“You’re right,” Hannah said. Strong winds whipping up snow from flat stretches of landscape could make the roads impassible in the space of a few minutes. The snow could swirl so fiercely, a driver could lose sight of the road. Sense of direction was the next thing to go, and that was when people ended up in the ditch. “I’ll tell Lonnie not to let anyone leave. Anything else?”

“I want only the essential people to know that Brandi’s dead. If the killer doesn’t know that her body’s been found, he may do or say something to give himself away.”

“You mean …you really think the killer’s still here, sitting around waiting for dessert?!”

“I’m almost positive he is.”

“But how do you know he wasn’t parked in front? He could have waltzed back inside, made some excuse about having to leave early, and gone out through the front door as big as you please.”

“Maybe, but when I came back in after seeing Kurt on his way, I noticed that Lisa and Herb were sitting at a table in the lobby eating their dinner. They would have seen anyone who left.”

“Do you want me to ask them?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. How about Bill? Are you going to try to contact him?”

“Of course. I’ll call dispatch and they’ll find him.” Mike took his arm from Hannah’s shoulder and turned her to face him. “Now do you want to go inside and take care of all those things for me? Or have you changed your mind and do you want to stay here with … “

“I’m going, I’m going,” Hannah said, heading for the kitchen door at a pace that would have done a runner proud.

“Excuse me, Lonnie.” Hannah tapped him on the shoulder. “Could I speak to you for a minute? You too, Rick.”

Once she’d pulled the Murphy deputies to the side and delivered Mike’s messages, Rick headed out to the parking lot to relieve his superior, and Lonnie quickly found enough personnel to man the exits. Since Lonnie had decided to take the front door himself, Hannah headed up the stairs with him to quiz Herb and Lisa about anyone who’d gone out or come in.

“Just Mike and Kurt Howe,” Lisa responded to Hannah’s question. “Kurt drove away, Mike took his parking spot, and then he came back in.”

“And Doc Knight,” Herb reminded her. “He left about ten minutes ago. What’s going on, Hannah? Lonnie’s trying to be discreet about it, but I can tell he’s guarding the front door.”

Hannah thought about it for a moment and came to a decision. Mike had said to tell only the essential people and as far as Hannah was concerned, Lisa and Herb were essential. Besides, Herb was a sworn law enforcement officer. It didn’t matter that it was only parking enforcement. Herb could still help in a situation like this.

“It’s murder,” Hannah said, motioning them closer so that she could tell them all about it.