Lemon Meringue Pie Murder (Hannah Swensen #4)(70)

The sun was just beginning to peep over the horizon when Hannah parked in back of The Cookie Jar. The first thing she did after she unlocked the door was to beat a path straight to the air conditioner and turn it on full blast. Then she got down to the business of baking the cookie dough that she'd mixed up with Lisa before they'd left the shop the previous night.

In less than an hour, Hannah was very grateful for the cool air that circulated in her kitchen. With the ovens baking and cookies cooling on the racks, it was warm, but not hot. It made her wonder how she'd ever managed without her window unit.

When Lisa came in, at seventy-thirty, she was smiling. Hannah took one glance at her partner's happy face and was instantly curious. "What's up? Did Herb propose?"

"No, it's Dad. He's Uncle Sam!"

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"What?"

"The Seniors Center rented him a costume and Dad's leading his whole group in the parade. He's going to be the best Uncle Sam they ever had!" Lisa stopped and frowned slightly. "That's strange, Hannah."

"What's strange?"

"I just remembered something. Dad got all excited when I got to be the Easter Bunny in my second-grade play. He told all his friends that I was going to be the best Easter Bunny they ever had. And now I'm doing the same thing for him, just like I'm his proud parent. I guess it's true that roles get reversed when you get older."

"I guess so." Hannah tried to think of something to say to cheer Lisa up. She'd been smiling, but now she looked sad. "You should take some pictures of your dad and his group in the parade. They might like to put them up on the bulletin board at the center."

Lisa started to smile again. "That's a great idea. I already bought a disposable camera to take pictures of our float."

"How's it coming?" Hannah asked. She wasn't about to miss a golden opportunity to see if she could find out more about The Cookie Jar float.

"It's almost finished. Tracey's class is putting on the final touches today. It's absolutely precious, but that's all I'm allowed to say."

"But can't you just tell me..."

"No," Lisa interrupted, grinning widely. "You'll see it tomorrow at the parade."

Hannah recognized the stubborn set of Lisa's chin. She could beg and plead, but she wouldn't get any more information. "Delores and Carrie are coming to watch the parade with us, and they can help us take pictures of your dad and the seniors. Andrea can help, too. Take some money out of the till and run down to the drugstore as soon as they open to get more disposable cameras."

"Thanks, Hannah. We should get lots of good pictures that way."

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"Even if we don't, we've always got Norman as a backup. He'll be here with his own camera."

Lisa smiled happily. "I'm really looking forward to tomorrow. I love the parade and the whole celebration out at Eden Lake. Have you decided what dessert we're going to bring?"

"Not yet. I tried to think of something special this morning, but I'm fresh out of ideas."

"I'll take care of it," Lisa offered. "You've got enough on your mind with Rhonda's murder. What did you find out about that ten-dollar bill I gave you yesterday? Did Mr. Greer-son think it was counterfeit?"

"Sit down for a second and I'll tell you." Hannah gestured toward a stool at the workstation. And then she told Lisa all about the robbery and the stolen money that had surfaced in Lake Eden.

Lisa's eyes were round with surprise by the time Hannah finished. "I guess a lot happened after I went home last night!"

"There's more," Hannah said, and told her about Freddy Sawyer's drunk and disorderly charge.

"This just gets stranger and stranger." Lisa shook her head. "We've had a mooning, a murder, and money turning up from an old bank robbery, all in one week."

"People who think small-town life is boring ought to move to Lake Eden!"

"I guess," Lisa said, and then she began to frown. "Do you think all those tilings could be related somehow?"

"I can't find a connection. And believe me, I tried. I'm giving up on the stolen money and concentrating on Rhonda's murder. I really don't have a clue, so far."

"Maybe you should tell me everything you know," Lisa suggested. "It'll put your thoughts in order and I might be able to catch something you missed."

"You think so?"

"It's possible. It could be a little like walking into a room where someone's doing a jigsaw puzzle. Sometimes you spot the piece they're looking for right off the bat."

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"Fresh eyes?"

"That's it. Except this time it's fresh ears." "It's certainly worth a try." Hannah gave Lisa a smile. "Go put on the coffee and when you come back, we'll finish the baking. And while we work, we'll talk bloody murder."





Chapter TWenty-TWo

By the time Hannah was through telling Lisa everything except the identity of Rhonda's boyfriend, the cookies were baked and the display jars behind the counter were filled. The big urn of coffee had perked, and Hannah and Lisa sat down at their favorite table in the back of the coffee shop to take a break.