Crazy as a Quilt (A Harriet Turman/Loose Threads Mystery Book 8) (10 page)

“I should go,” he said. “I just wanted to be sure my sister hadn’t caused us any more trouble.”

“We’re fine. I really do think the time your sister spent in the mental hospital has done her some good. She’s still no fun to be around, but it seems like she’s beginning to understand that and is trying to change her behavior.”

“I’m tired of talking about my sister.” He kissed her forehead then worked his way down to her mouth, ending all possibility of further discussion.

Chapter 10

A light rain was falling the next morning as Harriet guided her car into a visitor parking spot near the covered entrance to the Methodist church.

“You can get out here, and I’ll park down below in the workshop parking area. There’s no sense in both of us getting wet,” she told Sharon.

Sharon gathered her quilting bag and purse.

“Thanks. It’s silly of me not to have brought an umbrella.”

“It makes you look like a local. Only visitors carry umbrellas. Besides, I can use the exercise.”

Sharon opened the door and got out.

“Thanks again,” she said before turning and heading for the entrance.

“Aren’t we the good hostess,” Lauren said as Harriet got out of her car and locked the door.

Lauren was locking her own car door, but her roommate, Jessica, was with her. Jessica waved a hand at Harriet and joined her.

“Don’t let her fool you—she tried to drop me by the covered entrance, but I refused to get out. I need every bit of activity I can get. I’m not used to sitting all day.”

Lauren walked over to them.

“I hope your guest isn’t as surly as this one.”

Jessica poked her arm.

“You love it, and you know it. I bet you don’t get sparring partners as skilled with zingers as I am every day.”

Harriet laughed. “You’re right. I’m more of the straight-man type.”

Lauren slid her messenger bag crosswise over her chest after positioning her quilting bag on her left shoulder.

“I hope we get to sew something today. History is all good, but a full day of it was a little much.”

“Weren’t you listening? The morning was quilt history, and the afternoon was design.”

“That’s what I’m trying to tell you. My design lady spent half the time reviewing the history again.”

Harriet looked at Jessica with raised eyebrows. Jessica shrugged.

“I have to agree with the blonde. Our teacher seemed to have one lecture, and it included history, whether you needed it or not.”

“That’s too bad,” Harriet said. “My teacher taught us a lot about color values and appropriate fabric choices.”

Jessica led the way through the rows of cars.

“Let’s hope for a day of sewing,” she said over her shoulder.

“Get away from me!” they heard Sharon yell before they reached the top of the stairs that led up from the lower parking lot. Harriet took the remaining steps two at a time, followed by Lauren and Jessica.

“What’s going on?”

Sharon turned to her.

“This woman is harassing me.”

Marine stood close to Sharon, staggering slightly as she twisted her body in Harriet’s direction.

“She won’t help me. They told me she could help me, and now she’s being all high and mighty and pretending like she doesn’t know me.”

Sharon threw her hands in the air and backed up.

“That’s because I don’t know her. I have no idea who ‘they’ are, and I never saw her before the meet-and-greet the other night.”

Marine swayed as she attempted to close the distance between herself and Sharon. Jessica stepped in and grabbed her by both arms. She looked back at Harriet.

“I got this. You guys go ahead in, I’ll catch up.”

She led Marine into the building before anyone could protest.

Sharon dropped her hands to her sides and then settled her quilt bag on her shoulder.

“That was weird.”

“And you’ve never met her before?” Lauren asked.

Sharon rearranged the front of her hair.

“Not that I know of. I mean, that would be awfully random. Isn’t she from around here?”

“She is, but Michelle said she was an actress in a soap opera in LA for a while,” Harriet explained.

Sharon was thoughtful for a moment.

“I modeled in a couple of commercials in LA. I sure don’t remember her, though—and I’m usually good with faces.”

“Jessica thinks she’s a drug user who’s had her supply dry up,” Lauren said.

Harriet started toward the door.

“Let’s go have some quilting fun and try to forget this little episode. Jessica says she has experience with this sort of thing.”

Sharon straightened her blouse.

“I guess we’re lucky she was here, then.”

Aunt Beth opened the church door.

“There’s coffee, tea and breakfast pastries set up in the cafeteria. You all look like you could use a little caffeine.”

Harriet hung back with her aunt when everyone had finished their coffee and left to find the restroom before going to their individual classes.

“We had a bit of a scene in the parking lot.”

Beth set her empty cup on the table.

“I figured something had happened. Your roommate seemed rattled, and Lauren’s gal seemed unusually subdued when she finally joined us.”

“Marine accosted Sharon when we arrived. She claimed she knew Sharon and wanted something from her we’re all assuming is drugs.”

Beth’s brows drew together.

“That doesn’t sound good. Are you sure Sharon doesn’t know her?”

“She says she doesn’t. She says it’s possible they were at the same party sometime when they were both in LA. Jessica has experience with troubled people, so she took Marine into the church office. I assume she called Michelle to come get her.”

“I’m not sure what Marine is doing here anyway. Your cat is more interested in crazy quilts than that girl is.”

“The week is young, so we have plenty of time to find out.”

Beth put her arm around Harriet’s shoulder.

“Let’s not borrow trouble. I’m looking forward to starting my first quilt block today.”

Sharon was waiting in the hallway when they came out.

“If you don’t mind, I think I’d like to go home. I’ve got a migraine coming on. If I take my medicine and lie down, I can nip it in the bud.”

“Okay, I’ll go get the car.”

Sharon put her hand on Harriet’s arm.

“You don’t need to do that. I went to the office to find out about getting a cab, and your pastor said he was going near your place to visit an elderly woman. He volunteered to drop me on his way.”

“Let me know if I can do anything. If you feel better by lunchtime, I can bring you back.”

“Thanks. I better go back to the office so I don’t hold Pastor Hafer up.”

Chapter 11

The private dining room at Tico’s Tacos was full of quilters. Each of the Loose Threads had brought her roommate with her for the buffet lunch Jorge had prepared.

He entered the room, raising a pitcher of tea in one hand and lemonade in the other.

“Welcome to the Loose Threads clubhouse. I hope you are enjoying your visit to our town.” He began filling glasses and passing them to Aunt Beth, who distributed them around the table.

Jessica raised hers to Jorge.

“We thank you for all the wonderful food you’ve prepared for us. I, for one, will come back to Foggy Point again just to have your guacamole.”

Jorge smiled.

“I’ve trained her well,” Lauren told the group. “I had Jorge’s guacamole and chips waiting for her when she arrived.”

Connie’s Colorado roommate Pam took a glass of tea from Aunt Beth.

“Bobbi and I already decided we’re bringing our husband here at the end of summer to salmon fish. Rod said he’d take them.”

“You have a wonderful town here,” Bobbi agreed.

Lauren dipped a chip into the bowl of guacamole in front of her.

“Bring your quilts with you, and we can do a show-and-tell.”

Pam looked at Bobbi.

“Oh, dear. They think we’re going to finish these things this year.”

Bobbi laughed. “I hope we don’t have to wait until they’re done to come back.”

“Of course not,” Mavis assured them. “At least half of us won’t have ours done, either.”

Two servers brought in large bowls of warm queso dip to go with the chips, and conversation stopped while people sampled the warm spicy cheese.

Jorge delivered another meal the group wouldn’t soon forget. Camarones al mojo de ajo—white prawns in garlic—and chiles with plantains and refried black beans were served with a grilled cactus salad. When the quilters were convinced they couldn’t eat another bite, he proved them wrong by serving his signature flan.

Bobbi leaned back in her chair.

“I am in love,” she declared.

Lauren set her napkin beside her plate.

“It’s going to be hard to sew this afternoon after all this. I need a nap.”

Sharon appeared in the doorway.

“Am I too late?”

Connie stood and pulled a chair to the end of her table.

“Sit down. We’re just getting finished. Jorge!” she called out, mindful of the intercom system in the big room. “We have a late arrival.”

Sharon set her purse beside the chair and sat down.

“I took my medication and then slept for a hour. When I woke, my migraine was gone, so I thought I’d come here and see how things went in this morning’s class.”

“Well, honey, we’re glad you came back,” Aunt Beth said with a warm smile.

Harriet was impressed. Her aunt had told her she thought Sharon was faking a headache to get out of quilting. The Threads had all agreed to be good ambassadors of Foggy Point, though, and she knew her aunt wasn’t going to be the one to let the group down.

Lauren leaned toward her.

“Anyone else notice that Marine never came back?”

Carla leaned in from Harriet’s opposite side.

“I hope she went back to wherever she came from.” Her cheeks turned pink, and she cast her gaze down.

“I doubt you’ll be that lucky,” Harriet said in a quiet tone. “If we’re lucky, Jessica handed her off to professionals. Hopefully, she’s in a detox somewhere.”

Mavis stood up. “Would anyone like to go for a walk in the park along the Muckleshoot River?”

Jorge handed Sharon a paper bag as the group stood and gathered their coats and purses.

“I packed you some taquitos and a little container of the nopales salad. I’m thinking after a migraine you don’t want a lot of food. I can give you more if I’m wrong.”

“No, thank you. You’re right. This is perfect.”

Harriet pulled her car keys from her pocket.

“I’ll bring my car up to the door for anyone who doesn’t want to walk to the start of the river trail.”

Several of the less mobile visitors indicated they’d appreciate the ride.

She was a few feet from her car when Michelle pulled into the parking lot. She stopped and rolled her window down.

“Have you seen Marine?”

“Last I saw of her, she was with Jessica at the church. Jessica was going to try to find her some help. Marine had a little confrontation with my friend Sharon.”

“I know, Jessica called me. The detox center couldn’t take her for a few hours. They had to discharge some people or something. I had her in the car, and we were going through town. I stopped at a red light, and she jumped out. I’ve been looking for her ever since.”

“How long ago was that?”

“I don’t know. An hour? Two hours? I’ve looked everywhere I could think of.”

“I doubt she’ll show up at quilting, but if she does, I’ll let you know.”

“Can’t you help me search for her?”

Harriet looked her in the face.

“You’re joking, right? I’ve got a carload of quilters I have to take to the river walk and then back to the church. Besides, you said you’ve looked everywhere. I don’t know what else I could do. Why don’t you go talk to the police and see if they can help you?”

Michelle hit the button to raise her window.

“Thanks for nothing,” she said as it closed. She backed up and then shot forward and out of the parking lot, spraying Harriet with gravel.

Harriet laughed to herself.

“Bye, Michelle.”