Cross-Stitch Before Dying (6 page)

The officers hadn’t found trespassers, but they had found the body of the gunman who’d shot at Ted. The biker who’d nearly hit Reggie was more than likely the person who’d killed him. Lunch was canceled. Ted and Manu were on their way to assist in an examination of the crime scene.

G
iven the fact that Mom was determined to continue on with the movie, I began working on one of the costumes in between customers. I had been given a sky blue tunic which I was to embellish with chikankari around the neckline, hem, and cuffs. Thankfully, this particular tunic called for a simplistic design. It was for one of the low points in Sonam Zakaria’s life—either during her late childhood or after her first divorce. I felt it was a good starter piece for me.

I used a washable fabric marker to freehand the design onto one of the cuffs. I decided I’d begin with the wrists. The fabric on the cuffs was a little heavier and would better tolerate my ripping out the stitching if I wasn’t satisfied with the work and had to start over.

I was sitting in the sit-and-stitch square working on the cuff when Reggie came by the shop. After kissing Angus on top of the head, she flopped onto the sofa across from me and sighed.

“Uh-oh. You look like you have bad news,” I said.

“Not bad really . . . just not great. Ted told you the gunman they’ve been looking for was found dead near the location we visited this morning, didn’t he?”

I acknowledged that he had. “He also said it’s likely the biker we saw killed the gunman.”

“Yeah, he and Manu think the two of them were partners and that they’d met there to work out a new plan or to divvy up their loot or something,” she said. “What concerns me is that Sonny Carlisle stopped by the library earlier and told me that Henry loved the location and is eager to use it.”

“Why is that bad?” I asked. “Did the owner of the property refuse them permission to film on the land?”

“No, but the land has been cordoned off with police tape. It’s an active crime scene.”

“So, now what? Is Sonny scrapping the location?”

Reggie shook her head. “Oh, no. Right now he’s at the county sheriff’s office trying to persuade them to let the film crew work around the crime scene.”

“I don’t really see that happening,” I said. “Do you?”

“Manu certainly wouldn’t let them, but I don’t know what the Tallulah County Police Department will do.”

We didn’t have to wait long to find out. Reggie had gotten up to leave when my cell phone rang.

“Wait,” I told her. “It’s Mom.”

Reggie sat back down as I answered the phone.

“Rally the troops,” Mom said. “We’re headed your way.”

“What?” I asked.

“Henry just called and told me to be ready to fly to Tallulah Falls in an hour. I’m packing as we speak.”

“Hold up. Has Henry spoken with Sonny? Does he know the area meant to become Somwarpet is now a crime scene?”

“Only part of it has been designated a crime scene,” Mom said. “And the police department will have officers protecting that secure area around the clock. We have to get our Somwarpet scenes shot as soon as possible . . . which is why I need for you to get me and my assistants some stitching help.”

“Of course. Reggie is here now, and I’ll call Vera. I know she’ll be excited about this turn of events.” I paused. “Is Henry
sure
the police chief is okay with him filming there now? I mean, the investigation should be concluded within a few days, and—”

“Trust me,” Mom interrupted. “The police chief is fine with the shoot. Henry has promised the department a new computer system and the chief’s daughter a walk-on.”

When I called Vera with the news that we were going to have to begin our work sooner than we’d originally expected, she was delighted.

“This is so exciting,” she said. “Paul is having to write nearly nonstop to keep on top of it all. Did I tell you he came by the shop on Saturday and took a few photographs?”

“I believe you did,” I said, remembering how she’d gushed about Paul’s visit and the article he’d planned for a special Wednesday feature when I’d spoken with her last night. “I’m looking forward to seeing the piece in Wednesday’s
Chronicle
.”

“So am I. And I’m glad he’d already written it up because, of course, the big story today is that body the police found on the outskirts of town.”

“Of course,” I said. “Mom and the necessary cast and crew are on their way to Tallulah Falls now. Can you be here at ten thirty tomorrow morning to get started?”

“I’ll be there with bells on,” Vera said.

Knowing Vera, she might actually show up wearing bells.

Ted came by just as a group of bridesmaids were leaving the Seven-Year Stitch. The women were going to make a quilt for the bride as a wedding present. Each of the five women was making ten squares, so it would be quite a sizable quilt when they got it sewn together.

Ted held the door for the women as they departed, and I saw more than one throw an admiring glance his way. He either didn’t notice or pretended not to as he walked on into the shop and dropped a light kiss on my lips.

“That must’ve been a sizable sale. I counted five customers, and they all had more than one bag.” He grinned. “Does that mean you can knock off early today?”

“Actually, I am going to have to leave at about four thirty.” I glanced at the clock—it was three forty-five. “I have to pick Mom up at the airport. Henry is flying her and some other members of the cast and crew here in his private jet.”

Ted’s smile faded. “Manu and I heard that Beaumont was going ahead with the filming.”

“I can hardly believe that the Tallulah County Police Department is letting him do that,” I said. “Surely Henry could wait until the crime scene was processed.”

“You’d think so. But the county’s crime scene techs are pulling an all-nighter trying to completely scour the area so Beaumont can begin setting up tomorrow.”

“An all-nighter? Tired crime scene technicians are bound to miss something.”

Ted flipped his palms in a gesture of helplessness and then moved over to the sofa facing the window. Angus came to sit on the floor beside him, and Ted absently scratched the dog’s head as he spoke. “The county guys allowed Manu and me to do some investigating of our own. We weren’t able to find much other than the same types of things recovered by their techs: smartphones, credit cards, and a few tablets and laptops hidden near some dilapidated buildings on the property.” He blew out a breath. “Their guys are good, and their initial search was thorough and impeccable. But it’s like you said, once they’re twelve hours into their shift and they’re exhausted, the investigation will suffer.”

“I feel sorry for the crime scene people. It’s unfair for the police chief to do them that way simply to accommodate Henry Beaumont’s shooting schedule.” I sat down beside Ted. “Until today, Henry didn’t even have Tallulah County
on
his shooting schedule.”

“Yeah, well, I guess that’s how it goes when you have a fifteen-year-old daughter who dreams of being the next Babushka Tru,” Ted said.

“You heard about that, huh?”

He nodded. “And the new computer system too.”

“Well, at least, there will be officers on hand to secure the crime scene and to provide another level of protection,” I said.

“I wouldn’t put too much faith in that extra security, Inch-High.”

•   •   •

Despite staying up until after one a.m. talking with me, after Ted dropped us off following dinner the night before, Mom was wide awake and raring to go by eight o’clock Tuesday morning. She was in the kitchen making breakfast when I went downstairs.

I kissed her on the cheek before I sat down at the table. “You seem to be feeling happier than you were when we went to bed last night.”

She put a cup of coffee in front of me. “I’m not sure
happier
is the word I’d use. It might be better to say that after sleeping on it, I’m more accepting of the situation.” She shrugged. “I came to the conclusion that I need to either scrap the project or come to terms with Babs.”

“And you’re not about to let some no-talent diva knock you out of the running for an Oscar?” I asked.

She grinned. “You’ve got it.” She hurried back to the stove to flip the pancakes she was making. “How many of these can you eat?”

“Two,” I answered.

“That’s what I was guessing. Angus has already had his and is outside running them off.”

“Them? Mom, how many did you give him?”

“Only two,” she said. “Although he
is
a growing boy.”

We ate, and Mom insisted on cleaning the kitchen back up while I went up and got dressed. She was being very sunny and domestic, and I hoped she wouldn’t have a run-in with Babs that would change her demeanor from June Cleaver to Meat Cleaver.

We got to the Seven-Year Stitch at about a quarter before ten. Mom fluffed the sofa cushions and neatened the yarn and floss bins as I readied the coffeepot and called Vera and Reggie. Vera informed me that she would “report for duty” within the hour. Reggie, however, would be unable to make an appearance until lunchtime.

“I never dreamed we’d be needed so quickly,” Reggie said.

“Neither did I,” I said. “Mom just arrived last night.”

“I can try to take tomorrow off, but I can’t promise anything. Unless it’s an emergency, we try to give one another at least a week’s notice since the library has such a small staff.”

“I understand.” And I did. Besides, based on what I’d read about chikankari, even working around the clock, we wouldn’t be able to put together a decent outfit with the time constraints we’d been given. Lowering my voice so Mom wouldn’t hear, I added, “I don’t know how we’re going to pull this off. I mean, I have class tonight and tomorrow night. . . . and your taking a day off won’t make much difference either way.”

“Maybe we can use something I’ve already got,” she said.

“Oh, hey, that could work. I’ll see what Mom thinks about your idea. Thanks, Reggie.”

After talking with Reggie, I ran her idea by Mom. “We’re not trying to be slackers, of course; it’s just that we didn’t know we were going to have to pull this all together so soon. Plus, Vera and I aren’t experienced in chikankari, and Reggie can’t take today off. She’s going to try to take tomorrow, but she’s not sure she can.”

“I know, darling. Everything will work out. We just need to stay positive, that’s all. Using something Reggie already has might work wonderfully with just a bit of tweaking.” As she bent and picked up Angus’s tennis ball, I could almost hear that June Cleaver/fifties theme song music playing in my head.

She tossed the ball, and Angus chased it into the hallway.

“I’ll get with Reggie sometime later today,” Mom said, turning to me with a smile. “She might have the very garment we need hanging in her closet.”

To be honest, I was concerned that Mom’s cheery disposition was steeped in denial. I was afraid she was about to get a rude awakening. It came even sooner than I’d expected.

Before Vera could get to the shop so Mom could give us our instructions, Henry called. He needed for Mom to come out to the set right away and was sending Sonny over to get her.

“Duty calls,” she said breezily.

“What do you want Vera and me to do until you get back?” I asked.

“Just work on the tunics you’ve started. Even if we don’t use them now, we’ll need them eventually.”

•   •   •

Vera and I were working diligently on our tunics when Sadie came into the Seven-Year Stitch.

“I heard your movie crew is thinking of shooting some scenes near Ford’s Mill,” she said, as she petted Angus on the head.

I shrugged. “I don’t know where Ford’s Mill is. Reggie and I did take them to a spot on the outskirts of town where we had to pull off the road and hike up a steep hill, but I didn’t see a mill.”

“Then you didn’t go far enough around the hill.” Sadie sat beside me on the sofa. “I’m sure the place you’re talking about is Ford’s Mill. Just tell your mom to have everybody be careful up there. The mill and outbuildings are dilapidated and about to fall down in some places, and some of the county people use it as everything from a homeless shelter to a landfill to a place to deal drugs.”

“Oh, my,” Vera said. “Paul will have to look into that. It might make a good investigative piece.”

“Well, remember the gunman who shot at Ted?” I asked. “His body was found out there on the property, and a dirt biker nearly ran us over as we were hiking up the hill.”

“A guy’s body was found there, and the movie people are
still
interested in using the location?” Sadie asked.

I nodded. “Go figure. But, at least it will be secure. Since the property became a crime scene yesterday, the Tallulah County Police Department is posting a twenty-four-hour guard around the site.”

“Still,” Sadie said, “ask your mom to be careful.”

“I will. She’s pretty feisty, though. She knows how to take care of herself.”

I had a full five minutes before I was forced to eat those words.

Mom called my cell phone. “Marcella, I’m at the Tallulah County Police Station.”

“Why? What happened?”

“Babs was killed this morning,” she said.

“What?!” I realized Vera and Sadie were gaping at me.

“I had nothing to do with it, but the police have brought me in for questioning,” Mom said.

“What happened to her?” I asked.

“She fell. The police think she was pushed.”

“But why are they interrogating you, Mom?”

“Because she and I had been arguing. Look, I’ll tell you everything I know later,” said Mom. “But could you please come to the station and give me a ride home?”

“Of course,” I said. “I’ll be right there.”

I ended the call and, still openmouthed, returned my phone to the pocket of my jeans.

“What is it, dear?” Vera asked.

“It’s Mom. . . . The Tallulah County Police Department is questioning her. Babushka Tru has apparently been murdered, and they must think Mom did it.”

“She didn’t, did she?” Sadie asked.

“Of course she didn’t!” I was ninety-nine percent sure of that.

“You go on and see to Beverly,” Vera said. “I’ll watch the shop and Angus while you’re gone.” She was already taking her phone from her purse, and I knew she was bursting at the seams to fill Paul Samms in on this latest development.

“Do you need me to drive you?” Sadie asked.

“No, thanks. I appreciate the offer, but I’m fine.” I turned to Vera. “And thank you for keeping an eye on Angus and the shop. I’ll be back as quickly as I can.”