Quilts, Tacos & Tattoos

The Dead Fly Club

It was my first day back at the store and Aunt Julia's last day in Marble Falls. We all had a good heart-to-heart night before on Granite Mountain, and we all agreed it was time for me to get my ears pierced. We left the shop close to noon for a girls' lunch break. It was a rare occasion for mom to leave the store in the middle of the day.

"Mom, are you sure about this?" I asked.

"Yes, I agree with Aunt Julia that you are old enough, and it is time. She helped me to understand that I was being a little silly about the whole thing."

"I am so excited. Does it hurt?"

"I am not going to lie to you," Mom said, as she looked at Aunt Julia and then they both replied, "Yes."

On the way back from the mall, my ears throbbed, but I grinned from ear to ear. Mom pulled into the parking lot of the shopping strip and we all saw flashing blue lights. A police car was parked between Local Taco and Mom's quilt shop. We couldn't tell why the cops were there, but it was not a good sign. Marble Falls is a small town, and there would be talk.

As we approached, we could see the activity was happening inside Marmie & Me. Before Mom could get out of the car, Luanne was at the door swinging it wide open and sending the little cowbell into a ringing furry. "Where have you been? We needed you!"

Mom yelled as she ran to the door. "I'm coming. I'm here now. What happened?"

"It was that Mitchell Goose!" she exclaimed as Mom walked through he door.

"Now, Miss Luanne, we do not have much evidence of who did this," said Sherriff Berry, our town's sheriff.

"Somebody please tell me what is going on!"

"We got a call about a robbery here at your store," said Sheriff Berry.

"Robbery? Oh dear. What happened? What does Mitchell Goose have to do with this?"

"Well, it seems that two of your girls' purses were stolen from under the cash register counter."

"There were three of them! They were in it together!" Luanne reported to Mom. "They distracted us."

He cleared his throat, "Miss Luanne here reports that a man and woman came in together and were looking at sewing machines. Then another woman walked in and was looking at fabric. The man and woman appeared to be husband and wife and were asking questions, so Luanne went back to ask Poncho a question when the phone rang. No one was watching the other woman. She wandered around a bit and then walked out."

Luanne interrupted, "Without a good-bye shout or anything. Then the husband and wife, if that is even what they were, took off. They headed out on foot. No car out front of the store. Nothing. I had a bad feeling, so I went to check our purses and they were gone."

Betsy yelled, "I knew it! I knew they were in it together."

Sheriff Berry finished writing a few things down and asked. "Do you want to file a report, Miss Candy? I would advise it."

"I think I should," Mom said.

Luanne added, "I've already called my bank."

"Good. Make sure you both do. I will finish my report and come by again later today to make sure you are okay."

"That is not necessary, Sheriff Berry, but thanks for offering."

Sheriff Berry finished writing and looked up through the front window and then bolted to the door. He opened the door and shouted, "Nice job Saturday! Your sponsors must be happy!"