The Long Stitch Good Night: An Embroidery Mystery Read Online Free Page B

talk with them before having them hauled away, Ted? You know they aren’t murderers!”
    “That’s just it,” he said. “They wouldn’t say anything—to me or to anyone else.” He looked from Sadie to me. “And given the considerable circumstantial evidence, we had to arrest both men.” Ted stepped closer to me. “It’s not just our department either. Tallulah County’s major crime team is involved.”
    “I don’t care if the president of the United States is involved,” Sadie said, on the verge of tears. “I want Blake released into my custody tonight. He is
not
staying in that jail!”
    Ted looked at me again, an obvious plea for help. I knew from a couple of my more unfortunate incidents here in Tallulah Falls that the major crime team was made up of several detectives and detective supervisors from police agencies throughout the county. They were the best, they were tenacious, and they were sticklers for following the rules.
    I patted Sadie’s back soothingly. “Everything will be okay.”
    “Will it?” she asked, whirling to face me. “Will my husband get to come home tonight?”
    “It doesn’t look that way,” I said, glancing at Ted for confirmation. “From what I understood from Deputy Flaherty, Blake and Todd can’t be released until they’ve been before a judge.”
    “Then I’ll find a judge who’ll hear their bond testimony tonight,” she said adamantly.
    “Sadie, think about it,” I said. “If you rush things, you might do more harm than good. Get Blake an attorney and go about things the right way.”
    “She’s right,” Ted said. “I made sure they were put in a cell together and by themselves. They’ll be safe.”
    Although she still looked mad enough to spit, Sadie nodded slightly.
    “May I go inside?” I asked.
    Ted shook his head. “Not until Crime Scene finishes up. What do you need?”
    I told him I needed the address and phone number of Todd’s dad and the night manager. “Nolan Calloway and Robert Barlow. Their information is in the Rolodex on the desk.”
    “I’ll copy it down and bring it back out to you,” he said.
    “Everything will be all right,” I said, trying once again to reassure Sadie. I half expected her to accuse me of siding with Ted, but she was beginning to realize that he’d done only what he had to do.
    “Why do you think they refused to talk with anyone?” Sadie asked.
    I couldn’t imagine why they wouldn’t defend themselves. I supposed they weren’t talking because they were either hiding something or that one was protecting the other, but I didn’t dare say that to Sadie. I found it almost impossible to believe Blake or Todd would intentionally kill someone. Maybe it had been an accident. Maybe neither of them
knew
what had happened.
    “I don’t know,” I said to Sadie. “That’s probably the first thing you should try to find out.”
    She closed her eyes. “Suddenly, I’m so weary, I can barely stand here.”
    “Why don’t we swing by your house and get a few things so you can stay with Angus and me tonight?” I suggested. “You don’t need to be alone.”
    “Thanks. I appreciate that.”
    Ted returned with the addresses and phone numbers I’d asked for. “Here you go.”
    “Thank you, Ted.” I took the paper from himand looked at Mr. and Mrs. Calloway’s address. “Is 4935 Old Mill Road very far from here?”
    “Only about five miles,” Ted said.
    “Good. Todd asked me to go break the news to his parents in person first thing tomorrow morning.”
    “Want me to tag along?” he asked quietly.
    I glanced out of the corner of my eyes at Sadie. “Probably not a good idea. Sadie is staying overnight with me, and…well, I can’t imagine Mr. and Mrs. Calloway would be all that pleased to see you either.”
    “Excellent point,” he said. “This might not be the best time to ask, but do you care if I come by the shop with lunch tomorrow? We might be able to put our heads together and figure this thing