Page 41 of Half Baked

Mischievousness washed over his face. “That sounds like a very un-Noah Langley-like thing to do. I approve.”

I shook my head, then picked up the bag with the key, handing it to him. “It looks like a house key, but I doubt it went to her house.”

“Did Bergan say why he held onto it?”

“No. I plan on asking her friends about it. Maybe one of them gave it to her to water their plants or watch their pets while they were on a trip.”

“Yeah, maybe.” But he sounded less than convinced. I didn’t think it squared either, but I believed in chasing down every possibility.

Next I showed him the note.

“So we were right. She was set up,” he said, taking the bag.

“Looks like it.”

“Did Maddie recognize the handwriting?”

“No.”

“It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack. It would help if we could get DNA analysis done.”

“Good luck gettingthatapproved,” I said. “We’ll try some other leads first.”

I handed it to him and pulled out the bag with the necklace.

“Shit,” Lance said when he saw the bloody chain. “Maddie saw this?”

My stomach roiled. “Yeah.”

“And that’s the eagle Bergan mentioned?”

“Appears to be. He said Andrea was holding it when she was found. Does it look familiar?”

He took the bag and studied the pendent, then shook his head. “No.”

I sighed. “It was a long shot that any of this would mean anything to you. I’m really hoping we’ll get more from the teachers Maddie’s mother worked with.”

“If I can help, let me know. This case is personal to me too.”

I gave him a grim look. “I know. Thanks.”

Lance stood. “Let’s see if I can go crack this kid.”

I laughed as I stood and clapped his shoulder. “You’ve got this.”

I had no doubt that he did. It wasmyinvestigation I was worried about. This was a nearly two-decade-old cold case. People with information might have died or moved away. We were starting at practically square one, and unless the county and state crime lab came through, we had very little to go on. But I’d do anything to find the murderer. Maddie deserved for the killer to be brought to justice.

So did Andrea Baker.

ChapterEleven

Maddie

Noah walked into Déjà Brew a few minutes before three, looking just as fine as he had the day before, maybe more so since he was smiling. It had been a long, exhausting day, and I’d second-guessed my decision to work. My mind kept circling around the things tucked into that box—the last pieces of my mother.

I’d just finished making a drink for a customer, so I started making Noah’s usual Americano.

He sauntered over to the counter and gave me a long, appreciative look.

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