A Crafter Knits a Clue

by Holly Quinn

  “Come on,” she waved Sammy forward. “I think I hear the organist playing.”

  The two entered the hushed space and squeezed into the last pew. Heidi leaned in and whispered in her ear, “I’m really surprised how many people came today. Is it out of guilt or what?” Heidi elbowed Sammy by accident as the two were practically sitting on each other’s laps, the bench seat was so tight.

  Sammy agreed. Despite the chatter around Heartsford that people didn’t get along with Ingrid, her death had sure drawn a crowd. The room was dim due to the overcast skies darkening the tinted stained glass windows. Coach was sitting in the front row, crutches leaning against the outside pew while the rest of Ingrid’s extended family filled the rest of the row. Sammy began eyeing the crowd for her list of suspects. Harold and his wife were in attendance. Sammy found this interesting since Lynn had mentioned he hadn’t gotten along with Ingrid and had been vying for her storefront space. What did the Heartsford police think of that little nugget? Why were they there? She did recall Harold’s wife attending a few crocheting classes at Community Craft. Maybe his wife had smoothed things over for him and Ingrid due to her exorbitant yarn habit? She would have to try to speak to them after the service, but for now, she set them aside on her suspect list. The assistant coach and his wife were sitting a few rows back behind Coach, along with Carter, Mayor Allen, and Connie. In her opinion, Assistant Coach Dave had a potential motive for the attack on Coach. Big Ten colleges cost big bucks. But then why kill Ingrid? Something didn’t fit. She’d have to dig deeper to find a connection to Ingrid.

  The minister moved to the pulpit and interrupted her thoughtful exploration by beginning the service. After he welcomed them and spoke of the tragedy that had taken the life of Ingrid Wilson, Sammy’s eyes darted around the crowd, observing everyone’s reactions. Instead of finding someone squirming in their seat, she noticed Detective Liam Nash standing in the back of the church, arms folded over his chest, his eyes scanning the crowd, conceivably for the same reason she was. Even though the police department supposedly had their guy. Their eyes met for a moment before he continued his scrutiny. Sammy’s eyes returned to the minister, who was gesturing to the large copper urn and photo of Ingrid standing in front of The Yarn Barn that stood front and center of the church. Sammy was glad it wasn’t an open-casket funeral. After what she had witnessed, it might not have been a good thing for people to view Ingrid’s body. It was then that she noticed the members of the knitting group huddled together on one extended row. They seemed to be the gloomiest of the mourners. Sammy suspected they had spent a great deal of time in The Yarn Barn seeking merino wool, mohair, and even local alpaca for their hand knit creations. Without The Yarn Barn, they would have to travel many long miles to find supplies for their craft. Sammy wondered if the store would find another owner and somehow remain open for business.

  Greta and Gary Dixon were sitting together toward the back of the church. How did they fit with Ingrid? Greta did visit The Yarn Barn for her supplies. She wasn’t as much of a knitter as she was a seamstress and quilter. But Gary? Did Gary come only in support of his sister?

  Heidi stirred to find a more comfortable position in the tight seat and disrupted Sammy’s thoughts again. “Hey, watch it,” Sammy whispered to her cousin who rolled her eyes in defeat of claiming a larger portion of the bench.

  Sammy searched for Miles Danbury, but he was noticeably absent. She leaned in and whispered in Heidi’s ear. “Did they make an arrest yet? I thought today was the day?”

  Heidi reached into her purse and pulled out a pen and paper. She scratched “After funeral” on the note and passed it to her like they were back in grade school. She then plucked the paper back and began to doodle like she was uninterested in the whole service. Sketches of goofy faces began to fill the page. Sammy elbowed her and gave her the cut-it-out dagger eyes. Sometimes they still acted like children in each other’s company. Heidi began to get the nervous giggles which she was having a tough time containing. This led to Sammy holding her breath to keep from joining in. Funerals brought out the worst in people.

  Sammy spent so much of her time scoping out her suspects and acting childish with Heidi that when people stood to exit the church, she couldn’t believe the service was already over. She looked up at Heidi who was now standing and adjusting her dress.

  “Good to see Coach could make it. When was he discharged?”

  “This morning … but he’s still going to need additional surgery, poor guy.” Heidi winced.

  The mourners were being led to a community room in the basement of the church for brunch along with the family. Heidi didn’t want to stay, but Sammy convinced her.

  “Just a few minutes. Please?” The crowd was pushing them in that direction anyway. Sammy didn’t see how they could go against the packed mob unless they had someone large to quite literally part the Red Sea.

  “Fine.” Heidi turned toward the wide dark carpeted basement stairs and began the descent.

  The two maneuvered sideways down the stairs in their heels until reaching the wide opening of the basement space. Long tables covered in ivory linen lined the back wall. The tables were filled to the brim with community baked egg dishes, generational secret recipe casseroles (made only for dedicated events such as these), and lavish fruit displays. Of course, it wouldn’t be Wisconsin without a large cheese and sausage platter. Marilyn had not attended the memorial but had donated a full table dedicated to a four-tiered cupcake display holding cupcakes of various flavors from the Sweet Tooth. Sammy’s mouth was instantly watering.

  Heidi rushed toward a familiar face from the hospital staff, leaving Sammy to stand alone for a moment. As she stood pondering whether to indeed take a plate or skip breakfast after her tight dress predicament, the detective tapped her shoulder, and she spun in his direction.

  “Good morning, Detective Nash. Nice to see you joined us for Ingrid’s memorial.”

  His eyes traveled from her two-inch heels to her eyes. “You clean up very well, Ms. Kane.”

  Sammy sucked in a breath, hoping to even out the creases in the dress, and smiled. She refused to tell him how amazing he looked in his sharp dark suit and light tan shirt which caused his eyes to pop like dark chocolate. Nope. Wouldn’t give him that satisfaction. This was a funeral for crying out loud.

  Sammy shook her head to refocus. This was not about her attraction to the detective, it was about aiding Miles Danbury. “I need to talk to you privately.” She led him by the elbow to a corner of the room which was currently vacant. As soon as they were out of earshot of the rest of the mourners, she said, “I’ve thought a lot about our conversation the other night, and you took me completely off guard, and I needed time to process. The more I think about it, the more I realize, you can’t arrest Miles Danbury.”

  The detective threw his head back and laughed. “What do you mean I can’t? Last time I checked you were not a part of the Heartsford Police Department.” He opened his suit jacket to reveal a badge. “Nor did I ask your approval.”

  “I’m telling you. Miles. Did. Not. Do. It.” Sammy said, emphasizing each word.

  “See that’s your problem.” Detective Nash’s lips came together in a grim line.

  “What’s that exactly? What is my problem?” Sammy knew what her real problem was. Her problem was that she wanted to know what it would feel like if he kissed her … that was her problem. She hoped to God she wasn’t that transparent, and he couldn’t see right through her. Sammy placed her hands squarely on her hips to contain herself.

  “You think you know everyone because you live in a small town … But you don’t. You let your emotions make your decisions.” Liam pointed a finger in her direction and then shook it. “That’s not the way things work. Good people do horrible things in the heat of a moment. Trust me, I’ve seen it. Just because you think you know someone, you don’t see them as capable of committing a heinous crime. The department’s investigation is based on a conclusion drawn from verifiab
le facts and evidence. Your emotional involvement with Miles, who is the murderer by the way, is skewing your approach to this investigation.”

  “You’re telling me that, because I’m an emotional woman, I can’t make sound judgments?” Oh boy, that really hit a nerve. He didn’t know that after their pizza dinner she felt an emotional connection to him. As much as she hated to admit, she liked him. He obviously didn’t feel the same.

  “That’s not what I’m saying. Don’t put words in my mouth.”

  Sammy took a deep breath and a pause before defending her case. “You were at the basketball game. Assistant Coach Dave wants his son to get a full scholarship to a Big Ten college. And you know what? He’ll probably be successful at it now, with the way things went down, don’t you think? What about that for potential motive? But killing the coach’s aunt wasn’t enough to keep Coach away from the basketball court. Assistant Dave had no other choice than to run him down too! My real point is, I’m sure there are other suspects, besides Miles Danbury, who have a much stronger motive for murder. Miles just isn’t your guy.”

  “I’m shocked I have to defend myself to you.” The detective threw his hands in the air, flustered. “Please, show me the DNA. Show me the evidence that the assistant coach was at The Yarn Barn.” He ran his hands through his hair in frustration. “You can’t, can you?” His eyes bore into hers. “Miles was there. His fingerprints were found on the coffee cup. What makes you think you’re somehow privy to all the details regarding this investigation anyhow? I assure you, as a private citizen, you’re not. If I need your help, I most certainly know where to find you.”

  “Listen. I know you want to get this crime off the books, finished, lock the guy up, throw away the key, and move on. Bring the town some normalcy.” Sammy brushed her hands together as if to wipe them clean. “Trust me. We want the same things.” She pointed a finger at him. “But you are going about it all wrong!” She stomped off as best she could in the two-inch heels in search of Heidi, her blood pressure reaching a boiling point and her heart beating in her chest like a kettle drum.

  Sammy looped her arm through her cousin’s and released her from a conversation, leading Heidi away from the circle she was speaking in.

  “Um … a little rude?” Heidi tried to keep up with her cousin’s fast pace as they were still linked together arm-in-arm. “Aren’t you going to say hi to the mayor? Connie? What about Carter?”

  Sammy spun Heidi around to face her. “We’re leaving. Right. Bloody. Now.”

  The two removed their heeled shoes before running up the church basement stairs and heading straight out the front door. The sun had made a break in the clouds, sending blinding streams of light into their vision. The two shielded their eyes from the sun with their hands, the light so elusive of late that they were ill prepared without sunglasses.

  As Heidi was placing her shoes back on her feet, she asked, “You mind telling me what’s going on?”

  “That stupid detective,” Sammy muttered under her breath as she slipped into her shoes and began the torturous trudge across the stone-filled lot toward Heidi’s car.

  “Ahh … I see. Lover’s quarrel?”

  “Drop it.”

  Heidi must have taken the hint as she remained silent on their drive back to town.

  Chapter Sixteen

  After the very quiet car ride, Heidi dropped Sammy back home to change clothes and pick up Bara before releasing Ellie from her shift at Community Craft. Sammy didn’t feel guilty taking extra time getting back to work; Ellie could use the extra hours. She kicked off the dreaded heels and shed the black dress upon entering. Bara came willingly to greet her, and she dropped to the floor to cuddle with her puppy. He always made her feel better. She padded to the kitchen in her underwear and bra, opened an upper cabinet, and uncapped the Tupperware full of dog treats. When Bara sat back on his hind legs in anticipation, she gave her dog his treat and patted his head. “You are the best part of my day,” she said to him. She swore she could hear him say I know with his eyes.

  Sammy scooped her dress up off the bottom stair and continued climbing. As she was moving up to the second floor to find suitable attire for work, she called her mother from her cell phone. Bara shadowed her into the master bedroom, jumped on the bed, and curled up comfortably. Sammy tried to coax him off, but he resisted and dug his nose under the blanket as if he was hiding. Or purposefully ignoring her.

  Sammy, alerted to the sound of a voice, turned her attention to her phone. “Hello, sweetheart, is that you? Are you there?”

  “Hi, Mom.”

  “What’s wrong? Is everything okay? You didn’t catch Tyler’s sickness, did you?”

  “No, Mom. I’m not sick. I’m fine.” She sat on the edge of the bed and ripped her nylons off, creating a hole in the process. She flung them onto the floor to deal with later. Hopefully much later, as she hated wearing those darn uncomfortable things.

  “You don’t sound fine,” her mother interjected.

  Sammy smiled. “You sound like Ellie. Is my voice that obvious?”

  “Ellie did mention you’ve been having a tough time. I was giving you space, dear. And waiting for you to call me and tell me what’s going on. Truthfully … Ellie has been filling me in with every detail. I was just waiting to hear it from you. I’m interested in your perspective.”

  “I’m sure she has.” Sammy tossed her dress into the dirty clothes basket along the bedroom wall as if she was shooting a basketball into a hoop, then eased off the bed. She then rustled through the wide white-painted antique dresser with glass knobs for her faithful old denim jeans.

  “What are you doing? I hear a lot of noise?”

  “Sorry, I put you on speaker phone. I just came from Ingrid Wilson’s funeral. I’m getting ready to relieve Ellie at the store.” Sammy slithered into her dark-rinse jeans and fastened them before slipping on a white T-shirt and covering it with a pale blue plaid blouse. “So, I don’t have much time.”

  “That’s fine, honey. I’m just glad to hear your voice. I know you’re a busy girl.”

  Busy girl. Did her mother know how old she was? Would she always treat her like she was a clueless child? Seriously? Wasn’t her mother aware she was old enough to live on her own and run her own business? She guessed she would always be the baby of the family. “I called to ask you something. Do you remember the Dixon kids? Greta and Gary?” Sammy brushed her hair with her fingers to remove the tangles.

  “Yes, dear. I remember them. Why do you ask?”

  Sammy stood in the middle of the bedroom while she explained. “There was an older woman who came into my store, and I can’t place her from town. And then she had coffee with Gary at Liquid Joy. I’m just wondering who she is and why she was with Gary? Does he have a grandmother close to town?”

  She heard laughter across the line. “Back to your old ways, Samantha?”

  “Mom. Please. Can you just answer the question?”

  “Well, you know that Gary and Greta were adopted … right?”

  “No. I actually didn’t know that.” Sammy tapped her chin with her finger.

  “Oh, well, in answer to your question, to my knowledge, Mrs. Dixon’s mother had passed when we were still living there. I think your father would know for sure. I can ask him. Hold on. No. You know what? She did die because I remember I was going to go to the funeral, but one of you girls, it may have been Ellie, had just come down with the chicken pox. That’s right!” She was suddenly excited that she remembered something.

  “So, to your knowledge no grandparents live close by?”

  “Yes. Mr. Dixon’s mother passed when he was a child. So that’s correct,” Her mother confirmed.

  “And do you know how old Gary and Greta were when they were adopted?”

  “They were babies, dear. They’re not blood-related if that’s what you are asking.”

  “Just clarifying a few things.”

  “Oh, Samantha. I do wish you would stay out of it,” her mother huffe
d.

  Sammy could almost picture her mother’s face cringing. “How am I supposed to stay out of it when the police are arresting Miles Danbury today? I have to find a way to stop them.”

  “Miles Danbury?” Her mother’s shocked voice was as surprised as her own.

  “Now do you understand why I’m getting involved?”

  “That’s awful. He didn’t kill her? Did he?”

  “No, Mom.” Sammy shook her head even though her mother couldn’t see her action over the phone.

  “Do you know that for sure, honey? If they’re going to make an arrest, it must be for a good reason? I mean, he was always very nice to me … but…”

  “I just can’t imagine him doing anything violent. I work with the man all the time; murder doesn’t seem part of his character. Maybe I just don’t want to believe it.”

  “That must have been awful for you, dear.” She could almost picture her mother clutching her chest like she often did when hearing unwelcome news.

  Sammy shuddered at the remembrance. “It wasn’t good. That I’ll admit. It’s seared in my memory, to be honest.”

  “Just be careful, honey. Okay? Do you need us to come home?” The worry was now palpable across the miles.

  “No, Mom. I’m fine. Really. Don’t you worry about it. Now you understand why I haven’t called until now. I didn’t want you or Daddy worried or concerned. I’m fine. Please just enjoy sunny Arizona. We don’t have much sun here. The weather’s been pretty crappy,” she reiterated as her eyes darted to the clock on the nightstand beside the bed. “But I really have to get to work. Ellie needs to get home to her family. Love to you and Daddy.”

  “Love you too, dear.”

  Sammy clicked off the phone. Gary and Greta were adopted. That added a whole new interesting piece to the puzzle. The woman was too old to be his birth mother? Or was she?