Close Knit Killer (20 page)

“Of course I do. I knew you two had figured it out when you asked me down here.”

“You also need to speak with an attorney. Do you have someone you’ve used and can
trust?”

“Yes, I’ve used Lawrence Chambers for years. He’s excellent and as trustworthy as
the day is long.”

Kelly sat up straighter at that. At last she could do something to help Madge. “Lawrence
Chambers is my lawyer, too. I have his number in my directory. Would you like to call
him now?” She dug her phone from her pocket.

“Why, thank you, Kelly. I’m not surprised you have Chambers as your attorney. He’s
sharp as a tack. Like you.” Madge gave her another of those disconcerting maternal
smiles.

Kelly found the number and handed over her phone as Madge pushed away from the table.
“Is it all right if I speak to him outside, Burt?” she asked politely.

“Of course, Madge.” Burt gestured toward the door. Then he sank back into his chair
and looked over at Kelly. “Well, that is the damnedest thing I’ve ever heard. I’ve
had criminals confess before, but nothing like this. I’d better leave a message for
Dan. I can talk to him while I’m driving back to Estes Park.” He shook his head. “Mimi’s
never going to believe this.”

Kelly could barely believe it, either. “What do we do with her? I mean, after she
finishes talking with Chambers?”

“Oh, I’m going to take her to Chambers’s office, then I’m going to notify the investigating
officers in this case and tell them what we just heard and inform them that Madge
is presently with her lawyer. I assume that good attorney Chambers will personally
take Madge to the police department to turn herself in.”

This time, Kelly wagged her head in Burt fashion. “I swear, Burt. If you’d told me
yesterday that we’d be having a conversation like this today, I would have thought
you were crazy. Good Lord! She was so . . . so calm and collected and cold-blooded
about it. Just sat there smiling, like she was pleased with herself or something.
Talk about bizarre.”

“I’ve learned over the years to never say ‘now I’ve heard everything.’ Because sure
as shooting, you’ll hear something even stranger later on.”

“I’ll take your word for it, Burt.” Then she couldn’t resist saying, “For goodness’
sake.”

Burt just rolled his eyes as he pulled out his cell phone.

Twenty

“Man,
I forgot how big this event is,” Steve said, looking around at the colorful vendors’
booths, crammed cheek-by-jowl into every aisle of the Wool Market exhibition building.
“Look at all these people.”

“I know. Fiber arts have surged in popularity these last few years,” Kelly said as
they slowly maneuvered their way toward the Lambspun booth ahead.

People crowded every aisle in the large building on the county fairgrounds where the
Estes Park Wool Market was held every June. Knitted, spun, woven, crocheted, tatted,
sewn, and felted creations beckoned from every booth; some even spilled over the sides.
Spun yarns of every fiber imaginable and in colors that would put a rainbow to shame
enticed passersby. Kelly would have given in to the temptations as she moved through
the aisles, but today she was looking for information, not fiber.

“Hey, I think I spotted the booth,” Steve said, craning his neck. “Yeah, there’s Burt.”

“Good. He’s the man I want to see,” Kelly said, sliding sideways around a woman who
had stopped in the middle of the aisle. Kelly sped up in front of a gaggle of women
who had stopped to admire a weaver’s exquisite handiwork. Now there was a clear shot
to the Lambspun booth.

“Slick move,” Steve said with a chuckle as he caught up with her.

“I learned to walk in big East Coast cities,” she joked, heading straight for Burt,
who was placing books on a lower shelf of the booth. She called out as she sped up,
“Hey, Burt. How’re you folks doing?”

Burt glanced up and smiled as Kelly and Steve approached. “Hey, there, you two. Good
to see you both.”

“How’s business so far?” Steve asked, shaking Burt’s hand as he scanned the crowds.
Lambspun’s booth was filled with customers.

“Great, so far. We’re nearly sold out of the Lambspun hand-dyed yarns. I’ll run back
tonight and ransack the basement for more.”

“Did you hear anything more from Dan?” Kelly asked. “Last night you said that Madge
would go before a judge on Monday to hear charges. Did she spend the night in the
county detention facility?”

“No, Dan said the detectives in the case took her statement, then conferred with the
county prosecutor about charges. Meanwhile, she was allowed to post bail. But I’m
fairly certain she’ll be heading to the detention center on Monday after she’s been
charged with murder.”

Steve shook his head. “Brother, that is so hard to believe. I’ve never met Madge,
but listening to Kelly describe what this sweet little grandmother did . . . Wow.
Scary.”

“I know what you mean,” Burt agreed. “Kelly and I were stunned. But, at least she’s
got a good attorney. Larry Chambers is one of the best in town. He’ll take good care
of her.”

“Yes, he will, and that makes me feel a little better.”

“Thank goodness Chambers called Barbara and told her what was happening. I did
not
want to be the one to do that.”

“I’m glad you didn’t have to, Burt. Keep me updated, okay?”

“Will do, Kelly.”

Just then, Cassie came around the corner of the booth, spotted them, and raced over.
“Hey, Kelly and Steve. Mimi’s selling tons of stuff today! Boy, I’ve never seen so
many people and yarns and stuff all around,” she bubbled.

“You got that right, Cassie,” Steve said with a grin. “Whole bunches of stuff.”

“I’m so glad you came up today, Cassie,” Kelly said. “This Wool Market is fantastic,
don’t you think?”

“Oh, yeah, awesome,” Cassie said, watching the people pass.

“Have you been to the livestock barns yet?” Steve asked.

“We did that first thing when got here,” Burt said. “I went down early and picked
her up from the café. Pete and Jennifer were already hard at work.” Burt reached over
and gave Cassie a hug. “Saturday morning is always packed for breakfast, right, Cassie?”

Her eyes went wide in agreement. “Oh, yeah. People are there every morning when Pete
opens the doors. It’s amazing.”

“I bet you’ve been a big help to Mimi and Burt in the booth,” Kelly said. “There are
tons of people here today.”

“Cassie’s been a great helper,” Burt agreed.

“Can we go over to the alpaca barns now?” Cassie asked. “I haven’t seen Jayleen yet.
She said she was bringing eight of her alpacas today.”

“I’ll take her, Burt,” Kelly offered. “You’re probably needed here.”

“Well, I don’t know about needed, but I’m reasonably useful,” Burt teased. “You tell
Jayleen hello for me. And Curt. I spoke with him earlier. He brought up one of his
trailers to help transport the alpacas back to her ranch Sunday night.”

“Will do, Burt,” Steve said, as he and Kelly and Cassie turned into the aisle. Pointing
toward the side of the building, Steve beckoned. “Let’s go out this exit because it’s
closer to the livestock areas.”

Kelly and Cassie followed as Steve carved a path through the crowded aisles and headed
for the exit door. As soon as the hot sun hit Kelly in the face, she blinked and slipped
on her sunglasses.

“Alpaca stalls used to be over in that direction,” Kelly said as they walked past
new crowds of people eating hot dogs, smoked turkey legs, barbecue, corn dogs, cotton
candy, ice cream, popsicles, even hot apple pie. Kelly marveled at the variety of
food vendors were selling to lines of eager customers, standing in the hot sun.

Since Estes Park was higher in altitude than Fort Connor, 7,500 feet as opposed to
5,000 feet, the heat was not as intense up here. Only the high eighties instead of
high nineties. Kelly was grateful for the difference in temperatures. It was a welcome
relief.

“Hey, isn’t that Jayleen at the end of those stalls?” Steve said, pointing ahead as
they approached the larger livestock area.

“Yeah, it is. Hey, Jayleen!” Cassie called, then broke into a run, heading for the
last stalls.

Kelly saw Jayleen turn quickly at the sound of her name being called. Curt was standing
beside her, talking to a couple who were obviously admiring one of Jayleen’s alpacas.

Cassie raced up, and Jayleen reached out and gave her a big hug.

“Cassie’s adopting grandparents all over the place,” she said with a laugh. “Isn’t
that great?”

“Sure is,” Steve agreed. “Both Jayleen and Mimi need grandkids, don’tcha think?”

“Ohhhh, yeah,” Kelly said in a low voice as they approached the stalls. “Hey, there,
Jayleen, Curt. We thought we’d see how you’re doing.”

“Nice to see you two up here,” Curt said, touching the brim of his Stetson.

“Well, well, it’s good to see you up here with Kelly, Steve. You haven’t been to one
of these markets in a coon’s age,” Jayleen said with a wide grin, her arm still around
Cassie’s shoulders.

“You’re right about that, Jayleen. Denver keeps me pretty darned busy.” Steve reached
out and gave Curt a handshake. “You got any livestock here, Curt? Or just helping
out Jayleen?”

“I’m helping out. Less work, actually,” Curt said with a lazy smile.

“Can I go inside with the herd?” Cassie asked, blue eyes wide.

“Sure, you can, girl,” Jayleen said, tousling Cassie’s hair. “Curt’s grandson Eric
has been helping clean up after them. I reckon he’ll be glad to have some help with
pooper-scooper detail.”

Curt laughed. “He sure would. He’s getting some sandwiches for us, but he’ll be back
in a minute.”

Kelly watched Cassie effortlessly climb over the metal stall fencing and drop to the
hay-strewn floor inside the stall. Two gray alpacas approached her, extending their
graceful necks to sniff her. Cassie stood still and let them sniff, Kelly noticed.

“She’s learned fast,” Kelly observed.

Jayleen nodded. “Cassie’s a fast learner. Picks up stuff right away.”

“Speaking of picking up stuff, here comes the chief scooper, back with our lunch,”
Curt announced. “Hey, Eric. We’ve recruited a helper for you on the waste removal
patrol.”

A skinny, sandy brown–haired boy walked up with a box filled with sodas and wrapped
sandwiches. The boy glanced over at Cassie and smiled. “Hey, Cassie. Did Grandpa trick
you into that job?”

“Heck, no, Eric,” Jayleen said with a laugh. “Cassie volunteered. She already got
an idea of the job this week when she came out to my ranch.”

Kelly thought she scented barbecued chicken, and her stomach growled. Lunchtime already.
Looked like she and Steve would have to join the crowded lines. “I saw some folks
talking to Curt when we walked up. Are they interested in buying one of the herd?”

Jayleen shrugged. “They’re thinking about it. People need to take time before they
jump into buying livestock. Especially if they’ve never done any—”

A man in a black tee shirt and a Colorado Rockies baseball cap suddenly called Jayleen’s
name as he raced up. “
Jayleen!
I just heard on my short wave there’s a fire over in Bellevue Canyon! Started near
Stove Prairie, but it’s spreading fast! Firefighters are out there now!”

Jayleen stared at the man, her face draining of color in an instant. She grasped his
arm. “Stove Prairie? That’s . . . that’s down the other side of the mountain!”

“Where’s it spread to?” Curt demanded.

“I don’t know . . . It didn’t say . . . just that it’s spreading and firefighters
are already there! I know your place is in the canyon, Jayleen. Who else is here?
I’d better tell ’em, too.” His head swiveled around, as he scanned the stalls.

“Uhh, Mary and . . . Tom Robbins . . .” Jayleen clutched at her throat. “Oh, no, God,
no . . . my ranch!” She reached out and Curt caught her hand.

“We have to get back, Jayleen.
Now!
Eric and Cassie can watch over the animals until I come back. But we’ve got to get
the rest of your herd out now.” Curt put his other hand on Jayleen’s shoulder.

Kelly’s heart had gone to her throat.
A wildfire!
Oh, no. Not in these dry forests.

“Jayleen, Kelly and I can help,” Steve said. “We can get trailers from my parents’
place and go over to your ranch and get your animals out. Kelly can drive my truck,
and I’ll drive one of my dad’s.”

“Steve, why don’t you take Jayleen’s truck right now,” Curt said. “It’s already got
a trailer on it. We’ll take mine. That way you can drive to her ranch with us. We
could use your help getting the animals out.”

Jayleen still looked in shock, too stunned to speak, as she stared at Steve. “I’ve
got to go . . . I’ve got to go,” she repeated.

Burt raced up then, white-faced and panting. “Jayleen! I just got a call from a firefighter
friend. An alarm went out. Wildfire in Bellevue Canyon!”

“We just heard,” Curt said, moving Jayleen away from the stalls. “We’re heading back
now. Eric and Cassie can look after the animals.
Eric!
” He turned to his grandson, who was standing stock-still, as was Cassie, both young
faces stunned. “Give out Jayleen’s cards to anyone who’s interested and tell them
to call her for information. I’ll be back later. Don’t worry, I’ll call your mom.
Cassie, help out Eric. He needs you now.”

“I’ll stay with them here, Curt,” Burt offered. “Mimi’s got it covered inside. I’ll
stay with the kids and make sure everything’s okay. Keep us posted,
please
!”

“I’ve gotta go, I’ve gotta go, I’ve gotta go . . .” Jayleen repeated, staring out
toward the mountains. “My ranch, oh, God, my ranch . . .”

“C’mon, Jayleen, let’s get to my truck. You’d better not drive right now,” Curt directed
as he took her arm.

“We’ll help you, Jayleen, I swear, we will,” Steve promised as he and Kelly fell in
step with them. “Kelly will get another trailer from my dad and meet us up at your
ranch.”

“And I’ll call Lisa and Greg and Megan and Marty,” Kelly said. “They can borrow some
trucks from Marty’s family and head to your ranch. We’ll load up everything you need.
We’ll get your animals out. I
promise
!”

Curt used his big frame and broad shoulders to create a path for them through the
throngs of people filling the fairgrounds. They were all happily enjoying the summer
weekend in this gorgeous mountain setting. Exactly like Kelly and her dear friends
had been doing only minutes ago. How quickly everything could change. Someone’s entire
world could change. Jayleen’s world was now threatened—in an instant.

Wildfire
. The one thing that everyone who lived in Colorado’s beautiful mountain areas dreaded.
There had not been a wildfire in the northern Colorado mountains and canyons near
Fort Connor for as long as any of Kelly’s friends could remember. And now—when their
forests were thick and filled with pine-bark-beetle-killed trees. Bone dry. Drought
dry. Kindling. Waiting for a spark.

Kelly felt her stomach clench at the fearful thoughts bombarding her as they pushed
through the crowd. Steve had parked on the edge of the parking area. It would take
another five minutes or more for her just to reach his car.

“Here are my keys,” Steve said, fishing them out of his jeans. “Be careful driving
back into the canyon with that trailer.” He reached out and drew Kelly close for a
quick kiss.

“I’ll try to meet up with Greg and the others. Maybe they’ll have the trailers by
the time I reach Fort Connor. If so, we can all drive up together.”

“C’mon, Steve,” Curt called as he and Jayleen broke free of the crowd and started
to run.

Steve ran after them, quickly disappearing behind people heading toward the livestock
barns. Working her way through the crowds, Kelly pulled her cell phone from her jeans
pocket and began to call her friends . . .