Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder Read Online Free PDF

looked amused for the first time that morning. “Your cookies had nothing to do with it. Ron was shot.”
    â€œI wish I’d found him sooner, Bill. I could have called for an ambulance.”
    â€œThat wouldn’t have done any good. It looked like the bullet hit his heart. I won’t know for sure until the doc gets through with him, but I think he died instantly.”
    â€œThat’s good.” Hannah nodded, and then she realized what she’d said. “I mean, that’s not good, but I’m glad it was over quickly.”
    Bill opened his notebook. “I want you to tell me everything that happened this morning, Hannah, even if you don’t think it’s important.”
    â€œYou got it.” Hannah waited until Bill had picked up his pen and then she told him everything, from the time she’d first seen Ron at the dairy to the moment she’d discovered his body. She gave Bill the exact time that she had gone out through the rear door of the bakery, and the time that she’d come back in to call the sheriff’s office.
    â€œYou make a good witness,” Bill complimented her. “Is that all?”
    â€œI think Tracey may have been the last person to see Ron alive. She said she was waiting for Andrea to pick up some papers at the realty office when Ron drove by in his truck. She waved at him, he waved back, and then she watched him turn at my corner. That must have been close to eight because Andrea and Tracey came into the coffee shop right after I opened and…” Hannah stopped speaking and began to frown.
    â€œWhat is it, Hannah?” Bill picked up his pen again. “You just thought of something, didn’t you?”
    â€œYes. If Tracey saw Ron at eight, he was already twenty-five minutes behind schedule.”
    â€œHow do you know that?”
    â€œRon was supposed to be here at seven thirty-five. He delivers to the school and then he comes straight here. I’ve been on his route since I opened this place and he’s never been more than a minute late.”
    â€œAnd that’s why you went out in the alley to look for his truck?”
    â€œNot exactly. We thought he’d broken down. Tracey said she heard his truck backfire right after he turned into the…” Hannah stopped in midsentence, her eyes widening in shock. “Tracey heard it, Bill. She thought it was a backfire, but she must have heard the shot that killed Ron!”
    Bill’s lips tightened and Hannah knew what he was thinking. It was terrifying to think that Tracey had come so close to the scene of a murder. “I’d better get out to the dairy and tell Max Turner what’s happened,” he said.
    â€œMax isn’t there. Ron told me that he was leaving for the Tri-State Buttermakers’ Convention this morning. It’s in Wisconsin and I think it lasts for a week. If I were you, I’d talk to Betty Jackson. She’s Max’s secretary and she’ll know how to reach him.”
    â€œGood idea.” Bill drained his coffee mug and set it down. “This case is really important to me, Hannah. I passed the detective’s test last week and Sheriff Grant put me in charge.”
    â€œThen you’ve been promoted?” Hannah started to smile.
    â€œNot yet. Sheriff Grant has to sign off on it, but I’m pretty sure he will, if I do a good job. This promotion would be good for us. I’d be making more money and Andrea wouldn’t have to work.”
    â€œThat’s wonderful, Bill.” Hannah was genuinely pleased for him.
    â€œYou don’t think it’s wrong to use Ron’s murder as a springboard to my promotion?”
    â€œAbsolutely not.” Hannah shook her head. “Somebody’s got to catch Ron’s killer. If you do it and if you get a promotion, it’s only what you deserve.”
    â€œYou’re not just saying that to make me feel better?”
    â€œMe? I never say