Danielle whirled around, looking terribly guilty. “Nothing. I just…uh…I got something in my eye, that’s all.”

“Both eyes?” Hannah spoke without thinking and instantly regretted it. She wouldn’t get anywhere by alienating Danielle before she’d asked her first question. “It’s probably dust. It’s been really windy today. Do you want me to take a look?”

“No! Uh…thanks anyway, Hannah. I think I got it.”

“Good.” Hannah gave her the best of her friendly smiles. She knew that the excuse Danielle had given her was a bald-faced lie, but she was willing to ignore it, providing Danielle told her what she wanted to know. “Isn’t it awful the way everybody’s talking about Ron?”

Danielle’s face blanched again. “Yes, it is.”

“Did you see Ron in the past couple of days?” Hannah held her breath. If Danielle admitted she’d ridden along to the school with Ron, she’d be one step closer to gathering the facts that Bill needed.

“No. We don’t take home delivery and I really didn’t run into him all that much. I’ve got to go now, Hannah.”

“You just got here.” Hannah moved to the side to block Danielle. “Stay for a minute, Danielle. If I were you, I’d fix my makeup. Your mascara’s starting to run.”

“No, it’s not. I just checked it. I’ve really got to go. Boyd’s waiting for me and he doesn’t like me to be gone for long.”

“Why not?” Hannah could feel Danielle’s panic and it didn’t make sense.

“He…uh…he worries about me when I’m not with him.”

Danielle was standing right under the overhead light fixture and Hannah noticed that the makeup on one side of her face was much thicker than it was on the other. Was it covering the skin problem that Luanne had told her about?

“We can talk later, Hannah. Boyd won’t be happy if I don’t get right back out there.”

“Not quite yet.” Hannah reached out to take Danielle’s arm as she tried to brush past her. The flies-and-honey tactic hadn’t worked and it was time to play hardball. “I know you were with Ron this morning and I need to know why.”

Danielle’s eyes widened in an attempt to look innocent, but a telltale blush rose to her cheeks. “Ron? You’re mistaken, Hannah. I told you I haven’t seen him for weeks.”

“That’s a lie and you know it. Why were you at the school with Ron when he stocked the cooler?”

“Who says I was?” Danielle turned to face her directly and there was a definite challenge in her eyes. It was clear she wasn’t willing to give up the information without a fight.

“Nobody says it, but I know you were. Your coffee cup was sitting on the counter and you left a smear of lipstick on it. You’re the only one in Lake Eden who wears that color, Danielle. Were you having an affair with Ron?”

“An affair?” Danielle seemed genuinely shocked. “That’s ridiculous, Hannah! It’s true I was with Ron, but we were just friends. He…uh…he helped me through some rough times.”