“How is it like a murder?” Hannah asked, torn between wanting a peek into her sister’s thought processes, and believing that she was better off not knowing.

“Instead of looking for a killer, we’ll be looking for a mother.”

“Right,” Hannah said, wishing she hadn’t asked. “Don’t forget that you’re married to a sheriff’s detective and I’m harboring a runaway. Are you sure you want to get involved?”

“Of course I do! I have to save you from yourself. There’s no way you can get any information because you can’t lie. You’ve never been any good at it.”

Hannah didn’t bother to deny it, since her sister was right.

“I, on the other hand, am an expert liar!”

Again, Hannah was mute. She didn’t want to get into an argument about whether expertise in something that was morally reprehensible should give Andrea bragging rights.

“Just let me take care of everything. I’ll stop by to see the girl after I get my hair done. And you should watch her around Tracey.”

“She’s a nice girl, Andrea. She wouldn’t hurt Tracey.”

“You underestimate me, Hannah. That isn’t why I said you should watch her. If she’s really good with Tracey, it might mean she’s used to being around kids that age. And that might mean she’s got a younger brother or sister.”

“You’re absolutely right.” Hannah knew it was time to eat a little crow. “Good thinking.”

“Thank you. I’m good at these things.”

“You certainly are.” Hannah decided that constituted her last bite of crow. “Don’t forget to be careful what you say when you meet her. You can’t let on that you know she’s a runaway, or she’ll bolt and we’ll never see her again.”

“Right. What cover story are you going to use about why she’s there at The Cookie Jar?”

“I haven’t come up with one yet.”

“Then you should let me do it. I’m better at cover stories than you are. Let’s say she’s Ellen’s youngest sister.”

“Ellen?”

“Ellen Wagner, your old college roommate. You introduced me when we drove up for your graduation.”

“You’re right. I’m surprised you remember her.”

“I remember the dress more than her. Girls that big shouldn’t wear large prints, especially in bright colors. She came from a big family, didn’t she?”

“Yes, in North Dakota.”

“That’ll work. A grain of truth always helps in a cover story. Anyway, Ellen called you and asked you to hire her sister for your busy time over the holidays. And the reason she wanted you to hire her is because…What’s your runaway’s first name? Do you know it?”

“It’s Candy.”

“Okay.” Andrea took a deep breath that Hannah could hear over the phone as she picked up the threads of her fabrication again. “Ellen asked you to hire Candy over the holidays because Candy’s boyfriend broke up with her and he started dating her best friend. And Candy couldn’t stand to be in the same small town with them.”

“That sounds good to me. And it gives us another grain of truth for your cover story.”