Hannah glanced over at the thick book on the table by her bed. “I took Principles of Investigation to bed with me.”

“But did you read it?”

She should have known she couldn’t get away with an ambiguous answer. “I flipped through it,” she said, not untruthfully.

“Well, make some time and read it tomorrow. It’s the best of the bunch I sent.”

“Right,” Hannah said. Unless they changed the length of a day to thirty hours, she wouldn’t have much time for reading.

“Anyway, I’m down in your garage again. I’m in your truck. Come on down and talk to me. And bring some coffee if you’ve got it.”

“Right,” Hannah said again, not bothering to argue the time or the fact she’d have to go out in the dead of winter at night in the cold. “I’ll be there in less than five minutes.”

“Mike’s in the garage again?” Michelle called out as Hannah passed the open door to the guest room.

“Who else? I’m going to take him a thermos of coffee. He’s waiting in my truck.”

“But you lock your truck, don’t you?”

“Of course.”

“Then how did he get inside?”

“He’s a seasoned law enforcement professional. I’m sure they teach them how to break into a truck in cop school.”

“You’re probably right. Do you want to take him some cookies?”

“No. This isn’t a twenty-four hour diner. He’s lucky to get fresh coffee.”

“Let me guess…somebody just moved to the top of your list? And that somebody starts with an m and ends with annoying?”

Hannah laughed. “That would be Mike, all right. He should know better than to call me this time of night.”

“Do you want me to get up and put on a second pot of coffee? I’m awake anyway.”

“More coffee’s the last thing I need. Go to sleep, Michelle. One of us has to be awake and alert tomorrow morning.”

“Thanks for coming down, Hannah,” Mike said, leaning over to open the passenger door for her. “Is that a thermos of coffee?”

“It is.” Hannah slid into the passenger seat. It felt strange to be on this side of her truck. She didn’t think she’d ever been in the passenger seat before. “What’s so important that you had to get me out of bed?”

Mike stared at her for a moment, taking in her old sweatpants and sweatshirt partially covered by the faded chenille robe she’d picked up at Lake Eden’s only thrift store, Helping Hands. “You really wear that to bed?”

“Yes. Without the robe and slippers, of course.”

“Somehow I never imagined you wearing something that…never mind. I just came to ask you if you’re making any progress on the case.”

“It’s too early to say,” Hannah said, giving him nothing except a hard stare.