James grabbed her arm.
“We need to let the firemen do their job. No quilt is worth risking your life over.”
Sirens already blared as they reached the store. A red ladder truck pulled up to the curb, and several firefighters jumped out dressed in their turnouts, boots, and helmets and headed for the door. One of them came over to where they stood.
“I’m going to need you to leave the area,” he said.
“I have a quilt on a stool inside the door. If it’s possible, I’d like to have it.”
James tried to guide her away. The fireman tilted his helmet up and took a better look at Harriet.
“You’re that quilter lady, right?”
Harriet nodded her head.
“You did some nice work on a quilt for my wife. She won a prize at the fair with it.” He looked toward the building. “No promises, but if I can get the quilt, I will. Now, I really do need you to leave the area.”
Harriet smiled.
“Thanks,” she said, and joined Luke and James, walking back down the block. She pulled her phone from her pocket. “I need to call Morse. She’s going to want to know about this.”
James took Scooter from her so she could make her call.
Morse pulled up next to where they’d stopped to watch just as the fireman brought Harriet her quilt. She held her badge up.
“Do you know the cause of the fire yet?” she asked. She had on a red sweater with metallic gold trim and dark-green leggings. Her hair was neatly coiffed and sported a clip with a sprig of fresh holly. She’d clearly been at a holiday gathering of some sort.
“I’ve called the arson team,” the fireman said. “They’ll make the official determination, but the fire was in the office, and it looks like someone ransacked the place before lighting a wastebasket.” He exchanged a look with Harriet.
“No, Harriet can’t take the quilt with her,” Morse told them. “I’ll tell you what. When they finish processing the scene, if it turns out all the action was in the office, and the quilt wasn’t involved in any way, I’ll bring it to you. Are you going to be around town?”
Beth and Jorge, empty tray dangling from his hand, had joined them as Morse finished speaking.
“We could go back to the restaurant and warm up while you wait,” Jorge offered.
“That’ll work,” Morse said. “I’ll call you if we discover the quilt is not going to be available.”
Harriet settled Scooter and Cyrano in Jorge’s office with Beth’s dog Brownie before rejoining James and Luke in the back room at Tico’s. Connie and Rod were already there, sitting opposite them; Lauren was at the end of the table.
Jorge brought out a steaming pot of Mexican hot chocolate and a dispenser of whipped cream. Aunt Beth followed him with a tray of warmed mugs. Harriet wrapped her hands around her mug as Jorge filled it.
“It’s hard to understand why anyone would want to burn Jade’s store now she’s gone,” she said.”
Lauren sipped her chocolate.
“You’re assuming she is actually gone. Maybe she never left. And just maybe, she burned her own store to make it look like someone else was after her when she’s been behind the problems in town all along.”
“I realize I may be slightly biased due to the whole horse thing,” Harriet said. “But she just didn’t strike me as a criminal mastermind.”
“That’s what’s so diabolical about it,” Lauren said, her voice rising.
Jorge went to the kitchen and returned with a plate of Christmas cookies. Connie took a dark brown crinkle cookie from the plate.
“Are these Mexican-style?” she asked.
Jorge put his hand over his heart.
“I’m injured. How can you believe I would serve anything else?”
Connie laughed.
“Well, you do have Italian night once a month, so we never know what you’re going to do.”
Jorge held the cookie plate in one hand and pointed at each of the selections.
“These are polvorones de canela, a type of cinnamon-sugar cookie. The round ones are hojarascas, or Mexican shortbread.” He moved to the next selection. “These are galletas de Navidad, which are like a blackberry Linzer cookie. Connie is eating a Mexican mocha crinkle, which is self-explanatory, and we finish with chili chocolate cookies.”
Lauren took the plate. “These look delicious.”
Jorge set a galleta de Navidad on a Christmas napkin and handed it to Beth. She savored a bite then set it on the table.
“I can’t believe anyone in our town is so evil they would burn down a small business mere days before Christmas.”
“Murdering people at Christmas is pretty Grinchie, if you ask me,” Harriet said.
Luke ate one of the shortbread cookies and picked up a Mexican crinkle.
“Criminals don’t think like that. They don’t think about anything but where to get their next score, whether it’s money or drugs or whatever.”
James sipped his hot chocolate.
“On a happier note, I’m doing a land-office business on the Christmas tea. I’m thinking about adding a late-afternoon sitting the last few days before Christmas Eve.”
Luke got a confused look on his face.
“What’s a land-office business?”
Connie, the retired teacher, sat up straight in her chair.
“After the War for Independence, the US was very poor. They sold public land to the highest bidder. By the mid-eighteen hundreds, there was a backlog of some ten thousand land-grant applicants. ’Land-office business’ became a metaphor for brisk business, and has been used ever since.”
“How do you know all that?” Luke asked her. “I thought you taught kindergarten.” His face turned red as he realized how he’d sounded.
Connie reached over and patted his hand.
“It’s okay, honey. It’s a valid question. When I went to college, I knew I wanted to teach little ones, but I also wanted to learn about my adopted country, so I double-majored in American history and education.”
Harriet clicked on her phone and glanced at the time. She hoped Morse wasn’t going to be too much longer, as she had a last-minute Christmas quilt project on her machine calling her name.
By the time Detective Morse finally arrived at Tico’s Tacos, Connie had reviewed the process for college admissions from start to finish with Luke while Jorge, Rod, and James had analyzed the upcoming college bowl games. Harriet and Lauren scoured the internet on Lauren’s tablet for any information on the murders of Anthony and Valery, but found nothing new. They were sipping their second hot chocolates in morose silence when the front door chime rang. Morse appeared in the back room moments later, Harriet’s quilt folded over her arm.
James pulled out a chair while Jorge handed her a mug of steaming chocolate. Connie slid her the plate of cookies. Morse gave Harriet her quilt before sitting, and the group waited in silence while she sipped her drink and ate a cookie.
Finally, she set her mug down.
“It appears that someone was looking for something in Jade’s office. All the files were dumped. Pretty much everything was trashed. I’m guessing when they didn’t find it, they decided to burn the place as a precaution, maybe to destroy evidence. Or maybe they were interrupted. In any case, it looks like they lit a wastebasket on fire and set it in the footwell of the desk.”
“What happens next?” Beth asked.
Morse blew out a breath.
“We’ll keep trying to get in touch with Jade, which might be a problem, and then, we’ll figure out who did it and arrest them.”
Harriet wiped her hands on her napkin.
“No offense, but how likely is that?”
“None taken,” Morse said. “And you’re right. Given we have two unsolved murders, and no one was hurt here, plus there’s not a lot of damage…it’s not going to be high on our list. Her insurance company will undoubtedly investigate.” She stared off toward the far end of the room, lost in thought.
“Would we b
e able to go in and do some clean up before Christmas?” Beth asked. “It would be nice if we could straighten it up a little and get the quilt back in the window. It doesn’t sound like Jade’s going to know what happened for a while and our holiday visitors shouldn’t have to look into a burned-out shop. Jade’s not likely to come back, in any case, even if you do manage to reach her.”
“When her attorney sends me the papers for the horse, I might be able to get contact information from him,” Harriet offered.
“Let me know,” Morse said. “That would be useful.” She looked down at her soot-smudged sweater. “I was thinking I should go back to my party, but maybe not.”
Jorge handed her the cookie plate again.
“Have another cookie.”
Connie pulled her scarf from her purse.
“We better head home. I’ve got things to do yet.” She wrapped the scarf around her neck. “Do any of you want to come out to the homeless camp tomorrow? I’m taking the Christmas cookies Carla and I made to them.”
Harriet wiped crumbs from her hand.
“I can come.”
“I can send a few dozen brownies, if you want,” James added as he tossed his crumpled napkin onto the table.
Connie smiled. “They would like that.”
Jorge stood up.
“I have something for them, too. Wait here.” He disappeared into the kitchen, returning a few minutes later carrying a shopping bag with a box inside. “I was buying some replacement Christmas lights, and I saw these solar powered ones. They claim to work even on cloudy days.”
“That was nice of you,” Connie said. “I think they’ll like that, too.”
“Should I go get the dogs?” Luke asked.
“Sure,” James said, getting up and taking Harriet’s coat from the back of her chair, holding it out so she could slip her arms into the sleeves.
Luke hurried to the back and returned with the two dogs, already wearing their sweaters. Harriet put her knit hat on and picked up her purse.
“Where shall we meet tomorrow?” she asked Connie.
“I’ll come get you,” Connie replied.
“I think I’ll go, too,” Beth decided.
Lauren began bundling up in her coat and knitwear.
“I have to work, but let me know if they need anything.”
With the next day’s plan settled, they all departed into the frozen night.
CHAPTER 20
The next morning, Harriet dressed the dogs in their coats and took them out to walk in the grassy area inside her circular driveway. The snow had begun to melt, so islands of green poked through the white crust. Connie pulled up as the dogs jumped from island to island, finally completing their business as she and Beth got out of the car. Mavis pulled in behind them.
“I hope it’s okay I’m joining the party,” she said as she got out of her car.
“The more the merrier,” Harriet said as she tried to keep the dogs from jumping on her visitors. “Let me get these guys in the house, and then I’m ready to go.”
Mavis carried two large shopping bags over to Connie’s car.
“I went to the Costco in Sequim yesterday, and I was getting some of their baked chickens to put in the freezer for when the kids come, and I thought I’d get a couple for the homeless camp.”
Harriet slid into the back seat and rested James’s brownies in her lap.
“That’s a good idea. All we’re bringing them is sugary treats.”
Connie moved a tissue box off the front seat so Beth could get in. “Hey, they need their treats, too.”
Beth held up her box. “I’m bringing food for their soul—Christmas lights.”
“That’s nice, too,” Mavis said. “So, tell me, how did picture night go?”
They discussed the pictures and the fire that followed. Mavis crossed her arms over her chest.
“What is going on in our town?”
Beth shook her head.
“I wish I knew.”
Joyce Elias was sitting in the common area with long-time camp resident Max and two people Harriet had never seen before.
“This is all so wonderful of you,” Joyce said.
Beth handed her the Christmas lights. “Jorge thought you might like to decorate for the holiday.”
Joyce’s face lit up in a broad grin. “This is wonderful. We have a tree back here…” She pointed down the trail. “…but we don’t have much to decorate it with.”
She led them back to the main trail and then off to the left to a small clearing that surrounded a blue spruce tree. Several hand-carved deer hung from the branches, along with foil stars that were made from salvaged food wrappers.
“This is festive,” Harriet said.
Joyce held her hands out. “We try.”
Max led them back to the common area.
“Let’s get our treats stashed before the animals come snooping around.”
Harriet handed him the package of brownies.
“These are from James.”
“And these are from Costco,” Mavis said, handing him the bags of chicken.
Connie set her box of cookies on the wooden table.
“Carla and I made cookies for you. And Wendy decorated them.”
“Could we convince you to stay for a cup of coffee and a cookie?” Joyce asked.
Harriet was starting to get cold, but she knew it was important they accept the hospitality.
“I think we have time for one cup.”
Max fetched a large coffeepot from the edge of the fire pit where it was keeping warm and set it on the table, while Joyce opened a storage box and brought out pottery mugs and plates. Harriet examined her mug when Max filled it with coffee and handed it to her.
“These are really nice.”
Joyce smiled.
“They are nice. The pottery group at the Angel Harbor Folk Art School made them for us.”
“They made us plates, too,” Max added. “We’re living in tall cotton these days.”
Connie started the box of cookies around.
“Carla would like feedback on the cookies, if you would care to give it. She’s developing some of her own recipes. I think she has it in her mind to write a cookbook if people like them.”
Joyce asked after everyone’s families as they ate their treats and drank the coffee. Harriet was surprised at how good the coffee was, give it had been brewed over an open fire. She savored it before setting her mug on the table.
“Did you ever find Smokey Joe?”
Joyce frowned. “It’s strange, now that you ask. We haven’t seen him, but Max has checked on his camp—”
“He lives on the outer edge of our territory,” Max interjected.
“And it appears he’s been staying in his tent,” Joyce continued.
“Is that usual?” Mavis asked.
“Yes, and no,” Joyce answered. “He’s not as social as Max and I, for instance, but he does come around at mealtimes, usually.”
Max’s bushy white eyebrows drew together.
“There has been food missing from the box. About the amount a man might eat. Of course, we don’t lock the box, so anyone in camp can help themselves any time. It’s just we haven’t seen anyone doing so. Most people eat at our usual meal times.”
Joyce carried the coffeepot around and topped off everyone’s mug.
“I guess what we’re saying is we think he’s around, but we haven’t seen him. I can’t imagine who else it would be, if not him. I’m just not sure why he’s not showing himself.”
Max shook his head. “Can you not think of why he might be in hiding?”
Joyce set the coffeepot back on the fire.
“Just because he’s had trouble in his past, there’s no reason to think he does now. He told me he left all that behind a long time ago, and I believe him.”
Joyce stared at Max, and Harriet waited until they broke the stare.
“What sort of trouble are we talking about?”
Max looked
at Joyce before speaking.
“Joe was married to a gold-digging tart, and when he wouldn’t or couldn’t keep her in the style she wanted to become used to, she was done with him. She got a shyster lawyer and took him to the cleaners. They lived in a house that had been in his family for a hundred years. The courts gave it to her, and he decided he’d rather see it burn than see her in it.”
“So, he set it on fire?” Mavis asked.
“That he did,” Max said. “He burned it to the ground. And did his jail time for it.”
Beth sipped her coffee.
“Why do you think he’d be hiding now? Has he burned something else?”
Max shook his head.
“I couldn’t tell you. He seemed like he was in a good place. He’s reconnected with a daughter he’d been estranged from for twenty years. If he’s gotten himself in trouble, he hasn’t said anything.”
“I’m sure he’ll make himself known when he’s ready,” Joyce said, effectively ending the discussion.
“Are you all staying warm enough in this snowy weather?” Beth asked.
Joyce stirred the fire with an iron rod.
“We keep the fire going all day, and with the quilts and tarps you all made us, everyone has plenty of warm bedding.”
Max smiled.
“And we’re taking a page from the pioneers’ playbook. We’ve collected some bricks that we warm in the fire and then wrap in flannel your friend Marjorie gave us. We put them in our beds, and they keep our feet warm all night.”
Mavis stood up and slipped her purse strap over her shoulder. “Is there anything else we can bring you?”
Joyce and Max stood as well.
“You are very kind,” Joyce said. “I think we’re set, for the time being. The church has offered to bring their bus and fetch us for Christmas Eve services and a meal, so we are well taken care of.”
“And we thank you,” Max added.
Beth led the way back to Connie’s car. “Anyone want to go by the Steaming Cup on the way home?”
They all did.
Harriet ordered a large peppermint hot chocolate and a frosted cookie in the shape of a Christmas tree.
The 12 Quilts of Christmas Page 13