A Murder in Mohair (33 page)

Lucy finally told her friends the whole story about her visit to the wood shop the morning of Nora's arrest and about facing down Richard there. And then how Dale arrived and the two men battled fiercely, her fate hanging in the balance.

“It's impossible to say now; everything happened so quickly. But it seemed like Richard was winning. I don't know what would have happened if Charles hadn't felt some tingle of police officer intuition when he spotted my bike and Richard's van in the alley.”

“He's got a real knack for that.” Maggie's tone was quiet but proud.

“Yes, he does,” Lucy said. “He was also more open to hearing out my theories than I expected. I did make sure he knew that you didn't have anything to do with my snooping, Maggie,” Lucy added.

“Thanks, but Charles and I have come to terms about all that. He more or less admitted to me that you helped him sort out this massive tangle. And he gave me a little credit, too. Totally undeserved,” she quickly added. “I don't think he'll ever encourage my snooping. But it does look like he's decided to live with it.”

“It comes with the package and he definitely likes the rest of that,” Suzanne said tartly.

Maggie just laughed. “I suppose you could put it that way.”

“And we definitely welcome you back to the fold.” Dana had been knitting steadily, working on a new project that Lucy didn't recognize.

“Making something new?” Lucy asked. “I didn't know you finished your tote.”

“I did . . . I'm just waiting for Maggie to help me felt it.” She glanced in Maggie's direction.

Lucy sighed. “I didn't sew mine up yet. My life has been so exciting lately.”

“Well, get a move on. We'll felt them all together. In the shop,” Maggie suggested.

“Will you still put mine in the window?” Lucy asked.

“I've saved the spot. But it can't stay empty forever,” Maggie reminded her.

“I'll finish this week, by Thursday night.”

“All right. Why don't you all aim for that; we'll have a combination happy birthday and felting party then, I guess.” Maggie shrugged.

As much as Lucy had loved her big surprise party, she was still looking forward to the more intimate celebration with her very best friends.

“Good deadline, Maggie. I like it. Right, Lucy?” Suzanne said pointedly.

“Sounds perfect. And my mom will be here visiting by then. She's with Ellen now in Lexington but she's coming to Plum Harbor for a week. So she'll be at this party, too.”

“The more the merrier. I like your mom, Lucy. She's really cool,” Phoebe said.

“Another party? I thought you girls just had one.” Edie had come halfway up the walk without anyone noticing her, which was a bit remarkable, Lucy realized.

“It's Lucy's real birthday on Thursday and we're going to have some cake and champagne . . . and felt our totes,” Maggie explained.

“Would you like to come, Edie?” Lucy said. “We'd love it if you could join us.”

Edie looked surprised by the invitation, and touched. “I'd love to, dear. I'm sorry I didn't make it to your big surprise party on the beach. I heard it was epic.”

Lucy was surprised to hear the bit of slang from Edie. Outdated as it was.

“More than epic. I'd say a milestone.” Suzanne waxed poetic. “Lucy and Matt are engaged. He proposed right after the guests all left.”

Edie stared at Lucy in happy surprise. “He did? Way to go, girl!” She hugged Lucy to her ample chest and Lucy thought she might be smothered in a cloud of flowery perfume. “I'm tickled pink,” Edie said, finally releasing her.

“Thanks, Edie,” Lucy said laughing, smoothing herself out.

“Finally, some good news.” Edie sighed as she dropped down in a wicker chair.

Maggie nodded. “Yes, it is a bright spot.”

“And nice to end our chat on a high note,” Dana said. “I have to get to the office. See you all soon.”

Suzanne was also ready to go and Lucy decided she ought to head home, too.

They wished Maggie and Edie goodbye and Dana walked Lucy down to the drive to see her bike.

“It's a beauty, Lucy. Light as a feather, too,” she said with a note of envy as she tested the weight. “Now we have to plan a long trek.”

Lucy already had her helmet on and swung herself up on the seat. “That will be great; maybe the Cape?”

“Perfect. But you'll be the one leaving me in the dust,” Dana noted with a grin.

Lucy answered with a shocked look as she began to pedal away. “Never, Dana. Sheep always stick together. Even on bicycles.”

Dana just laughed and waved. “Enjoy your new ride.”

“I am already!” Lucy shouted back. Her new cycle couldn't have been nicer, with all the extras she could ever want, including a gorgeous ruby ring that seemed to wink at her as she tugged on her riding glove and headed home.

*  *  *

Maggie was content
to sit with Edie without talking, after all the excited conversation this morning. She and Edie watched from the porch as Lucy pedaled up Main Street, heading back to the Marshes. Lucy waved and Maggie waved back.

“It is nice to see Lucy so happy. She said the new bike is like floating on a cloud. But I think she'd be floating even without it right now.”

Edie sighed and laughed. She fanned herself with a knitting magazine she'd found on the side table. “She just about sparkles. I nearly had to put my sunglasses on just to chat with her.”

“Hmm.” Maggie nodded. “And you're sparkling a bit, too, this morning, I noticed.” She met Edie's glance. “Your father's watch is back?” she asked quietly.

Edie looked down at her wrist and the heavy gold watch. “Yup, back safe and sound. Talk about out of the blue. Never thought I'd see this again. Unless I scoured every pawnshop in the country and even then, the chances would have been doubtful.”

“Did the police return it to you?” Maggie did wonder how the police were going to sort out any property they'd found in Cassandra's possession. She'd expected that would take a long time.

Edie shook her head. “Nope. The cops had nothing to do with it. You'll be surprised to hear who did.” She leaned back and pulled a folded piece of paper from the pocket of her dress. “Here . . . read this. It came in the package. With the watch.”

Maggie was curious now. She put her knitting aside, adjusted her glasses, and unfolded the sheet. It was a letter, handwritten in cursive script. But neat and legible.

“Dear Mrs. Steiber,” she began aloud.

“It's all right. I've read it. A few times. Read it to yourself.” Edie sounded impatient.

Maggie saw that the letter was from Daphne Mullens, Cassandra's daughter, and quickly scanned the lines:

I believe this gold watch belongs to you and I want to return it. My mother sent it to me and asked that I keep it in a safe place. It is doubtlessly, very valuable. I'd guess, even more precious to you for sentimental reasons. My mother didn't tell me much, but I can imagine how she persuaded you to give it to her. She did ask me to pretend to be the long-lost granddaughter of an older woman that she was working with in your town. I assume it must have been you. I didn't want to participate in that ruse. For better or worse, her relationship with you never progressed to that point.

I did want to speak to you face-to-face, Mrs. Steiber, and return this while I was in Plum Harbor. I came into your diner several times, and even found out where you lived. But I could never work up the nerve. I didn't give it to the police to return, because I was afraid it would lead to too many questions asked of me and get lost in their bureaucratic system. Also because I know that many of my mother's clients would have been too embarrassed to report their loss. Even something so valuable.

I can understand that. I'm deeply ashamed of my mother's behavior. I know that this small gesture means nothing compared to the unhappiness she brought to so many, including your family. I know you have your own opinion of my mother and there's little I can say or do that would ever change that.

I do want you to know that my mother's claims weren't entirely bogus. She was gifted with incredible intuitive and psychic powers. She just chose, most of the time, not to use them for good.

I've learned that this is a choice we all make, wherever our life path, and our unique gifts, lead us.

“Yours truly, Daphne Mullens,” Maggie murmured when she came to the bottom of the page.

She put the letter down and stared at Edie. “This is surprising. You were lucky, Edie. Lucky that she's an honest, thoughtful person. Or at least, chose to be in this situation.”

Maggie didn't know much about the law. But she was aware that receiving and holding stolen goods was illegal and did make a person an accessory to a crime. But then again, Edie had willingly given the watch to Cassandra—to have it cleansed of bad energy. So perhaps mother and daughter both believed themselves to be in the clear in that regard.

“I guess I was lucky about that much,” Edie said in a measured way. She adjusted the watch a bit on her wrist. “But she's lucky she never gathered up her moxie and introduced herself to me. Especially once Nora was in the hot seat with the police. I don't know what I would have done. You would have been talking to me through a pane of bulletproof glass right now.”

Maggie didn't reply. She knew Edie just needed to vent but also knew that wouldn't have been a pretty scene.

“I don't care what she says about her mother,” Edie added. “That Cassandra was no good in my book and never will be. I will say, just between us for now, that one good thing came out of this. For me, at least. Getting this watch back is the least of it.”

Something better than the lost heirloom? What could that be? But Maggie didn't have to ask.

Edie leaned closer. “Remember when I told you about my Sara?” Maggie nodded. Of course she remembered the story about the baby Edie had given up for adoption.

“Well, I said to myself, What kind of an idiot are you? You're asking some phony-baloney fortune-teller about your own child—where she is, what's she doing. Why don't you just hire somebody to find out if she's dead or alive? Because, I tell you, Maggie, deep in my heart, I knew Sara wasn't dead. Call it intuition, a sixth sense, mother love . . . or just wishful thinking. But I suddenly had to find out.”

“Really? What'd you do?”

“I hired a private detective. Duh?” Edie mocked the teenage expression. “Out in Arizona. A few weeks ago now.”

“You did? Good for you,” Maggie said sincerely. “Have you heard anything? I suppose it's too soon, though. . . .”

“Heck, no. He found her right away. Just like that.” Edie snapped her fingers. “On the Internet or something. She's not dead, like Cassandra said,” she added with an angry edge. “Sara is alive and kicking. In her mid-fifties already, with two grown children. I've lost so much time,” she said sadly. “But I do have another granddaughter and a grandson. Both in top-notch colleges. Very smart. I think the girl's on a music scholarship.”

Maggie's smile grew even wider. She patted Edie's freckled hand. “That's wonderful news. I think I might cry.”

“Thanks, Maggie. You're a pal.”

Maggie smiled. “Any plans yet to meet?”

“I'm going to Arizona in a month or so, when it cools down out there. Sara is dying to meet me. I am, too, to meet her. It's going to take some getting used to. I haven't even told Amy and Cecilia yet,” she confided, mentioning her other daughters. “I'm not sure how they're going to take it.”

She sounded nervous. With good reason, Maggie thought. These announcements were often very jarring to a family's status quo.

A real game changer.

“You're doing the right thing, Edie. It will all work out,” she said finally.

“One way or the other.” Edie sounded resigned. “The funny thing is, if it wasn't for that witch Cassandra, I may have never gone looking for Sara and found out what had happened to her. Though I've worried about her every day of my life, since I gave her up. I have to be thankful for that.”

“And you discovered that you have two more grandchildren in the bargain.” And are already bragging about them, Maggie added with a secret smile. “At least some good has come from all the damage and pain Cassandra brought to your family.”

Edie nodded with a serious expression. “Very true. I don't think many people who got suckered by Cassandra Waters can say that.” She sighed and sat back, fanning herself slower now. “I'm just grateful now for my kids and grandkids. How they're all stepping up to help Nora, and even Richard and Dale, through the rest of this mess. And for friends like you, Maggie. And the rest of your pals. I've always been the independent type, you know me. But it's nice to know you girls have got my back.”

Maggie looked up from her work and smiled. “Anytime, Edie. The Black Sheep knitters are always happy to ride to the rescue.”