Christmas Caramel Murder Read Online Free

early to set up, wait on customers as they filed in, handle the intermissions, and clean up after the performances.
    Why had Lisa done this? For a brief moment Hannah was puzzled, but then she understood the reason why Lisa had taken on this extra work. Now that Phyllis Bates had been cast as this year’s Mrs. Claus, Lisa wanted to be there to keep an eye on Herb. Herb and Phyllis would appear on stage together every night after the final curtain had fallen. They’d greet the children who were attending the performance, give them treat bags, and share a hug before they walked off-stage. Lisa wanted to be right there to judge her husband’s reaction to that very public hug. But Lisa had never been the jealous type of wife. Why was she so worried about Herb and Phyllis now? Hannah couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something else wrong between Herb and Lisa, something that Lisa wasn’t telling her.
    â€œJust what we need!” Hannah muttered under her breath, but she managed to maintain her pleasant expression as she turned to her mother. “Do you know how much candy the Lake Eden Players sold at their performance last year?”
    â€œI don’t have a dollar amount, but I do know that all our local charities were extremely grateful for their donations.”
    â€œCould you get us a copy of last year’s order from the candy company?” Lisa asked, clearly realizing why Hannah wanted that information. “We need to know the quantities to be certain that we make enough.”
    â€œOf course you need to know the quantity. I should have thought of that. I’ll run over to Tory Bascomb’s temporary office and ask her.” Delores paused to take a bite of her cookie. “And by the way, dears . . . these cookies are fantastic. I love the fact that they have chocolate chips inside.”
    â€œI’ll tell Andrea you said so,” Hannah promised. “More coffee, Mother?”
    â€œNo, dear. I really must go.” Delores got up from her stool. “I have a million things to do today. Have fun baking, dears. And be sure to save samples of any new cookies you try. I love to test new cookies for you.”
    Hannah waited until the back kitchen door had closed behind her mother, and then she turned to Lisa. “Okay, Lisa . . . give!”
    â€œGive what?”
    â€œThere’s more to this Herb and Phyllis thing than you’re telling me.”
    â€œYou’re imagining things,” Lisa said, but she looked down at the worktable, not meeting Hannah’s eyes.
    â€œI don’t think so. And it’ll probably help to talk about it. Tell me what’s wrong, Lisa.”
    Lisa sat there in silence for a moment, and then she gave a deep sigh. “Herb’s been working late every single night this month. I know he loves me and I know that I should trust him, but it’s every night.”
    â€œWhen did this start?”
    â€œA couple days after Mayor Bascomb transferred Phyllis to Herb’s office.”
    It was Hannah’s turn to sigh. “Did you drive past Herb’s office to see if he was there?”
    â€œYes, after it happened five nights in a row. And Hannah. . . Herb wasn’t there!”
    â€œMaybe he was out on patrol?”
    â€œNo. His cruiser was in the lot, right where he always parks it. But his personal car was gone!”
    That didn’t sound good, and Hannah reached out to pat Lisa’s shoulder. “Did you try to find him?”
    â€œYes. I drove past Dad’s house because I thought he might have gone over there to help his mother with something. He wasn’t there, and I didn’t go in to ask if they’d seen him. I was too embarrassed. I didn’t want them to think I was tracking him down!”
    â€œOf course not. Did you try anywhere else?”
    â€œYes.” Lisa gave a little nod. “I drove past every place I could think of, anywhere I thought he might