“No problem. I’ll set up the tables and bring you a mug of coffee when it’s ready.”

When Lisa had left, Hannah picked up the phone and punched out Doc Bennett’s number, listening to it ring.

“Doc Bennett.”

Doc sounded curt and Hannah glanced at the clock. Perhaps seven forty-five was a bit early to call a semiretired dentist. “Hi, Doc. This is Hannah Swensen over at The Cookie Jar.”

“Hello, Hannah. Still brushing the way I taught you?”

“You bet!” Hannah was relieved. Doc sounded a lot friendlier now.

“Do you have a dental emergency, Hannah?”

“No, everything’s fine.” Hannah hadn’t been able to come up with a roundabout way to ask her question, so she just blurted it out. “I was wondering whether you saw Ron LaSalle yesterday morning as a patient.”

“My office wasn’t open, Hannah. I took the day off and drove up to Little Falls to see my sister. You’d better check with Norman Rhodes. I hear he’s been coming in at the crack of dawn most mornings and taking walk-ins without appointments.”

“Thanks, Doc. I’ll do that. And drop in for a cookie one of these days.”

Hannah hung up the phone and sighed. Things never worked out the way she wanted. Now she’d have to call Norman.

The smell of coffee from the shop was enticing, and Hannah walked in to fill a mug. It hadn’t finished perking, but it was hot and she sipped it gratefully. She shouldn’t have to call the man her mother had picked out for her without a full load of caffeine to sustain her.

“The coffee’s not ready yet, Hannah.” Lisa turned to give her a curious glance.

“That’s okay.” Hannah took another sip of the coffee-flavored water. Then she thought about Twin Pines and how seldom Lisa got out of the house. “Can you get someone to sit with your father tonight? I’m driving out to Twin Pines and I’ll treat you to supper if you want to come along.”

“I’d love to. The neighbors like to sit with Dad, now that we bought that big-screen TV. Why are you going out to the Indian casino?”

Hannah remembered Bill’s caution about not telling anyone that she was doing legwork for him. “I’ve never been there and I’ve always wanted to see the place.”

“Me too. Herb Beeseman says they have great ribs.”

“Then we’ll have the ribs. And we’ll take all the quarters in the cash register and feed the slots.”

So Lisa had been talking to Herb. Hannah stored that away for future reference and walked back to the bakery feeling much better. Lisa was good company, and as far as anyone else was concerned, they were just going out to the casino to eat ribs and gamble.

It was time to call Norman. Hannah reached for the phone and punched out his office number. If Norman misinterpreted the reason for her call, Bill would owe her. She twisted the cord around her fingers as it rang several times and then Norman picked up.