The 12 Quilts of Christmas

by Arlene Sachitano

  “We can say we’re going to look at the Christmas lights. Julio’s been promising to do that, in any case.”

  Harriet liked the way this girl thought.

  “Let me give you both my cell phone number. If we are being followed, text me. We’re going to drive into the garage, which is connected to the house, so we’ll be fine, but I’d like to know.”

  Julio typed Harriet’s name and number into his phone, followed by James’s. James started rinsing dishes and putting them into the dishwasher.

  “Hopefully, this will be much ado about nothing, but if someone is spying on us, I’d like to know.”

  Harriet slipped her coat on and gathered her purse before hugging her aunt and Jorge and promising to call the following day. She ignored Aiden.

  “Why would someone be following us?” Luke asked Harriet when she’d explained what was happening on their walk to the car. She told him Julio and Julie would hopefully be behind whoever was following them.

  She looked up and down the road in front of her aunt’s cottage, but didn’t see any cars that didn’t belong. James clicked the button that locked all the doors while they waited for the car to warm up.

  “Here we go,” he said and guided the car onto the road. “And there are lights coming up behind us already.”

  Harriet pulled her phone from her pocket and tapped in a message.

  “I let Julio know we have a potential escort.”

  “Good. I’m going to take a circuitous route just to see if our follower sticks.”

  “Should we call Detective Morse?” Luke asked from the back seat.

  Harriet turned to him.

  “I don’t think we need to bother her as long as the car is keeping its distance. I don’t like that someone seems to be watching us, but as long as that’s all they’re doing, we’ll let Morse enjoy her Christmas.”

  When they got closer to town, James guided the car into a neighborhood of Victorian homes that had coordinated their Christmas lights in a spectacular display. It allowed them to legitimately slow their speed. The lights followed them. A distance behind the following sedan, Harriet could see Julio’s pickup’s lights.

  James glanced into the mirror.

  “Don’t be surprised, but I’m pulling over to the curb. Nothing’s wrong, and don’t worry, I’m not getting out, but our follower will probably drive past us. Maybe we can get a look at him or her.”

  He drove another block, signaled, and pulled to the curb just beyond the driveway of the corner house, leaving no space for the following sedan to park within sight. It had no choice but to keep going. All three peered out as the vehicle drove past.

  Luke leaned back in his seat.

  “That was creepy. Who drives around wearing a black mask over their face.”

  James put the car in gear.

  “Let’s hope Julio got the plate number.”

  The mysterious driver knew very well where Harriet and James lived, and as expected after their little maneuver, it didn’t follow them the rest of the way home. James drove directly into the garage and used the remote to shut the door before unlocking the car and letting them out.

  Julio and Julie drove up a moment later. Harriet called to them from her studio door and ushered them to the kitchen.

  “James is making hot chocolate. Would you two care for a cup?”

  “That sounds great,” Julio replied as he helped Julie out of her jacket.

  James took their coats while Harriet set a plate of cookies on the kitchen table.

  “Were you able to get the plate number?” Harriet asked when they were finally seated with their drinks.

  Julio leaned back in his chair.

  “Yes, and no. We got the first three digits.”

  “There was mud smeared on the license plate,” Julie added.

  Harriet sipped her cocoa and set her cup down.

  I can give what you have to Morse and see what she can do.”

  Julio bit a leg off his gingerbread man.

  “I can tell you the make and model, if that helps.”

  “It should,” Harriet said. She got up, grabbed her shopping list tablet and a pen, and handed them to him. He scribbled notes about the car and handed it back. Harriet set them back on the counter and returned to the table. “I’ll drop it by the police station in the morning.”

  They sipped their cocoa in silence for a few moments. Julie toyed with her cookie.

  “Can I ask you guys something?”

  Harriet smiled.

  “Sure, anything.”

  “Do any of you know that…woman…Aiden proposed to tonight? I mean, everyone seemed a little shocked.”

  “I’ve never seen her before,” Harriet said and looked at James.

  “Me, either,” he agreed.

  Harriet twirled her spoon between her fingers.

  “Aiden was gone to Uganda for months, so maybe she’s someone he met there.”

  Julio barked a laugh.

  “Somehow, I can’t see that person living rough in Uganda.”

  James grinned.

  “Well, Aiden’s not sharing any secrets with me.”

  “Me, either,” Harriet laughed.

  CHAPTER 32

  Harriet and Luke were sitting at the kitchen table eating leftover cinnamon rolls for breakfast when James returned from the restaurant. He took off his coat and hung it on the closet doorknob.

  “I waited down the street from the restaurant until they pulled in. Julio has a key, but I left the warming tray on, so I wanted to be sure they actually arrived.”

  “I’m surprised Julio wanted to do a breakfast proposal. They were here till…what? Eleven o’clock?” Harriet said.

  James laughed.

  “He’s a guy in love, he didn’t want to wait any longer than he had to. I can understand that.”

  “Can we go see Major today?” Luke asked as he finished his second cinnamon roll.

  Harriet wiped her mouth on her napkin.

  “Fine with me.” She looked to James. “Did you have anything else planned?”

  “Not really. Just rest and not cook. I did grab a bin of bagels from the freezer. I was going to pick up some cream cheese at the store and take them out to the homeless camp, but I didn’t have a specific time in mind to do that.”

  “What if we take Luke to the stable, then deliver the bagels and cream cheese and then go back to the stable,” Harriet suggested.

  James picked a cinnamon roll off the plate and took a bite. He chewed thoughtfully then held up the remainder of the roll and examined it.

  “Do you think these have too much cinnamon?”

  Harriet laughed. “They’re delicious. Now, what do you think of the plan?”

  He took her hand.

  “If it works for Luke, it works for me.”

  Luke jumped up.

  “I’ll be ready in a flash.”

  “Don’t hurry too fast, we still have to walk the dogs before we go,” Harriet called after him as she carried their plates to the sink.

  James carried the plastic bin of bagels to the common area of the homeless camp and set it on the table.

  “Good morning, Joyce. We brought you a little snack.”

  “Thank you, James. Can you stay for a cup of coffee?”

  James looked at Harriet, and she nodded.

  “We could have a quick cup.”

  Joyce moved the coffee pot toward the center of the fire grate then opened one of the large wooden storage boxes that defined the back of the common area, pulling out three cups before closing it again.

  “The Lutheran church sent a bus for us on Christmas Eve,” she said as she filled the mugs with coffee. “It was a lovely service. I was hoping to see Joe, but he wasn’t there. He has a daughter in Foggy Point. Maybe he’s with her.”

  “If you mean his stepdaughter Arinda, she’s looking for him, too,” Harriet told her.

  Joyce shook her head. “It’s just not like him to not tell anyone where he’s going.
”

  “We can ask around when we’re in town,” Harriet offered

  Several other camp residents drifted into the common area as the smell of coffee permeated the area. Harriet got up when she and James had finished.

  “I hope you find your friend.”

  “Thank you for that, Harriet. And thank you for the bagels, James.”

  James turned the car around and headed out of the parking lot.

  “Do you think Luke will mind if we watch him ride?”

  “I don’t think so. He doesn’t seem inclined to hide his blossoming friendship with Emily.”

  “Do you think he’s doing okay?” James said in a quiet voice.

  “I’m not exactly an expert parent here, but he seems to be doing well enough. I think coming out to the stable has really helped him. He seems really attached to that horse.”

  James let out a breath.

  “I know I’m not a real father, and I haven’t been a foster parent very long, but I worry. What if something happens because we didn’t do something we should have or say the wrong thing or something.”

  Harriet reached across the space between the seats and took his hand.

  “I find it incredibly sweet that you’re so worried, but I think you’re doing fine. We’re doing fine. We may not have much experience, but Aunt Beth does, and she would tell us if we were making any missteps.”

  “I hope so.”

  Harriet held up a teal-green laminated card when they turned into the stable driveway. A gate that had previously always been open was closed. A private security guard stood in front of the gate; and when he saw the card, he swung the gate open, closing it again when they were through.

  “Now I really do feel like a negligent parent. This seems like a dangerous place to let our only child come to alone.” James said.

  “They have a locked gate and security guard, and there are security cameras in every barn aisle and both arenas. I think he’s safe here.”

  They parked the car and headed for the barn. Harriet took James’s hand and led him to the arena.

  “They should be riding by now.”

  No one was in the main arena. They walked around to the smaller warm-up arena but found it empty, too. Harriet hurried as they headed toward the barn. No one was visible in the aisle.

  “Luke?” Harriet called when they entered.

  A horse nickered. Harriet jogged inside. James caught up and grabbed her arm. He held his finger to his lips, gesturing for her to be quiet. Muffled voices were coming from a stall.

  Harriet could tell the male voice was Luke’s, but she couldn’t make out what he was saying, so she crept closer.

  “I have to tell Harriet,” Luke said.

  “I promised not to tell anyone. If you tell, I’ll get fired.”

  “Some weirdo is camping out on our street for who knows why, and it didn’t start until Jade gave Harriet this horse.”

  “How will telling Harriet change any of that? Jade gave her the horse. That’s done.”

  “She needs to know,” Luke insisted.

  Harriet strode to the stall the conversation was coming from and pulled the door open.

  “Okay, that cat’s out of the bag,” she said. “What is it we need to tell Harriet?”

  James came in behind her. Luke looked from Emily to James and back to Emily.

  “I’m sorry,” he said to her quietly.

  Tears welled up in her eyes.

  “Emily just told me that Jade has been hiding out here at the stable.”

  “How long?” Harriet asked.

  Emily hung her head.

  “She never left. She wrote you the note about giving you Becky and moved out here.”

  “So, the whole ‘I’m joining my parents’ bit was a ruse?”

  Emily nodded.

  “Where is she?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Come on,” James said. “You expect us to believe that?”

  “I don’t know—for real.”

  “Emily,” Luke interrupted, “are you or are you not hiding Jade?”

  Emily wiped her nose on a sleeve as tears dripped down her face. She shook her head.

  “But she’s here?” Harriet persisted.

  Emily nodded.

  “Is Marcia hiding her?”

  She pulled a tissue from her pocket and handed it to Emily as the girl’s tears began falling in earnest.

  CHAPTER 33

  A quick search of the barn did not turn up either Jade or Marcia.

  “Where has Jade actually been living?” Harriet asked Emily.

  Emily dabbed at her nose.

  “I don’t know, and that’s the truth. No one even told me she was staying here. I discovered her by accident. I took my hat off to put my riding helmet on,”

  “Wait a minute,” Harriet interrupted. “When was this?”

  Emily thought a moment.

  “Wednesday, I think. A couple of days before Christmas Eve. Anyway, when I was done riding, it was snowing hard, so my mom came to get me and my bike in the car. I didn’t remember I’d left my hat in the tack room until the next day. I wasn’t scheduled to be here, but I came by to get my hat and I saw Becky’s stall door was a little bit open.”

  “So, you went to see why and found Jade.” Harriet finished for her.

  “Jade said we needed to talk to Marcia, so we did, and Marcia said someone was stalking Jade so she needed to hide out here for a while. She told me it was important not to tell anyone.”

  “But you decided to share with Luke anyway?” James asked.

  Emily looked exasperated.

  “No, I didn’t. I mean I did, but he figured it out first. Jade braided red and green ribbons into Becky’s mane, for Christmas, I guess. She was going to take them out before anyone came to the stable, but I guess she forgot. Luke noticed and figured out she was the only person who would have done it. He asked me, and I cracked.” She looked at Harriet. “I’m not a good liar.”

  Harriet put her arm around the girl’s shoulders.

  “It’s okay, honey. They shouldn’t have asked you to keep their secret.” Harriet felt like she was channeling her aunt. “If Jade were going to stay here, where do you think she’d sleep?” she asked.

  Emily thought for a moment.

  “Probably in the dorm room in the barn attic.”

  James and Harriet shared a glance. Why hadn’t she told them about the attic dorm before they’d searched the whole ground floor?

  “Lead the way,” James told her.

  A door next to the feed room revealed a staircase that led to a second-floor room that contained two rows of wooden bunkbeds divided by a central aisle. Two open doors, one on each side at the end of the bed rows, revealed bathrooms with showers. All but one of the beds had a rolled-up thin mattress enclosed in a clear plastic trash bag. A lone bed had the mattress unrolled and covered by a sleeping bag and pillow.

  James picked up the pillow and smelled it.

  “It’s Jade, all right. This pillow smells like her store.”

  Harriet came to the bed and took a sniff.

  “You’re right. But where she is now? For that matter, where’s Marcia? I’ve never been out here day or night without her making an appearance.”

  “Now that I think about it, I haven’t seen her since I’ve been here,” Luke offered.

  Harriet pulled her phone from her pocket.

  “What’s Marcia’s house number?”

  Emily recited it from memory. Harriet tapped it into her phone and listened, but no one answered. When she heard the voice mail come on, she hung up.

  “She didn’t answer, but for completeness’s sake, we should check the house.”

  “We could ask the security guard at the gate,” Luke suggested.

  Harriet smiled at him.

  “You’re right. If they’re doing their job, they should be able to tell us if she’s here, and if not, when she left.”

  Harriet stood behind the guard i
n the room that housed the stable’s security station and stared at the screen.

  “So, there’s Jade,” She pointed. “Going down the aisle and into Becky’s stall. She comes back out, walks halfway down the aisle and disappears. How is that possible?”

  “Rewind it,” James said, and the guard did. “Can you slow it?”

  The guard pushed another button and played the section again at half-speed.

  “See? Right there.”

  Harriet looked where he pointed.

  “Did someone erase a section of the recording?”

  James stepped back from the screen.

  “Sure looks like it.”

  “How could that happen?” Harriet asked the guard.

  “We don’t monitor the screen constantly. We do a walk-around once an hour. It takes about fifteen minutes. Someone could have done it then. It would have to be someone who was on the list to get through the gate.”

  “Can we look at the list?” James asked.

  The guard shook his head.

  “You can call my supervisor, but I’m not allowed to give out that kind of information to anyone but the people who hired us. I’ve already stretched the rules by letting you look at the video.”

  Emily and Luke had waited just outside the small room.

  “We could go to the house and get Marcia. She’s probably authorized,” Emily said.

  “Do it,” Harriet said. “We’ll wait here.”

  The guard switched the view on his monitor as the two young people ran for the house.

  “They won’t find her.”

  “What?” Harriet and James said at the same time.

  “They won’t find Marcia. Her car pulled out while we were looking at the other video.”

  The video system usually showed four small views simultaneously, but any of the four options could be switched to to full-screen.

  “Can you replay it for us?” Harriet asked.

  He tapped a few keys, and the driveway filled the screen. A gray sedan passed into view, empty except for the driver—Marcia Hamilton.

  James leaned closer.

  “Can you sharpen the license plate.”

  The guard laughed.

  “That only works on TV. The police may have technicians and equipment to clean up video like that, but we can’t do it on a commercial system like this.”