“I’m really worried about her. She went to the ladies’ room an hour ago, and I haven’t seen her since. I even asked Kate Maschler to go in and see if she was okay, but Brandi wasn’t there.”

Hannah sighed, accepting the inevitable. Since she’d stumbled into the middle of this mess, she was caught between lying and telling Martin that his new wife was dead. Neither option pleased her, so she’d just have to settle for taking Martin to the room that Mike was using as an office and letting the long arm of the law take charge.

“Have you seen her, Hannah?” Martin asked again.

“I’ve seen her. Come with me, Martin. I want you to talk to Mike Kingston. He knows exactly where Brandi is now.”

Thankfully, the room that Mike was using for his office was only a few steps from the top of the stairs and Hannah was able to successfully dodge questions as she walked Martin down the hall and knocked on the door. Once she’d delivered her lamb to the slaughter, Hannah went in search of Andrea, to see how her heavily pregnant sister was reacting to Bill’s absence and the blizzard warnings that were blanketing the state.

“Hi, Hannah,” Andrea greeted her. She was sitting on a chair near the cloakroom, eating a piece of Chocolate Fruitcake. “This cake is absolutely delicious. I think it’s my very favorite dessert.”

“Glad to hear it. You’re feeling all right, aren’t you?”

“Just fine.”

“And you’re not nervous about Bill and the blizzard?”

“Why should I be? He’s got a cell phone, a car phone, and a radio to connect him to dispatch. If he goes in the ditch on the way here, he’ll have plenty of help getting out.”

“You’re right, and I’m glad you’re not worried. Since Doc Knight took you off restriction, do you feel like doing a little investigating?”

“Investigating?” Andrea’s eyes widened. “You mean there was a murder?”

“Yes.”

“Right here at the party?”

“Yes.”

“Who got killed?”

“Brandi.”

”Where? How?”

Hannah knew her answer would sound as if they were playing a game of Clue, but she gave it anyway. “In the parking lot with Mother’s antique cake knife.”

“Good thing I’m eating chocolate.” Andrea looked a little sick, but that didn’t stop her from popping the last bite into her mouth. “I have a feeling I’m going to need all the energy I can get. Have you told Mother?”

“No.”

“Are you going to?”

“Not just now. Mike wants only the essential people to know that Brandi’s dead.”

“I’m essential?” Andrea looked pleased when Hannah nodded. “Okay, you can count on me to do whatever you need.”

“Your napkin.”

“What?”

“I need something to write on.”

“Oh. Sure.”

Hannah took the paper napkin that Andrea offered and flipped it open to write on the inside, where it was free of cherubic angels with halos floating in a star-studded sky. She retrieved the pen she’d found in the kitchen and stuck behind her ear, and used the wall as a desk. “Okay. The first thing we need to figure out is who might want to kill Brandi, and why.”