Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder Read Online Free PDF Page A

out.”
    Hannah gave Andrea a quick hug. “You did the right thing. I’m the big sister and you were practically a newlywed. It was my responsibility to help.”
    â€œBut sometimes I feel really guilty about calling you. You had your own life and you gave it all up for us.”
    Hannah turned away to hide the sudden moisture that sprang to her eyes. Perhaps losing a sale was good for Andrea. She’d never been this appreciative before. “You don’t have to feel guilty, Andrea. Coming home wasn’t a sacrifice on my part. I was having doubts about teaching and I really wanted to do something different.”
    â€œBut you were so close to getting your doctorate. You could have been a professor by now at a really good university.”
    â€œMaybe.” Hannah shrugged, conceding the point. “But baking cookies is a lot more fun than giving a lecture on iambic pentameter or being stuck in a deadly dull faculty meeting. And you know how much I love The Cookie Jar.”
    â€œThen you’re happy here in Lake Eden?”
    â€œMy business is great, I’ve got my own place, and I don’t have to live with Mother. What could be better?”
    Andrea started to smile. “There’s something to that, especially the part about not living with Mother. But what about romance?”
    â€œDon’t push it, Andrea.” Hannah gave her a warning look. “If the right man comes along, that’s great. And if he doesn’t, that’s fine too. I’m perfectly content to live by myself.”
    â€œOkay, if you’re sure.” Andrea looked very relieved as she headed for the door.
    â€œI’m sure. Good luck with Mrs. Robbins.”
    â€œI’ll need it.” Andrea turned back with a grin. “If she starts bragging about her son, the doctor, I’ll probably throw up.”
    Hannah knew exactly what her sister meant. Mrs. Robbins had come into her cookie shop last week, full of praise about her son, the doctor. According to his mother, Dr. Jerry Robbins was about to discover the cure for multiple sclerosis, cancer, and the common cold all in one fell swoop.
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    â€œI need to ask you some questions, Hannah.” Bill stuck his head into the coffee shop and motioned to her.
    â€œSure, Bill.” Hannah handed her apron to Lisa, grabbed two mugs of strong black coffee, and followed him into the back room. On the way, she admired the way his tan uniform shirt fit smoothly over his broad shoulders. Bill had been a football player in high school, never as famous as Ron LaSalle, but he’d helped to win his share of games. Now his waist was thicker, the result of too many chocolate-covered doughnuts from the Quick Stop on his commute to the sheriff’s station, but he was still a handsome man.
    â€œThanks for the coffee, Hannah.” Bill plunked down on a stool and cupped both hands around his mug of coffee. “It’s getting cold out there.”
    â€œI can tell. You look positively blue around the gills. Did you find out anything?”
    â€œNot much. The driver’s window was open. Ron must have stopped his truck and rolled down the window to talk to his killer.”
    Hannah thought about that for a moment. “He wouldn’t have rolled down his window if he thought that he was in any danger.”
    â€œProbably not,” Bill agreed. “Whoever it was took him completely by surprise.”
    â€œDo you have any suspects?”
    â€œNot yet. And unless we can find a witness, the only clue we’ll have is the bullet. It’ll go to ballistics right after the autopsy.”
    Hannah winced at the mention of the autopsy. To take her mind off the fact that Doc Knight would have to cut Ron open, she asked another question. “You don’t have to tell anyone that he was eating one of my cookies when he died, do you? It might put people off, if you know what I mean.”
    â€œNo problem.” Bill