by Joanne Fluke
“And she knows everyone in town,” Hannah added.
“Right. Not only that, she’s very filmic with her sharp features and bouncing gray curls. She’s a really good choice, Hannah. But . . .”
“But what?”
“But you’re not disappointed that you’re not going to be the announcer, are you?”
“Heavens, no!”
“But if Edna’s the announcer, you won’t be on television.”
“Sure I will. And so will you. I’ll hand out the spoons and you’ll put Bertie’s beauty shop capes on the contestants. We won’t have speaking parts, but that’s fine with me.”
“It’s fine with me, too. Is everything set up on stage, Hannah?”
“Yes. Edna’s taking care of that.” Hannah glanced at her watch. “Ross and P.K. should be here any moment. Before he left this morning, he told me that they were going to set up their equipment early. Ross said that if they hurry back to the station to edit and do whatever else they have to do, they can get us on the five o’clock news and the evening news. And he promised to do a voiceover with a bumper card that tells people when the Thanksgiving play opens and how they can get tickets to the performances.”
“That’s great advertising for us!” Michelle looked very pleased. “I’ll tell the cast before we start the contest so they’ll be sure to watch the KCOW news. And I’ll pass out tickets to the play for them to sell at dress rehearsal tomorrow.”
“Isn’t it early for a dress rehearsal?”
“Yes. The main concern with the cast seems to be their costumes so Trudi asked me to do an early run-through. She said that way, if there’s anything about a costume that doesn’t work well, she’ll have time to fix it before opening night.”
* * *
“You all know that in most pie eating contests, the contestants have their hands tied behind their backs, don’t you?”
There was a roar of laughter from the audience and Edna clapped her hands. “That’s right! But this contest is different. You don’t really want to see our esteemed mayor go facedown in one of Hannah’s Banana Cream Pies, do you?”
There were several shots of “Yes, we do!”
Edna laughed. “When Michelle Swensen, the interim director of the Lake Eden Players, asked Mayor Bascomb to be a contestant, she promised him that the contestants could use spoons.”
There were several shouts of “boo!” coming from the audience, but then Edna held up her hand for silence.
Hannah came very close to laughing out loud when the audience quieted immediately. There was no doubt in her mind that Edna must have been the head cook in the Jordan High lunchroom when they were in school, too.
“Don’t worry,” Edna told them. “Just wait until you see the spoons we’re going to give them! Hannah? Please pass out the spoons. But first, hold them up high, so everybody can see them!”
Hannah held up the huge red spoons and there was another roar of laughter from the audience.
Edna let it continue for a moment and then she held up her hand for silence again. “To prevent public embarrassment—and a massive dry cleaning bill—Bertie Straub, from the Cut ‘n Curl beauty shop right here in Lake Eden, has donated three of her best capes which Michelle will now drape over our contestants.”
While Michelle was draping the capes and Hannah was passing out the spoons, Edna motioned toward the table of judges. “I’ve already introduced you to our judges and most of you probably know that Stephanie Bascomb is our mayor’s wife. Your husband looks pretty dapper today, Judge Bascomb. Is that a really expensive suit he’s wearing?”
Stephanie laughed. “Of course it is, Edna. The mayor wouldn’t be caught dead in a cheap suit!”
There was another roar of laughter from the audience, and Hannah noticed that while Ross was capturing footage of the contestants and the judges, P.K. was documenting the audience reaction and panning their faces. It was a great maneuver to have one camera trained on the audience. Everyone who was here at the contest would watch the news programs tonight to see if they would be on KCOW television.
Once Hannah and Michelle had delivered the pies, the timer was set for ninety seconds and the contest started. There was uproarious laughter coming from the audience continually, as the contestants did their best to try to lick pie from the bowl of the huge spoons. Hannah found herself hoping that Ross was getting plenty of footage of Mayor Bascomb dribbling whipped cream down his cape and tipping the spoon this way and that to try to get the pie filling into his mouth.
By the time the klaxon on the timer sounded and the contest had ended, Bertie’s capes were covered with banana slices, whipped cream, and pie filling. The contestant table was also a mess and Hannah was glad that Edna had thought to use a disposable tablecloth.
Michelle and Hannah donned the bright yellow kitchen gloves Edna had provided from the school kitchen and brought the pie plates to the judging table. Ross got a good shot of the pie plates they placed there, along with the little stand-up card with each individual contestant’s name. Mayor Bascomb had eaten his first pie, and had started in on the second. Al Percy had almost finished his first pie, but his second was untouched. And Rose McDermott had gotten more pie on her cape than she had in her mouth.
When Hannah and Michelle had delivered the pies to the judging table, they removed the capes from the contestants, collected the big red spoons, and took off the disposable tablecloth. Then they were free to watch the judging while Edna continued to speak.
“Well? What do you judges think?” Edna asked the three judges huddled together to deliberate.
This was an obvious setup between Edna and the judges, Hannah thought to herself, but it was a good one. And Edna had obviously cued Ross in on it because Hannah noticed that his camera was pointed directly at Stephanie again.
“It’s clear to me, and the other two judges agree, that my husband, the mayor, won this pie eating contest.” Stephanie paused and smiled sweetly, directly at Ross’s camera. “I always said that Richard had a big mouth!”
Norman, who had taken over stagehand duties, pulled the curtain to a huge roar of laughter. Even Mayor Bascomb was laughing right along with every else, although Hannah suspected that his laughter was forced so that he could prove he was a good sport. She highly doubted that Mayor Bascomb thought his wife’s quip was really funny.
“Hannah!” Norman called her from the wings. “Come here a second before you go out front!”
Once the spoons and pie plates were stashed in the same cardboard box Hannah had carried in earlier, she told Michelle that she had to talk to Norman and headed for the side of the stage where Norman was waiting. “What is it, Norman?”
“Did you happen to notice Al Percy’s shoes?”
“No, not really. I didn’t see the contestants file in, and I was standing in back of them most of the time. What about Al’s shoes?”
“I’ll show you. I took a photo with my phone from the other side of the stage. The tablecloth doesn’t go all the way down to the floor, or I never would have noticed. I enlarged and enhanced the part of the photo that I wanted you to see.”
Hannah was thoroughly puzzled until Norman handed her his phone. “Those are his feet, but . . . Oh!”
“Do his shoes look like the ones that the intruder was wearing when we were hiding under Tori’s bed?”
Shock and disbelief had set in as she stared at the photo and Hannah had to swallow before she could speak. “Exactly like that,” she said. “It’s him, Norman! He’s the intruder! But do you think that Al would . . .”
“No,” Norman cut her off before she could finish her thought. “He didn’t do it, Hannah. Al has an airtight alibi.”
“How do you know that?”
“I know because I’m his alibi. Al’s wife had a dental emergency on the night that Tori was murdered. I was already at home when Al called me to ask me if I could come back to the office. I got there at seven-thirty, and Al and his wife were waiting at the door. She had an abscesse
d tooth.”
“And that gives her husband an alibi?”
“Yes. He brought her into the office and sat in the examining room with her the whole time.”
“How long did it take?”
“From seven-thirty until quarter to nine.”
“That long?” Hannah was surprised.
“That long,” Norman confirmed.
“Then that clears him,” Hannah said. “And I’m fresh out of suspects again.”
“How about the unidentified suspect with the unknown motive? You still have him, or her.”
“I guess,” Hannah said with a sigh. “But that doesn’t do me much good if I don’t know who the suspect is and I don’t know the motive.”
“You’re tired and depressed and you need chocolate,” Norman said, reaching out for her hand and pulling her toward the steps that led down from the stage.
“But I thought you didn’t believe in endorphins.”
“I don’t, but they’ve got brownies for sale out there and I love brownies. Let’s go get some before they’re all gone.”
* * *
“We got some great footage!” Ross said when he came in from the parking lot. “P.K. and I went over it in the truck. Edna was very good, and we captured the shock on Mayor Bascomb’s face when Stephanie said he had a big mouth.”
“That’s great, Ross!” Hannah was pleased. “Michelle was really happy when I told her about the voice-over and bumper card you’re doing to advertise the play.”
“KCOW reaches a lot of viewers. It should be good advertising for her. I just came back in to tell you that I’m going back to the studio, but I’ll probably be home by four-thirty. What time do you get out of here?”
“The bake sale ends at four unless we run out of food before that. There’s not much packing up to do and Edna says she’ll have Freddy take care of the tables and chairs. Unless there’s some kind of a snag, I should be home by five at the latest.”
“Perfect. We’ll watch the news together and then I’ll take you girls out for dinner tonight.”
Hannah laughed. “Only one girl. And she’s married to you. Michelle won’t be back at the condo until later. Her friend, Tricia, isn’t working tonight and they’re driving out to the mall to do some shopping and take in a movie.”
“You mean we’ll actually be alone?”
Hannah nodded, but a little seed of worry began to grow in her mind. “I know you like Michelle, but is it becoming a little . . . uh . . . restrictive having her stay with us?”
“Oh, no! I told you before, Hannah. I like having her there. And it’s not restrictive at all. There are always closed doors, you know.” He gave her a grin.
Hannah knew she was beginning to blush because her cheeks felt hot. “Yes, I know,” she said.
“Don’t cook tonight, honey. I have to drive past Berta-nelli’s and I’ll pick up a pizza for dinner. What kind do you want?”
“Anything with sausage or pepperoni. And you already know that I love anchovies.”
“Then it’s a done deal. We’ll eat it while we’re watching the early news. And then”—he gave her a look that made her cheeks feel even warmer—“who knows what might happen?”
“You do,” Hannah said, moving closer to him and putting her arms around his waist. “And I think I know, too.” And then she buried her face in the front of his shirt so no one could see how furiously she was blushing.
Chapter Twenty-four
It was close to eleven on Sunday morning when Ross pushed back his chair at the Corner Tavern and stood up. “I’ll see you when I get home, Cookie. Where are you going now?”
“Back home, I guess. I need to wash a load of clothes. And then Michelle and I are going to Jordan High for the dress rehearsal of the play this afternoon. Do you have anything you want washed?”
“Not a thing. What time is the rehearsal?” Ross asked her.
“Michelle wants to start by three-thirty. It’s full dress and makeup so we have to get there by three.” Hannah turned to Michelle. “What time do you think we’ll be through?”
“When we finish the rehearsal, we have to do a couple of photos for Rod at the paper. And after that, we’re going to rehearse the curtain call.” Michelle took a moment to think about it. “We’ll only run through everything once, so I’d say seven-thirty at the latest. And if everyone’s on time, we might even be through earlier than that.”
“Okay.” Ross smiled at Hannah. “P.K. and I have to edit some of the footage we shot on our last day in New York, but that shouldn’t take too long. Do you want me to pick up Chinese for the three of us?”
“Count me out,” Michelle answered him. “Lonnie’s picking me up after rehearsal. It’ll be just you and Hannah again.”
Ross turned to look at her and Hannah knew she was beginning to blush, remembering what it had been like the previous night when they’d been alone. “Chinese would be good,” she said, hoping that Michelle wouldn’t notice the blush.
“Okay. I’ll see you when you get home, Cookie.” Ross leaned down to give her a kiss.
The kiss lasted a few seconds longer than just a casual good-bye and Hannah was smiling when Ross released her and turned to go. “See you later,” she said.
“More coffee?” Michelle asked Hannah.
“No, thanks. Let’s head out, Michelle. I have a few things I want to do before the rehearsal.”
“Me, too. I have to write up some notes and make a few calls.”
They were about to get up from the table when their waitress came by with the coffee pot “Want another cup?” she asked them.
Hannah glanced at Michelle, and Michelle nodded. “Sure. That way we won’t have to put coffee on at home.”
The waitress refilled their cups and then she turned to Michelle. “My sister told me that you came back from college to direct the Lake Eden Players.”
“That’s right. The college gave me time off to fill in for Tori Bascomb.”
“What happened to her was just terrible!” The waitress sighed deeply. “Is there any chance you might take over as director of the junior play at Jordan High while you’re here?”
Michelle looked surprised at the question. “I don’t think so. At least no one’s asked me. Isn’t there someone at the school who could do it?”
“My sister says no, and she probably knows. She has the lead and they haven’t practiced all week. Do you think the college would let you do it if we all signed a petition or something?”
Michelle thought about that for a moment. “Maybe. When is opening night?”
“There’s a Wednesday matinee the week following the Thanksgiving break. That’s just for the school, though. The real opening, the one for everyone, is the following Friday night. You don’t have to be back in school until the week following that, isn’t that right?”
“That’s right.”
“Could you call the drama department at Macalester and see if they could arrange something? My sister and the rest of the cast would be really thrilled if you could direct them.”
“Are you sure that there’s no one at the school who wants to do it? I wouldn’t want to step on anyone’s toes.”
The waitress shook her head. “There’s no one. I asked my sister and she said they asked the English teacher, but she said she’d never directed a play before and she told them she didn’t know the first thing about it.”
“Okay, then. I’ll call the college tomorrow,” Michelle promised.
“Great! My sister will be thrilled!”
As their waitress hurried off with a smile on her face, Hannah turned to Michelle. “Do you have time to direct two plays?”
“Sure. I can do it, but I can’t give you as much time at The Cookie Jar.” Michelle looked a little flustered. “I’m sorry, Hannah. I should have asked you first.”
“Don’t worry about that! I love having you there, but I have plenty of help now that Aunt Nancy has decided to be there the whole day.” Hannah gave a little laugh. “Tha
t waitress talked you right into it, didn’t she?”
“Yes, she did. It made me remember what fun it was when we did our junior play. I’d hate to see this junior class deprived of that. It really shouldn’t be too much work since Tori’s already laid the groundwork and I’m just taking over for the last week or two.”
“Three.”
“Okay, three. But I’d really like to do it. I wonder if they have a drama class. I might be able to fill in there, too.”
“You’re willing to do that much work?”
“It’s not really work.”
“What is it then?”
“It’s . . . research. I might really like to teach high school drama. And if I take over an existing class, I’ll find out if I like it, or not.”
Hannah was surprised. “Do you think you might like to be a teacher?”
“Maybe.” Michelle gave a little shrug. “I don’t know yet, Hannah. Maybe I’d like to settle down right here in Lake Eden and teach at Jordan High.”
“I thought you were going to give acting a chance and eventually own and manage a little theater.”
“I might do those things first. And if acting doesn’t work out, and neither does the theater thing, I could come back here and teach. It could be a fallback position for me.”
“I see.” All sorts of things ran through Hannah’s mind like flashes of lightning in an electrical storm. Michelle was young. She wasn’t sure what she wanted to do with her life. What if she was considering coming back to Lake Eden, marrying Lonnie, and settling down right here in town?
“Don’t worry. I won’t,” Michelle said.
“Won’t what?”
“Just marry Lonnie and settle right here without trying anything else first.”
Hannah blinked and stared hard at her sister. “You knew what I was thinking?”
“Yes.” Michelle laughed. “It was probably that worried look on your face that tipped me off. I’m not going to ‘settle’ for anything, Hannah, but I’m not discounting the notion that ending up right here in Lake Eden might turn out to be exactly what I want to do with my life.”
* * *
Several loads of laundry and five hours later, Hannah and Mike applauded loudly. Mike had dropped by the condo just as Hannah and Michelle were leaving for rehearsal and decided to watch with them.