Close Knit Killer

by Maggie Sefton

  “Hey, that’s great,” Kelly enthused. “I hope he falls in love with it. Apparently this guy can afford it. I read in the paper he’s giving all these free financial seminars here in town. So, he must be doing okay.”

  “Ohhhh, yeah. He made it a point to tell me he’d be paying half in cash. And the balance upon closing.”

  “Whoa, take the money and run, Hal,” Kelly said, laughing.

  “That’s exactly what Susie said.”

  Jennifer quickly walked over to the two of them. “Hal, Julie’s watching my tables, so why don’t we take a few minutes now.” She turned to Kelly. “Bridget is coming in earlier this morning so I can take off.”

  “Hey, if you need me to help with anything or run errands, let me know.”

  “Thanks. I think we’ve got it covered for now.” Turning back to Nelson, she said, “Hal and I have already done all the paperwork on the listing last year. We’ve raised the price a little, so we’ll wait to see if he wants to buy.”

  “Listen, Kelly, I’ll talk with you later,” Hal said as he walked toward the front door, Jennifer following.

  Kelly headed through the back of the café toward the hallway that led to the knitting shop. As she approached the classroom and workroom, she spied Barbara and her mother Madge.

  “Good morning, ladies. Another class today, I take it,” she greeted them.

  “Yes, indeed,” Barbara answered, pulling a spinning wheel into place beside two other wheels. “Burt and Mimi decided to take an extra-long weekend in the mountains.”

  “Ooooh, that does sound nice,” Kelly said as she walked toward the main room. “I’d love to get away, but this weekend is already booked. A bunch of us are moving Pete and Jennifer from their small apartment to one of Steve’s unsold houses in Wellesley.”

  “Oh, my, are they buying a house?” Madge asked, eyes widening in interest. “How brave of them in these difficult times.”

  “I’m amazed they were able to qualify,” Barbara commented as she pulled a fourth wheel into place. A rough approximation of a semicircle was forming.

  “They’re renting, not buying,” Kelly replied. “And for the same reason you mentioned, Barbara. Even people with good credit have trouble getting a bank loan to buy a home nowadays. Jennifer has told me how bad it is out there.”

  “That’s nice of Steve to rent the home,” Madge said as she pulled a large plastic bag of fleece closer to her chair. The wool was golden colored, drawing Kelly closer.

  “He thinks it’s better to receive money from renters while waiting for the housing market to improve. Better than letting it sit there empty.” She set her coffee mug on a nearby worktable and dropped her briefcase on the floor. “This is beautiful, Madge.” She fingered the golden softness. “Is this another of your sheep?”

  Madge’s thin cheeks colored in obvious pleasure. “Yes, it is. This is from my prize-winning ram Jason.”

  Kelly had to laugh. “Jason and his golden fleece. I love it. Well, I may have to sit in with you and your class again, Madge. I’ve always wanted to see someone spinning gold.”

  * * *

  Kelly looked up from her laptop screen where she was squirreled away in the comfy armchair in the corner of Lambspun’s front room. Three customers were lined up at the cash register counter where Rosa was handling questions and purchases. Connie, the other shop assistant, sat at the winding table, removing a fat ball of hot pink fluffy wool and mohair from the winding spindle.

  “Ah, you’re finished,” Barbara’s big voice sounded as she entered the front room. “May I use the yarn winder, please?”

  “Sure, Barbara, be my guest,” Connie said as she vacated the chair. Scooping up four fat balls of the hot pink yarn in her arms, she cleared the table.

  Barbara sat down and loosened the fluffy loop of smoky gray spun yarn. She arranged it on the yarn holders of the skein winder, then stretched one yarn strand and wound it around the spindle of the ball winder on the other side of the table. Slowly, she started to turn the ball winder handle, and the luscious gray yarn wound slowly from the skein winder holders to form a ball around the spindle.

  “Is that Madge’s prize-winning yarn?” Kelly asked.

  “Yes, indeed,” Barbara replied. “Mom’s Montclair Blue.”

  “That is such a gorgeous gray. I might be tempted to actually knit a winter sweater even though it’s summer, and hot outside.”

  “Sure you can, Kelly,” Barbara encouraged as she turned the handle, looking outside.

  Kelly was about to return to her spreadsheets when she caught sight of Jennifer standing beside the fence bordering the garden patio and the driveway. She appeared to be talking to a man who had some papers in his hand. Kelly focused on the man and recognized him as Jared Rizzoli. Well, well. Maybe Jen would make a sale this month when she didn’t expect it. Extra money was always good, especially when someone was moving.

  “Who’s Jennifer talking to outside?” Barbara asked, glancing to Kelly.

  Remembering Barbara’s family’s financial disaster caused by Jared Rizzoli’s Ponzi scheme, Kelly hesitated to answer honestly. “Uhhhh, I’m not sure,” she deliberately hedged.

  Connie stopped stacking fuzzy balls of azure blue mohair and glanced out the window. “Oh, that’s the guy who’s doing the free seminars. Rizzoli. He’s the one who went to jail. I saw him on the local TV news last night. They interviewed him.”

  Barbara suddenly went ramrod straight as she stared out the window. Then she jumped out of her chair, sending it backward. “That bastard!” she cried, and stormed from the room, her face thundercloud dark.

  “Uh-oh,” Rosa said, brown eyes wide in obvious concern. “Barbara’s family lost everything because of him.”

  “Yeah, I know,” Kelly said, quickly leaving her cozy armchair to follow after Barbara. Kelly had seen the banked fury on Barbara’s face when she related Rizzoli’s cheating and manipulation. No telling what Barbara might do if she was face-to-face with the man responsible for her family’s ruin.

  Kelly sped through the adjoining room dominated by the Mother Loom and into the foyer. Barbara was already outside, heading toward the garden patio. A tall woman, Barbara had a long stride and covered ground fast while walking. Kelly pushed through the shop front door and raced down the steps. Barbara was already down the sidewalk and entering the garden. Jennifer and Rizzoli were still talking beside the fence, completely unaware of the approaching storm in the form of Barbara.

  “YOU!” Barbara yelled up ahead. “You’re a thief and a murderer! My father is dead because of you!”

  Kelly raced down the path and into the garden, noticing the startled café customers sitting at nearby tables, staring at Barbara. Jennifer stared at Barbara as well, clearly amazed by her outburst. Rizzoli, however, stood absolutely still, his face reddening as Barbara continued her accusations.

  “We lost everything because of you and your . . . your Ponzi scheme! My father was an honest man. And he bankrupted himself to repay all his clients. We lost everything because of you! And we lost him, too! He shot himself in despair when he couldn’t pay them all!”

  Barbara was fairly shaking in her white-faced fury. Rizzoli, however, was getting redder and redder, Kelly noticed as she drew beside Barbara. She sensed an explosion.

  Instead, Rizzoli’s voice came out cold as ice. “I paid my debt to society. Ten years in prison.”

  Barbara drew herself up even taller than her six feet, and her features twisted with a sneer. “Ha! Don’t hand me that! You were in a minimum-security prison doing administrative work. That’s not a real prison! You should be out on the highway picking up trash in the hot sun every day. You’re a piece of trash!”

  Rizzoli’s eyes narrowed on Barbara. “And you are a sick woman. You need therapy.” He turned away from her and spoke to Jennifer. “Call me when you’ve drawn up the contract offer.” Then Rizzoli stalked away toward a sleek, expensive-looking car.

  “People lost their lives because of you
!” Barbara yelled at him, her arm raised as she pointed.

  “Get over it!” Rizzoli yelled over his shoulder. Then he jumped into his car and gunned the motor. Spitting gravel, he sped down the driveway toward the busy avenue running alongside.

  Kelly stared at Barbara, who was still shaking in anger and swaying on her feet now. Barbara’s face was nearly purple, she was so angry. Kelly noticed a blood vessel throbbing in Barbara’s temple and feared for her heavyset friend’s health.

  She reached out and touched Barbara’s arm. “Let’s go back inside, Barbara. You need to sit down.”

  Jennifer interceded then, reaching for Barbara’s other arm. “Come over here in the shade, Barbara. There’s an empty table. I’ll get you some iced tea. Would you like that?”

  Barbara didn’t answer, just kept staring after Rizzoli’s car. Kelly followed Jennifer’s direction, guiding Barbara toward the shady table beneath a large cottonwood tree, its branches spreading wide enough to shade half the patio. She glanced around and noticed the café customers returning to their lunches. She also glimpsed Malcolm standing beside the storage building, watching them.

  “Here we go,” Jennifer said, directing Barbara to a wrought-iron chair. “Let me get you something to eat along with that iced tea. Would you like one of Pete’s bran muffins or banana nut ones?”

  Kelly helped Barbara into the chair. She seemed less steady on her feet now, as if her outburst of anger had drained all her energy away. She leaned against Kelly. Fortunately Kelly was strong, because Barbara was a big woman.

  “I’ll take one of those banana nut muffins, Jennifer,” Kelly said, glancing to Barbara. “Let me get you one, too, Barbara. You need something. It’s lunchtime.”

  “I . . . I’m not hungry,” Barbara mumbled.

  “Then just nibble on it, okay?” Jennifer coaxed. “You need some food. I’m a waitress, so I recognize hunger. And you’ve just been through a stressful situation, Barbara. You need to take it easy now.”

  “Jennifer’s right. Let’s just sit here and cool off in the shade. We’re getting summertime heat already. That iced tea should taste good.” Kelly reached over and patted her arm. Glancing up at Jennifer, Kelly added, “I’ll join Barbara and have some iced tea, too.”

  Jennifer blinked. “You’re going to have iced tea? Well, now I’ve heard everything.” She smiled as she headed toward the café steps.

  “First time for everything,” Kelly teased, vowing to choke it down if it helped Barbara relax. Glancing up, she spotted Barbara’s mother Madge hurrying down the café steps and headed their way.

  * * *

  Kelly waited for Jennifer to join her in Lambspun’s foyer.

  “How’s Barbara doing?” Jennifer asked as she followed Kelly out the front door. “Julie and I were swamped with the lunch rush, so I never got to see her before she and her mom left.”

  “She’s calmed down. That’s good,” Kelly said as they both walked toward the driveway. “Of course, I was as worried about Madge as I was about Barbara. She was white as a sheet when she came running out to us on the patio. Clearly, she was petrified that Barbara had confronted Rizzoli.”

  Jennifer shook her head. “I tell you, I was afraid Barbara was going to blow an artery when she was out there. I’m trying to remember if Mimi ever mentioned Barbara’s health. Mimi has known both Barbara and her mother for years.”

  “Are you heading back to your office? It sounds like Rizzoli is serious about Hal Nelson’s property.”

  “It sure looks like it. I took him up there this morning and he really loved it. I could tell. We walked around for about twenty minutes, then left. I swear, that was the shortest canyon showing I’ve ever had.”

  “Well, that’s good because I know you were pressed for time.”

  “Yeah, but Julie was able to handle it, thank goodness. I asked Rizzoli if he wanted to use a buyer’s agent to draw up the offer, and he said he understood contracts so he trusted me to handle the entire transaction.” She shrugged. “Rizzoli didn’t blink an eye at the asking price when I showed him the listing. So, we’ll see what he does.”

  “Well, I wish both you and Hal good luck. You can use a real estate sale right now, and Hal said he needs the money, too. And Rizzoli will be putting fifty percent down in cash. You can’t beat that.”

  “That definitely makes it easier.” Jennifer clicked the door locks on her car. “Oh, yeah, I didn’t get a chance to tell you. Pete called right before lunch and said Ben’s finally awake. That’s the best news for today.”

  “Wonderful news. So Pete will be able to spend some time with him and maybe come back home after the weekend, you think?”

  Jennifer shrugged, then slid into her car. “We can hope. Meanwhile, I’ve already checked and both our temps, Doreen and Bridget, can come in and help Julie and me this weekend. With the weather as gorgeous as it is, everyone wants to dine outside. We’ll probably put up extra tables.”

  Kelly gave her a thumbs-up. “Excellent idea. You and Julie need the help. Meanwhile, the rest of us will get you all moved from the apartment and into your new house.”

  Jennifer closed her eyes. “Ohhhh, that reminds me. I still have stuff to pack in those boxes tonight. I can at least clear out the desks and the bedroom dresser drawers.”

  “Don’t worry if you can’t get to it. You’re so tired, you’ll probably fall asleep as soon as you get home. Which wouldn’t be a bad idea. Take it easy, Jen, and call me if you need anything.”

  “I promise,” Jennifer said with a smile, then revved her car engine and aimed her car down the driveway.

  Kelly gave her a good-bye wave, then turned toward her cottage office. Unfinished spreadsheets were waiting. This had been a very weird day.

  Six

  Kelly slid open the glass door and stepped out onto her cottage backyard patio, a large water pitcher in her hand. “Hey, Carl, here’s some fresh water, boy,” she called to her Rottweiler.

  Carl paused in his sniffing of the fence perimeter for signs of Brazen Squirrel and his myriad relations—brothers, sisters, cousins, Colorado cousins, Wyoming cousins—and glanced Kelly’s way. For a second only; then he returned to sniffing about the fence. Recent scents were still on the grass, no doubt. Drat! He’d missed the nimble-footed trespassers by minutes.

  Noting Carl’s lack of interest if it wasn’t in his food dish, Kelly refilled his large metal water bowl anyway. “You’ll need this, Carl. It’ll be really hot today. In the nineties,” she warned, watching the clear cool stream pour downward and splash into the metal bowl.

  Carl trotted over and slurped up some water. Kelly rubbed his shiny black head. “You miss those squirrels when you’re over at the new house, don’t you, Carl? Maybe we can persuade one of the neighborhood cats to come visit you.”

  At the mention of the Magic Word, Carl’s head jerked up. A cat? Ohhhh, devoutly to be wished! Kelly could almost read his thoughts.

  She laughed and gave Carl another head rub. “I’m not sure I’m that persuasive, Carl. But I’ll give it a try. You be good. I’ve got to get back to work. Spreadsheets are waiting,” she said as she slid open the patio door and stepped inside. Carl trotted off toward the garden and began snuffling about the plants. The next item on his morning itinerary, separated by naps.

  Checking her ceramic mug, Kelly saw that it was empty, so she headed toward the cottage kitchen and her old familiar coffeepot sitting on the counter. Steve had brought his fancier coffeemaker to their new Wellesley house, but she didn’t think the “bells and whistles” made the coffee taste any better. If she remembered, she’d bring an old one from the garage storage to replace it.

  Draining the last of the coffee from the pot, she found that it barely filled an inch. Rats! She’d forgotten that she’d already refilled her mug during the long morning phone call from her Denver client, Don Warner. She glanced at her watch. Only ten thirty. Well, time for a coffee break anyway, she decided as she snatched up her portable mug from the counter a
nd headed out the cottage front door.

  Passing by the flower beds bordering her front walkway, Kelly leaned over and inspected the young plants. Pink, white, deep rose impatiens, purple and gold violas, and blue and white lobelia. Shade-loving plants. Her front yard had just enough sun for them to thrive but maintain their delicate colors.

  Kelly started across the driveway, glancing toward the remodeled garage in progress, and saw Malcolm, not working on the garage but standing, talking to someone behind the building. Talking loudly, she noticed.

  Curious, Kelly angled that way, and suddenly saw the man Malcolm was talking to. It was Jared Rizzoli. And from the expression on Rizzoli’s face, he was not enjoying the conversation.

  Uh-oh, Kelly thought, and walked closer, remembering Jayleen’s comments that Malcolm had also “lost everything” because of Rizzoli’s Ponzi scheme. Not wanting to witness another angry confrontation, Kelly feared Rizzoli’s temper wouldn’t hold back if a man confronted him. Kelly stopped beside a van, Malcolm’s angry voice capturing her attention.

  “You got a lotta nerve coming back to town,” Malcolm accused, voice louder, jabbing his finger at Rizzoli. “You think holding those free seminars will wash away your crimes? Well, they don’t!”

  Once again, Kelly noticed Rizzoli’s face darkening with anger. Yesterday, Rizzoli had clearly held himself back, despite Barbara’s threats. Kelly guessed that was because Barbara was a woman. But this time, with Malcolm, Kelly sensed Rizzoli wouldn’t show the same restraint.

  “Back off, creep!” Rizzoli sneered, knocking Malcolm’s hand aside. “I went to prison to pay my debts.”

  Malcolm’s face reddened, clearly enraged himself now. “Don’t you brush me off like I’m some piece of trash! You lost me everything! My job, my wife, my home, everything! You did, you son-of-a-bitch!” This time Malcolm jabbed his finger right into Rizzoli’s chest.

  The explosion Kelly had feared erupted. Rizzoli shoved Malcolm back hard. So hard, Malcolm stumbled and fell backward onto the driveway. “Get your hands off me, you piece of crap!” Rizzoli yelled. “Don’t blame me for what you’ve become!”