Christmas Caramel Murder (11 page)

“T
hanks, Norman!” Hannah said, as Norman walked in the door of the Jordan High auditorium carrying a very large box. She knew exactly what was in the box because she'd called him earlier and asked him to bring his popcorn machine to the auditorium.

“No problem. I've got all the things you need to make a batch of popcorn in the car. I'll go get the other box.”

Hannah quickly shrugged into her parka. “Hold on a second and I'll walk out with you.”

“Okay, but I don't need help. Wouldn't you rather stay here, where it's warm?”

“No, I'd rather go with you. Come on, Norman. Let's get that second box so we can figure out how to use your popcorn machine before it's time for the first intermission.”

“But there's no audience. It's just a rehearsal.”

“I know, but the Lake Eden Players might like some popcorn to munch on between acts. And everyone on the makeup and technical crews would enjoy it.”

“You're right, Hannah. Let's go.”

Norman led the way outside and Hannah followed. The moment they got outside the door, Norman turned to her. “Okay, Hannah. Why did you need to talk to me alone?”

Hannah smiled. She should have known that Norman would catch her true purpose in walking out with him. “Because Lisa was standing with Michelle at the counter and I wanted to ask you if you'd discovered anything that might help to clear her.”

“Makes sense. And, as a matter of fact, I did discover a partial alibi for her.”

“Oh, Norman! You're wonderful!” Hannah threw her arms around him and gave him a hug. It wasn't much of a hug because they were both wearing bulky, padded parkas and her arms barely reached around him. “Tell me what you discovered.”

“I stopped by Mother and Earl's this afternoon. Earl was there, warming up after a whole morning of plowing out Lake Eden city streets, and Mother was making Janelle's Chicken Soup for him.”

“I love that soup! I wish I'd gone with you.”

“So do I. You know I love to spend time with you, Hannah. Anyway, I had a bowl of soup with them, and Earl and I got to talking. Earl said he was driving the snowplow last night.”

“Last night,” Hannah repeated, beginning to understand why Norman was telling her about Earl's snowplow schedule. “Where did Earl plow? And when?”

“That's what I love about you Hannah.” Norman slipped his arm around her waist as they walked to his car. “You catch on right away.”

“Maybe. What time?”

“He was going to plow Lisa's street at nine-thirty-five, but he noticed that Lisa's car was parked in front of the house. He knows that Lisa and Herb have a two-car garage and they always park there when they come home at night. Since Lisa's car was out on the street, Earl figured that she planned to go out again.”

“That was smart of him,” Hannah commented.

“I thought so, too. Earl told me that the plow he uses leaves a pretty high bank of snow and he didn't want to block Lisa in if she needed to get her car out again, so he passed by her street and started plowing a few streets over.”

“Earl's a really nice guy,” Hannah said, having trouble containing her excitement. “When did he come back with the plow?”

“He thinks it was about ten minutes later because he plowed the streets on either side of her.”

“And when Earl got back there, Lisa's car was gone?”

“Yes. That helps, doesn't it, Hannah?”

“Yes! It proves that Lisa went home to feed the dogs. And it takes fifteen minutes to get from Lisa's house to the Corner Tavern.”

“That means Lisa couldn't have gotten there until ten minutes before ten. And then there's only another ten minutes of her time that's unaccounted for?”

“That's right. It doesn't clear Lisa, but it makes her a much more unlikely suspect. Lisa met me inside at around ten. And that means she would have had only ten minutes to kill Phyllis, change to her ankle boots, and hurry into the restaurant to meet me.” Hannah put her arms around Norman again and hugged him as tightly as she could. “Thank you so much! It helps a whole lot.”

“Does it help enough to invite me to your place after the rehearsal is over?”

“Of course it does!” Hannah responded immediately. “You know you're always welcome.”

“Good. I'll stop for pizza and meet you and Michelle at the condo. And now, we'd better get these supplies inside before the first act ends and we don't have time to figure out the machine and make the popcorn.”

* * *

“That went well!” Hannah commented as she drove out of the school parking lot and headed for the highway.”

“And everyone loved the popcorn,” Michelle reported. “There were quite a few people who came straight from work and they were really hungry.”

“I'm going to drive past The Cookie Jar to make sure our Christmas lights are on,” Hannah told her. “I had to move the timer this morning, and I'm not sure I set the time correctly.”

“Why did you have to move it?”

“Lisa told me that one of our customers almost tripped over the extension cord, so I decided to move the timer to a closer wall socket.”

“That was probably smart.”

“While I was at it, I put on a new timer, too. It's one that fits flat to the wall with the plug on the side.” Hannah drove up to Main Street and turned at the corner. The lights were on, and she gave a satisfied smile as they went past. “I must have done it right. They're still on.”

“And they look really good. I'm glad that all the businesses on Main Street leave their Christmas lights on at night.”

“So am I. It really looks festive. Herb was smart convincing everyone that leaving on the Christmas lights was a deterrent to thieves.”

“Speaking of Herb, did you manage to talk to Lisa?”

“Yes.” Hannah turned onto the highway and drove toward her condo complex. “I think I convinced her that Herb isn't seeing another woman. I told her exactly what Mike told me, and that seemed to satisfy her. And she was very relieved that Herb had an alibi.”

“Do you mind if I bake when we get to your place? It won't take long.”

“I never mind when you bake. What are you making?”

“A Christmas Orange Raisin Cake.”

“Is that a new recipe?”

“Not really. It's an adaptation of Grandma Elsa's Christmas Date Cake. I've been thinking about it all day, and I've got everything I need to make it.”

There was very little traffic, and it didn't take long to drive to the condo complex, and Hannah parked in her designated spot in the underground garage. The two sisters walked up the outside staircase together, and Hannah gave a little wave as she spotted Moishe on the window ledge, waiting for them to get home. “I guess it's a little silly to wave to Moishe,” she said with a laugh. “You're not going to believe this, but once he waved back at me.”

“You're kidding, aren't you?” Michelle asked.

“No. When I climbed up the stairs and waved at him, he raised his right paw and put it up against the glass.”

“Okay,” Michelle said, but she didn't sound convinced. “Maybe he was after a bug or something.”

“Maybe, but I prefer to believe that he was waving back at me.” Hannah reached the landing first and waited for Michelle to climb the last few steps. “You, or me?” she asked.

“I'll do it.” Michelle positioned herself for the furry orange and white ball that would jump through the air and land in her arms once the door was opened.

“Ready?” Hannah asked her.

“Ready.”

Hannah unlocked the door and stood to the side. She reached out to open it, moved out of the way just in time, and watched as Moishe hurtled himself airborne and straight into Michelle's waiting arms.

“Oooofff!” Michelle said, and it was a cross between a laugh and a groan. “I always forget how heavy he is.”

“Twenty-three pounds and counting,” Hannah said as Michelle walked inside, placed Moishe on the back of the couch, and hurried into the kitchen to get the fish-shaped, salmon-flavored treats he loved.

“Here you go, Moishe,” Michelle said, coming back with the cannister and placing three kitty treats in front of Moishe. “When Norman brings pizza and gives you sausage, you could gain another half-pound or so before the night is over.”