Christmas Caramel Murder (10 page)

Danielle looked concerned. “So there was an hour, from nine to ten, when Lisa was alone?”

“That's right.”

“And the time of death was . . . ?”

“Between eight and ten,” Michelle answered her. “Hannah and I looked at the autopsy report.”

Danielle shivered slightly. “I get a sick feeling in my stomach every time I think of that.”

Hannah wasn't sure whether Danielle was referring to the autopsy the fact that Phyllis was murdered, or if it had reminded Danielle of her own husband's violent death. Instead of asking a question that might be painful for Danielle, Hannah decided to change the subject, but Michelle spoke up before Hannah could open her mouth.

“Unfortunately, Lisa
does
have a motive,” Michelle said.

“Because Herb dated Phyllis in high school, and now they're working together?” Danielle asked, looking a bit skeptical.

“That's part of it, but there's more,” Hannah said. “Mayor Bascomb appointed Phyllis as this year's Mrs. Santa Claus.”

Danielle nodded. “I know about that. The mother of one of my ballet students told me. And she said that Lisa was hoping to be Mrs. Claus.”

“That's right,” Hannah agreed. “Lisa and I went to the auditorium last night to pick up this year's Christmas gift bags. The Lake Eden Players were just rehearsing the end of
A Christmas Carol
, and we stayed because Lisa wanted to see how Herb and Phyllis would act when they played Mr. and Mrs. Claus.”

“Herb with Phyllis,” Danielle said with a nod. “That must have been hard for Lisa to take.”

“Oh, it's not just that!” Hannah told her. “Usually Santa hugs Mrs. Claus when they've given out candy and cookies to the kids in the audience.”

“Yes,” Danielle said. “They always do that.”

“Well, this year Tory Bascomb decided to do things differently. When she was through criticizing the Mrs. Santa costume that Phyllis was wearing . . .”

“Wait a minute,” Danielle interrupted. “Isn't it the same costume that every Mrs. Claus wears?”

“It's supposed to be, but Phyllis claimed that the costume didn't fit and she rented her own costume from a place in the Cities. Tory said it looked like something a stripper would wear for a routine at Christmas.”

Danielle gave a little laugh. “That figures. Was Tory right?”

“Oh, yes. The costume was very revealing.”

“And that bothered Lisa?”

“That's only part of it. Tory directed Phyllis to give Herb a stage kiss right before they pulled the final curtain. But Phyllis didn't give him a
stage
kiss. It was a real kiss, and it was obvious that she was interested in Herb.”

“Uh-oh,” Danielle said. “That must have made Lisa very jealous.”

“It did,” Michelle told her. “And Herb's been out late almost every night this month. He says he's working late, but Lisa's not so sure that's the truth.”

Danielle nodded. “I get it. Working late at the office, hmmm? Do you know that there used to be a bar in St. Cloud called The Office? That way, the guys who came there to drink could say that they were at the office and they wouldn't be lying.”

“That's funny, but not really,” Michelle said.

“I know.” Danielle took a sip of her tea. “Poor Lisa! What can I do to help you, Hannah?”

“Give me a timeline for the drinks you had with the mayor and Stephanie last night.”

“I can do that, but . . .” Danielle stopped speaking and her eyes narrowed. “I do understand. The mayor's a suspect because . . . well, you know why. And Stephanie's a suspect because she's always jealous of the women the mayor finds attractive.”

“That's right,” Hannah said.

“Let me think.” Danielle shut her eyes for a moment or two, and then she opened them again. “The mayor and Stephanie picked me up at nine. And Del was already in their car. He told me he'd ridden over to their house to pick up Stephanie. I was watching out the window for them to pull up, and I looked at the clock in the reception area on the way out the door. And we got home at . . . oh, dear. I'm not sure that I even noticed what time. . . .” Danielle stopped speaking and began to smile. “Wait a minute. I can give you the exact time that I got back here.”

As Hannah and Michelle watched, Danielle pulled out her cell phone and touched the screen. She touched it a second time and then she nodded. “Ten twenty-five,” she told them. “I know because I sent a text to Benton to tell him that I was back so that he could come over when he finished work. The time's right here on the text.”

“That clears the mayor,” Hannah said.

Danielle looked slightly puzzled. “But it doesn't clear Stephanie?” she asked.

“No. I know that the mayor was in a city council meeting and he left with Del. That means he was with someone for the entire period between eight and ten. But Stephanie wasn't at the city council meeting. She was at home, alone. She had a whole hour, between eight and nine, to drive out to the Corner Tavern and kill Phyllis.”

“T
he kitchen smells wonderful!” Michelle said as Hannah pulled the last pan of Chocolate-Covered Mint Cookies from the oven.

“I know. I love to make these cookies. It always reminds me of Christmas. There's something about mint and candy canes that just goes with the whole season.”

“And chocolate. Don't forget the chocolate.”

“Chocolate's not seasonal. It's good any time of the year. Chocolate's like oxygen. It's elemental.”

“You've got a point,” Michelle said as she plucked a hot cookie from the baker's rack and juggled it from hand to hand. “Do you think these are too hot to eat?”

“Here.” Hannah handed her sister a napkin. “You'd better let it cool a little or you might burn your mouth.”

“I've got a better idea. I'll open the door, stand just inside, and stick out my hand with the cookie. It'll cool faster that way.” Michelle opened the back kitchen door, extended her hand, and gasped as a shape materialized from the blowing snow and plucked the cookie from her hand.

“Thanks!” the shape said, stepping closer. “It's not every day that someone comes out to greet me with a hot cookie.”

“Mike!” Michelle exclaimed as she recognized him. “You scared me half to death! Give me back that cookie. It's mine.”

“Not anymore,” Mike said, biting into the cookie as he stepped into the kitchen. “This cookie's too young to be outside alone in weather like this. It's my duty to save it from the storm.”

“You ate my cookie!” Michelle accused as Mike popped the rest of the cookie in his mouth.

“There's more where that came from,” Hannah said with a laugh. “Sit down, Mike. I'll pour a cup of coffee for you.”

Michelle walked over to the baker's rack and piled several more cookies on a napkin. “I'm not taking any more chances with these cookies. I'm going out front to eat them.”

Hannah delivered Mike's coffee and dished up a plate of cookies for him. Then she sat down across from him at the workstation. “I figured you'd be here before closing,” she said. “You always come around the day after a murder to find out if I've discovered anything.”

“These are really good cookies, Hannah.” Mike picked one up and took a bite. “Have you?”

Hannah knew exactly what he was asking, but she didn't get up to retrieve her murder book. “Not much.”

“But you
are
investigating.”

There were times when Hannah wished that Mike didn't know her quite as well as he did. “I'm asking questions if that's what you mean.”

“You probably already know that I'll need to talk to Lisa.”

“I know. And Lisa knows, too. She mentioned it to me this morning.”

“Do you have her name on your suspect list?”

Hannah sighed deeply. “Yes,” she admitted. “Lisa's name is there. But I intend to find an alibi for her.”

“Any luck so far?”

“Not yet.”

They sat there in silence for a moment, and then Hannah sighed again. “Is Herb one of your suspects?”

“Not anymore.”

“Why isn't he?” Hannah was certain that she looked just as shocked as she felt.

“Herb has an alibi.”

“Wonderful!” Hannah began to smile. “That's a big relief! Does Lisa know that Herb has an alibi?”

Mike shrugged. “I don't know, but I doubt it.”

“Can I tell Lisa that you cleared Herb?”

“Sure, you can.”

“Good! She'll be really happy to hear that Herb's got an alibi. What is it?”

“Sorry, Hannah. I can't tell you that.”

Hannah began to frown. “Why not?”

“Because I promised Herb that I wouldn't tell anyone. And I don't break my promises.”

Hannah's frown deepened. “Will Herb tell Lisa his alibi?”

“I'm sure he won't.”

Hannah swallowed hard. “Please tell me that Herb's alibi doesn't involve a girlfriend.”

“I can do that. Herb's alibi doesn't involve a girlfriend.”

“Are you sure? I mean, he's been telling Lisa that he's working late and she's driven past city hall. Herb's not at his office and his car is gone. She's worried that he's spending time with another woman.”

“He's not.”

“Are you sure?”

“I'm positive.” Mike reached out to take Hannah's hand. “Stop worrying, Hannah. And try to get Lisa to stop worrying. Herb isn't with another woman.”

“Then where is he until after midnight almost every night?”

“That's privileged information between Herb and me. I can't tell you, Hannah. Now just let it go, okay?”

Hannah didn't like it one little bit, but she nodded. “Okay. I won't ask you any more questions about that. But now that Herb is cleared, who's left on your suspect list?”

Mike laughed. “I knew you'd get around to that, but I just gave you a piece of information. It's your turn to cough up something for me. Who's on
your
suspect list?”

“Mayor Bascomb, but I cleared him.”

Mike reached out to tip her chin up so that he could look into her eyes. “Do I detect a slightly disappointed look on your face?”

“Maybe. He
did
have a perfect motive.”

“I know. And I cleared him, too. But I asked you who was
on
your list, not who you cleared.”

Hannah sighed. She wished that Mike wasn't quite so logical. She had to give him something before he'd divulge any more information.”

“Give it up, Hannah,” Mike prompted her.

There was no choice. Hannah knew that she had to tell him. “All right. You win. It's Stephanie Bascomb.”

“Stephanie?”

“Yes.”

“But she got what she wanted from the mayor. I talked to Claire, and the clothes she bought cost a lot of money. And then I went out to the mall and talked to her jeweler. The mayor paid a small fortune for that ring. Stephanie got her usual revenge and then some.”

“I know. I heard about the diamond. Lisa saw it and she said it was as big as a boulder.”

“Well . . . Lisa's exaggerating a bit, but it
is
extremely large. But Stephanie already had her new clothes and her new diamond when the victim was murdered. What motive would Stephanie have for actually killing Phyllis?”

“I don't know. Maybe Stephanie thought that Phyllis would do it all over again. Or . . . maybe she wanted to get even with Phyllis for asking the mayor to set her up in an apartment.”

“That's weak, Hannah.”

“Okay, try this one on for size. Stephanie always supports the Lake Eden Players. She even introduces the actors when they take their curtain call. Maybe she didn't want Phyllis to be Mrs. Claus because she felt that Phyllis wasn't worthy of being included in a Lake Eden Players production.”

“That's a little more plausible, but Stephanie has an alibi. She went out for drinks with the mayor after his council meeting.”

“Yes, but he didn't pick her up until nine. She was alone before that. And Doc set the window for the time of death from
eight
to ten that night.”

“How do you know that?”

“A little birdie told me.”

Mike smiled. “A little birdie named Mother?”

“Whatever. I don't have to reveal my sources unless it interferes with your official investigation. We have a deal, don't we?”

“We do.”

“If Phyllis was murdered at the beginning of the window of death period, Stephanie would have had time to kill her.”

“You think that Stephanie had time to drive out to the Corner Tavern, bash in the victim's head, get rid of the murder weapon, drive back home, clean up, and be dressed and ready to go when the mayor picked her up at nine last night?”

“Yes. It would be tight, but if she was determined to get rid of Phyllis, she could do it. And there's even another possibility that would have saved Stephanie some time. She could have been in the school parking lot, waiting for Phyllis to come out of the auditorium. Rod published the rehearsal schedule in the
Lake Eden Journal
. Stephanie could have followed Phyllis out to the Corner Tavern and intercepted her before she could get inside. That would explain why Bonnie Surma didn't see Phyllis walk in. Stephanie killed Phyllis before she got anywhere near the entrance to the restaurant.”

Mike thought about that for a few moments. “It's unlikely, but possible,” he conceded. “You were there at the school, Hannah. Did you see Phyllis come out?”

“No. I told you this before. Lisa left before Tory Bascomb dismissed the cast and the crew. When we drove off, none of them had come out yet.”

“Did you see Stephanie's car in the school parking lot?”

“No, but there were a lot of other cars and I wasn't looking for it.”

“Fair enough. I'll have my team go through Stephanie's car to see if they can find anything.”

“How are you going to do that? Are you going to tell Stephanie that she's a suspect?”

“There's no need for that. Don't worry, Hannah. I have a way to get her car so that my guys can go through it, and it won't arouse either Stephanie's or the mayor's suspicions.”

“You're going to do something sneaky?”

“Some might call it that. Others would call it brilliant.” Mike gave her the devilish grin that always made Hannah's knees turn weak. “What are you doing for dinner tonight?”

Hannah couldn't hide her look of surprise. “Are you inviting me out to dinner when you're in the middle of an investigation?”

“No. I'd like to ask you out to dinner, but I'm on call until this case is solved. I just want to know where you are at all times. I worry about you, Hannah.”

“That's really . . .” Hannah paused, trying to come up with the perfect word. “That's really sweet.”

“It's not sweet. It's necessary. You're really good at identifying the killer, but that usually gets you into trouble. I just want a little warning, okay? One of these times I might not be around to protect you. And I
do
want to protect you, Hannah. I care about you.” Mike reached out for her hand and gave it a squeeze. “I don't want to see anything bad to happen to you.”

Hannah's first instinct was to bristle. She wanted to recount the number of times she'd confronted a killer alone and taken the proper action to save herself. She wasn't some kind of delicate tropical flower that had to be kept in a hothouse and cosseted. But Mike did have a point. She'd gotten into trouble a couple of times and Mike had been there. He
had
saved her. There was no denying that. And she had no way of knowing the future. It was possible that a similar situation could happen again.

“Okay,” Hannah told him, although it went totally against her fiercely independent nature. “I'll be glad to give you my schedule for the evening, if it'll make you feel any better.”

Mike pulled out the small notebook that he always carried in the shirt pocket of his uniform, and unclipped his pen. “Okay,” he said. “Shoot.”

“Isn't that a rather dangerous thing for a cop to say?” Hannah asked him, unable to resist the joke.

“Not to you. I know you don't keep a gun in The Cookie Jar. Where will you be, Hannah?”

“I'll be right here until four-thirty. I'm going to let Lisa close up today. Michelle and I will head back to the condo to get something to eat and feed Moishe. And then we'll drive back to town to attend the last rehearsal of the play at the school auditorium.”

“And after that?”

“Back to the condo until early tomorrow morning, when Michelle and I should get here about five. You're welcome to drop by then for coffee and cookies if you want to check up on me and get the schedule for my day.”

“Thanks, Hannah. I appreciate that. And you won't go anywhere else?”

“I'm not planning on it.”

Mike looked properly grateful for her cooperation, and Hannah couldn't help but wonder if they were on a new footing as she walked him to the door. When they got there, she opened it for Mike, but he didn't step out. Instead, he pulled her into his arms and gave her a hug. “If you deviate from the schedule you gave me for tonight, please text or call,” Mike told her after ending the hug. “I don't want to remove another cold dead body from a snowbank.”