“I can’t help but feel sorry for him.” Michelle looked sympathetic. “Those flowers must have cost him a bundle.”

“He looks like he’s ready to break down in tears,” Andrea commented as the security guard passed by the camera. “I wonder what Ronni said to him.”

Hannah motioned to Norman. “Can you put it on pause?” And then she turned to Michelle. “Find out.”

“Find out what Ronni said to him?”

“Right. Lonnie was there. He must have heard it. Call him, and we’ll wait.”

It took only a few moments to get the answer, and when they did, they could scarcely believe their ears. “She actually called him a little toad?” Hannah asked.

“That’s right. Lonnie repeated her words exactly. She said, Get out of here you little toad! I wouldn’t invite you to my birthday party if you were the last man on earth.”

“That’s really harsh,” Norman said, shaking his head. “No wonder he looked so dejected.”

They watched for another few minutes, but it was more of the same. And then Mike lifted Ronni up on the counter and she said something to the crowd that had them applauding. Everyone began gathering up glasses, bottles, and snacks. Mike went behind the counter to get the platter of cream puffs, and in less than two minutes the room was vacant and the lights were off again.

“They moved the party to the Jacuzzi,” Hannah said, knowing she was right. “And that’s all we’re going to see on this tape.”

Norman fast-forwarded to the end just in case someone had left something and come back to get it, but the lights stayed off and the Snack Shack remained vacant. He rewound the tape, returned it to the sleeve, and shrugged. “That was a waste of time.”

“Not for me,” Michelle said, and Hannah knew she was thinking about how honest Lonnie had been in his account of the party and how completely unromantic he’d been around Ronni.

“Not for me, either,” Hannah said for exactly the opposite reason.

“What now?” Andrea said, after Michelle and Norman had left. Michelle was meeting Lonnie at the hospital to visit with Rick’s wife, and then they were going out for pizza. Norman had promised Carrie and Delores he’d drop by Granny’s Attic to help them move some heavy antiques. They would meet up later at The Corner Tavern for dinner, and they had a reservation at seven.

Hannah glanced at her watch. “It’s only three. We’ve got four hours until dinner.”

“I know. I’m thinking about running out to Heavenly Bodies and catching up on my exercises. I didn’t go this morning.”

“Neither did I, but you know that already. You discussed it with Norman last night.”