Skein of the Crime

by Maggie Sefton

  “Well, I’ll be glad to answer any questions I can, Ms. Flynn,” Frobischer’s cool voice replied. “A lot of the task force’s work is undercover, which we’re not allowed to discuss.”

  “That’s totally understandable. My questions are kind of general anyway. I was interested in the campus party scene and the drugs that are sold or passed out in those settings. We were all disturbed by the accidental overdose of the young woman, Holly Kaiser, a couple of weeks ago.”

  “Yes, that was tragic. Did you know her well?”

  “No, I didn’t. But I became interested in her case because she actually appeared in my backyard one night last month.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Yeah, I was surprised, to say the least, to see her standing there in the dark, totally stoned out of her mind. I called the police, and they brought the ambulance and paramedics. Apparently she was using one of the hallucinogens that night, Ecstasy or LSD, they said.”

  “Sounds too familiar.”

  “They think she wandered away from a party in Old Town and found the river trail. My cottage is across the golf course, and I leave all the lights on when I’m out at night. She must have headed for the lights. Anyway, after she got out of the hospital, she started coming over to the knitting shop. She looked like she was changing her life. No parties, no drugs. So I was stunned to learn that she went back to the party scene and tried even more dangerous drugs.”

  “Some of them just can’t keep away. The parties are what we call a guaranteed distribution system. The larger the party, the more drugs that are available. The users are drawn like moths to the flame.”

  “I figured that had to be it. Burt told me some of the drugs being passed out are Vicodin, Percocet, and OxyContin.”

  “That’s correct. The Big Three.”

  “How do these college kids get a ready supply of these painkillers to sell? Supposedly they’re carefully controlled and only available with a doctor’s prescription. Do they steal them?”

  “Most of the time, yes. And unfortunately, the controls in any system can be breached. Often, people will forge a doctor’s prescription. Plus, they’re motivated to be creative. They can get twenty dollars a pill when they sell them.”

  “Wow. I’d say that’s plenty of motivation.”

  “That’s why there’s no shortage of people selling pills.”

  “Is there any kind of hierarchy or anything, like a network?”

  “Actually, it’s pretty much a free market. People like to buy their pills from someone they’ve built a relationship with. They trust them, so to speak.”

  “That’s interesting. Which drug do people usually start with?”

  “Usually it’s Vicodin. After they’ve abused it for a while, it takes more and more to get the effect they want. Then they’ll switch to Percocet. Then work their way up to OxyContin.”

  “That could get expensive if they’re paying twenty bucks per pill.”

  “Like I said, a free market. And there’s never a shortage of market demand.”

  “What if someone isn’t used to taking those opiate narcotics? How many would it take for them to overdose?”

  “If they’re not used to the drugs, then it would take about eight to ten pills to overdose. Of course, weight and size would affect that as well.”

  “That’s a lot of pills.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  Kelly thought about that for a moment. “I can’t imagine why someone would deliberately take that many pills. Especially if they weren’t used to using something. It doesn’t make sense to me.”

  Investigator Frobischer’s voice came quietly, with a touch of world-weariness to it. “I’m afraid ‘sense’ has nothing to do with the campus drug scene, Ms. Flynn. Or any drug scene. People who’re interested or even curious about the drugs often make stupid decisions. Sometimes it’s peer pressure. Oftentimes it’s more likely they’ve been drinking. Alcohol makes people less inhibited and more inclined to try something new, something different, something dangerous. Unfortunately, some of those decisions can have tragic consequences. As it did with Holly Kaiser.”

  “Bad decisions, tragic results,” Kelly said sadly.

  “I’m afraid so.”

  Twelve

  Barbara’s SUV rumbled down the dirt road. Kelly sat in the back, watching the evergreens close in alongside the road leading to the mountain resort.

  “Are we there yet?” one of Lambspun’s regulars quipped from beside the rear window.

  “That sounds like Jennifer whenever we’re on a road trip,” Kelly said, when the good-natured comments died down.

  “It’s only a mile further,” Barbara announced from the driver’s seat. “See, here are some of their staff cabins on the outskirts of the property.”

  The frame-and-screened-porch buildings looked like regular camp buildings to Kelly, rustic and wood-framed. Then, something else caught Kelly’s eye. A glint of silver through the trees. Was that a lake? Kelly peered through the evergreen trees and glimpsed another silver streak. Yessss! A lake, she exulted inside.

  The enclosure of evergreens gave way to bushes and shrubs and more cabins sprouting beside aspen trees. Across the road from the cabins, the land angled down to a rock-rimmed lake. It was larger than Kelly had thought it would be and much more beautiful. Surrounded by mountain ridges thick with evergreens, which were in turn surrounded by snow-capped peaks, the lake sat like a sparkling diamond in a green velvet jewel box.

  “This is gorgeous,” Kelly said, staring through the open car window. They drove beneath a sign that proclaimed GOLDEN LAKE RESORT. More buildings came into view. Larger than cabins, they sat separately. Each had a flagstone path leading to their entrances.

  “That’s the main lodge with the dining room. By the way, the food is delicious here,” Barbara said, pointing to the largest building straight ahead. “Meeting rooms are there as well. And there are other cabins going up this road, too.” She pointed to a road beside the lake before pulling into a gravel parking area. “Let’s grab our stuff and head to the main lodge. Mimi and Burt have everything set up and waiting for us.”

  Kelly grabbed her bag and exited the car with the other three women and Barbara. “Jennifer said there were hot pools sunken into the rocks. Where are they?”

  Barbara lifted the SUV’s back gate. “They’re right up that same road with the cabins. See the cabins through the trees over there?” She pointed. “The pools are farther up that road where it’s higher. And the view is even prettier, if you can believe it.”

  Kelly spied rustic cabin roofs peeking through the lodge-pole pines. “Boy, I can’t wait to start exploring. What’s on the agenda?”

  Barbara lifted a cardboard box from the back of the SUV. “We’ve scheduled the class first, so we’ll have the rest of the day to relax and enjoy.”

  Kelly grabbed another box as did the other two women and followed Barbara up the flagstone path leading to the lodge. An inviting front porch wrapped around the front and side of the building.

  Burt appeared on the front steps and waved to them. “Right on time, folks. Mimi’s got everything all set up for us on the side porch. It’s shaded and has a beautiful view.”

  “Better than what we’re looking at right now?” Kelly called out.

  “Just as pretty,” Burt promised. “And Lynette, our other student, is already here. She arrived a few minutes ago.”

  “Felting on the porch. That should be fun,” the woman behind Kelly said.

  “And don’t forget the spa,” added the woman bringing up the rear.

  Ohhhh, yeah. Kelly hadn’t forgotten the spa at all. She was counting on it.

  “Okay, everyone. Let’s take inventory of our supplies,” Mimi directed as she stood at the head of a long worktable. Kelly and the three other women stood on both sides, and Barbara was stationed at the other end. The table itself was on a side wraparound porch that overlooked the cabins and trees dotting the hillside.

  Burt hadn’
t exaggerated about the view. Gazing into the evergreens surrounding the lodge was “just as pretty” as gazing at the lake. Kelly couldn’t wait to explore the grounds. Burt had teased that there were hiking trails. But first . . . the felting.

  “Are we felting in these tubs?” one woman asked. “I thought you felted in a washing machine.”

  “Normally, you do felt by using a washing machine. But each project is different,” Mimi replied. “There are only three things needed to felt. Heat, water, and agitation. Most knitted items will shrink down one-third or one-half from their original size. But some don’t need as much shrinkage as others. For instance, Kelly brought a knit hat that only needs to shrink maybe a half inch. That’s not a lot, so she’s better off using the small plastic tub and felting by hand with the sink plunger. That way she can control the shrinkage better.”

  Kelly waved the knitted hat. “This hat is for my boyfriend, so I don’t want to screw it up.”

  “Let’s take a look at everyone’s project. Every item felts differently. Then we’ll know whether you’ll be using the washing machine or the laundry tub. Stacy, you first.” Mimi gestured to the woman across the table from Kelly.

  Stacy held up two large red wool mittens. “These are for my elementary-age nephews, so I’ll have to shrink them down.”

  “That’s right, Stacy, so you’ll use the washer. Marianne, you knitted slippers and they’re pretty big, too.”

  Marianne held up two enormous green wool slippers. “Jolly Green Giant size,” she remarked.

  Everyone laughed as the woman to the left of Kelly held up a long, tapered knit hat. Something about the woman looked familiar to Kelly. Maybe she’d seen her around Lambspun before.

  “And Lynette has the special ski hat. Felting will make it even warmer. And you’ll want to check that washer vibration after fifteen minutes and see if the hat is down to the correct size. Or you can do as Kelly will be doing.” Mimi picked up a rubber kitchen sink plunger. “She’ll be shrinking her hat by creating agitation in the tub with the plunger.”

  “Okay, a washing machine agitation I understand,” Kelly said. “So describe how I’m going to create the same agitation with that plunger. Going up and down won’t be as strong a movement as the washer.”

  “That’s exactly why we do certain items in the washtub with a plunger,” Mimi replied. “They either don’t require much shrinkage, like yours, or they’re more delicate fibers. Some items are a combination of wool and silk.”

  “You can felt silk?” Marianne asked, astonished.

  “Your knitted item needs to be at least seventy percent animal fibers, like wool. But it can have as much as thirty percent silk in it. No cotton or synthetics, though.”

  “Why?” Lynette asked.

  “Plant fibers do not felt. Only animal fibers will felt. They’re completely different in texture. That’s why I told all of you to bring knitted wool items to felt.”

  “No plant fibers? What about the silk?” Stacy asked.

  “Silkworms, remember?” Mimi replied.

  Stacy hit her forehead with her hand. “Right! Forgot about those little guys.”

  “Okay. Heat, water, and agitation,” Marianne repeated. “Agitation in the washer with hot water, right?”

  “Really hot. As hot as you can get it,” Mimi said, lifting a bottle of shampoo. “And we use a very gentle, clear shampoo because shampoo is made for hair. And wool is sheep hair.”

  “Love it,” Kelly said with a chuckle. “Do the washing machine folks keep checking the size as they go along?”

  “You bet. Or you may wind up with something way too small. Once each item is finished, we rinse thoroughly in hot water and agitation to get all the soap out.”

  “Do we put them all in the dryer afterwards?” Stacy asked.

  “Ohhhh, no.” Mimi shook her head. “That would continue to shrink them with the dryer heat. After we rinse, we put each item on a clean, dry towel and pat them damp dry, then place the item on another clean dry towel to let it air-dry.”

  “Okay, then how do we get started?” Kelly prodded.

  Mimi gestured to the other women. “I’ll take two of you to the laundry room downstairs where they’re allowing us to use two of their washing machines. So one of you can watch while the other items are agitating. It won’t take long. Usually a half hour agitation will do it.”

  “So if a machine takes half an hour, then how long do I take with the tub and plunger method? Two hours? Good thing I play ball. My arms are strong.”

  Mimi laughed. “No, no. A half hour should be enough for you, too, Kelly. But make sure you check it after fifteen minutes and see where you are. You don’t want to shrink Steve’s hat.” She winked.

  “Got that right. Do we have a tape measure in all these boxes? I want to measure the hat now, so I can keep track.”

  Mimi pointed to a smaller box on the table. “There are several paper tape measures in there. Everyone take a tape and measure your knitted items right now. That way you’ll have a starting point.”

  “Good idea,” Lynette said, reaching for the box.

  “And don’t worry about hot water, Kelly. Burt is heating a pot of water on the stove in the kitchen right now.”

  “Okay, then.” Kelly picked up the plunger in one hand and the empty tub in the other and started weight-lifting movements. “I’d better wake up my muscles right now. Half an hour is longer than you think.”

  The heavy cotton chenille robe felt luxurious against Kelly’s skin as she walked along the path that led to the sunken thermal pools. The forested hillside that contained the pools overlooked the lake, which was shimmering now in late afternoon reflected sunlight. Kelly pushed a pine branch out of the way as the path twisted through trees. It led to the middle pool, which hugged the cliff. Women’s voices drifted out as the breeze caught phrases and words and tossed them into the trees or across the lake.

  Kelly paused, enjoying the sound of the wind in the pines overhead, whistling in that distinctive sound it makes in the high country. There was a different sound at higher altitudes. The breeze spoke to you.

  Turning a secluded bend in the pathway, Kelly came upon the pool. Literally cut out of the mountain, smooth rock lined the clear waters, sides and bottom. The stone-edged pool had a squashed circle shape and hugged the very edge of the mountainside.

  “Oh, my gosh . . .” Kelly breathed, standing and staring at the lake. Trees were everywhere, so there was ample shade for those in the pool. A sunny pool was farther up the path. “This is gorgeous.”

  “It sure is,” said one of the two women already relaxing in the pool. This woman was a stranger, obviously another visitor to the mountain lake resort, enjoying a getaway. The other woman was Lynette from Mimi’s fiber retreat. Steve’s felted hat was drying in the sunshine on the deck beside their classroom in the lodge with all the other felted projects.

  “The water looks too inviting,” Kelly said, slipping off the robe she wore over her bathing suit. “How hot is it?”

  “Perfect,” replied Lynette.

  Kelly stepped carefully down the uneven, narrow stone steps into the water. Hot. Hot. Heavenly hot. She let out a long, loud sigh of pleasure.

  “That’s where I came in,” the other woman said as she headed for the stone steps. “Enjoy, ladies.”

  Kelly picked a spot around the pool edge where she could relax in the water and look out on the lake at the same time. Two mountain jaybirds fussed in the branches above her head. Kelly stretched her arms out onto the rock-rimmed pool edge and leaned back . . . and relaxed. Really relaxed. She felt every muscle respond to the heated water, releasing tension she didn’t even know she had.

  “Feels good, doesn’t it?” Lynette smiled across the pool at Kelly.

  “Ohhhh, yeah,” Kelly said. “I don’t know why I never found this place before. My friend Jennifer at Lambspun told me about it. I’d never been here before today, but I’m definitely coming back.”

  “Me, too. If
I can work it around my schedule.”

  Kelly had finally remembered where she’d seen Lynette. She was one of the paramedics who came to Holly’s funeral. “You must really need some relaxation in your line of work. How many shifts are you scheduled on the ambulance crew? Four a week? Five a week?”

  “I usually do four, since I’m trying to take a class at the university, too.”

  “Are a lot of paramedics taking classes?”

  “Yes, several of us are. But it’s hard to juggle more than one class, due to the length of the shifts.”

  Kelly was silent for a moment, letting the peaceful view and blissful water take over. “That was so sad. What happened to Holly, I mean. But I bet you guys see a whole lot of those overdose cases.”

  Lynette’s smile disappeared. “Way too many, I’m afraid. Some kids just keep pushing up against the edges of that cliff until they fall over. Some pull back in time. Others don’t. Holly didn’t.”

  “Well, I only hope Tommy comes to some sort of closure or peace of mind about it. I get regular e-mails from him asking if I’ve learned anything new.” Kelly shook her head. “I’ve told him everything we’ve found out about the party that night. Well, almost everything. It turns out there are a lot of different relationships going on. Holly was involved with several groups of people. So nobody knows where she got the drugs from.”

  “That doesn’t surprise me. Holly seemed to be deliberately pushing the limits these last few months. Ever since Tommy was accepted into med school in Denver. She was driving him crazy.”

  “Really?” Kelly had never heard that opinion expressed before.

  “Yeah. He didn’t let on to many people, but he and I worked together on several shifts, and he’d talk to me.” Lynette ran her fingertips through the water, creating ripples. “She’d call him up when he was in the middle of a shift, and they’d get into an argument.”

  “What about?”

  Lynette shrugged. “The same old thing over and over. Holly would tell Tommy she needed him to pick her up from a party when she knew he was on duty. Tommy would get all frustrated and tell her he couldn’t. Then Holly would start to cry. She’d tell him he didn’t love her anymore, and he was going to forget her now that he was in Denver, and on and on and on. The same old garbage every time. It was making him crazy. Tommy told me he didn’t know how he was going to be able to handle his medical studies and take care of Holly at the same time. He was at his wit’s end.” Lynette had a disgusted look on her face.