Free Quilt As You Go by Arlene Sachitano Page B

come after her for repayment."
    "What a mess,” Harriet said.
    "I'm going home,” Lauren announced and stood up. “I'm guessing that if he was smart enough to stay hidden for twenty years he probably was smart enough to change his name, but I'll search it anyway just in case.” She moved to the door.
    "Let me know if you find anything,” Robin said, and Lauren waved an acknowledgment as she went out into the night.
    "I've got to go, too,” DeAnn said. “I'm serving at the brunch tomorrow, and I need to get my beauty rest."
    "Me, too,” Robin said. “I'll call if I hear anything from Lauren. Will you call me if you turn up anything else?” She looked intently at Harriet.
    "Sure,” Harriet replied.
    Connie got up when Robin was gone and started picking up the napkins and tea glasses and loading Aunt Beth's dishwasher.
    "Dios mio,” she said. “What are we going to do?"
    "I hate to say it, but I think Lauren had the best idea. We need to see if we can find out where Gerald's been all this time. She's right, he probably changed his name, but maybe he kept his Social Security number. We need to find out from Mavis if they had friends who might have helped him—you know, in other countries or something."
    "Friends who would lie to Mavis?” Connie asked. “What kind of friends are those?"
    "Kind of like the friends who knew my husband had a terminal genetic disease and didn't think I needed to know."
    "Now, mija,” Connie said and put her arm around Harriet's shoulders. “Let's not go there."
    "You're right, this isn't about me. But we do need to think about who Gerald would have turned to if he was in trouble. And I hate to even think about it, but someone needs to talk to Carlton."
    "Good idea,” Connie said, “at least in theory. We have to hope he paid more attention to his surroundings before Bebe came along, though."
    They finished tidying the kitchen and left, locking the door behind them.
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Chapter 10
    Word of Gerald's death had spread among the re-enactors overnight. At the final brunch, Harriet paced behind the buffet tables while Connie dispensed warm cinnamon rolls from a large metal pan.
    Harriet could see the Confederate Quilter's Club working their way through the line.
    "Is it true the police think one of the horses pushed that man into a tree stump and killed him?” Inez asked Harriet when she'd reached the cinnamon rolls. Connie selected a large bun and put it on her plate.
    "That was a suggestion made by one of the attending paramedics. Someone either overheard, or he repeated it,” Harriet said. “I don't think they have any idea what happened."
    "You have my contact information,” Sharon said. “Could you let us know when they determine what happened? If a horse was involved, we'll need to look at what further safety procedures we can implement."
    "We'll let you know, but I'll be surprised if it turns out a horse had anything to do with Mr. Willis's death."
    They moved on, leaving Connie and Harriet to roll duty.
    "Hey,” Carlton said and held his plate out to Connie. “This looks delicious.” His plate was filled with scrambled eggs, bacon and fruit salad. He'd left a large space for a cinnamon roll.
    "Do you have any smaller rolls?” Bebe asked as she came up behind him. “My baby is watching his weight.” Her plate held a teaspoonful of eggs and several pieces of fruit.
    Carlton looked longingly at the pan of rolls before mumbling “never mind” and moving on to the end of the table to pick up plastic utensils and a napkin.
    "She's a real piece of work,” Connie said as she placed a roll on the next plate held out to her.
    "Do you want me to hand out a few?” Harriet offered.
    "I think I can handle it. Besides, you're making me nervous with all that pacing. Why don't you go find your young man and spend a little of that nervous energy on him?"
    "If you're sure you don't need me."
    Connie rolled her eyes skyward. “Go,” she said.
    The tables had