Free Death by Cashmere by Sally Goldenbaum Page B

someone was harassing Angie, or at the least, bothering her. It was another chink in the random crime theory, they agreed. Another reason to find out what had been going on in Angie's life those last days, right beneath their eyes, their shop, and their knitting projects. Another piece to the puzzle that was Angie.
    Nell considered canceling Friday supper. Angie's murder hung over the town like a heavy cloud and didn't lend itself to friends gathering on the deck on a beautiful summer night.
    But Ben thought otherwise. "People might want to be together, " Ben said. "Let's light the coals, chill the martinis, and we'll be here if anyone comes."
    Ham and Jane Brewster arrived at precisely seven o'clock.
    Jane walked into the kitchen and hugged Nell. "That poor Angie Archer," she said. "I can't think of anything else, Nell. Ham and I found ourselves wandering around the studios today, being sad, then mad, then sad again. So we decided we'd come by and if the door was open, that would be good. If not, we'd go back to the studio and wander some more."
    "We've brought a friend," Ham said, walking across the Endicotts' kitchen and setting a bottle of wine down on the butcher-block island. A tall, sandy-haired man with a familiar smile followed him across the kitchen. Sam Perry was teaching a photography class at the summer arts academy, Ham explained.
    Ben shook his hand. "It's not our most festive Friday night, Sam, but we're glad to have you anyway."
    "This town holds its own close," Sam said. "I can see that. A murder is a lot to handle."
    Ben held open the French doors leading to the deck, and invited the small group outside. "Sea Harbor is a great place," he said, "but it's hard right now to get past the bad things happening. "
    "You don't expect things like murder in this calm and peaceful place," Nell said."But we've weathered lots of storms up here. We'll get through this, Sam." She passed him a martini Ben had just mixed.
    The bang of the front screen door announced that Ham and Jane weren't the only ones needing company tonight. Birdie and Izzy walked through the family room and out to the deck, carrying more wine and a sack of Harry's sourdough rolls.
    Nell noticed the quieter mood that accompanied people's steps--Izzy usually flew through the house. And Birdie's step was light like the bounce of a ball. But tonight things were heavier, slower, touched with sadness and concern.
    Izzy greeted Ham and Jane, gave Nell and Ben quick hugs, then turned toward the man sitting off to the side, one of Ben's martinis in his large hand.
    For one second, Izzy stood still, and Nell wondered briefly if she was ill.
    Then her mouth dropped open, her eyes as round as Purl's, and she stared openly at Sam Perry.
    "Izzy?" Nell said. "Are you all right?"
    Sam had gotten out of the chair, his hand extended. Then it fell to his side and a slow smile spread across his face. "Izzy Chambers," he said, "are you stalking me?"
    "In your dreams," Izzy said. And then she allowed a small release of air. "It's Sam," she said softly, as if to explain her reaction. She moved toward him then and wrapped the man twice her size in a hug. Finally she pulled away and looked at Ben.
    "Uncle Ben, I need a martini."
    "I'm taking a wild stab at this," Ben said. "You two have met." He handed Izzy a cocktail glass.
    Izzy wrapped her fingers around the narrow stem and took a sip. "I've known Sam almost my whole life--he was my oldest brother's best friend. And for most of that time, I didn't like him much. But tonight"--she looked over at Sam--"tonight I really needed a hug. And I remembered that you were okay at that."
    The teasing disappeared from Sam's eyes.
    "Angie Archer lived above Izzy's knitting studio," Nell explained. "We all knew her--this murder is very close to home. Too close."
    "Knitting studio?" Sam said.
    "I bought a little place on Harbor Road, Sam. Nell and Ben helped me fix it up--and I love it. I love helping people create beautiful things in a