Disappearing Nine Patch (A Harriet Truman/Loose Threads Mystery Book 9) by Arlene Sachitano Read Free Book Online Page A

hair looks cute pulled back like that.”
    Carla blushed.
    “Wendy kept fighting me about putting her hair up or in barrettes or pretty much any way except hanging down. I finally realized she was trying to look like me. So, now I’m braiding my hair every day, and most days now she doesn’t argue about hers.”
    “Well, whatever the reason, I like it.” Mavis told her.
    Carla set her bag on the cutting table and pulled out a stack of blocks.
    “I only got five blocks done,” she announced.”Our kitchen sink got all plugged up, and I ended up having to call the plumber last night. He brought his puppy with him, and Wendy played with it while he snaked our drain. She was so excited she didn’t go to sleep until ten. All she could do was talk about ‘puppy’.”
    Harriet put her blocks on the table next to Carla’s.
    “I only got five done, too, and my excuse isn’t nearly as fun as a puppy.”
    Lauren pulled hers out.
    “What she said.”
    Mavis joined them at the cutting table.
    “We’re in good shape. We only need thirteen more nine-patch blocks. With four of us here, we should be able to do that today and probably cut them all up, too.”
    Harriet gathered the individual stacks of blocks and started piling them into a single group.
    “Let’s not prolong the agony.” She lined up the edges. “Well, look at that.”
    Lauren leaned in for a closer look, and then held her hand up to Carla for a high-five.
    “Just like I said, they match perfectly.” She laughed.
    Harriet smiled.
    “Yeah, just like you said.”
    Mavis selected two rotary cutters from a box on the work room shelf and handed them to Harriet and Lauren.
    “Here, you two cut strips, and Carla and I will sew and press them.”

    Harriet arched her spine and put a fist in her lower back. She and Lauren had cut all the basic strips and were now cutting the seamed units Carla and Mavis were making into rectangles.
    “Anyone ready for a break? I have a box of lemon cookies and could make tea.”
    Lauren stood her iron on its heel.
    “Count me in.”
    Carla got up from her sewing machine and arched backward at the waist. She paused and looked out the window.
    “Who’s that?” She pointed to a blue car coming up the driveway.
    Harriet came to her side and looked where she was pointing.
    “I don’t recognize the car or the guy driving it, but that looks like De-Ann’s sister Molly in the passenger seat.”
    Her guess was confirmed when Molly got out of the car and approached the door, followed by a slight, dark-haired man.
    “I’ll go get the cookies,” Mavis said.
    “Come on in,” Harriet said as she opened the door. “You remember Carla and Lauren.”
    Molly raised her hand slightly and wiggled her fingers in acknowledgment and then stepped to the side, revealing her companion.
    “This is my friend Stewart Jones. We crossed paths at the Foggy Point missing children’s office. I’m borrowing office space there until the fundraiser.”
    “Nice to meet you,” Harriet said and then looked at Molly. “We were just taking a break from sewing on the donor quilts. Would you like to join us?”
    Molly and Stewart agreed, so she led them to the kitchen, followed by Lauren and Carla. Mavis had pulled the kitchen table from its normal position against the wall so they could use all six chairs.
    “So, what’s your interest in Amber Price,” Mavis asked Stewart when introductions were complete and the reason for the unannounced arrival explained.
    “Well,” he said slowly, “she is, or was…would have been…my foster sister. Sandra Price was my foster mom until I aged out of the system, but I came to live with her after Amber had already disappeared. That family did so much for me, I guess my hope is if I can finally give them some kind of closure about Amber, it will in some small way pay them back for all the support and kindness and everything they’ve done for me.”
    Molly cleared her throat.
    “Speaking of Amber, the reason we