Cast On, Kill Off (A Knitting Mystery)

by Sefton, Maggie

  Vera looked up quickly, needle poised over the headband. “What makes you think the police suspect Leann?”

  Kelly deliberately widened her eyes and leaned forward. “Because I overheard Leann say that the police wanted to question her a third time. At the police department! She had to find a lawyer!”

  Vera looked shocked. “But that can’t be. Oscar is the one who killed Zoe, not Leann. Police simply have to find him guilty. They have to.” She sewed another few stitches, then repeated, “They have to. They have to.”

  Kelly observed Vera closely. Her focus on Oscar’s guilt was almost obsessive. “I think so, too, Vera. But don’t forget that Leann’s gun was the murder weapon. Plus she doesn’t have an alibi for that night. Leann says she was at home sewing, but no one saw her. However, there were witnesses who saw her storm into Zoe’s class earlier that night and accuse Zoe of stealing!” Kelly wagged her head dramatically. “I just wish there was some way to prove she was at home. Maybe a phone call or something. Or someone saw her car. Maybe you called her to ask about some sewing. Or maybe you dropped something over there that night. You worked with her. Think back, Vera. Maybe you remember something.”

  Vera shook her head solemnly. “I’m afraid not, Kelly. I never left home that night. I was working on a suit for a regular customer.”

  Kelly heaved a dramatic sigh. “I wish there was some way to show that Leann is innocent. It’s so awful.”

  Vera returned her attention to the headband. “Well, I trust the police will see that Oscar is the one who killed Zoe. Countless people can witness the bruises they saw on Zoe’s face and arms regularly. And the police know that Oscar had been to Leann’s house, so he knew where to find a gun. I pointed out those very facts to that nice Detective Morrison just last week when I called him. He’s so kind. He always updates me on how the investigation is going. I’m sure he’ll arrest Oscar shortly.”

  Kelly watched Vera stitch the dangling ribbon underneath Jennifer’s headband. Meanwhile, she marveled at Vera’s ability to lie so smoothly. She was certainly a skilled actress.

  Ever since her conversation with Burt yesterday, Kelly had found herself growing more and more suspicious of Vera. Little snippets of conversations around the knitting table returned to tease her. When Kelly first met Vera, she’d appeared shy and mousy. Was that an act? Ever since Zoe died, Vera had appeared strong and decisive. Vera had stepped into Zoe’s business without missing a beat, finishing Zoe’s customers’ garments on time. Now it looked like Zoe’s business had become Vera’s business. “My customers,” Kelly remembered Vera saying recently. Her customers. Not Zoe’s anymore. Hers.

  Was that a case of Vera stepping up to the plate and handling a difficult situation well or something more? She’d also stepped in and handled all the details of Zoe’s funeral. She was the contact between the family and the police. Vera once again stepping up to the plate and handling another difficult situation.

  Kelly recalled Mimi’s comment that Vera was “unbelievably composed” considering what had happened. No tears at the funeral. Of course, many people did not or could not cry in front of others at their loved ones’ funerals. They did their grieving in private. Kelly understood that. But Vera’s composure seemed different somehow. Was it possible that Vera had already thought these situations through? Had she planned what she would need to do and how she would do it?

  Vera slid the needle underneath the headband, tucking in the thread. Kelly watched her quiet competency. Vera had displayed what appeared to be sincere shock at the thought that Leann could be considered a suspect. Had Vera already plotted out that possibility and decided it served her purpose of ensuring Oscar took the blame for Zoe’s death? If poor Leann wound up accused of being an accomplice, well . . . that was too bad. Collateral damage.

  Vera held up the headband. “There now. Good as new.”

  “Beautiful, just like before,” Kelly declared, giving Vera a big smile as she took the headband. “Now where did I put that plastic bag?” She looked around and spotted the bag on the end table beside the sofa.

  “You don’t mind if I return to the alterations, do you?” Vera said as she returned to her sewing machine. “My customers are expecting their garments on time.”

  “You go ahead, Vera, I’ve got to return to my accounts, too. Work is always waiting,” Kelly said as she went to retrieve the plastic bag.

  When she lifted the bag from the table, she couldn’t help noticing the bank statement that was spread out there. The names at the top caught Kelly’s eye immediately. Not Vera’s name. Zoe and Oscar Yeager’s names. Their address, and their bank statement. Right beside the statement, there was a check register. It was partially open with a ballpoint pen sticking out.

  Kelly glanced back at Vera, who had her back turned and her head bent over the sewing machine, light gray fabric sliding between her fingers and through the needle to the low hum of the machine. Kelly’s curiosity got the better of her, and she reached over and opened the check register just enough to see that there was a finished check still on the register. To be paid to a fabric company, dated today, and signed . . . Zoe Yeager.

  Kelly stared at the check, then quickly stepped away from the table, deliberately rattling the plastic bag as she hastened toward the door. “Thanks so much, Vera. I’ll be glad to pay you for the repair.”

  Vera glanced over her shoulder with a smile. “No charge, Kelly. I was happy to help. Give my best to the happy couple, will you?”

  “I certainly will, Vera. Take care,” Kelly said as she opened the door, then hastily sped down the steps.

  * * *

  “Burt, I’m glad I caught you,” Kelly said into her phone as she drove through traffic. “I’ve got something to tell you, but first, did Dan call you? Did he question pharmacist Christine?”

  “Yes to both, Kelly,” Burt’s familiar voice came over the phone. “Apparently she repeated everything she told you and Mimi. Vera came in and dropped off the slacks she had altered. Christine remembered it was the same night Zoe was killed because she and her husband were leaving on their trip the next day.”

  “Thank goodness for Christine’s good memory. What did Dan think?”

  Burt chuckled. “He was more than interested to learn that, Kelly. I could tell from his voice. Dan’s putting together all those little pieces of information and contradictions accumulating around Vera and making sense of them. He also confirmed again that Vera told him she was at home sewing the evening Zoe was killed.”

  “Did you tell him what Lizzie and Lawrence Chambers told me?”

  “Yes, and Dan really appreciated all the new information,” Burt replied. “I could tell he was already suspicious of Vera.”

  “He’s planning to question Vera again, right?”

  “He certainly will. But Dan wants to see what Morrison thinks first.”

  “Well, you can tell him that I was just at Vera’s shop dropping off Jennifer’s headband for repairs. Since it was simple, she suggested I wait, so . . . well, I couldn’t resist asking a question.”

  “I’ll bet.” A smile in his voice.

  “I told her how upset I was that Leann had to get a lawyer, and that the police questioned her a third time, and of course that means she’s a suspect . . . all that. Then, I asked her to think back . . . maybe she had dropped off some sewing at Leann’s that night. And Vera looked me straight in the eyes and said that she never left her house that night.”

  There was a pause on Burt’s end of the line. “You know, Kelly, I think I’ll give Dan another call or leave him this message. You just caught Vera in another lie. Maybe Dan and Morrison would like to see if she’ll lie to them again.”

  Yes! Kelly exulted inside. “I’ll be willing to bet she does, Burt. Vera is clearly convinced she’s pulled the wool over everyone’s eyes. No one suspects her. Now she’s effectively taken over her dead sister’s business, and . . . wait till you hear this. I saw Zoe and Oscar Yeager’s bank statement on her end table an
d their checkbook.”

  “Oh, really?”

  “Oh, yeah. And I couldn’t resist. I looked in the checkbook while Vera was sewing and found a written check dated today to a fabric distributor and signed by Zoe Yeager.”

  “You’re kidding.”

  “No, I’m not. I’ll bet Vera’s been slowly draining those bank accounts. Oscar would never find out until the money was gone. He’s too busy drinking. I’m sure Vera figured Oscar would be arrested for Zoe’s death, and there would be no impediment to her complete takeover.”

  Burt paused for a moment. “I’m sure Dan and Morrison will want to hear this right away. Vera is perpetrating fraud, so now they have a reason to take her in for questioning. Good job, Sherlock!”

  “I would hope so,” Kelly said, relieved that Burt had confirmed her suspicions. “Maybe being face-to-face with Lieutenant Morrison will shake her. He can be really intimidating when he wants to be.”

  Burt chuckled. “He never intimidated you, Kelly.”

  “You’re right, Burt,” Kelly said as she nosed her car into the driveway between her cottage and Lambspun. “But I don’t scare easily. Even Oscar Yeager doesn’t scare me. He came close, though.” She laughed.

  “By the way, I told Mimi about your visit to Oscar with Leann and all that, and . . . well, she must have told Jennifer or Lisa, because she said they were all upset at you for doing that. So prepare yourself to be scolded.”

  “Hey, I’m used to that, Burt. Talk to you tomorrow, okay? Let me know if Dan goes to see Vera.”

  “Will do.”

  Kelly turned off her car’s ignition, grabbed her purse, and headed for the cottage. She was in the home stretch now. With the rest of the afternoon and evening to work, she’d definitely finish the Warner accounts. Then she could take a few days off with a clear conscience.

  * * *

  Kelly stood up and stretched, a long deep stretch, arms over her head. Ahhhh. She was finished at last. Now she could actually relax a little. Housemann’s accounts, all done. Warner Development accounts, all done. She checked her watch. Nearly eight o’clock. Maybe she could simply relax the rest of the evening in front of the television and watch the Rockies play ball. Who were they playing this week? The Arizona Diamondbacks. Now, that should be a good game.

  Kelly was about to settle on the sofa when her cell phone rang. Could that be Burt? Did Dan question Vera already? She retrieved her phone from the desk and noticed Lisa’s name and number flash.

  “Hey, Lisa, what’s up? You and Greg chasing each other around the house?” Kelly asked, laughing softly.

  “No, we’re not, but we’d both like to chase you,” Lisa said in that fussy schoolmarm voice Kelly recognized. “Whatever possessed you to go over and confront Oscar Yeager on his own doorstep? That is so risky! Megan’s been having fits since she heard.”

  Oh, brother. Let the scolding begin. “Hey, I didn’t go over there to confront Oscar. I simply accompanied Leann. She was bound and determined to ask Oscar about the gun. So I went with her kind of, like . . . protection.”

  “Yeah, right. A lot of protection against that beef bag, Oscar,” Lisa sneered. “Damn, Kelly, it’s taken Marty and Mimi and me, all three of us, to calm Megan down. Of all the times to go off and do something reckless . . . I cannot believe it! Megan was all relaxed today, getting ready to go over to Marty’s house with her relatives for dinner, and then she talked to Mimi.” Lisa gave a dramatic sigh.

  “Well, then, blame Mimi,” Kelly teased. “She shouldn’t have told you guys. Then no one would be the wiser. Nothing happened.”

  “Nothing happened! Mimi said Oscar was going to hit you!”

  Kelly decided she would have to have a talk with Mimi. This grapevine phone thing was sounding like that silly childhood game where gossip gets repeated and exaggerated with each version.

  “He’s all bluff.” Kelly decided to fudge a little. “I simply stepped in front of Leann and took out my cell phone. Then I threatened him with jail time if he did anything. I said I had cop friends and lawyer friends, and his butt would be in jail so fast his head would spin. He scurried back into his house like a rat.”

  Lisa was quiet for a few seconds. “Still, you were reckless to do that.”

  “Tell Marty what I just said. Then he can reassure Megan. I certainly didn’t mean to upset anyone. I was simply trying to protect Leann. No telling what Oscar would have done if I wasn’t there.”

  “Promise me you won’t do anything that reckless again, okay?”

  “I promise,” Kelly said, fingers crossed.

  How could she promise something like that? One person’s reckless act was someone else’s necessary action. It was all subjective. But from now on, she was instructing Burt not to tell Mimi of those escapades.

  “Okay, okay. Try to stay out of trouble between now and the wedding, okay?”

  “I swear, Commander!” Kelly joked, hand held high.

  “Yeah, yeah . . . I hear you laughing.”

  “Listen, why don’t you chase Greg around the house for a while? Blow off all that tension,” Kelly teased.

  “I just might do that.” Lisa started to laugh. “See you tomorrow at Babette’s for lunch. Mimi’s bringing Megan and crew with her SUV. If Megan isn’t all calmed down by then, you can finish the job.”

  “You got it, Commander,” Kelly said before clicking off.

  Kelly headed back to the sofa. Now she really deserved to relax. But Carl chose that moment to get up off his doggie bed and stretch.

  “You want to go out, Carl?” she asked her dog, who was already at the patio door. “Okay, go out and chase squirrels. It’s a really warm night.” She slid the glass door open, and Carl raced outside into the dark.

  Kelly closed the door and returned to the sofa, clicking on the television. Finding the Rockies and Diamondbacks game, she settled into the cushions . . . for a couple of minutes. Then a loud knock sounded at her front door.

  Brother . . . she would never get to relax and see that game. This was probably Jennifer and Pete, ready to fuss at her.

  Louder knocking this time. And a muffled voice yelling something. Was that her name? “Coming!” Kelly called as she went to the door. She flipped back the lock, and the door burst open.

  Steve charged into the cottage. “Kelly! Are you all right?” he cried, grabbing her by the arms. “Megan called and told me that some guy hit you! Who is that sonovabitch! Where can I find him?” Steve stared at her, wild-eyed with anger.

  Kelly caught her breath. She’d only seen Steve this angry once before—when a twisted killer had tried to kill Kelly in Bellevue Canyon.

  “Steve! I’m okay! Nothing happened. He didn’t lay a hand on me! Honest. Megan got it all wrong. She got upset and called everyone. I’m okay. I’m okay.”

  Steve peered at Kelly, scrutinizing every inch of her face, then held her at arm’s length, peering at her. “You sure? You’re not just saying that?”

  Kelly laughed softly. “I’m sure. See, I’m all good. No bruises. No marks, except from softball.” She turned her arms over for him to inspect.

  Steve stared at her for a long moment, as if memorizing every feature of her face. “The interstate is jammed, so I’ve been driving back roads to get here and see what happened. My phone was dead.” He closed his eyes for a second and let out a long breath. “I got Megan’s call when I left Sam’s office, and I could barely hear her. There was lots of noise going on . . . people talking . . . but she was all upset, saying this guy was a wife beater and he threatened you! I tried to call you, but my phone battery died. Damn, Kelly! I was going crazy!”

  Kelly reached out and placed her hands on Steve’s chest. He was coatless, shirtsleeves rolled up, tie off. “Nothing happened to me, Steve. I was never in any danger. Megan got all upset because she’s on overload with the wedding, that’s all. I’m sorry if she scared you. You can see I’m okay.”

  Steve stared into her face once again, then took Kelly into his arms. “If
anything had happened to you, Kelly, I don’t know what I’d do. I’d probably go out and kill the guy.”

  Feeling Steve’s arms around her again sent a fire racing through Kelly’s veins. Yes. Oh, yes.

  Kelly slid her arms around Steve’s neck and melded her body to his—just like she used to. She looked into his eyes, darkening with the same passion she felt, and whispered, “You can’t do that. You’d be arrested, and I’d lose you. And I don’t ever want to lose you again.”

  Steve pulled her to him and claimed her mouth in a long deep kiss, as they held each other in their arms. Kisses turned more passionate until they slowly made their way into the bedroom, releasing each other long enough to dispense with all clothing so they could join in that perfect embrace. At last.

  Nineteen

  It was the sound of Carl barking outside that awoke Kelly. Morning light streamed through the window. It had to be after seven o’clock from the angle of the sunbeams that fell across her bed. Her warm bed. Her no longer empty bed. She and Steve lay together, bodies curved against each other like they used to. Bare skin against bare skin.

  Kelly snuggled in Steve’s embrace, releasing a long sigh of contentment. A little muscle somewhere deep inside her chest released. Steve was back with her. Where he belonged. Last night, they had celebrated his homecoming. All night. In fact, Kelly couldn’t remember sleeping. Merely relaxing between making love. Maybe they could stay in bed all morning.

  Kelly liked that idea, and provocatively moved against Steve. Warm skin getting warmer. She got his attention quickly.

  “Ummmm, stay right there,” Steve’s husky voice whispered. “I want to feel you like this another minute before I have to get up.”

  “Who says we have to get up?” Kelly tempted, deliberately moving her hips against him again. She had his full attention now.

  Steve laughed softly and moved his mouth beside her ear. “I promised Sam and Baxter that I’d meet them this morning to go over some specs. Believe me, I’d like to spend all day right here, but . . . I gotta go.”