Purl Up and Die (13 page)

“It sounds like the level of Laura's revenge increased over the years. By the time Professor Smith gave her a low grade, her revenge taking had become major league. Friends tell me Smith's entire career was ruined. Even his family life.”

“God, yes. That really turned my stomach. I was counting the days until the semester's end. And I immediately signed up with a church group to share their housing arrangement. I told Laura that I'd joined a new church. Made it sound like I'd gotten really religious. I even started
singing spiritual songs in the apartment. She seemed glad to see me leave in May.” Nancy gave Kelly a sardonic look.

Kelly had to smile. “That was a smart move.”

Nancy's expression sobered. “I'm sorry to hear about your friend's son. That's just awful. And it could ruin his entire career.”

Kelly drained the last of her coffee in the cup. “Well, his career is the last thing Tommy's worried about now. Because of that sexual assault complaint that Laura filed with the police, Tommy has become the number one suspect in Laura's murder. You see, Tommy didn't work his usual shift at the clinic the night of her murder. He was home studying for a family medicine residency exam. No witnesses and no alibi.”

Nancy Marsted's brown eyes widened. “Oh, no.”

“Oh, yes.” Kelly nodded sadly, then caught Nancy's gaze. “And we're all hoping something somewhere will help Tommy prove his innocence. I'll pass along all this information about Laura to a friend who was a detective, and he can pass it along to the cops. I have no idea if it will help or not. Tommy swears he did not touch her inappropriately during the exam, but like with Professor Smith it's a ‘he said, she said' situation.”

“I'm so sorry to hear that,” Nancy said, her eyes clearly reflecting her concern.

Kelly looked out over the university plaza. “After listening to your description of Laura's behaviors toward those who incurred her wrath, it makes me feel that her legacy of revenge has survived her. And it's still punishing people.”
She glanced back at Nancy and they both exchanged a look of sadness.

•   •   •

Mimi's
blue eyes widened as she stared at Kelly. “Burt told me that alcohol removes fingerprints. Did you know that, Kelly?”

Standing beneath the portico near the front entrance of the shop to shade herself from the late-afternoon sun, Kelly took another sip of coffee. “I didn't know it until Burt told me.” She shrugged. “Now the detectives think that indicated the killer knew something about medicine.”

This time Mimi released a long sigh. “And that points right at Tommy.”

Kelly continued. “What's worse is Burt told me Tommy didn't do well when he was questioned again. Apparently Tommy stuttered and stammered and acted nervous. Now you know how that looks to detectives. Dan's suspicions had to be aroused. Even Burt admitted he was getting suspicious. It's understandable.”

“Burt said that?” Mimi asked, clearly surprised. “Why, he's known Tommy since he was a child, like I have.”

Kelly decided this was as good a time as any to present the unthinkable thought to Mimi. “I know, Mimi. But I have to tell you that some of us are having doubts about Tommy. We didn't watch him growing up like you did. At least I got to meet Tommy. He's a nice guy, and apparently a good doctor. Hardworking, studious. I'd like to think Tommy is innocent of the charges and, of course, the murder. But none of us knows for sure. None of us can really
know how someone else is going to react in certain situations. We can't get inside their heads. Nice guys can do bad things.”

Mimi's expression sobered immediately and she stared at Kelly for a moment.

Kelly continued. “I have to admit, it's made Megan, Lisa, Jennifer, and me think. We don't know if Tommy would take advantage of a patient like that or not. None of us really knows. And we certainly don't know if he killed Laura in a sudden burst of anger.”

Mimi drew back in shock. “
Kelly!
”

Kelly gestured. “I know it sounds awful to think that. But who knows? Maybe he went there to ask Laura to drop the charges, and she refused. Maybe Tommy panicked and reacted out of fear. We don't know.” Kelly gave another shrug.

Mimi shook her head. “I will never believe that. Never.”

Kelly opened the front door and waited for Mimi to step inside the foyer, then followed Mimi as she headed toward the front room. No one else was about. Even Rosa wasn't up front. “Don't hate me for saying that, Mimi,” Kelly entreated, feeling slightly guilty now for broaching the subject. “But I'm trying to look at this entire situation from both sides. I started out believing Tommy was completely innocent of the assault charges. But when Lisa started telling us about some of the college girls she's spoken with and helped over at the university, I admit, it did make me think.” She stared at Mimi. “The truth is, none of us can be really sure what happened at the clinic. As for the murder, I never figured Tommy could do that until I learned that he
cancelled his clinic schedule that night. And he had no witnesses to his studying alone. It doesn't look good, Mimi. And now, he's looking guilty under questioning.”

Mimi stared at Kelly, eyes wide, clearly shaken by what Kelly said. For the first time, Kelly saw doubt appear.

Burt came into the central yarn room, walking toward the front where Mimi and Kelly stood. He looked dejected to Kelly.

“How're you doing, Burt?” she asked quietly when he approached them.

“How is Barb taking it? The news from the medical examiner and Tommy's additional questioning?” Mimi looked at Burt anxiously.

Burt released a long sigh and moved closer to the counter. “Barb didn't say anything, but her face spoke volumes. She got pale. Or paler. I swear, I haven't seen color in that woman's face for over two weeks.”

“Oh, poor thing,” Mimi said. “Ever since we heard that Tommy didn't work at the clinic that night, Barb has looked halfway terrified.”

“It's understandable,” Burt added. “He's her only child, and he's a suspect in a murder. And everyone assumed that Tommy would have an alibi because he works the night shift. None of us were prepared for the shock of learning Tommy had no alibi for that night. And with the finding of rubbing alcohol on the victim's neck, naturally detectives are convinced the murderer was familiar with medical procedures.”

Kelly could tell Burt was thoroughly dejected. His tone of voice, his facial expressions, his body language all spoke
to Burt's mood. His warm, friendly self was nowhere to be seen.

“You know, Burt, I think you and Mimi both need to leave right now and take a drive up into the mountains. Go up into Rocky Mountain National Park. Stay and have dinner in one of those cafés in Estes Park. You two need to get away from all of this for a while.”

Burt looked over at Kelly and the beginnings of a smile appeared. “Kelly, that's the best thing I've heard all day. Mimi, grab your purse. Let's go throw some clothes into a suitcase and head up into the mountains.” Burt pushed away from the counter.

Mimi gave Kelly a grateful smile, and retrieved her purse from beneath the counter. “Would you tell Rosa to lock up, Kelly?”

“I'll be happy to,” Kelly said as she watched her dear friends Burt and Mimi walk toward the foyer.

•   •   •

“Hey,
Burt. I hope you guys are parked at the hotel and not rounding a curve in the Big Thompson Canyon,” Kelly said over her cell phone as she stood in the gravel driveway outside Lambspun.

Burt's chuckle sounded over the line. “Don't worry. We just pulled into the hotel parking lot. I'm unloading suitcases. Mimi's already gone inside to the ladies' room. Thanks again for that suggestion, Kelly. At the first sight of those mountains as we rounded the bend into Estes Park, my blood pressure dropped about twenty points.”

Kelly laughed out loud. “That makes me feel good, Burt.
Listen, I won't keep you. I just wanted to update you on a little visit I made earlier today. I went to the university to meet one of Laura Brewster's high school classmates, hoping to learn more about her. You know, try to figure her out.”

“Some people are impossible to figure out, Kelly. Even for professionals.”

“Yeah, well, I think this Laura is one of them. Her school friend actually roomed with Laura their sophomore year at the university. Nancy, the friend, said Laura was someone who specialized in taking revenge on people, like professors who gave her a bad grade. Nancy said Laura actually keyed a professor's new sports car because he gave her a low grade in a biology class. Stealing things from students who had slighted her. Stuff like that.”

“It certainly sounds sad to me. Laura Brewster definitely sounds like a person who needed a lot of help and maybe she didn't get it.”

“Or, didn't want it,” Kelly countered. “Anyway, I thought I'd tell you. There's nothing I found that could help Tommy, unfortunately. It's simply background information on Laura Brewster. A complicated person for sure.”

“Agreed, Kelly. We'll see you in a couple of days. Thanks again for the suggestion.”

“Anytime, Burt.”

•   •   •

“Did
Cassie and her friend want any more of this fried rice?” Lisa asked, looking toward the screen door leading into Jennifer and Pete's family room. Cassie and her friend
could be seen sitting cross-legged on the floor with large plates of Chinese food in their laps.

“I checked with them a minute ago, and they're good,” Jennifer said as she set a glass pitcher of iced tea on the patio table. “They've got fried rice, orange chicken, spicy beef, and Pete's salad.”

“And I brought home blueberry pie for dessert.” Pete grinned as he ladled more orange chicken onto his plastic plate.

Greg sat up straighter in the wrought iron patio chair, nearly empty plastic plate in hand. “Blueberry pie! How many? Please tell me you brought two.”

Pete chuckled. “Yes, I brought two. There's eight of us without the girls, and both of them will want seconds.”

Greg's hand shot up in the air. “And me. I'm putting my order in.”

“You know, I think I'll put my order in for seconds now. Don't want to risk losing the chance,” Marty said with a big grin. Then he reached over and spooned more spicy chicken and fried rice onto his plate.

Kelly took a sip of her Fat Tire ale and set her empty plate aside. “I almost wish Pete had only brought one pie, so we could hear Greg complain.”

“Weeping and wailing and lamentations,” Megan teased. “Marty would join in that duet.”

“Lamentations? Is that a book in the Bible?” Greg asked innocently.

“I think you mean Revelations,” Steve said, then tipped back his bottle of craft brew.

“If you want lamentations, you should read the book of Job in the Old Testament. Now,
he
had problems,” Pete said with a sly smile before he returned to his spicy beef.

“And lack of blueberry pie wasn't one of them,” Jennifer joked as she leaned back into the shade beneath their backyard patio.

“Oh, boy, the King and Queen of Trivia are in the building,” Marty announced. “We'd better be ready for action.”

Megan looked at Marty with concern. “Why? What are you planning to do?”

“I'll think of something.” Marty grinned then leaned over and gave Megan a kiss on the cheek.

Another thought drifted into Kelly's head. It was time to inform all of the Gang. “You know who's really got trouble. Doctor Tommy. Barb's son. Burt told me today that police went to question Tommy yet again—”

“Why again?” Greg interrupted.

“Remember, officers questioned Tommy a couple of weeks ago after that girl accused him of sexual assault in his clinic office,” Kelly said.

“How could we forget,” Jennifer said, pouring iced tea into an ice-filled glass.

“Then Dan and another detective questioned Tommy after the girl's murder. That's when they learned he didn't work at the clinic the night she was killed in her apartment. Tommy told them he stayed at home to study for a big exam.”

“Uh-oh,” Greg said. “That's not good.”

“You're right,” Kelly continued. “Tommy has no alibi. And what's worse, Burt told me that Dan said Tommy
didn't do well in his questioning, either. Apparently Tommy stuttered and stammered and acted nervous and had trouble answering their questions.”

“Oh, brother.” Pete grimaced.

“It gets worse. Now, the medical examiner found alcohol on the victim's neck, so they think the killer knew medical procedures.” Kelly took a long drink of her favorite ale.

“Oh, no.” Jennifer's eyes grew wider than usual. “He's acting like he's really guilty.”

Kelly nodded. “Burt admitted that Tommy has a big bull's-eye on him right now.”

“Wait a minute,” Marty said, holding up his hand. “I thought these two crimes were separate. You're making it sound like the victim in both incidents was the same girl. Is that what you're saying?”

“Yes, that's right. Burt said the girl who lodged the assault charge was the same one who was killed.” Kelly deliberately didn't give more details. “So you can see why Tommy would be considered a suspect, especially since he changed his work schedule the night of her murder.”

Jennifer wagged her head. “Wow. That is damning. Tommy always seemed like such a nice guy. Quiet, studious, and a really good paramedic, I heard.”

“I have to say that's bizarre,” Marty observed, staring out into the backyard. Summer sounds of neighbors enjoying the outdoors could be heard all around. “That's one hell of a coincidence that the girl who accused Tommy is strangled by a late-night intruder a week or so later.”

“What if it's not a coincidence?” Greg said, dropping his licked-clean plate onto the patio table. “What if Doctor
Tommy really is innocent of those assault charges? Maybe that girl targeted him. I know of a professor who was targeted by a student who charged him with sexual assault. So, it happens. Suddenly Tommy sees his future medical career go down the drain, and he panics. Maybe he simply lost it.” Greg shrugged. “Who knows? Maybe he went to her apartment to try and get her to withdraw the complaint, and she refused. Maybe Tommy killed her in a surge of anger. A crime of passion, right, Marty?”