Knot in My Backyard (A Quilting Mystery)

by Mary Marks

  You betcha!

  I struggled for control. “How about a falafel instead?”

  Hilda wasn’t in her usual spot near Rafi’s on the Boulevard, nor was she inside. I hadn’t heard from her since Monday and wondered if she was okay.

  “She take recycle this morning like always, but then she leave, chik-chok.” Rafi slapped his palms together. He pointed to a padded banquette seat running the length of one wall. “I let her sleep there.”

  He looked at Crusher and half-smiled. “You not from Health Department? You do not shut me down?”

  “Oh, sorry, Rafi. This is my friend Yossi Levy.”

  Rafi grinned and stuck out his hand. “Levy? Atah medaber Ivrit?” (“You speak Hebrew?”)

  Crusher took his hand and smiled. “Ketzat.” A little.

  Was Crusher just being modest? After all, he quoted Torah, chapter and verse, during Shabbat dinner last week. There was so much I didn’t know about Yossi Levy, but what I did know I found intriguing and attractive. Unfortunately, I wasn’t ready to let go of Arlo Beavers.

  After lunch, Crusher drove back to my house. “You can just drop me off, Yossi. I don’t need a bodyguard anymore. All of Hardisty’s financial secrets are out, so she has nothing left to hide there. If she’s protecting the killer, the police will find out. Either way, I’m the least of her worries. With Hardisty in custody, I doubt I’ll see Lawanda Price again.”

  He cut off the engine and turned to me. “You’re forgetting one thing, babe. The killer. The tall guy in the baseball cap with the funny voice—he’s still out there.”

  “Why should I be worried?”

  “Maybe he’ll want revenge for blowing the whole fraud-and-conspiracy thing wide open.”

  “I don’t think so. My money’s still on Jefferson Davis. He had a double reason to want Dax Martin dead—one, for having an affair with his wife and two, for blackmail. The first motive we know for sure. The second one we’re just guessing at. Either way, Davis has no reason to come after me.”

  Crusher appeared to agree I was probably safe. It was also clear how much he wanted to get me in bed again.

  “Are you sure? I just don’t feel right leaving you alone.”

  “I’m positive, Yossi. What happened between us last night was out-of-this-world, but it might never happen again. You have to give me a chance to figure things out on my own.”

  “Is this still about Beavers?”

  “That’s one part, yes.”

  He reached over and took my hand. “The other part?”

  I smiled at the only man in the world who could make me feel like a size four. “You called me neshama. ”

  Crusher, aka Yossi Levy, closed his eyes and pressed his lips into the palm of my hand.

  I got out of the truck and walked to the door without looking back. As soon I was inside the house, his engine started up and he drove away. I slumped against the door and breathed a sigh of relief mixed with a most sincere regret.

  CHAPTER 37

  Simon Aiken answered on the third ring. “Yeah.”

  “Simon, I want you to know, last night I was officially questioned by Detective Beavers. I had to tell him everything.”

  “I know. Crusher called me this morning. He said you did fine. He even said you protected your sources. Nobody could ask for more, Martha. Is he there?”

  “No, I’m by myself.” I told Simon about my little talk with Barbara Hardisty. “On our way out, we ran into Detective Kaplan. He showed up to take her in. What’s happening with Ed?”

  “The DA still seems determined to go forward. I’m prepping for the preliminary hearing. With all this new information we’ve uncovered, along with a dearth of evidence against Ed, I’m presenting a motion for dismissal.”

  “What about the pressure from the US Attorney’s Office to prosecute?”

  “They’ll probably back down. They’ll have their hands full defending the Army Corps of Engineers. The press has really jumped on the destruction of the wildlife reserve. We just learned the funds transferred to Valley Allstar Construction were misappropriated. They were federal relocation dollars specifically earmarked to help the homeless move from publicly owned lands to low-cost housing. Both Barbara and Lowell Hardisty are now in custody. Hopefully, the police will find out if they were also involved in Dax Martin’s murder.”

  “I hope the Hardistys get what they deserve. What about the conspiracy to get the Beaumont Stadium built?”

  “That’s going to be a little tougher to prove, since the corruption involves so many sitting officials, but someone at the Times is working on it. Eventually the public will know about the scandal.”

  “So, does Ed still have to stay in jail?”

  “Yes, at least until the hearing or until the real killer is found.”

  I bristled at the unfairness. “Dax Martin’s memorial service is tomorrow at the baseball stadium. I’m sure Jefferson Davis will be speaking. I know he fits the physical description of the killer. I’m going over to check him out. I want to hear his voice.”

  “Be careful, Martha. They know who you are. Take Crusher with you.”

  “He’s too easy to spot. I want to walk unnoticed through the crowd.”

  “Don’t go alone.”

  “I’ll take my friends with me. Nobody will pay attention to three old ladies.”

  The smile came through Simon’s voice. “Maybe your friends fit that description, but I know one big dude who definitely doesn’t put you in the same category.”

  I was glad he couldn’t see me blush.

  I called my best friend next. “Lucy, are you busy? I need to talk.”

  “Just reading a cozy mystery, hon. Come on over.”

  Fifteen minutes later, I sat in my friend’s living room, holding a frosty glass of iced tea. The aroma of roasting meat, garlic, and oregano came from the kitchen.

  Lucy wore a shade of green today that complemented her orange hair: a grass-green denim jumper, with big pockets, over a short-sleeved white T-shirt. Apple jade circled her wrist and punctured her earlobes. I was amused she owned matching green open-toed flats. She reminded me of a carrot in Mr. McGregor’s garden.

  “What’s up, hon’? You look like something big is on your mind. Arlo?”

  Bless Lucy. She reads me like a book.

  “Yes and no. On Sunday, after you dropped me off, I went to visit Arthur in the veterinary hospital. When I got there, Arlo was leaving the hospital with Arthur’s pretty young doctor. She was wearing a sexy little dress.”

  “No! What did you say?”

  “They didn’t see me. I managed to park far enough away so I could watch them. He kissed her, Lucy. Then they drove off together.”

  “I’m so sorry, hon. That must really hurt.”

  I rubbed my forehead. “Yeah. I was right not to trust him. He didn’t take very long to find someone else, once he broke up with me.”

  She came over to hug me. “I’m sorry. You seemed so good together. Can you try to talk to him?”

  “I already have, sort of. At one point, I admitted to Arlo I’d fallen in love with him. He said we should talk about it, but I know what he wants to say. He wants to dump me for that sexy blonde. Then last night, he came over to question me while Yossi was there. He was really hostile.”

  “Do you suppose Arlo’s reaction had something to do with seeing that particular man in your house again? Why don’t you call him and suggest the two of you meet alone? Maybe you can patch things up.”

  I took a deep breath. “The thing is, after Arlo left, I kind of slept with Yossi . . . a little bit.”

  Lucy’s eyes popped out of her head. “You did what?”

  “I never meant to. I was so pissed and sad, and Yossi was incredibly sweet. It just happened. The problem is, Yossi’s already making noises about sticking around after this thing is over.”

  “Dang it, Martha. I can’t leave you alone for five seconds. What do you even know about this man?”

  “Well, he�
��s a businessman, kind of like Ray, only he repairs Harleys, not cars.”

  Lucy tilted her head. “He’s also an ex-con. Did you ever find out why he went to prison?”

  “Not yet. That doesn’t prove anything. Arlo called him an ‘outlaw,’ but they don’t seem to have ever arrested him. Whatever he did in the past, he seems to be straight now.”

  “What else do you know?”

  “He’s a leader in the Valley Eagles motorcycle club—not gang. He’s a loyal friend. He’s a lot deeper than you’d suspect. He’s smart, knows Torah, and speaks some Hebrew. He’s really scary to look at, because he’s so big and tough, but he can be very gentle.” I gazed in the distance, remembering all the different ways he’d been gentle with me the night before.

  “You’re smiling, girlfriend.”

  I looked at my friend. “Oh, Lucy, it was so good. I think I’m going to hell.”

  Lucy put down her glass of tea and leaned forward. “You have a decision to make, Martha Rose, and soon. If you want Arlo, you have to go after him and try to mend fences before it’s too late.”

  “And wait until the next time he gets angry and leaves me for someone else? I can’t live like that.”

  She dismissed my concern with a wave of her hand. “I don’t believe Arlo is so manipulative. Maybe there’s another explanation for this lady vet. I think Arlo really loves you. He’s probably hurting as much as you are right now.”

  “He didn’t look like he was hurting on Sunday evening.”

  “Well, Yossi Levy said he wants to stick around. Are you ready to make such a commitment after only one night together?”

  I tossed my hands up in a helpless gesture. “I honestly don’t know what I want right now. Life was simpler when I was alone. Maybe that’s the answer. Forget about both of them.”

  Lucy sighed. “Yes, your life was a whole lot simpler, but your life was also lonelier.”

  I took a long sip of tea. “I actually came over here for a second reason. Will you come with me to Dax Martin’s memorial service tomorrow?”

  “Why?”

  “I want to look for the killer.”

  I brought Lucy up to date, including my blow-by-blow encounter with Barbara Hardisty this morning and the news both she and her husband were under arrest. “Everyone agrees I’m no longer in danger, but poor Ed’s still in jail and there’s a killer yet to find. Jefferson Davis is at the top of my list, and he’ll be at the service tomorrow. We might also come across the parent who stutters. Maybe if we poke around, we’ll get lucky. Nobody will notice a couple of old ladies in the crowd.”

  “How about Birdie?”

  “Sure, if her knees can take some walking. The service starts at ten. Be at my house at nine-thirty. As soon as the stadium starts to fill up, we’ll make our move and mix in with the grieving throng.”

  By the time I got home around six, I was exhausted. Bumper greeted me at the door with a reproving look. His kibble bowl was empty. The exhilaration of the previous night with Crusher and the adrenaline of confronting Hardisty had finally worn off, and I was ready to collapse.

  I fed the cat, changed my sheets, and climbed into a fresh pair of cotton pajamas with little blue flowers printed in an allover pattern. Then I returned to the living room with a turkey sandwich, snuggled on the sofa with my blue-and-white quilt, and turned on Jeopardy!.

  “I’ll take ‘Americana’ for six hundred, Alex.”

  “‘Ohio Star and Hole in the Barn Door.’”

  The Jeopardy! theme song plunked in the background as the camera zoomed into the blank faces of the contestants.

  “What are quilt block patterns!” I yelled at the screen. Nobody heard me.

  “Oh, sorry. The correct question is ‘What are quilts?’”

  Bumper jumped up on my lap and settled in, purring.

  I bent over and scratched his ears. “Aren’t we smart?”

  The doorbell rang.

  I pressed the Mute button on the remote control and got up to answer the door. I hoped Crusher wasn’t coming back for seconds. I didn’t know if I’d be able to resist.

  Arlo Beavers stood outside. Heart pounding, I hurried to put on my blue chenille bathrobe before I opened the door.

  He wore his off-duty clothes—snug jeans with cowboy boots and a white cowboy shirt with snaps down the front. He asked warily, “Are you alone?”

  My neck pulsed. “Yes.”

  “Can we talk?”

  I stared at him in panic.

  His voice softened a little. “Please?”

  Stepping aside, I let him in, inhaling his heart-breakingly sexy cologne as he passed. I returned to the sofa, pulled the quilt up to my chin, and waited nervously for him to speak. His face was unreadable and gave me no clue about what he had on his mind. One thing was obvious, though, this wasn’t going to be an easy conversation.

  Beavers sat on the edge of a chair, leaned forward, and looked at the floor, rubbing his hands together as if searching for the right words. Then he looked back at me.

  I braced myself for the worst.

  “Martha, I’m sorry.”

  Here it comes. He’s officially dumping me.

  “I’ve been acting like an ass. I was wrong, and I’m so sorry.”

  Surprise jolted my whole body, and my brain froze. This was the last thing I expected to hear from him.

  I said nothing.

  “I mean, I was angry about my dog getting hurt, sure. But when I cooled down, I realized if I’d listened to you in the beginning, maybe you wouldn’t have felt compelled to go out there on your own to help your friend.”

  Whoa! This is definitely not what I expected to hear.

  Beavers searched my face for a response, but I just looked at him. I still didn’t know what to say.

  “Look, Martha. When I kept seeing you with Levy, I admit I was jealous. I should have trusted you more. I should have known you were only trying to help Ed Pappas. I was an idiot to think you would ever sleep with a guy like that.”

  Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God.

  “Then last night, when I saw him here again, I kicked myself. I realized he was only here because you needed protection. That’s why I didn’t confiscate the gun. I failed you. I shouldn’t have trusted your safety to a thug. I should have been the one protecting you.”

  I was dizzy from hyperventilating. If only the earth would open up and swallow me. If only the world would end. Please, God . . .

  The corners of his mouth turned up. “You’re one-of-a-kind, Martha Rose. You’re not only the smartest woman I know, you’re gutsy. Kaplan told me about how you challenged Barbara Hardisty this morning.” His eyes got all soft and sexy. “Please say you’ll forgive me. I’ve been a total jerk. I miss you, honey.”

  He called me “honey”!

  “I love you and I don’t want to risk losing you. I want us to move in together.”

  Tiny black dots danced before my eyes and the room spun around.

  CHAPTER 38

  I came to with Beavers’s anxious voice coming from somewhere above me. “Martha! Honey! Wake up!”

  I opened my eyes and looked up into his anxious face. Wheel of Fortune whirled soundlessly on the television behind him.

  “Water, please,” I croaked, struggling to sit up again.

  He helped me sit back up, touched my face, and then grabbed me in a desperate embrace. “You passed out for a few seconds.” He kissed the top of my head. “Are you okay?”

  A few days ago, I would have given anything to be back in these arms, where I thought I’d been safe. Then I flashed again on him kissing the vet with the perky ponytail. I pulled back. “Please, Arlo, can I have some water?”

  Vanna turned over five E’s before he returned with a tall glass hastily drawn from the tap. He sat next to me, but I shook my head and gestured toward the chair. He moved with a reluctant frown, back to where he’d been sitting before.

  “Arlo, I appreciate your apology. Obviously, I wasn’t expecting it. I
n fact, I was certain you were serious about ending our relationship the night Arthur was injured.”

  “I was just angry.”

  I held up my finger. “Please let me finish. I’ve already apologized for causing Arthur’s injury. You know I’m sick about that, but you’ve put me through a lot of heartache since then. You’ve made me cry and you even laughed at me on Sunday.”

  “I was only amused you even knew what a ‘bitch seat’ was. You were so cute when you said it.”

  “Maybe I wasn’t aiming to be ‘cute.’ Maybe I wanted you to understand how badly I was hurting.”

  He chewed on the corner of his mouth. “Okay.”

  “Then I saw you with Arthur’s vet.”

  He looked up sharply. “What? When?”

  “Does it matter? Do you deny you’re sleeping with Dr. Andreason?”

  “It isn’t like that. I made a brief mistake and went out with her a couple of times, but I never slept with her. I’d never do that to you. You’re the one I want to be with.”

  Great. Now I get to be the hussy.

  “Well, how do I know the next time you get pissed off, you won’t just up and leave again?”

  He put his hand over his heart like he was a Boy Scout saluting the flag. “Because I’m making a pledge. I’ll never abandon you again. If there’s a problem, we’ll work it out.”

  I thought about the vow Yossi made last night. “Can you promise you’ll never make me cry?”

  “Who could make a promise like that? Things happen. Who can control how another person will react?”

  I took a slow, deep breath. Here goes. “You’re right, Arlo. Who knows how a person will react? As a matter of fact, your leaving and taking up with another woman triggered one surprising reaction in me. Now I don’t know if either of us will be able to move past it.”

  His body tensed. “What are you talking about?”

  I held his gaze and tried not to blink. “I’m talking about Yossi Levy.”

  He looked confused for a second and then the room filled with ozone as lightning struck. He stood and reached the sofa in two strides. I was being lifted to my feet by my shoulders. The glass of water fell from my hand to the floor.