Had Mike lied to her? Again? It was certainly possible, but Hannah couldn’t think of any reason he’d lie about something like that. And perhaps it wasn’t a lie. Perhaps Mike simply didn’t know that Ronni had taken her car to work the night of her death. But there was an even more puzzling question. How had Ronni’s car gotten back to the same parking spot on the street in front of the apartment complex? Had someone at her birthday party driven it home for her? Or had the sheriff’s department gone through it for possible evidence and then towed it back to The Oaks?

It was something she had to check out, but there wasn’t time to do it now. One glance at the clock and Hannah knew she had to leave. She was expected at The Cookie Jar at eleven. After a quick scratch under the chin for Moishe and four of his favorite salmon-flavored treats, she flicked on the surveillance camera and went out the door.

She was almost to her cookie truck when she heard someone calling her name. Hannah turned and saw Sue Plotnik putting Kevin into his car seat.

“Hi, Sue.” Hannah walked over to greet her. “You’re out early.”

“Not really. We have to be at Kiddie Korner by noon, and I need to stop to pick up some cookies for story time.”

“Cookies? Consider yourself stopped. I’ve got three dozen Triplet Chiplet Cookies in the back of the truck if you want them.”

“You bet I want them!” Sue finished buckling Kevin in and waited for Hannah to come back with the cookies. “Thanks for the job, Hannah. I just adore it. We’re having so much fun, it’s almost a crime Janice pays us.”

“She needs you, Sue. The last time I dropped in on her at Kiddie Korner, she was really stressed out.”

“I know. Sometimes it’s not the work. It’s just that you need another adult to talk to. Being around children as your only companions all day is…well…it’s wearing. But there’s two of us now, and we’re having a really good time.”

“I can believe it.” Hannah smiled at her downstairs neighbor.

“There’s something new every day, especially at Show and Tell time. You wouldn’t believe what some of the kids say!”

“Tell me,” Hannah said. If she was a bit late, it wouldn’t matter, and it was wonderful seeing Sue so happy and energetic.

“Well…the first day I started, Sonny Newberg got up and said, Mom had a big fight with Uncle Tad because he didn’t pay back the money for Nikki’s flowers. Mom said he shouldn’t buy flowers for a bimbo like that. What’s a bimbo, Mrs. Plotnik?”