The Case Of The Cupid Caper

Chapter 13

Margo was able to confirm that she’d heard about Frank being shot and killed on the morning of his death. She’d been at work as she normally was on a Friday morning. She’d decided to grab a Pepsi from the market, and Lissa was there when she arrived. The store was otherwise empty, so she initiated a conversation with the clerk as she checked out. That was when Lissa shared the news that Frank White had been shot and killed in his home. At the time, Lissa didn’t mention the fire, only the shooting. Margo told Cass that she found out about the fire later in the day.

“Wait,” I said. I looked directly at Margo. “You said that Lissa told you that Frank White had been shot on Friday morning?”

She nodded. “I guess it was around ten. I came into work at eight like I always do. I’d already had a couple of cups of coffee and wanted something cold to drink, which is why I went to the market.”

I looked at Cass. “I was in your office when you got the call about the fire. It was around lunchtime. I’d already been to the newspaper to speak to Dex and to the post office to chat with Wilma by the time I came in to meet with you. I don’t remember the time exactly, but it was at least eleven.”

Cass frowned. “So, what are you saying? Lissa shot Frank and then came into work, but at some point after speaking to Margo, she realized she might want to do more to cover her tracks, so she went back to the scene of the crime and set fire to the house?”

“That seems to be what must have happened. Either that or Lissa shot Frank, and then someone else set the fire, which would be absurd.”

“Agreed. I think I have enough for my warrant.” He looked at Margo. “Thanks for sharing what you knew with us.”

“No problem. Happy to help.”

“Remember not a word to anyone,” he cautioned. “The last thing we want is to tip Lissa off before we can get the warrant to search her property.”

Cass was going to be held up for much of the afternoon, so I decided to go home and check in with Paisley and Gracie. When it looked like Cass might have time for lunch, I’d arranged for Gracie to pick up Paisley and bring her over to the house to work on the sewing room. Now that it appeared that Cass would have to cancel lunch, I supposed I’d just go home and write the articles I’d gathered notes on that morning. It was while I was putting the finishing touches on my craft fair article that it occurred to me to wonder if Lissa drove a blue sedan. I remembered that Cass had told me that one of Mayor White’s neighbors had told Cass that they’d seen a blue sedan on the street just before seeing the smoke from the fire. I figured Cass would be busy, but I also figured it wouldn’t hurt to text him. He texted back and confirmed that Lissa did indeed have a blue sedan and that he’d found large cans of gasoline that he believed she’d used to accelerate the fires in her garage. He’d picked her up and was about to head back to his office for the interrogation. I had to admit I’d like to be a fly on the wall in that room, but I guess I’d have to get the details from Cass after the fact.

“Gracie helped me to make a cute top.” Paisley held a simple sleeveless pullover with no snaps or buttons up in front of her. I could see it was a good pattern to use to start her off. There were a few seams to sew, but nothing complicated and nothing requiring pleats or elastic.

“That’s a really awesome top,” I replied. “It’s going to be so perfect with those pink shorts you have once summer gets here.”

Paisley grinned. “I can’t wait to try a vest. Or a beach bag. Or maybe a skirt. Gracie said she has beginner patterns for all of those.”

“And we’ll make all of them in the next few weeks,” Gracie promised. She glanced at me directly. “I was thinking of setting up a second station so that Paisley and I can work on separate projects at the same time. Do you still have the machine I gave you that you never really used?”

“I’m sure it’s in the attic. I’ll go and look for it.”

Paisley and I had cleaned the attic a while back, and I was certain I’d seen that old machine somewhere. Gracie had really tried to instill in me a love of cooking, sewing, and even gardening, but I’m afraid I only had room in my life for one mistress — music.

Of course, that was then, and this was now. Maybe I should expand my horizons. Not sewing. Never sewing. But maybe cooking or gardening.

It took a good thirty minutes to find the machine, but eventually, I did find it. I carried it downstairs and then helped set it up on an old desk that Gracie had refurbished. The desk had drawers Paisley could use for the patterns and supplies for the project she was working on, and it had a large surface where she could spread out and not have to drape sections of her project in her lap while working on another section.

“I can’t believe I have my own sewing machine,” Paisley beamed.

I had to admit it did my heart good to see her so happy. She’d had a rough time as of late, and I really did want to do whatever it took to bring that smile to her face more often.

“You know, I could use a bag to carry my laptop in. Something simple with a shoulder strap. Maybe made out of denim. If you think that is something you might be able to work into your sewing schedule, I’ll buy the fabric.”

Paisley looked at Gracie. She nodded.

“I think we can do that,” Paisley said proudly.

“You know, I bet something like denim purses and denim computer and book bags would sell at a place like the craft fair I went to this morning. If you try it out and decide it’s something you enjoy making, maybe the two of us could team up. I’d buy the supplies, and you’d make the bags and purses. We could sell them at an event like the one I attended this morning and put the proceeds into a college fund for when you get older.”

She smiled. “I want to go to college. I’m going to be a doctor.”

“I thought you wanted to be a lawyer,” Gracie said.

“Or a musician,” I added.

She shook her head. “No, a doctor. A cancer doctor. I want to find a cure, so no one else’s mom has to die.”