“How about the windows?”

“I ordered some fabric vertical blinds, but they haven’t come in yet. And I’m looking for new artwork for the walls.”

“That’s good. That old Rockwell print of the boy in the dentist’s waiting room used to scare me half to death when I was a kid.”

“It scared me, too,” Norman admitted with a grin. “He looked so miserable with that big white napkin tied around his jaw. I told Dad I didn’t think it was a very good advertisement for painless dentistry, but he seemed to think that it was funny. Dental humor, I guess.”

“Like, I got my tongue wrapped around my eyetooth and I couldn’t see what I was saying?”

“That was one of Dad’s favorites,” Norman laughed and took another Pecan Chew from the bag that Hannah had brought. “These cookies are really good, Hannah.”

“Thanks. Next time I’ll leave on the shells and you’ll get lots of new patients.”

“I’ve already got that covered, Hannah. I’m going to send out tins of taffy for the holidays with my office number printed on the lids.”

Hannah laughed, but she reminded herself to get back on track with her questions. Norman seemed a lot different here in his office, and she was actually enjoying their visit. “Did you notice anything unusual about Ron when he came in? Anything at all?”

“No. I told you everything I could think of. I wish I could help you more, but Ron seemed like just an ordinary dental emergency to me.”

“Will you call me right away if you remember anything else?”

“Sure,” Norman agreed. “I know you’re helping your brother-in-law solve the case, but I just don’t have any more information to give you.”

“Hold on, Norman. I haven’t told anybody that I’m helping Bill. How did you guess?”

“Nobody’s that nosy about a twenty-minute dental appointment,” Norman pointed out. “And when your mother told me that your sister’s husband was working on the case, I just put two and two together.”

“Please don’t tell anyone, Norman.”

“Relax, Hannah. I won’t give you away. Do you have any other questions for me? Or can I ask you my question?”

“There’s one more.” Hannah took a deep breath. She had to find out if Norman had an alibi for the time of Ron’s death. “Did any other patients come in right after you treated Ron?”

“Just one. It was another fissured molar, but it was part of a bridge, so it was simple to repair. She was in and out in less than thirty minutes.”

Hannah felt strangely relieved that Norman had an alibi. She was really beginning to like him. All she had to do was check with Norman’s second patient of the morning and he’d be in the clear. “I need to know her name, Norman.”

“You don’t know?”

“How could I? Look, Norman, I know your patient list is confidential, but all I need is her name. I have to ask her if she saw Ron when she came in.”