Muffins & Murder (Sweet Bites Book 3) (Sweet Bites Mysteries) by Heather Justesen Page A

related to quilting,” I finally said. “But it appears that Francine had the item with her at the time and it was just a matter of convenience that it was used to kill her.”
    More color slipped from Mary Ellen’s face. “Are you serious? But then everyone’s bound to think it was me. And I wasn’t even at the school that night. I was here, working on that baby quilt.” She pointed to the one in the corner. “My sister’s baby came three months early, and she didn’t even tell us about the pregnancy until about a month ago. I’ve been putting in a lot of extra hours on it lately.”
    I ignored her rambling—nervous people did that when they were being questioned, right?—and focused on her face. “I’m sure Detective Tingey has already been by to speak with you.”
    “Of course. He came the morning after the... Francine was found. He seemed to believe me, so I thought it would be fine. Then I went to the office and the whispers were so bad I just couldn’t go to guild meeting tonight. I know people think I did it.” She covered her face with her hands.
    “Not everyone is going to jump to that conclusion.” I squeezed her shoulder in support. “Hetty McAllister stopped the conversation short when your name came up, said you were innocent until proven otherwise and that people should lay off you.”
    Tears shone in Mary Ellen’s eyes. “Really?”
    Kat finally joined the conversation again. “And Lorraine said it was a bunch of nonsense when someone brought it up with her. I agree.” Her hands curled the edge of the bag she was using to tote her quilt supplies. “You still have some friends, no matter what a few mean old gossips say. And soon Tess and the detective will find out what really happened that night and the world will know that you’re innocent. They already have a likely suspect. Just hold your head up and show people that you’re not scared and it’ll be okay.”
    By now there were wet trails on Mary Ellen’s face and she sniffed. “Thanks, you two. I was starting to think no one would believe me.”
    I gave her hand a couple of perfunctory pats. “Don’t you worry about it. Now, you said you could help Kat with her applique?”
    “Yes.” Mary Ellen brightened and stood. “Come on back to my sewing room and I’ll show you.”
    Though I never intended to use the technique myself, I was rather curious to see what “the easiest way to applique” was, and it was good to see the bright happiness return to Mary Ellen’s gaze.
    I stood near the door and watched Mary Ellen demonstrate, then listened as Kat asked a few questions. I studied the room, stopping at a piece of fabric on a wall hanging. I’d seen that red and green swatch before. I walked closer and studied the wall hanging—or rather, the squares inside it made with the fabric I swear I’d see in my nightmares until I was eighty-five. If I lived that long.
    “Cute isn’t it?” Mary Ellen asked me. “It’s easy, too—perfect for a beginner like you. I think I might still have a kit around here somewhere leftover from when we made it in guild meeting.”
    I turned to her. “I really like that fabric.” I pointed to the one in question. “Where can I get some for window curtains?” I improvised, not wanting to admit where I’d seen it before. Or that I thought it was tacky. “Kat offered to sew me some for my spare room when she gets back from her honeymoon.”
    Kat’s brows lifted at my lie, but she didn’t argue with me.
    “I don’t think the fabric store has any more. We used it for a couple of projects last winter. This one, plus a table runner for Christmas. We went through the whole bolt and they replaced it with something different.” She pursed her lips. “But they might be able to recommend another store in Prescott that could have it, or they might have something else you like as well. You should go chat with Leann in the shop.”
    “Oh,” I allowed my face to fall. “So practically everyone