Free Pattern of Betrayal (Vineyard Quilt Mysteries Book 2) by Amy Lillard, Mae Fox Page B

weapons.
    Sadie had a knife—a really large knife—sticking out of her purse. Since Sadie and Joyce were rarely seen apart, Julie could only assume they intended to share it.
    Liam had a small baseball bat stuck between his belt and waistband like a sword. It was only about eighteen inches long, similar to the kind she’d seen given away as promotions. But Julie supposed it could inflict bodily harm in a pinch.
    Kenneth had a can of mega-hold hairspray on his lap.
    Whatever Carrie had, she wasn’t revealing it. But Julie thought she had the look of someone with a concealed weapon. As she studied Carrie, Hannah’s voice popped into her head and admonished her for letting her imagination run wild. Julie sighed and decided she’d better just address the facts.
    “Sadie, I—”
    “Yes, dear?” The older lady looked up and met Julie’s gaze, her expression innocent and oddly cheerful.
    “I’m not sure it’s appropriate for you to be carrying that knife around the inn. It’s very large … and sharp.” Julie resisted the urge to use the term “small machete” to describe it.
    Sadie smiled and then turned her attention back to the quilt block in front of her. “Oh, given the current circumstances, I think it’s more than appropriate.”
    Julie tried again. “I understand the need to feel safe. Butthere are better ways. Pepper spray, perhaps?”
    “I don’t think so, dear. I like my chances with this knife much better.”
    “Sadie, I’m sorry, but I cannot allow you to openly carry a weapon like that around the inn. What if you accidentally cut your hand? Or someone else’s hand?”
    Sadie looked up again, all wide-eyed innocence. “You want me to put it all the way in my handbag?” She lifted the large white bag and tucked the knife deeper inside.
    “I’m afraid not.” Julie held out her hand, palm up. “If I’m not mistaken, that’s from our kitchen.”
    “But there’s a murderer staying here.” Sadie whispered the words as if everyone in the room didn’t already know the dark secret.
    “I really must insist.”
    Sadie looked as if she might protest further, but then her mouth twisted into a disapproving pucker, and she placed the handle of the knife in Julie’s hand.
    Joyce leaned over and whispered something in Sadie’s ear. The smaller woman nodded and patted her handbag. Julie could only imagine what other kitchen utensils were hidden inside.
    “Thank you,” Julie said. Then she switched her focus to Liam. “Dr. Preston, what did you do today?”
    The man everyone knew as Liam Preston didn’t answer. His head remained bent over his work.
    “Dr. Preston?” Julie asked again, wondering what he would do if she called him L.P.
    His head jerked up. “Yes? Oh, sorry about that. What did you say?”
    “I asked what you did this afternoon.”
    “I went to the library.”
    Kenneth raised his teacup in salute. “Here’s to living life on the edge.”
    Liam shot him an irritated look.
    “Can I join in?” Shirley didn’t wait for an answer but pulled out the chair Gregory had recently vacated.
    Julie smiled as Shirley started doing what Shirley did best—entertain.
    “How about I tell you all a little story,” Shirley said.
    Kenneth had been slouched in his chair, but his eyes perked up at Shirley’s suggestion. Of all of them, he had to be the most bored. He wasn’t a quilter.
    “Enjoy, everyone,” Julie said, standing and brushing the wrinkles from her slacks. “I have a few things to do before dinner.” Like return the sword Sadie swiped from the kitchen.
    Julie paused outside the door, glancing back at the guests as they quilted and listened to Shirley’s story. She couldn’t figure out who seemed to be having the hardest time with their stitching, Joyce or Carrie. She finally decided on Carrie. The poor girl’s face was practically pressed to the fabric as she laboriously executed each stitch. Evidently, the young woman needed a new prescription for her glasses. The one