As she climbed the outside staircase to her second-floor unit, Hannah heard a noise emanating from the bedroom. This time she knew what it was and she smiled in amusement. Moishe was on the treadmill again. If this kept up, she wouldn’t have to put him on a diet. He’d lose the weight on the grand prize she’d won in the Jordan High raffle.

She unlocked her front door, but Moishe didn’t come out to jump into her arms as he usually did. He must not have heard her over the humming noise of the treadmill. She walked down the hall and her smile grew wider as she watched her cat exercise. He obviously loved it and that was fine with her.

“Hey, Moishe!” she said, her voice carrying over the sound of the machine.

Moishe turned to look at her and hopped off the belt, hurrying over to rub against her ankles.

“I know. I’m early and you didn’t expect me. But you can exercise anytime you want. I have to get dressed in something presentable because I’m going out to dinner with Doc and Mother.”

The ridge of hair began to rise on Moishe’s back, a sure sign that he’d recognized the M word. “Don’t worry,” she told him. “Mother’s not coming back here. Let’s shut off the machine and I’ll feed you dinner early tonight.”

Moishe followed her down the hallway and into the kitchen and observed her as she filled his food bowl. “Salmon tonight?” she asked him.

“Rrrrowww!”

That was definitely a yes. Hannah got a small can of salmon out of the cupboard, opened it, and spread it on top of his kitty crunchies. “Here you go,” she said, setting his bowl on the floor. “I’m going to take a quick shower and I’ll be right back.”

As she passed the desk in the living room, she noticed that the middle drawer was slightly ajar. Moishe was a genius at opening drawers and cabinets, so she pulled it open to check the contents. Everything appeared to be there, but she opened the jeweler’s box where she had stored the ring that Keith Branson had been wearing, just to make sure it was still there.

Ring. Man’s ring. Her mind replayed the conversation she’d had with Winnie on the phone today. Connor couldn’t wear his copper bracelet or his ring because his hand was in a cast. But what if the cast wasn’t the only reason that Connor couldn’t wear his ring? What if the reason was that he’d lost it and hadn’t found it yet? And what about Connor’s hand? He’d blamed his horse, but was that the real reason? Had Connor broken his hand in a fight with Keith Branson?