“I think you should, Sarah. Every little bit helps in an investigation.” Charles had heard about Gabriel from several of his buddies on the force. “He’s a good man,” Charles added. “I could go with you if you’d like.”
“Oh, thank you, Charles. That would make me feel so much better. My experiences in that building have not been good, and I was nervous about going.”
“Let’s walk over there after lunch,” Charles said. They finished their coffee and together walked the two blocks to the police station. He took her hand, and she felt like a teenager and just a little embarrassed that someone would see them. He dropped her hand as they approached the building, and he opened the door for her. “We would like to see Detective Gabriel,” he said as they approached the officer at the desk.
“Is he expecting you?”
“No. We were just taking a chance that he might be available,” Sarah said.
“Let me check.” After taking their names, the officer went to a phone out of earshot and spoke briefly to someone. Turning to them, he said, “You can go on back. He’s in the last office on the right.” Sarah looked at Charles inquisitively.
“That’s Detective Shield’s office,” she whispered as they walked toward the office. “I hope we aren’t going to be talking to both of them.” But when they reached the office, Detective Gabriel met them with a smile and led them into the office. Sarah introduced the two men, and they shook hands.
Gabriel looked pleased to meet Charles. “Detective Charlie Parker. You have quite a reputation in the department. It’s great to meet the legend in person.” Charles looked embarrassed and modestly said he couldn’t believe anyone even remembered him. “You broke some big cases in this department. The boys still talk about you over at Barney’s.”
They all took their seats, and after a few minutes of small talk, Sarah turned to the subject of the investigation. “We’ve been wondering if any progress has been made in Andy Burgess case. Also, I wanted to discuss something with you.”
“To be honest with you, we are nowhere. We have no viable leads, and no motives have been found. We’re at a standstill. We’re just hoping that someone walks in here and confesses, but that’s not likely to happen,” he added with a smile.
“Well, I suspected as much,” Sarah responded. She noticed that Detective Gabriel had made no reference to Ralph Lake or Millie, and she decided not to mention them. “So, that brings me to the second issue,” Sarah continued. She told Gabriel about the quilt class when Frank expressed his concerns about a murder happening so close to his home. “A friend of his told him about it, but the piece I wanted to talk to you about is the fact that this friend told Frank that he knows who did it.”
“And you didn’t report this?” Gabriel asked, but not in an accusing way. “Why?”
“Well, I’ll be honest with you,” Sarah began apologetically. “Frank is limited, perhaps with a mild intellectual disability. And he’s sensitive and somewhat fragile. I just couldn’t subject him to Detective Shields’s methods. I had hoped to get him to tell me more, but I haven’t been able to get him to open up about it. Do you have any ideas how this can be handled?”
“Yes. Absolutely. I have the perfect solution. I’ve just been assigned an assistant, Amanda Holmes. Officer Holmes is a young woman who just joined the department. She doesn’t have much experience with us yet, but before attending the academy, she was a grade school teacher out in Utah. I think she would be just the person to go talk to your young friend. She’s especially skilled at developing trust with potential witnesses. Let me see where she is.” Gabriel left the room. Sarah looked relieved. Withholding this information had been difficult for her.
A young female officer entered the room, followed by Detective Gabriel. “I would like to introduce you folks. Officer Holmes, this is Sarah Miller and her friend Detective Charles Parker, and,” turning to Amanda, “this is Officer Amanda Holmes.” Officer Holmes extended her hand to Sarah and Charles.
“Where are you assigned, Detective Parker?” she asked.
“What Gabe neglected to say is that I’m now retired. Just call me Charles.”
“And I’m Sarah. We’re both happy to meet you, officer.”
“I’m glad to meet you both. Please call me Amanda. I think this operation of ours is somewhat under the table, so let’s keep it informal.”
“I told Amanda what we’re hoping to do,” Gabriel explained, “but I also told her it’s not my plan to handle this officially, at least not until we get more information. I don’t want to take the chance that other officers might get involved and question Frank on their own.” Sarah read between the lines that Gabriel intended to make sure Mark Shields didn’t get involved. She was relieved.
“I appreciate your discretion, Detective Gabriel.”
Amanda Holmes took a seat next to Gabriel’s desk. She was about thirty-two years old, Sarah thought. She was pretty with short brown hair and deep brown eyes that sparkled with anticipation. She clearly was pleased with her new job. “Where shall we start?” Sarah asked.
Amanda spoke up saying, “Well, I thought we would approach this like an undercover operation. I think uniforms would spook the young man, from what Gabe told me. Sarah, do you know where I might have an opportunity to meet him informally?”
“Yes,” Sarah responded. “He works at Keller’s Market on South Street and has been coming to the Friday night quilting group at Running Stitches. He lives with his grandmother near Cunningham Village, but that’s probably not the best place to visit him.”
“I agree,” she said. “I’ve been doing some quilting myself. I wonder if I could come to that group on Friday night?”
“Sure,” Sarah responded enthusiastically. “It’s open to anyone, and we would love to have you. Frank is very comfortable and open in that group.”
“Okay then. Let’s keep this between us. The shop owner doesn’t need to know what we’re doing, does she?” Amanda asked.
“Absolutely not. She’ll be happy to welcome a new face, and who knows? You just might want to keep coming,” Sarah said with a hopeful smile.
After they had all left his office, Detective Gabriel thought about their plans. He had respect for Sarah’s judgment and wanted to do all he could to protect Frank from Shields’s style of interrogation. He had just as much respect for Amanda and her ability to get the information they needed.
He didn’t know, at this point, whether Shields would occupy this office again. It had been made clear to him that he was covering Shields’s caseload, but it wasn’t yet clear whether this was a permanent assignment. Shields was on extended leave, but nothing official had been announced. Everyone knew about Mark’s accident and assumed that was why he was not working. A few people knew his injuries weren’t serious enough to justify an extended leave of absence, so the rumor mill was beginning to grind.
* * * * *
Mark Shields returned to the motel room he had been occupying for the past few days. His messages to Margaret at the house remained unanswered. Her cell phone had been disconnected, and her family didn’t answer his calls or return his messages.
The next morning, he received a visitor accompanied by a private security officer. After being asked for his name, Shields confirmed that he was, in fact, Detective Mark Shields. The visitor simply handed Shields an envelope, and the two men left.
His first thought was that he was being terminated from the department. He was almost relieved to see it was divorce papers from Margaret’s family attorney. Good riddance, he thought as he opened another bottle of scotch.
Chapter 30
Sarah had begun her second quilting class, more advanced than the first. In this one, she would be making an actual quilt—not a large one, just a throw for her couch. She loved being in the shop with all the beautiful fabrics, and as it turned out, she was very good on the machine. It had been many years since she had sewn anything. She was still using her old machine at home, but she loved working with the f
ancy new ones in the shop. “Perhaps a new machine is in order,” she told herself. She was still considering converting the guest room into a sewing room.
For her focus fabric, Sarah had chosen a floral pattern, which she would use for the border of her throw. Her couch was a soft brown, and the border fabric she chose featured flowers in shades of peach and pale yellow with sage-green leaves and stems. There was a touch of brown here and there in the center of the flowers and the veins of the leaves. She chose a brown inner border to complement it.
The pattern the group had chosen was a log cabin. She learned that the middle block was traditionally red, but because of her color scheme, she decided to use the same brown for her centers. She then chose an assortment of tone-on-tone fabrics in the colors that were in her border—darker shades for one side of the block and much lighter shades for the other side. The center of the quilt would have a scrappy look but would coordinate with the border. She purchased additional border fabric for the back since it would be on her couch and, when she was curled up in it, both sides would show.
She was disappointed that Frank was not taking this class too, but she knew she would see him Friday night. She hoped Amanda would be able to get some useful information from him. Lacey and Dottie from the first class were both taking the log cabin class. Lacey was doing a beautiful job, but Dottie’s flamboyance was getting in her way as she struggled to concentrate on what she was doing. Her fabric was scattered everywhere, and she had trouble sticking with one step, always wanting to move ahead whether or not she was ready. “But I want to see what it will look like finished. Let’s go ahead and make one square and cut the rest later,” she pleaded.
Ruth good-naturedly told her that she would be able to develop her own style once she learned the basics, but in the class, it was important for everyone to be doing the same step and progressing step by step. “What we’re doing now is cutting out all our fabrics. Then we will begin making the squares. Just be patient, Dottie dear. It will be worth it.” Dottie groaned and returned to her cutting board.
Lacey had all her colors carefully coordinated and in neat piles. She had completed cutting all of the strips for the log cabin square and was ready to cut her borders. Ruth suggested that, since she and Sarah were both finished with their strip cutting, perhaps they would like to take a coffee break until the others caught up. There were three other people in the class, but they were all beginners who hadn’t taken the beginning class, so Ruth was giving them more time.
At the coffeepot, Lacey asked Sarah about the killing in Cunningham Village. “Have the police found out who did it yet?”
“No. The killer apparently didn’t leave any clues at all,” Sarah responded. “They can’t find anyone with a motive, although they may be looking at this one man. But the whole investigation is very hush-hush. No one seems to be able to get any solid information from the police.”
“Have they arrested that man?” Lacey asked.
“No. I’ve seen him around the community, and I really doubt that he had anything to do with it, anyway,” Sarah shared.
“What about that Frank fellow from our first class? Remember, he said his friend knows who did it. Have the police looked into that?”
“They know about it.” She didn’t offer any other information and was glad that Lacey hadn’t joined the Friday night group. She was afraid Lacey would bring it up if she saw Frank. Changing the subject, Sarah said, “I love the fabrics you chose. Your quilt is going to look like an heirloom.”
Lacy had chosen calicos in muted colors for one side of the Log Cabin block and a mottled cream for all the strips on the light side. “I didn’t see your border, though. What will you use for that?” Sarah asked.
“I spoke with Ruth about making extra log cabin squares and not having a border. I think it will make it look more traditional.”
“You’re right. What a great idea.” They returned to the classroom after their short break and continued with their lesson.
After class, Sarah spoke with Ruth briefly to inquire whether it would be okay to bring Barney to the Friday night group. She explained that he was a rescue and hadn’t been left alone much but that he was very well-behaved. Ruth said it would be fine and that the group would enjoy having him there.
Sarah had an ulterior motive, however. It had occurred to her that Barney was the perfect one to put Frank at ease the night Amanda was coming to the meeting.
When she got home, she asked Barney, “Well, young man. How would you like to be involved in an undercover operation?” Barney, of course, smiled and wagged his tail. Whatever she suggested was just fine with him, whether he understood it or not. Together they went out to the backyard and played fetch with his new tennis ball. He was ecstatic to be running and playing with his favorite person in the world.
When they came back into the house, Sarah noticed that Barney had dragged his fleece bed into her room, along with several of his toys. “So. Do I understand you to say that you want to move into my room?” she asked him. He wagged his tail and most of his body. He started to jump up on her, but she raised one finger and said, “No, Barney.” He immediately froze. “Sit,” she said, and he did. “Good boy,” she praised. Sarah gave him a tasty treat from the jar. “We’ll have to keep working on that one, Barney. I don’t want you jumping up on people Friday night. Let’s go to my room and find a good place for your bed and toy box.”
* * * * *
The letter he was dreading arrived that day. It was addressed to Detective Mark Shields and sent to his home address, but his mail was being forwarded to a post office box. He swallowed the half glass of scotch that was left and opened the envelope with trepidation. He scanned the letter quickly, seeing that a meeting had been set up for the following Thursday with his lieutenant and the chief. “That doesn’t sound so bad,” he told himself, “I can handle that. Besides, I have Gabe on my team. All is well.” The scotch was gone, and he had been alone too long. He needed to get out. “I’ll head to Barney’s and see how the old gang is getting along.”
* * * * *
Gabriel came back to his office, his stomach in knots. “They really put me through the wringer today,” he told Officer Holmes. Amanda didn’t know the details of the Shields inquiry. In fact, she had never met the man. Rumor had it that he was a drunk, made numerous errors in judgment, and in general was a detriment to the department. She didn’t know what they were asking of Gabriel, but whatever it was, it was causing him a great deal of stress. She knew they were friends as well as partners and that Gabe was very worried about Mark. Her heart went out to him. He was a good man who loved his job and his family. But she had the feeling Shields would use Gabe’s loyalty to his own advantage.
After work that night, Amanda decided to stop by Barney’s. Most of the guys went there during their off hours, and it would be an opportunity to get to know her fellow officers in more relaxed surroundings. As she entered, she immediately caught the eye of a handsome man sitting alone at a corner table. He was not in uniform, but he had the look of a cop. He smiled at her and nodded. Do I know him? she wondered. She had met so many people in her short time in Middletown that she could only assume she did, so she smiled back. He motioned for her to join him. She headed for the table, and as she approached he asked, “What’s your drink?”
“I’ll have a Molson,” she responded as she sat down. “I’m ashamed to have to ask this, but do I know you? I’ve met so many people lately that they’re all running together.”
“Well, you’re in uniform, so I would say you know of me. But as far as I know, we’ve never met. Where are you assigned?” he asked. His eyes appeared somewhat out of focus.
“I’m assigned temporarily to assist Detective Gabriel while his partner is on leave. And you?”
“Well,” he slurred, “I’m that partner who’s on leave.”
“Detective Shields?” she said.
“You got it.”
“I’m glad to meet you, detective.” S
he wished she hadn’t agreed to have a drink. She wondered how she could get out of this awkward situation. Nothing occurred to her right away, so she laid a five on the table so it was clear that she was buying her own drink. They talked a while, but his sentences didn’t really track, and he didn’t seem to be tuned into what she said.
After the first drink, she excused herself, repeated that she was glad to meet him, and quickly left the bar. “So that’s the infamous Mark Shields,” she said to herself once she got outside. As she was getting into her car, she saw him come out of the restaurant and look up and down the street. She hoped he wasn’t looking for her, but just in case she pulled out immediately and headed home.
Chapter 31
Katie began the meeting by announcing, “We have a guest tonight.” Ruth was returning bolts of fabric to the shelves but looked over to greet the guest. “This is Amanda Holmes,” Katie continued. “Amanda is a relatively new quilter, and we all welcome her to our group.” Turning to Amanda, she added, “I hope you brought some of your work to show us.” Amanda had brought her first quilt, a single Irish chain. Sarah was able to see that it was made with nine patches and solid squares with the colors arranged to reveal a simple chain running diagonally through the quilt. She loved it and made a mental note to make that pattern sometime. Amanda pulled the second quilt out of her bag.
“This one is my most recent quilt,” she said, “and it’s not quite finished. I have the borders to put on, and I was hoping you folks could help me choose the fabrics. I know that I should have chosen my borders first, but I’m hoping to be able to find something that looks good with these blocks.” It appeared to be a complex pattern, and Sarah couldn’t dissect it. Others seemed to be able to immediately see the individual blocks. She hoped she would get that skilled someday.
Ruth, having finished putting bolts away, entered the classroom and said, “I want to introduce our second guest tonight. This is Barney. He is Sarah’s new ...” not knowing what kind of dog he was, she turned to Sarah and asked, “What is he, Sarah?”
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