"You two go down the beach road a little way. Aiden and I will be parallel and three blocks over in case he goes inland."
"Sarah?” There was no acknowledgment. “Silver Needle?” she tried.
"Silver Needle here,” Sarah said. “Can you go back into town and then take the shortcut through Fogg Park to the spot we marked in yellow on the map?"
"Will do. Thimble, over and out."
"You ladies are nuts,” Aiden said as he drove to their next position.
Once again the phone rang.
"Harriet?” said Jenny. “You've got him. There's a small red truck in front of a yellow van and then he's the gray sedan."
"Everyone get that?” Harriet asked.
"Okay, we know where to go next,” Robin said.
"We're still aiming for the yellow spot,” Connie said.
Harriet spotted the red truck as she disconnected the call. Aiden let another car pass before he pulled out into the flow of traffic. They drove up a long curving slope that had transitioned from planned housing developments to single houses and then to grassy fields interspersed with sections of forest on both sides of the road.
"Hello,” Aiden said as they came up a slight rise and drove past the gray sedan, parked at the side of the road.
Harriet picked up her phone and dialed the others.
"Listen up, everyone,” she said. “Our subject has left his car and is traveling overland. He's headed into the woods on the back side of Miller Hill. Aiden and I will follow on foot. Robin and DeAnn, you two stay on the beach road in case he goes over the hill and keeps going. Silver Needle, you take the west side of Miller Hill, and Lauren, you two take the east side of the hill. Go up to that little park near the top that has the mineral water well and wait for Aiden and I to show up on foot. I'm assuming he won't stop before the top, since there's nothing between here and there."
"I hate to rain on your parade,” Lauren said, “but other than the park, there's nothing anywhere on Miller Hill. He's either meeting someone in the woods or he's on to us."
"I guess we're going to have to follow him to find out, then, aren't we?"
"Over and out,” Lauren said and disconnected.
Less than a quarter-mile past Terry's gray car was the wide mouth to a gated drive that was set back from the road. Aiden parked several car lengths past the gate, got out and went around to the back. He rummaged around and pulled out a pair of binoculars and a gallon jug.
"What are you doing?” Harriet asked.
"Props,” he said. “When we run into Terry and he asks what we're doing, I want to have some crumb of credibility. I'm bird-watching and you're getting some of that famous Miller Spring mineral water. Let's go."
He led the way back along the shoulder of the road and then into the knee high grass that bordered the forested top of Miller Hill. They reached the parking area adjacent to the well and its pump without encountering Terry. Lauren and Jenny pulled into the lot right after Aiden and Harriet arrived.
"I'm going to make use of the restroom as long as we're here and he isn't,” Harriet said.
"You're not going alone,” Lauren said. “Not after last time,” she added, referring to Harriet's kidnapping from a restroom at the Angel Harbor Folk Art School a few months earlier.
"Fine, come on, then."
Aiden walked to the far edge of the clearing and put the binoculars to his eyes.
Jenny joined the trek to the restroom. She flipped her hood up to cover her silver hair. Aiden was standing outside the small building when they came back out.
"Did you see anything?” Harriet asked. It wasn't dark yet, but the sun was almost down, so it wasn't likely he could see much, but he might have gotten lucky.
"I can't see him clearly, but he's sitting on a big rock on a slight rise with his back to us, as near as I can tell. From the position he's in, my guess is he's using binoculars. The angle is wrong for me to see what he's looking at."
"You could have just asked me,” said Terry as he came out of the forest.
"What are you talking about?” Harriet asked.
"Could we please not waste both of our time? Since you're here and insisting on sticking your nose into my business, maybe you can help me."
"I'm sure I don't know what you mean,” Harriet insisted.
"Harriet,” Aiden said. “You're busted. Let's hear the man out."
"How did you know we were following you?” Lauren asked.
"I didn't know you were. I spotted the car that sat in front of my motel all afternoon almost immediately—the plates belong to some kind of senior living center. I didn't know how that fit, but when I passed Aiden and Harriet parked on the side street, it started to come together."
"So, get to the part where you tell us why you're spying on someone else,” Lauren demanded.
"Let me show you. Stay behind me and stay low when we crest the rise,” Terry said. “And you...” He indicated Lauren. “Do you have something dark you can put over your shirt?"
"I've got a navy windbreaker,” she said, and went to her car to get it.
When Lauren was properly dressed, the group set off down the path through the woods, and then through the grass and up the small rise. Terry signaled them to stop before they reached the rock.
"Come and look, one at a time,” he said.
Harriet followed him up to the rock. Below them was Foggy Point Fire Protection. She looked at him, and would have asked a question if he hadn't held his finger to her lips.
"Just look,” he whispered. “We can talk back at the park.” He handed her a set of low-light binoculars.
Foggy Point Fire Protection was bustling. Garage-style doors stood open at one end of the main building. Light poured out, and she could see people moving about inside. A forklift carrying a pallet of boxes came around the end of the building and went inside the open doors. Harriet sucked in her breath, and Terry once again put a finger to her lips. He took the binoculars and led her back to the others. He took Lauren next and then Aiden and Jenny.
Everyone started talking at once when Jenny and Terry got back from the rock.
Terry held up his hand.
"Please,” he said. “Am I correct that the fire turn-out company doesn't run a night shift?"
"They don't,” Jenny said. “And haven't for a long time."
"Have any of you heard anything about them renting out the company to someone else to make a different product?"
They all shook their heads.
"I have seen a few new people in town who didn't look like they belonged here,” Lauren said. “Besides you, that is."
"That doesn't mean anything,” Jenny said. “We do have a small seasonal work force this time of year. They work at the organic farm out past Smuggler's Cove."
"Okay,” Aiden said, and took a step toward Terry. “It's time for you to tell us why you're spying on the factory and why you're in Foggy Point. The real reason this time."
At six-foot-three, Aiden could look imposing when he wanted to. Harriet didn't know what had happened to him during the three years he'd spent doing animal research in Uganda, but there was an underlying toughness to him she guessed hadn't been there prior to his trip to Africa.
"I have to get down there.” Terry looked at the black Luminox watch on his wrist. “I'm meeting a guy. It's almost his break time. I'll know more after I talk to him. I promise, I'll tell you what this is about later."
Aiden started to grab Terry's arm, but Harriet stopped him.
"Let him go,” she said.
Terry gave her a grateful look and took off through the woods.
"What now, Mata Hari,” Aiden asked.
Jenny pulled her hood off and repositioned her short ponytail.
I'll call off the others,” she said. “Shall we meet back at Tico's?"
"I'll call Jorge and make sure no one else is using spy central,” Lauren said.
"They're right,” Harriet said. “We need to get together with the Threads."
> * * * *
Harriet called Aunt Beth on the ride back to Tico's Tacos. She knew that, even though her aunt would have nixed the idea of following Terry, she'd want to be in on the results of the enterprise.
"So, let me get this straight,” Aunt Beth said when the Loose Threads and Aiden were all seated in Tico's back room and Jorge had supplied iced tea and lemonade for all of them—minus Sarah, who had presumably gone to salvage her hot date. “You followed Terry because you were suspicious about where he went every night. You discovered he's following someone else for reasons unknown."
"That pretty much sums it up,” Aiden said. “I wanted to squeeze it out of him, but your niece wouldn't let me."
"He said he'd tell us everything as soon as he met with his source,” Harriet reminded him.
"And of course you believed him because you trusted him so much. He's so trustworthy you had to follow him all over Foggy Point tonight."
"He had official binoculars,” Connie offered.
"And of course that means he's legit,” Aunt Beth said.
"It doesn't mean he's legit,” Harriet said. “But the important part isn't what he's doing. it's more what he's not doing."
"We were trying to see if he was doing something that would be harmful to Carla,” Lauren said. “I didn't see anything we should worry about."
"What kind of person skulks around at night following other people who are probably doing something perfectly legitimate?” Aunt Beth said. “I don't think you've proved anything. In fact,” she continued, “from where I'm sitting, you've raised more questions than you've answered."
Jorge brought a platter heaped with cheese-drenched nachos and set it in the middle of the picnic table.
"Dig in folks, it'll help you think more clearly,” he said.
Aiden had just scooped a tortilla chip dripping with cheese into the beans and salsa on the edge of the platter when his pager sounded. Harriet took the gooey bite from his hand and ate it as he called the animal clinic.
"Gotta go,” he said. “Can you get a ride?"
"Of course she can,” Connie said. “You go save the animal world."
"Let's talk about what we know,” Robin said, and pulled the yellow tablet and a pen from her purse.
"Terry is following someone,” DeAnn offered.
"Not following,” Lauren corrected. “He's spying on someone at Carlton's factory. I take that back. He's spying on the factory. We don't have any evidence he is spying on a particular person."
"Good point,” Harriet said grudgingly. “He was spying on the activity taking place at the factory. Right now, we don't know if there is anything unusual about what's going on there. Just because we don't know about a night shift doesn't mean there isn't one."
"So, that's the first thing we need to figure out,” Robin said. “If Terry is spying on the ordinary operation of a factory, then we have to wonder what he's up to and if he's planning some criminal activity. If, as he tried to lead us to believe, there is something wrong with what's happening at the factory, then we have to wonder why Terry's involved in spying on that wrong activity."
"He said he was meeting someone there, so we can't really say he was spying on the factory,” DeAnn pointed out. “He could have been verifying that his friend was there before he went down."
"You're quite the spies,” Aunt Beth said with a laugh. “You've just concluded that after all that following, you really don't know anything."
"We learned that Terry has some interest in Foggy Point Fire Protection and whatever is going on there at night,” Harriet told her.
"At last,” Aunt Beth said. “That is a fact."
"What do we do next?” DeAnn asked.
"I should be able to find out what's going on at Foggy Point Fire,” Harriet said. “Two of the Willis boys are staying at my house, and Gerry's been coming over to talk with them. They're all trying to sort out what happened with their dad. If Gerry is at my place when I get home, I'll ask him. If not, I can ask him or Carlton tomorrow."
"That'll be a good start,” Robin said.
"Speaking of the Willis boys and the questions about their father,” Connie said, “do you suppose there is some connection between Terry and Ilsa? I mean, they both came to town at the same time and they both were following someone."
"Whoa,” Lauren said.
"Could he be her son?” DeAnn wondered.
"If you're asking whether he could be Gerald's son,” Aunt Beth said, “I don't think so. At least, not if he was born after he and Ilsa were married. He was gone not quite twenty years, and Ilsa says they've only been married fifteen. But of course that assumes everyone is telling the truth."
"That's a slippery slope to go down,” Harriet said. “If we're questioning everything, Ilsa and Gerald might have had a relationship before he left. He did travel, didn't he?"
"You all aren't old enough to really know the man. I'd bet my life he wasn't having an affair on Mavis,” Beth said. “Unless Terry is fourteen, he's not Gerard's son. That doesn't preclude the possibility that he's Ilsa's son."
"And that might give him a good motive for killing Gerard,” Harriet suggested. “What would he have against Carlton that would have him sizing up the factory?"
"It's not a perfect theory yet, but it does seem to be a bit of a coincidence that Gerard comes back, followed by Ilsa and then it turns out Terry showed up at the same time,” DeAnn said.
"I think you guys are way off track, but let me dig on the internet about Terry,” Lauren said. “I'm not holding out a lot of hope, though. He seems kind of sharp, which means he's probably not using his real name and has probably lied about everything else, too."
"I've got to check up on Carla tomorrow,” Aunt Beth said. “I'll probe a little and see what Terry has disclosed to her. Who knows? He might have told her something useful."
"Call if you get anything,” Lauren said and stood up. “I've got to go.” She pulled a few bills from her purse and left them on the table.
"I better go, too,” Robin said. DeAnn left with her.
The remainder of the group stayed until the nachos were gone.
"I had Lauren swing by my house on our way here so I could get my car,” Jenny said. “I can drop you both off on my way home."
"Thanks, that would be great,” Harriet said, and Connie nodded agreement.
With that settled, they left the back room and threaded their way through the dining area.
"Oh, hi,” came Bebe's girlish voice from a booth by the door. “What are you gals doing here?"
"Eating Mexican food,” Harriet replied. “What about you?"
"Me and Carlton are having dinner. He's in the little boy's room."
"Are you ladies leaving me?” Jorge said as he set two plates on the table. Each was covered with dark-green torn lettuce pieces with two thin strips of chicken breast laid in a cross through the middle.
"You didn't cook these in oil, did you?” Bebe asked.
"Never,” he said and turned his back to her. He rolled his eyes to the ceiling and mouthed a prayer for salvation. “You need picnic lunches again, you let me know,” he said to the Loose Threads, and went back to his kitchen.
"Is that all you're eating?” Connie asked.
"Carlton and I are going to Hawaii in a week and we need to be in swimsuit shape,” she said.
They all knew she'd been born in swimsuit shape—Carlton was the one being whipped into it. It was equally clear, to everyone but Bebe, that no amount of starving and exercising was going to erase his Humpty-Dumpty shape.
"Were you having a picnic in the dark?” Bebe asked.
Connie looked at Jenny and Harriet.
"We all went up to Miller Hill Park to get mineral water. Nadene at the Beauty Barn told us it would soften our calluses if we soaked our feet in it."
"That's funny, she didn't tell me that. She told me to rub olive oil on my feet and then put on clean cotton socks before I go to bed."
"You're probably not old eno
ugh to need the mineral water,” Jenny said smoothly.
"Hi, ladies,” Carlton said. “Are you here for dinner, too?"
"No, we were just leaving.” Connie ushered the other two out the door.
"Didn't we want to ask Carlton about what we saw at the factory tonight?” Jenny asked.
"I want to try Gerry first,” Harriet said. “Somehow, I'd feel more confident in what he said. Not that I have any reason to think Carlton would lie to us."
"I know what you mean,” Connie said. “You get the feeling Carlton is probably the last to know a lot that goes on at that company."
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter 20
Four of the Willis brothers were assembled in Harriet's kitchen when she got home. An empty pizza box full of greasy, wadded-up paper napkins lay discarded on the island bar.
"Hi, guys,” she said as she came through the connecting door. Fred jumped from the counter to weave through her legs. “What's wrong, Fred? Wouldn't anyone feed you?"
"That cat is a con artist,” Harry said. “Each one of us fed him as we arrived. He's got a great starving cat shtick."
"He does know how to work it,” Harriet agreed and smiled.
"We've found out a few things while you were out,” Ben said.
"You mean James found something out,” Harry corrected.
"Let me put my purse down and get a cup of tea,” Harriet said. “I've learned a few things, too. Or at least, I've learned enough to have a few more questions."
Harry jumped up and put the kettle on. Ben opened the dishwasher and pulled Harriet's newly cleaned mug from the rack. Harriet took an Earl Grey tea bag from a box in the pantry closet. She sat down, and when the water boiled, Ben poured for her then made himself a cup.
"So,” she said as she dunked her bag up and down. “What did you guys learn?"
"No fair,” Harry said. “Ladies first."
"Hey,” Ben said and playfully slapped his brother's shoulder. “It's her house. She gets to go whenever she wants."
"Grow up, you two,” James Willis said. “Sorry, Harriet. “I've been investigating my mom's widow's benefits,” he explained.
Harry and Ben joined Harriet at the table while Gerry sat with James at the island bar.
Quilt As You Go Page 16
