Devil's Food Cake Murder (Hannah Swensen, #14)(78)

“You’ll see,” Hannah said with a laugh. She’d picked up Andrea after she’d dropped Michelle and Delores at Bud Hauge’s house, and Andrea had no idea what their mother was wearing.

As Hannah opened the door and held it for her sister, a cloud of warmth, a blast of country-western music, and the sound of raucous laughter greeted them. The smell was the same as it had been on their previous visit, one part spilled beer, one part too many people whose personal hygiene was questionable, and three parts something Hannah didn’t want to attempt to identify.

“They’re grilling again,” Andrea gestured toward the area near the back door where portable charcoal grills had been set up to supply hamburgers and cheeseburgers. “Isn’t that illegal?”

“I think so. Ask Bill when you get home, but don’t say anything now. We don’t want to get kicked out for being snitches.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t say a word. There’s two barstools together on the far end.”

Andrea led the way to the stools, and they took a seat. That was a bit difficult because the woman on the stool next to Hannah was much larger than the circumference of her stool. Andrea moved her stool as far as she could to the wall, and Hannah managed somehow to squeeze in.

“What are you drinking?” Andrea asked.

“White wine, but I’m not going to drink it. I’m just going to spill a little on the floor now and then.”

“But won’t someone notice?”

“Take a look at the floor.”

Andrea looked down and made a face. “Good point. I think I’ll have the same. Lenny must be on break. The only person behind the bar is a woman.”

“Hello, ladies,” the waitress came over to them. “What can I get you tonight?”

“What kind of wine do you serve?” Andrea asked her.

“We’ve got white, red, and rosy. Name your poison.”

“We’ll each have a glass of white wine,” Hannah said, before Andrea could ask what brand it was, or correct the woman’s pronunciation.

The waitress was back almost immediately with two wine glasses filled with what Hannah hoped was white wine. She wasn’t, however, about to find out, and she only pretended to sip.

“Thanks,” Hannah said. “How much is that, please? We’ll pay as we go tonight.”

“Six-fifty apiece,” the woman said, waiting until Hannah had handed her a twenty-dollar bill. “You want change?”

“Just the five, please,” Hannah said, managing to keep the pleasant tone in her voice. No way was she going to tip the woman seven dollars for two glasses of wine that probably came out of a box!

Andrea took a sip of her wine and made a face. “This tastes like turpentine smells. And now that I think about it, it smells like turpentine, too.”

“I’ll take your word for it,” Hannah said, toying with the stem of her glass. “I hope Lenny gets back from his break soon. I want to ask him some questions and get out of here.”

“I see Michelle,” Andrea said, gesturing toward the tables that ringed the dance floor. “The guys must have picked up on her right away, because she’s already dancing.”

Hannah caught sight of her sister in the arms of a tall guy wearing a plaid shirt. He looked fairly normal, and that was good. But then she saw Delores. “Uh-oh! Look at Mother!”

“Where? I don’t see her.”

“She’s dancing with a really big man. He’s got to be six-four at least. He’s wearing a red shirt, and he’s got a beard.”

Andrea was silent for a moment. “Okay. I see him, but…that’s Mother?!”

“That’s Mother.”

“But…what is she wearing?”

“Just a little something she picked up at the mall,” Hannah said with a grin.

Delores had outdone herself in the bad taste department. Their mother was dressed in shiny black leather pants with a fringe running down the outside of the legs. Her form-fitting top was also of shiny black leather and several large rhinestone butterflies flitted across the front. Bright red lipstick, long red nails, a fake blond wig, and black high-heeled boots completed the outfit.

“I don’t believe it!” Andrea breathed, looking a bit ill. “You’re wrong, Hannah. There’s no way Mother got an outfit like that at the mall.”

“Oh, yes she did. Michelle told me she rented it from the costume shop.”

“But who would wear a costume like that? And why?”

Hannah shrugged. “Halloween?” she guessed. “Or maybe Dominatrix Day? I really don’t know. The only thing I do know is I wish she’d worn something else.”

“Me, too. I know mothers can disown children. But can children disown mothers?”

Hannah laughed. “You know you don’t mean that. Mother looks as if she’s having fun pretending to be someone else. We’d better help Michelle keep an eye on her.”

“Right. I don’t like the looks of that guy she’s dancing with, but so far he’s behaving. I’ve got Bill’s number on speed dial just in case there’s trouble. I just wish Lenny would …” Andrea stopped speaking and nudged Hannah. “Lenny’s back. The office door just opened, and Lenny’s coming out. He’s carrying something.”