Read Online Quilt As You Go by Arlene Sachitano - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Arlene Sachitano
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opposite side of Gerald and gently cut through the blood-soaked fabric.
"I don't see a bullet hole,” the coroner said, “do you?"
The blond tilted his head a little and looked from several angles, then gently probed Gerald's chest with his gloved fingers.
"There's no hole.” He was quiet for a minute. “There were a lot of horses on the field at the end. Do you think someone riding out of the woods could have knocked him aside without realizing it? Maybe drove him onto one of the big tree stumps?"
"Anything's possible, I guess,” the coroner said and stood up. “In the absence of a bullet wound or sword wound, it doesn't seem likely he was a victim of foul play. Did I hear correctly that you could see him from the bleachers?” he asked, looking at Harriet.
She nodded. “He was in our view, but with all the action, I can't say I was looking at him the whole time. I mainly noticed him because he didn't get up when the other dead soldiers did. I didn't see what happened to him."
"I'm going to talk to the local police as a precaution. They can investigate and see if they can find anyone who saw what happened. I'm declaring him dead and for now writing it up as unknown cause or causes. I'm afraid he's going to need a ride to the ME's office in King County when the forensic people are done taking their pictures."
The paramedic signaled his team members. One was in the back of their truck rustling supplies around, and the other leaned against the back of the vehicle, chewing on a piece of grass. He explained the situation and asked each one to stand guard on either side of Gerald's location until the police arrived.
* * * *
"What happened?” Carlton asked when Harriet passed the stage on her way to the quilt booth. He and Bebe had hovered there while the police arrived and then the paramedics left.
She quickly explained about finding Gerald's body.
"Oh, my gosh,” Bebe said, covering her mouth with her hand. “How awful for Mavis."
"It's been quite a shock for her,” Harriet agreed.
"I'm glad I wasn't there,” Bebe said. “I've never seen a dead body before, and I'd like to keep it that way."
"Let's hope this is the closest you ever come,” Harriet said.
"What shall we do?” Carlton asked.
"For Mavis?"
Carlton nervously shuffled his feet. “I was thinking about our guests,” he said and nodded toward the tent encampments.
"I don't think we need to do anything with regard to them. As far as activities go, we only have the barbecue tonight and then the goodbye brunch tomorrow, and while it's a sad occasion for us locally, the death of Gerald Willis, even if it turns out it was the result of incidental contact with a participant's mount, really doesn't have anything to do with the re-enactment. We need to quietly help the police talk to the mounted re-enactors who were on the far edge of the field. Other than that, we kiss them goodbye and invite them back next year."
Carlton looked relieved. “Well, if you think that's best, we'll go with it. Since you have police experience, I think it would be best if you let the involved people know who needs to talk to them."
"Sure,” Harriet said, her shoulders sagging slightly. He hadn't done anything useful yet. Why did she expect it to be different now?
"Carlton, baby,” Bebe said. “My feet are just killing me. Can we go home now?"
He looked at Harriet.
"Sure, you kids run on home—you must be beat,” she said.
"See you at the brunch tomorrow,” Carlton said. Harriet's sarcasm was lost on him.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter 9
Harriet waited until after the barbecue was well under way and the caterer had assured her they wouldn't run out of food before she joined the small group at Aunt Beth's house.
"Hey,” Aunt Beth said as Harriet came in the front door. “We saved you some pizza."
She and Mavis were sitting on one side of the oak-topped kitchen table. Robin and DeAnn sat on the other side with Lauren at the end. Connie was in a
"I don't see a bullet hole,” the coroner said, “do you?"
The blond tilted his head a little and looked from several angles, then gently probed Gerald's chest with his gloved fingers.
"There's no hole.” He was quiet for a minute. “There were a lot of horses on the field at the end. Do you think someone riding out of the woods could have knocked him aside without realizing it? Maybe drove him onto one of the big tree stumps?"
"Anything's possible, I guess,” the coroner said and stood up. “In the absence of a bullet wound or sword wound, it doesn't seem likely he was a victim of foul play. Did I hear correctly that you could see him from the bleachers?” he asked, looking at Harriet.
She nodded. “He was in our view, but with all the action, I can't say I was looking at him the whole time. I mainly noticed him because he didn't get up when the other dead soldiers did. I didn't see what happened to him."
"I'm going to talk to the local police as a precaution. They can investigate and see if they can find anyone who saw what happened. I'm declaring him dead and for now writing it up as unknown cause or causes. I'm afraid he's going to need a ride to the ME's office in King County when the forensic people are done taking their pictures."
The paramedic signaled his team members. One was in the back of their truck rustling supplies around, and the other leaned against the back of the vehicle, chewing on a piece of grass. He explained the situation and asked each one to stand guard on either side of Gerald's location until the police arrived.
* * * *
"What happened?” Carlton asked when Harriet passed the stage on her way to the quilt booth. He and Bebe had hovered there while the police arrived and then the paramedics left.
She quickly explained about finding Gerald's body.
"Oh, my gosh,” Bebe said, covering her mouth with her hand. “How awful for Mavis."
"It's been quite a shock for her,” Harriet agreed.
"I'm glad I wasn't there,” Bebe said. “I've never seen a dead body before, and I'd like to keep it that way."
"Let's hope this is the closest you ever come,” Harriet said.
"What shall we do?” Carlton asked.
"For Mavis?"
Carlton nervously shuffled his feet. “I was thinking about our guests,” he said and nodded toward the tent encampments.
"I don't think we need to do anything with regard to them. As far as activities go, we only have the barbecue tonight and then the goodbye brunch tomorrow, and while it's a sad occasion for us locally, the death of Gerald Willis, even if it turns out it was the result of incidental contact with a participant's mount, really doesn't have anything to do with the re-enactment. We need to quietly help the police talk to the mounted re-enactors who were on the far edge of the field. Other than that, we kiss them goodbye and invite them back next year."
Carlton looked relieved. “Well, if you think that's best, we'll go with it. Since you have police experience, I think it would be best if you let the involved people know who needs to talk to them."
"Sure,” Harriet said, her shoulders sagging slightly. He hadn't done anything useful yet. Why did she expect it to be different now?
"Carlton, baby,” Bebe said. “My feet are just killing me. Can we go home now?"
He looked at Harriet.
"Sure, you kids run on home—you must be beat,” she said.
"See you at the brunch tomorrow,” Carlton said. Harriet's sarcasm was lost on him.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter 9
Harriet waited until after the barbecue was well under way and the caterer had assured her they wouldn't run out of food before she joined the small group at Aunt Beth's house.
"Hey,” Aunt Beth said as Harriet came in the front door. “We saved you some pizza."
She and Mavis were sitting on one side of the oak-topped kitchen table. Robin and DeAnn sat on the other side with Lauren at the end. Connie was in a
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