Hannah, breathless and red-cheeked, rested her butt against the counter.
“Hannah, what is it?” Zoe asked.
“Desmond is locked in the bathroom,” Hannah panted out. “My dad asked me to come and get you, but I really think he just didn’t want me around when he finds Desmond’s dead body.”
Feeling a little like Superman stepping out of his street clothes, Zoe pulled off her apron and tossed it onto the counter. “Are you okay here on your own?” she asked Claire.
“Of course,” Claire said. “Go!”
“Do you really think Desmond died in the bathroom?” Zoe asked Hannah as they hustled down Oak Hollow’s Main Street.
“I don’t know what to think,” Hannah said. “Dad was super mad when we got to the gallery and found it unlocked and unattended, but I don’t think he can still be mad if something horrible happened to Desmond.”
“I’ve never seen your dad mad,” Zoe said.
“It happens, but not very often,” Hannah said.
“Courtney told me you’re angry at Laurel.”
Hannah tightened her lips. “Maybe. Did she tell you why?”
“Something about a boy,” Zoe prodded.
Hannah blew a breath out of her nose. “I’m going to kill her!”
“Hannah, at your age, I know it might not seem like it, but friends are more important than boys.”
Hannah shot Zoe a quick glance. “What do you know?”
Stung, Zoe debated whether to keep her thoughts to herself. Obviously, Hannah wasn’t interested in what she had to say. “I just don’t want to see you lose a good friend.”
“Who says Laurel is a good friend?” Hannah asked.
Zoe opened her mouth to say something but closed it when she saw an ambulance with flashing lights and a blaring siren racing their way. She elbowed Hannah and started to run.
#
AT THE HOSPITAL, ETHANtried to answer the doctors’ questions as best he could. Fortunately, it wasn’t too long until Frankie, Desmond’s daughter, arrived.
Ethan found Hannah and Zoe sitting in the waiting room.
“Is Dezi going to be okay?” Hannah asked.
“I hope so, button,” Ethan said. He looked over the top of Hannah’s head to gaze at Zoe. “Thanks for staying with her.”
“I guess I better get going,” Zoe said.
“I need to get back to the gallery and make sure Desmond didn’t leave anything undone,” Ethan said. “Do you want to go home with Zoe or come with me to the gallery?” he asked Hannah.
“Go with you,” Hannah said quickly.
“I guess we’ll see you at home,” Ethan said to Zoe.
“Okay.” She squeezed his hand as she left.
“Why do you say it like that?” Hannah asked after Zoe had disappeared through the wide glass doors.
“Say what like what?” Ethan asked.
