Close Knit Killer

by Maggie Sefton

  Cassie giggled this time. “No, you wouldn’t, Kelly. You never drop balls. At least I haven’t seen any.”

  “Ahhhh, that’s because it’s a ball. Not a ball of yarn. Anything having to do with sports, I’m okay. But I always make mistakes with yarn. Hey, I heard from Lisa that you’ve gone over to Greg’s computer lab at the university several times and you really liked it.”

  Cassie’s face lit up. “Oh, it’s awesome! They’ve got all sorts of computer stuff over there. Greg showed me how to take apart a computer and how everything works inside. Then he showed me how to build a circuit board and wire it so a bell would ring. That was so fun! And all the guys there in the lab are real nice and they showed me stuff, too. Greg calls them all the Geeks.” She giggled. “Greg’s funny. And so are the guys. The Geeks. Greg showed me some amazing things on this superfast computer he’s got there. It’s awesome!”

  Kelly started to laugh, listening to Cassie’s description of Greg and the Geeks. “Didn’t Greg bring you one of his older laptop computers?”

  Cassie’s blue eyes popped wide. “Yes! But it’s new! Well, practically new. I mean . . . it’s only a couple of years old. That’s just like new. Grandpa’s computer was ancient! It was so slow! It took forever to look at stuff on the Web. And this one is so fast! It’s totally awesome!”

  “Tell me, what are some of your favorite websites?” Kelly asked as she pulled the yellow-and-white baby hat from her briefcase, then sat there and knitted while Cassie described all the websites she’d visited with her new superfast, just-like-new, totally awesome computer.

  Fourteen

  Kelly stepped onto her backyard patio and sipped her coffee. Carl was snuffling around the edges of the fence, right side, then back. Scenting squirrel tracks, no doubt. Tiny squirrel feet in the grass.

  “He’s long gone, Carl. You were asleep on the grass while the squirrels were running around the yard.”

  Carl’s head popped up at the mention of squirrels. He stared at Kelly in disbelief. More than one? Oh, no! How could I have missed it!

  “They’re back in the trees now.” Kelly pointed up into the cottonwood trees spreading their branches and the welcoming shade. She spotted two smaller squirrels skittering across the branches while one larger squirrel—Brazen Squirrel himself. The Ringleader. El Jefe of Squirrels—sat on a branch nibbling succulent young seedpods.

  Carl looked over his shoulder, as if heeding Kelly’s instructions, and must have spied his Nemesis, El Jefe, Brazen, in the branches above because Carl gave a small “woof.” Just one.

  Brazen didn’t even move. He sat right where he was on the branch, nibbling away, unperturbed by Big Dog’s bark. Barks couldn’t hurt him.

  Carl trotted over to where Kelly stood on the patio. He shoved his big head against her hand. Kelly stroked his silky-smooth black head. “It’s frustrating, isn’t it, Carl? The squirrels have your nap schedule memorized. So they wait for you to fall asleep before they race around and cavort about your yard. Without your permission!”

  Carl frowned in that Rottweiler way, knotting his eyebrows together in a worried/puzzled expression. Not fair! Not fair! I want to chase them!

  “I know,” she soothed as she continued to stroke silky ears now. “Big dogs have to have their morning naps. It’s necessary. Just like squirrels have to watch and wait so they can scurry about your yard and find good things to eat. The little guys need an advantage. Big dogs can be scary.”

  Almost as if he were agreeing with her, Brazen chattered loudly from the branches above the back fence. Of course, that totally distracted Carl from his head rub and he raced toward the back fence, barking his displeasure.

  Kelly went back inside her cottage office and slid the screen door shut. Carl was happily barking at Brazen, and Brazen was just as content to chatter from above, fussing at Carl in squirrel-speak. All is well.

  Kelly slid her laptop into her briefcase and shoved in a client file for good measure. Maybe she’d finish Arthur Housemann’s rental real estate spreadsheets outside in the garden once the lunch crowd left. Grabbing her briefcase and half-filled coffee mug, Kelly headed out of the cottage and across the driveway. Glancing toward the nearly completed remodeled storage building, she didn’t see either Hal or Malcolm, so she figured they were still inside the building painting. Hal Nelson’s truck was still parked along the driveway.

  Kelly saw Jennifer moving about the tables in the shady garden, now crowded with customers. Every table was full. Speeding up the brick steps to Lambspun’s front entry, Kelly made herself pause, then slowly opened the door. She’d learned to slow down after several near collisions occurred. Entering the foyer, Kelly trailed her fingers across a soft rose red mohair yarn, its color deepening into scarlet.

  “Hello, Kelly,” Mimi said as she walked into the central yarn room. “Are you going to work here in the shop?”

  “For a little while, until the lunch crowd diminishes. Then I’m going to settle into the garden before it’s too hot.” Walking over to the library table, she dropped her briefcase onto a nearby chair. “Let’s see, it’s Tuesday afternoon, so that means Cassie is visiting Lisa at the sports center, right?”

  Mimi smiled. “Yes, she is. Lisa came by about an hour ago. By the way, Cassie told me she really enjoyed your softball clinic this morning. It sounds like she’s made some new friends, too.”

  “She’s doing great, actually,” Kelly said as she settled into the chair. “She’s moving well on the field, and her throwing has improved, too. And the girls all seem to get along well together. So I’ve noticed some teamwork happening. Always a good thing.” She gave Mimi a wink.

  Mimi started straightening the items scattered about the middle of the long table. A bunch of miscellany like scissors, crochet hooks, and stitch holders were spread on a tray in a small pile, next to the teapot and cups. “Did Lisa get to help with the batting practice? I know she wanted to.”

  “Yes, bless her heart,” Kelly said as she slid her laptop from her briefcase. “With the two of us coaching them, the girls have really improved. I have no doubt they’ll all be chosen for the softball team wherever they’re going to middle school this fall.”

  “I agree with Lisa. I don’t think Pete’s grandfather will be able to return to parenting Cassie anytime soon. If ever. So, that means she’d be going to middle school here in Fort Connor.”

  Kelly nodded. “Lisa told me she’d talked to Pete and Jennifer about it. So they’d start looking into getting whatever documents they’d need to enroll Cassie.”

  Mimi straightened and stared off toward the windows with a pensive expression. “My goodness . . . think of all the changes that are happening all around us. Look at Pete and Jennifer, suddenly having to become parents of a preteen. And they’re doing such a great job, too. Cassie seems very happy with them.” Mimi’s smile returned. “It sounds like they’ve all finally gotten used to the new house and where to find things. I’m so happy Steve had a house available for them to rent.”

  “Well, everything just sort of fell into place. I’ve noticed when that happens, it’s a good sign.”

  Mimi’s expression sobered once again. “Yes, that is a good sign. And we need those. Goodness knows, we do. There are other things happening all around us that aren’t good at all.”

  Kelly leaned back into her chair and picked up her mug. She could tell Mimi was worrying about something, and Kelly had a good guess about what. “You’re worried about the Rizzoli investigation, aren’t you? Burt told me yesterday that someone saw a man who looked like Malcolm around the driveway the same night Rizzoli was killed.”

  Mimi walked around the table and pulled out a chair near Kelly. She glanced over her shoulder toward the browsing customers in the central yarn room. “I know, and I feel sorry for that poor man,” she said in a lowered voice. “But this morning, I heard something worse. One of the detectives returned to ask Rosa and Connie more questions. He wanted to know if they’d seen anything unusual on the d
ays before the murder, either inside the shop or outside. And he mentioned both Malcolm and Barbara in particular.”

  Kelly leaned closer. “They’re probably making sure both Barbara and Malcolm had access to the shop. That’s the only way either of them could have taken Jennifer’s phone.”

  Mimi’s face screwed up in vexation. “I know, but it sounds so horrible to even talk about it. It sounds like we think both of them are capable of murder!” She rasped the last word softly.

  “I know how you feel, Mimi. I feel the same way. It’s disloyal to talk about people we know and care about that way. But the police have to ask those questions.” She peered at Mimi. “Did they learn anything new? You were there when they questioned Connie and Rosa. Did you hear anything that surprised you?”

  Mimi chewed the inside of her bottom lip, and worry lines furrowed her face. Not a good sign, Kelly had learned. Mimi definitely heard something she didn’t like. “Unfortunately, yes. Connie simply repeated everything she’d said before. But Rosa said she had noticed something outside. One afternoon, she said she saw Barbara and her mom having lunch in the garden patio. Then, when she noticed them a little later, Barbara was talking with Hal Nelson, and he was showing her some of the tools in his toolbox. Barb’s mom was pulling dead leaves off plants in the garden.”

  Kelly looked back into Mimi’s worried gaze. “Oh, brother. That means Barbara saw the knife. I’ve seen Hal Nelson’s toolbox. It’s filled to the top with all kinds of screwdrivers, wrenches, wire cutters, knives, all sorts of stuff. Just like Steve’s toolbox in the back of his truck.” She shook her head sadly. “That means Barbara knew where to find a knife. Not good, Mimi. Not good at all.”

  “I know, I know, I know,” Mimi chanted. “And I’ve been worrying about it ever since. I called Burt while he was out doing errands this morning, and he said exactly the same thing you did. Not good.” Mimi glanced over her shoulder again at the central yarn room, empty of customers now. “I simply cannot picture Barbara killing that . . . that Rizzoli. I simply can’t. Barbara’s a nurse, for heaven’s sake! She takes care of people.”

  Kelly gave Mimi a little smile. “Yes, she does, Mimi. But you weren’t here to see Barbara confront Rizzoli outside at the edge of the garden. She was white with rage. Pure rage. It blazed out of her. She was shaking. It was scary to watch. I was scared for her . . . and scared what she might do. I was inside with her when Barbara spotted Rizzoli outside with Jennifer. She jumped up and yelled, ‘Bastard!’ then ran outside. I ran after her because, frankly, I wasn’t sure what she would do once she confronted Rizzoli.”

  “Oh, no . . .” Mimi’s concerned expression deepened.

  “It was frightening to watch, Mimi. Rizzoli exploded, of course. He told Barbara she needed therapy or something. He’d paid his debt to society. Instead of being cowed, Barbara accused him again. Saying he’d only served his shorter term at a minimum-security prison. He didn’t deserve an early release because he’d destroyed too many people’s lives.”

  Mimi stared into her lap. “Oh, my, oh, my. I’m glad I wasn’t here to witness that. It sounds awful.”

  “It was, believe me. When Rizzoli stalked off, Jennifer took Barbara into the café to calm down. Madge came running out, too. Poor woman. I’m sorry she was here to witness it.” Kelly took a deep drink of coffee, memories of those volatile scenes dancing through her head. “Of course, I watched Malcolm do the same thing the next day. Of course, Malcolm was more easily cowed by Rizzoli. Once Rizzoli pushed him to the ground, Malcolm just stayed there, staring at Rizzoli when he cursed him. That’s when Hal Nelson came over to Malcolm to help him up. Poor thing. Malcolm looked like a limp balloon with all the air let out of it.”

  “Hal Nelson is a good man.” Mimi nodded. “And Malcolm seems like he’s really turned his life around . . . until Rizzoli showed up. Why, oh, why did that awful man have to come to Lambspun? None of this would have happened if he’d stayed away!”

  “We don’t know that, Mimi. Remember, Barbara went to Rizzoli’s seminar the next night and confronted him there. Whatever was brewing inside her was going to come out, whether it was here or somewhere else.”

  Rosa appeared in the archway leading from the central yarn room to the main room. “Mimi, that Wisconsin vendor is on the phone.”

  “Oh, yes, I definitely want to talk to him.” Mimi fairly jumped up from her chair. “I’ve heard enough sad news. I can’t listen to any more. We’ll talk later, Kelly.” She hastened toward the front of the shop.

  Rosa lingered in the archway, straightening one of the yarn displays. “Poor Mimi, she can’t stop worrying about that Rizzoli murder. I don’t blame her. It’s awful to think we’ve got people here at Lambspun who’re suspected of murder.” Rosa’s voice was softer than usual.

  Kelly drained her coffee mug and used that as an excuse to walk toward the front with Rosa. “You know Mother Mimi. She can’t bear to think ill of any of her ‘people.’”

  “I know. I felt so guilty when I saw Barbara this morning. The detective had just come to question Connie and me again.” Rosa looked over at Kelly as they passed between yarn displays. Her dark brown eyes shone with obvious concern. “And then Barbara and her mom came in right afterwards to teach spinning classes.”

  Kelly trailed her finger across the balls of silk and cotton yarns as she walked past. “Mimi told me you’d seen Barbara talking with Hal about his tools.”

  Rosa released a sigh. “What could I do, Kelly? I had to tell the detective what I saw. I had to tell the truth!” She paused at the two steps leading down into the front of the shop. Customers were already lined up at the counter. Mimi was handling their requests, phone still pressed to one ear.

  Kelly reached out and gave Rosa’s arm a squeeze. “You did exactly the right thing, Rosa. You had to tell the truth. I would have done the same thing, no matter who was affected.”

  “Thanks, Kelly, I needed to hear that,” Rosa said. “I’d better go help Mimi.” She skipped down the small steps and sped toward the front counter.

  Kelly backtracked through the loom room and into the hallway leading to the café. Spying Jennifer near the grill, Kelly walked over to her, mug outstretched. “May I have a refill, please, ma’am?”

  “Sure, you can. No lunch?” Jennifer poured a hot black ribbon into the mug. “You working in the café or in the shop today?”

  “Actually, I want to hunker down in the shade outside once the lunch crunch eases up. Until it’s too hot, that is.”

  “Good idea.”

  Kelly took a quick sip of the hot brew. Scalding hot. It was a wonder she still had taste buds on her tongue. “Mimi told me the cops came in this morning to question Connie and Rosa again.”

  “Yeah, I know. The detective stopped in here and said he’d been able to meet our temp worker Doreen. But he hadn’t been able to meet with the other temp worker, Bridget, yet because of her schedule. I explained to him that she’s wicked busy. She’s juggling three classes a semester plus part-time waitressing jobs to pay for it all. Oh, and in the summer, she takes three intensive classes.”

  “Wow, I’m surprised she finds time to sleep. By the way, Rosa told police she saw Barbara talking to Hal Nelson before Rizzoli’s murder, and he was showing her some of his work tools. That means Barbara had to see the work knives Hal keeps in his toolbox. I’ve seen them.”

  Jennifer looked at her, clearly surprised. “You’re kidding!”

  Kelly shook her head. “Nope. Rosa repeated it to me a few minutes ago. I’m sure the cops found that interesting. Apparently, Barbara’s just a notch below Malcolm in the cops’ suspect list.”

  “Oh, brother. And today of all days, Barbara accompanied Madge to the shop for the spinning lessons. I surely hope she didn’t see that detective questioning Connie and Rosa.” Jennifer lifted two platters of pancakes, bacon, and fried eggs to her tray. “Barbara and Madge are around the corner having lunch if you want to say hello.”

  “Thanks, Jen, I will
. I’ve missed seeing Big Barb, as Jayleen calls her.”

  Jennifer grinned as she lifted the tray to her shoulder. “Big Barb. I gotta remember that. Talk to you later.” She walked toward the main section of the café.

  Kelly followed after her until she rounded the corner and spotted Barbara and Madge hunched over a small table in the alcove. Plates were empty, and they were sipping their coffees.

  “Hello, there, you two,” Kelly greeted them in a cheerful voice. “You’re teaching some spinning classes today, I’ll bet.”

  “Why, hello, Kelly,” Madge said, her lined face crinkling into a smile.

  “It’s so good to see you, Barbara,” Kelly said, looking into Barbara’s eyes in an attempt to convey her sincerity. “I’ve missed seeing you here at the shop these last few days.”

  Barbara glanced down at her plate, almost as if she was embarrassed. “That’s kind of you to say, Kelly. I haven’t come in as often since, uh . . . after recent events. It’s nice to know I’ve been missed.”

  For the second time that day, Kelly reached over and gave another Lambspun regular a reassuring squeeze on the arm. She had no idea whether it helped the person or not. But Mother Mimi did it all the time, so Kelly figured it must convey things that words could not.

  “I completely understand, Barbara,” she said, giving Barbara’s arm a final pat. “But I wanted you to know that we’re all your friends here, and we only want the best for you.”

  Barbara met Kelly’s gaze this time, and Kelly saw the gratitude there. “Thank you, Kelly. Thank you very much,” she said in an uncharacteristically soft voice.

  “Why don’t you sit in on our second class, Kelly?” Madge asked, as she placed a twenty-dollar bill on the table beside the check. “We’ve got the next class in half an hour.”

  “I think I’ll do that. Watching you spinners always relaxes me,” Kelly said, quickly reorganizing her work schedule in her head. Hopefully, that shady table in the café garden would still be available after the class.