Unraveled (13 page)

“Yeah, at least twice a week, sometimes more. Often I stay over at night, especially if there’s an evening function or meetings. That way I don’t have to drag myself back late at night.”

Connie gave Kelly a sympathetic smile. “That’s a smart idea, especially while we’ve still got snowstorms in the picture. You don’t want to be sliding on that ice.”

Kelly grimaced. She had bad memories of that. “You’re absolutely right, Connie. Once was enough for me. I don’t have time for broken ankles or whatever.” Changing the subject, she leaned over the counter and lowered her voice. “I noticed Lizzie and Eustace are at the table again. Are they here every day?”

Connie nodded, a twinkle in her eye. “They sure are. Eustace told me that he and Lizzie take a walk every day near the river or the trails. Then, he gets to work. Either he goes to interviews, or he’s here with Lizzie working on his book while she knits.” She grinned. “Doncha love it? Lizzie finally found a ‘beau’ after all these years.”

Kelly smiled. “I think it’s great. But I wondered how Hilda’s taking it. Have you seen her much? Burt says her arthritis is keeping her at home more.”

“I’m afraid you’re right. Hilda’s slowed down a lot from what I see.” Connie’s smile vanished.

“I wonder how she’s adjusting to Lizzie’s new relationship. Has Hilda ever said anything?”

Connie shook her head. “Not a word. My guess is she’s as surprised as everyone else. She probably doesn’t know what to say.”

Kelly noticed a customer holding a ball of yarn nearby and backed away from the counter so Connie could focus on business. She returned to the main room to pick up the silk scarf she’d started knitting and chat with friends before she had to return to her cozy cottage and accounts. It was Friday, and that meant Lisa and Greg were having everyone over for takeout and DVDs.

Pausing by the large loom in the adjacent room, Kelly fingered the soft green and blue yarns that some weaver was using to create the pattern. Beautiful, she thought as she passed by.

“Hello, dear, it’s so nice to see you,” Lizzie greeted as Kelly pulled out a chair across the knitting table from the others. “We miss seeing you here more often.”

“I miss being able to drop in, but my Denver client has big plans and he wants me to keep track of them.” She pulled out the multicolored yarn and needles from her bag.

“Ahhh, that reminds me.” Eustace paused over his keyboard and looked at Kelly. “I must make an appointment with both of your clients for interviews, Kelly. Arthur Housemann and Don Warner.”

Kelly returned to her stitches. The rows of nubbly silk yarn were growing. “I think you’ll enjoy both men. They’ve each weathered several Colorado recessions in real estate. None has been as deep as this one, but they’re doing much better than so many others. Too many of our builders and developers went belly-up last year. Have you interviewed any of them? I know Curt was giving you names.”

“Indeed, I have.” Eustace removed his glasses and cleaned them with his tailored blue shirt. “All of the builders I’ve interviewed in Denver were most forthcoming. I’ve also interviewed more builders who haven’t weathered this recession well. Alas, they’ve lost their businesses. So sad. I’ve decided to expand the book to include some of their stories. To counterbalance the success and survival of the other subjects. Unfortunately, I still haven’t found a replacement for Fred Turner.” He pursed his mouth. “He was going to be my lead character in the ‘up and coming’ New West cowboys section.”

“From what I’ve heard it sounds like he should be in your outlaw category,” Kelly remarked. Another row of stitching formed on her needles.

Lizzie gave a little giggle. “Goodness, that man sounds like a schemer.”

“I only wish I could interview more people who knew the man. Surely he had a more generous side,” Eustace said, swinging his spectacles by the earpiece.

“Maybe not,” Kelly said. “Money blinds some people to everything else. They’ll do anything to get it.”

Lizzie sighed dramatically. “So true, so true.”

“I have an idea,” Lisa piped up. “Why don’t you interview Steve Townsend? He’s the young builder we told you about. He’s watched his entire business go down the drain in this recession. But he’s been working two jobs in Denver for months now, clawing his way back to success.” Lisa’s chin lifted proudly, Kelly noticed. As if she was a mother hen parading her chicks.

“Ohhhh, yes, I forgot about that young man,” Eustace said, scribbling on a notepad beside his elbow. “I’ll be sure to contact him. Perhaps I can expand that section, too.”

Kelly decided to change the subject before Lizzie had a chance to ask about Steve. Kelly noticed the elderly knitter casting worried looks her way every time Steve’s name had come up in conversation during these six months she and Steve had been apart. She might as well deflect conversation now.

“Are you and Greg hosting the gang tonight, or are we going to Megan and Marty’s?” she asked Lisa.

“Are you youngsters going out to dinner?” Eustace asked, peering over his rimless glasses at them.

“We’ll be dining in and ordering Italian,” Lisa replied with a smile. “Jennifer and Pete are working a banquet, but Marty and Megan are coming. Are you in, Kelly?”

“I’ll be there for sure,” Kelly said. “Italian’s one of my favorites.”

“That way we can all watch a movie together,” Lisa continued. “Everyone’s schedules have gotten so busy we have to grab whatever time we can.”

Kelly finished another row of stitches. Glancing at Eustace and Lizzie, she couldn’t resist asking, “What are you two planning for this evening? It’s Friday night, date night.”

Lizzie blushed a rosier red and concentrated on her knitting while Eustace reached over and patted her hand. She looked up at him with an adoring expression.

“Unlike you youngsters, Lizzie and I enjoy dining in your fair city’s fine restaurants. I must say, Fort Connor has quite a vibrant café scene. I’m quite impressed. Houston is such a huge city, I find it difficult to explore nowadays. Too much traffic and too many people. And all of them seem to be driving at the same time. Fort Connor’s traffic is much more manageable.” Eustace smiled at Lizzie and kept his hand over hers.

Kelly kept her smile hidden with great effort. “Well, make sure you two try one of my favorite cafés, the Jazz Bistro. The food is delicious, the martinis are cold, and the jazz is hot.” She gave Eustace a wink.

“Ohhhh, we
have
been there, dear,” Lizzie spoke up, her cheeks still rosy. “It’s so . . . so lively! I can understand why you and your young man enjoy it so.” Suddenly, Lizzie’s eyes popped wide and her hand flew to her mouth. “Ohhh, I’m so sorry, dear. I didn’t mean to . . . to mention Steve! It simply came out.”

At that, Kelly had to smile. Lizzie looked so contrite. This time, Kelly reached over and patted Lizzie’s other hand. “That’s okay, Lizzie. No one’s died. It’s all right.”

Lizzie still looked guilty, and Kelly was about to find something else reassuring to say when her cell phone rang. Thus rescuing her from the conversation.

“Excuse me, folks,” she said as she rose from her chair and dug into her jeans pocket. Recognizing Jayleen’s name and number flash on the phone screen, Kelly hastened over to the adjacent yarn room, which was currently empty of customers. “Hey, Jayleen, how’re you doing?”

“Not good, Kelly. I’m worried about Renee,” Jayleen answered. “The cops went out to question her again this morning.”

“Uh-oh, that doesn’t sound good.” Kelly was familiar with Lieutenant Peterson’s investigative procedures. He didn’t question someone a second time unless he had a reason.

“Don’t I know it,” Jayleen said with a short exhaled breath. “Renee called me a few minutes ago, and I tell you, Kelly, she’s scared. She said that Detective Peterson was real intimidating.”

That aroused Kelly’s curiosity. “He can be. Particularly if he’s learned something that makes him suspicious. Renee’s already in his crosshairs, Jayleen. She came up to the cabin alone to confront Turner. And there’s no witness to prove she walked in and found his dead body.”

“I know, I know. . . .”

“You have to admit, Jayleen, your friend looks like the main suspect. They were in the midst of a nasty divorce, and she was convinced he was cheating her.” Kelly pushed open the shop front door to remove herself and the conversation from the earshot of nearby customers.

Jayleen exhaled a loud sigh on the other end. “You’re right, I know. It looks bad. And getting worse. Renee just told me that the cops learned she’d been paying Fred’s assistant to tell her what deals he was working and the money involved and who the clients were. Stuff like that.”

“Oh, brother, that makes her look even guiltier,” Kelly said, waving to Lisa, who was leaving the shop and walking to her parked car.

“Don’t I know it.
Damn!
Why’d Renee do that? It was stupid.”

“People do stupid things when they’re scared, Jayleen. And I can’t think of anything scarier than being on Detective Peterson’s radar screen in a murder investigation.”

“Listen, Kelly, do you think you could do Renee a favor? For my sake, please? Could you ask Burt if his old pal at the department has told him anything about the investigation? Renee keeps talking about some British guy who called Fred. Name of Birmingham. Turner’s assistant told her the guy, Birmingham, was going to meet Fred in the canyon that Saturday morning. Maybe Burt can find out if the cops have learned anything about this guy. I mean, maybe he was up there and saw something.”

Kelly felt that insistent little buzz inside at Jayleen’s suggestion. Burt hadn’t said anything, so she’d assumed Peterson and his guys were still investigating Birmingham. “Sure, Jayleen. I’ll ask Burt. Jennifer told me about that guy, so I’m curious, too.”

“Fred’s assistant Anita played the voice mail for Renee, and she says this Birmingham sounded like he was hot to buy the place. So, you’d think the cops would be looking into the guy.”

Kelly yanked the heavy wooden front door open. “I’m sure they are, Jayleen. Burt will find out for us.”

“All I know is that Fred Turner had a whole passel of enemies all over northern Colorado. And I wouldn’t be the least surprised if one of them did him in. But I know for sure that Renee couldn’t do it. I know that woman. She’s as good as the day is long. Rough around the edges like I am, but she sure ain’t a killer.”

Kelly kept her mouth shut. Renee was Jayleen’s friend. But Kelly had learned long ago that good people often did bad things. Very bad things, sometimes. Sometimes they even killed. An idea came to her then. “Hey, Jayleen, I’d like to meet Renee. Can you bring her over to the shop for lunch sometime?”

Jayleen’s voice brightened. “Sure thing, Kelly. I think that’s a good idea. You need to meet her yourself. You’ll see what I mean. I’ll call her and get back to you, okay? Listen, I’ve got another call coming in. Talk to you soon, Kelly girl.”

“Bye, Jayleen.” Kelly clicked off and returned to the main room and her abandoned knitting on the long table. Glad to be back inside the shop’s warmth, Kelly settled into her chair and picked up her stitches where she’d left off.

The long table was empty now. Lisa had left and Lizzie and Eustace were nowhere to be seen. Lizzie’s knitting was sitting atop her embroidered knitting bag, and Eustace’s laptop computer was closed on the table as well.

Kelly knitted a row, enjoying the peaceful quiet. That was one of the things she continually enjoyed about knitting. You didn’t need company to enjoy doing it. It was a satisfying, yet contemplative activity that allowed her mind to roam free while her hands were busy creating with color and texture.

“Oh, good. I’m glad you’re here,” Jennifer’s voice came through the quiet. She pulled out a chair beside Kelly. “I thought I’d take my break now before the lunch crowd picks up. Lizzie and Eustace are at their favorite table. I won’t get to see you guys tonight, so let’s catch up now. How’re things going in the Denver development fast lane?”

“Well, I’m not in the fast lane, but Warner sure is. He’s got more ideas for projects. Only this recession is holding him back. Once things start to settle he’ll be shifting into high gear.”

“Sounds like Don Warner.” Jennifer worked the coral stitches on the top she was knitting. Half finished. “How’s Housemann doing? Has he said anything to you about this dead deal with Turner? Has he lost all interest?”

“You know, I’ve barely had a chance to talk with him. Every time I called last week, I always got his voice mail. I finally touched base with him on the phone a few days ago, but I didn’t get a chance to ask him because he was in a hurry. Sounded preoccupied, too. His answers were real short. Not like him.”

Jennifer frowned. “Oh, darn. I was hoping he talked to you about the canyon deal falling through. I spoke with his agent Bethany, and she hasn’t heard anything from him, either. I mean, if he still wants the property, he could let Bethany know he’s interested, and she can notify us. Turner’s wife will own all the property once the estate is settled. I sure hope Renee Turner wants to continue using me as an agent.”

“I don’t know if that would be a good idea right now,” Kelly countered. “Jayleen told me Lieutenant Peterson questioned Turner’s wife a second time. You and I know that means she’s in Peterson’s crosshairs. So, I don’t think it would be a good idea for Renee Turner to talk about selling the property so soon after her husband’s death.”

Jennifer’s fingers moved faster, which happened whenever she was worrying about something, Kelly noticed. “Oh, brother. I was hoping that deal could eventually be salvaged. I guess not.”

Kelly recognized the concern in her friend’s voice and repeated her earlier offer. “Remember, Jen. I’m happy to float you a loan to help tide you over this rough period.”

Jennifer smiled at Kelly. “I remember. Thank you. And let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. Those catering jobs are really helping to fill in. I’m okay, so far. I just think it’s such a waste when a willing seller and a willing buyer are unable to get together. After all these years in real estate, that’s frustrating to watch.”

“I understand. But right now, Renee Turner seems to be standing on shaky ground.” Kelly shrugged. “Maybe Jayleen is right. Maybe Renee didn’t kill her husband. Maybe Turner was killed by someone he’d burned in a bad real estate deal. Who knows? Maybe that mysterious guy Birmingham is someone from Turner’s past.”