Lauren looked the attacker up on the Internet, and it seems that Jenny’s brother was involved in an incident that ended with the woman’s father being killed. Jenny’s brother didn’t kill him, but he was jailed for two years for his involvement.”
“So, why come after Jenny? Why not her brother?”
“That’s why we think there’s more to the story than Jenny is telling.”
“Clearly,” Tom said and snuggled Harriet more tightly to him. He took his forefinger and tilted her chin up then laid a gentle kiss on her lips. She didn’t protest, so he deepened the kiss, only ending when they heard the artificially loud sound of Carla’s voice as she reached the top of the stairs.
“Thanks, I needed that,” Harriet whispered as Tom scooted his chair back to its normal place at the table.
“Can I bring you ladies anything?” he asked, getting up. He walked over to Scooter’s basket and scratched the little dog behind the ears. “You take care of your mother for once,” he said to the dog.
“We’re good. We have to go to the doctor in a little bit, so we can stop at the store then, if we need to.” Harriet said.
“I hate to leave you like this, but I’ve got to go tend my booth. I’ve got a group of ladies from the school coming in today to do macrame demonstrations, and I’ve got to help them set up.”
“I’m glad you stopped by,” Harriet said.
“I can see myself out,” Tom said and then made his way out through the studio.
Harriet picked up a jelly doughnut and took a bite.
“Things are looking up,” she said.
Carla’s face turned pink again, and she busied herself with Wendy’s hair clip.
“How do you feel?” Carla asked when Harriet came back into the waiting room after seeing her doctor. Harriet sat down beside her. Wendy was playing with a wooden train set that sat on a child-size table in the corner; Carla set a timer on her phone and told Wendy she had five more minutes and then they would be leaving.
“It was no picnic having it cleaned and dressed, but he put this elastic sleeve over this gelatin-like dressing and the combination of gel and pressure actually feels good. He also said I have to get a different antibiotic. In spite of all the precautions, it has a spot of infection.”
“Do you want to go anywhere on your way home?” Carla asked.
“I was hoping to stop by the festival and check on my booth. I don’t expect DeAnn to have any trouble, but I’d like to make sure everything is going smoothly.”
“I figured you wouldn’t want to sit home all day. I’m guessing you can’t stitch with that thing on your arm,” Carla said, pointing at the bulky over-wrap on Harriet’s arm.
“Yeah, he says I only have to wear this for a few days, luckily.”
A few minutes later, Carla’s phone chimed, and she scooped her protesting child up in her arms, slinging the diaper bag over her opposite shoulder. Harriet led the way out of the office and to the parking lot.
“Isn’t that Colm Byrne?” Carla asked and pointed to a small man walking toward the exhibit hall as she unbuckled Wendy from her carseat.
“Looks like it. I wonder where he’s been that he’s coming back this early in the morning—and carrying a guitar case.”
“I thought he and his band were staying in a tour bus behind the auditorium.”
“Someone said he was from this area—he has some connection to Jerry Weber. Maybe he spent the night with the Webers. He probably brings his guitar wherever he goes so he can play for his host.”
He caught sight of them and turned toward them.
“Good morning, ladies,” he said when he reached them.
Carla eased Wendy back into her carseat.
“Did Skeeter bring you ladies the extra backstage passes for your group?” Byrne asked. “I saw you getting out of your car,” he explained to Harriet as he stopped. “I heard you’d been injured last night. Are you okay?” He nodded toward the white bandage on her arm.
“I’m fine, or I will be in a few days.”
“Do you know who did this to you? I was having a few brews with an old friend last night so I didn’t hear there’d been an accident until this morning. Skeeter didn’t mention any names, though. I hope the festival committee has hired additional security.”
“The police think it was a case of mistaken identity. I don’t know who the woman is, and I haven’t heard anything about increasing