Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke Page B

opposing teams.”
    “You’re right, Father.” Coach Watson was quick to agree. “Ron was popular because he played fair.”
    Al continued to frown and Hannah could see that he wasn’t ready to give up his sports vendetta theory quite yet. “Maybe it didn’t have anything to do with high school sports. From what I heard, it was an execution-style killing and that sure smacks of bent-nose types to me.”
    “Bent-nose?” Bonnie Surma bristled and Hannah remembered that her maiden name had been Pennelli. “Are you talking about the Mafia?”
    Al nodded. “It’s not impossible, Bonnie. Everybody knows that they run the sports books and they could have recruited Ron to pick up bets with his milk orders. If Ron’s take came up short, they might have put out a hit on him.”
    “You’re crazy, Al.” Marge Beeseman obviously didn’t believe in mincing words. “Ron was one of ours and he never would have done something like that. Besides, my Herbie says that Mafia hit men always shoot their victims in the back of the head. Or they use that wire thing to choke them like they did in The Godfather.”
    As Hannah watched, Danielle’s naturally pale face turned a shade of sickly gray. The polite smile on her face crumpled and she looked as if she were struggling not to burst into tears. She turned to her husband, whispered a few words, and then she left the group. Hannah watched her as she pushed her way through the crowded room and headed out into the hallway that led to the ladies’ room.
    This was her chance and Hannah wasn’t about to waste it. She set off after Danielle as fast as she could. Once she’d gained the hallway, Hannah headed straight for the ladies’ room with only one purpose in mind. She had to find out exactly what Danielle knew about Ron’s murder.

Chapter Seven
    A s Hannah approached the door to the ladies’ room, she heard the sound of muffled sobbing. Maybe it wasn’t fair of her to take advantage of Danielle in her grief, but playing fair wasn’t as important as helping Bill solve Ron’s murder.
    Hannah pushed open the door and found Danielle standing in front of the long mirror above the sinks. She was dabbing at her eyes with a soggy tissue and she looked helpless and frightened. As Hannah stepped into the pink-tiled room, she felt like Simon Legree confronting Little Eliza.
    “Danielle?” Hannah remembered the old flies-and-honey maxim and she put every ounce of sympathy she could muster into her voice. “What’s wrong?”
    Danielle whirled around, looking terribly guilty. “Nothing. I just…uh…I got something in my eye, that’s all.”
    “Both eyes?” Hannah spoke without thinking and instantly regretted it. She wouldn’t get anywhere by alienating Danielle before she’d asked her first question. “It’s probably dust. It’s been really windy today. Do you want me to take a look?”
    “No! Uh…thanks anyway, Hannah. I think I got it.”
    “Good.” Hannah gave her the best of her friendly smiles. She knew that the excuse Danielle had given her was a bald-faced lie, but she was willing to ignore it, providing Danielle told her what she wanted to know. “Isn’t it awful the way everybody’s talking about Ron?”
    Danielle’s face blanched again. “Yes, it is.”
    “Did you see Ron in the past couple of days?” Hannah held her breath. If Danielle admitted she’d ridden along to the school with Ron, she’d be one step closer to gathering the facts that Bill needed.
    “No. We don’t take home delivery and I really didn’t run into him all that much. I’ve got to go now, Hannah.”
    “You just got here.” Hannah moved to the side to block Danielle. “Stay for a minute, Danielle. If I were you, I’d fix my makeup. Your mascara’s starting to run.”
    “No, it’s not. I just checked it. I’ve really got to go. Boyd’s waiting for me and he doesn’t like me to be gone for long.”
    “Why not?” Hannah could feel Danielle’s panic and it didn’t