Knit to Be Tied (16 page)

Curt pulled out a black wrought iron chair and settled across the table from Kelly. “That boy is damn lucky.” Curt fixed her with a stern gaze. “Riding around those Old Town streets at night with all those new college students wandering around. Finally away from their parents, half of them head to the bars. And half of those get drunk.” Curt frowned. “Damn fools. No wonder some of them get hit by cars or worse.”

Curt sounded like the stern grandfather that he was, Kelly thought. No surprise. He had grandchildren to worry about. “What's worse than being hit by a car?” she asked with a smile.

“A train. They run through the city at night about the time those kids are staggering out of bars. I know, because I can still hear the trains' horns blowing in the middle of the night. Those train tracks go right through Old Town.”

Kelly's smile evaporated. “Good Lord. I'd forgotten about the trains. You're right, Curt. I hear their horns at night.” She screwed up her face. “That would be a ghastly death for sure.”

“I sure hope this incident has convinced Greg to stop riding his bike at night.”

“Ohhhh, yes. Lisa told him she would slice his bike tires if he rode at night again.” She laughed lightly.

Finally a smile erased Curt's frown. “She'd do it, too. I don't doubt it.”

“You betcha. Lisa is a woman of her word.”

“Changing subjects, how are Jennifer and Pete doing on their wedding plans? Jayleen and I both got the invitations, and are looking forward to it. Mimi and Burt's backyard is a pretty little spot. It will also help them in getting legal custody of Cassie.”

“I agree. And it'll be easier for Tanya to agree to it.”

Curt gave another snort. “Talk about another damn fool,” he said in a disgusted voice.

“You're right about that, Curt. What is it Jayleen says? ‘You're right as rain.'”

Curt chuckled in
reply.

“Everything's
looking good for August, so far, Arthur. Summer doldrums quiet,” Kelly said over the phone as she closed her cottage door and walked through the small front yard.

“Oh, yes,” Arthur said with a chuckle. “People have been away on vacations and rushed home to get the kids into school. It's hectic, that's for sure. Things will quickly change after Labor Day.”

Kelly admired the still bright yellows and reds and oranges of the annuals she'd planted in May. Now, they filled the planters that lined her tiny cottage walk.

“You're right. Everyone will jump back into business mode and want things done right away. Immediately. I used to have clients like that back in Washington. That was before
I found you and Don Warner. You guys rescued me from that corporate treadmill.”

“Don and I were lucky to get you, Kelly. I still think the only reason you left that Washington, DC, rat race was because you returned to Fort Connor and rediscovered what a great place it was to live.” He chuckled. “That's why I started buying more of the rental housing. Fort Connor keeps growing.”

Kelly crossed the driveway and walked toward the garden patio behind the café. “You are so right, Arthur. In fact, sometimes I think it's growing too much. I don't know. Too many people on the roads, now. Traffic gets clogged in some areas in the middle of the day.”

“Don't mention traffic. That has gotten to be a sore spot with me.”

Kelly heard the annoyed sound in her client's voice as she walked into the garden. She'd spotted an empty table near the fence and headed straight for it. Late morning, and the breakfast crowd was starting to thin out. Perfect timing. She plopped her briefcase bag and coffee mug onto the table and pulled out a chair.

“Me, too. But, you know, maybe we should change our attitudes, Arthur.”

“Oh? How do you figure?”

“All those cars are filled with people. And more people mean more customers looking at your rental housing. More business, Arthur.” She deliberately left the teasing tone in her voice.

Arthur Housemann laughed loudly. “I walked right into that one, didn't I?”

“I simply couldn't resist.” Kelly saw Jennifer pouring coffee for customers at another table and waved to catch her eye. “After all, we're both on the same frequency, Arthur. We think alike, especially about business. That's why we get along so well.”

“You're right about that, Kelly. And it looks like my secretary is signaling me, so that call I've been waiting for has finally come in. I'll talk to you later.”

“Later, Arthur,” Kelly said then clicked off her phone as Jennifer approached.

“Smart move to claim a nice place to work,” Jennifer said as she extended the coffeepot toward Kelly's empty mug. “I also have iced coffee, if you want it.” She held up the pitcher in her other hand.

“I'll have iced coffee later, thanks,” Kelly said as her friend poured a hot black stream into the waiting mug. “Tell Cassie I have to see the new clothes she chose on your school shopping excursion. Fashion show time.”

“We did really well,” Jennifer said with a smile. “All the department stores and boutiques had sales going on, and they were packed with shoppers. All doing the same thing. Crowds everywhere. And the stores are just buzzing with excited girls.”

“You have my blessing for the bravery exhibited,” Kelly teased before taking a big sip. She held up her hand.

Jennifer laughed softly. “I have to admit, it was a lot of fun. I mean, shopping for teenaged girls is like stepping back in time. They get
so
excited when they find something new. Or something really, really cute.”

“Really cute beats just about everything,” Kelly added, then remembered something. “Hey, Jen, can you put down the two coffees for a minute? I want to ask you a favor.”

“Sure. What's up?” Jennifer placed both hot and cold pots on the table.

“I wondered if you would accompany me on an early evening trip to the Halftime Bar?” Kelly waited for Jennifer's reaction. It came quickly.

Jennifer looked surprised for a second, then smiled. “Lisa told me you and Steve visited Greg in rehab last night. And you were asking him questions. She's right. You're sleuthing again. What's this all about?”

“Do you recall a woman coming in from the shop and asking questions about operating a bar in Fort Connor? Her name's Geraldine.”

Jennifer settled into the chair across the table. “Yes, I do. A little over a year ago. Nice gal. She and her husband had never run an operation like that before, and they really needed some guidance. I gave them a general rundown of what they could expect and also sent them to the right people who could get them started. You know, beer distributors, food wholesalers. All that. Did you meet her?”

“I met her around the table a couple of weeks ago. We were talking about the guy who was killed in a hit-and-run in the same area as Greg. His name was Neil Smith.”

“Oh, yeah. I remember that. Did Geraldine know him or something?”

“No, but her cousin's son Reggie had a run-in with Smith the year before. It turns out that Smith assaulted Reggie's sister a year ago. Gave her a date rape drug. Anyway, Reggie
went after Smith at the Halftime Bar. That's where he hangs out apparently.”

“And you're interested in all of this because?” Jennifer arched a skeptical brow.

Kelly leaned back into her chair. “Have you ever met the grad student who's come into the shop with Lisa sometimes? Her name's Nancy. She's got shoulder-length brown hair.”

Jennifer nodded. “Sounds familiar, so I must have.”

“Well, it seems Nancy got mixed up with this Neil Smith, and she believed all his talk about their being a couple. But when she told Smith she was pregnant, Smith rejected her at the Halftime Bar in front of lots of people. He said the baby wasn't his and accused her of sleeping around.”

“Bastard,” Jennifer said with a disgusted expression.

“Yeah, that's for sure. Well, Nancy ran home in tears. Her father was understandably furious when she told him what happened. Then one night, her father went out looking for Neil Smith. He admitted he found Smith in a bar and argued with him.

“The next night Smith is hit by a car and dies. Unfortunately, her father is also a recovering alcoholic. Naturally, Nancy is all worried that her father was responsible, because he also fell off the wagon at the same time and started drinking again.”

Jennifer closed her eyes and shook her head sadly. “Oh, no. That is bad. Very bad.”

“Yeah, I agree. So, I wondered if one of those bartenders at the Halftime Bar might remember if someone came in looking for Neil Smith.”

Jennifer stared out into the garden for a few seconds.
“Sure, Kelly. Tonight would probably be best, if that works for your schedule. Pete's going to Denver later this afternoon and won't be back until tonight, poor thing. He's got one of those quarterly meetings with Grandpa Ben's skilled care staff. I told him to stay and have dinner with some college friends of his. No need for him to get in that rush hour traffic.”

“That's for sure. And it turns out Steve is staying over in Denver again tonight. He phoned and said he wanted to continue at that condo building site and go over plans with his foreman, Dutch. Of course, Dutch will let Steve get his hands dirty. I told him to enjoy himself.”

“Okay, it looks like both our guys are away. So why don't we try out that new café that's open on Mountain Avenue,” Jennifer suggested. “After we let you sleuth around at the Halftime, that is.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Kelly said with a grin.

•   •   •

Kelly
nosed her car into a parking space and shut off the engine. “Okay, five o'clock. It shouldn't be too crowded now,” she said as she climbed out of the car.

“Don't be too sure,” Jennifer said as she slammed her passenger's side door. “Serious drinkers don't pay attention to the clock.”

“Thanks for checking on the bartenders' schedule. This guy supposedly worked the night when Neil Smith was killed,” Kelly said as they walked along the sidewalk toward the bar. She glanced around at the old buildings along that side of the street. A pizza shop, a cigar store, a vapor den, a
used clothing shop. “Repeat Performance, that's a cute name for a used clothing shop.”

“Have you been inside? There are some nice things there,” Jennifer said as they approached neon-lit windows. The word “Halftime” was outlined above the entry door.

“Not yet. I'd better check it out soon,” Kelly said as she opened the wooden door. “I predict once that new construction behind the old feed store is finished, this entire block will suddenly start to change.”

“You're sounding like a real estate agent,” Jennifer joked as they entered the bar. “Oooooo, good air-conditioning.”

The bar crowd noise hit Kelly the moment she stepped inside the Halftime Bar.

“Boy, this is a reminder of why I don't miss the bar scene anymore. Wall-to-wall noise,” Jennifer said as she started toward the bar.

Kelly scanned the football-themed decorations on the walls while she followed after Jennifer. The décor was simple and clearly designed for comfort. Booths lined three walls, and the long bar dominated the fourth wall. Only one bar stool was occupied by an older man who was drinking a beer. She spotted a young guy in a white shirt with rolled-up sleeves wiping the bar farther down. He glanced over at them.

“Well, I'll be damned,” he said as he strolled their way. “I haven't seen you in a long time, Jennifer. Where have you been keeping yourself?”

“Hey, Jimmy,” Jennifer said with a bright smile as she settled on a bar stool. “I've been so busy selling real estate, I don't get out to the bars anymore. Plus, I'm still working
at Pete's Porch Café. Breakfast and morning shifts. Can't be out late working those hours.” Jennifer gave him another winning smile. “This is my friend, Kelly. She's a CPA.”

Jimmy smiled Kelly's way. “Hey there, Kelly. I wish I made enough money to need a CPA,” he said with a laugh.

Now that Kelly was up this close, she could tell that Jimmy the bartender wasn't as young as she thought at first. It made sense since he knew Jennifer from her barhopping days. “That's okay, Jimmy. I'm an equal opportunity CPA. You don't have to be rich to afford my services. But it helps.” She gave Jimmy her brightest meet-the-client smile.

“Kelly and I are trying to help out a friend,” Jennifer said. “She's a young college student and got mixed up with a real sleazeball. She met him here at the Halftime a few months ago. The guy's name is Neil. Our friend thought he was serious about her, but . . .” Jennifer gave Jimmy a world-weary look. “He was just stringing her along these last few months. Anyway, now she's pregnant.”

Jimmy shook his head with a sardonic expression. “An old familiar story,” he said, wiping down the bar again.

“Yeah. Well, she said she came into the Halftime and told this Neil about the baby. Then that bastard basically dumped her right here at the bar in front of lots of people. Told everyone that he couldn't be sure the baby was his. And then he turned his back on her. Cut her off.”

“You know, I think I remember that little scene. It wasn't pretty. The girl was crying and everything. I don't remember names or anything. But those barroom dramas are hard to forget.”

“That sounds right,” Jennifer said.

“Why are you two asking questions about it? Is the girl trying to sue for child support or something?”

Kelly couldn't even imagine how humiliating that barroom confrontation must have been for Nancy. “It turns out Neil Smith was a hit-and-run victim a couple of weeks ago in Old Town one night,” she said.

“Whoa! That was
him
?” Jimmy said, clearly surprised.

“Yeah, that was Neil Smith. And it turns out, our friend wasn't the only one looking for him. She told her father what happened, and he went looking for Smith later that night.”

“Uh-oh. I think I know where this is going,” Jimmy said. “I do remember an older man coming in here one night and getting in a fight with a younger guy. He looked like he wanted to punch that guy's lights out. Me and another bartender had to hold him back.”

“That sounds like our friend's father. Was it a couple of weeks ago when this all happened?” Kelly asked.

Jimmy shrugged. “That sounds about right.”

“Have police come in to talk to you, Jimmy?” Jennifer asked.

“They've tried to catch me here at the bar, but my boss keeps changing my schedule. He told me the cops stopped in a few days ago and asked him questions. But Dave didn't see anything. He's too busy at the front to watch the bar. That's our job.” He flicked the white towel over the bar once more. “I told the cops that later tonight would be a good time. Another backup bartender is coming in. Back-to-school crunch time.” He gave them a wry smile.

“Oh, yeah. I remember that well,” Jennifer said with a knowing nod.

Jimmy peered at both Jennifer and Kelly. “Are you two thinking maybe the older guy was the one who drove his car into this Neil Smith?”

“We don't know, Jimmy,” Jennifer said. “That's why we're asking questions. Our friend is too scared, as you can imagine.”

Kelly continued, embroidering the story. “She says her father would never do anything like that. But a father will definitely try to protect his daughter.” Kelly knew this was true from experience. Her dad always stood up for her, no matter what.

“You're right about that,” Jimmy said, glancing down the bar.

Just then two college-aged guys walked up to the bar and grabbed a couple of stools. Jimmy glanced their way. “Gotta go. Oh, yeah, I just remembered. One night another guy came into the bar and said he saw a guy lying on the street about a block away. And a girl was kneeling beside him.”