Raspberry Danish Murder (Hannah Swensen #22)(101)
“No,” Norman told him. “Hannah paid the back rent on the unit, and we got a small truck to move everything into my garage.”
“Is there anything interesting there?” Mike asked Hannah.
“I don’t think there’s anything personal, if that’s what you mean. Everything was in cases, and it all looked like camera or video equipment.”
“I don’t suppose you talked your way into checking unit three-twelve,” Mike said.
“No. She wouldn’t have let us do that,”Hannah told him.
“Okay, then here’s what I’m going to do, we’re not going to bother going through those cameras and equipment right now. And I’ll give the guys out there one more day to come up with something. Then I’m going to pull them back here and give them another assignment. Rick’s good at interviewing people, and they can do some legwork for us.”
*
Hannah’s sleep was deep and peaceful. No problems plagued her and no nightmares haunted her night. She woke up in the morning without the alarm, cuddled with Moishe for a moment or two, shut off the alarm so that it wouldn’t ring while she was in the shower, and got out of bed to begin her morning ritual.
Fifteen minutes later, when she came out of the shower, she smelled the tantalizing aroma of freshly brewed coffee and she dressed as quickly as she could. Michelle was up early too, and she’d put on their morning coffee. No mouth-watering baking scents were in the air, probably because they’d told Norman that they’d meet him early at the Lake Eden Inn to take advantage of Sally’s excellent breakfast buffet.
When Hannah walked down the hallway, Moishe at her heels, she felt better than she had in a long time. She was actually looking forward to the day and the work that awaited them. Selling cookies wasn’t work; it was fun. And baking was always enjoyable.
“Good morning, Michelle,” Hannah greeted her sister as she stepped into the kitchen. “How are you today?”
Michelle smiled. “I’m fine, and you look a whole lot better than you have in a while. I guess some time away from work restored your positive attitude.”
Hannah poured herself a cup of coffee and thought about that. Michelle was right. She’d lost her positive attitude when she’d lost Ross. She hadn’t realized that his disappearance had affected her personality as deeply as it had.
The winter sky was just beginning to lighten slightly as Hannah drove to town. Marge, Aunt Nancy, and Lisa were already at The Cookie Jar, and Michelle was just parking when Hannah pulled into her spot. Hannah was smiling as she met Michelle at her car, and they walked in the back kitchen door together. With all five of them working, the baking would be done in record time.
“Hannah? Do you have a minute before we start packing up the cookie truck?” Aunt Nancy asked her.
“Sure. What is it?”
“Not here. I don’t want Marge or Lisa to hear. I’ll go in the coffee shop. Do you think you can follow me in a couple of minutes without them noticing?”
“Let’s try it. Go ahead, Aunt Nancy. And give me a minute or two to follow you.”
“What’s going on?” Michelle asked Hannah when Aunt Nancy had left.
“Aunt Nancy wants to speak with me personally in the coffee shop. Could you distract Marge and Lisa so they don’t miss us while we’re talking?”
“I can do that. Just watch.”
Hannah watched as Michelle picked up a tray of unbaked cookies and headed toward the oven, where Lisa and Marge were standing.
“Oh, no!” Michelle exclaimed as she pretended to stumble and the unbaked cookies went flying all over the counter. “I’m so sorry. I just lost my balance for a second.”
“That’s okay, honey,” Marge said, hurrying over to help Michelle. “You go sit down and catch your breath. There’s no harm done. Isn’t that right, Lisa?”
“Marge is right,” Lisa agreed. “None of the cookies hit the floor so they’re perfectly usable. You just sit and relax. Marge and I will reshape the dough and put it back on the cookie sheet.”
Hannah reminded herself to compliment Michelle on her quick thinking and made her escape through the swinging door to the coffee shop. Aunt Nancy was sitting at a table near the plate glass window and she motioned Hannah over to her.
“It’s Heiti,” Aunt Nancy said as soon as Hannah sat down with her. “I think he’s going to give me an engagement ring!”
Hannah was puzzled. “But that’s good, isn’t it?”
“Oh, yes! It’s wonderful! But I think that Lisa might feel hurt if I don’t confide my suspicions to her.”
Hannah smiled. “That’s easily solved. All you have to do is tell Lisa.”
“But what if I’m wrong? Heiti said something about good things coming in small packages and I know he went out to the jewelry store at the Tri-County Mall. If he’s giving me a necklace or a bracelet instead of a ring, I’ll be horribly embarrassed.”
She’s making a mountain out of a beaver dam, Hannah thought. It had been one of her father’s favorite sayings, but she didn’t repeat it aloud. Instead she said, “Just act surprised at whatever it is and don’t let Lisa and Herb know that you expected anything else.”
Aunt Nancy thought about that for a moment. “You’re right! I shouldn’t tell them unless I know for sure, and I don’t.”
Joanne Fluke's Books
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