Lemon Meringue Pie Murder (Hannah Swensen #4)(96)

"Are you sure?"

"I'm positive. Would a woman who's been locked inside her own cooler by a stone-cold killer lie to you?"

Herb looked as if he wanted to ask a million questions, but he turned on his heel and rushed out to his patrol car to make the call. By the time he came back in, Hannah had already called the hospital and Doc Knight had promised to send his biggest orderly to stand guard in Freddy's room until the deputy arrived She'd also retrieved the murder weapon and packed it and the nonskid mat in Freddy's shoe-box.

"Now will you tell me what happened?" Herb asked, staring at Hannah with a mixture of alarm and admiration.

"I'll tell you on the way out to the sheriff's station. I know who killed Rhonda and I need to give them the facts. And I know who has that old bank robbery money, too."

"And you want me to drive you out there?"

"Rhonda's killer is the one who locked me in my cooler and plugged up the air vent I think I'm still a little shaky

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from the cold and the lack of oxygen. Not only that, I had to short out the power with the murder weapon and I got knocked back against the wall."

"No problem," Herb said, holding the door open for her.

"Good. Mike's not going to be too happy about the murder weapon. I bent it a little when I used it for a screwdriver and it's got a burn hole in the blade from shorting out the power. Maybe they can still lift some fingerprints if I didn't smudge them with the nonskid mat. Are you sure you don't mind driving me?"

"Anytime, Hannah." Herb shook his head as they went out the door. "Let me see if I got this straight. You got locked in the cooler by Rhonda's killer, you used the murder weapon as a screwdriver and a tool to short out the circuit, you discovered that Freddy was targeted for murder at midnight tonight, and you know who has the loot from that old bank robbery?"

"That about sums it up. I'm sorry about pulling you away from your rounds, Herb. I owe you, big-time."

"Maybe I should listen in at the sheriff's station. Then you won't have to explain it all twice."

"That's a good idea. I'll tell them I want you with me."

"Okay, then you already paid me back." Herb opened the door of his patrol car for Hannah and helped her in.

"How did I pay you?" Hannah asked, buckling her seat belt and leaning back for the ride.

"I'll be there to see the expression on Mike's face when you explain all this. Believe me, Hannah. You paid me big-time!"





Chapter Thirty

You look great, Hannah," Norman said as Hannah ap--proached the largest table in the dining room at the Lake Eden Inn.

"Thanks, Norman." Hannah gave him a warm smile and then she turned to Delores and Carrie. "You're here early."

Delores nodded. "I know. I wanted everything to be perfect."

"I'm sure it will be." Hannah pulled out a chair, but her mother shook her head.

"Not there, dear. I want you to sit on Norman's right."

Hannah rolled her eyes, but she took the chair her mother indicated. Delores always liked to arrange the seating at her parties, and she was the one who'd invited them for dinner to celebrate the solving of Rhonda's murder case.

"Aren't these flowers gorgeous?" Delores gestured toward the colorful centerpiece of summer flowers. "Herb Beeseman sent them. They must be for you."

"For me?" Hannah was puzzled.

"Of course. You solved Rhonda's murder. But you really should have brought a gift for Herb. He's the one who rescued you from that cooler."

"I did bring something for Herb," Hannah defended her-

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self. "He's been asking for pineapple cookies for ages and I came up with a new cookie bar recipe. They're called Pineapple Right-Side-Up Bars and they're in Sally's kitchen, along with my pizza cutter."

Norman looked puzzled. "Your pizza cutter?"

"It's something I learned from my college roommate. Cynthia always used a pizza cutter on pans of brownies. It works better man a knife."

"Hi, everybody!" Tracey called out, tugging at Andrea's hand to hurry her along toward the table. She was dressed in a pale blue silk dress with white lace around the sleeves and the hemline. "Look at me. I'm all dressed up for dinner."

"And you look just lovely," Delores said, patting the chair next to her.

"I know. Daddy told me I'm almost as pretty as Mommy. He's coming in a minute with Uncle Mike." Tracey climbed up in the chair next to Delores and grinned at everyone. "Hi, Uncle Norman."

Andrea passed by the back of Hannah's chair on her way around the table, and Hannah pulled her down for a private word. "Tracey's calling everyone uncle again."

"I know. I taught her not to discriminate," Andrea whispered back and then she straightened up to address the whole table. "How many people are coming?"

"Twelve," Delores answered. "All of us, plus Lisa and Herb. And Lonnie is coming with Michelle."

"We're here." Bill came up to the table with Mike. Both of them were wearing their uniforms and they looked very handsome.

"Sit right here, Bill." Delores gestured to a chair next to Andrea. "Mike? Take that place by Hannah."