Murder by Artifact (Five Star Mystery Series)
URDER
BY
A
RTIFACT
M
URDER
BY
A
RTIFACT
THE MURDER QUILT
B
ARBARA
G
RAHAM
FIVE STAR
A part of Gale, Cengage Learning
Copyright © 2009 by Barbara Graham.
Five Star Publishing, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination, or, if real, used fictitiously.
No part of this work covered by the copyright herein may be reproduced, transmitted, stored, or used in any form or by any means graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including but not limited to photocopying, recording, scanning, digitizing, taping, Web distribution, information networks, or information storage and retrieval systems, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
The publisher bears no responsibility for the quality of information provided through author or third-party Web sites and does not have any control over, nor assume any responsibility for, information contained in these sites. Providing these sites should not be construed as an endorsement or approval by the publisher of these organizations or of the positions they may take on various issues.
Set in 11 pt. Plantin.
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA
Graham, Barbara, 1948-
Murder by artifact : the murder quilt / Barbara Graham. —
1st ed.
p. cm.
ISBN-13: 978-1-59414-828-6 (alk. paper)
ISBN-10: 1-59414-828-7 (alk. paper)
eISBN-10: 1-4328-2488-0
eISBN-13: 978-1-4328-2488-4
1. Sheriffs—Fiction. 2. Tennessee—Fiction. I. Title.
PS3607.R336M85 2009
813′.6—dc22 2009027522
First Edition. First Printing: November 2009.
Published by Five Star in conjunction with the author.
Printed in the United States of America
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 13 12 11 10 09
This book is dedicated to all the caregivers. Theirs is a difficult and often thankless job.
And as always, with love to Dennis, Justin and Alexander
.
The altogether wonderful Museum of Appalachia in Norris, Tennessee, has a “murder quilt.” I was so enthralled by the name, I had to write a book with such an artifact. They also have a great collection of flax hackles. Inspiration comes from all places.
To Alice Duncan for seeing the promise in my manuscript and guiding me through the edits. Without her, the book would be a mess. Thank you, Alice.
Thanks to Michelle Quick, a great friend and pattern tester.
Special thanks to K. T. Irwin of Northwest K-9 Search and Recovery of Cody, Wyoming. In addition to providing me with expert information, she and her search dogs work long and hard, helping those in need.
NIGHT ON THE MOUNTAIN
YSTERY
Q
UILT BY
T
HEO
A
BERNATHY
The finished size is suitable as a wall hanging, lap or crib size top of approximately 42′′ by 54′′.
All fabric requirements are generous and based on standard width fabric of approximately 40′′ of usable fabric. The instructions assume familiarity with basic quilt construction and an accurate 1/4′′ seam.
Fabric requirements:
Lights—3 light prints, 1/4 yard each (fat quarters work fine). If all are from same color family (like yellow) they should be different values.
Medium or Dark—2 different prints in one color family (like blues). Mediums need to contrast with the chosen lights.
Medium or Dark #1—1 1/2 yards
Medium or Dark #2—1 1/4 yards or scraps of various fabrics in same color family as Medium #1.
Cutting instructions:
Make sure to label pieces by color number and size.
From Light #1—cut 6 squares 3 3/4′′
and
cut 24 squares 2 1/8′′
From Light #2—cut 6 squares 3 3/4′′
and
cut 12 squares 4 1/4′′
From Light #3—cut 30 squares 2 1/8′′
and
cut 20 squares 1 3/4′′
From Medium/Dark #1—cut 4 strips 4 1/4′′ by length of fabric
and 4
strips 2 1/2′′ by length of fabric
from remainder—cut 17 strips 2 1/8′′ by 10 1/4′′
and
32 squares 1 3/4′′
From Medium/Dark #2—cut 72 squares 3 3/4′′
and
cut 12 squares 4 1/4′′
C
HAPTER
O
NE
“There’s a huge old bloodstain in the center of it.”
“On what?” Theo Abernathy pressed the tiny telephone to her ear while she walked around her studio, only half listening to her mother-in-law’s phone conversation. Theo wondered if she had time to put the finishing touches on her newest quilt pattern before it was time to pick her sons up from day camp. She still had a few hours. It might be enough.