“It’s a good thing you’re helping them out, Hannah. They’ll never catch the killer without the best minds on the force.”

“I’m not helping them officially, but I do want to do my part,” Hannah continued to spin. “And you don’t have to worry about rookie detectives, Charlotte. Bill’s brought in a really good detective from the Minneapolis Police Force. Her name is Stella Parks.”

“That’s good. Well, good luck with the security…” Charlotte stopped speaking and looked worried again.

“What is it?”

“That security guard you’re going to interview…it’s not Frank Hurley, is it?”

“No, his name is Tad Newberg. He was the guard on duty when Ronni was killed. Does Frank Hurley work out here at the mall?”

“Yes. He’s a really nice guy, Hannah. He used to work for a private security firm up north, and he moved here to be closer to his relatives. I’m glad he wasn’t on duty when it happened.”

“How do you know him?” Hannah was curious.

“He works for us at the school whenever there’s a big basketball or football game, and we wouldn’t even think of holding a prom without him.”

“The prom I can understand. That tends to get a little wild. But there’s that much trouble on big game nights?”

“Oh, it’s not real trouble. It’s just kids acting up and causing an inconvenience. Sometimes they think it’s funny to let the air out of the opposing team’s bus tires. Frank patrols outside, and he gives them a lecture about how the Jordan High Gulls practice better sportsmanship than that. The kids think he’s pretty strict and old-fashioned, but they respect him.”

Hannah knew she must have been tired, because it took several seconds for the next question to occur to her. “You said Frank works out here. Does he know Tad Newberg?”

“I’m sure he does. The security staff out here isn’t that large, and they must have worked together at one time or another.”

Hannah flipped her shorthand notebook open and wrote Frank’s name inside. “He could be a valuable resource. Could I have his number?”

“Of course.” Charlotte gave it to her, but she looked puzzled. “Why do you need it if Frank wasn’t on duty when it happened?”

“Because he works here,” Hannah thought fast, “and he knows how the mall security works. I probably won’t need him, but I’ll keep his name handy in case Tad’s not available and I’ve got questions about scheduling, or procedure, or something like that.”

“Oh. Well, he’d probably know all about that. If you need him, call me and I’ll introduce you.”

“Thanks,” Hannah said. And her mind said, Disaster averted. Good work.