Lisa shook her head, tiredness showing clearly. “No, a friend is bringing me her notes and I’m doing the reading at night. I probably won’t return to class until next week. I’ll be spending most of the day with Greg in rehab.”
“Don’t worry, Nancy,” Kelly interrupted in a cheerful voice as she stood up and slipped her briefcase bag over her shoulder. “I’ll keep you updated with Greg’s progress. Or Mimi will. Mimi is wonderful at looking after all of us. We call her Mother Mimi. If you don’t see me here, don’t hesitate to ask Mimi how things are going. Lisa will be missing in action for a while.” Glancing to her tired friend, Kelly offered, “Do you want me to carry your bag, Lisa?” Then she added for emphasis, “You look really beat.”
It must have worked because Nancy rose from the table as well. Lisa gathered her things and stood. She gave Nancy a tired smile as she and Kelly started to walk away. “Take care, Nancy. I’ll see you back in class sometime next week, okay?”
Nancy nodded. “Okay, see you then. I hope Greg’s recovery goes well.”
“We’re all keeping our fingers crossed,” Kelly added, pointing Lisa to the opposite part of the garden. “Take care, Nancy.” She gave a little wave.
“Thanks, Kelly,” Lisa whispered. “I didn’t know how tired I was until she started telling me about her father, and I swear, my brain just froze up. I had nothing to offer.”
“That’s what friends are for, Lisa,” Kelly said as they wound their way through the greenery on the way to the back of Pete’s Café. “We all need rescuing sometimes. And rescue comes in many forms.”
“Amen,” was all Lisa said.
Ten
Kelly tabbed between spreadsheet columns as she sat at Lambspun’s knitting table. Checking the small plate beside her elbow, she speared the last bite of Pete’s cinnamon roll. Yum. Her cell phone rang then, and Kelly chased the delicious taste of cinnamon and brown sugar with still-hot coffee. Burt’s name flashed on the screen.
“Hey, Burt. I take it you’re out doing shop errands, right?”
“You got it, Kelly,” Burt’s deep voice sounded over the phone. “I’m hungry for one of Eduardo’s salads, so I’m heading back now.”
“Hungering for a salad?” Kelly teased. “I haven’t heard that before. Those salads are good, but those burgers are what strike my fancy.”
“Well, you’re right about that, Kelly,” Burt said with a little laugh. “But those Wicked Burgers are not on my diet, I’m afraid.”
“I don’t think they’re on anybody’s diet, Burt. But they are definitely to die for. So whenever I want to forget about healthy eating, I indulge in one of those.” She tabbed to another column on the spreadsheet. “I’d better get back to this spreadsheet, Burt. That way I can relax and chat with you when you’re back at the shop.”
“Sounds good. I’ll tell you about my phone call with Dan when I get there. See you soon.” Burt clicked off.
Kelly checked the list of expenses and quickly entered the remaining items. As she did, three women entered from the adjoining workroom, all talking rapidly. Kelly had heard the babble of voices in the next room and recognized the familiar sound that indicated one of Mimi’s classes had ended and the students were excited about their new projects. The women settled at the other end of the table and returned to their various knitting projects. Finished working, Kelly saved the spreadsheet and closed her laptop. Then she glanced at the women. “I’ll bet you three have just finished one of Mimi’s classes, right?”
The middle-aged women all looked Kelly’s way. “Yes, we have. Mimi’s intermediate knitting class.”
“Oh, that’s excellent. What are you all working on?” Kelly asked.
All three obligingly held up their knitting needles with their current projects dangling from them. Kelly spotted a sock, a beginning sweater, and something that could be either a sock or a hat. On the circular needles, it was hard to tell.
“Oh, wow, you’re all doing very well,” she praised them. “The sweater looks halfway done, and so is the sock.” She pointed at the questionable one. “And that looks like it could be a sock but maybe a hat. Which is it?”
“It’s a sock,” the blond woman said, laughing a little. “It looks a little different because several of my early stitches are . . . well, they’re definitely not up to Mimi’s standard.”
Kelly joined her laughter. “Boy, do I know what that’s like. I still don’t think my knitting is up to snuff, but Mimi is so kind, she always encourages me no matter how ugly my projects look.”
The brunette woman countered, “Now you’re exaggerating, Kelly. I’ve seen several of your knitting projects and they look perfect.”
“Whoa!” Kelly let out a loud laugh. “The word ‘perfect’ and my knitting do not belong in the same sentence.”
The brunette gave a dismissive wave of her hand, similar to Mimi’s gesture. “Now you’re just being silly.”
Kelly relaxed against her chair and took a sip from her coffee. “Do all of you live here in Fort Connor?”
All three women nodded. The gray-haired one spoke first. “Yes, our family has been here for a couple of decades. My father was a university professor, so my two sisters and I grew up here. We all went to the university and married fellows we went to school with.” She smiled at the other two women. “I’m Lucy, and this is my sister Leann.” She pointed to the blond woman to her right.
The brunette glanced over at Kelly. “And I’m their cousin Geraldine. My husband and I own a bar downtown. Since we’re new at this business, we do everything. We work at the bar, wait tables. Whatever the customers need.”
“Wow,” Kelly said, looking at the woman in awe. “That is one huge endeavor from what I’ve heard. Doing all the work, cleaning up, handling the customers.”
The woman nodded, concentrating on her knitting. “I told my husband I had to take a break for this class. Knitting helps me keep my sanity. Plus it’s midday, so the bar’s not open now. Besides, we don’t have an early crowd. They show up later.” She gave a short laugh.
“Don’t they ever,” Leann said over the sock.
“You should talk to Jennifer in the café. She waitresses here in the mornings and does real estate in the afternoons. She’s been in that business for a lifetime. Which bar is it?”
Geraldine looked up briefly before concentrating on the strange sock. “Oh, I did speak with her. Jennifer was a great source of advice. We own the Halftime, right around the corner from Taylor Street and Abercrombie.”
Kelly recognized the name of the bar. The same one where Nancy had met that sleazy guy Neil. “I confess I’ve heard of it. A friend called it a pickup bar.”
Geraldine nodded. “Yeah, I’m afraid it does have that reputation.”
Lucy gave a snort. “Lots of sleazy lowlifes hanging around.”
“I’ll say. And that scum who preyed on Mary,” Leann said in a sharp voice.
“Well, yes. Jennifer said the bar crowd is a mixed bag,” Geraldine offered.
Kelly leaned forward over her coffee mug. “That sounds like a story.”
“A sad one, I’m afraid,” Lucy said.
Leann spoke in a quiet voice, fingers still working the yarn. “We all have another cousin, Sarah, who has a daughter named Mary. Mary was born with a developmental problem that resulted in a slight limp.
“Mary had worked hard to get over her motor skills disability. By the time she entered university, her slight limp was barely noticeable after several years of physical therapy and hard work. Mary was a good student and worked steadily toward her graduate degree in business, specializing in advertising. She was a gifted writer and enjoyed writing ad copy for various products. Mary assured her mother and her protective older brother, Reggie, that an office job in advertising would be perfect for her.
“Unfortunately, Mary was out with friends one night, and they de
cided to go to the Halftime Bar. And while she was there, Mary met a guy from one of her graduate classes. He acted really interested in her and very solicitous toward Mary. So Mary, who had only dated a little, started going out with this guy. Reggie was naturally protective and wanted to meet him.”
Leann took a breath before continuing. “This guy acted the perfect gentleman with Reggie, and Mary said he was always polite every time they went out. But apparently he wanted more from his dates with Mary. They went out one night, and this scumbag must have used one of those date rape drugs in Mary’s wine.”
Lucy interjected, “No doubt he got it from some other scumbag college friend. I’ve heard those students can buy anything they want. Someone will be selling it. That’s the problem with a college town.”
Leann took another breath. “Anyway, poor Mary woke up naked in his bed the next morning. She didn’t remember anything that happened after they were having dinner together at an Old Town pub. Apparently he wanted to continue their amorous activities, but Mary said she was confused and ashamed. She’d never been with a man before, and she had wanted the first time to be special. Now she couldn’t remember a thing. Mary said she quickly dressed and ran from his apartment, then took a taxi to Reggie’s office. He works as a sales rep for a building supply store. Reggie told our cousin that Mary ran into his office, threw herself into his arms, and broke down in tears.”
Kelly screwed up her face. “That is an awful story. Poor Mary. She sounds like an innocent lamb who literally ran into the bad wolf at the bar.”
“And it gets worse,” Lucy said in a bitter voice. The sweater she was knitting had added several rows of stitches—angry stitches, no doubt—onto her needles.
“Oh, no,” Kelly said in a dejected voice. “What happened?”
“Reggie was furious at what happened to his innocent younger sister. So the next night, Reggie charged into the Halftime Bar. The bartender pointed out this guy, and Reggie confronted him in front of everybody at the bar. He accused him of deliberately attacking his sister. Reggie said other guys at the bar had to restrain him, and the bartenders escorted him out.”
“I remember one of our bartenders told us what happened. That was a couple of years ago, I think,” Geraldine said, glancing up at Lucy.
Lucy nodded. “Well, the tragic thing is that in the weeks following all of this, Mary’s physical disability returned in a more pronounced form, giving her walking problems. Reggie was convinced it was because of that memory drug the guy used on her that night. Reggie confronted him again at the university this time and accused him loudly in front of other students. Then he pushed Smith so hard he fell to the ground. I heard from a student friend of Mary’s that Reggie stood over him and threatened him. She said that the guy was so scared, he turned white.”
“I’m glad he was scared. I wish Reggie had given him a thrashing like our father used to say,” Leann said angrily.
“It sounds like that guy certainly deserved it,” Kelly commented. She sipped her coffee, watching Lucy and Leann add more stitches to their projects. Meanwhile, her little buzzer went off inside. Curious, Kelly decided to follow up and toyed with the idea of mentioning Nancy’s story without using her name. “You know, a friend has told me about someone she knows. A graduate student at the university, like your cousin’s daughter. Her friend met this really charming guy at the university. They started dating and getting serious,” Kelly deliberately fudged as she continued a modified version of Nancy’s story.
“Anyway, she said this grad student had not dated very much but was very impressed with how great this guy seemed to be. Really polite and intelligent. So the relationship escalated. The grad student said this guy kept talking like they were a couple and all that. Well, once the grad student learned she was pregnant, she told the guy, expecting him to be happy. Instead, the guy rejected her. Told her the baby wasn’t his and accused her of sleeping around. Right in front of all these people at the Halftime Bar. The grad student ran away in tears.”
Geraldine rolled her eyes. “Oh, brother,” she said in a dejected tone.
Lucy and Leann both turned toward Kelly. “Oh, no!” Leann said.
“This is depressing,” Geraldine said, shaking her head sadly.
Lucy frowned. “I wish I could say I’m surprised, but I’m not. Some guys are definitely predators. Did your friend make mention of this guy’s name by any chance?”
Kelly paused, knowing she could not be completely forthright with the women. “I think she mentioned the name ‘Neil’ if I remember correctly.”
Lucy’s eyebrows shot up and she exchanged a glance with her sister Leann, who nodded. “That’s got to be the same guy,” Leann replied. “Neil Smith.”
“It certainly sounds like it,” Lucy concurred.
“You know, wasn’t ‘Smith’ the name of the person who was killed by a hit-and-run driver last week in Old Town?” Geraldine asked, looking around at Kelly and the others.
“Now that you mention it, I think you’re right.” Kelly pretended surprise.
Once again, Lucy and Leann exchanged glances. Then Lucy spoke in a solemn voice. “If it was really this guy, I have to say I believe that was a fitting punishment.”
“Amen,” said Leann.
Kelly sipped her coffee. She wasn’t about to add anything to the pronouncements of the two sisters. Judgment had already been rendered.
• • •
Burt walked into the café alcove just as Kelly rose to refill her iced coffee glass from the pitcher Jennifer left on the café counter. “Hey, Burt. I was hoping to see you this afternoon.”
“Not surprised you’re over here in the empty café,” Burt said, standing at the counter while Kelly filled her glass. “It’s peaceful and quiet here. By the way, I wanted to update you on the police search for the hit-and-run driver.”
Kelly quickly finished pouring into her cup. “Yes, please do. You know I’ve been curious. Here, let me fill yours.” She started pouring the black liquid into Burt’s coffee mug.
“Thanks, Kelly. Dan says they’ve canvassed that entire street and the nearby streets. Asking everybody if they saw or heard anything that night. Any squealing of tires or crashing sounds. Anything at all.” Burt dumped some powdered creamer into his coffee mug and stirred. “Unfortunately, no one can remember seeing or hearing anything unusual.” He took a deep drink of coffee.
“Really? It’s Old Town on a Saturday night. You’d think someone would have been wandering around.”
“Don’t forget, that area is really on the edge of Old Town. It borders the cafés, and the businesses are closed up at night. Not many houses or apartments with people living there, either. So there really isn’t much happening along that dark street leading to the corner like there is on the closer streets of Old Town.”
Kelly frowned. “Well, damn.”
Burt chuckled. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought the same thing, Kelly. About other cases usually.”
“So there’s no way to catch the hit-and-run driver?”
“Not as long as the perpetrator who committed the crime has the vehicle locked away in a garage where no one can see it. Unless the driver decides to bring out that vehicle and an officer spots it, there’s absolutely no way to learn who the driver was. Apparently no one was walking around to see it. At least, no one has come forward to the police and said they were in the area and saw something. And until someone does, the cops are stopped dead in the investigation. It goes nowhere.”
“Are police still investigating Neil Smith to see if there’s anyone from his past who might have decided to seek revenge on this guy?” Kelly queried. “I just heard another sad story of an unsuspecting university student who went out with Neil Smith and woke up in his bed the next morning. Couldn’t remember a thing.”
Burt scowled. “As I’ve said before, predators are out there. And it
looks like Neil Smith was one of the worst. I have to confess, I have absolutely no sympathy for him.”
“Well, I just listened to three knitters, sisters Leann and Lucy and their cousin Geraldine, who told the tale of their other cousin’s daughter who was used and abused by Neil Smith a couple of years ago. A really sad case. And that girl’s older brother actually accosted Smith in an Old Town bar. It sounds like he had reason to wish Neil Smith ill, to say the least.”
Burt’s brow shot up in the way it did when he heard something intriguing. Kelly had learned to recognize the signs. “Oh, really? I think I’ll have a conversation with them the next time they’re in the shop.”
“Do that. They were mesmerizing, for sure. And they make no bones about the animosity they hold for Smith. They particularly mentioned how angry their cousin’s son, Reggie, was about what happened to his sister.”
Burt’s crooked smile appeared. “You’ve been sleuthing around again, Sherlock. I can see. I will make sure to follow up on that and get back to you.”
“Thanks, Burt.” Remembering something, Kelly added, “Oh, and while you’re at it, you might want to have a talk with Lisa. She and I had a conversation earlier with a college student friend of hers, Nancy Marsted. She told Lisa and me that she was worried about her father. Apparently he was so upset when she told him what happened to her with Neil Smith, he fell off the wagon and started drinking again. He told Nancy he went out looking for Smith one night and actually confronted him in one of the Old Town bars.”
Burt’s smile vanished. “That’s definitely not good. Were the police called?”
“Apparently not. He told Nancy the bartenders escorted him out and he left. But Nancy says her father’s been acting really quiet ever since then. She’s clearly worried. And Lisa and I couldn’t help wondering if her father might have done something he regretted.”
Burt exchanged a look with Kelly. “I am really sorry to hear that. It’s a sad story. I think I will definitely give Dan a call this afternoon.”
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