Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke

murder. I’d stake my life on it. And she split up with Ron right after they stocked the school cooler. The only way I could get her to tell me anything at all was to promise that I wouldn’t reveal her identity.”
    The squawks were fewer this time around and Hannah settled for merely holding the receiver away from her ear. When they stopped, she continued. “I can’t break my promise to her, Bill. You know how the people in Lake Eden are. If the word gets out that I betrayed a confidence, nobody’ll trust me enough to give me the time of day.”
    â€œI don’t like it, but I guess we’ll just have to play this your way.” Bill sounded mollified. “You can talk to this woman again if we need her, can’t you?”
    â€œOf course I can. She was cooperative and she’s very grateful that I’m keeping her identity a secret.”
    â€œYou’ll probably get further with her if she thinks of you like a friend. Remember, Hannah, I don’t want you to tell anybody that you’re in on the investigation. You can talk to Andrea, but that’s it. I’m not writing your name on my reports. I’m just referring to you as my snitch.”
    â€œYour snitch ?” Hannah took a sip of her far-from-premium wine.
    â€œA snitch is a person whose identity is protected by the investigating officer. You must have learned that from those detective shows you’re always watching.”
    Hannah rolled her eyes at Moishe. “I know what a snitch is. Why can’t I be your undercover agent?”
    â€œMy undercover agent?” That made Bill laugh, but once he realized that Hannah wasn’t laughing with him, he backtracked fast. “All right. Consider yourself my undercover agent. What else have you got?”
    â€œThe woman with the pink lipstick told me that Ron got into a fight at Twin Pines last night. She thinks he cracked a tooth because his jaw swelled up. Remember when I told you I saw him cupping his jaw this morning?”
    â€œRight. You said you thought he was thinking about something important. I’ve got it right here in your interview notes.”
    â€œWell, I was wrong. His tooth hurt and that’s why he had his hand on the side of his face.”
    There was a moment of silence and Hannah heard a pen scratch. Bill was taking notes. Finally he said, “That makes sense. Did this woman know who Ron fought with at the casino?”
    â€œNo, it happened before she got there. I’ll try to find out for you, Bill.”
    â€œI know I asked you to nose around, but this isn’t a game, Hannah.” Bill sounded worried. “Ron was murdered in cold blood and the killer won’t hesitate to take you out if he thinks you’re on to something.”
    Hannah swallowed hard, the image of Ron’s lifeless body flitting across the screen of her mind. “You’re scaring me, Bill. Do you really think it could be that dangerous?”
    â€œOf course it could. Promise me that you’ll be careful, Hannah. And call me right away with anything you learn, even if it’s four in the morning.”
    â€œI will. Good night, Bill.” Hannah shivered as she hung up the phone. She’d been thinking of Ron’s murder as a puzzle to be solved, but Bill had reminded her that it was dangerous to try to uncover a killer. As she finished her wine, Hannah decided that she’d be a lot more cautious in the future.
    There was a plaintive yowl from the direction of the coffee table and Hannah saw that Moishe was doing one of his incredibly wide kitty yawns. It was definitely time for bed. She scooped him up, carried him into the bedroom, and set him down on the mattress.
    When she was ready for bed, Hannah climbed under the covers and pulled her roommate over for a cuddle. But Moishe had been a loner too long. Sweet words, ear scratches, and tabby treats would never turn him into a tame and obliging house cat. He