by Joanne Fluke
Hannah glanced down at her cat as they arrived at the door. She was hoping that Moishe would give her some sort of clue to the identity of the person standing outside the door. “Who is it?” she asked him in a whisper.
If ever a cat could shrug, Moishe did. But there were other signs that told Hannah something about their visitor. His ears weren’t back against his head, and he didn’t seem agitated in any other way. That meant it couldn’t possibly be her mother. Delores Swensen was not Moishe’s favorite person and she had several pairs of snagged silk stockings to prove it.
“Okay, it’s not Mother,” she whispered. “And it can’t be Norman. He’s my date for the party, but he’s working late at the dental clinic and he said he’d meet me there.”
Moishe moved closer to the door and the end of his tail began to flick in excitement. It was definitely someone he knew. Hannah was about to unlock the door to see for herself, when she remembered that she should check the peephole.
One glance and Hannah’s mouth dropped open. It was Andrea! She unlocked the door in a rush and pulled it open. “What’s wrong?” she asked the second she saw her sister’s worried expression.
“Everything!” Andrea exclaimed, stepping in.
“Bethie’s okay, isn’t she? And Bill? Tracey?”
“They’re all fine. Mother called and told me to get right over here.” Andrea shut the door behind her. “I didn’t even have time to finish my French braid.”
“You can do it in the guest bathroom. The light’s good and there’s a vanity in there.” Hannah stopped speaking as a dire possibility occurred to her. “Mother’s all right, isn’t she?”
“Mother’s fine. She’s worried about you.”
“Me?”
“Yes. She wanted me to get right over here and give you the news in person before anyone else told you about it.”
“What news?”
“Bad news.”
“Is anyone sick? Or injured? Or . . . or dead?” Hannah felt her heart rate soar at the possibility.
“No. Nothing like that. You’d better sit down, Hannah. It’s shocking.”
“What’s shocking?”
“The bad news.”
Hannah sat down on the couch. Andrea was so agitated, she wasn’t making much sense, but if she sat down it might have a calming effect. “Okay, I’m sitting. Now tell me.”
“You’ve got to promise not to get too upset.”
“Why should I get upset? I don’t even know what you’re talking about yet.”
“All right then.” Andrea took a deep breath. “She’s back!”
“Who’s back?”
“Her! Mother and I just don’t know what to do! We never thought we’d see her again, but she’s back and she’s staying out at the Lake Eden Inn with Roger Dalworth. Sally called to tell Mother. But that’s not the worst part of it. Sally told Mother that she’s coming to the grand opening with Roger tonight!”
“Sally’s coming to the opening with Roger?”
“No! She’s coming to the opening with Roger. And that’s why I had to get right over here to warn you.”
“Thanks, but I still don’t know who you’re talking about.” Hannah grabbed her sister’s arm and pulled her down on the couch. “Take a deep breath and calm down.”
“I can’t! Tonight is going to be a nightmare. If I didn’t have to go, I wouldn’t, but I have to go because I’m selling the condos for Roger. And it’ll be even worse for you. I just don’t know how we’re going to get through it with her there!”
“Who’s her?” Hannah asked, doing her best not to sound exasperated at Andrea’s overuse of pronouns.
“Doctor Bev! She’s back in town! And Sally thinks she’s dead set on revenge!”
KENSINGTON BOOKS are published by
Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018
Copyright © 1989 by H.L. Swensen, Inc.
Previously published by Pocket Books
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher, and neither the Author nor the Publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”
Kensington and the K logo Reg. U.S. Pat & TM Off.
ISBN: 978-0-7582-8969-8
