A Killer Stitch

by Maggie Sefton

  “You have a holiday party?” Kelly fairly chirped with glee. “Fantastic! I haven’t been to a happy holiday party since before my dad died four years ago. The CPA firm always had big expensive dinners for the holidays, where the senior partners drank too much and acted stupid.”

  Mimi giggled. “Well, we’ll have a little holiday cheer, but we’re all too smart to get stupid. You’ll love it, Kelly. Sounds like you’re due for a good time.”

  “You know what I’ve always wanted to do?” Kelly mused aloud, staring out the sock-trimmed windows to the bare branches of the cottonwood trees outside. “I want to go sleigh riding. You know, a one-horse open sleigh kind of thing.”

  “You can do that, Kelly. There are lots of ranches around the area that offer sleigh rides and hot chocolate beside a warm stove.” Mimi closed her eyes as if remembering.

  Lisa spoke up. “You know, it’s too bad you couldn’t get that property in the canyon you wanted so badly. It would have been perfect for sleigh rides. Greg and I cycled past the place last fall, after the woman…well, after she was taken away.”

  “You mean Geri Norbert’s place?” Mimi’s face paled. “That was so awful. How she could murder those women?” Mimi gave a little shiver. “I’m glad you didn’t get her ranch, Kelly.”

  Kelly remembered anew the disappointment she’d felt when she’d learned that Geri Norbert’s ranch had been bought by a real estate investor with much deeper pockets than hers. “It was a beautiful piece of property. I sure wish someone other than that developer had gotten it. Jennifer says he’s going to build some mini mansion up there.”

  “Correction. Mini mansion plans are off the table,” Jennifer declared as she pulled out the chair beside Kelly and sat down.

  “What do you mean?” Kelly asked, watching Jennifer remove a blue and white wool sweater from her voluminous bag and start knitting, her needles moving at their usual lightning speed.

  “Apparently, Geri Norbert’s ranch is back on the market. I didn’t even hear about it, and I wasn’t checking the canyons this month because it’s been a little slow heading into the holidays. So, imagine my surprise when another broker at my office mentioned he was taking a client up there.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry, Kelly. I should have been on top of it.”

  “That’s okay, Jen. I’m just happy to hear it’s back on the market,” Kelly said, the alpaca scarf dropping forgotten to her lap, excitement already racing through her veins. “Can you find out the details for me? Maybe I’ll have a shot at getting it this time.”

  “I’ll be glad to, but I heard the agent has it listed above market value. It’s probably too pricey for you this time, Kelly.”

  “Let’s wait and see,” Kelly said, refusing to be deterred. “Find out how much, then I’ll talk with Curt.”

  “Wait a minute. Curt’s a rancher. You’re the accountant,” Lisa teased.

  Kelly smiled, picturing her good friend and adviser Curt Stackhouse. Numbers she could manage. But when it came to cattle and sheep, Kelly was clueless. Without Curt’s help, Kelly would have been lost when she inherited her cousin Martha’s Wyoming ranch last summer. Now Curt was guiding Kelly through the wilderness of oil and gas drilling leases.

  “I know, but Curt’s the one who advises me on all that ranch business. Thanks to him I was able to free up enough cash to make an offer on that canyon property. He’s selling off the herd.”

  “Okay, I’ll check with the other agent then,” Jennifer said. “But first, I want to find out why the developer changed his mind. I heard him talking about his plans last month, and he was all stoked about building this huge mountain home up there. True, it’s got great scenery—”

  “Fantastic views,” Kelly corrected, feeling her excitement build.

  “Take your time, Kelly,” Mimi advised, a worried expression clouding her features as she headed toward the backroom. “Don’t be hasty.”

  “Speaking of haste,” Lisa chimed in, checking her watch before she rose from her chair, “I have to get back to the fitness center. Two private exercise sessions coming up.”

  “Wow, you’ll be working late tonight,” Jennifer said.

  “Twice a week,” Lisa said with a wave as she headed toward the main room. “See you guys later.”

  Kelly zeroed in on Jennifer once again. “Seriously, Jen, if that ranch is available I definitely want to make an offer. Find out the details tonight and give me a call, okay? I’ll be working late.”

  “I thought you didn’t have to work late now that you’re consulting on your own. Have you gotten new clients or something?”

  “Well, I’ve picked up a couple of small businesses here in town that Curt steered my way. Bless his heart. He—”

  The rest of Kelly’s sentence was blown away as Ellen suddenly raced through the classroom doorway and into the main room, hurrying over to the library table. Her face was flushed, her winter coat was hanging half off her shoulders, and a blue-green knitted scarf dangled around her neck. She leaned one hand on the table, obviously out of breath.

  “Hi, Ellen,” Kelly greeted, glad she’d remembered the spinner’s name. “Looks like you’re rushing somewhere.”

  “I came to see…if Lucy was here. Do you know…where she is?” she managed, catching her breath. “I called her cell, but there’s no answer. She’s not at home either, because I knocked on her door.”

  “Is she the new spinner who’s helping Burt?” Jennifer asked. “Dark-haired, petite?”

  “Yeah, Megan’s taking her class. I sat in the other day,” Kelly replied. “I’m sorry, Ellen, I haven’t seen Lucy. Her class isn’t until tomorrow, right?”

  “It’s not about class…,” Ellen said, collapsing into a nearby chair. “I just heard the news, and I couldn’t believe it. That’s why I’m trying to reach her.” She stared out the window.

  “Did something happen to Lucy?” Kelly let the alpaca scarf drop to her lap again. “Did she have a car accident? Is she all right?”

  “It wasn’t her, it was her boyfriend. Derek.” Ellen leaned forward. “He’s dead. I read in the paper this morning that an alpaca rancher was found dead on his ranch in Bellevue Canyon yesterday. I had a funny feeling and called Lucy. And when I didn’t get an answer, I got worried. So I called this friend I have at the paper and asked if they’d released the name of the deceased. She told me she’d gotten the details today, but she couldn’t reveal them yet. Then I told her Derek’s name, and she went real quiet. I said I was going to assume that my guess was right. She didn’t contradict me. That’s when I got really worried and went looking for Lucy.”

  “How did he die? Was there an accident?”

  Ellen shrugged. “The paper didn’t say, and my friend couldn’t tell me. Derek was only in his thirties.”

  “Did—did you say Derek?” Jennifer asked in a strangely soft voice.

  “Yes. Derek Cooper. Why? Do you know him?” Ellen peered at Jennifer.

  Kelly was startled to see her friend staring wide-eyed. “Did you know him, Jen?”

  Jennifer nodded, staring out into the room. “Yes. I’ve known him for years. He used to go with one of my good friends, Diane. She was his regular girlfriend. They’d been seeing each other for ages.”

  Ellen sat up straight and frowned at Jennifer. “I’d heard he had a lot of old girlfriends, but he was never serious about any of them.”

  That comment snapped Jennifer out of her daze. “Serious?” she said, incredulous. “Derek Cooper would never get serious about anybody. He’s the original love ’em and leave ’em guy.”

  “Maybe he was serious about Lucy,” Ellen said in a cold voice. “But it doesn’t matter now, does it?”

  Jennifer stared solemnly at Ellen, but didn’t say a word.

  “Do you want a cup of coffee or tea, Ellen?” Kelly offered. “You look like you need to take it easy for a bit.”

  Ellen shook her head and rose from the chair. “I need to find Lucy. I’m still worried.” With that, she flipped
her scarf over her shoulder and raced from the room.

  Kelly watched Jennifer pick up her needles again and begin to knit silently. Kelly followed suit. After several moments of quiet knitting, Kelly ventured, “Do you think your friend Diane knows yet? Does she live in the canyon, too?”

  Jennifer shook her head and continued to knit for a minute or two before speaking. “No, Diane lives in town. But someone from the group will call her, you can be sure of that. They’re the first to spread gossip and bad news.”

  “What group are you talking about?”

  Jennifer let out a long sigh. “They’re a group of people I’ve known for years. They meet over at a bar on the north side of town. Diane and I used to hang out with them every week. That’s where she met Derek.”

  “Recently?”

  “No, it was four years ago. He and Diane started going together as soon as they met. They were a hot couple. Couldn’t keep their hands off each other. But they’d fight as much as they’d make love. Talk about a volatile relationship. She lived with him up in the canyon back then. Diane thought Derek was serious about her, too.” Jennifer frowned. “Derek wasn’t about to commit to anybody, despite what Ellen says. Trust me, he was a user. A real bastard. He messed up Diane, for sure. Damn him.”

  Kelly watched the emotions cross her friend’s face. It was clear Jennifer wasn’t going to mourn Derek Cooper. “How do you account for Ellen’s picture of him? Sounds like two different guys.”

  “Oh, he was. He could be the most charming guy at the bar when he wanted you. I’ve watched him turn it on for some new girl who didn’t know him. He was like a laser beam. He’d zero in on whomever he wanted to sleep with that night and bam. She’d melt like butter.”

  “Sounds like he melted Lucy. Did you ever see her at the bar?” Kelly pried.

  “I think I remember seeing her once or twice.” Jennifer shrugged. “Derek had so many girls, you lost track. I swear, he never slept alone.”

  “Somehow I can’t picture Lucy picking up guys in a bar. She’s kind of quiet and shy.”

  Jennifer gave a little snort. “Sometimes they’re the wildest ones there. Some girls act sweet and refined during the day, then they show up at the bar ready to party.”

  “I still can’t picture Lucy—”

  “Listen, I’m going to tell Pete I have to leave early today. I need to call Diane and see how she’s taking it.” Jennifer shoved her knitting into its bag and pushed back her chair.

  “I’m sorry about your friend, Jennifer,” Kelly offered as Jennifer turned to leave.

  “Diane’s my friend, Kelly, not Derek,” Jennifer replied tartly as she headed for the entry. “I’ll call you later after I’ve checked on that property, okay?”

  She was gone before Kelly could answer.

  Three

  Kelly reached across the computer keyboard and grabbed her cell phone, flipping it open. “Kelly here,” she said automatically as she continued to tab through the accounting spreadsheet.

  “Morning, Kelly,” Curt Stackhouse’s deep voice sounded. “What’s got you so excited you left me a message at midnight?”

  “Sorry, Curt. I couldn’t help myself,” Kelly said, leaning back in her desk chair. “Jennifer told me yesterday that Geri Norbert’s ranch in the canyon is back on the market, and I want to make an offer.”

  “You do, huh?”

  “Yes, Curt, I do. I lay awake half the night just thinking about it. It’s a great property.”

  “Well, it is that. I went to take a look at it back in October when you said you wanted to buy it. It’s a nice piece of land, for sure.”

  “I’m glad you approve, Curt, because you’re going to help me find a way to pay for it all.” She listened to Curt’s soft laughter.

  “I’ve already been making some plans along that line, Kelly girl, and I kept right on even when you didn’t get the ranch in November. I figured it was just a matter of time until you found another place you liked. Once the mountain home bug bites you, you’re a goner.”

  Kelly laughed. “Bless you, Curt. I couldn’t do this ranch business without you. So, tell me, what ideas have you come up with?”

  “The last time we talked about buying that canyon place, the plan was to sell off the rest of the herd and put the Wyoming ranch house up for sale to raise the cash you need.”

  “That’ll be enough to buy the canyon place, right?”

  “Right. But buying is just the beginning. You’ll need the extra money to fix it up. Buildings are shot to hell. You need to build another ranch house, unless you plan to live in that ramshackle one. Same for the barn and stables. That’ll cost.”

  Kelly pictured Geri Norbert, and a little shiver ran down her spine. Geri murdered two women. “No, I don’t think I’d want to stay there. I’ll keep living in the cottage. How long will it take to sell everything?”

  “It could take longer than you think, Kelly. Holidays are coming up, then we’re heading into the dead of winter.”

  “What about Chet? Will he want to stay on as ranch manager while we get all these sales accomplished?”

  “Well, I’m hoping he will,” Curt said. “I plan to recommend him to a couple of ranchers who’re always looking for good men. I’ve been real impressed with Chet’s work up there.”

  “Jennifer says we may want to wait for spring to sell the Wyoming house.”

  “She’s right. You don’t want to take a low offer on that place, Kelly. It’s too fine a property to sell for less than it’s worth.”

  “You know, something inside still isn’t comfortable with selling Martha’s ranch house,” Kelly confessed. “But there’s no other way to raise the cash to buy the canyon land.”

  “Think of it this way, Kelly. Your cousin Martha’s property was left to you. You’re the last of her family. It’s a gift. Without it, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. Your dream of a mountain home would stay just that. A dream.”

  Kelly found a smile. “Thanks, Curt. I needed to hear that. Now, here’s the loaded question. If the Wyoming house doesn’t sell until late spring or summer, how can I buy the canyon property now? I won’t have enough money to bring to the closing.”

  “Don’t be so sure.”

  “Will the drilling company start sending me money?”

  Curt chuckled. “Not yet, Kelly. They won’t start drilling until spring, and who knows when the gas will start flowing.”

  “Okay, I give up. You’ve got another plan, I can tell from the sound of your voice.”

  “You’re right. There are private investors—”

  “Whoa! Hold on, Curt. I can’t take out another loan. Not with that huge mortgage Aunt Helen put on the cottage.”

  “These investors are different. They’ll lend you the money for a short term. I figure six months should do it. The loan will be secured by the property, of course.”

  Kelly flinched, and the CPA lobe of her brain positively recoiled in horror.

  “Yeah, but at what interest rate?”

  “How badly do you want that canyon property?”

  Kelly made a face into the phone. “Bad. I want it bad, Curt. It’s beautiful.”

  “I figured. Then it’ll be worth it. Don’t worry. It’ll probably be no more than six months.”

  “Okay, that sounds like a plan. But I’ll depend on you to point me in the right direction, as always.”

  “You can depend on it.”

  “And you know where to find me,” Kelly said with a laugh. “I’m either here with my nose to the keyboard or across the driveway in the shop knitting away. I’m trying to finish an alpaca scarf before Christmas.”

  “Don’t worry, Kelly girl, I’ll find you,” Curt said with a chuckle, then hung up.

  Kelly snapped her cell phone shut and wondered what she was getting into.

  “Did you read the paper this morning?” Megan whispered as Kelly pulled up a chair beside the spinning students. “Ellen tells me that guy who was murdered in the canyon the other
day was Lucy’s boyfriend.”

  “I was here yesterday with Jennifer when Ellen came in and told us.” She glanced around the classroom. “Has Lucy come in yet?”

  “No, Burt’s teaching her class. I overheard Ellen explaining to him that Lucy was in pretty bad shape. Apparently she’s locked herself in her apartment. Ellen said she could hear her crying through the door. Won’t answer the phone or anything.” Megan shook her head. “Poor thing. I wish there was something we could do to help.”

  “It’s best to leave her alone, Megan. I remember when I lost my dad, then Uncle Jim and Aunt Helen. I couldn’t be around people right away. The tears kept coming. I even took a few days from the office, so I didn’t have to go in and talk to people.”

  The sound of Burt’s voice caught Kelly’s attention then, as he entered the classroom with Ellen. Anne, the other student, was right behind them, looking as somber as the others. Kelly guessed that Ellen had shared the grim news.

  “Anne, Ellen, why don’t you two settle in and put your bobbins on the wheels,” Burt instructed. “I’ll be taking over for Lucy today. She’s feeling a little under the weather.”

  Kelly’s caffeine lobe chose that moment to pulsate. “I think I’ll go for coffee,” she excused herself as she rose. “See you guys after class.”

  Retrieving her mug, Kelly was headed toward the café when a familiar voice called out from an adjoining yarn room. “Hey, Kelly, how’ve you been?”

  She turned to see Jayleen Swinson saunter past the yarn bins piled high with holiday fibers. “Hi, Jayleen. Join me for coffee?”

  Jayleen shoved her hands in the back pockets of her jeans in her usual fashion. “I reckon I could use a little sit-down. I’ve been runnin’ nonstop most of the day.” She tossed her still-blonde curls over her shoulder.

  Kelly headed down the hallway toward the café, Jayleen following. “What’s up? I thought you were settling into your new place pretty well. Are you rattling around now with all the extra space?”

  “Oh, that part is fine. Great, actually. The animals sure like the bigger barn and pastures, too,” Jayleen said as she pulled up a chair at the table Kelly had chosen. “Something else is on my mind. I volunteered to run my charity’s holiday party for kids this month. Someone backed out at the last minute, and I stepped in. Now I’m scrambling to get it all together, and I’ve only got a week and a half. It’s set for Sunday after next.”