Purl Up and Die Read Online Free Page A

something . . . to accuse him like that.”
    â€œWhat did Tommy do after she jumped off the table and ran out of the room?” Kelly asked. “Did he tell the nurse what happened?”
    Barb nodded vigorously. “Of course. He told her right away. She was stunned and told Tommy that the girl said he groped her.” Barb closed her eyes as if she didn’t want to picture the awful images she was describing. “The nurse said the girl yanked on her slacks outside the glass front door, dropped the drape on the floor, then ran outside.”
    â€œDo you think the girl will go to the police?”
    Barb’s face contorted and reddened even more. Kelly thought she might start to cry. “She already
has
! Tommy said police showed up at the clinic as he was getting off duty this morning. The two officers told him that the young woman had reported an assault at the clinic last night when she was being examined for stomach pains. The officers told Tommy that they had to question him since he was the only physician on duty last night. They called it
sexual
assault
! He’s just beginning his medical career. That . . . that can hurt him!”
    This time, Kelly did spot tears brimming in Barb’s eyes.She reached over and placed her hand on Barb’s sweaty arm. It felt clammy in the air-conditioned shop. “I’m so sorry, Barb. That is terrible.”
    â€œOh, Barb, that can’t happen! Tommy is innocent. Surely the police will find out,” Mimi said, her face revealing her concern. “Tommy told them everything, right? Told them how the girl jumped off the table and ran off in the middle of the exam?”
    Barb nodded, swiping the tears from her cheeks with one hand. “Yes, yes, he did. But he told me the officers just wrote everything down in their notebooks but didn’t give him any feedback. They did tell him that the girl had filed a complaint, and that was official. Tommy told me he got a bad feeling after that.”
    â€œWha . . . what did he mean?” Mimi asked, her voice lowering because customers had entered the adjoining yarn room.
    â€œTommy told me one of the other doctors who’d come in early was close by and advised Tommy to get a lawyer. An official police report goes on file and has to be investigated. And there will be a record of it in the police department.” Barb shook her head. “And that could mean Tommy might lose his scholarship! And if that happened, he could lose his intern spot at the emergency clinic!”
    â€œOh, no!” Mimi said, hand to her breast in her familiar gesture of concern.
    â€œWe need to ask Burt exactly what all of that means. When’s Burt coming in, Mimi?” Kelly asked, checking her watch.
    â€œOh, dear. Maybe not until this evening. He’s in Denver doing errands.”
    Kelly leaned toward Barb. “I think it would be a good idea for Tommy to speak with an attorney. I can highly recommend Marty Harrington. He’s Megan’s husband and an excellent lawyer. Several people we know have used Marty’s services.”
    â€œOh, yes!” Mimi enthused. “Marty is excellent! I could call Megan if you want his number.”
    Barb shook her head again. “No, no, we have a family attorney who has known Tommy since he was a baby. I used him last year. You know . . . when that malicious crook caused all of us such grief.” A different expression crossed Barb’s features this time.
    Kelly recalled that Barb had been a suspect in Jared Rizzoli’s murder a little over a year ago. “Well, if he knows Tommy, that’s an even better choice.”
    Cassie suddenly appeared around the corner, can of soda in her hand. “Hey, Kelly! Are you ready for that big Greeley game?”
    Kelly quickly focused on the slender young girl, her dark hair pulled back in a ponytail. She could really see the jump in height. Cassie was much