Blueberry Muffin Murder

by Joanne Fluke

  Hannah’s second call had been to Sally to ask if she could go up to Alan’s room to retrieve his keys. Sally had been willing, but she’d told Hannah that Bill and Mike had stationed Rick Murphy outside Alan’s door and that no one was allowed inside. This had prompted Hannah’s third call, to Sally’s mother, Francine. They had to create a diversion to lure Rick away from his post so that Hannah could get in. Ezekiel’s ghost would do the trick, and Francine had agreed to make a special appearance.

  “I hope this works,” Andrea said, entering the lobby and perching on the arm of an overstuffed chair.

  “It will. If you and Janie scream loud enough, Rick will come running. You’ve got to keep him with you long enough for me to dash in Alan’s room, find the keys, and get back out.”

  “If I have to, I’ll faint,” Andrea declared. “I used to be the best fake fainter in drama class, too.”

  “Whatever it takes. Janie thinks Alan’s keys are in his top dresser drawer. She says that’s where he usually kept them.”

  “How does she know that?”

  “He sent her up to get them last week, when he forgot them. He told her they were in his top dresser drawer, under his handkerchiefs.”

  “I’m here,” Janie called out, hurrying across the lobby and thrusting two keys into Hannah’s hand. “The key with the tag is for Alan’s room and the other one is for mine. My room is right next-door to his.”

  Hannah nodded, dropping the keys into her pocket. “I’d better get up there right now. Bring Andrea to your room when it’s over. If I’m lucky, I’ll be there with Alan’s keys.”

  The waiting was tense, and Hannah paced the floor of Janie’s room. It was now five minutes to showtime, and for someone who wasn’t in the actual performance, she had a bad case of stage fright. The butterflies in her stomach felt as big as buzzards, and she hoped she wouldn’t blow it. She was taking a big risk. If Mike found out that she’d gone into Alan’s room after he’d declared it off limits, he’d lock her up for the rest of her natural life. Come to think about it, her natural lifespan might not be so natural if Mike got really mad at her.

  Three minutes to show time. Hannah took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She wanted to be with Francine so that she could control what time the ghost appeared at the end of the hall. She also wanted to be with Andrea and Janie, to tell them when to scream and how loud. She wanted to be with Bill and Mike to keep them away from the second floor, and she wanted to be outside Alan’s door with Rick, encouraging him to abandon his post and investigate the source of the commotion. Hannah wanted to be everywhere, but she was stuck here, where she also wanted to be, so that she could sneak into Alan’s room and grab the keys. At times like this, she wished she could split like an amoeba and be everywhere at once.

  One minute to show time. Hannah took out Alan’s key and grasped it tightly, peering through the peephole in Janie’s door. She counted down the seconds, as nervous as an astronaut on a first launch, and held her breath while she waited for the action. And then she heard the sweetest sound in the world.

  Two bloodcurdling, high-pitched screams rent the air. A man yelled out, the screaming went on, and Hannah heard footsteps pounding down the hallway. It took a five full seconds, but then she saw Rick Murphy, the youngest deputy on the force, rushing past Janie’s door on his way toward the source of the screaming.

  Hannah opened the door and stepped out. There was a crowd milling around at the end of the hallway, and she could see someone down on the carpet. It was probably Andrea in a fake faint, but she didn’t have time to confirm it. With fingers that shook slightly, Hannah sidled up to Alan’s door and inserted the key in the lock. A second later, she was inside with the door closed securely behind her.

  The clock was ticking. Rick could be back any second. She had to find Alan’s key ring and get out. Hannah raced for the dresser and pulled out the top drawer, feeling frantically under the stack of clean handkerchiefs. No keys. Had Mike and Bill already taken them, or…

  Hannah raced for the black coat that was draped over a chair. Sally had mentioned that Alan had been wearing a black coat when he’d come back from press conference. She thrust her hand into the pocket, drew out a clean handkerchief, one black leather glove…and the key ring!

  The commotion in the hallway had decreased in volume as Hannah tossed Alan’s coat back onto the chair. She sped for the door, opening it a crack to glance out. Rick was still at the end of the hallway, leaning over a woman’s body. As Hannah slipped out and sidled back to Janie’s room, she realized that there was a big hole in her master plan. If Mike and Bill ever realized that Alan’s keys were missing, she’d need an alibi.

  Her mind racing, Hannah considered the alternatives. Several people had seen her with Andrea earlier, and they might mention that she hadn’t been at her sister’s side. She had to convince everyone in the crowd surrounding Andrea that she’d been there when the ghost had appeared.

  Hannah ran into Janie’s room and filled a glass with water. Then she ran back out, shouting to the people at the end of the hall. “It’s all right! I’m coming!”

  Several people stepped back as she approached, and Hannah caught her first glimpse of Andrea. Her sister was stretched out on the floor, completely motionless. Not even her eyelids were quivering, and for one brief moment, Hannah wondered if Andrea truly had fainted. Then she remembered the time that her sister had played a comatose woman in a perfectly dreadful play written by Jordan High’s drama teacher. Andrea was acting, and she was great at it.

  “Stand back,” Hannah ordered, holding her glass of water aloft. “I’ll bring her out of it.”

  Andrea still didn’t move a muscle, and Hannah figured that an Academy Award was in order. Of course, Andrea probably expected a cold washcloth on her brow, or a dose of pretend smelling salts. With a silent apology to her sister, Hannah upended the glass and doused Andrea’s face with the water.

  Andrea gasped and then started to sputter as she saw Hannah bending over her. Her eyes were blazing, and Hannah knew she had to say something before Andrea ruined her best performance. “I’m sorry, Andrea. It was the only way we could think of to bring you back to consciousness.”

  “I…I fainted?” Andrea asked, slipping right back into character like a trooper. “What happened? I don’t remember a thing.”

  Janie leaned over her solicitously. “We saw the ghost and you screamed. And then you crumpled to the floor and passed out.”

  “And I ran to Janie’s room for water.” Hannah added her bit to the story.

  “Just rest for a minute,” Rick Murphy advised. “I’ll go get a chair.”

  Andrea shook her head. “I think I’d rather lie down. I hate to trouble you, but could you help me to Janie’s room?”

  “Sure. No problem.” Rick took her arm and helped her up. “Just lean on me.”

  Andrea smiled up at him and her lower lip quivered slightly. “Thanks, Rick. I’m so glad you were here and not another deputy. You won’t tell Bill, will you? This is so embarrassing.”

  “Well…”

  “Please? I really did think I saw the ghost. I swear there was something down there at the end of the hall, but it was probably just my imagination. You know how Bill is. If he finds out I thought I saw a ghost and fainted, he’ll tease me about it for the rest of my life. Can’t it be our secret?”

  Rick grinned. “Okay, as long as you’re sure you’re not hurt. As far as I know, it’s not a crime to think you saw a ghost.”

  The moment Janie’s door had closed behind them, Andrea turned to glare at Hannah. “What got into you, Hannah? You didn’t have to actually douse me with water!”

  “Yes, I did. Rick was standing right there. He would have known something was fishy if I hadn’t.”

  “Well…maybe, but you didn’t have to enjoy it. And don’t bother to deny it. I know you did. It’s just like the water fights we used to have at the lake. I always got soaked, and half the time, you didn’t have a drop—”
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  “Here, Andrea,” Janie interrupted, tossing her a towel. “You’d better wipe your face. You can wear one of my sweaters. It’ll be too big, but at least it’ll be dry. And I’ve got a hair dryer you can use.”

  Andrea did not look in good humor, and Hannah knew it was time to mend fences. “You’re an incredible actress, Andrea. I really thought you’d fainted.”

  “You did?” Andrea looked slightly appeased. “You’re not just saying that?”

  “No. And your screaming was perfect. I knew it was coming, but I jumped anyway. I really thought somebody was getting murdered out there.”

  Andrea gave a little smile. “I told you I’d do my part. Did you get the keys?”

  “Yes, thanks to you.” Hannah held them up for her sister’s inspection. “They weren’t in the drawer and I had to search for them. If you hadn’t pretended to faint, Rick might have caught me.”

  “Well, all’s well that ends well. Do I have time to dry my hair?”

  “Absolutely. It’s cold out there and I don’t want you to go out with a wet head.”

  After Andrea had retreated to the bathroom, the phone rang. Janie answered it and then held it out to Hannah. “It’s Sally, for you.”

  “Hello?” Hannah answered.

  “Hi, Hannah,” Sally sounded amused. “I heard it went really well. Did you get the keys?”

  “Sure did.”

  “Great. I’m filling in on the switchboard, and your neighbor, Mrs. Canfield, is on the line for you. Do you want me to put her through?”

  “Yes, please.” Hannah crossed her fingers as she waited for Sally to put through the call. She’d told Mrs. Canfield to call her when Greg came home.

  “Hannah?” Mrs. Canfield’s voice was shaking slightly. “Greg still isn’t home and I’m worried sick. Do you think I should call the sheriff?”

  “I don’t think that’s necessary, Mrs. Canfield. I’m sure he’ll be home soon.”

  “I hope so! I’m just so nervous and I…I wanted to talk to someone about it. Could you come down to see me when you get home?”

  Hannah came very close to groaning out loud. She’d been looking forward to curling up with Moishe and watching some mindless television, but she couldn’t let Mrs. Canfield down. “Sure, but I have to make a trip to the mall first. It might be pretty late.”

  “That’s all right. I’m so worried about Greg, I won’t be able to sleep a wink.”

  “Okay, Mrs. Canfield. The minute I get home, I’ll come straight to your place.”

  “You’re a darling, Hannah,” Mrs. Canfield said, and she sounded relieved. “I’ll see you later, then.”

  “What’s up?” Janie asked when Hannah had hung up the phone.

  “My neighbor’s worried about her grandson. He’s going through a rough time and she just wants to talk.” Hannah picked up the key ring and handed it to Janie. “Do you know which one of these keys is for the boutique?”

  One by one, Hannah and Janie examined the keys on Alan’s key ring. Janie compared them with hers, and they marked the ones Hannah would need with a felt-tipped pen. Janie had just finished sketching the layout of the boutique when Andrea emerged from the bathroom.

  Hannah glanced up at her sister and her mouth dropped open in surprise. Janie’s sweater was miles too big for Andrea, but she’d rolled up the sleeves and belted it in with the long scarf she’d been wearing around her neck. Her hair was pulled up in a loose knot at the top of her head and she looked fabulous.

  “What?” Andrea asked, taking in Hannah’s startled expression.

  “How did you do that? You look gorgeous.”

  “No, I don’t. You’re just trying to make me feel better.”

  “I’m serious, Andrea. You look great.”

  “Well…I always make an effort. Aren’t you going to comb your hair before we go?”

  Hannah reached up to pat her hair. It felt all right to her. “Why should I?”

  “Somebody might see you.”

  “Who? The mall’s closed and all we’re doing is breaking into Alan’s office.”

  “But we could run into someone.”

  “I hope not,” Hannah said. “And if we do, I don’t think anybody at the sheriff’s department is going to care if my hair isn’t perfect for my mug shot.”

  Chapter Thirty

  As Hannah took the turnoff for the Tri-County Mall, she glanced over at her sister and noticed that she was shivering. “Maybe you should stay in the truck. I can do this alone.”

  “It’ll take twice as long to go through the files if I don’t help you.”

  “That’s okay. I don’t mind. Look, Andrea…what we’re doing isn’t exactly legal. I don’t blame you for being scared.”

  Andrea shook her head. “I’m not scared.”

  “Then why are you shaking?”

  “Because I’m cold. We should have taken my Volvo. It’s got a better heater.”

  Hannah wasn’t convinced by her sister’s explanation. “Are you sure you’re not shivering because you’re scared?”

  “I’m positive. I’m a little nervous, but I’m not scared. I’m going in, Hannah. At least it’ll be warm in the mall.”

  “Okay,” Hannah said, pulling around to the back of the mall and parking by the entrance the employees used. “Grab the flashlights and let’s go.”

  A light snow began to fall as they got out of Hannah’s truck and walked toward the door. Hannah glanced up at the huge flakes that were floating past the old-fashioned streetlights that were placed at intervals around the building. “It’s snowing again.”

  “I know. Isn’t it gorgeous? Nights like this remind me of Christmas Eve. Remember how Dad used to drive us down to see the official Christmas tree in Lake Eden Park, and we’d always just miss Santa Claus? You used to roll down the car window and say, ‘There he is! Up there in the sky! I think he just came from our house.’ And by the time I looked, he was gone.”

  “That was Dad’s idea. Did you believe me?”

  “I did for the first couple of years. After that, I pretended to believe because of Michelle. You were pretty convincing, Hannah. You even described the reindeer.”

  They arrived at the door and Hannah opened it with the key Janie had marked. She’d never used this entrance before, and she was a bit surprised at how dreary it was.

  “It’s not very pretty, is it?” Andrea echoed Hannah’s sentiments as she surveyed the green-and-beige walls.

  “I guess they figure they don’t need to decorate just for the employees.” Hannah reached out to take her sister’s arm. “Come with me. Janie told me how to get up to the second floor.”

  “But we just take the escalator, don’t we?”

  “No, they shut them down at night. We have to use the stairs. If we run into anybody, let me do the talking.”

  “What are you going to say?”

  “That Janie sent us out here to pick up some papers from the boutique.”

  “What if they don’t believe you?”

  “I’ll just show them the keys. That should convince them we’re supposed to be here.”

  “But what if they think you stole the keys?”

  Hannah grinned as she started up the stairs. Andrea complained about Tracey asking question after question, and now she was doing the very same thing. “Relax. Janie promised to stay by the phone. I’ll just give them her number and she’ll confirm it.”

  The doorway to the second floor was locked, and Hannah used the key to open it. When they stepped out into the deserted mall, Andrea shivered slightly. “It looks different at night,” she whispered.

  “I know,” Hannah whispered back. “I’m glad they’ve got night-lights. At least we can see where we’re going.”

  Hannah walked forward with Andrea at her heels. Even though she tried to walk quietly, her footsteps echoed in the huge, empty space. Without the sound of music on the speaker system and the crowds of shoppers talking and laughing, every sound was magnified. The heater vents whooshed l
ike surfacing whales, there was a loud ticking sound that appeared to come from the clock that hung on the wall over the cash register in the Fanny Farmer Candy shop, and the hum from a flickering fluorescent tube in the display window of Sammy’s Sportswear was deafening. The shadows loomed large, and Hannah couldn’t dismiss the possibility that someone could be lurking behind one of the mirrored posts that held up the roof, or pressed flat against the little alcoves that surrounded the entrances to the stores. The setting reminded Hannah of every bad horror movie she’d seen, and it was unnerving.

  Andrea glanced behind her more times than Hannah could count as they hurried toward Connie Mac’s Kitchen Boutique. Hannah had a compelling urge to do the same, but she didn’t. Two pairs of eyes facing in opposite directions were much safer. She wished they had four pairs of eyes so they could cover the area completely. There’s nobody out here except us, she told herself. And she repeated it over and over like a mantra until they arrived at the entrance to the boutique.

  Hannah’s fingers were shaking slightly as she unlocked the glass door to Connie Mac’s store, but once they’d stepped inside and relocked the door behind them, she felt much safer. Although the banks of tiny bulbs the store used for nighttime security didn’t give much illumination, her eyes were adjusting to the low level of light. At least they wouldn’t bump into a display stand and break something expensive.

  “Can we turn on the lights?” Andrea asked, sounding hopeful.

  “No. One of the security guards might see them.”

  “But there aren’t any security guards at night.”

  Hannah turned to her sister in surprise. “How do you know that?”

  “Bill told me. One of the guys at the department was looking for a second job right after Christmas. He came out here to apply for night security and the mall manager told him they didn’t have night guards anymore.”