Free Barbara Graham - Quilted 03 - Murder by Music by Barbara Graham Page A

project. When Ruth Ann didn't say more, he was forced to move his eyes away from the end of the recalcitrant cord to look at her. “So, now he can operate the phone?” Acid dripped from each syllable.
    Ruth Ann waved her fingers, drying the latest shade of polish. It looked purple to him. “There was an altercation on the premises. It's under control.”
    “What?” Tony went back to work on his project.
    “You know. A fight.” She didn't flinch when a paper clip sailed within inches of her nose, but a look of disdain curled her lip.
    “I know what one is, and you know it.” He narrowed his eyes and glared at her. “Dammit Ruth Ann, just tell me what's going on.” Tony had neatly tied himself to his desk while practicing his knot-tying for Chris's scout meeting. He was sure the boys would do a better job if he just handed out photocopies of the instructions and sat off to the side and offered encouraging words.
    His phone rang.
    “Ruth Ann! Will you get that please?” When she actually answered the phone and identified herself, he decided she needed a raise. “Thank you.”
    She put the caller on hold. “Blossom wants to know if you've got her money.”
    “Her what?” Tony stared at the Gordian knot at his ankles.
    “Money. As in paycheck.” Ruth Ann studied him. “Put the end through there and then push it through this hole.” She pointed to a small space near his ankle bone with a glistening wet fingernail.
    It worked. The knot was transformed into a neat, useable piece of string art. “How'd you know to do that?”
    “I practice on my mother-in-law all the time.” Ruth Ann waved her hand again, sending the aroma of polish into his nostrils. “If I don't tie her up from time to time, I'll have to kill her.”
    Tony glanced up. He couldn't tell from her expression if she was kidding or not. “What's the latest with Walter? Any change?” Ruth Ann's husband had been injured over a year previous, and her mother-in-law had moved in to “help out.”
    Ruth Ann's smile illuminated the room. “After months of therapy, he suddenly seems to be making great progress. It's like the message has finally gotten to his brain, and he's making clay figures.”
    For a man whose hands had been lying useless in his lap for months, it
was
a miracle. “So is his mama leaving any time soon?”
    “I sincerely hope so.” Ruth Ann sighed. “Oh-oh. I left Blossom on hold.”
    “I am hopelessly tied up.” Tony released the knot. “Tell her I can't do anything until Carl Lee gets back into town. Thanks to you I'm ready to be the entertainment at tonight's meeting.”
    Ruth Ann used the telephone on his desk then turned and strolled away. She smiled at him over her shoulder. “Have a fun weekend with the boys.”
    “You have a fun one too. Maybe you can find your mother-in-law's suitcase.”
    “Not a problem.” Ruth Ann paused at the door. “I put it under her bed the day she arrived.”
    “Wait, you didn't tell me about Mike.” Tony began working on the next knot in the book.
    “He said that Elmer Smith and Dudley Thomas got into a knockdown, drag out fight at the counter in Ruby's. Elmer evidently told Dudley if he didn't mend his ways and become a better person he was going to end up dead, just like Mr. Beasley.” Ruth Ann walked closer, leaned forward and pointed to the loose end of the cord. “It needs to come back up through here.”
    “Thanks.” Tony did as she indicated and the new knot slid perfectly into place. “Does Mike need any help?” When Ruth Ann shook her head in negation, Tony relaxed. “What else happened?”
    “I guess Dudley didn't feel like improving himself, although I wish he would. His nickname isn't Dud because he's so ambitious. Anyway, he tossed Elmer onto the floor along with a considerable number of dishes, and Ruby flipped out and called it in and Mike answered the call. When Mike arrived, Elmer was unconscious on the floor in the middle of the café and Dudley was holding