Raspberry Danish Murder (Hannah Swensen #22)(9)

“Okay. If it stays this cold, I’ll take you up on that. But it’s really not all that cold. It’s just that the wind cuts right through you.”

“The wind robs your body of heat. That’s what the wind chill factor is all about. It would be interesting to know how long it would take a cup of water to freeze on the top of my truck.”

Michelle cupped her hands a little tighter around her coffee mug. “You can try it if you want to. I’m not going out there again . . . at least not until it’s time to go home. And then I’m going to sprint for your cookie truck.”

There was one knock on the back door, but before either one of them could get up to answer it, the door opened and Norman rushed in. “Sorry, girls. I would have waited for you to answer the door, but I was so cold, I just wanted to get inside where it was warm.”

“You walked here?” Michelle asked him.

Norman nodded. “I didn’t think it was this cold. Maybe I’m just not acclimated to winter weather yet, but it feels like it’s below freezing out there.”

“It is,” Hannah told him. “I just looked at the thermometer and it’s twenty-two degrees.”

“I thought so!”

“And it feels like it’s even colder with the wind chill,” Michelle added. “I’ll get you a hot cup of coffee.”

“And I’ll take your coat,” Hannah said. “You’ll warm up faster without it.” She waited until Norman had handed it to her. “Now sit down, cup your hands around that mug of hot coffee Michelle just poured for you, and I’ll get a couple of cookies.”

The words were no sooner out of her mouth than there was another blast of cold air as the back door opened and Mike came in. “Brrrr!” he said, closing the door behind him. “Winter’s here, that’s for sure. I’m switching to my parka tomorrow.”

Hannah glanced at his uniform jacket. It was wool, but it certainly wasn’t as warm as a parka would be. “I think that’s a very good idea. You look chilled to the bone.”

“I am and I only walked in from the parking lot.” He turned to see Norman sitting at the work station and walked over to take the stool next to him. “That wind is brutal.”

“Tell me about it. I walked here from the clinic.”

“Well, I’ll give you a ride back when I leave. It’s too cold to walk today.”

Hannah placed a plate of cookies in front of the two men. She sat down across from them and gave Mike a questioning look. Her questioning look meant, Did you find out anything about Ross? Mike gave a slight shake of his head and Hannah knew that meant, Nothing yet, but I’ll find him eventually. The words were unspoken, but both of them knew what the other meant. It was the unspoken ritual they’d gone through ever since Ross had left and Mike had told Hannah that he’d use every means at his disposal to find her new husband. Hannah knew that Mike was still searching and he wouldn’t stop until he’d found out why Ross had left her and where he’d gone.

“These cookies are great, Hannah,” Norman said as he finished his first one and reached over for another. “What do you call them?”

“Marge brought in a recipe for Light Fandango Cookies, but that wasn’t very descriptive. I asked her if we could change the name and we’re calling them Pineapple Crunch Cookies.”

“I think they’re some of your best,” Mike commented, proving that he was sincere by reaching for another cookie. He had just taken a bite when his cell phone began to vibrate against the metal surface of the work station. “I have to check this,” he said, grabbing the phone and glancing at the display.

Hannah watched as Mike began to frown. His frown deepened as he finished reading the text. “What is it?” she asked him.

“Bad accident out on the highway. Two fatalities, four injuries. They’re calling for backup, and I have to get out there right away.” Mike turned to Norman. “Take the rest of your coffee with you. I’ll drop you off on my way to the highway.”

Hannah was on her feet immediately. She grabbed two takeout bags from the stack on the counter and dumped half of the remaining cookies in each bag. “Take these with you.”

“Thanks, Hannah,” Mike said, grabbing his bag of cookies. “Be careful when you drive home tonight. The roads are icing over.”

“I will be,” Hannah promised.

“Better yet, let me take you home,” Norman offered. “I just got new snow tires on my car and the back tires on your truck look like they need to be replaced. The tread’s worn down to practically nothing.”

Hannah shook her head. “Thanks, but we’ll be okay. I’m a very careful driver.”

“Take these with you,” Michelle said arriving at the work station with another, even larger bag. I filled a bunch of coffee’s to go and I threw in some sugar and creamers. You can give them out at the scene.”

“You guys are great,” Norman said, as Michelle poured the rest of his coffee into a takeout cup, clamped on the lid, and handed it to him.

Less than a minute later, the back kitchen door closed behind the two men. Michelle went to make another pot of coffee, and Hannah sat back down on the stool she’d so quickly vacated. “It was nice of Norman to offer to drive us home, and now I’m wondering if I should have said yes.”