“When I overheard that you’d talked to Miles and he’d remembered something and had a photo, I couldn’t take a chance. I didn’t have a lot of time to prepare.” D. J. seemed almost in a trance, as if he didn’t know what he was saying anymore. I understood now how Barry and the other detectives got so many confessions. No matter how they tried to defend themselves, most people who had done horrible things had guilty consciences, and when they were cornered, let it all out. D. J. knew that Miles’ room was on the first floor and had gone to his window. Miles had let him climb in when he’d said he needed to talk to him about something.
He knew the fruit punch was Miles’ favorite and had brought it as a treat. To cover that it had already been opened and the roofies added, he opened the top before he’d handed it to Miles. Then, when Miles had passed out, he’d given him an overdose. D. J. had done enough research that he knew how to get drugs and what to do with them. He thought it would look like Miles was despondent about his sister and had gone back to drugs. He’d simply gone out the front door after.
The guilty-conscience part seemed to fade when he got to talking about our trip to the mountains. It was more like anger that he hadn’t succeeded. “You should have frozen on that mountain.” It had been an impromptu plan, and he regretted that he hadn’t had some roofies to give Adele and me to ensure we froze to death.
I hadn’t realized Adele and the other Hookers had come up behind me until I felt the group hug.
Detective Heather took us out of the green room and shut the door behind her. It was hard for her, but she apologized to Nell for accusing her. She even promised to get Nell’s glue gun and the shirt back to her. It was even harder for her to thank me for my help. She threw in something about it had turned out well, but I had still interfered with a police investigation before she went back into the room.
Word had spread about D. J.’s confession. Talia walked down the hall with Barbara. Talia gave me a thumbs-up and Barbara hugged me in gratitude. “If there’s anything I can do for you,” Barbara said.
“Well, now that you mention it,” I said and pulled Nell out of the group. “How about giving her her job back?”
“Done,” Barbara said, getting ready to walk away.
“There’s something else,” I said. I gave Adele a nod.
We all crowded into Barbara’s dressing room, but I let Adele do the honors. Adele was so discombobulated at getting the opportunity she’d been waiting for, she had to wave for CeeCee to take over. At first, anyway. Just as CeeCee got through demonstrating how to make a foundation chain, Adele found her voice and took over. It turned out that unlike the knitting someone had tried to teach Barbara for the upcoming show, she was a natural at crochet and absolutely loved the idea of impatient crochet.
She waved Talia over. “I insist that we change the upcoming show to knitting and crochet. I want CeeCee and Adele on it, too,” she said. Uh-oh, I wondered if Barbara Olive Overton realized what she was getting into.
The show had gone live in several markets, but before it aired in the rest of them, Pierce Sheraton played a snippet in his daily broadcast. The ratings for the Barbara Olive Overton show were over the top, and she was hailed as turning over a new leaf in her interviewing style. The timing was crucial because it had come during May sweeps, which had to do with advertising revenue for the show. It was all as Robyn had hoped.
I found out that Talia and Pierce were together so much because they were a couple, though it was based more on a mutual advantage to aid their careers then a love match.
Becca Ivins and Derek Trousedale went ahead with their appearance on the show with a change. Instead of the tribute to their longevity as a couple and all their charitable works, they let their hair down and told the truth. By the time they explained all their regrets, they, along with Barbara and the whole audience, were in tears. I admit, I was, too.
When I finally got home after D. J.’s downfall and Barbara’s crochet lesson, the dogs and cats were waiting for me. The Hookers had all scattered. Dinah had gone home to grade papers and I suspect spend a little much-needed alone time. Adele had floated off to plan for her big debut, but not without locking down a date for her French toast. Rhoda had rushed off to meet her husband. Elise decided to go home and reread Caught By the Hook and dream about Anthony. CeeCee and Nell had had a hugathon and were talking over each other about their excitement. At last, CeeCee could get back to concentrating on her Oscar buzz and Nell was going back to work. They were off to a fabulous restaurant that the paparazzi staked out, both ready for their close-ups.
Sheila was anxious to get back to Luxe and the job that had changed her life. Eduardo had held up the group before they dispersed. He had an announcement. Due to being cast as the father of the pirate instead of the pirate on an upcoming book cover, he’d faced that his cover-model career was on a downslide and was turning his attention to a new endeavor. He handed out invitations to the grand opening and explained he was the new owner of the Crown Apothecary and Soda Fountain.
I set down the red-eye I’d picked up at the bookstore. Bob was recovering from the shock that his new regular customer had turned out to be a murderer. In the meantime, he’d found a new critique partner for his screenplay. Along with all his other experiences, Mr. Royal had worked with a small movie company in Oregon.
Cosmo ran out and Blondie reluctantly followed. The cats ran to their food bowls. I was still getting used to coming home and finding my house as I’d left it. I went back to the kitchen door and watched Cosmo run around the yard as the phone began to ring.
It was Jeffrey in tears. At first I couldn’t understand him, just that it was something about Barry. I finally got him to slow down and he repeated what he’d said.
“Somebody shot my dad,” he said. “He wants to see you.” I heard him begin to choke up again. “You better hurry.”
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Impatient Crochet
BY RHODA KLEIN
So, you want to crochet, but you don’t have lots of time and you don’t have the patience to work on a project forever. Impatient crochet is for you. It’s easy, the projects work up fast, they are small and easily portable, and they don’t even take much yarn. Did I mention they also make good gifts and bazaar items? Did I sell you yet?
Before I give you the patterns, I want to tell you the basic idea of it. You start with a foundation chain, then starting with the second chain from the hook, make single crochets in each of the chains, adding an extra single crochet to the last chain. The trick comes when you get to that last chain. In your regular crochet, you’d go back over that row of stitches for the next row, but in impatient crochet, you keep going around. So, you work single crochet stitches on the opposite side of the foundation of chains, making two single crochets in the last chain.
You don’t join the rounds but rather work in a spiral, which gives the stitches a diagonal look. Oh, and you need to put a stitch marker in the first stitch you make, and then keep moving it up as you complete each round to keep track of where one round ends and the next one begins.
Try it. I’m sure you’re going to like it.
Cell Phone Sock
Gauge for cell sock:
6 stitches and 7 rows = 2 inches
With I hook, chain 9.
Round 1: Single crochet in the second chain from the hook, mark with stitch marker, single crochet in each chain, with an extra single crochet in the last chain, turn. Working on the other sideof the chain, make a single crochet in each chain, making two single crochets in the last chain. Do not join. 18 stitches made.
Round 2: Single crochet in the stitch marked with the stitch marker, move the stitch marker up to the stitch just made, and continue around, making a single crochet in each stitch.
Repeat Round 2 until it’s approx. 5 inches tall. On the last round, end with a slip stitch into the marked stitch and fasten off. Weave in ends.
FLOWER
With F hook, chain 10 and jo
in with a slip stitch.
Round 1: Chain 1 and make 18 single crochets in the ring. Slip stitch to the first single crochet.
Round 2: Chain 1 and single crochet into the first stitch from the round below. *Chain 3, skip the next 2 single crochets, and single crochet in the next stitch.* Repeat from * to * 4 times. Chain 3, skip 2 single crochets, and slip stitch into the first single crochet.
Round 3: Slip stitch to move the yarn into the next chain-3 space. *Single crochet, double crochet, double crochet, triple crochet, double crochet, double crochet, single crochet in the chain-3 space.* Repeat * to * in the 5 other chain-3 spaces to make the petals of the flower. End with a slip stitch to the first single crochet. Fasten off and weave in ends.
Sew the flower onto the body of the cell sock and sew on the bead or button in the center.
Eyeglass Case
Chain 9.
Round 1: Single crochet in the second chain from the hook, mark with the stitch marker, single crochet in each chain, making an extra single crochet in the last chain, turn. Working in the other side of the chain, single crochet in each chain, making 2 single crochets in the last chain. Do not join. 18 stitches made.
Round 2: Single crochet in stitch marked with stitch marker and move stitch marker up; single crochet in each single crochet.
Repeat Round 2 until it’s approx. 6½ inches tall, then slip stitch in each single crochet. Fasten off and weave in ends.
LINING
With right sides together, fold fabric in half so the fold is at the bottom. Leaving approx. a ½-inch seam, sew up sides. Put inside the case, fold the top down, and stitch to the case.
CORKSCREW
Chain 12, make 3 single crochet stitches in the second chain from the hook, make 3 single crochets in each of the other chain stitches, fasten off, and weave in ends. Sew on the eyeglass case.
Small Purse
Chain 16.
Round 1: Single crochet in the second chain from the hook, mark with stitch marker, single crochet in each chain, making an extra single crochet in the last chain, turn. Working in the other side of the chain, single crochet in each chain, making 2 single crochets in the last chain. Do not join. 32 stitches made.
Round 2: Single crochet in the inside loop of the stitch with the stitch marker, move stitch marker, single crochet in the inside loop of each single crochet (gives a ribbed pattern).
Repeat Round 2 until it is approx. 5 inches tall. If the marked stitch isn’t on the side, continue single crocheting, ending at the side. These 16 stitches are now the back of the purse. Do not finish off.
ENVELOPE-SHAPED FLAP
Row 1: Continuing with the body of the purse, chain 1, turn and single crochet across the back 16 stitches only. Turn.
Row 2: Repeat row 1.
Row 3: Chain 1, single crochet 2 together, single crochet across until the last 2 stitches, single crochet 2 together. Turn. 14 stitches.
Row 4: Chain 1, single crochet 2 together, single crochet across until the last 2 stitches, single crochet 2 together. Turn. 12 stitches.
Row 5: Chain 1, single crochet 2 together, single crochet across until the last 2 stitches, single crochet 2 together. Turn. 10 stitches.
Row 6: Chain 1, single crochet 2 together, single crochet across until the last 2 stitches, single crochet 2 together. Turn. 8 stitches.
Row 7: Chain 1, single crochet 2 together, single crochet across until the last 2 stitches, single crochet 2 together. Turn. 6 stitches.
Row 8: Chain 1, single crochet 2 together, chain 1, and skip the next two stitches (for button hole), single crochet 2 together. Turn. 3 stitches.
Row 9: Chain 1 and single crochet 3 together. Fasten off and weave in ends.
Sew button on to use as closure.
The Collins’ Family Apple Bumble Crumble
6 golden delicious apples, peeled, cored and sliced into approx.
½-inch pieces
3 tsp. vanilla extract
2 tbsp. white sugar
2 tbsp. brown sugar
1½ tsp. cinnamon
½ cup raisins
½ cup salted butter cut in pieces
¾ cup flour
¾ cup brown sugar
¾ cup old-fashioned oats
¾ cups chopped walnuts
Generously grease the bottom and sides of a 9-inch by 13-inch pan. Spread the apples evenly in the buttered pan. Pour the vanilla over the apple slices. Mix the white sugar, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle it over the apple slices, then mix. Sprinkle the raisins over the apples.
In a mixing bowl, cut the butter into the flour using a pastry blender. Mix in brown sugar, old-fashioned oats and walnuts. Spread the mixture over the apples. Bake at 425 degrees for approximately 40 minutes, until the apples are tender. Can be served with ice cream or whipped cream. Serves about 6.
Molly’s Baked Pancake
4 eggs
⅛ tsp. salt
½ cup flour
½ cup milk
2 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
3 tbsp. butter
Beat eggs until light, add salt and flour and then milk, sugar and vanilla. Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Put butter in a heavy 9-inch round pan. Put the pan in the oven until the butter is melted. Take the pan out and carefully pour in the batter. Return to the oven and bake for about 25 minutes. Can be served with syrup or cut-up strawberries. Serves 2 for a meal, 4 for a snack.
Berkley Prime Crime titles by Betty Hechtman
HOOKED ON MURDER
DEAD MEN DON’T CROCHET
BY HOOK OR BY CROOK
A STITCH IN CRIME
YOU BETTER KNOT DIE
BEHIND THE SEAMS
Behind the Seams Page 27
