Cast On, Kill Off (A Knitting Mystery)

by Sefton, Maggie

  “I did the same thing,” Lisa said, pointing to her nearly empty plate. “I think we’re all hyper. Megan Stress is getting to everyone.”

  “I know. She called me yesterday afternoon from a bathroom at the La Creperie Café.” She caught Jennifer’s eye and waved.

  Lisa swallowed her last bite of biscuit. “Tell me about it. She called me three times yesterday morning. Short one-minute bursts of venting. I swear she has my schedule memorized so she knows exactly when the breaks are between clients.”

  Kelly had to laugh. “She probably called me, but I was on a conference call most of the morning.”

  “I could tell what you’re talking about even before I walked up.” Jennifer poured coffee into Kelly’s cup, then Lisa’s. “Megan Family Overload, right? She called me twice yesterday; how often did she catch you guys?”

  Lisa held up three fingers while she sipped her coffee. Jennifer laughed.

  “She only got me once, and I could tell that a Megan Meltdown was approaching, and we want to avoid that at all costs.”

  “Amen,” Lisa interjected, then returned to her coffee.

  “So, I decided an intervention was in order. I asked Mimi and Burt if they could ride to Megan’s rescue and take her folks to dinner last night. That would give Megan a break and a chance for her to get together with Marty. For some R and R.” Kelly smiled slyly.

  “Genius, I salute you.” Lisa held up her cup. “I can totally understand Megan’s reaction. We all know how much she likes her quiet work space. I mean, that’s why she and Marty chose one of Steve’s four-bedroom houses in our neighborhood. So they could each have their own office. And no one is more devoted to her routine than Megan. Even more than you, Kelly. So you can imagine what a whole week of uninterrupted family time can do to her.” Lisa closed her eyes with a shudder.

  “Yeah, she admitted yesterday she was ready to scream at someone and that would not be good. A Megan Meltdown is not a pretty sight.”

  “That’s for sure,” Jennifer said, taking out her order pad. “That’s why I scheduled entertainment for Megan’s family today and tomorrow. What are you having, Kelly?”

  “The big breakfast and make it biscuits this time,” Kelly said, leaning on the table. “What kind of entertainment?”

  “Yeah, Jen, spill it,” Lisa urged.

  Jennifer paused long enough to write Kelly’s order. “I thought some outdoor activities would be in order. So I asked Jayleen and Curt if they could help out by giving Megan’s relatives an escorted tour for a couple of days. Old Town Fort Connor today, then drive into Poudre Canyon and Bellevue Canyon for tomorrow. They’ll love seeing everything, plus it should tire them out. And that would be a good thing in this case.”

  “Another genius suggestion.” Lisa saluted Jennifer with her mug this time. “I know I’m being a slug by not helping out, but I had to front-load my schedule this week. It was the only way I could squeeze my clients’ appointments in so I could take a couple of days off.”

  “Same here,” Jennifer said. “That’s why I called for help. Curt and Jayleen were glad to do it. They’ll be stopping in for coffee soon before they head over to Megan’s. I’ve gotta give this to Eduardo, or Kelly won’t have anything to eat. Talk to you guys later.”

  “See you, Jen,” Lisa said as she rose from the table. “I have to head back to the sports clinic. Thanks to Jennifer, we both may have a fairly quiet day free of Megan Stress breaks.”

  “Two days of sightseeing should definitely mellow out Megan’s folks. And Megan. She’ll be able to see the finish line at last. Curt and Jayleen are babysitting the relatives today and tomorrow. That leaves Thursday, but Megan should be all relaxed by then. On Friday, everything officially starts. Bridesmaid luncheon at café, wedding rehearsal and dinner at Jayleen’s ranch, bachelor party, then wedding on Saturday.”

  “Not a minute too soon,” Lisa said. “I tell you, Greg and I love Marty, but we’ve gotta get our privacy back. I mean, he’s there every night. Thankfully, he was out with Megan’s family for a few hours the other night. And tonight he’ll be having dinner with his relatives.” She rolled her eyes.

  Kelly simply laughed. “The finish line is in sight. Hang in there.”

  “How would you know?” Lisa teased. “Has Steve spent the night yet?”

  “We’ve both cleared our schedules the next few days,” Kelly said with a sly smile.

  Lisa threw her head back and stared at the heavens. “Thank Gawd! At last! Now we can all relax this weekend. I’ll spread the word.” She gave Kelly a wave as she turned to leave.

  “And you can stop biting your nails,” Kelly called after her. She took a deep drink of coffee, amused that the details of her relationship with Steve had been the subject of such anguished discussion. So much for privacy.

  Curt and Jayleen walked into the café then, and Kelly waved them over. “Hey, I hear you two are taking escort duty today and tomorrow. That’s really nice of you. Now Megan can calm down.” She grinned.

  “Awwww, it’s no problem, Kelly-girl,” Jayleen said as she took the seat Lisa had vacated.

  Curt held out his mug and accepted a coffee refill from waitress Julie before sitting at Kelly’s table. “We’ll enjoy getting to know her folks,” he said.

  “Still, that’s a big-time commitment right before the wedding,” Kelly said as another server placed her breakfast order in front of her.

  Jayleen gave a dismissive wave. “Everything’s ready. I don’t have to do a thing. The house is clean and waiting for the rehearsal dinner Friday night. The rental company is coming Friday morning to put up the tent and canopies. That area was mowed last week so it should be fine for the wedding.” She gave Kelly a big grin. “There’s nothing left for me to do.”

  “Don’t let all that good food go to waste,” Curt advised, pointing toward Kelly’s plate. “Dig in.”

  “Thanks. I’m starving.” Kelly took a big bite of scrambled eggs with cheese, followed by bacon.

  “I hope Steve plans to come up from Denver for all the celebrations on Friday,” Curt said, eyeing her carefully.

  Kelly swallowed a mouthful of bacon and biscuit, followed by a sip of coffee. “Yes, indeed, he’s cleared his calendar for the next few days.” She gave them a sly smile. “And so have I.”

  “Lordy, Lordy, that’s good news,” Jayleen crowed, her grin spreading.

  Curt snorted. “It’s about time. Way past time, if you ask me. I was about to saddle up, go out, and round you two up like a couple of strays. I’d have done it, too, if I thought it would do any good.”

  Kelly tried not to laugh while she chewed, but she couldn’t help it. Picturing Curt riding with lasso in hand after Kelly and Steve, who were racing through the Colorado foothills. Too funny.

  “That wouldn’t do a lick of good,” Jayleen said with a laugh. “You know people don’t have the sense that animals do. Especially when men and women are together. Whooooeeee! Now, that’s ornery!”

  This time, Kelly spilled her coffee she was laughing so hard. Jennifer came up, coffeepot in hand. “Hey, guys, do you need more coffee?”

  Curt shook his head and pushed back his chair. “No, thanks, Jennifer. We should be heading over to Megan’s house. Get an early start on that sightseeing.”

  Jayleen rose as well. “None for me, Jennifer. I’ve got a mug in Curt’s car.”

  “You taking that big old Lincoln of yours, Curt?” Kelly teased, now that she’d caught her breath.

  “Sure am. It has plenty of room for visiting relatives,” Curt said with a smile. “It’s come in very handy this week.”

  “Lord have mercy, you should see Curt’s ranch house. It is packed full of family.”

  “I think everyone will be glad when Megan and Marty are finally married and things can return to normal,” Jennifer said.

  “Shoot, girl, I’m not sure any of us would recognize normal if it walked right up and bit us,” Jayleen said as she and Curt turned to go.

  “Se
e you Friday,” Curt said.

  Kelly and Jennifer were laughing so hard, they simply waved good-bye.

  * * *

  Kelly walked into the front room of Lambspun. Mimi was at the counter helping a customer. “Mimi, is it all right if I knit here in the corner? Connie is teaching a class at the knitting table.”

  “Sure, Kelly,” Mimi said with a smile. “Settle in there with your laptop. It’s a great spot with all the windows. Great light.”

  “Thanks, Mimi. Numbers don’t make much noise,” she said as she sank into the comfy upholstered armchair. Soft, soft, she thought. Maybe she should buy a chair like this for the cottage. It would be great to snooze in.

  Kelly popped open her laptop and waited for the icons to appear on the screen so she could return to her spreadsheets. She was almost finished with Housemann’s accounts. In order to stay on schedule, she needed to finish Warner Development by Thursday night. Then she would be able to take off a few days. Both Arthur Housemann and Don Warner were aware that she wouldn’t be taking business calls on Friday or the weekend.

  Mimi approached the winding table that sat nearby, a floppy skein of burnt orange yarn in her hands. “Burt told me that things are looking worse for Leann,” Mimi said in a quiet voice as she sat at the table. She loosened the skein and shook out the yarn, which formed into a large circle in her hands. She placed the yarn circle around the holders on the skein winder.

  “I know, Mimi. Leann has no alibi for that night, and the murder weapon was hers. Plus, she had a reason to hate Zoe Yeager, as you and I know.” It was said that the truth hurts. This time it would hurt Leann O’Hara.

  Mimi pulled out a strand of yarn and wound it around the spindle of the ball winder at the other end of the table. “I feel so sorry for Leann. I don’t want to see her charged with Zoe’s murder, and yet . . .” Mimi’s words trailed off as she slowly started turning a handle next to the ball winder. The winder started turning, winding the yarn from the skein winder on the other side of the table. Winding it all into a fat ball of yarn.

  Kelly finished for her. “And yet, all the facts police have uncovered so far point to Leann. As Burt said yesterday, Leann had the motive, the means, and the opportunity to kill Zoe. Our feelings about her don’t matter at all.”

  A woman Kelly didn’t recognize stepped into the room then. She appeared to be in her fifties or so, Kelly guessed.

  “Well, hello, Mimi, it’s good to see you. I missed you the last time I was in here,” the woman said.

  Mimi swiveled around in her chair and gave the woman a huge smile. “Christine! How good to see you. How are you doing?”

  “I’m trying to readjust to being back home,” Christine said as she walked over to the shelves in front of the counter. “My husband and I just returned from a two-week cruise around the Mediterranean. Italy, Greece, Turkey, Spain, Portugal, even Morocco. It was wonderful!”

  Mimi hopped out of her chair. “That sounds fabulous, Christine. I would love to take a European cruise like that. Now if I could only convince Burt.”

  “Well, my husband Ralph was the one who convinced me. Then I had to ask permission at the pharmacy. Two weeks is long for a vacation, but Super Duper is pretty good about granting permission if we give them enough notice.” Christine bent over the shelves and fingered some of the new yarns stacked there.

  Kelly looked up over her computer, her attention caught by the mention of the chain discount store near the church where Zoe was killed. The phone call notifying police about Zoe’s parked car came from the Super Duper Discount Store. Was there another Super Duper in town? Kelly wasn’t sure.

  “I’m so glad you had that opportunity,” Mimi said. “Are you looking for a new yarn project? Those yarns are really popular. We can barely keep them in stock. They knit up a certain way and the yarn curls up as you knit.”

  “You know, a woman on the cruise ship had something like that. It really was fascinating. I took several yarns from my own stash collection. Ralph’s been threatening to clean out those storage shelves of mine,” she said with a light laugh.

  “Well, take a look and see if you’re interested. The instruction sheet is posted over there.” Mimi pointed to the wall beside the counter.

  “All right, I’ll check it out. Actually, I’m here to meet my old friend Vera Wilcott. I have some slacks to lengthen. She’s been doing my alterations ever since she and her sister came to town.” Christine’s face saddened. “Wasn’t that awful what happened to Zoe Yeager? I couldn’t believe it when I heard who was killed. We were leaving the very next day for our trip, and the newspaper only mentioned a woman was found dead in the Presbyterian Church parking lot. I didn’t learn who it was until we returned. Who in the world would shoot Zoe? She was such a nice woman.”

  Mimi’s smile disappeared. “I know, Christine. It’s simply tragic.”

  “And Vera told me the police haven’t found the murderer yet! That’s terrible! A killer is on the loose, roaming Fort Connor!” She gave a shudder. “It’s too awful to think about.”

  Just then, a voice called from the adjacent room. “Sorry I’m a little late, Christine.” Vera hurried into the front room, face flushed. “I had to finish a fitting for one of my newer clients. Did you bring those slacks with you?”

  “Yes, I did.” Christine withdrew a plastic bag from her large purse. “First, let me give you a big hug. You’ve been through a lot while I was gone.” She opened her arms wide and beckoned Vera into her embrace.

  “Vera has been a trooper,” Mimi said as the two friends hugged each other. “She’s stepped up and handled everything. Zoe’s sewing clients, even all the funeral details.”

  Vera glanced down as if embarrassed by the praise. Christine patted her on the arm and added, “You can count on Vera.”

  “I was just doing what needed to be done,” Vera said in a quiet voice as she accepted the plastic bag. “Now, when do you need these slacks?”

  “It would be great if I could have them by this Friday. We’re going to a dinner banquet. But I don’t want to cause you a problem with your other clients.”

  Vera gave a dismissive wave. “It won’t be a problem. I can move someone else’s project around and get these finished, maybe even tonight.”

  “That would be great,” Christine said. “Do you want me to pick them up at your shop? It would have to be in the afternoon. I have to return to working the night shift like I did before we left on vacation, you remember? I go in at six o’clock and work until two a.m.”

  Vera gave a shiver. “I certainly do. I hope you won’t have to work those long nights much longer.”

  “Well, now that my colleagues have taken my shifts while I was gone, I’m filling in for them so they can have some time off. Fair is fair.”

  “Well, don’t you worry. I’ll bring these over to you at the pharmacy. Maybe tomorrow night. That way, you won’t have to take time driving over to the shop.”

  “That’s sweet of you, Vera. Thanks.”

  “That’s what friends are for,” Vera said, then glanced at her watch. “I’d better run. One of my clients is coming in for a fitting in less than an hour. Bye-bye, everyone.”

  Kelly joined Mimi and Christine in good-byes as Vera raced from the room.

  “That’s one busy lady,” Mimi said. “I’m so happy she’s been able to keep Zoe’s business going. In fact, Vera said she should be able to quit the copy shop job in a few months.”

  “That would be wonderful if she could,” Christine said, her attention drawn to the loopy yarns again. “She’s such a hard worker.”

  “Take your time, Christine,” Mimi said, returning to the winding table. “Let me know when you find the yarn you like.”

  Kelly stared at her spreadsheets, but her mind wasn’t on the numbers. She was curious to know if that Super Duper was the one near the Presbyterian Church where Zoe was killed. Maybe Christine remembered seeing a woman come in looking for a phone that night. However, Kelly knew she had to work
up to such a question.

  “Tell me, Christine, how long have you been a pharmacist?” she asked.

  Christine glanced over at Kelly. “For over twenty years. I started working with a large chain drugstore back in Ohio, then we moved here six years ago. That’s how Vera and I met. She and Zoe and I were in a newcomers’ club after we arrived. We wanted to meet people and make friends.”

  “Have you worked at the Super Duper the entire six years you’ve been here? How do you like it?” Kelly asked. She noticed Mimi glance at her while winding the orange yarn.

  “It’s a nice place to work,” Christine said as she fondled a deep purple yarn. “Super Duper is a smaller drugstore chain, so there’s more of a personal approach. I really like the difference between that and the huge chain I worked for earlier.”

  “How many Super Dupers are here in town?”

  “Just the one where I work. You know, the one over on Taft Hill Road in the shopping center. It’s near the corner of Western Avenue.”

  Kelly paused, choosing her next question carefully. “You know, that’s the shopping center not far from the church parking lot where Zoe Yeager was killed.” She deliberately let her voice become dramatic. Mimi sent her a quizzical look.

  “Yes, you’re right. Our store is only a couple of blocks away from the Presbyterian Church.”

  Kelly leaned forward over her laptop and dropped her voice. “Mimi, didn’t Burt say the police had a call from a woman that night who saw Zoe’s car in the parking lot and was concerned? Didn’t police say the woman called them from that Super Duper?”

  The light of understanding went off in Mimi’s eyes. “Oh, yes, I believe you’re right. I do remember Burt saying police told him that.”

  “Is there a public pay phone in the store, Christine? I can’t remember being in Super Duper, but you would know.”

  Christine glanced over at Kelly. “There’s no public pay phone. But we do have a phone near our pharmacy counter. For the convenience of our customers. People often need to check with their doctors’ offices about prescriptions.”