Lemon Meringue Pie Murder (Hannah Swensen #4)(49)

Lisa looked happy as she went back out to the coffee shop. Her mother's cousin, who ran a cleaning service in New Orleans, had sent Lisa a box of pralines for Christmas. Hannah had tasted one and been so impressed, she'd decided to try to make a praline cookie.

Hannah had just finished packaging the cookies when Mike came in with a coffee mug in his hand. "Hi, Hannah. I checked on that little problem we discussed last night."

"What little problem?"

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"Just a second." Mike walked over to the pantry and glanced through the open door.

For a moment Hannah thought he'd lost his marbles, but then she realized that he wanted to give her his report on Jed's job at the prison. "Jed and Freddy finished their work for me yesterday. There's no one here except you and me, and the weevils in the flour."

"You have bugs in your flour?"

Mike started to frown and Hannah wondered if he was thinking of turning her in to the Health Department. She didn't think he would, but she knew she'd better correct his misconception in a hurry. "Relax, Mike. I was just kidding. I always store my flour in canisters and tape a bay leaf to the inside of the lid to keep out the weevils."

"And that works?"

"It's never failed me. The only other way is to freeze the flour in airtight containers, but I don't have the freezer space for that"

"I learn something new every day in this job." Mike gave her a grin. "Do you want me to tell you about Jed?"

"Please do. Pull up a stool and sit down."

Mike took the stool across from Hannah and took out his notebook. "I checked when I got to the station this morning. Jed was a civilian worker on the maintenance crew at Stillwater. He didn't lie to you, but I doubt he told you the whole truth."

"What's the whole truth?"

"He was fired. I talked to his supervisor and he said that Jed was unreliable. He came in late most mornings and there were several times when his supervisor suspected that he'd been drinking on the job. He finally caught Jed with a bottle and fired him on the spot."

"Jed didn't mention anything about that."

"Of course he didn't. My big concern is for Freddy. You said you think Jed's a real influence on him?"

"I know he is. Freddy thinks the world of Jed."

'Then we'd better hope that Jed's drinking hasn't devel-

LEMON MERINGUE PIE MURDER 167

oped into a pattern. Do you think he was drinking when he was working for you?"

Hannah thought about it for a moment and then she shook her head. "I don't think he was. I'm pretty sure I would have noticed. Maybe he learned his lesson?"

"Either that, or he's just being more careful not to get caught. Who are they working for now?"

"I don't know."

"I'll find out and keep an eye on Jed." Mike finished his coffee and stood up. "Break time's over and I've got to run. I'll give you a call later."

The moment Mike left, Hannah pulled out her steno pad and added the new information he'd given her. It didn't have anything to do with Rhonda's murder, but she liked to keep all'her information in one place. Then she checked her list of things to do and saw her notation about Reverend Knudson. Priscilla thought her grandson had attended a church-related meeting on Friday night, but Hannah had her doubts. If Lisa could spare her, she'd run next door and ask Claire if she knew where the reverend had gone with his two orders of takeout osso buco.





"Is there something wrong with the outfit you bought yesterday?" Claire asked when she answered Hannah's knock on her back door.

"Are you kidding? I wore it when I went out to dinner with Mike and he said I looked like a goddess."

Claire smiled. "It's the simple truth. That outfit does wonders for you."

"Thanks." Hannah appreciated the compliment, but it was time to get to the point. "Something's come up and I need to talk to you about Reverend Knudson. Do you have a minute?"

Claire glanced at her watch. "I have exactly five. Becky Summers just went into the dressing room and she always struggles with her zipper for at least five minutes before she calls me in to help."

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"Then I'd better hurry." Hannah took a deep breath as she stepped inside Claire's back room. "I know that this is a delicate subject, but do you know where Reverend Knudson was on Friday night?"

"Is this about Rhonda's murder?"

"Yes. Rhonda had a guest at the Voelker place on Friday night and he brought two takeout dinners with him. I know Reverend Knudson got takeout that night. I'm hoping he wasn't Rhonda's visitor."

"He wasn't."

"Are you sure about that?"

"As sure as I can be. Bob was my visitor."

"What time did Reverend Knudson get to your place, and when did he leave? And what did he bring you for dinner?"

"Do you really need to know all that?" Claire's green eyes narrowed. "Or is it just prurient curiosity on your part?"

"I'm never prurient... or at least not often. I really need to know, Claire. I realize you want to keep your relationship with the reverend private and that's one of the reasons I'm asking. If I can eliminate him from the suspect list, I won't have to mention him to Mike."