Hungry for a murder.

The phone rang a looping chirp. Hanna Moore was startled. She was lost in thought wracking her brain as to who the murderer could be. Actually the whole office was talking about the new podcast Hungry for a Murder. Hanna pulled her thoughts together to answer on the fifth ring. "Hello this is Hanna how can I help you?" It was Amanda Combs. A 30 year old client who was always in the midst of chaos-so it had seemed. Hanna spoke in a firm tone, "Amanda I told you to call your case worker to help you find an agency. Do you want me to give you the number again?" Amanda was not happy with the social worker's response. She was growing dependent on Hanna and truth be told considered Hanna to be her best friend. Hanna tried to keep it professional with her clients but Amanda reminded her of her sister Avery. She had a soft spot for her. Amanda was in a hit and run accident about a year ago leaving her with a traumatic brain injury. She rarely remembered what Hanna told her to do. Amanda began to sob. "Oh Hanna, I can't get to my doctors appointment, my sh**ty ride bailed on me. I need to see the doctor to get my meds." "Again? Hanna thought. She knew she had meant her seizure medication. She didn't have to ask. Hanna's mind went back to the Murder podcast as she lost focus listening to Amanda's sob story. Amanda's condition caused her to be repetitive. She was losing patience with her. "Amanda please call a cab if you need to. You need to make this a priority." Hanna was in the midst of looking up a cab for Amanda when she heard a loud thump on the other line and a soft moan. "Amanda are you there? Are you OK?" Amanda pick up the phone!" She commanded her. Hanna knew Amanda was prone to seizures, especially when she was stressed. She was pretty sure Amanda was in the middle of another one. "Amanda-if you can hear me- I am going to the other line to call 911. Amanda, I will be right back as soon as I can. OK, honey?" Hanna began to hang up the phone to call the medics when she heard Amanda cry out. "Ha...Hanna. Pa.. please! Screaming now she yelled, "Help me Hanna. No! No! Stop! He's stabbing....The line dropped. Hanna blinked three times, feeling her throat tighten. She swallowed hard. Feeling guilty for losing her patience with Amanda. Now in complete shock, she froze. Then, as if coming out of slow motion, her adrenaline kicked in -she dialed 911. She pulled up Amanda's record in the process to provide the address to the 911 operator. "Uh -hello this is Hanna MSW, uh social worker for ..the operator cut her off. "Maam? What is the nature of your emergency?"she asked in a southern tone. Hanna thought to herself- "Is this happening?" Did she really just hear Amanda say he was stabbing- her? Hanna proceeded to relay the information to the operator. "Excuse me did you say stabbing her?" The operator asked her, to clarify. Hanna repeated herself. The 911 operator expedited the call and assured Hanna that the ambulance and police had been dispatched. She asked Hanna to stay on the line so she could provide her contact information- should they want to interview her later. After the call ended, Hanna slowly hung up the phone-her soft brow set together in concern. Pulling a loose strand of her light brown hair from the ear of her glasses, she knew she must look like a mess. Taking a deep breath she emailed her boss-director Adam Parker and prepared to close up her computer for the long weekend. Her phone rang. It was Adam. Adam had been the director of the social service agency she had been employed at for the last 3 years, she knew him well. Adam spoke before she even said hello- "Tell me she is OK? What exactly did Amanda say to you. I need to be debriefed on this before you go home." Adam listened to her for a few minutes, noticing her breathing was rapid and she was still processing the call herself. "Hanna hold on, take a deep breath and slow down." Adam was aware the whole office was embroiled in the Murder podcast, Hungry for a Murder. He was pretty sure Hanna misheard what Amanda had said. "I'm coming down to see you, hmm... better yet I'm buying you diner. No point in talking on the phone. See you in a few." Adam hung up on her before she could protest. After all she had a nice pizza dough rising for her dinner at her small homey kitchen. Hanna enjoyed cooking. Maybe even more than she had enjoyed her last boyfriend. Dinner? With Adam. Adam was just her boss, she told herself. He had never shown any other type of interest in her, nor had he taken her to dinner. She was pretty sure he was the most handsome boss she had ever worked for. It was hard for her to look him in the eye. His lashes were very long. She thought about Adam for a few minutes then, pushing her hair out of her eyes she remembered she looked like a mess. "Oh well, too late now." She whispered to herself. She heard the elevator bell ring. Adam knocked on her doorway. Lightly wrapping a ring he wore on his left hand making a clinking noise. Hanna sighed out loud thinking to herself....Of course he's married. But those long legs... those square shoulders...those thick biceps... Adam smiled at her. Seeing her eyes move all over him, then stopping at the ring he wore. He held up his hand. "This? Just my college football ring." Answering her un asked question. He was used to this kind of attention from females. She was embarrassed that he had caught her silent assessment of his physique. "Oh I was just thinking...she couldn't think around Adam. She had no excuse to offer him. She shook her head and coughed nervously. Adam let it go and offered to carry her briefcase for her on the way to the elevator. He didn't ask her any questions. He led her out to his car. Hanna felt a little uneasy at the car he was taking her toward. Looking around she was sure he drove a big new SUV. To her surprise he drove a very old car. It looked like a race car. Black with a red pin stripe along the side, sleek lines. She was impressed. He smiled. Hanna couldn't stop thinking about Amanda. She looked down at her feet and bit her lip, "I hope she's OK Adam. Do you think she is?" Adam took her arm and led her to the passenger side assisting her into the car. "We will discuss this at dinner, Hanna." Fearing that she would make an excuse to back out of the dinner, Adam gave her a warm smile. Not showing any teeth just a nice soft smile. Hanna got into the car, slamming the heavy door securely. Adam started the Monte Carlo SS- it purred like a kitten, no, a tiger-she thought to herself. Definitely not like a kitten- as Adam drove off with a roar... After entering the local resturaunt- The Black Horse gastro pub. Hanna had ordered the warm hummus plate with fresh naan bread. Adam got a steak and thick cut fries. Hanna wasn't surprised. After all, those muscles needed some protein...hmm... Adam turned to Hanna and asked her, "Now, tell me exactly what happened with Amanda." He picked up a piece of warm sour dough bread and slathered it with butter and handed it to her. Hanna took it politely and nibbled around the butter. She ate a plant based diet. Adam was aware-as was all of the office of Amanda Combs, she was considered a frequent flier to their agency. On and off services as she came and went in and out of the hospital for various issues. Most of the issues relating to her traumatic brain injury with complications. Hanna relayed the phone call, ending with the last words she had heard. "He's stabbing"... Adam furrowed his brow. "That is concerning. Could she have been saying she was having stabbing pain, or probably another seizure?" Hanna thought about it. "I don't think so Adam. You know, I am listening to this podcast called Hungry for a Murder. I have to say, there are some similarities. The victim was also stabbed to death. The main suspect is her land lord. I am pretty perceptive to this type of thing. I hope they call me soon to give me an update." Adam turned his head sideways hiding a smile, she was so cute, he assured her that he would call the hospital after their dinner. He didn't say, "I know all about the podcast, the whole office does." Hanna sat quietly licking hummus off of her finger. Adam watched her. He put his fork down to watch. He caught her eyes and quickly looked away. He had admired her. The way she was eating with such gusto. He had dated many women who ate salad and drank most of their meal. Glass after glass of Rose'. He sobbered quickly from his thoughts. He had carefully kept his previous interactions with her professional. He knew this would soon change. He could no longer fight his growing feelings for her. He looked at her light brown hair. He admired how a stubborn strand of hair kept going into her face. She still looked beautiful. He had grown silent, lost in his thoughts. Hanna stopped licking the last of the hummus off of her fingers. Realizing that she must look like a starving animal, she straightened up aware that she was stress eating. Adam paid for the meal and silently drove her back to her car at the office. Hanna turned to him and thanked him, asking him to keep her posted. He really wanted to take her home. She walked to her car, waving goodbye...she is so beautiful, he thought. Adam gripped the steering wheel tightly, fighting his desire to say something that would probably get him fired. Seeing she was safely in her modern day white sedan, he turned his car around to leave her. Hanna put the key into the ignition. She turned the key and it clicked. She tried again and click, click, click. The battery was dead. Hanna put her hand on her face and smelling the hummus, she smiled crookedly and raising her eyes, she sighed. "Just my luck a dead battery." Looking in her mirror she didn't see Adam anywhere. Hanna picked up her phone and dialed her dad Henry Moore, asking for help. He came right away to give her a jump. As he opened up the hood he saw something strange. He walked back to her window. He ask her why she had replaced her new battery. "Hanna, what made you put that old battery back in there after you just replaced it this winter?" Hanna was confused. "Dad,I never touched it. The garage replaced it for me. I don't even have the old one." Hanna and her dad looked puzzled. Hanna had a strange feeling. She began looking around her car for any sign of an intruder. She didn't see anything. Hanna's dad scratched his salty hair. "Hanna maybe you've been working too hard. Come on I'll let you make me dinner. Isnt it pizza night? Hanna?" She silently nodded to him, pursing her lips and softly biting her inner cheek. Her dad said to her, "I know that look. You've done that since you were just a little tike. Thinking about something?" She smiled at him and responded, "You know me pretty well. Yeah, this is strange dad. I have a bad feeling. It's like when a storm is coming. You can sense the rain. I think I am going to make you dinner." Not wanting to be alone, she invited him over- though she wasn't a bit hungry herself.... The pizza dough was warm and smelled of yeast. It was just right. Hanna stretched the dough over the round pan, smoothing it out to fit the pan. She had pre heated the oven to 400 degrees. Opening a can of tomato paste she set it aside and began to saute some red onions, red peppers, and fresh garlic for toppings. After smoothing the tomato paste over the crust, spreading it to the edges, she began to lay the toppings on the pizza. Hanna's dad went into the living room to watch the news. Hanna poked her head into the room with the nearly empty can of tomato paste in her hand. She asked her dad, "Hey, you want pepperoni on your half?" She heard the news reporter say, "The female victim was found stabbed to death, she was transported to the hospital where she had later died after suffering multiple stab wounds. The victims name is being withheld pending family notification." Hanna dropped the can she was holding, tomato paste splattered onto the floor. Red like blood, splattered all over her shoes and the floor. Her dad jumped up. Startled at the mess- he shouted, "Good gravy Hanna what's gotten into you?" Hanna looked down, thinking of Amanda. Multiple stab wounds...she had just realized that she was the last person Amanda had ever spoken to. She knew Amanda was dead. She felt it like the coming storm. An ominous feeling enveloped her and she shuddered with a sudden chill. Hanna's dad cleaned up the mess quickly, sensing Hanna was upset at something. "Did you wanna talk about something? What the heck is going on? " Hanna frowned. "That's what I plan on finding out dad. Looks like I am hungry after all....hungry for a murderer." Hanna's dad shook his head. He didn't understand his girl some times. He did know one thing though, Hanna was crazy smart. She was keen on figuring things out, just as her mother had been. She would solve a puzzle even faster than that smart mother of hers could. That girl of his would have made a good detective. She just didn't let things go. Now he was worried about her. He wondered what danger she might get herself into. After he had lost Angela-Hanna's mother to a fatal stroke, he didn't care to lose Hanna also. "Yes I will keep my eyes on you my girl, he told himself." Hanna was putting on clean shoes and coat. She said she had to go out. Knowing her dad would try to talk her out of going to the hospital, she dared not tell him anything just yet. She had to protect her patient's privacy thus far. She couldn't reveal anything to Henry, yet. Hanna got her car Keys and remembered that her car needed a new battery. "OK, you can drive me to where I need to go dad." Henry got his coat and asked her where they were headed. Hanna told him to drive to the ER. Henry drove... Hanna's cell phone rang. It was Adam. "I'm on my way to the police station. I need to know if it was Amanda they found.".. he stopped before he blurted out the word stabbed. Changing his word he said, "deceased. I will keep you posted." She didn't tell him she was rushing to the hospital. She had even lied to her dad. She wasn't going to the ER, she was going to the hospital morgue. After all, she knew Amanda didn't have any next of kin. Not any that gave a damn about her. She would carry her name badge and find her way into the morgue. She felt that she had owed it to Amanda. "I got you Amanda, I will find your killer. I won't let him get away with this. I promise you,"she told herself. Henry parked in the emergency room lot and began to get out of the car. Hanna stopped him. "No dad, no need for you to come in. (Hanna didn't want him to go where she was headed) I will be right back. I will tell you everything once I find out what I need to know." Henry frowned screwing his mouth sideways. "I didn't say anything. Go a head I'll wait right here." Hanna jumped out of the car and donning her name badge, entered the hospital with a purpose. No one stopped her. No one dared.