A Fatal Yarn by Peggy Ehrhart

Author:Peggy Ehrhart [Ehrhart, Peggy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2020-01-30T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

It was Tuesday morning. Pamela was sitting at her kitchen table sipping her second cup of coffee and checking back through the Register to see if she’d missed anything interesting the first time around. Catrina and Ginger had finished their breakfast and wandered off. The Register had been especially dull that day, and Pamela was glad for the distraction when the doorbell chimed.

She was still in her robe and slippers, but an unannounced early morning caller usually proved to be Bettina, and that was the case today. Through the lace that curtained the oval window, Bettina’s pumpkin-colored coat was vivid against the winter-weary landscape. Catrina was dozing in the sunny spot on the entry carpet she sought out every morning. As Pamela pulled the door back and Bettina stepped inside, Catrina cast a lazy glance at the visitor, then returned to her nap.

Bettina’s hazel eyes were bright with purpose, and she began to speak before Pamela even had a chance to say hello. “I spoke to Melanie this morning,” Bettina said, a bit breathlessly. “She called me first thing to say Roland won’t be at Knit and Nibble tonight and he didn’t want us to be waiting for him and wondering where he was.”

“Oh, dear.” Pamela sighed. “Leave it to Roland. The poor man! He is conscientious! I doubt many people in his position would think of making sure their knitting group knew they weren’t coming.”

Bettina nodded in agreement. “He’s interviewing lawyers. Roland is a lawyer, of course, but not that kind, the kind that defend criminals. He’s got contacts though.”

“We’ve got to keep going on this Haven thing,” Pamela said. “If only there was some way to follow up before Saturday. Haven is our only real suspect.” She took a step toward the kitchen. “I can make more coffee . . .”

“I’d love some”—Bettina conveyed her enthusiasm by opening her eyes so wide that Pamela could see white around her irises—“but I can’t stay. I’m on my way to the Advocate office.” She grabbed Pamela’s hand. “But Melanie said Roland would welcome a visit. He hasn’t been going to his office and he’s just been sitting at home knitting. He thinks people are afraid of him now because they think he’s a murderer.”

“I’ve got work for the magazine today,” Pamela said (her morning email had brought four articles to evaluate), “but I can take a break.”

“After lunch then? I’ll let Melanie know we’re coming.” Bettina turned toward the door.

“After lunch,” Pamela agreed. “I’ll be ready.”

The quarter cup of coffee remaining in the wedding china cup had grown cold by the time Pamela returned to the kitchen. She’d had enough coffee though, she decided, and rinsed the cup at the sink. Then she headed upstairs to get dressed and start her work day.

* * *

The first thing Pamela noticed when she and Bettina stepped through Roland’s front door was the swath of knitting that stretched halfway across his living room. It featured angora yarn the color of pistachio ice cream, and it was evidently a work in progress.

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