Lemon Meringue Pie Murder (Hannah Swensen Mysteries) by Joanne Fluke Read Free Book Online Page A

got an eleven-thirty appointment and he should be free by then.”
    “Norman’s going?”
    “Yes, dear. He wants to take another look at the place before they tear it down.”
    “But if Norman’s driving out there anyway, why don’t you ride with him?”
    “We’d rather ride with you, dear.” Delores sounded a bit uncomfortable and she cleared her throat. “You’ve got such a nice big truck and Norman says there’s quite a bit of artwork on the walls. I thought we could pack that up and bring it back with us.”
    Hannah grinned in sudden understanding. Delores wanted her for the cargo space in her cookie truck. She thought about refusing. Her truck was not a moving van. But it was a small thing to ask and she did want to take a look at the property that Norman had bought.
    “Okay. I’ll call you when I get back here and we’ll go pick up Norman. Tell him to expect us about one-fifteen.”
    “I’ll do that, dear. I’m sure he’ll want to show you all around and discuss the new house while I’m tagging the antiques. Who knows? If the timing is right, something might just happen.”
    Hannah was grinning as she hung up the phone. Not only had she identified her mother’s primary motive, she’d found a second. Delores hoped that if she threw Hannah together with Norman, he might propose. Hannah didn’t think that would happen, but it was a nice try on her mother’s part.
     
     
    It was ten o’clock and Hannah was manning the cash register when she spotted Mike’s Jeep pulling up in front of her shop. Her heart began to hammer and her insides turned to mush as he got out and strode toward the front door. With a start, she realized that the mug of coffee she was holding was sloshing and she set it down quickly before any of her customers could notice. Mike always had this effect on her. It was as if she’d received a jolt of electricity that made her tingle all over.
    The door to The Cookie Jar opened and Mike walked in. He looked determined, like a man on a mission, and Hannah watched his eyes rove over the customers that lined the tables in her small shop. When he spotted her behind the counter, he strode up to her quickly. “We need to talk.”
    “Okay. What is it?”
    Mike shook his head. “Not here. Let’s go in the back and send Lisa up here.”
    The switch was accomplished with a minimum of fuss and Hannah motioned to a stool at the workstation. “Sit down, Mike. Do you want a cup of coffee?”
    “No. Am I too late, Hannah?”
    Hannah glanced at the clock. “Actually, you’re early. Andrea said you’d be in about noon.”
    “Not that! Am I too late?”
    “Too late for what?” Hannah asked, genuinely puzzled.
    “Don’t play games with me, Hannah. Bill told me all about Norman’s new house.”
    “Oh, that!” Hannah did her best not to smile as she met Mike’s eyes. He was jealous, pure and simple. The green-eyed monster had sunk its claws into the most handsome man in Lake Eden. Of course Mike didn’t have any reason to be jealous, but he didn’t know that, and Hannah was enjoying his discomfort too much to tell him quite yet. “Is there some reason why Norman can’t build on that property?”
    “Not that I know of.”
    “But you seem upset.”
    “Of course I’m upset! I was only gone for three days and when I come back, I find out that Norman’s building your dream house!”
    “It’s our dream house,” Hannah corrected him. “Norman and I designed it together.”
    “Then you’re going to marry him?” Mike asked, clenching his fists.
    “No,” Hannah said, knowing that she’d milked Mike’s jealousy for all it was worth and any more would be cruel. “Norman’s just building the house, that’s all. It doesn’t have anything to do with me.”
    Mike exhaled with an audible whoosh and Hannah could see that he was relieved. “But that house is too big for Norman, isn’t it?”
    “Four bedrooms, three baths.”
    “That’s what I mean. What’s he going to do