Andrea found a stack of large manila envelopes next to Lucy’s computer and handed one to Hannah. “Put everything in here, and I’ll stuff it under my parka.”
“Good idea.” Hannah pulled out the drawer, released the catch on the false back, and retrieved the evidence. She dropped it into the envelope and stuck her hand back into the compartment to make certain she hadn’t missed anything. “Here’s a roll of exposed film. I’d better take that, too. Norman can develop it for us.”
Andrea pointed toward several other rolls of film that were scattered on Lucy’s desktop. “There’s more film here. Do you want to take it?”
“No. If it were important, Lucy wouldn’t have left it out. The roll she hid in her secret compartment is different. It could be evidence that she didn’t have time to develop.”
“Do you want me to check around to make sure we didn’t leave anything?” Andrea offered.
“Yes. Check the kitchen and the bathroom, and I’ll look around in here.”
Hannah had just concluded that they’d left no telltale traces when Lucy’s phone rang. Hannah glanced at her watch and frowned. It was only seven-forty, and Norman was supposed to keep Lucy in his dental chair until eight.
“Is it Norman?” Andrea appeared in the doorway looking concerned.
“I don’t know yet. We’ll have to wait for her answering machine to pick up.”
The phone rang a second time, and then a third. Lucy’s machine kicked in before the fourth ring and they listened to her outgoing message. This is Lucy Richards, feature journalist. Leave a number and I’ll get back to you.
Hannah rolled her eyes at the ceiling. The closest Lucy ever got to journalism was writing a description of a wedding dress.
Lucy? Where are, Lucy? Hannah’s eyes widened as she recognized the voice on the speaker. It was Norman, and he sounded nervous. I came in at seven to do the impression for your caps, and you’re over thirty minutes late. I can’t hold any more time for you. You’ll have to call me to reschedule.
The answering machine clicked off, and Hannah met Andrea’s startled gaze. “Come on, Andrea. It’s time to run for the hills.
* * *
Hannah’s heart was still thudding as they walked into the Rhodes Dental Clinic. They’d left Lucy’s apartment on the fly, and only luck had kept them from running into her.
Norman slid back the panel just as soon as he heard the front door open, and he looked very relieved to see them. “It’s a good thing you didn’t go over to Lucy’s! She never showed up for her appointment, and she didn’t call to cancel.”
“We did go.” Hannah was still a little miffed that Norman hadn’t called to warn them. “We were just leaving when you called. Why didn’t you let us know earlier?”
“I tried to. At first, I thought she was just running late, but at ten after seven, I called Andrea’s cell phone.” Norman turned to Andrea. “You didn’t answer, and I called at least a dozen times.”
Andrea sighed. “I left it in Hannah’s truck. I didn’t want it to ring while we were breaking in. I thought maybe Vera might hear it.”
“All’s well that ends well,” Hannah reassured her. And then she reached into her back pocket and handed Norman the envelope from the Seattle Police Department. “I think this belongs to you?”
Norman’s mouth dropped open as he stared down at the envelope. “You found it!”
“That and a lot of other stuff.” Andrea reached inside her parka and pulled out the manila envelope. “Lucy had five victims that we know about, and there may be more.”
“More?”
“That’s right.” Hannah opened the envelope and drew out the canister of film. “We found everything in a secret compartment in her rolltop desk, and this roll of film was there, too. It’s got to be more evidence, or she wouldn’t have hidden it. Can you develop it for us right away?”
Norman glanced down at his appointment book and shook his head. “I’d like to help, but Mrs. Haversham is coming in at eight-thirty. There’s no way I can run back home and develop it in less than forty-five minutes.”
“I’ll take care of Jill Haversham for you,” Andrea offered. “I’ll just tell her that you had an emergency and ask her to reschedule. And then I’ll take her over to the cafe and treat her to breakfast for being so cooperative. She doesn’t get out that much, and she’ll love it.”
Hannah turned to her sister in surprise. Andrea wasn’t usually this generous with her time. “Does this have anything to do with that rental duplex she owns over on Maple Street?”
“Well… actually it does.” Andrea’s face turned slightly pink. “I’ve been meaning to talk to her about it anyway. I’ve got a buyer that’s interested, and she could make a nice profit.”
Hannah grinned. Her sister was as tenacious as a pup with a bone when it came to selling real estate. Andrea had been trying to get Jill Haversham to sell her duplex for at least a year, and she wouldn’t quit until she got the listing.
“If you want to take care of Mrs. Haversham, that’s fine with me,” Norman agreed. “I don’t have another appointment until ten, and that’ll give us plenty of time. Come on, Hannah. Bring that film, and let’s go over to my darkroom to see what you’ve got.”
* * *
“Your mother acted really surprised to see me.” Hannah stepped into the large walk-in closet that Norman had turned into a darkroom. “And I’m not sure she approved when you told her that we were going upstairs to your room.”
Norman laughed. “That was a mistake on my part. I should have said that we were going upstairs to develop a roll of film. It wouldn’t have been so bad if Mrs. Beeseman hadn’t been visiting. Mother would never gossip about you, but I’m not so sure about Mrs. Beeseman.”
“I am. Mrs. Beeseman will tell everyone within a five-mile radius and then some.”
Norman gazed at her curiously as Hannah handed him the roll of film. “You don’t seem too upset about that.”
“I’m not. Anyone who knows me won’t believe it. And anyone who doesn’t know me doesn’t matter.”
“That’s a good attitude.” Norman held the film canister up to the light. “It’s black-and-white. It’s a good thing I’ve got a complete setup. I started out in black-and-white because I liked the contrast. It was at least ten years before I added color. Almost everyone uses it now.”
“Then it’s unusual that Lucy used black-and-white?”
“Not really. She works for Rod, and he doesn’t print color very often. It’s just too expensive. Lucy probably loaded her camera with black-and-white so that she could develop it in Rod’s darkroom. He does his own black- and-white at the office, but he sends all his color work out.”
“That makes a lot of sense. Lucy wouldn’t want to send any incriminating film out to be developed.”
“Sit over there, Hannah.” Norman pointed to a stool in the corner. “I’ll have to go to total darkness until I have this film in the tank.”
Hannah headed for the stool and sat down. She was interested because she’d never been in a darkroom before. “How can you see what you’re doing if it’s totally dark?”
“I can’t. But I’ve done it so many times before, my fingers know the moves. A lot of photographers use a pouch, but I don’t like them. They make my hands sweat. Are you ready for me to turn out the light?”
“I’m ready.” Hannah reached out and grasped the edge of the long troughlike sink. She didn’t want to lose her balance and fall off the stool when the lights went out.
Norman clicked off the lights, and Hannah glanced around. She knew it was broad daylight, but not even one tiny crack of light penetrated Norman’s darkroom. The complete darkness made her feel a bit off-balance, and she was glad that she’d thought to grip the edge of the sink.
Sounds seemed to be magnified in the darkness. Hannah heard a pop and figured that Norman must have taken the cap off the film canister. There was a crinkling noise that was followed by a shushing sound, as if he were unwinding something. She felt a bit disoriented, now that she could no longer judge the dimensions of the room by sight. She reminded herself that this must be how blind people felt and gave thanks that she wasn’t sightless.
Hannah heard something clink against metal, perhaps the side of the developing tank. That was followed by a clank that reminded her of a solid metal lid being placed on a saucepot, and then a white light filled the room.
“It’s only a hundred watts, but it seems bright, doesn’t it?”
