A Killer Stitch

by Maggie Sefton

  “How did they know?” Mimi rasped, clearly clueless.

  Kelly gave Mimi a wicked smile. “They saw you and Burt having lunch and dinner together. And laughing together. And gazing at each other with that special look.”

  This time, Mimi went crimson, her hands at her cheeks. “Oh, goodness! Does everyone know?”

  “Pretty much,” Kelly teased. “C’mon, Mimi. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Burt’s a great guy, a jewel. And you’re an absolute sweetheart who’s been alone too long. You two belong together. I can’t think of a more perfect couple.”

  Mimi found her smile. “Thank you, Kelly. I was hoping you all would be pleased. You’re my family, you know.”

  Kelly reached out and patted Mimi’s hand. “You’re family to me, too, Mimi. So take it from one of your ‘Lambspun daughters,’ it’s time to tell the world that you and Burt are dating. In fact, you could announce it on Sunday at the party.”

  Mimi laughed softly. “Dating again at my age. Who would have thought?”

  Kelly was about to say something reassuring to “Mother Mimi” when Jennifer approached with their breakfasts. The scent of bacon tickled Kelly’s nose and swept away everything except hunger.

  Her chin in her hand, Kelly closed her eyes as she sat in front of the computer screen. Two minutes. That’s all. Maybe she could drift off for a couple of minutes. Kelly felt the warm fuzzy sleepy feeling close in around her—until her cell phone rang.

  Startled awake, Kelly rasped into the phone, “Kelly here.”

  “Whoa, Kelly, you do sound sleepy.” Burt’s warm voice came over the line. “Mimi told me you and Jennifer were up at Jayleen’s last night. How’s Diane doing?”

  “Well, she was pretty bad off, Burt.” Kelly decided to be totally honest. Maybe it would strike some sympathetic chord. “She was shaking like a leaf, trying to stay sober, scared to death by Peterson, and on top of everything else, her boss fired her yesterday morning. Right before Peterson knocked on her door.”

  Burt paused. “That’s too bad.”

  “Yeah, it sure is. Make sure you tell Peterson, would you? Apparently he really turned up the heat on Diane yesterday. That’s why we called on Jayleen. She’s been in this situation and pulled herself out.”

  “So now she’s trying to help Diane Perkins?”

  Kelly yawned. “Yeah. Jayleen’s got her up at the ranch, working with her today. Tonight they’re coming into town for an AA meeting.”

  “That’s admirable of Jayleen to do that.”

  “I thought so, too, so that’s why Jen and I went up there. We helped out with other chores so she could talk with Diane.”

  “Let’s hope it takes,” Burt said, his voice sounding a shade less judgmental than before, Kelly noticed. “I wanted to let you know that I passed along your comments about other people visiting Derek Cooper that night. Apparently, Diane told Peterson yesterday that she saw a car driving up when she left.”

  “Did they find out anything?”

  “My friend said there were several voice messages from girls on Derek’s cell phone. One of them was garbled and static-filled, but they could pick out a few words, like ‘I need to see you,’ then static again. They couldn’t tell much. But there was another message that was clearer. Sounded like a jilted girlfriend who held a grudge.”

  “Could they trace either of the numbers?”

  He shook his head. “Pay phones.”

  “Darn it. I was hoping that would lead somewhere. Jennifer learned Derek had a fight with another guy at the bar last month. Apparently this other guy, Gary something, had a business deal that Derek promised to invest in, then pulled out of it at the last minute. Jennifer said the bartender told her this Gary went after Derek in the bar when he found out.”

  “Did this Gary threaten Derek?”

  “Not then, but two guys had to hold him back. Just like Diane,” she couldn’t resist adding. “But the bartender also said Gary came in a week later telling people, ‘One of these days Derek Cooper will get payback.’” Kelly paused. “That sounds like a threat to me, Burt.”

  “I’ll pass it along, Kelly. Does Jennifer know Gary’s last name?”

  “She’s looking into it,” Kelly said, then remembered something else. “By the way, Burt, could you check to see if Derek Cooper was wearing a gold chain when the police found him? The chain had a charm, too. A spider on a web.”

  “I’ll ask, but I don’t recall my friend saying anything about a chain. Anything else on that laundry list of yours?”

  Kelly joined Burt’s soft laughter, then decided to surprise him. “Yeah, matter of fact, there is. You and Mimi make a great couple. Just for the record.”

  Burt paused for several seconds. Kelly pictured him weighing his responses. “I figured you gals would catch on eventually,” he said with a chuckle.

  “Yeah, you can only fool us for so long.”

  “I’ll remember that.”

  “Why don’t you come clean at the party and tell everyone?”

  “We’ll think about it. By the way, Jayleen hasn’t given me a list yet. What should I bring?”

  “Jennifer’s bringing the lists to the shop today. We’ve all got marching orders, and Jayleen is running this show, so we’d better stay in step,” Kelly joked. Listening to Burt’s laughter, Kelly added, “By the way, Jayleen will be bringing Diane Perkins with her. She’ll be helping with the party, too, so promise me you won’t scowl at the woman and scare her to death.”

  “I promise. It sounds like Jayleen is really babysitting her. I wonder what would happen if Diane got ‘off-leash’?” he said, a touch of skepticism in his tone.

  “Hey, Jayleen knows what she’s doing with Diane. We’re simply following her lead. If helping with a kids’ party will help Diane, then it’s doing double duty, in my book,” Kelly said emphatically.

  “I hope you’re right. And for your sake, I’ll give Diane Perkins the benefit of the doubt.”

  “That’s all I ask, Burt.”

  “Hit me with your best shot, Pete,” Kelly said, leaning her empty mug over the counter.

  Pete glanced up from the refrigerator where he was storing homemade pies. “You’re in bad shape today, Kelly. Both you and Jen are like walking zombies. You’d better get some sleep tonight.”

  Kelly tried to hide another huge yawn. No luck. “Believe me, that’s on my to-do list. But I have to finish this client first.” Watching Pete fill her mug, steam rising from the top, the vision of bourbon pecan pie flitted through her sleep-deprived brain. “Uhhhh, while you’re at it, give me a slice of that wicked pecan pie of yours, too. I’ll save it for a reward after these accounts.”

  Pete’s genial face spread with a familiar grin. “Will do. Lots of brown sugar and alcohol. That’ll do the trick,” he said, chuckling. “One slice of pecan pie, coming up.”

  “Make that two.” Curt Stackhouse’s voice came from behind Kelly. “Sit for a spell, Kelly, and share that pie with me.” Curt strode to a nearby table and claimed it with his gray Stetson.

  “I’ll watch you eat it, Curt,” Kelly said as she joined him. “If I have that sugar and whiskey now, I’ll be asleep on the keyboard the rest of the afternoon.”

  “What’s the matter, Kelly? Steve keeping you up nights?” Curt teased, a twinkle in his eyes.

  Kelly tried to give him a reproving scowl, but the slight blush she felt staining her cheeks defeated the effect. “Matter of fact, no. As if it were any of your business, which it’s not, I might add.”

  Curt simply winked at her, then dove into the pecan pie that Pete placed before him. Kelly was about to chide her mentor, friend, and second-father figure, when Pete spoke up.

  “Kelly and Jennifer spent most of the night up in the canyon at Jayleen’s, helping out a friend. That’s why they look wasted,” Pete said.

  “Thanks, Pete. I appreciate that.” Kelly poked him in the arm before he retreated to the kitchen, laughing.

  “What’s happening at Jayl
een’s that she needs your help?” Curt asked between bites.

  “It’s kind of a long story,” Kelly demurred, not wanting to invade Diane’s privacy any more than she already had.

  “It’s a big piece of pie. I’ve got time.”

  Curt could be as determined as Steve when it came to wanting answers, so Kelly related the entire convoluted story of Diane Perkins and Derek Cooper. Curt concentrated on the pie until it was finished, then signaled to the waitress for coffee, before he turned his attention to Kelly.

  “You know, that’s real admirable of you and Jennifer wanting to help your friend. And I’m not at all surprised that Jayleen would go out of her way to help the girl, especially since she’s walked that same road herself.” He wagged his head slowly. “But did you and Jennifer consider the possibility that this Diane really is the killer? And if she is, you’ve put Jayleen in jeopardy.”

  Kelly felt Curt’s stern gaze settle over her, bringing a chill. “Neither Jennifer nor I believe Diane killed Derek. I know the police think she killed him in a drunken rage and blacked it out, but I don’t buy that, Curt.”

  “What if the police are right? This girl is a drunk, Kelly. She may have killed him and can’t remember doing it.”

  “If she was that drunk, she wouldn’t have been able to drive out of the canyon, then,” Kelly retorted. “She’d have run off the road.”

  “Don’t be so sure about that,” Curt said solemnly. “People can do all sorts of amazing things when they’re scared and trying to escape.”

  The image that Curt Stackhouse painted began to form in Kelly’s mind. Diane, horrified at killing her lover and terrified of being caught. The chill spread, awakening all those similar thoughts she’d had about Diane from the start. “I…I just don’t believe that, Curt,” was all she could think to say.

  “Well, it doesn’t matter what you or Jennifer believe, does it?” Curt continued. “Because she’s up there with Jayleen now. What if she gets drunk again and attacks Jayleen?”

  The chill ran right up Kelly’s spine. Could that happen? Good Lord. Curt was right. If she and Jennifer were wrong about Diane, then Jayleen might be in danger.

  “Jayleen’s taking her to AA tonight,” Kelly said. “Diane’s really trying to stay sober. And you know Jayleen doesn’t keep liquor around her house.”

  “All the same, I think I’ll go on up there and take a little look-see,” Curt announced, as he removed several dollar bills from his wallet and dropped them on the table. “Meet this Diane for myself. I take it Jayleen has her work right alongside her.”

  Kelly rose from the table with Curt, considering her next words. “You’ll get a chance to meet her this Sunday, Curt. Jayleen’s bringing Diane to help with the party. Unless you don’t want her there, of course. We’d never do anything against your wishes.”

  Curt paused at the doorway, Stetson in his hand. Kelly watched his familiar smile return and felt herself relax. “That’ll be fine, Kelly. In fact, that will work even better. Now, you go back to work, and I’ll see you Sunday. And wear your boots. We’ve got tons of snow at the ranch. In fact, I may put some of those boys to work shoveling.”

  Eleven

  “Hey, Kelly,” Lisa called across the driveway.

  Kelly barely heard her over the roar of the snowplow that was scraping the curved driveway, which skirted the knitting shop. “Be right there,” Kelly yelled, trying to navigate through the foot-deep snow that had drifted from the golf course across her front yard overnight. Her boots sank into the dry, crunchy snow, bringing back childhood memories. Colorado powder. Squeaky snow.

  “That’s another reason I like living in a condo,” Lisa said, watching Kelly maneuver through the depths. “No snow to shovel. They do it for you.”

  “I have to borrow Mimi’s shovel. I tried three places last night, and they were sold out.” Kelly joined Lisa on the front steps to Lambspun and stamped snow from her boots.

  “Welcome back to Colorado,” Lisa said as they escaped the frigid air into the warmth of the shop. “Remind Steve we’re going skiing after the holidays, okay?”

  “It’s been so long, I hope I don’t run into a tree,” Kelly said as she shed her coat and dropped her things on the knitting table.

  Lisa did the same and settled into a chair beside Kelly. “By the way, I did some checking at Social Services,” she said, glancing around the empty room. “And I also checked with the therapist who worked with Lucy a couple of years ago. She suggested I encourage Lucy to come back to see her. We’re both concerned. Do you know if Lucy’s even seen a doctor about the baby yet?”

  Kelly shook her head as she removed the nearly completed alpaca wool scarf from her bag. With a little luck, she could finish and have the scarf in the mail to Eugene Tolliver tomorrow. “I could ask her friend Ellen. She seems to know Lucy the best.” Kelly checked her watch. “In fact, Lucy’s spinning class should be over soon. Ellen and the others will be coming out. I’ll ask her then.”

  “And I’ll try to catch Lucy. That’s why I’m here this morning. I actually rescheduled a client’s therapy so I could talk with Lucy. I’ve been worrying about her ever since we spoke last week.”

  Kelly smiled at her friend, who was concentrating intensely on a red and green wool sweater. “You’re a sweetheart, Lisa, you know that.”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah.”

  Megan burst through the classroom doorway then, rushing up to Kelly and Lisa. “Oh, fantastic! I’m so glad to see you guys,” she said, breathless. “I need your help right away! My tennis partner, Sam, has to go to the hospital to be with his wife. She’s gone into early labor.”

  Kelly grinned up at Megan. “I thought spinning was supposed to be calming. Why are you so excited? You’re not having the baby.”

  Megan made a face. “That’s true, but now I don’t have a doubles partner, and we’ve got a big match after the weekend. Everybody I know is already teamed up, and I’m the president of the tennis club, for heaven’s sake! Do you know anyone? Anyone at all?”

  Kelly drew a blank. She’d been focused solely on softball and running since she’d returned to Fort Connor last spring. “Afraid not, Megan. Neither Steve nor I am anywhere near your level. We’d do more harm than good.”

  “Sorry, Megan,” Lisa commiserated. “I can’t help either. But I’ll ask Greg. Does Bill play? You know, the guy you met last week?”

  Megan shook her head. “Nope. He’s a cyclist. No ball sports.” She released a huge sigh. “It’s mixed doubles, so I have to find a guy. And at this late date, he doesn’t have to be good. I guess I’ll have to keep looking.” With that, Megan scooped up her knitting bag and hastened to the entrance, winter coat dangling over her arm.

  “Boy, I hope she remembers to put her coat on when she gets outside,” Kelly said.

  Lisa laughed. “She will when she feels the cold.”

  The remaining spinning students tumbled through the doorway then, and Kelly spied Lucy talking with Ellen. “Class is over, here’s your chance,” she said to Lisa.

  Lisa was already stuffing the half-finished sweater into her backpack. “Wish me luck.”

  Kelly chatted with the spinners who milled about the room as they fondled soft skeins of wools, alpaca, and silk. All the while, she kept an eye on Lisa, who was hovering beside Lucy and Ellen, clearly awaiting her turn.

  At last Ellen gave a wave and approached the yarn bins, indulging herself like the other spinners. Kelly watched Lisa gesture Lucy toward the small alcove off the main room. Lucy’s expression changed from curiosity to surprise to anxiety as she listened to Lisa. Her face paled, and her eyes became huge as she stared, not uttering a word.

  Suddenly, tears. They burst forth like a dam had been breached, pouring down Lucy’s face. “I can’t…I can’t,” she cried out, then clapped her hand to her mouth and ran from the room. Kelly heard the familiar tinkle of the doorbell sounding after her.

  Kelly glanced to Lisa in dismay. Lisa looked stunned, obviously unpr
epared for Lucy’s emotional response to their conversation. Kelly beckoned her over, and Lisa collapsed into a nearby chair.

  “Good Lord, I thought Lucy was getting better,” Kelly said. “Apparently not.”

  Lisa shook her head, staring across the room. “I thought so, too. Believe me, I never would have approached her if I thought she would respond that way.”

  “Don’t beat yourself up, Lisa. Her reaction was way over the top. I mean, you were suggesting counseling, for Pete’s sake. And she’s had that before.”

  “I know, that’s what worries me, Kelly. I wasn’t suggesting anything that she hasn’t done before, so it wasn’t strange to her. I’m concerned that she needs more care than a group counseling session can provide. And I’m worried about the baby.” Lisa frowned. “We need to find a way to help her.”

  “I hope you have better luck than I did,” Ellen commented from behind them, obviously having overheard their conversation. “I’ve tried every way I can to convince Lucy. But she won’t go to therapy, and she hasn’t seen a doctor for the baby yet.” Ellen toyed with a skein of red and orange yarns. Burnt umber, pumpkin gold, and fire engine red.

  “That’s not good,” Kelly said, turning to include Ellen in their conversation. “She’s strung so tight she’s going to break.”

  “I know, I’ve told her that myself, and she blames it on morning sickness.” Ellen shook her head. “I’ve heard that there are medicines for that. I’ve even offered to go with Lucy to the doctor. Anything to get her some help.”

  “There has to be a way,” Kelly insisted. “Maybe we can, uh, take her ourselves, you know—”

  “You mean against her will?” Lisa countered. “Not a good idea, Kelly. In her present state, she’d be terrified out of her mind. That would make it worse.”

  “Yeah, you’re probably right,” Kelly admitted, watching Ellen nod bleakly.

  “Let me talk to some more therapists. I’m way out of my league here, and I don’t want to do any more damage than I may have already,” Lisa said, pushing away from the table.