"What's your bid?" Roy helped himself to a pretzel as he studied his own hand. Her husband and Bob Beldon had walked away with the first three games and gloried in their triumph a little too much.
"You guys have already won three in a row," Corrie said. "I think Peggy and I could use a break."
"Ah, it's just getting good," Bob protested.
"I'll make some popcorn," Corrie said, hoping the two men would be willing to put the game aside for that long.
"All right, all right," Roy muttered, not concealing his disappointment. He could be so competitive sometimes.
Peggy followed Corrie into the kitchen and leaned against the counter as Corrie set up the hot air popcorn popper. She took a stick of butter from the fridge and cut a generous cube to melt in the microwave. "I can't bear to eat popcorn without real butter," she explained. With the machine making its usual racket, Corrie joined her friend at the counter.
"I still can't believe it..." Peggy let the words fade.
"You're in shock about Hannah, aren't you?"
Peggy nodded. "Not for even a second did I suspect she was capable of murder."
"Have you been to see her at the jail?"
Peggy shook her head. "She's refused all visitors, including me."
That must be hurtful to Peggy, Corrie thought as she dumped the popcorn in a large bowl and poured on the melted butter.
"I talked to Troy Davis earlier in the week and he told me Hannah's decided to take a plea bargain. Once all the legalities have been dealt with, she'll be transferred to the women's prison in Purdy."
"I can only imagine how difficult this must be for you," Corrie said sympathetically. Peggy had grown close to Hannah over the last few weeks. The horror of learning that the young woman was responsible for her parents' deaths had, needless to say, distressed her. At this stage, Peggy couldn't influence the girl's situation at all. The authorities in California had been notified and were in the process of arresting the friend who'd tampered with her father's car and bought her the drug. Extradition papers would be filed against Hannah soon. Unless a deal could be made, she'd stand trial in her home state of California.
"I'm so sorry," Corrie whispered, touching her friend's arm.
"I know. I am, too. She's ruined her entire life." Peggy bowed her head for a moment, then looked up. "What I want to know is when Roy and the sheriff figured it out."
Not sure what to tell her, Corrie shrugged. "I can't answer that. Although we work in the same office, my husband usually keeps his suspicions to himself. Half the time I don't have a clue what's going through that thick head of his. What I can tell you is that he and Troy discussed the case now and then and compared notes."
Peggy's expression was pained, as if she was reliving the moment of Hannah's arrest.
"My guess is that Roy and the sheriff went over their ideas together and came to the same conclusion," Corrie said.
"Are you talking about me and my brilliant mind again?" Roy asked as he stepped into the kitchen, Bob directly behind him.
"Obviously we've so outplayed you women that you're ready to admit defeat," Bob said smugly.
"We could always put on a DVD," Roy suggested, scooping up a handful of buttered popcorn. "Nothing goes better with popcorn than a movie."
Bob yawned. "I don't know if we should. It's getting to be the witching hour for me."