A Quilt in Time (A Harriet Turman/Loose Threads Mystery) by Arlene Sachitano

home to here?”
    “It’s reasonably simple. Once she decides it’s a go, she can meet us at a safe location we maintain away from here, and we begin the intake process. She’ll need to fill out some paperwork. We’ll run a criminal background check, do an internet search on her name and call her references.”
    Harriet made a quick sketch on her notepad then closed it and put it in her purse. She turned to Georgia.
    “Is all that necessary?”
    “Unfortunately, it is. Abusers will go to great lengths to find the women they batter, including trying to send other women they can control to the shelter so they can discover our location.”
    “That’s sick,” Lauren said.
    Georgia laughed. “That’s not the half of it. We’ve caught two journalists trying to get in to do undercover stories on us. We’ve also had half a dozen women running from arrest warrants.”
    “I suppose you get homeless women looking for a free bed,” Lauren commented.
    “You’re getting the idea. We get at least one or two of those a month.”
    “Back to our friend,” Harriet said. “She’ll pass all those checks, so then what?”
    “After the checks, one of our staff will do an in-person interview, again at that same safe location. If both we and your friend still think it’s a good idea for her to live with us, we arrange to move her in. Depending on the circumstances, that can all happen relatively quickly.
    “We usually have the woman stay at a safe house—that location changes monthly—for a few days to make sure she’s going to stick. That way, if her abuser is really tenacious, he’ll find her there, where fewer people are in jeopardy, instead of here.”
    “Hopefully, we can talk her into taking the first step,” Harriet said.
    “It’s important that you understand she has to make this decision on her own. What she needs from you is support, not judgment. She’s already getting plenty of that at home.”
    “Thank you for answering our questions,” Harriet said. “I think we’ve got what we need for the windows.”
    “I’ll take you back to your car. And I hope for your friend’s sake she makes the decision sooner rather than later.”
    Harriet and Lauren spent the remainder of their time with Georgia identifying needs the shelter had and discussing how they might be met.
    “I can’t promise anything,” Lauren said as they stood beside Georgia’s gray sedan. “But this is the sort of project one of my clients likes. I’m pretty sure they’d be willing to donate computers and software your women could use to take online classes and job training.”
    Georgia handed them several business cards.
    “The first one is for business contact. If people want to make donations, have them call this number. The second one is for your friend. It’s our emergency number. Someone answers this phone twenty-four-seven. Someone is on call to pick up victims, if that’s what’s required, in less than an hour.”
    Harriet took the cards.
    “Thank you. With a bit of luck, you’ll hear from our friend. And for sure, you will hear from us regarding donations.”
    “What she said,” Lauren echoed.
    “Thank you ,” Georgia said. “Talk to you soon.” She got into her car and drove out of the Steaming Cup parking lot.
    Lauren’s phone trilled, immediately followed by a similar sound from Harriet’s. Lauren tapped in a security code.
    “Looks like we have a summit meeting at Tico’s.”
    Harriet glanced at her own unsecured phone screen. Aunt Beth had texted her, requesting she come to Jorge’s restaurant as soon as they were finished.
    “Let’s go see what they want,” she said.

    Aunt Beth was in the kitchen at Tico’s Tacos deep in conversation with Jorge when Harriet and Lauren entered the restaurant and headed for the back room. She looked up as they passed but kept talking.
    Robin and DeAnn were seated at the big table, and Carla was at the server station pouring glasses of water. There was none of the