Lemon Meringue Pie Murder (Hannah Swensen #4)(25)

"Two things. I couldn't get your pillow at CostMart, because they were all out. They're getting more in, but not until later in the week. I made them give me a rain check so you'll still get the sale price."

"Thanks, Andrea." Hannah was grateful. She probably wouldn't have thought to ask for a rain check. "What's the second thing you had to tell me?"

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"Mother called and she told me she was going to investigate Rhonda's murder."

"That's true. She told me the same thing."

"You've got to talk her out of it, Hannah. You're older and she'll listen to you."

"No, she won't. She's never listened to me."

"Just try it. Tell her she can't do it."

"Why not?"

"Because Mother doesn't know anything about investigating murders, and all she'll do is mess up the case for Bill and Mike. She might even get into trouble."

"That's possible," Hannah agreed.

"And that's why you have to talk her out of it. I don't want Mother to get into trouble. Just tell her that you're going to take over and she'll back right off. That's what she really wants anyway."

Hannah sighed deeply. "I know."

"Then it's all settled and you'll investigate?"

"Nothing's settled. I haven't made up my mind yet."

"But you have to do it. Say you will, Hannah. I have a vested interest."

"Everybody seems to have a vested interest. Mother wants me to investigate because she found Rhonda's body and she feels obligated. Lisa wants me to investigate because she likes to take over the workload. And Norman wants me to investigate because Mike and Bill won't let him tear the Voelker place down until the case is solved. What's your vested interest?"

Andrea was silent for a moment. "It's not as important as theirs."

"What is it?"

"I want you to investigate because I'm bored and I want to help."

"How can you be bored when you're building The Cookie Jar float?"

"I already took care of that."

"You mean it's all finished?"

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Joanne Fluke

"Not exactly. But when Janice Cox saw my plans, she volunteered to build it. Tracey's classmates and the people at the Senior Center are helping her."

Hannah chuckled. Andrea was a master at delegating authority. Janice would end up doing all the work and she'd never realize what had hit her. "What's the float like?"

"I'm keeping that a secret until the morning of the parade. By the way, I talked to Mayor Bascomb and he wants our float to lead off the parade, right behind his convertible."

"Really?" Hannah was surprised. Usually that honor went to the oldest business in town.

"It's all arranged. Now I need something else to do. This inactivity is driving me crazy. I just know I'll get horribly depressed if you don't let me help you investigate."

"But even if I do decide to investigate, I can't let you help me."

"Why not?"

"Because you're pregnant and murder investigations are dangerous."

"I know, but I'm not talking about going along with you, or anything like that. I can make calls and gather information. You'll let me do that, won't you?"

"Sure," Hannah said, responding once again to the pleading note in her sister's voice. It was the very same note that had convinced her to return her sister's library books, help her with her homework, and bake cookies for her friends. "You can help me if I decide to investigate."

"You will. You won't be able to resist. Besides, Bill wants you to."

"Really?" Hannah took that with a grain of salt. Andrea tended to hear only what she wanted to hear. "What makes you say that?"

"When he called me to tell me about Rhonda, he said this case would be different since you weren't involved."

"And that made you think he wanted me to investigate?"

"Absolutely. He sounded sad when he said it and I read between the lines. Bill wants your help. I'm sure of it."

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"Okay, if you say so."

"What shall I do first?" Andrea asked, sounding eager.

"You're jumping the gun. I haven't decided to do it yet."

"But you will and we might as well get started. Give me some phone calls to make. I'm sitting on the couch with my feet up because that's what Bill wants me to do, but I'm right next to the phone."

Hannah was about to say she couldn't think of any calls for Andrea to make, when she remembered the two takeout dinners that had been in Rhonda's trash can. "Grab the Yellow Pages and make a list of the restaurants in a ten-mile radius of the Voelker place. Call them and ask if they served takeout dinners over the weekend. When you get a yes, ask if their menu included osso buco."

"Got it. Why do you need to know?"

"There were two containers of osso buco in Rhonda's trash can."

"Two?"

"That's right, but one wasn't touched. I figure Rhonda must have been expecting company. There were also two plastic wineglasses with dried red wine in the bottom. The person she invited showed up, but didn't eat."