’s for a pizza instead?” she asked, only half-joking.

“Not if you want to fit into your dress for Mother’s party. Let’s go in the mall and see what happened.”

There weren’t very many people shopping. The mall was practically deserted. When they approached the security station, they saw Frank sitting behind the desk at the front. “Hi, ladies,” he said.

“Hi, Frank.” Hannah took the lead. “We were hoping that you or Tad would be working. We’ve got a question.”