Cinnamon Roll Murder Read Free

wrapped around his wrist. The cloth strips were holding a screwdriver in place as a makeshift brace. “Are you doctors?”
    “No,” Michelle answered. “I’ve had first aid training, but that’s about it.”
    “Who are you then?”
    “Two passing motorists who came to help,” Hannah explained as quickly as she could. “It may take the paramedics some time to get to you. The road’s blocked by the wreckage and they’ll have to hike in over half a mile. Is anyone inside badly injured?”
    “No. We’ve all got bruises, but I’m the worst … unless you count the bus driver. Lynnette made this split for me. She used to work in a doctor’s office.”
    “Lynnette’s a nurse?” Hannah asked.
    He shook his head. “She was in charge of the appointment desk, but she used to help the nurses when they got really busy. You know, hand them things and stuff like that.”
    “Do you think your wrist is broken?” Michelle asked.
    “I don’t think so, but I’m no doctor. I guess I can find out for sure from the paramedics, or the doctors … if they ever get here.”
    You’re pretty impatient considering the accident happened less than five minutes ago , Hannah thought, but she didn’t say it. He’d been injured and she should make allowances for that. “I’m sure they’ll come just as soon as they can,” she said, giving him a comforting smile. “Two ambulances and a fire truck passed us on the way here.”
    Michelle stepped closer and examined his splint. “Your splint looks just fine. It’s holding your wrist immobile and that’s exactly what it’s supposed to do. You’ll probably need X-rays when you get to the hospital, but you’re fine for now. Just be careful not to bang it against anything or try to use your right arm. You don’t want to risk injuring it further, especially since you play keyboards.”
    “You know me?” he asked, looking pleased.
    “Not personally, but I know your music. You’re Buddy Neiman, the keyboard player with Cinnamon Roll Six.”
    “That’s right.” Buddy gave her a long, assessing look. “So you’re a fan?”
    “I certainly am. Your music is great.”
    “Thanks. Hey … maybe you want to get together for a drink or something after we play tomorrow night.”
    Hannah held her breath. She hoped Michelle realized that Buddy was trying to pick her up.
    “That would be nice. I’ll be there with my boyfriend and his cousin, Devin. Devin’s your biggest fan, and he’s the one who introduced me to your music. He’s got everything the Cinnamon Roll Six ever recorded, and he plays keyboards with the Jordan High jazz band. He told me he can hardly wait to meet you and tell you how great he thinks you are.”
    Hannah watched the play of expressions cross Buddy’s face. There was disappointment in the fact that Michelle had a boyfriend, regret that he’d asked her to have a drink since she’d assumed he was open to including her boyfriend and Devin, and pleased at the compliment to his musical talent. Flattery must have won out in the end, because he smiled.
    “I’d like to meet your boyfriend and his cousin,” he said, going into fan mode. “Devin sounds like a nice kid.”
    “Oh, he is. He’s pretty talented, too. He’s got a job playing the piano at the Lake Eden Inn during the dinner hour on weekends.”
    Enough chit-chat , Hannah’s mind prodded. Get to what’s important.
    “You said there weren’t any other serious injuries unless you counted the driver,” Michelle said, almost as if she’d read Hannah’s mind. “What did you mean by that?”
    “He’s dead.”
    “The driver is dead ?” Hannah repeated, just to make sure she’d understood his response.
    “That’s what Lynnette said. She went up there to see if he was okay, and when she came back, she told us he was dead. It’s probably why he went off the road in the first place. I’m thinking it must have been a heart attack or something sudden like that. One minute we were traveling