“Good job, Andrea!” Hannah complimented her. “This could be really important. Did Mrs. Kalick recognize the second car?”
“No. The streetlight’s at the other end of the block, and it was dark in the alley. But the moon was out and she noticed that the top of the car was light-colored. She said it was big, like a Cadillac or a Lincoln, but that’s not the exciting part. There was a third car, Hannah.”
“There was?”
“Yes. It drove up to the mouth of the alley, turned off its lights, and parked right there next to a big pine tree. All Mrs. Kalick could see was the bumper. There were just too many branches in the way.”
“How long was it parked there?”
“About fifteen minutes, time enough for Mrs. Kalick to soak her teeth and put night cream on her face. She said that when she looked out again, it was gone.”
“Did she tell Bill and Mike about it?”
Andrea shook her head. “She told them about the car that was following Boyd, but she didn’t mention the third one.”
“Why not?”
“She figured it was Felicia Berger and her boyfriend. I guess this isn’t the first time they’ve parked under the pine tree with the lights out. Mrs. Kalick likes Felicia, and she didn’t want to get her in trouble with her parents. You know how strict the Bergers are, Hannah. They don’t approve of makeup or dancing, and they’d skin Felicia up one side and down the other if they found out that she had a boyfriend.”
Hannah knew the Bergers, and they were the strictest parents in town. “This could be really important, Andrea, especially if the car didn’t belong to Felicia’s boyfriend. Did Mrs. Kalick tell you anything else?”
“No, but Mr. Gessell did. He lives right next door to Danielle and thought he heard two men arguing in the alley. He was about to go out to see what was the matter when the voices stopped.”
“What time was that?”
“He didn’t know, but he said he’d just finished listening to the weather report on KCOW radio. I called the station and checked on it, Hannah. The weather report is on every night from eight fifty-five to nine.”
“Good for you.” Hannah was impressed.
“Your turn, Hannah.”
“What?”
“I said, it’s your turn. What did you find out about the scarf?”
“Nothing much, but Claire got really nervous when I mentioned it. I told her I wanted to buy it, and she said it was gone, that it faded in the window and she had to send it back.”
“But we know that’s not true,” Andrea pointed out. “Luanne saw it in Norman’s office. Do you suppose Claire had two scarves exactly the same?”
“No. She said it was hand-embroidered and was one of a kind. She was telling the truth about that. I could tell. I even gave her a chance to change her story. I said that I knew she’d been busy with the Christmas rush, and I could understand if she forgot who bought it. But she looked me straight in the eye and swore that she didn’t sell it.”
“So she lied when she said she returned it, but she told the truth when she said that no one bought it?”
“That’s right. It just doesn’t make sense, Andrea. The only thing that I can think of is that Claire gave the scarf to someone and didn’t want me to know who it was.”
“That’s really strange.” Andrea frowned slightly. “And it’s even stranger because Claire was so nervous about it. I think that scarf is important, Hannah. We have to find out who has it.”
Hannah glanced around and saw Bill and Tracey coming toward them. “I know. We’ll talk about this later, Andrea. Here come Bill and Tracey.”
“Right.” Andrea spotted them and gave a little wave. Then she turned back to Hannah. “You’d better dash over to makeup before the contest starts.”
“I’ve already been there. They did my makeup before the news.”
“Well, you need a touch-up,” Andrea informed. “You lipstick’s worn off, your face is shiny, and you hair’s all frizzy again.”
“Thanks for telling me, Andrea.” Hannah tried to keep the sarcasm from her voice as she headed off to the makeup room. Andrea didn’t mean to be critical; she just wanted Hannah to look her best. But with two gorgeous sisters like Andrea and Michelle, and a mother who still looked great in a bikini, only her sense of humor kept Hannah from walking down the sidewalks of Lake Eden with a brown paper bag pulled over her head.
Chapter Nine
After Mr. Hart had congratulated the winner, an elderly woman who had baked a delicious poppy seed cake, Hannah turned to Edna Ferguson, the new substitute judge. “You did a wonderful job, Edna.”
“Do you really think so?”
“Yes.” Hannah smiled warmly. “I thought you handled that gingerbread problem very well.”
Edna made a face. “I really didn’t like it.”
“I know, but you complimented the contestant on her brandy sauce.”
“It was a good brandy sauce. It just didn’t taste right with the gingerbread, that’s all.”
“That’s true.” Hannah frowned slightly, remembering the combination of ginger and brandy. “All the same, I thought you were very kind.”
“I tried to be. After what happened last night, I figured the last thing we needed was another tactless judge on the panel. They haven’t arrested anyone yet, have they, Hannah?”
“I don’t think so. I talked to Bill right before the contest, and I’m sure he would have said something.”
“Well, I hope they catch him soon!” Edna shivered slightly. “Another murderer loose in Lake Eden! It just gives a body chills.”
After she’s said good night to Edna, Hannah collected the boxes from her televised baking and stashed them in the back of her truck. As she drove toward her condo, where Norman had promised to meet her, she thought about what Edna had said. Perhaps Edna suspected that Boyd’s murder had something to do with the bake-off. It would explain why she’d been so careful about criticizing the contestants’ entries. But Hannah was convinced that the nasty comments Boyd had made as a judge had nothing to do with his violent demise. All of last night’s contestants had airtight alibis, and that meant Boyd had been killed for another reason.
Hannah flicked her lights at a car that was weaving a little too close to the center line. It straightened out and she passed it. She was sure that the cars Mrs. Kalick had seen in the alley figured into the picture. So did the argument that Mr. Gessell had heard. The phone call Boyd had gotten on Tuesday was also an important part of the puzzle. Norman’s first patient, the mysterious lady who’d left the scarf, could have made it. Hannah intended to ply Norman with cookies tonight and find out exactly who she was.
* * *
Hannah opened her door with a smile. For some strange reason, she was really glad to see Norman, and it wasn’t only because she was planning to pump him for information about his mystery patient. Norman wasn’t the kind of man to give a woman palpitations. To say his hairline was receding would be a kindness, and he was a little plump around the waist. But Hannah knew she could use a dose of his humor after the exhausting day she’d spent, and Norman was a very good friend. “Hi, Norman. I’m really glad you came over.”
“You are?” Norman seemed both surprised and pleased at the warmth of her greeting. “Before I forget, you were great tonight, Hannah. And you were pretty, too. That dress made your hair look like copper.”
“Thanks, Norman.” Hannah decided not to make a crack about copper and how it turned green. It was obvious that Norman had paid her a sincere compliment, and she didn’t want to spoil it. “Come on in. It’s cold out there and I’ve got my fake fireplace on.”
“Rrrow!” Moishe also greeted Norman warmly, practically tripping him as he came in the door.
“Hi, big guy. Just a second.” Norman slipped out of his coat, draped it over the chair by the door and leaned down to pick up Moishe. “Have you terrorized any Chihuahuas lately?”
Moishe started to purr so loudly, Hannah could hear it all the way across the room. He didn’t even object when Norman carried him belly-up in his arms, an action that would have earned anyone else several deep and
