Murder by Gravity (A Quilted Mystery) by Barbara Graham

Author:Barbara Graham [Graham, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Five Star
Published: 2014-12-17T00:00:00+00:00

Tony moved to talk to the quilt’s owner, the middle-aged Japanese woman, and Theo came and stood next to her, holding Miyoko’s arm, offering support. The two women were about the same height. As tiny as Theo was, it was a rarity to see her next to a similar-sized adult. Tony pushed aside any impulse to comment about their size.

“Mrs. Nakamura is new in town. My husband, Sheriff Abernathy,” Theo said in way of introduction. She blinked, pushing tears over the lower lid.

“Welcome to Silersville, Mrs. Nakamura.” Tony doubted the woman was happy to be here at all. He’d talked to enough people suffering loss and tragedy that he’d learned patience. Some. “Tell me what you remember.”

“Quilt taken.” Miyoko gripped the edges of her lightweight silk jacket.

“Miyoko’s quilt is a masterpiece.” Theo held her cell phone out for him to see the picture.

The photo showed him a quilt in muted grays and browns, but even on the small screen he could tell it was exceptional. Theo and her friends had trained his eye.

“Was Miss Bessie there when the quilt went missing?” Tony hoped he could solve a case, any case, on this day. Miss Bessie was a local woman who had a habit of picking up things that did not belong to her and replacing them with other items, also purloined.

A slight smile lit Theo’s face, relaxing some of the tension in her jaw. “She was, but the stolen quilt is much too big for her to put in her bag, and besides that, I know she had just traded a pair of pliers for a large spool of variegated thread.”

“Did you see her do it?”

“Yes.” Theo gazed sightlessly into the distance. “She vanished about the same time as the quilt. I forgot about the thread until now. There’s no way she took the quilt. It was too big, and she never makes two trades in the same area.”

“How valuable is the quilt?” Tony knew at least, as a certified appraiser, Theo would certainly be able to help him with that. “I know money can’t replace a work of art or a labor of love, but it will make a difference down the road. When we find it.”

Theo smiled slightly at his emphasis on “when” but the smile quickly faded. “You want to know misdemeanor or felony?”

Tony nodded.

“Definitely felony. Grand theft quilt.” Theo’s eyes filled with tears. “It’s worth at least ten thousand dollars.”

“The FBI has an art theft department.” Tony wondered if he should contact his former partner. Max had gone from Chicago PD to the FBI when he’d finished graduate school. He was definitely not in the art theft group, but would know who to contact.

“Yes,” Theo pleaded. “Please call Max.”

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