A Fishy Dish (A Hooked & Cooked Cozy Mystery Series Book 3) by Lyndsey Cole Page A

together.”
    Hannah leaned forward, almost sliding off the slippery metal seat. “We aren’t working together. Why did you jump to that conclusion?”
    Pam stared at Hannah.
    She tapped her pen on her desk—click, click, click—like a ticking bomb.
    “I did some research after you showed me Sean’s drawing of Janice Jones and made a, shall I say, interesting discovery. “ She paused her story but not her pen tapping.
    Hannah wiggled on the hard seat. She wished Pam would just blurt out whatever it was she wanted to say instead of torturing her.
    Click, click, click—Pam tilted her head and never took her eyes off Hannah’s face. “If you aren’t working with the reporter, why would you feed me information about a dead woman? Don’t tell me you’ve been conned by that skinny reporter?”
    Hannah felt her jaw drop and hoped it didn’t hit the floor. “Jan is dead? Maybe that’s why she didn’t show at the Paradise Inn.”
    Click, click, click—the pen counted the seconds. “Yes, that is an understandable reason.”
    “Was she murdered?” Hannah asked, her voice a bare wisp of air.
    “Oh no, nothing like that, Ms. Holiday. The real Janice Jones died a year and a half ago.” Pam paused another six steady clicks of her pen. “Who exactly is this woman you claim is Sally White’s aunt? Because, obviously, the woman you think is Jan, can’t be her.”
    Hannah could barely make her vocal chords work. “I have no idea. Sean Payne told me he confronted her after Matt and Gavin argued at The Chowder House, and this morning when she called him, he leapt at the chance to interview her.”
    “Why would Sean Payne invite you along to an exclusive interview?”
    Hannah felt her cheeks get hot. Why indeed? “He said Jan was wary of men and he thought if I was with him, she’d be a little more comfortable talking.”
    “It looks as though your reporter friend has either, one, also been duped by this imposter; or two, he’s working with her for some reason.”
    “A juicier story. It has to be,” Hannah said.
    “I think we’re on the same page. Now, about your other friend, Samantha Featherstone? Did you find out any more about her background like I suggested?” Pam tilted her head and waited for Hannah’s response.
    Hannah’s face burned. How stupid could she be? First to be taken in by Samantha’s story of working for Jan, and then to let Sean entice her with his drawing and promise of an interview of Jan.
    “The look on your face is all I need. You have discovered that Samantha Featherstone is not, in fact, a retired private investigator but only someone who likes to pretend to be one. And what I find remarkable is that Samantha Featherstone, Sean Payne, and Sally White’s parents are all staying in your cottages. How did that happen?”
    “Just lucky?” Hannah replied, unable to come up with a better explanation.
    “Exactly!” Pam sat forward in her chair. “I’m glad you see how convenient your situation is.”
    “I’m not following your train of thought, Pam.” Hannah was afraid she put herself into a no-win situation and playing dumb seemed like the safest strategy.
    Pam dropped her pen. “Okay, here’s what you’re going to do. You already appear to have some sort of bond started with Sean Payne. Find out as much as possible about this imposter Janice Jones. And as far as Samantha Featherstone is concerned, confront her with her lies and see how she reacts. Last, keep an eye on Matt White. I doubt he’ll talk to you, but maybe you can get some details from his wife. She’s desperate for a friend.”
    “You’re the policewoman. Shouldn’t you be using your intimidation and power to get all that information?” Hannah asked, appalled at what Pam expected her to do.
    “I’ve already questioned every one of them and they are as tight-lipped as a lobster claw holding its own fish dinner. But you, on the other hand, already have their trust, or at least they’ve assumed they can