Page 42 of Half Baked

I cocked my head. “Does that look mean you’re happy to see me? Or that you’re excited to see I’m making your drink before you even ordered?”

“You, of course,” he said, his eyes warm. “You still good for dinner tonight?”

Nerves twinged at the back of my neck. “Yeah. Mallory said she can stay in with Aunt Deidre.”

“Do you mind if we eat at Lance’s mother’s tavern?”

My brow shot up. “No, but does that mean he’s going to be joining us?”

“God, I hope not. He says he has plans. My mom wants to meet Matilda, so this way she figures she can meet both of you at once.”

Did she feel like she needed a buffer?

“We don’t have a definitive time,” Noah continued. “I told her I was working on something and didn’t know how late I would be, so I’ll just text her when we figure it out.”

“Okay.” I looked over my shoulder toward the back. “As usual, I’m waiting for Trista to show up.”

He rested a hand on the counter, looking more relaxed than I’d ever seen him. Was it because he wasn’t working? “We’re good on time. Our first interview is with Dawn Heaton.”

I poured hot water into his cup, briefly lifting my gaze to meet his before returning to my task. Dawn had been my mother’s closest friend at the school. “I already talked to her when you were investigating who killed Martin Schroeder.”

“I know, but I think you should circle back to her. If I remember right, you were talking to her specifically about Schroeder,” Noah said. “Maybe if you broaden the scope of the conversation, she’ll have more information.”

My head jerked up. “Wait.Me?”

“Since this is unofficial…”

I nodded, grateful that he was giving me an active role in this investigation. Somehow he knew I needed to feel like I was a part of this—like I was doing something that would make a difference. Plus, he’d be there to ensure I didn’t screw anything up.

“Start with her personal life. The killer may not have had any connection to the school. Maybe they saw an opportunity and took it.”

I inwardly cringed. I knew I had to harden my sensitivities to get through this. “Did you find out anything from the crime lab?”

A scowl darkened his eyes. “No. They had next to nothing. I went in person and talked to someone who worked for the lab when your mother was murdered. They remembered the case, but they say they weren’t called in to handle the scene.”

“What?” I practically shouted in disbelief, then checked around the room to make sure I hadn’t disturbed anyone. I lowered my voice and leaned closer. “How can that be? Isn’t that protocol?”

“You would think, but I’ve come to learn that the police department did pretty much whatever they damn well pleased before Chief Porter came on board a few years ago.”

“So there’s absolutely no evidence other than what we have?”

“Other than a few photos that were passed on to the lab tech, no.” When Noah saw the defeat in my eyes, he said, “We might be down, but we’re not out, Maddie. We still have a lot of options. And this way, Bergan and his ilk won’t taint anything we learn.”

Trista popped out of the back and leaned against the counter, appraising Noah with a focused gaze. “You becoming a regular?”

“Hehasbeen a regular,” I said as I handed Noah his cup.

“I come for the coffee and my adorable girlfriend,” Noah said. “Maddie, you ready to take off?”

I stared up at him in surprise. Girlfriend? It didn’t seem like our “just friends” relationship status warranted it, but I had to admit I liked hearing him call me that.

* * *

Dawn wasin her classroom when we arrived in the doorway a few minutes early. She sat at her desk in front of a stack of papers. She was so lost in her work I had to knock on the door frame to get her attention.

She glanced up with an anxious look and stood. “Maddie. Detective Langley. Come on in.” She gestured to a table in the back of the room. “Let’s sit back here.”

We followed her to the small rectangular table. There was a chair on one side and two on the other. Once we were all settled, she folded her hands on her lap, then gave me a disappointed look. “Detective Langley said you both would like to ask more questions about your mother. I have to say, I’m surprised. I thought the case was closed.”

---