Death of a Crafty Knitter Read Online Free PDF Page A

met once before, but she'd made quite an impression on me. With her snowy white hair, she had to be in her sixties, but moved like she could work a shift slinging drinks and then go home and bake a pie or two before sunrise.
    Her eyes twinkled as she smiled, revealing teeth as pearly white as her downy hair. "That's right, honey. My name's Dharma, which rhymes with karma, and I live a charmed life because I help others as much as I can."
    "It's nice to see you again," I said.
    "You too, dear."
    We were interrupted by loud laughter that sounded like cackling, cutting through the din. Everyone at the table, plus our waitress, turned to look for the source of the noise. It was Voula's table making all the racket, and she was the loudest one, laughing with her head thrown back in a theatrical way.
    Dharma turned back to us with a sour look on her face. "You know that woman is a witch, right? She practices powerful magic. You young folks should steer clear of her, do you hear me? She's going to make some people in this town very rich, but nothing comes without a cost." She pulled out a notepad and tapped her pen to it. "Now what can I bring you to drink?"
    The four of us exchanged looks, but with the masquerade masks on, it was hard to see each other's expressions. I finally raised my hand and ordered a bottle of Chardonnay for us to share.
    Dharma nodded, turned her head to cast a dirty look toward Voula's table, then left to get our order.
    Jessica leaned in over the table. "What was that all about?"
    Marcy nodded and answered, "Professional rivalry. Dharma Lake thinks she should be the only matchmaker in town."
    "That's right," I said as a memory came back clearly. "That Dharma lady is totally a matchmaker. The first time I met her, she tried to set me up with someone. But it seemed more like a hobby than her profession. Are you guys saying she charges for setting people up?"
    "Dharma doesn't charge," Marvin answered. "She does good deeds for karma, remember?" He let out a disapproving chuckle. "What a sucker," he muttered under his breath.
    Marcy smacked him on the arm. "Don't be nasty. Some people really are nice."
    The two of them bickered for a few minutes, then Marvin said to the group, "Dharma Lake isn't as sweet and innocent as she pretends to be. I've heard things."
    Jessica and I asked, in unison, "Like what?"
    Marvin just smiled and tilted his chin up to alert us that Dharma had returned with our wine and four glasses. We all sat in rigid silence as she set up the stemware and poured our first round. I studied her finely wrinkled face and tried to find any sign of malice, but all I found were a few sunspots and some white hairs on her chin. I'd pulled a few stray hairs out of my own chin recently, so I knew chin hairs were evil, but evil in a grooming and aging sort of way, and not a sign of repressed evil.
    Dharma finished pouring the wine, took our order for chicken wings and other appetizers, then went to tend the other tables in the area.
    I watched out of the corner of my eye as she approached the table where Voula was sitting. Sure enough, I could see Dharma's body language changing when she talked to her so-called rival. She was clearly on edge, her movements jerky and her posture defensive.
    My friends complimented the wine and chatted amongst themselves while I kept my gaze riveted on Dharma and Voula.
    It was hard for me to estimate Voula's age because of her masquerade makeup. She sat with three other women, and the two I could see clearly appeared to be dark-haired sisters in their sixties. Voula seemed younger, either early forties or a well-preserved fifty. Her dark, curly hair looked thick, like the mane of an exotic jungle cat.
    She and Dharma were clearly arguing about something. The voodoo lady's voice was rising in volume, but I couldn't hear her words over the music and chatter in the crowded pub. I felt sorry for Dharma, and had a difficult time keeping my butt glued to my chair and not jumping up