Unraveled by Maggie Sefton

expert on guns or anything, but I’ve never seen a pistol that looked exactly like that before. What kind is it? Did you recognize it?”
    Peterson gave Kelly a slow smile. “Well, you’re right about it being old, Ms. Flynn. I’m not sure exactly how old yet, but our forensics people will be able to tell once they take a look at it.” Then, he eyed Kelly. “You made sure you didn’t touch anything or disturb the body, correct?”
    She shook her head. “Absolutely not, Lieutenant. I know better than that.”
    Peterson actually chuckled. “Well, considering this is the third time you’ve been present when we’ve come to investigate a death, I imagine you have paid attention to our procedures, Ms. Flynn. Plus, your track record for conducting your own investigations into past cases is quite good.”
    “Thank you, Detective. That’s high praise coming from you,” Kelly said with a grin.
    “I don’t sense the same interest on your part, Ms. Stroud,” Peterson said.
    Jennifer shook her head vehemently. “No, sir. I try to block all of that out. Kelly’s the one who likes to poke around in crimes. We call it ‘sleuthing.’”
    This time, Peterson laughed out loud, glancing to Kelly, who shrugged good-naturedly. She was used to her friends’ teasing. “That’s a sensible attitude, Ms. Stroud.” His expression softened, and he looked at Jennifer with a fatherly expression. “I’m glad to see you doing well, Jennifer. I’m sure your friends were there to support you last year.”
    “You bet we were,” Kelly added.
    Jennifer glanced to Kelly with a smile. “I couldn’t have done it without them, Detective. Or without Dr. Norcross. She was a lifesaver. Talking with her helped me more than you know.”
    Peterson nodded. “Believe me, Jennifer, I’m well aware of how good Dr. Norcross is. She’s counseled several young women I’ve heard. She’s a jewel.”
    Kelly was about to agree when the ambulance crew started backing out of the cabin door with Turner’s body wrapped in a white covering on top of the gurney-stretcher.
    “Okay, you two, you know the drill,” Peterson continued. “We may contact you again for further questions, so stay in town.”
    “Wait a minute, Lieutenant,” Kelly said as he turned to walk away. “I almost forgot. While Jennifer was calling you guys to report, I was standing by the corner railing, and I saw a bearded man in a blue plaid shirt hiding in the bushes, listening.”
    “ What! And you didn’t tell me?” Jennifer cried aghast.
    “I figured you’d been spooked enough.”
    Peterson flipped open his trusty notepad and began to scribble. “Can you describe the man?”
    “He was obscured by the bushes, and I only had a fleeting glimpse of him. He had a light brown beard about three or four inches long and his brown hair was long and shaggy to his shoulders. And he clearly didn’t want to be seen, because once he noticed me looking at him, he bolted.”
    Peterson scribbled. “Anything else, Ms. Flynn?”
    Kelly paused for full effect. “Oh, yes. He was carrying a shotgun draped across his arm.”
    Peterson looked up at that, while Jennifer gasped.

    Kelly walked into Lambspun’s foyer. It was nearly five o’clock on a Saturday afternoon, and customers were still browsing the yarn bins, choosing yarns and fibers for their next projects. She glanced toward the room with the counter and registers and spied customers lining up with their selections. Only a few minutes left until the shop closed.
    Hoping to spot Burt, she turned the corner into the main room. There seated at the long library table was Lizzie, contentedly knitting away on a lemon yellow afghan. Beside her sat Eustace, pounding away on his laptop computer. Kelly couldn’t help but notice that Eustace looked as contented as Lizzie.
    “Well, hello, you two,” Kelly said as she pulled out a chair. “You both look busy. That’s a beautiful shade of yellow, Lizzie.”
    “Why, thank you, dear,”