Barbara Graham - Quilted 04 - Murder by Vegetable

by Barbara Graham

  Just checking up, Tony drove the length of the county. The tanker was gone, towed away on its own wheels. The leakage had been less than feared but more than there should have been. Once all the measuring and discussion ended, it was clear the truck driver had been traveling too fast. He received a ticket and a lecture. Tony suspected he was going to get an earful from his boss as well. Wade told him how little the driver cared about the harm he'd done, and a string of curses and excuses had poured from the driver's belligerent face. Maybe his attitude stemmed from the shock of the accident itself, or maybe from the need to dramatize his life, but Tony didn't like him and would be pleased if he stayed out of Park County, Tennessee, for the rest of his life.

  Tony drove carefully around the curve and headed for town. He noticed a small red pickup approaching, traveling slightly above the speed limit and swerving a bit. It was staying in the right lane. As it neared him, Tony realized the driver held a cell phone and was apparently sending a text message. Both hands flew over the device as the driver stared down at the screen.

  A third hand, one belonging to a small passenger, gripped the steering wheel. Tony's daydream of continued peace and sane behavior shattered. He made a U-turn and fell in behind the pickup, flashing his lights and hitting the siren. The man behind the wheel—Tony wasn't sure he'd still qualify as the driver—leaned sideways like he'd dropped something and the pickup swerved hard, luckily not into oncoming traffic. The pickup finally stopped, half on the road, half in a ditch. The driver's side door opened and four hundred pounds of belligerent man shoved his way through the space. He clutched his cell phone in his left hand and dragged an ax handle from the open bed as he headed for Tony.

  He didn't get far. Stopped by a scream coming from the pickup and the sight of Tony's semi-automatic aimed at his huge gut, he dropped the handle and raised his hands over his head.

  Tony drove to Ruby's Café, went around to the back and sat outside. From his table he had a nice view of the ridge separating this area from downtown Silersville. The sight of spring foliage and the chirping of happy birds eased some of his frustration. He took a deep breath and slowly let it out, forcing himself to relax. Wrecks, robbery, texting, and attempted assault: what was next? He was sure it would be something stupid and spring fever would be blamed.

  The incredibly beautiful café owner, Ruby herself, brought him a glass of water. “Good morning, Tony.”

  Ruby had married Tony's deputy, Mike ott, in this very place only a few months earlier. Tony smiled at her and thought her voice held a happier than usual note. “You sound chipper.”

  “And why not? It's a beautiful day and one of my favorite customers has come by for pie? Cinnamon roll? Coffee?” Ruby didn't offer him a menu.

  “Apple pie?” Tony loved his wife and children, but some days the pie ran a close second.

  “Blossom just took one out of the oven. It should still be warm.” Ruby's lips turned up at the corners.

  Tony moaned, just a little, recognizing his lack of willpower. “Okay. Better make it a double.”

  When she returned with the pie, two warm slices on a dinner plate, she leaned close to his ear as she set down the plate, making sure the customers at nearby tables didn't hear. “Since you're one of my best customers, I'm giving you a news scoop—Mike and I are expecting a baby in the fall.”

  Before Tony could give her his congratulations, as well as thanks for the news he beat Theo to, Wade arrived. He asked for the same size serving of pie. Ruby gave Tony a wink and headed for the kitchen.

  Theo was surprised to see Tony arrive in her workroom. She thought he looked tired and elated at the same time. “What's up?”

  “Can't a man come visit his three favorite females without getting the third degree?” He headed to the corner dedicated to the children. As well as a small table and chairs, a television and a refrigerator, the boys had video games and movies and books, and there was a microwave and coffee pot and a small pantry. Lately Theo had added even more equipment because of the twins. A changing table and crib, as well as a rocking chair and the usual trundle bed and floor chairs. “You're running out of space up here.”

  The twins napped side by side in their crib, so Tony just patted their tiny backs. One of his hands was still much bigger than each back, but the girls were growing every day.

  “So true.” Theo wasn't complaining. It was chaos, but it was happy chaos. “Maybe when Gus is finished adding on to Queen Doreen's shop and being your mom and aunt's museum slave, I'll have him add a floor above this one just for the kids. We'll be the tallest building in Silersville and maybe get an elevator and . . .” Laughing, she paused to take a deep breath.

  “Ruby's pregnant.” Tony whispered in the moment of silence.

  Theo stopped chattering. “Really?”

  “Yep.” His bright blue eyes twinkled, and his whole face lit up with the smile. “I just got the good news directly from her, along with a double slice of apple pie. Very good, the apple pie, maybe the best one Blossom's ever made.” Tony patted his stomach.

  “I'm so happy for Ruby and Mike. Thanks for being the bearer of such good news. It almost makes up for your mom trapping me into giving a demonstration on Saturday.” Laughing, Theo gave him a big hug. “Do I need to keep this secret, or can I release the news here at gossip central?”

  “Ruby says you can tell anyone you want.” Tony looked at his watch. “It's eleven. Want to make a bet how long it takes before the news on the gossip express makes full circle and Ruby hears about it at the café?”

  Shaking her head at his offer, Theo made one of her own. “For a kiss, I'll give you a five-minute head start. You better give the news to Ruth Ann before she hears it from the grapevine.”

  “So true. I'd hate to be decapitated for my bad behavior. I made her smudge her polish earlier today. A second transgression could have lasting consequences.” Tony gave her a quick kiss, fluffed her curls, and charged for the stairs.

  Theo actually gave him six minutes before she headed downstairs, baby monitor in hand, to start spreading the word.

  Three elderly ladies were busy in the large, brightly illuminated classroom. It was the usual gathering place for many of the community women, and an occasional man. When there wasn't a class going on, anyone could come in and work on the charity quilt of the moment set up on a full-sized frame. In addition to the traditional hand quilters, Theo's shop now had a long-arm machine for those who wanted to rent time on it to quickly complete some of their projects.

  Theo knew how to operate the long-arm machine, which resembled an oversize sewing machine with handlebars. The quilt sandwich remained stable, and the quilter moved the machine, making quilting by machine a completely new experience. Theo had taken classes on how to use the machine. She studied the video supplied by the company, and she practiced on some quilts donated to various charities. Theo just couldn't enjoy using it. Luckily for her and the shop, Gretchen had fallen in love with the machine and the process. So Gretchen not only gave lessons to their customers in using it, a requirement for anyone wanting to rent time, she also paid Theo a nominal fee and used it to do quilting for other people. The extra money she earned was going into Gretchen's children's college fund.

  Today, so far, of the regular ladies, there were three. Oldest was legally blind Betty followed by her younger and better sighted friend Dottie. Compared to the physically gnome-like Betty, Dottie was a young, physically spry eighty-year-old. The ladies were drinking coffee and working on a jigsaw puzzle at a card table set up in the corner next to the coffee pot. Theo wondered how Betty could find the right place for the puzzle pieces without her sight until Theo studied them once and realized Dottie spent more time helping Betty find homes for her pieces than in working the puzzle herself.

  This morning, the third woman, Ada Walker, served as their waitress. In one of the odd twists of fate guaranteed to make life unpredictable, Ada had moved to Silersville only two years earlier so she could live closer to her daught
er. The situation seemed ideal. Ada's daughter and son-in-law owned a rental house on their property. It was tiny but cozy. Ada kept her own life and stuff separate from her daughter's. The house was also convenient to the senior center. Her daughter could keep tabs on her mother without either household feeling invasive or invaded.

  Ada became one of the quilt shop regulars almost before she was unpacked. Life was good. Until the day it suddenly wasn't. In a freak accident, her daughter and son-in-law were killed. The property and its contents, except for Ada's personal belongings, suddenly belonged to strangers—the husband's brothers. They weren't unsympathetic to her plight, and wrote into the contract for the sale of the property her right to live in the cottage for life. And pay minimal rent.

  Ada had clear desires for her after-death experience, and managed to work her plans for her afterlife into almost every conversation. She insisted on cremation, no funeral service, just a memorial luncheon and yard sale. Any proceeds over the costs incurred were to be donated to a designated charity. Her other recurring theme was a fluent, almost continuous, outpouring of profanity. Tony once said after chatting with Ada that, as a Navy man, he was surprised to learn that his vocabulary of certain nouns, verbs, and adverbs was shockingly sparse. Bright color highlighted his cheekbones, as Ada literally did make a sailor blush.

  Theo's main issue with the woman was she didn't filter her language when children were present. She came to accept Ada's vocabulary with more grace after a whispered conference with her friends explained that Ada's tendency to use profanity started when she'd had a stroke or some similar neurological event.

  The arrival of three more elderly ladies made the informal club gathering more festive.

  Their group of older ladies came to the shop most mornings, sometimes to do puzzles, sometimes to quilt, and often to just sit and soak up the gossip and the fun environment of the shop. Theo's contribution was free coffee. At eleven-thirty, the ladies would make their way to the senior center, a block away, for lunch and whatever entertainment was available. They'd all be back in their own homes for the day by four-thirty.

  “I have a bit of news for you,” Theo said, and told them about Ruby's pregnancy. Then she suggested maybe their little quilting group might like to help make a baby quilt when Ruby's time came nearer.

  They fell on the idea with great enthusiasm and began pulling quilting magazines out of a stack, looking for the perfect pattern. All of them knew their major job would be selecting the pattern and deciding on the fabrics. The younger members of the club, so to speak, would do the actual cutting and sewing and quilting. The older ladies, the day ladies, would get all the credit while the evening group would do the work.

  Since Ruby had been initiated into the evening quilting group, known as the Thursday Night Bowling League, she would understand the rules of the game. In fact, she might end up working on her own baby's quilt for a while and be “surprised” when it was wrapped and given to her at a shower. Rules were rules, and as long as everyone understood and abided by them, there were no problems.

  While Theo and the older ladies were chatting about the exciting new project, Portia Osgood tottered in, leaning heavily on a walker. While not Theo's favorite woman, she had fewer bad memories of having her for a teacher than Tony did. Theo had been an exceptionally sheltered and timid child who handed in all of her homework, and Mrs. Osgood had never needed to reprimand her. Tony, on the other hand, frequently clashed with the diminutive teacher. Self-confident and high-spirited, he rebelled against her rigid rules.

  Theo greeted the elderly woman, pulled a chair over to the table for her, and asked if she'd like a cup of coffee or tea.

  “Tea with cream.” Portia glared, even as she struggled into her chair. “None of that non-dairy claptrap. There's nothing wrong with what cows produce. I've lived ninety years and had butter and cream almost every day of them.”

  Biting the insides of her cheeks to keep from laughing, Theo did as she had been ordered. As she walked toward the coffee pot, she heard the older ladies commiserating with each other about failing eyesight, poor health, and the loneliness coming from losing a pet or companion. “You never had children, did you, Portia?”

  “Only the several hundred I taught over the years.” Portia almost smiled when Theo delivered her beverage. “Some of them I liked more than others, but I did the best I could with what was given to me. I was occasionally surprised by the way they changed, but not usually.”

  “Like what?” Betty the gnome groped for her cup. “Or should I say who or whom?”

  “Well, of course, there was Billy Ragsdale.” Portia shook her head in disappointment or disgust.

  “Is he the one . . .?” Horror laced Dottie's words, but she didn't need to finish the question.

  Portia answered, her voice brisk. “Yes, he moved to Chicago and later killed his girlfriend.”

  “What relation is he to Harrison Ragsdale?” Theo thought she knew but wasn't sure. Harrison worked as a game warden. He was not well liked.

  “Billy was his older brother.” Portia sipped her coffee. “They had a sister, and she was not exactly my idea of a fine human being either. I just don't know what possesses people to behave like that. Run around all hours of the day and night, drinking and carrying on like the devil's own.”

  Theo tiptoed out of the room when the ladies launched into a group discussion of how the world was going to hell in a hand basket. Their depressing chatter was destroying Theo's happy mood after Tony's wonderful news about Ruby. She decided to share the news with Gretchen instead and headed for the business end of her building.

  Just as Theo arrived at the front of the store, Katti Marmot trotted in. Dressed in her favorite colors of pink and pink with more pink, she smiled broadly at Gretchen and Theo. “Is a good day.”

  Theo nodded. “It's always good to see you, Katti.”

  “Our Ruby is having baby.” Katti stopped at the counter. “What word is meaning more good?”

  “Wonderful.” Theo's delight was not only about Ruby's news, but she always enjoyed having the Russian mail-order bride around. Doc Nash had arranged for Katti to be her assistant during the last months of Theo's pregnancy with the twins, and Katti remained on the job for the first six weeks they were all home. It required more than one adult to deal with the newborns and Chris and Jamie. Tony was always on call. Katti might not work for Theo anymore, but she loved the girls.

  Gretchen turned to glare at Theo. “You knew about Ruby?”

  “I promise, I just found out and was on my way to tell you when Katti came in.” Theo spread her hands in surrender. “Is it my fault she got her mouth open before I did?”

  Gretchen's expression could have passed for acceptance. “So, Katti, how did you find out?”

  Katti looked uncertain she should say anything. “I eat at café with my Claude, and Ruby tells me. I so excited I have my Claude bring me to shop so I tell you. Is wrong?”

  “No. Not wrong.” Theo gave her a hug. “It's wonderful news.”

  Katti looked over Theo's shoulder. “Oooh, new pink?” She released her friend and headed to a newly arrived fabric.

  Behind Theo, Gretchen snickered. “Thrown over for some yard goods.”

  Her feelings not injured in the least, Theo might have offered a pithy rejoinder, but the baby monitor in her hand transmitted the sounds of soft baby chatter. “I'd better get up there.”

  After a late lunch, Tony drove, as he often did, the loop following the main roads of his county. It didn't take long and he liked to see what Mother Nature was up to as well as the residents. He'd swear the trees had been leafless the day before. Today, the buds on the trees and shrubs were fat and ready to burst open. The black walnut tree leaves were vivid green and he could see the catkins hanging like caterpillars in the branches. Flowering plants gleamed with white and pink. Spring had arrived overnight. No place he'd ever lived or visited could rival springtime in the Smokies. His window was down, and he could feel the sof
tness of the air.

  Although the possible combination of spring fever and the upcoming full moon might lead to escalating insanity in the locals was something he chose not to concentrate on, he found himself growing wary. He hoped the morning activities would be the extent of foolish behavior.

  Daydreaming of a world where he'd be able to banish people he didn't like from his county, Tony gradually became aware of the sound of a rifle being fired, probably a .22 caliber. He pulled off the road and cut the engine. Stepping out of the vehicle, he listened intently, hoping to be able to determine the origin of the shots. It wasn't unusual to hear occasional gunshots, but a road sign sniper was costing the county a fair amount of money and time. Drilling road signs had been going on unchecked for almost half a year. Who was so determined and so elusive?

  His cell phone rang at the same time he heard Rex's voice on the radio. Not knowing where to go for his sign sniper, Tony climbed into the Blazer.

  “Sheriff?” Rex was backing up his radio call with the telephone. “Are you coming by your office any time soon?”

  Tony thought Rex sounded irritated. Strong emotion from him indeed. “I'm on my way now. What's the problem?”

  “Blossom Flowers has a pie for you, and she says she's not sure you'll get it if she leaves it unattended in the lunch room.” Rex's voice reflected the insult he'd been given.

  “I had pie at Ruby's this morning.”

  “She's here now.” Rex's words snapped through the earpiece.

  Tony sighed. He supposed he ought to put a stop to the pie deliveries. In his head, it always sounded like a good idea to tell Blossom not to bake for him. Unfortunately, the scent of one of her pies drove Tony's common sense out the door. He congratulated himself on being better at sharing than he used to be. The first pie she made for him, he ate with his office door locked. “I'll be there in a few minutes.”