A Quilt in Time (A Harriet Turman/Loose Threads Mystery) Read Online Free PDF Page B

us.”
    “I don’t think it works that way,” Aunt Beth said. “If he’s got her brainwashed, she probably doesn’t feel like she can reach out. Having it be her stepbrother makes it even more complicated.”
    “It probably doesn’t help that she works for her family, either,” Harriet mused.
    “So, we’re on to plan B?” Lauren asked.
    Aunt Beth stirred her tea, lost in thought.
    “You know, our plan sounded so simple at lunch, but after talking to, or really, talking at Sarah, I’m not sure there’s any point in Robin trying.”
    “How did she look?” Harriet asked.
    “Terrible. She had a scarf wrapped high around her neck, and she was wearing knitted half-gloves so only her fingertips showed. And they keep that place warm for the old people, even in the reception area.”
    “Back to plan B,” Lauren prompted.
    “I’m not sure there is a plan B,” Aunt Beth said. “My sense is we might have better luck if we could get her away from work, so she won’t feel like the family is so close. We’ll have to put our heads together and think about how we can do that.”
    “Since we can’t solve the problem tonight,” Harriet said. “Lauren and I were going to watch a British murder mystery DVD. Would you like to join us?”
    “Well, I did feed and walk Brownie before I came over to report. I guess I could stay a while.”
    Harriet turned the TV’s volume back on and hit play before setting the remote on the table.

    “Hit pause,” Harriet told Lauren an hour-and-a-half later when her phone rang. “Hello? Connie, is that you? I can’t hear you very well…Yes, Aunt Beth is here with me. Lauren, too.” She listened a few moments before assuring Connie they would be right there.
    “Where are we going?” Lauren asked.
    “To the hospital,” Harriet said as she turned off the television and gathered the empty tea mugs. “Plan B just presented itself. Connie went to drop off a hot dinner for her daughter-in-law, who is working night shift in the ER, and guess who she ran into in the triage area?”
    She led the way downstairs and grabbed her purse and coat.
    “Let me guess,” Lauren said as she put on her own coat and slung her messenger bag over her head and settled it onto her shoulder.
    “Sarah,” Aunt Beth said and followed them to the garage. “How bad is it?”
    “She was sitting in the triage area as opposed to coming in on a stretcher, so it didn’t sound life-threatening. Connie said there were a few other people there, but said we should hurry anyway.”
    “Have you ever gone to the emergency room and gotten out in less that four hours?” Lauren asked.
    “No, but there’s a first time for everything, and it will take us a good thirty minutes to get there,” Harriet said as she turned on the ignition.
    “Stop talking and get driving, then.”
    “Mavis and I just saw her…” Aunt Beth glanced at her watch. “…not four hours ago.”
    “It probably doesn’t take much time for someone to fly into a rage and inflict a lot of damage,” Harriet suggested, turning onto the street.
    “I think this is a case of ‘be careful what you wish for,’” Lauren said.
    Harriet turned to stare at her.
    “What do you mean?”
    “Eyes on the road, missy,” Lauren shot back. “What I mean is, we couldn’t think of a plan B; now we don’t need to. If this doesn’t convince Sarah to make a change, nothing will.”
    “Unfortunately, this isn’t her first trip to the ER,” Aunt Beth said. “If it didn’t convince her the first time she went, she may not be willing to listen to us now.”
    “That will depend on how badly she’s hurt,” Harriet said.
    “We aren’t going to know that till we get there,” Aunt Beth said and stared into the dark outside the car window.
    They were silent until Harriet guided her car into the hospital parking lot.
    “Let’s go find out what’s going on,” she said.
    Aunt Beth pointed to a car two rows over.
    “Isn’t that Connie’s