Yarn Over Murder (A Knitting Mystery) (15 page)

“No, I haven’t bumped into Jim yet, but Curt has. Over at the Red Cross shelter. He looked like he was helping over there, too. He must have taken vacation or something to be working so much. Curt didn’t get to talk to him at all because they were so busy, so he just waved. Seems he’s grown a beard.”

“That’s what Burt said. He finally got a chance to talk with Jim the other day for a few minutes. And Jim told Burt that he and Andrea had an argument that Saturday after we all left. Dennis had left, too.”

“You know, I saw Burt over at the Ranch yesterday, and he told me all about it. Sakes alive. I figure those two just weren’t thinking straight after all that wildfire chaos. What with Connie coming up and acting like a jackass at my place and driving up to Andrea’s to carry on again.
Lord a-mighty!
Then for Andrea and Jim to go have a blowup . . . and Jim goes storming off. Can you believe that?”

“I agree, Jayleen. It had to be all that wildfire chaos and confusion. Nobody who had a place in either of those canyons could think straight. Everyone was just trying to save themselves and their animals.”

“I’m sure that’s why Andrea fell down those steps. Poor girl. She was probably trying to carry things outside or for the animals. Who knows? But I’ll bet my bottom dollar she was moving too fast and tripped.”

“And it must have been dusk by then, so twilight makes things look different. Harder to see sometimes.”

“How’s Connie doing? Burt told me she’s still not acting normal. Still not talking much. Which is certainly not like Connie.”

“She’s still the same, and maybe getting worse. She’s refused to talk to Mimi about her third visit alone with Andrea up in the canyon. And today, the detective came to question her. And I tell you, Jayleen, Connie did
not
look good afterward. Her face was red, like she’d been crying. But she still refuses to talk to any of us, not even Mimi. Burt hates to admit it, but it seems like she’s hiding something. And that makes us all feel terrible. Like she really did push Andrea or something. No one will ever know unless she talks.”

“Lord have mercy,” Jayleen said, shaking her head sadly. She said nothing else.

Kelly didn’t either. She had nothing left to say. Connie’s behavior spoke loudly.

Monday, June 25

Kelly
tabbed through the columns of one of the files on Arthur Housemann’s commercial rental properties, entering revenues received and expenses incurred that month. Comfortably settled in her favorite spot in Pete’s café beside a large window looking out at the gardens and toward the mountains, it was easy to zone out all the café noise around her—even the sound of her name being called. Suddenly, she looked up from the laptop screen.

“Hey, Kelly,” Burt said as he walked over to her table.

“Hi, Burt. I didn’t hear you at first. Zoned out with the accounts. Numbers can do that to you.”

“Well, I’m glad you enjoy it. Numbers can scare me sometimes when I’m doing accounts.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Do you have a minute? I wanted to share a conversation with you, but we need more privacy. This morning the temps aren’t as high as they have been, so it’s actually not bad outside in the shade. Why don’t we go find a table?”

“Sure, Burt. I’m on top of these accounts, so no problem.” Kelly saved and closed out the spreadsheet, and shut down her laptop. “Save my spot, Julie. I’ll be right back,” she called over her shoulder as she followed Burt toward the café’s front door.

“See, it’s not bad,” he said as they went down the steps into the gardens. “And my favorite shady table is still free.”

He headed to a round table beneath the oldest and tallest cottonwood tree in the garden. Its branches shaded most of the patio tables and diners. Situated inside but beside the beige stucco wall that surrounded half of the garden area, Kelly often remembered that old cottonwood shading Aunt Helen, Uncle Jim, her father, and her during hot summers when they would get together for a supper outside. Kelly’s childhood memories would pop up occasionally with a scene.

“This is one of my favorite spots, too,” Kelly said as she settled into a chair across the table from him “I’m curious, Burt. Yesterday you said Connie didn’t want to talk at all after the detective’s visit. So I’m guessing you had a conversation with your old partner Dan at the department.”

Burt smiled. “Right, you are, Sherlock. I left Dan a message yesterday after I’d tried to talk with Connie and she went mute like usual. I wanted to find out what Dan thought after his interview with her Saturday. Dan called this morning and said that Connie has definitely raised some suspicions in the department because of those angry episodes with Andrea earlier that Saturday, which all of the witnesses said were very threatening.”

Kelly sighed. “I was afraid of that, Burt. And I know you were, too. Plus, Connie confronted Andrea a third time.”

“Exactly. And after that, Dennis Holt found Andrea dead. It definitely raised their suspicions.”

“Did Dan reveal what Connie told him about that third visit?”

Burt was about to answer when Jennifer walked up with two mugs of coffee. “It looked positively weird to see you two sitting and talking without coffee in hand. I figured I’d remedy the situation or the Earth would shift alignment or something.” She set the glasses in front of them.

“You’re clairvoyant, Jen,” Kelly said, grinning up at her friend. “But I didn’t feel the Earth move, so I think we’re safe.”

“Before I forget, Jennifer, ask Cassie if she’d like to join Mimi, my daughter and grandkids, and me this Sunday. We’re going to help sort clothing donations for the evacuees and wondered if she’d like to help.”

“Oh, that’s good of you guys,” Jennifer said. “I’ll ask her. I know that this Saturday, Curt and Jayleen asked if she’d like to join up with his family’s troops and help out some of the folks in the Buckhorn area who had burned land. They’re going to cut back burned bushes and start cleanup.”

“Oh, those are both great ideas. If they need any more help, I’ll check with the gang and see who can help out with both these projects,” Kelly said.

“Okay, I’ll talk with you two later,” Jennifer said, returning to her other customers.

“As I was about to say, Dan asked Connie about her last visit to Andrea. Connie told him she returned because she’d calmed down and she wanted to tell Andrea that she loved her husband and ask her to please break it off with Jim. Apparently Andrea listened to her then told her to leave. She’d had enough trauma for one day.”

Kelly leaned forward, engrossed. A calm Connie begging Andrea to leave her husband alone? She had a problem picturing that. “That’s a surprise. What did Connie do? Did she get angry? Did she leave?”

Burt shrugged halfway, which Kelly recognized as one of his skeptical gestures. “Apparently, she did. Connie told Dan that she could tell Andrea wasn’t going to talk with her. So she asked Andrea to please tell Jim that she loved him. Since she didn’t see him around, she figured he’d gone. Then she said she left.”

Kelly pondered that, trying to picture it. “Wow. I hate to admit it, but that doesn’t sound like Connie. Calmly, peacefully backing away and leaving. Tail between her legs.”

“I hear you,” Burt agreed. “So, naturally, I asked Dan if he believed her or not. He admitted he wasn’t sure. Connie could be telling the truth. The medical examiner said he’d been able to determine that Andrea broke her neck in the fall. The ground was very rocky. So, her death was consistent with a fall under those circumstances. Most people would either die or would be severely wounded from a fall like that.”

Kelly felt a little shiver inside. An accident like that could happen to anyone. Hurrying down steps, carrying something, perhaps. Too easy to trip.

“Dan mentioned that the medical examiner also said she landed on her back. He could tell from the injuries and tissue damage, indicating she fell backwards. He added that often when people trip and fall from steep steps they fall forward and hit the ground face down.” Burt stared off into the garden.

Kelly peered at Burt. “There’s something about that medical examiner’s statement that bothers you, I can tell.”

Burt caught her gaze and smiled. “You know me too well, Kelly. Yes, something does bother me because it bothers Dan. He said there was nothing else on the ground around Andrea’s body. No boxes, no packages, no items of any kind. Dan said he found that curious. Usually, if someone trips on steps like that, it’s because they’re carrying something in their hands and they’re not as careful. But Andrea clearly wasn’t carrying anything or it would have been on the ground, too. Plus, Andrea had lived there for years. She rode horses and herded alpacas, so she was not a clumsy person. Dan said it made him curious. And anything that makes Dan curious makes
me
curious.”

“You know, Burt, I don’t have a very good feeling. It sounds like Detective Dan may be looking at this death in a new light. And, he may have moved Connie into another category. What do they call that . . . a person of interest?”

“Well, they use that term when there’s definitely been a murder or crime committed. That’s not the case here. Police still consider this an accidental death. But, I agree. Connie has gotten herself on their radar screen. And with the police, that’s never good.”

“Now that you’ve spoken with Dan, I’m curious. Did you ask about Jim Carson? What did Dan say about Jim’s story of arguing with Andrea?”

“You know, I did ask him about that, and he didn’t say much. Jim’s story totally matched Officer Warren’s notes. Sounded like they had a fight and Jim Carson stormed off. Left Andrea’s ranch and didn’t come back. He hitched a ride into Landport. Of course, he didn’t get the guy’s name.”

“So, you can’t tell what Dan thinks of Jim’s story?”

Burt cocked his head to the side. “It sounds like Dan’s inclined to believe him. He thought it made sense. Jim sees his girlfriend kissing her ex-husband. Most guys would get mad. Plus with that wildfire going on and everybody tense, it’s no wonder things blew up. Happens easily, especially between men and women. I’ve seen enough over the years to testify to that. Plus, Jim’s been really open and honest and forthcoming with both these interviews. He’s even admitted he felt guilty about not being there with Andrea. He thinks their argument is the reason she fell.”

“Yeah, I imagine he does. I wonder if that’s part of Connie’s guilt? Knowing that she upset Andrea with all of those explosive visits.”

Burt gave a rueful smile. “The other possibility is that Connie really does have something to feel guilty about. That’s the big question.”

“I wonder if Connie has an attorney. It looks like she will surely need one,” Kelly said sadly.

“Don’t worry. Mimi and I will make sure she’s got a good lawyer, if it comes to that.” Burt took a sip of coffee. “Dan did say they’re taking another look at Dennis Holt. A harder look. Apparently some information has come to light. He didn’t give any details.”

Kelly leaned forward over her coffee cup. “Oh, brother. I bet police are mad because Dennis has been staying up at Andrea’s ranch in Poudre Canyon against police orders to evacuate.”

Burt peered at her. “How did you know that, Kelly?”

She grimaced. “Jayleen told me but swore me to secrecy. She said Dennis made it look like he left, then he stayed to take care of the animals. Feed them, chase away mountain lions and stuff. He said he’d lay low during the day and moved around at dusk and at dark. He even slept with them in the barn. He walked into town at night in order to meet up with him.”

“Did Jayleen tell you all this?”

“Most of it. But I was also with her at a diner in town and had lunch with Dennis. I wanted to meet him. My first encounter with Dennis had been up in Poudre Canyon when I spotted him lurking in the bushes beside the cabin Jen had listed for sale. He was eavesdropping on Jennifer and me. We’d just discovered Fred Turner’s body. Dennis was a neighbor.”

Burt nodded with a little smile. “And you never mentioned that.”

Kelly shrugged good naturedly. “Hey, I wasn’t about to squeal on a good guy like Dennis who’s making sure all those alpacas were all right. He wasn’t doing anything illegal, actually. Besides, he admitted that he’d told Officer Warren when she interviewed him.”

“True, he can refuse to evacuate, but it’s not a good decision. What if all those Bellevue Canyon residents decided to stay behind in their homes? Some of those homes went on to burn.”

“I know, I know.” Kelly held up her hand. “But still, my sympathies are with Dennis. Besides, Jayleen said most of those local firefighters and the sheriff know Dennis. They probably knew he was up there all the time. But they cut him some slack because he was doing a good deed.”

“Well, now the cops all know what Dennis has been doing. Apparently good Officer Warren suspected something and put that in her notes. So Dan drove up into the canyon on official business and found Dennis at Andrea’s ranch.”

“I was wondering when they’d have that second interview with Dennis. I hadn’t heard anything from Jayleen.”

“I think they kept it quiet. They knew Dennis has a lot of friends on the force.”

“They’re not going to charge him with anything, are they?” Kelly didn’t bother to hide her displeasure.

“No, they won’t. But it wasn’t a good beginning for the interview. Dan had several questions about Dennis Holt’s financial situation. Some new information had come to their attention, Dan said.”

Uh-oh
. That didn’t sound good for Dennis, Kelly worried. “Has Dennis done something wrong? Cheated on his taxes or something?”

Burt chuckled. “I don’t know, Kelly. Dan didn’t go into detail. Apparently he’s just starting that harder look at Dennis.”

“That doesn’t sound good, Burt.”

“Well, it all depends, Kelly, on what turns up. If Dennis has got something to hide, I’m sure Dan will find it. If not, then Dennis has nothing to worry about.”

Kelly didn’t reply. But her experience in the financial world had taught her that when it came to money, lots of people made mistakes. Good people and not-so-good people could succumb to cheating. Or lying. But like most mistakes in life, sooner or later they would come to light.

•   •   •

Kelly
walked back into the knitting shop just as Jayleen stepped into the foyer. “Hey, Jayleen! Good to see you.” She hurried over to her friend and gave her a one-armed hug, since she was holding her coffee mug in the other.

“Hey, Kelly-girl. I was hoping I’d find you here.” Jayleen gave her a squeeze.

Kelly noticed even Cowgirl Jayleen had given in to the awful summer heat and abandoned her normal cotton or denim shirts with rolled up sleeves. While she still wore her trademark jeans, Jayleen had switched to a short-sleeved cotton tee shirt, like Kelly and her friends. Of course, they usually opted for sleeveless.

“Errands bring you into town?”

“Sure thing. That plus some business here with Mimi. She mailed an invoice showing I was due payment for some of my bags of fleece I’d put on consignment here. Then I figured I’d pick up some more groceries and swing by the hardware store and get some supplies. Curt’s been helping neighbors repair fences where they had to cut through so firefighters could get to some of those fires close to the western edges of their ranches.”

“Boy, I’ll have to drive out and say hi to Curt. He’s not even driving into town, he’s so busy.”

“You’ve got that right.” Jayleen nodded. “The only place Curt has gone has been into Landport every day to talk to people who supply the fire crews. Of course, we both have to drag ourselves over to the Ranch for those landowner briefings. Lord, have mercy! They still haven’t told us yet which properties were damaged. All of us are getting restless. We’ve been hauling ourselves over there for briefings that don’t give us any real information. They’ve finally got the fire under control in the canyon. The only places where it’s burning now are west of us in the forested lands with no people.”

“Would you step outside for a couple minutes, Jayleen? I wanted to ask you a question.” Kelly pushed open the shop front door.

“Sure, Kelly. What’s up?” she said as she followed Kelly onto the Lambspun shaded front porch outside.

“It’s about Dennis Holt. Burt talked to his old partner Dan at the department and Dan’s investigating Andrea’s death. Burt and all of us were concerned because Connie is still not acting like herself and it seems like she’s hiding something. Then we learned she made a third trip to see Andrea, and of course, now we’re all worrying about what happened.”