Barbara Graham - Quilted 05 - Murder by Sunlight

by Barbara Graham

  MURDER BY SUNLIGHT

  THE CHARITY QUILT

  * * *

  BARBARA GRAHAM

  FIVE STAR

  A part of Gale, Cengage Learning

  * * *

  Copyright © 2013 by Barbara Graham

  Five Star™ Publishing, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

  This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination, or, if real, used fictitiously.

  No part of this work covered by the copyright herein may be reproduced, transmitted, stored, or used in any form or by any means graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including but not limited to photocopying, recording, scanning, digitizing, taping, Web distribution, information networks, or information storage and retrieval systems, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

  The publisher bears no responsibility for the quality of information provided through author or third-party Web sites and does not have any control over, nor assume any responsibility for, information contained in these sites. Providing these sites should not be construed as an endorsement or approval by the publisher of these organizations or of the positions they may take on various issues.

  * * *

  LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA

  Graham, Barbara, 1948–

  Murder by sunlight : the charity quilt / Barbara Graham. — First Edition.

  pages cm

  “A quilted mystery”

  ISBN 13: 978-1-4328-2727-4 (hardcover)

  ISBN 10: 1-4328-2727-8 (hardcover)

  eISBN-13: 978-1-4328-2889-9 eISBN-10: 1-4328-2889-4

  1. Sheriffs—Fiction. 2. Quilting—Fiction. 3. Tennessee—Fiction. I. Title.

  PS3607.R336M875 2013

  813′.6—dc23 2013019271

  * * *

  First Edition. First Printing: October 2013

  This title is available as an e-book.

  ISBN-13: 978-1-4328-2889-9 ISBN-10: 1-4328-2889-4

  Find us on Facebook– https://www.facebook.com/FiveStarCengage

  Visit our website– http://www.gale.cengage.com/fivestar/

  Contact Five Star™ Publishing at FiveStar@cengage.com

  Printed in the United States of America

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 17 16 15 14 13

  Mom, you are gone but not forgotten.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  * * *

  Numerous people have cheered me on, corrected my work, tolerated my mental excursions, and answered, more or less politely, any number of odd, inane, and frankly murderous questions. Thank you, all of you. I’m not naming names here—you know who you are. While you might have been tempted to cover my errors, pointing them out to me is a greater kindness.

  Ones I must mention by name are:

  Michelle Quick, for testing yet another mystery quilt for me. In spite of not enjoying mystery quilts, or maybe because of it, she does a wonderful job.

  My husband for a bit of proofreading, a large dose of reality, and the willingness to play dead on command (the dogs won’t cooperate). My request usually begins with “you don’t need to know why, but . . .”

  Alice Duncan, of course, editor extraordinaire, who sees what is invisible to me and encourages me to fix it. Now.

  The Charity Quilt

  A Mystery Quilt by Theo Abernathy

  The First Body of Clues

  Finished size is approximately 49 by 61 inches. Fabric requirements given are generous and based on useable fabric widths of 40 inches. (The useable amount seems to have been shrinking.) This pattern assumes familiarity with basic quilt construction, quilting terms, rotary cutting skills, and an accurate 1/4″ seam throughout.

  Fabric A—this fabric should be a non-directional print created with at least three colors.

  2 yards.

  Fabric B—a complementary contrast to A—it can be one of the less used colors in print A.

  1 1/2 yards.

  Fabric C—a blending fabric with A—for example, if A is a red/green/blue print, C might be a different blue print.

  5/8 yards.

  Fabric D—a high contrast to A—reads solid from a distance.

  1/4 yard or a fat quarter will work.

  Cutting—be sure to label each with color letter and size.

  From Fabric A:

  Cut four 5″ strips the LOF (length of fabric).

  From remainder of A:

  Cut 4 pieces 9 1/2″ by remaining WOF (width of fabric).

  Cut 2 pieces 3 1/2″ by remaining WOF.

  Cut 4 pieces 2″ by remaining WOF.

  Cut 8 squares 3 1/4″ inches.

  Cut 16 squares 2 7/8″. Cut 4 squares 2 1/2″.

  From Fabric B:

  Cut 8 strips 2 1/2″ by LOF.

  From remainder of B:

  Cut 2 strips 3 1/2″ by remaining WOF.

  Cut 12 strips 2″ by remaining WOF.

  Cut 4 squares 5″.

  From Fabric C:

  Cut 2 strips 6 1/2″ by WOF.

  Cut 8 squares 2 7/8″.

  From Fabric D:

  Cut 8 squares 3 1/4″.

  Cut 10 squares 2 7/8″.

  CHAPTER ONE

  * * *

  Sheriff Tony Abernathy opened the door of his wife’s quilt shop and stepped outside into the summer sunshine. East Tennessee was enjoying a brilliant clear sky with only the normal blue haze over the Smoky Mountains, and no rain in the forecast. Late morning and it was already hot, the expected temperature for almost the Fourth of July, but not blistering. Maybe he could get home in time to do a little yard work. Then Tony remembered his wife had hired some help, freeing him to finish painting the new room built for the baby girls. He took a deep breath and sighed, savoring the moment. The smallest county in the state seemed pretty calm for tourist season.

  “Say there, Sheriff.” A familiar, nasal voice addressed his left shoulder blade. “I voted for you and I could use a little of your time and help.”

  Feeling a bit like he’d jinxed himself, Tony turned and looked down into the face of Clyde Finster. The middle-aged man peered up at him through water-spotted glasses, and a frown line creased his forehead.

  “What’s up?” Tony said.

  “You might not remember my prize fish.” Mr. Finster spread his hands far enough apart to indicate a small whale. “It’s in danger.”

  Intrigued in spite of his better judgment, Tony pulled his notebook and a pen from his pocket. “Tell me.” He thought Finster’s name was appropriate for a dedicated fisherman.

  “After we, me’n the fish, won the big fish contest, I had it stuffed and mounted and hung it over my television.” Mr. Finster waved his arms about, almost hitting Tony in the face. “I had to move. Rent was too high on the house, and my friend Duke and his wife moved into my old place. They said I could leave just the fish on the wall until I was settled, and can you believe it? A few minutes ago I drove past and saw it out on the burn pile. What’s the matter with people?”

  Wondering how the man could see anything through those spotted glasses, Tony jotted down the address. “How long did they keep it?”

  There was a brief pause while the man worked out the mental math. “Not more’n five, maybe six, years.” Mr. Finster turned his head and wiped his dripping nose on the sleeve of his t-shirt.

  Tony thought five days of staring at someone else’s prize catch might be long enough for him but didn’t say anything. “I’ll drive out and see what I can learn. If they’ve already burned it, there
isn’t anything I can do. Five years might qualify as abandonment.”

  Knowing his deputy, Wade Claybough, would never forgive him if Tony left him out of a sensational stuffed fish hunt, Tony radioed for him to meet at the address in question. Sure enough, when they arrived, about as far from town as possible and still within Park County, there was a large fish, mounted on a wooden background complete with a brass plate identifying the date it was caught and its size and the fisherman by name. Other than being big, although perhaps a bit smaller than the proud fisherman had indicated, it was an ugly, miserable-looking fish. Tony didn’t know if it had been deformed when it was pulled from the water, or if the taxidermist was an amateur and had altered it. In Tony’s favorite scenario, it had seen a reflection of itself, had a stroke, and accidently swallowed a hook with its last gasp.

  A glance in Wade’s direction showed his deputy, staring, apparently mesmerized by the fish and the way its eyes were skewed at an unpleasant angle. The gaping mouth faced the viewer instead of a fake bug, and Tony thought the fish looked as though it had fangs. A vampire fish?

  The nasty-looking fish trophy topped a mixed trash pile of dry brush, papers, and miscellaneous yard and kitchen garbage. Standing next to the pile was a tired-looking young woman in jeans and an oversized t-shirt celebrating chocolate. Dark circles rimmed her eyes and more mouse-brown hair had escaped the ponytail clasp than remained in it. She clutched a box of wooden matches in one hand and held an unlit match in the other. Tony recognized her from the grocery store where she was a checker. Her name was Beth and one of her sons played on his older son’s baseball team.

  “I’ve gotten a complaint.” Tony didn’t get further before Beth waved the matches under his nose, stopping him.

  “You think you’ve heard a complaint. I’ll give you another one. I’ll bet it’s about fish.” The fatigue in her face and posture vanished in a heartbeat, replaced by a fighting stance. She looked ready to take on any challengers. “That’s the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen, and I’ve looked at it every day since Duke and I moved in here. The kids are scared of it, and it takes a lot to scare my brood of boys. Even the cat won’t stay in the same room with it.”

  When Beth paused to inhale, Tony said, “Why not call Finster and have him come get it, or at least put it out of sight in the garage?”

  “Duke said every time he tried to talk about it, Clyde Finster was on his way somewhere and would be by in a few days. Well, his time is up.” She scraped the head of the match on the box and smiled at the flame. “Unless you want it.”

  Tony did not want the grotesque fish. It was revolting to look at, but he decided to take it to its rightful owner. Being the sheriff in Tennessee’s smallest county often required him to do more “serving” than “protecting.” Even as he deposited the plaque and fish in the back of the Blazer, Tony felt nothing but sympathy for the woman and her family. The more he looked at the prize, the worse it appeared. He thought Beth deserved an award for keeping it so long.

  “I hope there aren’t others like this one in the lake,” said Wade. “It’s simply hideous. I can see a possible headline now: Mutant Fish Eats Skunk.”

  Wade’s muttered comment echoed Tony’s feelings about the trophy.

  “Keep an eye on the fire.” Tony smiled at Beth as he climbed in the vehicle. “It’s been a little dry lately.”

  “Don’t worry. I won’t turn my back on it. This is not my first trash burn.” Beth pointed to a garden hose near her feet. Water ran from it, soaking a nearby shrub. “Thank you for taking the ugly thing away.”

  The mayor and undertaker, Calvin Cashdollar, tiptoed into Tony’s office. He was dressed for a funeral. Tony could tell, because the man wore the same suit for every such occasion and it was beginning to look a little worn. Calvin’s broad smile indicated his lack of personal involvement with the deceased.

  “Can I talk to you for a minute?” said Calvin.

  Tony tried to come up with a reason the mayor couldn’t, and failed. “Have a seat.”

  Calvin settled into the chair across from the desk, his tall, skinny frame folding in stages until he finally finished, sitting with his knees near his chest and his big feet neatly placed side by side on the floor. A few strands of wheat-colored hair dangled across one eye. He reminded Tony of a vulture sitting on a branch.

  Calvin launched right into his topic. “It’s about security for the car convention.”

  “Is our county big enough to handle a convention?” Tony had lurid visions of intoxicated people in party hats, raccoon caps, or clown wigs, staggering through the quiet streets of Silersville, throwing up on the sidewalks.

  “Only small ones.” The mayor released his pent-up breath in a big sigh. “Nothing the national media would find interesting.” He looked both disappointed and resigned.

  “I’ve been to a few conventions.” Tony pretended he hadn’t heard Calvin. “The attendees and their spouses often have separate needs. What about this group?”

  “According to my contacts, the members and their spouses all drive vintage cars—some are really old. They will need to be allowed to drive slower than the normal traffic. We also hope you can provide some extra security for the cars when they’re parked overnight at the motels.”

  “My staff is going to be stretched pretty thin as it is. There are always problems with fireworks and partiers on the Fourth.” Tony was already dreading the increased workload, and the mayor’s expression told him there was more to come. “What else?”

  “We are inviting them to participate in the parade. I’m sure you and your staff will do the best you can.” Calvin unfolded and stood up and looked directly into Tony’s eyes. “And here it is, election year already.” He said no more but gave Tony a small salute as he left.

  Not amused by the mayor’s less than subtle message, Tony began reworking his deputies’ schedules. He could use a much larger staff in the summer months than they needed in the winter, but there was no money to make it happen. At least, he thought, antique car lovers could be a fairly sedate group, especially if they were the same vintage as their vehicles. He could dream.

  Theo wasn’t surprised to see her husband wander into her workroom for the second time in one day. Her quilt shop wasn’t far from the Law Enforcement Center and he had been a most welcome sight when their twin girls were newborns. He’d helped with their frequent feedings. Now they were on something of a schedule and he often dropped by, maybe to help, but more often to take a break from his paperwork and watch little Lizzie and Kara explore their toes.

  She smiled as Tony applauded Lizzie’s attempt to crawl. Balanced on her hands and knees, Lizzie held her feet off the floor and rocked back and forth before collapsing onto her face. Her shocked cry was a good excuse to lift her high and kiss her neck.

  “How are you going to manage to work up here once they start walking and climbing?” Tony seemed fascinated by her assortment of scissors, razor-sharp rotary cutters, and innumerable pins, needles, and seam rippers. Any could be dangerous in the wrong hands.

  Theo deflected the question. “Just like you’ll keep them away from guns, knives, and most of the things hanging on your belt.” He was interrupting her work and her impatience must have shown because he quickly changed the subject.

  “I’m actually checking with the business owners about the parade route. Do you see a problem with closing the street to parking, beginning on the evening of the third instead of the morning of the Fourth?”

  “Not really.” Theo considered the question and whether the closing would affect her business. “It might even be better. People will be wandering all over downtown and it would be less congested.”

  Tony put Lizzie back next to her twin and headed for the door. “I’ll leave you to your work.”

  Silence returned, Theo stared at the mess on her worktable. There was no reason the mystery quilt pattern should not work, but it didn’t. She had sketched the thing out and was sure she’d counted the right number of pi
eces when she’d cut them. Zoe, the shop cat, sat on the corner of the oversized cutting table carefully inspecting one tiny black paw. Theo thought the feline’s expression reeked of disdain, as if she’d never make such an error. The haughty expression in her amber eyes gave nothing away.

  “Did you steal a square like this?” Theo picked up a small piece of blue fabric and waved it in the cat’s direction.

  The cat refused to discuss the problem and jumped from the table to the floor and stalked away. The very tip of her tail flicked once, snubbing Theo. Thankfully, she left behind the missing piece of fabric. Theo retrieved it and hurried to sew it into place before she misplaced it again.

  At the end of the day, on his way home, Tony stopped by the hardware store to pick up another gallon of paint. The brand-new addition to their house, built as a gift from his brother, Caesar Augustus, and his rich wife, Catherine, had not included the paint. Tony had underestimated the amount of pale yellow he’d need to finish a second coat in the new bedroom for his twin girls. The babies needed to move soon; their current nursery was smaller than a closet.

  “Sheriff?” Duke McMahon greeted him from behind the counter. “Need some help?”

  “Another gallon of the yellow paint.” Tony reached for his wallet.

  “Is it going on okay for you? Not splotchy or anything? You know the key is even application.” The owner of the hardware store seemed skeptical of Tony’s abilities.

  Thinking the man was not far off the mark, Tony answered honestly. “Yes. It’s just not going as far as I expected. It’s like the walls are absorbing it.”

  Nodding his understanding, Duke ambled from the register to the paint department, peered at his records, and pried the lid off a new can of base paint. He glanced up at Tony. “I got a call from Beth.”