A Crafter Quilts a Crime

by Holly Quinn

  “Everything okay?” Lynn interrupted her reverie as she stepped over the threshold into the craft room.

  Sammy shook her head to refocus. “Yes, of course.” She smiled as she set her coffee cup down on the table. “Oh good, you’re already getting started.” She noted the scraps of fabric strewn across the craft table and each member deciding on quilt block patterns for their latest project.

  “I know we talked about our next project being piecing quilts for those entering hospice, but we were talking while you were across the street and decided that we’d like to create something in memory of Wanda first,” Eleanor said as she fingered a patch of calico fabric between her fingers. “A small memory quilt that maybe we could hang here in the craft room?”

  “Or somewhere on the walls of Community Craft,” Gertie added, her eyes bouncing within the glass room. Her hair was as white as the new-fallen snow, making her blue eyes sparkle against her pale complexion. “We spent so much time with her, we feel it’s a way we can all come to grips with our loss too.”

  “I think that would be a lovely tribute,” Sammy agreed.

  They needed to do something for Wanda. After all, she’d spent countless hours piecing, sewing, and commiserating with the group as they made quilts for anyone in town who’d had a need. And now the sudden loss of her was a like an aching, visible hole.

  Just then, the jingle on the front door alerted them that someone had entered Community Craft. Soon after, Jasmin stepped into the craft room. Jasmin was a stunning young woman whose dark skin shone year-round with a healthy glow. Her long black hair fell to her shoulders in long, shiny spiraled curls, which she’d admitted she’d inherited from her white mother. She’d even done some modeling as a teen, but later decided it wasn’t for her, and instead was attending beauty school to become a stylist and hopefully rent a chair from Lizzy at Live and Let Dye. Sammy reached out to share a hug.

  “Oh, Jasmin, so glad you could make it. It’s been ages!” After they released their quick embrace, Sammy held her friend at arm’s length, smiled, and searched her dark eyes. “Where’ve you been? We’ve missed you around here!” She turned from her for a moment and said, “Everyone look, Jas is here!”

  The group of women gathered around the craft table all stopped chitchatting and regarded the missed member with smiles and so glad you’re heres.

  “I know, I’ve been away far too long. I’ve really missed you all too. But between a hectic school schedule and helping my mom during her recovery, I just didn’t have time to step away.” Jasmin began to unbutton her long wool coat.

  Jasmin’s mother had taken a bad fall when she’d slipped on a patch of ice in her driveway. The accident had occurred right before Christmas as her mother was lugging shopping bags into her house. Unfortunately, she’d broken her hip. It’d been a long recovery, and her daughter had supported her through it all.

  “How is your mom?” Sammy asked with an empathetic grimace.

  “You know? It’s been a long road, but I think she’s finally getting around a little better. At least now I can break away for a little respite to come and quilt again. Besides, I wanted to hear what happened to Wanda. What a shock. I can’t get over it! I just felt I needed to be with you all tonight.” Her smile faded, and her lip began to quiver.

  “Oh, we totally understand. I’m not sure her passing has sunk in for any of us. As a matter of fact, I find myself looking toward the door, half expecting her to appear,” Sammy admitted.

  Lynn pulled out the chair closest to her and summoned Jasmin over. “Here, come take your usual spot by me. I’ve just finished pouring cocoa for everyone. Can I interest you in a cup?”

  “I would love some cocoa.” Jasmin rubbed her hands together to warm them after removing her coat and hanging it on a nearby peg rack with the others. “I don’t think I’ve lost the chill yet from the walk over here.”

  “You walked?” Sammy asked with a hint of surprise.

  “Yeah, Mom’s condo is right behind the credit union. I figured it would be easier to walk than try to find a place to park if the parking lot out back wasn’t plowed yet.”

  “I didn’t know your mom lived over in those condos,” Gertie said. “So, you must’ve had an incredible view of the bonfire for Fire and Ice, then. Did you attend this year? I was sorry to have missed it.”

  “I didn’t make it either. I didn’t want to make Mom feel bad by leaving her home alone, and I figured with the weather, it’d be too hard for her to navigate with a walker or cane, so we stayed home and watched movies instead. However, I did have an excellent view from my mother’s window.” Jasmin lowered her voice and looped her arm through Sammy’s, turning her body toward the door so that only she could hear. “I had a view of something else that I can’t get out of my mind. Can we talk in private?”

  Chapter Nineteen

  “Ladies, go ahead and get started brainstorming ideas for Wanda’s commemorative quilt. Jas and I will be right back. Feel free to begin the conversation about what pattern you think you’d like to use. Or if everyone wants to go ahead and pick a different block to contribute, we can consider that idea too. We’ll be just a few minutes, I promise. I just need to show her something in the office really quick.” Sammy tugged Jasmin gently by the arm and encouraged her to follow her out of the room.

  “But what about your cocoa, Jasmin? It’ll get cold!” Lynn looked up to regard the young woman heading for the exit.

  “No worries, I’ll warm it in the microwave when we return. We’ll only be a moment,” Jasmin replied, forming deep dimples and a radiant beauty-queen smile.

  Immediately the chitchat around the table resumed, and Sammy and Jasmin rushed out of the craft room and weaved between the merchandise racks on the shop floor to reach the other side, where the cash register stood unattended.

  Sammy was barely over the threshold of the doorway leading to her office before she turned to Jasmin and blurted, “What is it? What did you see from your mother’s window?” Curiosity coursed through her veins.

  “Well, you’d have to live under a rock to not hear the gossip flying around town. I keep hearing that Marty was missing the night of Fire and Ice, but there’s only one problem with that. I saw him with my own two eyes standing at the bonfire.” Jasmin’s dark eyes rounded like saucers.

  “You saw him the night of Fire and Ice? Are you sure it was him? You’re aware the police are trying to figure out the last time someone actually saw him to consider a timeline for his disappearance, right?”

  “Yeah, I kinda figured, and that’s why I’m worried, to be honest.” Jasmin bit her lower lip. “It’s hard not to assume something sinister is going on in this town.”

  “How so? Help me out; I’m a little confused. When did you see him?” Sammy laid a comforting hand on Jasmin’s shoulder.

  “I was standing at my mother’s patio door, looking out at the snow. It was so pretty that night, wasn’t it? The first real snowstorm of the year sort of had me captivated. I could see the snow falling because of the backdrop of the fire; otherwise it would’ve been too dark for me to see.” Jasmin shrugged. “Anyhow, I remember it was toward the beginning of the event, because the fire marshal had just started the fire, and he’d tossed a few branches on top to get the blaze to take. Then it seemed he just up and left the fire unattended, which I thought was odd, because don’t they always have someone in charge of watching the fire the entire event? You know, to ensure it doesn’t get out of control?” Her face took on a look of confusion.

  “Yeah, that’s true.” Sammy said. “Go on.”

  “Well, then as I’m watching the snow and seeing the wind blowing the embers, it occurred to me the fire shouldn’t be left unattended. I was afraid my mother’s entire condo complex was going to go up in a blaze—and not in a blaze of glory! I thought the flames were growing uncomfortably tall. They seemed as high as my mother’s second-floor patio at one point. And to be left unattended like that? With the wind? A fire of that magnitude see
med very unsafe, especially so close to the condo complex. Sheesh!”

  “No kidding.” Sammy fingered her necklace and adjusted it so that the pendant faced forward. “That doesn’t sound safe at all.”

  “Well, that’s when I saw Marty appear all by himself. It seemed from my vantage point that the fire marshal must’ve left Marty in charge, which I thought was odd. I don’t know, maybe he had to go get a backup hose or something in case the fire got more out of control. I don’t know.” Her gaze bounced to the wall and then back to Sammy. “Obviously I’m going by what I could see, not what I couldn’t hear. Anyhow, Cheryl’s husband Craig appeared out of nowhere and approached Marty, who was just standing there doing absolutely nothing but watching the flames grow bigger.”

  “Okay, so you’re saying you saw just the two of them?” Sammy’s eyes narrowed. She wondered if this was soon after Cheryl and Craig had started a ruckus inside her shop. The time frame might fit and would certainly explain why Cheryl hadn’t been with Craig. And Wanda had most likely been in the display window at that time.

  “Yeah, just the two of them. Based on their body language, it seemed neither one was happy with the other.” Jasmin sucked in a breath. “That’s why I’m so afraid of saying anything. I don’t want to make Craig look bad to the authorities.”

  “What do you mean, make Craig look bad? Do you think he was up to something?”

  “Well, arms were flailing, and then the two were standing pretty close to each other, like one of them could throw a punch at any second. To me it certainly looked like they had a pretty heated conversation. They both seemed angry. No question about it.” Jasmin shifted her weight to one hip.

  “That’s it? Is that all you saw?”

  “No. Not exactly.” Jasmin hesitated before blurting, “Then Craig pulled a file folder or papers or something from inside his coat. Marty grabbed the file and tossed it into the fire!”

  “Papers?”

  “Yeah, like a manila folder or something. And then Craig tried desperately to grab the burning papers out of the fire, but it was too late. Then the fire marshal finally returned, and Marty stormed off and Craig followed him. That was it. I didn’t see either of them any time I looked out the window later that night. And now Marty’s missing? You don’t think Cheryl’s husband is the reason Marty’s missing? Do you? My word, I certainly hope not.”

  Sammy couldn’t reply, because she was too busy wondering if it was the same stack of papers her brother-in-law had said the Wadsworths were keeping hidden from him. Could it be the same? If so, clearly there was nothing left of them now but ashes and soot.

  “Do you? Oh my gosh, you do think Craig kidnapped Marty!” Jasmin squealed and then covered her mouth in horror.

  “No. Hold on a second, I didn’t say that.” Sammy tried to calm Jasmin, who seemed to be growing more nervous by the minute. “But Jas, have you shared this with the police?”

  “No.” Jasmin hesitated. “Cheryl is my friend, and I don’t want to take the chance of getting her husband in trouble if it was nothing. I don’t know what to do.” Jasmin rolled the silver bangle on her wrist nervously. “I mean, I could only see; I couldn’t hear a thing. What if I’m totally overreacting to what I saw? Each day that passes, I begin to think maybe what I saw was wrong,” Jasmin said, desperately trying to backtrack.

  “Well, now I know why Cheryl was in here earlier eager to talk with you. She mentioned you haven’t been returning her messages. Did you talk to Cheryl yet about what you witnessed?”

  “Uh-huh. She was in here looking for me? I think she’s trying to keep me quiet,” Jasmin said nervously. “She wouldn’t tell me if she knew why the two men were together at the bonfire or what was in the folder, but she begged me not to say anything. She said it would only get Craig in trouble. It’s eating me alive, Sammy! What do I do?” Jasmin’s normally animated face fell. “I hate being in this position!”

  Sammy took a calculated breath and carefully chose her words. “I don’t know, Jas. What if that file that was tossed in the fire was the key to the entire investigation behind Marty’s disappearance? I hate to admit it—I know you and Cheryl are close friends—but you can’t keep this information to yourself. Clearly you can’t—you just told me!”

  “I told you because I thought you’d know what to do. Sammy, I hate this. The whole thing sickens me. Especially now …” Jasmin’s voice turned to a whisper. “I heard a rumor that Wanda didn’t die from a heart attack,” she murmured.

  “I know, Jas.” Sammy rubbed Jasmin’s arm to comfort and encourage her. “That’s why keeping this inside is going to wreak havoc on your mind. How is it fair of Cheryl to ask you to hide information that could be critical to the case?”

  Sammy instantly felt a rush of heat suffuse her cheeks. Didn’t I just do the exact same thing? The very thing that disappointed someone I clearly can’t keep out of the forefront of my mind? Someone very involved in solving this case?

  Liam.

  Sammy pushed on. “Maybe their altercation really has nothing to do with Marty’s disappearance and it’ll clear everything up to have Cheryl’s husband questioned. Either way, I don’t think you have much choice in the matter. You have to go to the police and share everything you just shared with me,” she said firmly.

  “That’s not exactly the advice I was hoping for.” Jasmin’s eyes dropped to the floor, defeated.

  “I’m sorry.” Sammy’s shoulders rose in a defensive shrug. “You asked for my advice … Okay, let’s switch gears for a moment. Can I ask you something? Do you know anything about any other quilts Wanda was piecing or working on? Besides the projects our group here at Community Craft have been sewing together? Or do you know if she was involved in the quilt barn trail project?”

  “Trail project?” Jasmin placed her hands on her slender hips. “Nah. Not sure I’m following.”

  Sammy was relieved she wasn’t the only one who hadn’t heard of the trail project. She bent to one knee, pulled out the bottom drawer of her desk, and plucked out the plastic bag where she’d rewrapped Wanda’s lap quilt for safekeeping. She carefully removed it from the bag and handed it to Jasmin to view. “Initially, I thought this was an heirloom quilt, but now I think she must’ve tea-stained it to make it appear old. I noticed that this block is identical to the block painted on the side of her brother Jackson’s barn.”

  Sammy stood and pointed to the star pattern as she eyed Jasmin carefully.

  “Which makes me wonder if this quilt has meaning. Do any of these quilt blocks look familiar to you? Do you know of anyone who may have one of these blocks painted on the side of their barn or garage?” Sammy picked up two corners of the quilt, and Jasmin mirrored her action by picking up the opposite two corners. Together they laid the blanket across Sammy’s desk to view it fully.

  Jasmin took a step back as if to adjust her vision, thought for a moment, and then said, “This one looks kinda familiar. I know I’ve seen this flying-geese pattern block somewhere. The colors seem familiar too.” After a moment she snapped her slender fingers. “I know where I’ve seen it. North of town … driving toward Waupun on Highway Forty-Nine, I think. The farm up on the hill off the interstate. You know the one?” She looked to Sammy, who confirmed with a nod of her head. “Yeah, that’s where I think I’ve seen this particular block.”

  Sammy’s heart skipped a beat. “Any of the other blocks on this quilt look familiar?”

  Jasmin scanned the lap quilt feverishly, looking for familiarity. “No. But I’m not sure what you mean or what this has to do with a trail. What’s the trail project? Why do you ask?”

  “I knew this blanket had more meaning then keeping someone warm and cozy,” Sammy uttered under her breath. “It has to. Wanda had to be sending a message with all of this.”

  “Huh? I’m sorry, what did you say? I missed it.” Jasmin placed a slender hand next to her ear.

  “Nothing.” Sammy waved her off and changed the subject. “This quilt is pretty, isn’t it?
Wanda was quite an artist. These blocks go together beautifully, despite the differing color palate,” she added, taking the fabric of the quilt between her fingers and rubbing the soft muslin corner.

  Jasmin hung her head sullenly. “Yeah, she was quite the seamstress too. Look at that design. She’ll be missed around here, no doubt. Maybe we should show the others in the group? I’m sure everyone would love to see this work of art too. Don’t you think?”

  “Yeah, sure. Hey, do you know of anything Wanda felt guilty about or struggled with recently?”

  “Uh-uh. Why do you ask?”

  “No reason.”

  Sammy would hold back on sharing what she had found hidden within the batting. The meaning of the rhyme was still unclear. She’d keep tight-lipped about it as she silently continued to patch together a theory in her mind.

  Chapter Twenty

  The next day, Sammy stood by the front door of her shop, mentally willing people to stop in. She’d already been open for three hours, and not one measly customer had stepped inside the doors. The falling snow had subsided, but the temperatures had dipped dangerously below zero, causing even the local schools to call an early release. Sammy loathed January and February for this very reason. The gray sky and dirty snow from car exhaust were the same dingy color. The image out the window was depressing. She meandered over to where Bara lay beside the cash register. He rose from the dog bed and came close to her hand at her greeting.

  “Let’s just close for the day and get outta here,” she said to her dog, which caused his fluffy ears to perk up at attention.

  “No, we’re not walking outside in that.” She waved a disgruntled hand toward the door. “It’s much too cold. But we’re not staying here either.”

  As she walked toward the office, Bara followed. She thought about calling Ellie to ask her out to lunch, but then changed her mind. After her last conversation with her sister the previous night, she’d realized her sister and brother-in-law had some things to work out. Apparently, Ellie hadn’t known about Randy’s DWI from his youth. This bothered Ellie, as she’d thought she knew everything about her husband and, in her own words, “clearly did not.”