Page 80 of Half Baked

Annemarie shook her head, still looking spooked. “I doubt Andy would have told Dawn anything about Gordy, even after he got out.Especiallyafter he got out. Dawn’s pretty conservative, so there’s no way she would have approved of Andy seein’ him. In fact, she’s uptight enough that she might have turned Andy in to the administration. There’s no way they would have approved of her having a relationship with a convicted drug dealer.”

I glanced at Noah. It looked like we needed to have another chat with Dawn.

A cell phone on the end table began to ring, and Annemarie jumped to grab it. “That’s my mother-in-law. If I don’t answer, she’ll call Mel at work, and he’ll come check on me. And once I answer, I’ll be stuck for an hour.”

I stood. “I’ve taken enough of your time. Thank you for everything.”

“We didn’t get a chance to talk about the good stuff yet,” she said, looking genuinely sad. “I even have photos to show you.”

“Maybe we can meet sometime for a chat,” I said. “We’ll schedule it instead of me rudely stopping by.”

She engulfed me in a hug. “I’m so glad you did. Little Maddie Baker. I’ve thought about you, girl. I’m so glad you’re happy.” She released me and winked. “And got a good-lookin’ man too.”

I laughed. “Watch what you say. It’ll go to his head.”

“Already has,” Noah teased.

The phone stopped ringing, and a panicked look covered Annemarie’s face. “Crap.”

“Quick,” I said, heading for the door. “Go call her back.”

“Will do. Bye, Maddie!”

While I was sad I hadn’t had the chance to hear the good stories or see her photos, I’d gotten what I came for: more information, but it was obvious Annemarie was holding back.

What hadn’t she told us?

ChapterTwenty-One

Maddie

“Annemarie knows something she’s not saying,” Noah said once we were in the car, and he was pulling away. He’d slid behind the wheel again, and it had never occurred to me to stop him.

“She got spooked when we brought up the Mad Hatter’s. She claims they never went there, but I don’t believe her. I need to do some investigating into the place. Especially if the owner was killed.”

“Do you think the owner’s death has anything to do with my mom?” I asked.

“Bergan claimed other people died around the same time as your mom, so it bears checking out.” He grimaced. “Honestly, I meant to already check, but the dinner last night and my mom…I’m sorry, Maddie. I let you down.”

“Let me down?” I shook my head. “Not a chance, so let that thought go right now.”

He glanced over at me. “That was a lot to take in. How are you doing?”

“You mean after discovering my mother was in love with a drug dealer? Peachy.”

Noah hesitated, seeming to choose his next words carefully. “I’m not condoning her dating a felon, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, but there are multiple kinds of drug dealers. The kind who run empires and don’t give a shit if they kill people, and the kind who take drugs and sell them to get a discount. Both are breaking the law, obviously, but thereisa difference.”

I didn’t say anything, too mired in my anger and grief.

“And even though he was convicted,” Noah continued when I didn’t respond, “it doesn’t mean he was a drug user or pusher when he got out. He could have given it up. He could have gotten his life straightened out. Lots of drug users do.”

“Do you think he killed my mother?” I asked, turning to face him.

He considered it for several seconds. “My gut says no, mostly because of the note. If he had access to her at her house and possibly his if he lived in the area, why would he kill her at the school? Why not do it at his house or yours? Or somewhere else?”

“To throw the police off?”

“Maybe,” Noah said. “But why would she meet with him at the school if she knew the relationship could get her fired?”

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