Getting Crafty

 

I finally got the BMR 1959 men.  Two of them came in their boxes, which are the perfect size and shape to be pedestal frame beds.  The twins started telling me they needed new beds and they weren't wrong.  

I wanted the bases to be wood, but nothing I had was woodgrain. I did find a couple patterns that could be carved wood.  The mattress (lid of the box) would be scrap fabric.

As I worked, I imagined these beds being built from repurposed pirate ships.  That's what the patterns brought to mind, anyway.  I think it was meant to be Victorian ceiling tiles.  There wasn't enough to cover the backs or bottoms of the bed, but since those will be against the wall or floor, I'm not fussed.  I basically cut the paper to fit and glued it on.  This left a visible seam, hidden by corner braces made of gold tape.  (Added later.)

I found some dead pillowcases, but they frayed badly as I tried to glue them into place.  And I could see the pattern on the box through them after all that work!  When a T-shirt gets too worn to be worn, they are turned into cleaning rags or work shirts for the dolls.  The edges don't fray!   No hemming required!

So I used a dead T-shirt.  I usually avoid solid colors when making work shirts for the dolls but for a couple bed sheets, why not? There's gonna be pillows and blankets and dolls on top of them! 

Waiting for the glue to dry, I looked at the front of the shirt to see if any of  the picture could be used for doll work shirts.  (It was too dark and too large to be a coherent pattern on their scale.)  And since I'm a big girl, there was a good bit of leftover fabric. Rather ironic that the little pile of cleaning rags there came from a shirt with Daryl Dixon on it.  

Finished product with my other crafted beds.  The one in the rear began life as the package for Barbie You Can Be Anything Surprise (Two career looks and a doll in her civvies.)  I just bent the front flap back to make a headboard (sideboard?) and turned it into a daybed.  Since I just used contact paper and no fabric, it reminds me of the stone slabs Klingons use.

The one in the front is a craft box from Michael's.  Pillowcase fabric worked for it because it had no pattern to hide.  The headboard on it is cardboard and wrapping paper.

Bonus storage space in three of them!  The twins will get the new beds, Mace will take the one in front, which was in the twins' room, and the Klingon bed will wait for a new home. 

Digging For Clues

 The investigation continues.

Iggy: I tagged along with PJ to tell you about this guy Mom dated.  He's the main reason I moved in with Dad, and then Mom got smart and dumped him.  Apparently, she thought I was the problem but after I was gone, she realized it was all him. 

PJ: That guy would have no reason to kill Helena, though.

Iggy: Unless she was a witness.  

Lynch: Anything's possible.  I'll take a formal statement from you after I clarify a few things with your stepmother.  (To PJ)  You mentioned that Charlie took issue with some of your parenting methods? Was that a problem? 

PJ: Charlie had a right to say something about the boys, being their mother, but I felt she over-stepped when my girls were concerned.  For example, I was arguing with Belle about dating.  I think she's too young, but Charlie recited that vulgar rhyme that starts "old enough to bleed".  

Iggy: But dad backed up PJ on that one.  In their house, we can't date until we can drive.  

PJ: It's nothing unusual for a blended family.  Surely you don't think I killed her over that?

******

Across town, Jimin is dealing with his most troublesome client.

Jimin: Mrs. Jackson, I don't understand.  Why do you think Miss Carson is needed?  She knows little or nothing about your family situation. 

Charlotte: Not for the custody thing.  For this ridiculous claim that I killed Helena Malfoy and Charlie Lake.  Bonnie has insight into that, since she is the Malfoy boy's parole officer. 

Bonnie: Probation officer.  Parole is an entire different thing. 

Charlotte: Whatever.  Tell him how nice and civil we all were.  

Jimin: Mrs. Jackson, I do family law, not criminal law. You'll have to retain a different lawyer if you're concerned you might be charged.  (To Bonnie) Unless you can contribute to the custody matter, I'm afraid we've wasted your time.

Charlotte: Seriously?!  It's all connected, can't you see?  Whoever killed them is working for either Billy's sons or for this damn town.  I'm not sure which bunch hates me more.  Hell, maybe they're in it together!  (Eyes Bonnie suspiciously) Come to think of it, the Carsons are one of the founding families of  Barbieville... 

Bonnie: Well, I  think I've heard enough.  Jimin, I'm sure I'll see you in Family Court.  (Shakes his hand)  Maybe we can get dinner sometime?  

Jimin: That would be nice.  (Raises his voice to be heard over Charlotte) I'm sorry about this.

Bonnie: Never apologize for your clients, Mr. Rhee.  You aren't responsible for their behavior. 

****

At Doll County Museum

Carol: Mr. Patrick, you are a hard man to track down. 

Coby: I keep busy, that's for sure.  What can I do for you, Agent Danvers? 

Carol: I wanted to speak to you and Ms Pike about Helena Malfoy.  You were the last to see her alive.

Morgan: Dr. Pike.  I have a PhD in paleontology.  

Coby: I don't think I'd be much help.  Helena works with the university, having permanent exhibits here that connect to our disciplines.  I've recently taken charge of Gender Studies and met with Helena about my own exhibit.  But that's the only time I ever met her.

Carol: Did she mention any problems?  At home or professionally?

Coby: She did mention that her husband clings to old-fashioned gender roles, much to the detriment of their daughters.  An older daughter even left home because of it.   But nothing to indicate she was in any danger. 

Morgan: Did she mention that her son is an entitled little shit? 

Coby (chuckles): She didn't phrase it that bluntly, but yes. 

Morgan (to Carol): I was here helping plan Coby's space, more out of boredom than anything else.  Helena mentioned that she was going for a jog along Hawthorne.  She liked it because the hill made it a challenge, but the shade from all the trees kept it cool.  I guess that's when she was hit. 

  

The Fed Gets Acclimated

 

 Agent Carol Danvers (The Fed) catches up on things.  Chief Lynch leaves her to it, but remains available for questions. 

Lynch: My husband's on the way with lunch.  I told him to bring something for you, too.  

Carol: Thanks.  I can see why you were reluctant to trust the County, after the debacle with Glimma Spiro.  Do you think Charlie Lake was honest with you about her investigation? 

Lynch: The powers that be in the county are crazy for publicity, but after the whole Spiro thing, they've been better at sharing information.  We have her file on the Animal Abandonment, but I've not seen them.  They just aren't a priority with two murders on my desk.  

Carol: So you don't think there's a connection? 

Lynch: Not after Helena.  If there is one, I can't find it.  Both women were... well, I phrased it on my list there as strong personalities.  Which reminds me (checks time) that I have a person of interest coming.  She tangled with both victims, but mostly Helena. 

Charlotte: Seriously?  You think I killed those two? 

Lynch: You do have a contentious history with both of them, but especially Helena Malfoy. Why don't you tell us about that? 

Charlotte: You already know the story with Helena.  Charlie Lake started in on me after I made an honest mistake.  I saw a man who I mistook for my brother-in-law, pointing a telescope at my penthouse, and confronted him. 

Lynch: Rubeus Hagrid, who also works for Doll County Parks.  (To Carol)  It turned out that Mr. Hagrid is, in fact, distantly related to the brother-in-law, but the telescope was only pointed toward Mrs. Jackson's building coincidentally. There's a very strong resemblance, apparently.

Charlotte: I'm going through a custody battle.  I thought he was spying on me. But even after my lawyer sorted everything out and all was forgiven, Charlie Lake would not let it go.  She never failed to make a snide remark if we met, and we did often.  

Carol: Such as? 

Charlotte: She asked me if I'd slapped any more total strangers.  She made it a point to splash with her sons in the pool at the country club, near where I was sitting.  Things like that. Deliberately baiting me, you know.  I just ignored her as best I could.

Carol: And what's the story with Helena Malfoy?  I'm new here, and I don't know it. 

Charlotte: She bullied me horribly when we were children, her son destroyed property I owned, my husband is a coma patient and one of Helena's daughters is a volunteer there.  I had to tell the hospital to keep her away from Billy for fear she'd do something to him. 

Carol: The daughter might do something?  Or Helena?

Charlotte: Helena would be behind it, of course, but she wouldn't dirty her own hands.  She'd make the daughter do it.  

By the time Charlotte leaves, Sulu has arrived with lunch.  

After lunch.

Carol: Usually, if a civilian discovers the identity of a client, we move him.  But Mr. Higgins will only work with us on the condition that he stays in Barbieville.

Pern: Sounds just like him.   

Carol: From what I've gathered, he came back here to woo his first wife but discovered she had passed away in the meantime.  I'm not sure why he's still insisting on being here. 

Pern: Yeah, he never did get over Kida.  Talked about her all the time, but never mentioned his daughters until I got pregnant.  He told me then that he had kids with her, that was why he left her, and he wanted me to get rid of Anakin.  I told him to get the hell out, then, and he did.  Next time I saw him was here, at the mayor's office.

Carol:  After the agent before me thought he could simply kick the man out of the program.  It was the only thing the mayor and chief could think to do, to keep the people after him away.  They couldn't risk you exposing him. 

Pern: I'm a great secret-keeper.  And after all the hate I got for being a junkie, moving here has been a godsend.  I'd hate for anything to happen to the people here.  Hank Higgins refused to eat at Sunburst when he found out they had a junkie for a cook, that's the official story. 

Carol: I'm impressed.  None of this bears on the hit-and-run cases, but since I'm apparently "his man" in the agency, I needed to know your status.

After Pern goes, they turn to the Animal Abandonment files from Charlie Lake's office. 

Carol (reading from computer): This video is edited together from doorbell cameras along Roberts Street.  Properties on that road meet the nature preserve at the rear.  See notes for specific contacts.

Lynch: That's not our SUV. 

Carol: Definitely not.