There was no way Hannah could hide her smile. It seemed as if Winnie had attracted yet another man with her gooseberry pie. She just hoped that Connor was as honest as he seemed and his time in prison had nothing to do with a conviction for fraud, or embezzlement, or

“Since you’re Winnie’s friend, you probably want to know why I was in prison,” Connor said, leaning across the table to lock eyes with Hannah. “It doesn’t sound good and I’m the first to admit it. I almost killed the guy who beat up my baby sister and left her for dead.”

Hannah thought about that for a moment and then she reached out to pat Connor’s hand. “I’d probably be tempted to do the same to anyone who hurt Michelle.”

“Thanks, but just knowing that should shoot me to the top of your suspect list. I was really angry with Dean and I admit that I thought about landing a few punches. I controlled my anger by driving out to Winnie’s farm, but she wasn’t home and I don’t have any way of proving where I was when the revolver was switched.”

Ross spoke up, “Maybe not, but you do have a way of proving where you weren’t. And that wasn’t anywhere near Granny’s Attic or the set.”

Both Hannah and Connor turned to look at Ross. They’d been so intent on their conversation, they’d almost forgotten he was sitting in the booth with them.

“I had Frances make a list of everyone who came in the door,” Ross said, “and your name isn’t on it. You weren’t there so you couldn’t have done it.”

Connor looked very pleased to hear that. “Then

I’m off the suspect list?”

“That’s right. And you don’t have to worry about anyone else holding your prison record over your head. Michelle gave me the personnel file Dean kept on you, and I shredded it.”

Hannah started to smile. She was proud of her baby sister. Maybe Michelle shouldn’t have absconded with Connor’s personnel file, but it had all turned out right in the end.

“Now, how about dessert?” Ross continued, turning to Hannah. “Sally’s got a terrific lemon torte, and she told me you gave her the recipe.”

“I did. My Grandma Ingrid used to make it and I haven’t had it for ages.”

“This might be the night for memories,” Ross said, capturing Hannah’s hand under the table.

“Perhaps,” Hannah said, doing her best to downplay the tingles that ran from the top of her head to the tip of her toes, and concentrate on something that was supposed to be more important

solving Dean’s murder.

When Hannah emerged from the dining room and turned down the hall that led to the ladies’ room, she found Amber Coombs waiting for her.