Murder in Merino: A Seaside Knitters Mystery by Sally Goldenbaum

Author:Sally Goldenbaum [Goldenbaum, Sally]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Group US
Published: 2014-05-06T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

A brief silence met Jules’s reply. It wasn’t what any of them had expected, but it wasn’t a completely startling story. People wanted to know who brought them into the world, from whom they’d come. Even Sam Perry had once journeyed back to Colorado and Kansas to find his roots. But nevertheless, it wasn’t what they were expecting. Not today.

Birdie broke the silence. “That’s interesting. Have you found him? Does he live here?”

Jules looked over at Danny again, as if the answer would come from him. He straddled the bench, listening, but offered no comment.

“No,” Jules said. “I haven’t found him yet. I don’t know if he’s dead or alive. I told Danny why I came here, but I asked him not to tell anyone.”

“Why?” Izzy asked. “Wouldn’t telling people make it easier to find whomever you’re looking for?”

“I thought the same thing,” Danny said. “Especially since the time I was spending with Jules was raising eyebrows.”

Jules looked genuinely puzzled. “What do you mean, raising eyebrows? Why?”

Nell swallowed her surprise. Jules clearly didn’t know how her behavior was interpreted. “Because you are a very nice-looking woman and Danny is a handsome guy,” she said. “And suddenly you were asking him to meet you for drinks or talks or walks. Danny’s right. It raised eyebrows.”

“But that’s ridiculous,” Jules said. The words came out forcefully. She stared at Danny. “Why didn’t you say something?”

He shrugged. “I am a well-trained secret keeper. Years of investigative reporting will do that to a person. And frankly, I thought I did explain it as well as it needed to be explained. You asked me for help, and I was trying to give it to you. That was what I told people.”

Nell listened to the exchange, and then watched the others listening to it. Cass’s eyes were on her coffee, her face unreadable. His comment was pointed at all of them, of course. That was the explanation Danny had given each of them in one way or another. And none of them had believed him. At least not entirely or with great assurance.

“Izzy has a good point,” Birdie said, shifting the conversation. “Why were you keeping it a secret? People on Cape Ann know each other. Some have lived here all their lives. If your father was from around here, someone probably knows him or at the least could lead you to someone else who might be able to help you find him.”

Jules was quiet for a minute, as if wondering how much of her life she wanted to pour out on the table. Finally she said, “I think my father might have done something bad. He might have been a criminal. That’s not something you readily tell people, especially people you don’t know. And I don’t even know his name. So asking for help when the information I have to start with is so scanty would definitely make people wonder about me.”

“But you told Danny,” Izzy said.

“Because I didn’t have a clue where to start.

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