Read Online Threads of Deceit (Vineyard Quilt Mysteries Book 1) by Mae Fox, Jan Fields - Free Book Online

get the word out.”
    She couldn’t fault Daniel’s reasoning, but that didn’t mean she liked the idea of the media being at the search. Julie had been very careful to avoid getting her picture taken since moving to Straussberg. She didn’t know how much energy a criminal art theft ring would put into tracking her down, but she was certain she wouldn’t enjoy the result if they managed to do so.
    Still, she didn’t want to pass up a chance to be involved in the search for treasure. It felt like old times to have an adventure ahead of her. She’d just have to be sure she stayed clear of any photo ops. How difficult could that be?

S EVEN

    B y the next morning, Julie had nearly convinced herself that the search for a ship on dry land wasn’t likely to draw any media interest at all. She kept telling herself that the only people she’d encounter at the farm would be George, Daniel, perhaps the owner … and no one else. No media. No cameras. The pep talk worked until she walked into the kitchen for her coffee.
    The smell of fresh muffins hung in the air. Hannah pulled two pans from the oven and set them on cooling racks. “Have you seen the paper?”
    Julie shook her head as she walked to the coffee maker. “Not without my coffee.”
    “Your boyfriend made the front page—under the fold, but still front page.”
    “I don’t have a boyfriend.” Julie picked up the newspaper from the counter. The Straussberg Gazette must have been having a slow news day because the headline read, “A Sunken Ship on Dry Land?” She skimmed the article and saw it consisted mostly of the same things Daniel had told her, only the writer had spun the story so that Daniel sounded like a deluded idiot.
    “Have you considered that it might not be a good idea to have him at this inn?” Hannah asked as she shook the muffins out of the pans onto the racks.
    Julie looked up. “Why?”
    “Because you don’t need the media interested in anything around you.”
    “The article doesn’t mention the inn,” Julie said. “Just Winkler Farm.”
    “Well, someone seems to know about treasure hunters at the inn,” Hannah said. “Or have you forgotten the little hand-stitched love note someone left on our porch?”
    Julie stiffened as realization dawned on her. “You know, I had half dismissed the possibility that the message was for Daniel because he’d only just arrived at the inn. But what if the note was meant for him? The more I think about it, stitching a threat onto cloth doesn’t seem like the kind of threat a criminal art ring with ties to the mob would make.”
    Hannah carefully placed the warm muffins into cloth-lined baskets, then nodded. “You have a point. I envision the art ring sending you a bomb, or maybe a finger, but not a piece of stitchery—and a pretty one at that.”
    “It’s possible the stitcher never imagined I would assume the message was addressed to me,” Julie said. “If we weren’t worried about the art ring, we would have been certain the threat was addressed to Daniel.”
    “Maybe you should ask him if he has a stalker. Though not this morning.” Hannah pointed a muffin at Julie. “This morning you should stay as far away as possible from Winkler Farm and the media attention that’s likely to be there.”
    Julie snatched the muffin out of Hannah’s hand and took a bite. The burst of warm apple flavor was a welcome distraction from all the talk of gloom and doom. “I have to go to the farm. I practically extorted the invitation. Daniel will wonder why I changed my mind if I don’t.”
    “Tell him there was an emergency here. If you give it a minute, there probably will be.”
    “No. I said I’d be there, and I will. Besides, I already have the morning scheduled to be off, so you’re not getting out of crisis-management duty that easy. Shirley will be here to help, but you’ll need to man the front desk.”
    “I wasn’t trying to avoid work,” Hannah said. “You need to take this risk