Knitting Bones Read Online Free Page A

that?”
    “Possibly because Allie came up with the idea of the Women’s Heart Disease fund-raiser?” suggested Godwin.
    “Yes, she did. So what? Oh, I see what you mean: She didn’t want to underline the fact that her husband’s employer would benefit from a heart disease fund-raiser.”
    “That’s right. She talks a lot—a lot —about Bob, but ever since EGA started that Women’s Heart Disease fund-raiser, she never let the fact that her husband is an executive with the National Heart Coalition escape her pretty lips.”
    “Do you suppose the idea was really his? That he used EGA as a fund-raiser?” asked Betsy. “That would be a scandal.”
    “You know I love you,” said Godwin. “And that you are my very favorite boss in all the wide world.”
    Betsy frowned at him. “Do I hear a but in there somewhere?”
    “But,” said Godwin, nodding. “The question is not whether or not he asked his wife to use EGA to raise money for the company he worked for. I mean it might be a scandal if it’s true, but not nearly as big a scandal as his taking the check and leaving town.”
    “Oh,” said Betsy. She definitely had to cut back on the meds. “I suppose people are saying that if he really did run off with the check, then this whole thing might be a plot between the two of them to steal the money. That would be a scandal!”
    Godwin raised a slim forefinger, indicating he had a thought about that. “Twelve thousand dollars apiece seems kind of small potatoes for people in their income range.”
    Betsy nodded. “Well, yes, you’re right. Besides, if it was both of them, why is she still here?”
    “She wants to talk to you.”
    “No, I mean, why didn’t she leave town with him?”
    “I don’t know. But right now this minute she is downstairs all agog to speak with you.” He frowned. “Is agog the word I want?”
    “I don’t know. What does she want to talk to me about?”
    “About helping her find out what really happened to him, of course!”
    “Goddy, look at me! I can’t go sleuthing! I’m stuck inside this apartment for another ten days—and I can’t drive my car for six weeks after that! How on earth can I possibly investigate when I can’t go anywhere?”
    The note of distress in her voice brought Sophie back up onto her stomach. “Uff! Easy, cat!” But when Godwin came to lift the animal down, she said, “No, leave her, she thinks she’s helping.”
    Godwin stopped and looked at Sophie, who was “kneading dough” on Betsy’s abdomen. “Are you sure?”
    “Yes. And actually, it’s kind of nice having her within reach all the time.”
    “Okay, if you say so. Where were we? Oh, Allie wants you to help her—and yes, I told her all about how you can’t go anywhere. But she says she just wants to talk to someone who might believe her when she says someone kidnapped her darling Bob. Someone who can give her some ideas about what to do, where to look.”
    “Oh, for heaven’s sake! Don’t the police—?”
    Godwin interrupted, “The police have put out an all points bulletin asking for help capturing one Robert Henry Germaine, wanted for grand theft, theft by fraud, and—something else, I can’t remember what. They have a photograph of him.” Godwin frowned. “It’s not a very good photograph, which is pretty clever of Mrs. Germaine.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Remember when Mary Kuhfeld lost a lot of weight and had a Glamour Shot taken of herself all made-up to look like a model?”
    “Yes.”
    “Well, her husband said that if she ever ran away from home and he didn’t want her back, that’s the photo he’d give the police.”
    Betsy laughed, and the jiggle made Sophie jump down and stalk off. Betsy said, “I see what you mean. Allie’s helping her husband hide by giving the police a photo that doesn’t look much like him.”
    “That’s right.”
    She nodded. “Well, that’s understandable. And clever, certainly.” She thought briefly, then suddenly