Hannah promised she would and hung up the phone. She could understand Bill’s point. A week was a long time to keep anyone on hold, but she was no closer to making a decision than she’d been on the day both men had proposed. Mike was handsome and exciting. Norman was dependable and endearing. Mike made her stomach do flips when he kissed her, and Norman’s kisses made her feel warm and tingly all over. She wished she could have both of them, but she couldn’t. And there was no way she could give up one for the other.

Before Hannah could take another swallow of her coffee, the phone rang again. She grabbed it in midring, certain that it was Bill who’d forgotten to tell her something. “What did you forget, Bill?”

“It’s not Bill, it’s Lisa,” Hannah’s young partner replied. “I just wanted you to know that you don’t have to hurry to work this morning.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m down here at The Cookie Jar already.”

Hannah glanced up at the clock. It was five-thirty and Lisa wasn’t due at work until seven. “Why so early?” she asked, hoping that Lisa hadn’t had a fight with her new husband.

“Herb had to get up at four and after he left, I couldn’t go back to sleep.”

“Why did he have to get up at four?”

“He’s driving to Fargo for the Traffic Tradeshow.”

“What’s that?” Hannah asked, although she suspected that if she’d remained silent, Lisa would have gone on to tell her.

“It’s everything to do with traffic and parking, like signs, parking meters, and traffic signals. Mayor Bascomb called us at home last night and he wants Herb to check out the price on parking meters.”

“Parking meters?” Hannah was shocked. Parking had always been free in Lake Eden.

“That’s right. He told Herb to find out how much it would cost to put them up on Main Street.”

“On Main Street?”

“Yes, but Herb thinks it’s a smokescreen.”

“A smokescreen?” Hannah repeated, feeling more and more like an obedient mynah bird.

“There’s a group that wants Lake Eden Liquor shut down. They say the city shouldn’t be making a profit on the sale of alcohol.”

Hannah gave a little snort. Every few years someone organized a group to close down the municipal liquor store. “I wish people would learn that you can’t legislate morality. Closing the liquor store isn’t going to cut down on drinking.”

“I know, but this time they’re really serious. They’re collecting signatures to get it on the next ballot. Herb’s sure that’s why Mayor Bascomb wants an estimate on those parking meters.”

Hannah took another slug of coffee, but she still didn’t see the connection. “What do parking meters have to do with the liquor store?”