Key Lime Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke Page B

right across from the school, isn’t she?”
    â€œThat’s right,” Pam answered her.
    â€œI wonder if…I mean, it’s probably not allowed, but…do you think I should change my scorecard?”
    Hannah and Pam locked eyes. It was a tough question, and Willa was clearly struggling with it.
    â€œLet’s put it to the test,” Hannah said at last, after Pam had failed to speak up. “Do you still feel the same way about her bread?”
    â€œYes, I do.”
    â€œThen your objections are valid. You didn’t think it deserved to win before, and you shouldn’t change your score now that you know who baked it.”
    â€œAbsolutely right,” Pam agreed, giving Willa a smile. “It’s like the student you hated to flunk. Remember?”
    Willa turned to Hannah. “I really liked him, but I graded his final project and it was awful. He had to make breakfast, and he chose pancakes, bacon, and eggs.”
    â€œHe didn’t drain the bacon, and it was grease central,” Pam took over the story. “The eggs were incinerated, and I thought we’d never get the sulfur smell out of the room.”
    â€œAnd the pancakes?” Hannah asked.
    Willa gave a rueful little smile. “Raw inside. And he tried to heat the syrup in the microwave without taking off the metal cap, and it sparked like fireworks. I still feel bad, though. Because of me, he has to go to summer school to take another class.”
    Pam passed over the final tally sheet for all three of them to sign. Then they packaged the sweet breads they were taking with them and parted ways at the bottom of the steps to the Creative Arts Building.
    As Hannah headed off across the fairgrounds, slapping at mosquitoes and juggling her sweet burdens, she decided that the first day of judging hadn’t been so bad. She’d tasted some very fine sweet dough treats, and she was going to her mother’s house with the chocolate cherry coffeecake to congratulate Michelle on winning the evening gown competition.
    Hannah was about to head for the turnstile at the exit when she thought about Sinful Pleasures, the deep-fried candy bar booth. She was alone. Pam and Willa had already left. Delores had driven Michelle home, and Lisa and Herb were gone. This was her perfect chance. She could have a deep-fried Milky Way with impunity.
    Life is good , Hannah thought, as she freed up a hand and slapped at another mosquito. The only thing that would make this moment better was if she’d remembered to wear insect repellent.

Chapter Five   
    S he had to wait in line for several minutes because there were at least a half-dozen people in front of her, but at last she reached the counter. And since there was no one in line behind her, she had time to chat with Ruby for a moment.
    â€œThis is for you, Ruby.” Hannah handed over the cinnamon raisin bread she’d snatched up at the last minute. “It only took an honorable mention, but it should have placed higher. I’ve had it before, and it’s great for toast in the morning.”
    â€œWell, that’s really nice of you,” Ruby said, sounding both surprised and pleased.
    â€œIt’s just a little thank-you for defusing the situation with my mother.”
    â€œNo problem. Parents are always pulling their kids away from my booth.”
    â€œYes, but I’ll bet those kids are usually a lot younger.”
    â€œThat’s true. But some mothers just can’t seem to let go, even when their kids are grown up. I’m that way myself.”
    Hannah stared at Ruby in surprise. She’d assumed Ruby was about her age, but if she had a grown child, she had to be older. “I can’t believe you have a child that old!”
    â€œShe’s not really my child. She’s my half-sister, but I raised her when our mother died.”
    â€œHow old were you?” Hannah couldn’t help asking.
    â€œAlmost