"I can imagine what that fabric was,” Harriet said. “We saw several copied projects in process."
"It makes no sense,” Tom argued. “Why would anyone want to copy student work? No offense,” he added and glanced at the women sitting around the table.
"That's what we've been trying to figure out,” Mavis said.
"Did you ship teachers’ work also?” Harriet asked.
"Sometimes, but mostly they did their own thing. We keep acid-free paper and boxes. The teachers came and got packing materials from me once in a while."
"What about your mother?” Harriet persisted.
Tom looked down at the table. It was almost a minute before he spoke. “My mom hasn't shown any of her work in a while,” he said quietly.
"Was your mother planning on selling the school?” Harriet asked in an abrupt change of topics. Mavis looked at her and raised her eyebrows.
"No,” Tom said. “No.” He studied his hands. “I'm sure you saw the property offers on my work table.” He looked up at Harriet. “Is that what you were really doing in my office?"
"No,” Harriet assured him. “But I have to admit I was curious. I mean, one day we see you with surveyors, and then a few days later there are property bids."
"It's none of your business what I do or don't do with my mother's property."
Aiden stood. “This isn't getting us anywhere. I've got to go to the hospital to check on Cammi.” He looked at Tom. “Sorry,” he said and held out his hand. Tom stared at it but made no move to take it. “Whatever,” Aiden muttered and left.
"Tom,” Harriet said, “I'm sorry I went into your office uninvited, but I spent the morning with Lauren at the police station. They think she killed your mother."
"Maybe she did. Did you ever think of that?"
"Of course, she didn't kill your mother,” Mavis snapped. “Why would she?"
"Why would anyone kill my mother? Her students loved her. The teachers respected her. But someone killed her."
Harriet wondered if he had ever seen his mother in action.
"The police suspect Lauren because she's been vocal about her work being copied, and your mom is the person who had the most access to Lauren's work,” she pointed out. “Maybe your mom was investigating and caught someone in the act."
"Poison is hardly the method you would use if someone caught you in the act of something."
"Well, maybe she saw what we saw in the workroom. She knew someone was copying but didn't know who."
"My mom hadn't been out to her workroom in months,” Tom informed her. He rubbed his hands over his face. “You really aren't going to let this go, are you?"
"I can't."
"I guess you're going to find out eventually, so I might as well tell you."
"What?"
"My mom had dementia.” He leaned back and sagged in his chair. “She was still in the early stages, but she wasn't doing any new art. And I certainly don't think she could have carried out a scheme to copy student work. This was going to be her last term teaching."
"So, that's why you were selling the property?"
He looked directly at her. “I wish it was that simple."
"I'm sorry,” Harriet said.
Tom picked up the cup Mavis had set in front of him earlier and drained it.
"After my mom got diagnosed, I went through a million different scenarios in my mind. The doctors can't predict how long a person will live with dementia, you know. And no one could tell me what the decline would be like. Some people are aware they have it, others aren't. My mom wasn't, so I couldn't talk to her about it.
"In the end, I figured she'd want to be here as long as she could. I had this idea that I could partner with someone who knows the adult foster care business. We could build a couple of homes right on the property, and then people like my mom could continue to do art as long as they are able to.” He set his cup on the table and ran his hands through his thick hair again. “Now I don't know what I'm going to do."
"This certainly brings up more questions than it answers,” Mavis said with a sigh.
Chapter Twenty-two
"I can understand why the police suspect Lauren,” said Harriet. “I don't believe she did anything to Selestina, but she has been bad-mouthing her to anyone who would listen because she believes Selestina copied her work. What I don't understand is why someone from the school tried to run Aiden off the road, injuring Cammi in the process."
"Don't look at me,” Tom protested. “He's the one who hit me. All I know about him is that he stood you up for dinner the other night."
"Well, it's too many coincidences to just be random,” Connie said.
Harriet looked at Tom and took a deep breath. “Especially since it was a black Ford Explorer that ran him off the road, and one of the school's vehicles is damaged."
"What? Why wasn't I told about this?"
Before anyone could answer, a sharp knock sounded on the Tree House door. Carla jumped at the noise then got up off the sofa and hurried to open it.
"Is Tom Bainbridge here?"
The voice belonged to Detective Ruiz. Tom rose and met him in the entryway.
"I'd like to ask you a few questions about a black Ford Explorer your business owns."
"Sure. I only just heard one of the cars was involved in an accident. Can we go to my office?” He glanced back at the women.
Detective Ruiz agreed, and they left.
Mavis gathered the teacups and took them to the kitchenette. Harriet followed her with a handful of used napkins and spent tea bags for the wastebasket under the sink.
"So, Selestina had dementia,” she said.
"That kind of puts a new wrinkle in things.” Mavis started washing cups with a worn-looking sponge. Harriet took each one in turn, rinsed it and set it in a wooden dish rack on the tile counter.
"I'm not sure it does,” she replied. “The effects of early stage dementia could have given Selestina a good reason to be copying student work. Who knows how long it had been affecting her? Maybe she wasn't able to do new work but still was aware enough to know she needed to be putting something out there to keep her reputation."
"And maybe someone else discovered their work had been stolen and took exception?” Mavis suggested.
"I guess it's still pretty weak. I'm sure no one wants their work copied, but there has to be more to it. I know people kill for pocket change, but not quilters."
"Are you sure it was a quilter?"
"I guess we don't have any proof other than the fact that she was teaching a quilting class when she dropped. We need to ask Darcy what's happening regarding the poisoning. Is she still here?"
"I saw her up at the office after lunch. She was talking to a policeman, so I didn't interrupt."
"Anyone home?” Robin sang out as she came into the Tree House.
"In here,” Harriet called back.
"Anybody want to go out to eat tonight?” Robin asked. “I could kill for a burger."
Mavis glared at her over the top of her glasses.
"Hey, it's a joke."
"Don't you think it's a bit insensitive, given the circumstances?” Mavis asked.
Robin shrugged. “Chalk it up to lawyer humor."
"No wonder no one likes lawyers,” Mavis said. She wiped the area around the edge of the sink.
"Did I hear the word burger?” Connie asked. “Sign me up."
"Sarah said to tell everyone she and Lauren are going into town with someone from Lauren's class to buy some mat board,” Robin added.
Carla agreed to the plan, and after a round of bathrooming and purse-gathering the group of five got in Robin's van and headed for Angel Harbor.
"Jan Hayes was talking about a place called Big's Burgers,” Robin said as she drove up the hill. Harriet could see the yellow tape flapping in the breeze where Aiden's truck had gone over the embankment. “It's supposed to be on the right one block past the UPS Store."