a category with a woman who was at least twenty years older than she was. She had half a notion to remind Edna of that, but it might be counterproductive. âDid you wash the cups, Edna?â
âNope. I threw them in the trash.â
âYou threw them in the trash ?â
Edna laughed at Hannahâs astonished expression. âThey were the disposable kind.â
âThey could be evidence,â Hannah informed her, and Ednaâs laugh died a quick death. âBillâs in charge of the investigation and heâll need to see them.â
Hannah turned and headed for the wastebasket by the sink, but before she could start to rummage inside, Edna stopped her. âMr. Hodges emptied my trash right after lunch. Iâm really sorry, Hannah. I never would have thrown them away if Iâd known that they were important.â
Hannah realized sheâd been abrupt. âThatâs okay. Just tell me what Mr. Hodges does with the trash.â
âHe throws it all in that big orange Dumpster in the parking lot. Somebodyâs going to have to dig through it before it gets hauled away.â
âWhat time does that happen?â
âAround five.â
Hannah muttered a curse under her breath. She couldnât stand by and let the trash truck haul away important evidence. Sheâd try to reach Bill, but if he wasnât here by the time the awards banquet was over, sheâd have to go through the trash bags herself.
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âGreat job, Hannah!â Gil Surma, the Lake Eden scoutmaster and Jordan High counselor, gave her a friendly pat on the shoulder. âItâs a good thing you brought extra cookies. I never thought that eighteen boys could eat seven dozen.â
âThatâs less than five apiece and theyâre growing boys. I just figured that since I was catering a Boy Scout banquet, Iâd better live up to the Boy Scout motto.â
It took Gil a minute. As Hannah watched, the corners of Gilâs eyes began to crinkle and he chuckled. âYou mean, âBe Preparedâ? Thatâs very clever.â
Hannah smiled and carried the punchbowl out to the kitchen. When she came back, Gil was still there. âYou donât have to stay, Gil. I can clean up.â
âNo, Iâll help you.â Gil began to gather up the plastic cups and plates and toss them into the trash. âHannah?â
âYes, Gil.â Hannah paused to stare at him. Gil looked very earnest.
âYou found Ron, didnât you?â
Hannah sighed. Everyone she met wanted to know something about Ron. She was becoming a local celebrity, but being catapulted to instant fame by virtue of Ronâs murder made her feel rotten. âYes, Gil. I found him.â
âThat must have been very upsetting for you.â
âIt wasnât exactly my idea of fun.â
âI was just thinkingâ¦thatâs a terrible thing you had to go through and you might want to talk to someone about it. My office door is always open, Hannah. And Iâll do my best to help you through this.â
Hannah wanted to tell him that she didnât need a shrink. Even if she did, a Jordan High counselor who dealt with the heartbreak of acne and dateless Saturday nights wouldnât be the shrink sheâd choose. But then she reminded herself that sheâd vowed to be tactful, and she took a deep breath, preparing to lie through her teeth. âThanks for the offer, Gil. If I need to talk to somebody about it, youâll be my first choice.â
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Edna had left by the time Hannah had packed up her supplies and carted them out to her Suburban. Sheâd tried to call Bill several times, but sheâd been told that Bill was out in the field and couldnât be reached. Hannah glanced at her watch. Sheâd promised Lisa that sheâd be back by four, and she had only five minutes to make it. But finding the cup with lipstick was more important than getting back to
Learning to Kill: Stories