“Of course now that Mrs. McCann is living in to take care of Bethany, I don’t have that problem,” Andrea went on, almost seeming to read Hannah’s mind. “Do you think I’m a bad mother for not staying home to take care of my daughters?”

“No!”

“Of course not.”

“Never.”

They all spoke at once, hotly denying that suggestion. All three of them knew that Andrea wasn’t cut out to be a stay-at-home mom. She was a consummate social being who needed the stimulation of other people to be happy and fulfilled.

“Good.” Andrea was smiling again as she opened the small white bag that sat in the center of the table and passed out fortune cookies. “Let’s all read our fortunes out loud. You go first, Michelle.”

Michelle broke her fortune cookie in half and drew out the folded strip of paper inside. “Aim for the stars to reach the moon.”

“That’s almost profound,” Norman said, cracking his cookie open. “Mine says, ‘Helping others is its own reward.’ How about you, Andrea?”

“True beauty is like the night.” Andrea wore a puzzled expression when she looked up from the strip of paper. “What does that mean?” Everyone shrugged and she gave a little laugh. “That’s what I thought. They must have left out a couple of words. What’s yours, Hannah?”

“I don’t really like fortune cookies.” Hannah pushed hers over to Norman. “I’ll trade you for your almond cookie.”

“Deal.” Norman said, handing over his almond cookie. “If you’re up to it, Hannah, we want to talk some more about Dean’s murder. I’ve got some ideas.”

“Fine with me,” Hannah said, reaching for her purse. She got out the steno book they’d used earlier at Lake Eden Realty and shoved it across the table to Andrea.

“You’re sure you’re not too tired?” Michelle looked concerned.

“I’m positive. I couldn’t sleep through that racket anyway.”

All four of them turned toward the kitchen, where Moishe was trying to spear the duck’s web with his claws and drag it out from behind the garbage can. He yowled every time he failed, but he didn’t stop trying.

“So what did you get out of Mike?” Norman asked after crunching a bite of his fortune cookie. “Ross said you talked to him while we were in the kitchen.”

“Lynne wants to direct and Ross is going to give her the chance now that Dean’s dead. That’s another motive for her, Andrea.”

“Got it,” Andrea said, flipping the notebook open to the list of suspects and adding a second motive for Lynne. “Anything else?”

“Mike didn’t know that Dean taped all his rehearsals. I told him and he said he’d check the tapes in the morning.”