Jack Beale 00 - Killer Run

another couple not too long ago. We stayed at this B & B called The Quilt House. It was really cool. The couple who owns it are about the same age as us and when they bought the place, they found a bunch of old quilts in the attic, hence the name. She even wrote a novel about a young woman who makes a quilt and uses it to hide information that’s critical to her family’s fortunes. She got the idea from the quilts and some letters that they found along with the quilts. As a matter of fact, awhile back someone left a copy of her book here in the bar and I read it.”
    He didn’t look up, but inside he was smiling at this nugget. “ I did leave it here. ”
    “She even gave me an old quilt to use as filler for the one I’m making.”
    He looked up with an expression on his face that could either have been surprise or elation. “Really. I didn’t know.”
    She continued, “That’s what you do with old quilts, but I’m going to give it back to her.”
    Alfred couldn’t believe his ears. He was talking to Max and she still had the quilt that Malcom was to pick up on his way home. This was his lucky day. “Why?” he asked, trying not to sound innocently curious.
    “I think she made a mistake and gave me the wrong one. I think she gave me one that’s really valuable. Her husband was supposed to come by and pick it up a few days ago, but he never showed. I’ve been trying to call her, but no one has answered the phone.”
    “Why do you think that she gave you the wrong quilt?” Alfred tried to keep his voice calm, almost disinterested, fearful that his building excitement would come through and make her suspicious.
    “Well, she showed me all of the quilts that they had found when they first bought the place. The ones in the best condition were displayed in the rooms. The coolest one she called The Captain’s Quilt because it depicted a story of a ship’s voyage. It was really colorful.”
    Alfred ate slowly as he listened to Max ramble on, and he had to really work at keeping calm. He knew all about the Captain’s Quilt; after all, he had it. But he was anxious to hear more about the quilt Malcom was to have picked up.
    Just as Max was about to start a new sentence, the slip printer came to life, chickka-chikka-chunk. Max turned away from Alfred. “Excuse me,” she said as she tore off the slip and began making the drinks.
    Alfred wanted to shout at her to stop and finish her story, but he knew he couldn’t, so he took another bite of his salad and watched her work.
    Patti came in to pick up the drinks just as Max finished making the last one. As she began to place them on her tray, she whispered to Max, “That guy is staring at you.”
    Max started to turn her head, but Patti hissed at her, “Stop. Don’t turn around.”
    “Why?”
    “Because he’s really creepy and he’s still staring.”
    “Patti, he’s harmless. I was just telling him about our trip to The Quilt House.”
    “Max! Don’t. If you have to talk to him, keep it generic, nothing personal. There’s something about him that bothers me.”
    “Patti, now you stop!”
    “I’m just saying. When he comes after you …”
    Max cut her off. “Go. Go deliver your drinks. Get out of here and stop worrying.”
    Patti snuck one more look at him. He was still staring. She picked up her tray, and as she turned to leave, she said to Max, “Remember what I said.”
    As Max turned back, Alfred quickly looked back down at his salad, but he wasn’t quite quick enough and Max caught his stare. After what Patti had said, it was a bit unsettling.
    “So how’s the salad?”
    “Very good.”
    “The salmon really makes it,” added Max.
    Alfred began to get an uneasy feeling that she was not going to talk about quilts anymore, but he needed to know more. “So, what was the title of that book again?”
    “ The Captain’s Quilt , same as the quilt she showed me. It was good. If you ever get the chance to read it, you should.”
    “I will. If I get the chance.” From the tone in her voice, he could tell that the conversation about quilts was over. He wondered what the waitress had said to her. In any event, he had found out more than he had expected, so he paid his tab, said goodbye, and walked out of Ben’s.

CHAPTER 62
    MAX’S SHIFT ENDED AT FOUR , but it was nearly 4:30 before she was finally finished. She was sitting at the bar having a post-shift glass of wine when Jack walked in.
    “Hey Max, how was your day?”
    She didn’t