“I know. I’d like to interview you, and I know I’m cutting into your working day. That’s the reason I want to pay you for your time.”

“You want to pay me?” Suddenly Starlet was intensely interested. “How much?”

“Fifty dollars an hour. And if it doesn’t take an hour, you can keep the whole fifty. I really need your advice for my story.”

“Oh! Well! That’s just fine with me! Go ahead. Ask me questions.”

“Not here,” Delores said. “It’s much too noisy. I was thinking of somewhere quieter.”

Hannah held her breath. This was a mistake on her mother’s part. Now Starlet might become suspicious. After all, there were two of them and only one of her.

Starlet’s eyes narrowed. “You mean . . . quiet like in a hotel room?”

“No, dear. I was talking about a coffee shop where we can get something to eat. Or . . . even a bar if it’s quiet this time of day. Do you know any place like that?”

Starlet smiled as she nodded and this time the smile was genuine. “Sure, I do. And that’s okay then.” Starlet turned to give Hannah an assessing look. “Who’s the other one? Is she coming, too? And what’s in that box?”

“Butterscotch Brickle Bar Cookies,” Hannah answered, flipping the top on the box to show her. “Have one. They’re really good.”

Starlet looked suspicious again. “Only if you have one, too.” She turned to Delores. “And you, too.”

“I don’t blame you for being cautious,” Hannah said, taking a bar cookie from the box and biting into it. “These are my absolute favorites. I baked them this morning.” She held out the box to Delores. “Mother?”

“Mother?” Starlet asked, grabbing a bar cookie the moment Delores had taken a bite of hers.

“Oh, I’m sorry, dear,” Delores said. “I forgot to introduce you. My name is Kathryn and this is my daughter, Anne. And what shall Anne and I call you? This interview is completely confidential so we don’t need to know your real name if you don’t want to tell us.”

“Okay. Just call me Starlet. That’s what they all call me, but it’s not my real name.”

“That’s fine with us.”

Starlet turned to Hannah. “You made these, Anne? They’re as good as a candy bar.”

“Thanks,” Hannah said, smiling at her.

“Where shall we go, Starlet?” Delores asked, getting back to business.

“Little Dingo’s is just down the block. He’ll give us a booth in the back and make sure nobody bothers us. Let me stash those candy bars here, though. The other girls know better than to touch my stuff and Little Dingo won’t let you bring in food. I’ll give ’em back to you later.”

Hannah shook her head. “They’re yours. I brought them for you.”

“Whoa! Thanks, Anne.”