Yarn Over Murder

by Maggie Sefton

  “Really? I’m surprised she asked. What else?”

  “Well, I mentioned Dennis Holt and all the questions he said Warren asked him. So I went into lots of detail about what Dennis told Jayleen and me.” Kelly shrugged. “At that point I would have recited the alphabet to her if it would have held her attention.”

  “Did she say anything else to you?”

  “When I told her about Dennis, I mentioned that he felt interrogated more than questioned. Then I asked her if she had felt the same way. And she said kind of. I felt so bad for her, Mimi. It made me sad. I told her right off that we all cared about her. I didn’t know what else to say.”

  “I know how you feel, Kelly. Burt tries to talk to Connie and she just mumbles one-word answers, then stops.”

  “Well, at least she’s talking to you, Mimi. Jayleen and I were able to have lunch with Dennis Holt yesterday. He’d just been questioned by Officer Warren. And he said she wanted to know everything about his divorce and his relationship with Andrea, even details of their settlement. And she mentioned his past drinking problems.”

  Mimi’s mouth opened, clearly surprised. “You’re kidding. Good heavens! Is Dennis a suspect now?”

  “Who knows, Mimi. Warren was one of their top detectives, according to Burt, so I guess this is turning into a full investigation. It makes me wonder if they have a reason to believe that Andrea’s death wasn’t an accident.”

  Mimi’s eyes widened even more. “Well, Burt hasn’t heard anything like that. He would have said.”

  “I guess they’re simply ruling everything out. Which makes me wonder what they are thinking now that Connie admitted she went to confront Andrea a third time in the canyon that evening.”

  Mimi didn’t reply, she simply stared off into the central yarn room. Her worried face said it all.

  • • •

  “Hey, Arthur,” Kelly said into her cell phone as she walked across the driveway between her cottage and Lambspun. “I wanted to get on your calendar for next week so I could bring these financial statements over and let you take a look before the end of the month.”

  “Thanks for giving me a heads-up, Kelly,” Arthur said. “I wanted to check that rental income. Hmm, let’s see, how is next Tuesday morning for you?”

  Kelly pictured her own calendar in her mind and saw no conflicts for Tuesday. “Tuesday morning is good, Arthur. Ten o’clock or earlier?”

  “Let’s do it at nine, Kelly. Now that we’re living back in town, I’m at the office in a heartbeat it seems. Funny, we’ve only been living in the canyon for six months, so you’d think we’d adjust quickly to being back in town. But my wife and I have been complaining about stuff we used to take for granted before. Like the traffic.”

  “You’re kidding,” Kelly said with a laugh. “And Fort Connor traffic is nothing compared to Denver’s. Or back East. Boy, I used to live and work there. Now, that’s traffic!” She unlocked her front door and walked over to the corner desk and dumped her briefcase bag on the chair.

  Arthur chuckled. “I know, we’ve gotten spoiled by the peacefulness of the canyon already.”

  “I’ll say. I have no sympathy for you, only jealousy.” She walked over to the patio screen door and looked across the backyard, shaded from the brutal late afternoon sun by the huge cottonwood tree. Nary a golfer in sight on the course, shimmering in the sun.

  “Well, let’s hope all that beauty and peacefulness will still be there when this wildfire is finally extinguished,” Arthur’s somber voice said.

  Kelly opened her fridge and fetched a pitcher of fruit juice, then poured herself a glass as Arthur spoke. “Have you guys had any word yet about when you can return to the canyon?”

  “Not yet, dammit,” he said, clearly annoyed. There was another of those meetings yesterday afternoon. They told us the wildfire was 50 percent contained. But they’re still not allowing us to drive back into the canyon and get a look at our properties. That’s what’s so frustrating, not knowing where the damage is. They’re expecting to make more progress today and tomorrow because of lower temperatures and not much wind. Firefighters are concentrating on the western side of the fire where there are a lot of fallen and beetle-killed trees. They said about seven hundred of the seventeen hundred firefighters are in a special camp on the western side.”

  Kelly leaned against her kitchen counter, wondering how she could share some information she remembered hearing from Dennis Holt at lunch the other day. At least Dennis wasn’t breaking laws. She pictured Dennis hiking back into Poudre Canyon late at night, only the moonlight to light his way. She didn’t want to reveal his presence, so Kelly decided to take another approach with her questions.

  “I wonder if anyone has tried sneaking up there? Have you heard?”

  “No, not that I know of. Police said anyone who refused to evacuate cannot use the roads or move to a neighbor’s property. They don’t want anyone in the firefighters’ way.”

  “You know, Arthur, I think I remember hearing Jayleen mention that she’d heard from a guy this week who lives near you in the canyon. He said that the wildfire didn’t come close to your house or his property because they were located farther away from Poudre Park.”

  “Who was he?” Arthur’s voice sounded excited now. “Did Jayleen give you a name?”

  Kelly paused for a minute. “I think she said it was Dennis somebody.”

  “Dennis? Dennis Holt? That has to be him. He’s my neighbor on the north side, beside the river. How’d Dennis know what was happening up there, I wonder?”

  Kelly dodged a direct answer. “She didn’t say. He probably knows some of the firemen up there. I know that Jayleen and Curt are trying to keep track of what’s happening in Bellevue Canyon by asking people who supply the firefighters’ camp.”

  “Well, if it’s Dennis, that makes sense. He knows everyone in Poudre Canyon, it seems, as well as the deputy sheriff.”

  Kelly debated, then decided to reveal more. “I think I’ve already met him,” she replied cagily. “Does he have a beard by any chance?”

  “Yes, yes, he does. A bushy brown beard. Looks like a real mountain man.” Arthur chuckled.

  “Then I met him that Saturday at Jayleen’s when we were all driving up to rescue her alpaca herd. This Dennis Holt was there, helping, too. Several of us were taking some of Jayleen’s herd to a ranch up in Poudre Canyon. Another alpaca rancher who was a friend of Jayleen’s, Andrea Holt, owned the ranch. I think Jayleen said Andrea and Dennis were once married, but divorced.”

  “Yeah, Dennis told me he and his wife were divorced. She got most of the alpaca herd they had together. He’s kind of struggling, just getting by. Sounds like a lot of money problems. I sure hope nothing happens to his little herd during this evacuation period.”

  Kelly deliberately switched the subject, slightly. “Well, his former wife had a pretty bad fall that same Saturday. We all brought Jayleen’s alpacas up to Andrea’s ranch that Saturday, and she’s got a nice house there. But there’s a set of real steep steps leading from the outside balcony in the back down to the ground. And apparently she fell down those steps that night and broke her neck. She died. At least that’s what I heard.”

  “My Lord! That . . . that’s awful!”

  “Yeah, Jayleen told me that Dennis was the only next of kin, so he’s had to take care of all the arrangements for Andrea.”

  “Where’s Dennis staying? Did Jayleen say?”

  Kelly had to think fast, not wanting to implicate Jayleen. “No, she didn’t. She probably doesn’t know. Jayleen’s got her own worries, like you. Not knowing what shape her ranch house is in. Or if she even has one. Last week, she and Curt were riding the edges of his ranch near the Buckhorn to make sure they spotted any fire breakouts near their neighbors or any blowing cinders onto Curt’s land. He’s got a good-sized spread past Masonville.”

  “Ble
ss their hearts . . . I know how they feel. Well, thanks to Dennis, maybe I can rest a little easier. Thanks for passing on that information, Kelly. I appreciate it.”

  “It’s third-hand, but at least it’s something. If I hear anything else, Arthur, I promise I’ll let you know.”

  “Thank you, Kelly. I appreciate that more than you know. Are you and your friends playing ball tonight?”

  “Matter of fact, we are. All the games start later because of the heat. So we grab a quick dinner at home then drive out to the ballpark. We’re playing in Fort Connor tonight.”

  “Well, good luck, Kelly. Hit a home run for me, will you?” He chuckled.

  “I’ll do my best, Arthur,” she promised.

  • • •

  “You can put those pizzas down right here,” Greg ordered the waiter as he approached their table at the outdoor café.

  “A pesto slice for me, please,” Megan said, rising from her chair. “I’m going over by the statues and flowerbeds where there’s less noise. Gotta check this text message. My biggest client.”

  “A client is texting you now?” Greg said, looking appalled. “Drop him.”

  “Ignore him, Megan,” Lisa said, rescuing a slice of pesto pizza and placing it on Megan’s plate.

  Megan gave him a dismissive wave as she walked away.

  “Don’t even think about eating that, Marty,” Kelly warned as she took a slice for herself. “It’s Megan’s.”

  Marty was tearing into the sausage and cheese pizza. When he swallowed, he said, “It’s safe for now.”

  Steve held a cheese and sausage slice that had a large bite missing already. He swallowed, then said, “You know, we all should run after this meal rather than going home and hitting the sack.”

  “Well, it would be healthier, that’s for sure,” Lisa said as she tipped back her bottle of craft beer.

  Marty checked his watch. “Naw, it’s nearly eleven already. I’ve gotta be up at six tomorrow morning.”

  Greg made a face and shook his head. “Don’t need to run. I have a cast-iron digestive system. Nothing bothers it.” He devoured the last of the slice in his hand and reached for more.

  Kelly smiled, watching her friends as they all indulged in their post-game pizza party. She leaned back in her chair and sipped her Fat Tire ale from the bottle with the colorful label. At night, the brutal daytime heat was just a memory. Now, the air was balmy with a pleasant breeze. The moon was full and fat above Old Town Plaza. Summer at its best. Every café was packed, as other citizens were enjoying the summer night as much as they were.

  Suddenly Megan ran up to them and gasped, as if she were out of breath. “A wildfire broke out in Colorado Springs! It’s happening right now! There’s a whole subdivision of homes that’s starting to burn! My client just told me.” She waved her smartphone.

  Kelly and her friends stared dumbstruck at Megan for a second. Then, almost in unison, each one of them dug into their pockets or purses and pulled out their smartphones as they clicked on various icons and small screens until they all saw the oh-so-familiar photos of red-hot flames burning in the black night sky. Burning over hillsides, burning trees, and, sadly, burning houses.

  Fourteen

  Friday, June 22

  “Hey, Burt, I was hoping to see you,” Kelly called as she approached the café patio garden behind Lambspun. The late morning heat was building to unspeakable heights. It was only midmorning and the temperatures were in the high nineties. Forecasters predicted one hundred degrees today . . . at least. And it was still June. Colorado didn’t usually experience those really high temps until July. But not this year. The Drought Year. All bets were off.

  Kelly hastened to meet Burt, who was standing in the shade of the large cottonwood tree in the corner of the enclosed garden.

  “Perfect timing, Kelly. I have a half hour before I teach a spinning class. Enough time for us to get out of this heat and relax.”

  “I bet you’ve been driving around doing errands all morning, right? Same here. I was out at the office supply store then picked up several other things. Even with the air-conditioned car and stores, I feel like I’m baking in the oven.” She followed Burt along the flagstone path leading to the café’s front entrance.

  “I hear you. It’s brutal. I’ve taken to wearing ball caps just to get some shade in between stops at stores.”

  “Gee, maybe I should wear my cap all the time. At my last checkup at the doctor, she warned me about sun exposure outside. You know, use suncscreen all the time. No excuses.”

  They both hurried up the steps and escaped into the air-conditioned café. Kelly let out a loud “Ahh.”

  Burt turned to her with a grin and doffed his cap. “Pay attention to your doc, Kelly. Otherwise, your face will wind up looking like mine.” He chuckled. “Lots of wrinkles.” He walked over to a small table near the entrance and beside the window.

  “For the record, Burt, I like your face. But, point taken.” She pulled out a chair across from him.

  “Don’t tell me. Iced coffee for both of you,” Julie said, walking up to their table.

  “You’ve got great instincts, girl,” Kelly said with a grin. “Make mine extra large. Light ice, more coffee.”

  Burt laughed louder. “You can make mine normal, Julie. Otherwise, I’ll be pacing the floor tonight instead of sleeping.”

  “You got it.” Julie was about to turn away, then she leaned over their table, her face concerned. “You know about that wildfire that broke out Wednesday night in Colorado Springs? The Waldo Canyon fire. It’s gotten way worse than ours. Over three hundred forty-six homes have been destroyed already! Over thirty thousand people were evacuated in Colorado Springs!”

  “Ohh, yeah. Steve and I were watching TV news way too late these last two nights. It’s a really bad fire, and it’s still blazing.”

  Julie’s eyes went wide. “I know! And now I’m worried that most of our firefighters here will have to go there to help fight it. They’ve already sent a bunch.”

  “Well, our fire is getting under control—”

  “What if our wildfire flares up again! It’s done it before. Every time the winds start blowing.”

  “Don’t worry, Julie. The fire authorities won’t jeopardize the fire-fighting efforts here. Firefighters have been able to get a handle on this High Park wildfire at last. It’s still burning, but those winds have died down here in northern Colorado. Now, the fire seems to be burning only in the western sections of Larimer County. Unpopulated forest areas. They’ll keep on it until it burns itself out.”

  Julie made a face. “That means it’ll burn some of our forests. I hate that. I hate losing trees.”

  “I do, too, Julie,” Kelly agreed. “But remember, those forests were filled with beetle-killed trees. As hard as it is to accept, maybe this is Nature’s way of clearing those dead trees out and letting new trees grow. At least people aren’t in danger anymore. And animals have enough sense to run away from burning areas.”

  Julie brightened. “Ohhhh, did you read about that little donkey who led another donkey and three Percheron horses to safety away from the fire in Bellevue Canyon? They were found all clustered together around the donkey, all safe. Her name was Ellie.”

  Kelly smiled. “Yes, I did read that. See? The birds and animals, large and small, either flee or burrow deep into their holes belowground until the wildfire passes.”

  “Sometimes I think they’re smarter than people,” Burt opined with a wry smile.

  “Let me get you guys that iced coffee,” Julie said, then hastened off.

  “I bet you’ve talked to some of the fire-fighting authorities, haven’t you, Burt?”

  He nodded. “Yeah, I try to touch base with them every couple of days. I’ve been making the rounds at the shelters and Salvation Army and Red Cross, helping any way I can. Running errands, whatever.”<
br />
  A stray memory wiggled from the back of Kelly’s mind. “By the way, did you ever bump into Jim Carson again while you were assisting the helpers?”

  “Yeah, I did. Just yesterday, as a matter of fact. And I learned the reason why I hadn’t seen him. He’s been working in the kitchens and serving at all of the shelters and doing anything that needs to be done. Our paths just never crossed before. I’m not much help in a kitchen, but Jim worked in restaurants before he became a sales rep.”

  “How’s he doing? I mean . . . Andrea’s death had to hit Jim hard.”

  “I asked him about that. Had to work around it, of course. And you could tell from the expression on his face, he was still broken up about it. I was going to try to see if I could find out why he wasn’t there when Dennis discovered Andrea’s body. Then, Jim just blurted out that he feels responsible somehow. Seems he and Andrea got into an argument. She was upset by Connie showing up and ‘freaking out’ as she put it. Blaming him. Anyway, Andrea was all upset and told him to leave. She needed some time to think.”

  That surprised Kelly. “What? She told him to leave?”

  “Yeah, I told him that didn’t sound like Andrea, then Jim admitted that the argument was about more than Connie’s explosions and accusations. Jim said he’d seen Andrea kissing Dennis outside near the barn. Dennis was getting ready to go back to his ranch. Naturally, that upset Jim and he accused Andrea of lying to him. So, it sounds like they both kind of blew up at each other.” Burt shrugged. “Jim said he stormed off. Just walked away from the ranch and down the road into Poudre Park. He said he hitched a ride from there into Landport.”

  Kelly leaned back into her chair, staring at Burt, still surprised by what she’d heard. “Good Lord, Burt. That is just bizarre.”

  “Yeah, I know. Jim said he stayed at the disaster shelter that night because he had no car. It was still parked at his home, because Andrea picked him up that Saturday. Of course that was when everybody was evacuated from Bellevue Canyon and people were all over, sleeping on cots and on the floor. Jim slept on the floor, too, and started helping out however he could right away.”