Fudge Cupcake Murder (Hannah Swensen, #5)(89)

"Anything else?" Mike fought to keep the pleasant expression on his face and Hannah knew he hated to ask her for advice.

"Just one thing. I think Ted was running a stolen car ring and a chop shop, but I wasn't able to find anything to confirm that."

"We'll find it," Mike said. He looked less aggravated and Hannah knew she'd scored some points. Of course she could tell him exactly where to find the parts list for the man in Minneapolis and the bill of lading for the stolen cars, but she'd let him do it on his own. As Mike was so fond of saying, he was the law enforcement specialist, not her.

"It's after eight," Norman said after a quick glance at his watch. "If Mike and Bill don't need us, let's go get Tracey and take her to the Haunted Basement."

"I'll call Andrea and tell her you're on the way," Bill said, and then he turned to glance at Mike. "That's okay, isn't it?"

Mike nodded. He was obviously in the mood to be magnanimous, now that Sheriff Grant's killer was in custody. "Sure. Go ahead and do the Halloween thing with the kids. You can drop by the station when you're through and give us your statements."

"Your car, or mine?" Norman asked, walking with Hannah toward the office.

"Both. You go pick up Tracey and Karen and take them to the Haunted Basement. I'll run home to feed Moishe and join you there with the Corn Cookies for the party."

"Okay," Norman said, stepping forward to open the door of Hannah's truck. "Too bad I didn't bring a costume."

Hannah climbed in the driver's seat and reached in the back for her minimal costume. "I've got one you can use. I'll pick up another old sheet at the condo and come as a ghost."

"Cornflakes?" Norman looked puzzled as he accepted the box, but he started to laugh the moment she handed him the plastic knife. "This is just great, Hannah."

Hannah's eyes widened. If Norman had caught on to her visual pun, he'd be the first person in Lake Eden who had. And then Hannah remembered what Beatrice had said about Doctor Love and how romantic partners should share similar senses of humor. "Do you know what it is?"

"Sure," Norman said, grinning at her. "It's just brilliant, Hannah. I've worn a lot of Halloween costumes over the years, but I've never been a cereal killer before."





Chapter Thirty-One





It was seven o'clock on election night when Hannah emerged from her bedroom. She was wearing the new outfit Delores had insisted on buying for her from Beau Monde Fashions, a blue silk dress that Claire had recommended. Hannah had found shoes to match at the mall, blue leather heels with a red, white, and blue braided strap that had been marked down to practically nothing. She was fairly sure the shoes were leftovers from the Fourth of July, but they worked beautifully for what would surely turn out to be Bill's victory party.

Hannah took one last look at the election coverage on KCOW television before she headed off to the kitchen. Bill had already won over eighty percent of the vote and the victory party at the Lake Eden Inn would be standing room only, except for Andrea. Doc Knight had given her permission to attend as long as there was a place for her to recline and elevate her feet. Since a simple chair wouldn't do, Delores had contributed a fancy antique lounge chair for Andrea to use.

There was a smile on Hannah's face as she dished up Moishe's yogurt. Doctor Bob and Sue had come up with a solution that suited both human and feline. The moment that Hannah placed the dish on the coffee table, Moishe jumped up and stood there expectantly.

"Hold on a second," Hannah said, loosening the cap on the vitamin bottle. But the cat who'd hidden under the bed when threatened by the very same bottle just sat there and purred. Hannah squelched her desire to say I told you so to her cat and squirted a stream of vitamins over the top. A scant second later, Moishe was eagerly lapping it up.

Hannah was just about to pick up the new purse her mother and Andrea had insisted she buy when there was a knock at the door. Andrea had called earlier to say that she was sending a car for Hannah and even though Hannah had told her it wasn't necessary, her sister had insisted.

A box from The Cookie Jar sat on the counter and Hannah picked it up. It was a special present for Bill, a pan of his favorite Apple Orchard Cookie Bars. Hannah figured the treat was appropriate since Ted Koester had confessed to killing Sheriff Grant and was behind bars awaiting his trial.

Hannah opened the door with a smile on her face, but that smile quickly changed to an expression of surprise. Instead of the hired driver that Andrea had led her to expect, both Norman and Mike were standing there.

"Hi, Hannah," Norman said, giving her a grin and then turning to Mike.

"We're your drivers tonight." Mike reached out to take her arm. "Andrea asked both of us to escort you."

"That's nice," Hannah said, making a mental note to have a long talk with her sister. If Andrea had hoped to promote jealousy between the two, it had backfired. Both Norman and Mike looked as happy as clams.

Mike held the bakery box while Norman helped Hannah into her coat. Then Mike locked the door behind them and both men escorted her down the stairs.

"Look! It's snowing!" Hannah lifted her face to the night sky as a few gentle flakes started to fall. They swirled lazily under the old-fashioned streetlights the builder had installed in the condo complex and fell to the walkway, keeping their form for a moment or two and then melting.