“No. We were together until nine at The Cookie Jar, but then she drove home to feed her dogs and let them run in the yard, and I went straight out to The Corner Tavern. She didn’t meet me there until around ten.”

Danielle looked concerned. “So there was an hour, from nine to ten, when Lisa was alone?”

“That’s right.”

“And the time of death was . . . ?”

“Between eight and ten,” Michelle answered her. “Hannah and I looked at the autopsy report.”

Danielle shivered slightly. “I get a sick feeling in my stomach every time I think of that.”

Hannah wasn’t sure whether Danielle was referring to the autopsy the fact that Phyllis was murdered, or if it had reminded Danielle of her own husband’s violent death. Instead of asking a question that might be painful for Danielle, Hannah decided to change the subject, but Michelle spoke up before Hannah could open her mouth.

“Unfortunately, Lisa does have a motive,” Michelle said.

“Because Herb dated Phyllis in high school, and now they’re working together?” Danielle asked, looking a bit skeptical.

“That’s part of it, but there’s more,” Hannah said. “Mayor Bascomb appointed Phyllis as this year’s Mrs. Santa Claus.”

Danielle nodded. “I know about that. The mother of one of my ballet students told me. And she said that Lisa was hoping to be Mrs. Claus.”

“That’s right,” Hannah agreed. “Lisa and I went to the auditorium last night to pick up this year’s Christmas gift bags. The Lake Eden Players were just rehearsing the end of A Christmas Carol, and we stayed because Lisa wanted to see how Herb and Phyllis would act when they played Mr. and Mrs. Claus.”

“Herb with Phyllis,” Danielle said with a nod. “That must have been hard for Lisa to take.”

“Oh, it’s not just that!” Hannah told her. “Usually Santa hugs Mrs. Claus when they’ve given out candy and cookies to the kids in the audience.”

“Yes,” Danielle said. “They always do that.”

“Well, this year Tory Bascomb decided to do things differently. When she was through criticizing the Mrs. Santa costume that Phyllis was wearing . . .”

“Wait a minute,” Danielle interrupted. “Isn’t it the same costume that every Mrs. Claus wears?”

“It’s supposed to be, but Phyllis claimed that the costume didn’t fit and she rented her own costume from a place in the Cities. Tory said it looked like something a stripper would wear for a routine at Christmas.”

Danielle gave a little laugh. “That figures. Was Tory right?”

“Oh, yes. The costume was very revealing.”

“And that bothered Lisa?”

“That’s only part of it. Tory directed Phyllis to give Herb a stage kiss right before they pulled the final curtain. But Phyllis didn’t give him a stage kiss. It was a real kiss, and it was obvious that she was interested in Herb.”

“Uh-oh,” Danielle said. “That must have made Lisa very jealous.”