Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke Page A

sponges.
    â€œDanielle’s one of my best customers,” Luanne answered as she pulled out a jar of foundation. “She orders from our theatrical line.”
    â€œShe belongs to the Lake Eden Players?” Hannah named the community theater group that had opened a dinner theater in the old shoe store on Main Street.
    â€œI don’t think so.” Luanne took out several old-fashioned hair clips, the ones that Bertie had stopped using at the Cut ’n Curl years ago, and gathered Hannah’s hair back from her face. “Let’s just get your hair out of the way.”
    â€œWhy does Danielle wear theatrical makeup?”
    â€œShe has skin problems.” Luanne began to apply foundation to Hannah’s face. “Close your eyes, Hannah. I need to do your eyelids, too.”
    Hannah obediently closed her eyes, but she continued to ask questions. “What kind of skin problems?”
    â€œBlemishes and rashes. Don’t say that I mentioned it. Danielle’s very self-conscious about her condition. She told me that she still breaks out like a teenager and it’s not just on her face. She gets horrible rashes on her upper arms and her neck, too.”
    â€œAnd theatrical makeup covers that up?”
    â€œPerfectly. Pretty Girl theatrical makeup will cover almost anything. Remember when Tricia Barthel got that black eye?”
    â€œMmm-hmm.” Hannah did her best to answer in the affirmative without opening her mouth. Luanne was in the process of applying foundation around her upper lip. She remembered Tricia’s black eye. Tricia had told everyone that she’d run into a door, but Hannah had heard the real story from Loretta Richardson. Loretta had told Hannah that her daughter, Carly, had thrown an algebra book at Tricia when Tricia had put the moves on Carly’s boyfriend.
    â€œTricia’s mother was really upset because they were taking senior pictures the next day. She called me in for a consultation and I used Pretty Girl’s theatrical foundation on Tricia. It covered her bruises perfectly and she’s ordered makeup from me ever since.”
    â€œThat’s amazing,” Hannah risked commenting. Luanne had moved on to her chin. “I saw Tricia’s picture when they ran all the senior photos in the paper and I didn’t see any bruises.”
    â€œPretty Girl theatrical foundation will cover anything from a bad bruise to a zit.” Luanne sounded proud of her products. “But you don’t need it, Hannah. Your skin is perfect. You must use just the right combination of moisturizer and night cream. If I were you, I wouldn’t change a thing.”
    Hannah stifled a grin. She wasn’t planning to change anything, especially since she’d never used a moisturizer or a night cream in her life. She washed her face with whatever soap was on sale at the Red Owl and never thought twice about it.
    â€œJust lean back and relax, Hannah,” Luanne said in a professional voice. “By the time I get through with you, you’ll look better than you’ve ever looked before in your life.”

Chapter Six
    W hen Hannah walked into the community center, the first person she saw was her mother. Delores Swensen was holding court at the far end of the room, surrounded by a circle of her friends. As Hannah watched, her mother reached up to pat her sleek dark hair and her tasteful diamond earrings glittered in the overhead lights. She was wearing the soft blue dress that had been in the window of Beau Monde Fashions and her purse and shoes matched perfectly. Hannah’s mother was still a beautiful woman and she knew it. At fifty-three, Delores was winning the battle against time and only Hannah, who’d helped her mother with her finances for several months following her father’s death, knew exactly how expensive that battle was. Fortunately, Delores had the money to spend. Hannah’s father had left Delores in very good