Read Disappearing Nine Patch (A Harriet Truman/Loose Threads Mystery Book 9) for Free Online Page B

our case, my restaurant is the sponsor. There are social events before race day, and our Northwest organizing committee is even talking about a sister-city type program between the towns that hold the qualifying races. Today’s meeting is for sponsors and teams to sign up and to discuss the first event. We don’t have to stay for the whole thing.”
    Harriet laughed. “So, this…” She gestured at the table. “…was all a setup? Why didn’t you just tell me you need me to sign on?”
    He had the good grace to blush.
    “If I’d asked you right off the bat, you might not have gotten in the car. I know you have a weakness for chocolate.”
    Harriet looked down at the cocoa he’d ordered for her without asking.
    “Here I thought you were just an unassuming nice guy. I’m going to have to file this away for future reference. ‘James is more devious than he looks.’”
    “Have I heard a yes in there yet? I brought along a box of my homemade truffles. Do I need to deploy them?”
    “Yes, I’ll help you, and yes, you definitely need to deploy the truffles.”
    James sat back in his chair.
    “Boy, you are one tough negotiator.”
    “Now, it’s your turn. I need some help with something.”
    “Uh-oh. Am I going to have to pay the price for my manipulations?”
    “This won’t be hard. You grew up in Foggy Point, right?”
    “I’ve been here my whole life, except for the ten years when I went to culinary school and then my apprenticeship in New York.”
    “What I’m going to ask you took place before that. Do you remember when a little girl named Amber Price disappeared? You would have been in your teens when it happened, I think.”
    He stared out the window.
    “I think I do remember that. Wasn’t there another girl who was found but couldn’t tell them what happened?”
    “Yes, that’s the case. It turns out the one who survived is my friend DeAnn’s half-sister. According to DeAnn, her sister has had a lifelong obsession about it. She’s here in town for a fundraiser right now—she works for a non-profit that deals with missing and exploited child cases. She’s starting to ask our quilt group members to help her.”
    “If the police couldn’t figure it out then, what are you supposed to do all this time later?”
    Harriet took a sip of chocolate and set her mug down.
    “You begin to see my problem. Since she’s DeAnn’s sister, I have to try. Lauren is digging on the Internet, and I said I’d ask around.”
    James leaned toward her.
    “Maybe I can help. My mom has a friend who lives in that neighborhood and has forever. I didn’t pay much attention at the time, but they talk about everything, so if there was any talk on the street, my mom probably knows.”
    “Can you ask her?”
    “It’ll be better if I hook you two up. If I ask, she’ll talk for thirty minutes, and I won’t remember it all, and half the stuff won’t even relate to the question at hand.”
    “That would be great…I think.”
    “So, what are you quilting on this week?” he asked her, changing the subject.
    They discussed her stitching and his new menu items, and before she knew it, they were leaving for the race meeting.

    Harriet was looking forward to a quiet evening of takeout and binge-watching a British mystery series on TV. The only decision was which cuisine it would be. She pulled a collection of menus from her kitchen drawer and spread them out on the countertop.
    Fred rubbed against her ankle, and she reached down and scratched his ears.
    “What do you vote? Do you want to lick up after Thai?” She looked at him for any indication of interest.
    “I hope you’re talking to one of your pets,” Mavis said as she came in from the studio carrying a covered dish.
    “Did we have a plan I don’t remember?” Harriet rocked back on her heels. “Please tell me this isn’t another intervention. Is Aunt Beth on her way? No offense, but I can’t do this again.”
    Mavis’s shoulders sagged as she walked