Skein of the Crime

by Maggie Sefton

  Kelly wondered if what Tommy said was true. Had she taken opiates before and not told him? Holly’s behavior had shown her to be reckless, so in Kelly’s eyes all bets were off on Holly’s truthfulness.

  “How do you plan on doing that, Tommy?” Burt asked, his expression turning serious as he leaned toward Tommy, hands clasped between legs, mimicking Tommy’s pose.

  Tommy raised his head, his expression hardening. Kelly noticed the angry hunch of his shoulders now. “I’m going to start asking questions around campus. I’ll crawl through the party scene until I find people who were at that party the other night. That’s how I’ll find out who was passing out pills. There’s always someone at those parties who’s selling stuff.”

  Kelly caught Burt’s gaze, and they exchanged a look of dismay. That sounded like a really bad idea to Kelly.

  “Tommy, that’s not a good idea, and you know it,” Burt advised quietly.

  “Yes, it is, Burt. If I can get in with those kids, I’ll be able to find out—”

  “No, you won’t, Tommy,” Burt countered. “Those kids will clam up as soon as they see you. Most of them know you and Holly were together. And once they see you asking someone questions, the rest of them will head out the back door.”

  Tommy’s expression turned anxious. “That’s okay. I’ll keep after ’em. I’ll track ’em down at class, and—”

  Kelly had to jump in. Tommy was clearly losing it. His grief over Holly’s death was pushing him to irrational thinking.

  “Whoa, Tommy. Do you realize how crazy that sounds? If you start showing up around the university, following students to classes and stuff, that’s the same as stalking. And if you try to get in someone’s face and make them answer your questions, well . . . someone might charge you with harassment.”

  Tommy’s eyes popped wide. “What? You can’t be serious. I’m just trying to find the truth here.”

  “Kelly’s right, Tommy. Right now, you’re living on no sleep and no food. Take a look at yourself in the mirror. You’re looking really ragged. If you headed over to the university and started hanging around students, asking questions, they’d probably call the campus police.”

  “You’re exaggerating, Burt,” he protested.

  “No, he’s not.” Lisa spoke up from across the table. She let the knitted scarf drop to her lap. “I’m taking graduate psychology classes at the university now, so I’m over there every day. And there have been different occasions when the police had to escort someone off campus because they were becoming a public nuisance. Pestering students to buy some product or hand out brochures on some society or some such.” She shook her head. “There are all sorts of folks out there who’re not exactly playing with a full deck. You’ve probably been called out to take some of them away yourself. And the last thing you want to do, Tommy, is to put yourself in their category. If you were charged with something like that, it would follow you. You might even lose your scholarship over it. Whatever little information you might learn wouldn’t be worth the risk you’d be taking, believe me.”

  Kelly was impressed with Lisa’s calm and cool line of reasoning that she presented to Tommy. It seemed to work. Kelly noticed the light of recognition go off in Tommy’s eyes. Lisa had found exactly the right thing to say to penetrate the cloud of grief that had fogged Tommy’s thinking. Lisa would make a great counselor one day.

  Tommy’s expression softened. “I hear you . . .” he said in a quiet voice. “But . . . but I’ve got to do something! For Holly’s sake.” His voice drifted off.

  Burt placed his hand on Tommy’s shoulder. “I know how you feel, Tommy. But the best thing you can do for Holly would be to go back to your medical school studies in Denver. Keep your promise to yourself to become a doctor. What better way to honor Holly than that?”

  “I agree, Tommy,” Lisa said. “You can do far more good by becoming a doctor and helping other young people like Holly. The forgotten ones. The ones who slip through the cracks.”

  Tommy sat up straighter. Lisa’s words seemed to spark something inside him. Kelly could almost see it in his face.

  “You’re right, I know you are,” Tommy admitted. “But I still hate to think that creep got away with handing out those pills that killed Holly. I’d just like to find out who it is.”

  “Why, Tommy? You want to go up and confront him or something?” Burt asked in a stern voice. “That’s a worse idea than going over to the university.”

  “No, no, no . . .” Tommy backtracked, clearly startled by Burt’s cop-like response. “I thought my buddies on the ambulance squad could go and have a talk with him. Nothing threatening, trust me. Just let him know that people die from stuff like that. We’ve done it before, and believe me, a real quiet talk changes some people’s minds real fast. When we talk to kids, they listen.”

  Burt visibly relaxed. “That makes much more sense, Tommy. We’ve had guys on the force do the same thing on campuses.”

  The atmosphere of helping sparked an idea in Kelly’s head, and in the spirit of the moment, she offered it. “Tommy, I’ll be glad to help by asking around. I’ve got some girls on my softball team who’re over at the university, and I can ask them to check into that party scene. And I’ll report back to you what I find out, okay?”

  A tiny smile started. “That’s nice of you, Kelly. Thanks.”

  “And I’ll ask around, too,” Lisa offered. “I’m over in classes with students all the time.”

  Tommy’s color started to return as his shoulders relaxed at last. “You guys are great. I really appreciate it. Why don’t you start with Patty? She’s still taking classes over there. And she still goes out to parties, too. She’ll be a big help.”

  “Will do,” Kelly promised, spotting Mimi coming toward the table with a big pot of coffee. Waitress Julie was right behind her, holding a large tray, laden with plates and several huge cinnamon rolls.

  “It looks like everyone could use a pick-me-up about now, am I right?” Mimi asked, placing the coffeepot on the table.

  “Right as rain, Mimi,” Burt said with a smile. “I’d say Pete’s cinnamon rolls are just what the doctor ordered.”

  Kelly glanced around the outdoor café on the university’s main plaza. Located beside the student union, tables were scattered around the plaza and were filled with students and university staff relaxing, studying, and clustered in meetings. September’s balmy temperatures invited everyone outside into the mid-seventies warmth. Bright sunshine glinted off the glass-paned side of the campus student union.

  Kelly sipped her coffee as she sat at the table. Patty sat across from her, her dark brown hair hanging straight across one shoulder, tied with a band. “Thanks for meeting me this afternoon, Patty. I know how hard it is to find time to juggle classes and work.”

  “I’m glad to do it, Kelly. Anything that’ll help Tommy.” She sipped her diet cola from a can. “I’m so glad you guys were able to talk him out of staying here in town and going to campus parties. That’s crazy.” She rolled her eyes. “Nobody would tell him anything. Most of them know Tommy, and they wouldn’t admit anything even if they did see something.”

  “Yeah, both Burt and I figured Tommy was so strung out on grief, he’d stopped thinking rationally. So . . . we kind of shocked him into waking up. Burt and Lisa really helped. Lisa’s a grad psych student over here, and she gave Tommy a verbal ‘snap out of it.’ ”

  “I’m glad you guys talked some sense into him. I wouldn’t have been able to do it. Every time I looked at him yesterday, I burst into tears.”

  Kelly leaned over her plastic coffee cup. “I know we may be on a wild-goose chase, but at least we can tell Tommy we tried. If we learn anything, and his friends can go out and talk to the guy, who knows . . . maybe that’ll help Tommy find some closure on what happened.” Kelly shrugged.

  Patty nodded solemnly. “Yeah, maybe so. I’ll start asking around. I didn’t want to admit this to Tommy, but I was actually at the same party that night. I saw Holly th
ere, but she was only drinking vodka when I saw her.”

  That surprised Kelly. “You were at the party? Then you’ll know who else was there. Don’t worry, I won’t tell Tommy.”

  Patty glanced up sheepishly. “Thanks, Kelly. I appreciate that. I used to do the party scene a lot heavier a couple of years ago, but, man . . . that will take a toll on you.”

  “Were you around Holly much that night?”

  “Not really. I saw her in the kitchen talking to some of the new buddies she hangs with now. And like I said, she looked like she was just drinking. I got my drink and went back out to the living room.” She ran her hand through her dark hair and flipped it off her shoulder.

  “Where was the party?”

  “Over on Washington Street, in one of those big old houses with a wraparound front porch. It’s two houses from the corner of Mulberry. The guys that rent it have had lots of parties there, so there’s always a huge turnout. And last Friday was great weather, as you know. Must have been in the eighties during the day so it was still warm at night. People were everywhere. In the front yard, backyard, all over the porch, and the house was packed.”

  “Do you remember some of the people?”

  “Yeah, I do.” She reached into her purse and pulled out a small notepad. “Let me start writing down names so I won’t forget. That way, whenever I see someone on campus, I’ll remember to ask them.” She jotted down a couple of names. “I’ve got classes with these two, so I should see both of them tomorrow.”

  “That’s great, Patty. You’re bound to find somebody who was hanging around Holly.” Kelly glanced at her watch. This afternoon had been consumed with nonbusiness activities. Well intentioned, but she needed to go back to work. “Well, I’d better get back to my own schedule. Gotta get some work done that’ll pay the bills.”

  “I hear that,” Patty said, gathering her backpack as she and Kelly rose from their chairs. “I have to go over to my job at the university catering service. We’ve got a big dinner to serve for some distinguished professors tonight.”

  Kelly handed Patty her business card. “Here’s my card. My cell phone is there. Don’t hesitate to call me. I work out of an office at home and am in my car a lot, so I can take calls anytime.”

  Patty studied the card as they walked across the plaza. Kelly noticed Patty was as tall as she was. “CPA, huh? So, you must be pretty good with all those numbers. I had to take an accounting course once, and it drove me crazy.”

  Kelly had to laugh. “Believe me, I feel the same way sometimes. Listen, I’m parked at a meter around the oval, so I’m going to cut across the plaza. I’m serious about calling me, Patty. Anytime.”

  “Will do, Kelly.” Patty gave a wave as both women walked in opposite directions.

  Six

  “Carl, you are not paying attention,” Kelly teased her dog. “You’re looking the wrong way.”

  Kelly pointed across the yard where Brazen Squirrel was making a mad dash across the top of the chain-link fence, mouth filled with a ripe crab apple. Carl either read Kelly’s mind or detected the movement, because he suddenly looked in Brazen’s direction and took off running. Barking furiously, Carl charged into the fence, rattling the chain link. By that time, however, Brazen Squirrel was already out of Carl’s reach.

  Thwarted yet again, Carl stood on his hind legs, paws on fence, and barked doggy threats into the cottonwood trees above. Brazen perched contentedly on a branch, prized crab apple in his front paws, and smirked down at Carl.

  Kelly wasn’t entirely sure squirrels could smirk, but if any of them could, it would definitely be Brazen. No matter how fast Carl ran or how fierce his bark, Brazen was always one step ahead of him to scamper to safety in the broad, leafy branches above. From the safety of his perch, Brazen chattered back at Carl, taunting him with a squirrelly shake of his tail before scampering to higher branches.

  Kelly leaned against the open patio doorway, enjoying the morning sun’s warmth. “Missed him again, Carl,” she commiserated with her dog, who was pacing back and forth beside the fence, sniffing the ground for traces of essence of squirrel. “You’ve got to get quicker on the trigger, big guy.”

  The sound of her cell phone ringing on her desk inside the cottage got her attention, and Kelly pulled the screen door closed. Let autumn’s warm weather and scents perfume the air.

  “Kelly Flynn here,” she answered in her usual fashion.

  “Good morning, Kelly. Did I get you at a bad time?” a man’s deep voice came across the line.

  Kelly recognized the voice of Don Warner, her new accounting client in northern Colorado. Since Warner’s development company was located in Brighton, Colorado, which was north of Denver, Kelly and Warner had been doing a lot of their consultations over the phone. She’d only traveled to his office twice.

  “This is a good time to talk, Mr. Warner; how’re you doing?”

  “I’m doing quite well, Kelly, and you’re going to have to start calling me Don. We keep a pretty relaxed tone over here.”

  “Okay, Don it is. How can I help you this morning? I’m almost finished with your August monthly reports, by the way.”

  “That’s great, Kelly, but this isn’t about reports. I thought you might like to come out here and take a look at our plans for this new industrial park we’re planning outside Brighton. We’ve already broken ground.”

  “Why, thank you, Mr., uh . . . Don. I’d really like to see the development at this early stage.”

  “I kind of thought you would. I want to keep you in the loop on things as they’re going along. That way, you’re better able to understand how the expenses are moving around here. I’ve got a lot of projects simmering on the stove.”

  The idea of learning about a new building development from the ground stage up fascinated Kelly. Don Warner had developed projects all over northern Colorado. Shopping centers, office buildings, apartment complexes. She’d jump at the opportunity to see more of Warner’s projects in person.

  “I’m really anxious to see this new project. What time works for you?”

  “I was thinking about Friday, day after tomorrow. How’s that? Could you be out here early, say eight thirty? The contractors start at seven, so they’ll be pushing dirt, digging foundations. Right now, we’ve got a lot of holes in the ground. But I want you to take a look at the scale model. It came out better than I thought. And it gives a good idea of the scope of the build-out.”

  “I look forward to seeing you, then. Friday morning at eight thirty. I’ll bring my coffee,” she joked.

  Warner chuckled. “Don’t worry. I know you like your coffee. We’ve always got a huge urn going plus plenty of fresh doughnuts.”

  Kelly groaned inwardly. Doughnuts and coffee. Everyone’s early morning downfall. “See you Friday, Don.” She’d need a lot of coffee to counter that sugar high.

  “Hey, what are you two up to?” Kelly asked as she entered Lambspun’s main room.

  Mimi and Megan sat beside each other at the end of the library table. Open magazines were spread all around them. They both looked up at Kelly at the same time.

  “We’re trying to get organized,” Megan said, her face solemn. “And it’s slow going.”

  “You mean the wedding? Hey, you’ve got a whole year. You should be fine,” Kelly said as she dumped her bag on the table and pulled out a chair.

  “Ha! That’s what you think,” Megan scoffed. “We’ve checked with a couple of hotels, and their banquet rooms are booked for next October already.”

  “Already? Wow.” Kelly pulled out Steve’s hat, so as not to dislodge the double-pointed needles clustered in a circle around the crown. She was in the finishing stages now.

  “Fall is a busy time in a university town,” Mimi said, before sipping from her teacup. “Everything from sports banquets to reunions to regular business meetings keep all the larger rooms in town occupied. We may have to wiggle the dates.”

  Kelly picked up her stitches where she left off. This was th
e row where she was supposed to knit one stitch, then knit two together, then repeat that sequence around the row. Doing that for each row gradually tightened the circle at the crown smaller and smaller. Finally there would be only a small hole left, and she could easily gather those stitches together on a darning needle and pull the circle closed on the inside of the hat.

  “How much wiggle room with dates do you have?” Kelly asked.

  Megan sighed. “Not much, actually. We can shift from the last two weeks of September through the last week of October, but we’d be really risking bad weather after that. And Marty has a legal conference the second week of September. So, we’ve got a six-week window, more or less.”

  “Have you tried every hotel in town?” Kelly asked.

  Both Mimi and Megan nodded in unison. “Yeah. All the bigger, nicer ones. I couldn’t believe they were all booked.”

  “Don’t worry, Megan,” Mimi reassured. “There are other facilities available. Lots of churches and organizations rent out their large meeting rooms. We’ll find something.”

  “I know, but I was hoping to have a . . . well, a pretty setting. Not some drab, gray conference room.” She sounded a little forlorn.

  “What about that idea of having the reception outside? September and October are usually gorgeous around here,” Kelly offered.

  “Except when a cold front blows in,” Mimi teased.

  “Or it snows,” Megan added, a smile peeking out.

  Kelly laughed softly. “Okay, you guys, you can make fun if you want. But I’ve been thinking about this. We’ve all been to outdoor events in the fall here, and even if the temperatures drop usually the sun is still out. They simply put heaters all around those big canopied tents. You could do that.”

  Mimi and Megan looked at each other.

  “You know, we could do that, Megan,” Mimi suggested, sounding hopeful.

  “You think?” Megan stared at her, obviously unconvinced.