by Joanne Fluke
“That sounds like a great wedding gift, Michelle.”
Michelle looked pleased. “I thought it would be better than monogrammed sheets or a set of fancy towels she’d only get out when company was coming.”
After Michelle had gone into the kitchen, Hannah changed to her favorite wintertime at-home outfit which consisted of forest-green sweatpants, an oversized sweatshirt of the same color, and fur-lined slippers. Then she sat down on the couch again, picked up her wineglass, and took another sip. The Cookie Jar was doing good business, she’d finished her Christmas shopping early this year, and Michelle was in town. Life in Lake Eden was very good if you didn’t consider the murder rate.
* * *
The knock on the door came twenty minutes later, and Michelle got up to answer it. “Good thing I decided to put together a double batch,” she said as she saw that Lonnie was with Mike.
“A double batch of what?” Mike asked, sniffing the air as he walked into the living room. “Whatever it is, it smells great!”
“Michelle baked cookies earlier,” Hannah told him, getting up to greet them, “and she’s making Grilled Ham and Double Cheese Sandwiches.” She turned to smile at Lonnie. “Hi, Lonnie. I guess you two guys are working late tonight.”
“We’re waiting for Doc to finish the autopsy,” Mike explained. “And I have to complete your statement. After that, we’re through.”
“Except for being on call,” Lonnie added. “We’re on call twenty-four-seven during homicide investigations.”
“Do you want to interview Hannah now?” Michelle asked Mike. “Or would you rather wait until after you eat?”
“Now. I’ve got most of what I need, and it shouldn’t take more than ten minutes.” Mike walked over to the couch, sat down, and patted the cushion next to him. “Come over here, Hannah. Lonnie can keep Michelle company in the kitchen.”
Hannah took a seat on the cushion next to Mike. “What else do you need to know?”
“I need answers to a couple of questions that occurred to me after you’d left. Did you see the body from the top of the ditch?”
“No. The ditch is quite deep, and it was too dark to see much of anything. I just happened to notice something red in the snow, and I went to see what it was.”
“Did you think it was blood?”
“No, not at all. Both Lisa and I could see that it was something made of cloth. I thought it was a mitten, or a glove, or maybe a scarf. And since it wasn’t that far from the lip of the ditch, I told Lisa that I was going to climb down to get it.”
“You told me that earlier, but you didn’t tell me why.”
For a moment, Hannah was puzzled. “Why what?”
“Why did you go down to get it?”
“Oh. Because somebody had obviously lost whatever it was and I thought they might have wanted it back.”
Mike smiled at her. “That figures. You’re just a helpful person by nature. Why didn’t Lisa go with you?”
“She would have, but the snow was deep and she was wearing ankle boots. I had my regular boots on and they’re knee-highs. It was a good thing, too. The snow was really deep down there.”
“And the cloth you spotted was . . . ?”
“A Santa hat. I picked it up and I intended to climb right back up when I saw something else.”
“The body?”
“Actually . . . no. I hadn’t seen that yet. It was at the bottom of the ditch. I thought I’d spotted something else, but I couldn’t find it again when I got down there. But I did find something else quite near the bottom.”
“What was that?”
“I’ll tell you, but it’s something very . . .” Hannah paused, searching for the right word. “Let’s just say that it was something very sensitive.”
“Something sensitive in what way?”
“Well . . .” Hannah paused again and took a moment to formulate her answer. “Look, Mike . . . do you really have to put what I tell you in your report?”
“That depends on whether or not it has anything to do with the investigation.”
“But if it’s just personal and it doesn’t have anything to do with the murder, then you don’t have to put it in your report, do you?”
“I’ll have to make up my own mind on that, Hannah. And I’ll do that after you tell me what it was.”
Hannah sighed deeply. She wished she’d never mentioned that second object, but she had and now she was obligated to tell Mike.
“Hannah?”
“Yes. I know. I have to tell you. But first, I have to know if you really like Lisa.”
Mike reared back in surprise. “Of course I like Lisa! She’s like a younger sister to me.”
“Okay. How about Herb? Do you like Herb?”
The puzzled expression on Mike’s face didn’t change with this new question. “Sure, I do. Herb’s a regular guy. What’s this all about, Hannah?”
“It’s complicated.” Hannah took a moment to phrase her answer. “Lisa’s worried that Herb was getting a little too close and personal with Phyllis Bates, now that Mayor Bascomb reassigned her to Herb’s office. Herb’s been coming home really late almost every night, and Lisa knows he’s not at work because she drove past his office and his car wasn’t there.”
“Okay. As far as I know, Herb’s crazy about Lisa and I don’t believe he’d get involved with another woman, but go on.”
“Lisa made chocolate caramels last night and gave some to Herb in his lunch bag.”
“That’s nice, but what does that have to do with Phyllis Bates?”
“I’ll tell you, but please be careful with this. If it gets out, it could cause a lot of trouble between Lisa and Herb.”
“Okay. That’s enough salad. Let’s get to the main course. Spit it out, Hannah.”
“The object I found was Herb’s lunch bag. It was one of the reusable, personalized ones that Lisa gave him as a present. The lunch was gone, but the caramels were still there. I’m hoping that Herb was saving them for later, Phyllis grabbed Herb’s lunch bag after he left the office, and Herb had nothing to do with the fact that she had it with her when she was killed.”
“So you want me to sit on that piece of information until I find out if Herb has an alibi?”
Hannah nodded gratefully. “Yes, that’s it exactly. Please, Mike . . . I just can’t believe that Herb could kill anyone.”
“Of course you can’t, but both of us know that the most unlikely people can kill if they believe the circumstances warrant it.”
“I know you’re right, but I still can’t believe it.”
Mike reached out to slip an arm around Hannah’s shoulders. “Okay. Just think about this for a minute. Say Herb is having a fling with Phyllis and Phyllis is threatening to tell Lisa about it unless he does something for her. And whatever that something is, Herb can’t do it. He doesn’t want to lose Lisa. He loves her. But Herb knows that Phyllis is the type of woman to make good on her threat and wreck his marriage. Herb’s caught in a vise, and it’s getting tighter with each passing day. He’s desperate and he can see only one way out of it. He has to neutralize the threat.”
Hannah shivered and Mike pulled her a bit closer. “By killing Phyllis before she can talk to Lisa?”
“Yes. You said that Lisa was with you when you found the body. Do you know where she was before she met you at the Corner Tavern?”
“Yes. You know that Herb’s playing Santa and Mayor Bascomb appointed Phyllis as Mrs. Claus, don’t you?” Mike nodded, and Hannah continued. “Lisa and I went to the rehearsal to pick up the Christmas gift bags we’re filling with candy for the children. We sat down in the back of the auditorium and watched the last few minutes of the play. And then it was time for Herb and Phyllis to come onstage.”
“Lisa wanted to watch Herb with Phyllis?”
Hannah nodded. “And that turned out to be a really bad idea. Tory Bascomb directed Phyllis to give Herb a stage kiss right before the final curtain, but Phyllis really kissed him. I mean, re
ally kissed him. It was obvious to everyone who saw it that there was nothing staged about that kiss!”
“Go on.”
“Lisa and I were sitting in the back, and we saw what everyone else saw. Naturally, Lisa was upset and she ran out of the auditorium. I caught her on the way to the parking lot, and since I didn’t want her to go straight home when she was that upset, we went back to The Cookie Jar and we worked for a while. Then I suggested hamburgers at the Corner Tavern, and Lisa agreed. She said she had to go home to feed the dogs and let them out in the yard for a while before she could go out to eat, but she promised to meet me at the Corner Tavern just as soon as she could.”
“Do you know what time you and Lisa left The Cookie Jar?”
“Yes. I looked at the clock before we went out the door. It was only a couple of minutes after nine.”
“And what time did Lisa get to the Corner Tavern?”
“I don’t remember. I went out there right away and sat at the bar for a while, waiting for a table in the dining room. I didn’t look at my watch when Lisa got there, but Bonnie Surma was sitting next to me and she might remember.”
“Okay. Give me your best estimate.”
“Maybe ten o’clock or a little before that. I know we didn’t leave the Corner Tavern until eleven. The receipt was time-stamped.”
“Do you still have the receipt?”
“Yes. It’s in my purse. I’ll get it for you. But I don’t understand why you need . . .” Hannah stopped in mid-sentence as the full implication of Mike’s questioning hit her. “Do you think that Lisa killed Phyllis?”
“Anything’s possible when jealousy is a motive. But no, I don’t think that Lisa killed her. I just know that I have to clear her, especially because her car was parked in the back row of the parking lot and that’s about where Phyllis would have tumbled down the ditch.”
“The sandwiches are ready!” Michelle called out from the kitchen. “Are you ready to eat, Mike?”
“I’m ready,” Mike said, giving Hannah a little hug before he stood up to go to the table. “Don’t worry, Hannah. I’ll get to the bottom of this.”
Hannah went to the table, tasted a corner of Michelle’s sandwich, and pronounced it excellent. Then she sat there while the others ate and the conversation flowed around her. She made a comment once in a while, just so that no one would notice that she was preoccupied, and she gave a sigh of relief when the evening was over and Michelle went to bed.
Once the condo was silent, Hannah sat on the couch in the darkness with Moishe purring on her lap. She thought about everything that had happened during the day. Yes, even though it was unlikely, it was possible that Herb had killed Phyllis. And even though she felt like a traitor for admitting it, it was also possible that Lisa’s temper had flared when she’d seen Phyllis in the parking lot, and she’d struck out with whatever hard object had been at hand.
Hannah shivered and bent over to hug Moishe. His purr was comforting, and she was glad he was keeping her company tonight. Phyllis had craved being the center of attention. She had gloried in causing trouble because it made her feel sexy and powerful. This time, Phyllis had caused trouble for two of Hannah’s best friends, her partner, Lisa, and her former high school classmate, Herb. What Phyllis had done was far-reaching. It might have wrecked Lisa and Herb’s marriage, and that made Hannah angry and sad at the same time. Perhaps it was a lucky thing that Phyllis wasn’t here, sitting next to Hannah on the couch right now.
What Mike had said tonight was true. Anyone was capable of murder under the right circumstances. Even Hannah Swensen.
GRILLED HAM AND DOUBLE CHEESE SANDWICHES
For each sandwich you will need:
2 slices of bread (Michelle used seedless rye. You could use any kind of bread you prefer.)
softened butter to spread on the outside of the bread and to put in the frying pan or grill if needed
Thousand Island dressing
1 slice of American cheese
1 fairly thick slice of fully cooked ham
1 slice of Swiss cheese
thin slices of sweet pickles, dill pickles, or sweet
onion (optional)
Butter two slices of bread. Place one slice, buttered side down, on a piece of wax paper. Spread the bread with a thin layer of Thousand Island dressing. This layer of dressing should not be too thick or your sandwich will get too “gloppy” when you fry it. (Feel free to add “gloppy” to your list of cooking terms.)
Place the slice of American cheese on top of the Thousand Island dressing you just spread.
Cut a slice of ham to fit the size of your bread and lay it on top of the American cheese.
Place thin slices of pickle or sweet onion on top of the ham if you decided to use them.
Place the slice of Swiss cheese on top.
Spread the top slice of bread with a thin layer of Thousand Island dressing.
Place the second slice of bread on top of the Swiss cheese, dressing side down.
Spread softened butter on top of your sandwich.
Make as many Grilled Ham and Double Cheese Sandwiches as you need for your guests.
Depending on how many sandwiches you made, put a helping or two of butter on your griddle or in your frying pan. Then preheat it at MEDIUM HIGH heat.
When the butter on the griddle or in the frying pan has melted and is preheated, fry your sandwiches, uncovered, until the bottom turns golden brown. (You can test this by lifting it with a spatula and peeking at the bottom.)
When one side is golden brown, flip the sandwich over, add more butter to the pan or griddle if needed, and fry the other side until it’s golden brown.
Remove the sandwiches from the frying pan or griddle, cut them into pieces with a sharp knife, arrange the pieces on a plate, and serve immediately.
This sandwich goes well with piping-hot mugs of soup or a generous helping of coleslaw.
Chapter Five
“Dad!”
Hannah sat bolt upright in bed and stared at the familiar shape that had materialized at the foot of her bed. “What are you doing here? You’re . . . you’re . . . I thought that you were . . .” Unable to say that awful, final word, she fell silent, merely staring at her father.
“Dead? I am, but they let me come here to be your Ghost of Christmas Past tonight.”
“Then you’re a . . . a ghost?”
“That’s right. They’re only going to let me maintain my human shape for a few more minutes. They wanted you to recognize me so that you wouldn’t be frightened.”
A million questions flew through Hannah’s mind, and she turned to look at Moishe. He was staring at her with his one good eye and totally ignoring her father. Hannah turned back to look at her father again and found that he had been transformed into a white, amorphous shape that was hovering near the foot of her bed. “But, Dad . . . Moishe’s not even looking at you. I thought cats could see ghosts.”
“Some can, some can’t,” her father replied. “It’s pretty obvious that you have a cat who can’t.”
Hannah smiled. Her dad had said, a cat who can’t, rather than a cat that can’t. It meant that her dad thought of Moishe as a person, just the way she did.
“I must be dreaming,” Hannah said, considering the possibility.
“No, you’re not dreaming. Throw something at me and see what happens.”
“No, Dad! I don’t want to hurt you!”
“You can’t hurt me. I’m already dead. Pick up that pen you have on your night table and peg it straight at me. I taught you how to pitch, remember?”
“I remember,” Hannah answered with a smile.
“Go ahead. Throw a strike. You used to be pretty good at that.”
“No, I wasn’t. You’re just being nice.”
“You caught me on that one, Honey-bear.”
Hannah felt a rush of wonderful memories. Her dad had called her Honey-bear, the childhood nickname he’d used for her until Delores had informed him that Hannah was too ol
d to have a nickname like that.
“Maybe you weren’t the greatest pitcher in the world,” her dad went on, “but you could hit a home run if you were mad enough at the opposing pitcher. Come on, Hannah. Do it. I don’t have that much time here.”
She’d always obeyed her father when he’d given her a direct order, and Hannah wasn’t about to falter now. She picked up the pen, threw it directly at what she thought was the middle of the amorphous shape, and watched in astonishment as the pen passed directly through it and clattered to the floor near her closet.
“Do you believe me now?” he asked her.
Hannah nodded. And then she spoke aloud because she wasn’t sure he’d noticed. “Yes, Dad. I believe you now.”
“I love you, Hannah. I have to go soon, but they sent me here to give you a glimpse into your past. I hope it does the trick for you.”
Hannah was about to ask which trick her father was talking about when his shape spread out flat, like a movie screen that was hanging on the wall. And as she watched, an image appeared.
There Hannah was in the bar of the Corner Tavern, sitting on a stool with her club soda in front of her. The man beside her got up to follow the waitress to his table, and that was when Bonnie came over to sit next to her.
The camera, or perhaps it was her eyes, traveled over to the stool that Bonnie had vacated. She was checking to make sure that Bonnie hadn’t left anything behind. There was nothing on the bar in front of Bonnie’s stool, and nothing on the floor except the sawdust the staff at the Corner Tavern spread out every morning after the floor was washed and swept. There were two footprints from Bonnie’s shoes, but nothing else.
