The Death Card: A Liz Lucas Cozy Mystery (5 page)

While Liz was driving back to town,
she decided to stop in at Gertie’s Diner and see if she could find out what the
latest rumor was. Gertie’s was always the place to get that kind of
information. Liz had been so busy getting tonight’s dinner ready for the guests
who were staying in the cottages she hadn’t taken time for lunch.

One of Gertie’s hamburgers
and a chocolate malted milk will be perfect. Think I better pass on the onion
rings. At my age I can only justify so many calories. I may be reasonably tall,
and some might say I have an hourglass figure for a middle-aged woman, but if I
push it the sand will all slide downhill, and before long I’ll resemble an
unattractive pear rather than an hourglass.

She found a parking place
half a black from the diner, rolled the windows down, and told Winston to watch
the van while she was gone. Liz looked in the rearview mirror to see if she
needed to put some more lipstick on. The face reflected in the mirror was still
a very attractive one, even if she was middle-aged. Large green eyes looked
back at her set in a creamy complexion which was surrounded by auburn hair cut
short, emphasizing her heart-shaped face. She brushed on some lipstick and
walked to Gertie’s.

Even though it was
mid-afternoon, the diner was filled with customers. Gertie’s was such a
well-known institution that people came from as far away as San Francisco for a
hamburger and one of her signature malted milks. Liz suspected a lot of them
came just to see Gertie, a throwback to the 60’s with her bottle blond beehive
hairdo, five-inch stilettos, and the bubbles she constantly blew with her pink
bubblegum. She had a heart of gold, and she never forgot a face. She greeted
everyone as if they were a long lost friend, and to Gertie each and every one
was.

Liz sat down in a booth at
the back of the diner, happy to have found a table in the crowded diner. A
moment later Gertie tottered over. Liz always worried that one of these days
Gertie was going to fall down. Privately Liz thought Gertie was getting a
little long in the tooth to wear such high heels. Gertie’s age was a constant
source of speculation in the small town, but she guarded it as fiercely as if
she was protecting the crown jewels. In her mind she was still twenty-one, but
her body belied it by a good fifty years. No one had the courage to tell Gertie
she was as dated as her diner, and that the 1960’s were long gone. Now she’d
become what was commonly called “retro” and in some circles, quite in vogue.

“So, honey, what’s goin’
on out at the spa these days?” Gertie asked as she walked over to Liz’s table,
cracking a big wad of pink bubblegum as she spoke.

“Busy as usual. The
article that was in the San Francisco paper sure didn’t hurt and then with
Brandy Boy getting all the national publicity when he kept me from being
murdered, we’re filled up for the next few months.”

“Glad to hear it. Any
business that does well in Red Cedar helps everybody else. So, how are things
goin’ with Leroy’s murder? Heard yer’ helpin’ Seth. I was surprised to hear
that. Didn’t think you liked him very much. Even so, don’t think he was the one
responsible for Leroy’s murder.”

“Gertie, how do you find
out these things? You never fail to amaze me. Yes, I am helping him, and like
you, I don’t think he did it. He’s never been my favorite person, but I’d hate
to see an innocent man charged with a murder he didn’t commit.”

“Yeah. Know what you
mean.” She was talking to Liz but staring at a man sitting in a booth on the
other side of the diner.

“Gertie, why are you
looking at that man? I don’t think I’ve seen him in town before.”

“Don’t know. Somethin’
about him ain’t right. Calls himself Anton. I heard he was the one who was
seein’ Leroy’s ex-wife. I’ve only seen him around here for the last few months.
Hear he’s that tarot card reader’s brother. The one who goes by the name of
Madame Dika. I mean, there’s a made-up name if I’ve ever heard one. Hope he
don’t make a habit of hangin’ out here.”

Liz took a long look at
him. She could definitely see a resemblance to Madame Dika. She looked back at
Gertie and asked, “Gertie, you know everything about everyone in this town.
Tell me about Madame Dika?”

“I can tell you Seth has
the hots for her. Spends every extra penny he has gettin’ readings from her.
I’ve only seen her once, but she’s a looker. Don’t know whether she’s the real
deal or not. Have my doubts about that kind of stuff. I mean you can read
anything you want into some card, and the person who’s getting’ the reading is
usually so desperate they believe whatever the tarot card reader’s sayin’, if
you know what I mean.”

“You may be right. I just
think it’s quite strange she lives in Red Cedar. Seems pretty tame for someone
who looks like her.”

Gertie looked at her
shrewdly. “You get a readin’ from her?”

“Yes, I just came from
there. I wanted to see why Seth spent so much time and money there. He said he
was there when Leroy was murdered, but he wasn’t sure Madame Dika would vouch
for him. After being with her, I agree with him. I’m not so sure she’d vouch
for him or anybody else, and even if she did, I’m not so sure she’d be a very
believable witness. I mean having a tarot card reader provide an alibi may not
sit well with some people. Do you know how long she’s lived here?”

“About a year. I heard
about her from somebody who had just had a readin’. They said she was fabulous
and tol’ them exactly what they wanted to know. Like I said, got my doubts.”

“I asked her why she had
come here, and she told me to be near her brother.”

“Could be. Wonder where he
lives. Really don’t know nothin’ about him. He jes’ showed up one day.”

“It didn’t occur to me to
ask her where he lived, and I’m not sure she would have told me. There really
was no reason for me to ask. For all I know he could live with her. Have you
seen her house?”

“Nah, but I’ve sure heard
about it. Guess all that purple’s supposed to mean she’s the real spiritual
deal. Back in the ‘60’s, I spent a little time in Haight-Ashbury, you know,
during the summer of love. Had a lot of wannabe spiritual people around then.
She kind of reminds me of some of them, but as long as people keep goin’ to her
and are happy with what she tells ‘em, who am I to say it ain’t real?”

“I don’t know. She was
interesting, but I certainly am wondering if I was scammed or if she’s legitimate,
and I don’t know how to find out, anyway I’ve kept you long enough. I want a
chocolate malted milk and a hamburger with all the trimmings.”

“You got it. Mitzi’ll
bring it out when it’s ready. Wanna start on that malted now?”

“Yes, please. As thick as
yours are, it will take me awhile to drink it. Thanks for taking the time to
talk to me, and if I ever find out if Madame Dika’s the real deal, I’ll let you
know.” She watched the elderly caricature toddle back to the kitchen, once
again praying she wouldn’t stumble and take a fall.

Liz looked at her watch
when she left the diner and thought,
Good, Lisette should be finished with
Leroy’s ex-wife’s massage. I need to talk to her and see if she found out
anything. I know the treatments at the spa are scheduled on the hour, and I can
just make it back there while Lisette is probably taking a break between
appointments.

She and
Winston walked into the spa. “Hi, Delores, any chance I could see Lisette
before her next appointment?”

“Sure. She’s
in the employee’s lounge. Let me call her for you,” Delores said as Winston
walked over to her and looked up, hoping for an ear scratch.

“Thanks, but
don’t bother. I’ll just walk back there. Winston, come,” Liz said. She walked
down the hall and opened the last room on the right. “Good afternoon, Lisette.
If you have a moment, I’d like to talk to you. Could we go into your massage
room?” The room was filled with spa employees who were downing a quick cup of
coffee or a coke between appointments. “Bring your coffee. I’ll just take up a
couple of minutes of your time.”

The three of
them walked into the massage room, and Liz closed the door behind them. “I’m
sure you remember that I called you this morning regarding your appointment
with Donna Morris. I’m curious to hear what she had to say, if anything.”

Lisette took a
sip of her coffee and said, “She’s a very strange woman. She told me her
ex-husband had been murdered, and she was really happy about it, then she went
to tell me he never paid her alimony on time, because he was so busy playing
the horses.”

“Did she tell
you who her husband was?”

“Yes, she said
he was the deputy police chief. She said she didn’t know who killed him, but
she thought it might be somebody he owed money to.”

“Well, I
suppose that’s not a bad guess, given his penchant for gambling. Did she say
anything about where he went to gamble or what he played?”

“She mentioned
he was addicted to horse racing even when they were married. She said that was
one of the reasons she’d divorced him. Said he spent more time with the racing
sheets than he did with her. She mumbled something about Golden Gate and what
sounded like Ratface, but I really couldn’t hear her, and I could have
misunderstood her. She also said something about him owing her a lot of money
in back alimony payments, and she’d be able to get that money from the proceeds
of the life insurance policy the police provided for its employees.”

“Thanks,
Lisette. I really appreciate this. I don’t want to keep you from your next
appointment.”

“Oh, Mrs.
Lucas. There was one other thing. She mentioned she was glad she’d divorced her
husband, because she was in love with a wonderful wealthy man who lived in San
Francisco.”

“Did she
happen to say what this man’s name was?”

“Yes, she
called him Anton. She said he was European, and they had met when she was
having a tarot card reading.”

Liz couldn’t
believe what Lisette had just told her. It was too much of a coincidence.
“Lisette, one more minute. Did she say anything more about the tarot card
reading? Like where it was done or who did it?”

“No. That was
all. Does that help you?”

“Very much. I
really appreciate what you’ve told me. I’ve taken up enough of your time, and
I’m sure your next appointment is waiting for you. Thanks again. Winston,
come.”

Time to
call Roger,
she thought, as she and Winston walked to the lodge
. This is beginning
to have a lot of coincidences, and Roger doesn’t believe in them, and I have to
agree with him. I’ve got time to call him before the guests come for dinner,
and maybe he’s found out something on the names I gave him, and also maybe Sean
was able to find something out about Tom Rice.

Liz greeted Emily when she and
Winston walked into the lodge. “Give me a few minutes. I need to make a call,
and then I can help with anything you need me to do to finish up.” She looked
at the food Emily had finished preparing. “Actually, Emily, you’re doing such a
beautiful job, I think the best thing I can do is stay out of your way. I’ll be
back in a few minutes. Whatever you’re doing, just keep doing it.”

They walked downstairs,
and she let Winston out. He loved to run through the gardens and get some
exercise this time of day. Late afternoons were usually a very quiet time of
day at the lodge. Most of the guests had finished their treatments and were
usually in their cottages, relaxing and getting ready for dinner. She picked up
her phone and clicked on Roger’s number.

“I’m really glad you
called, Liz. I’ve got a lot of information for you. Sean has been very busy on
your behalf this afternoon. And you, how was your day?”

“Well, I’m going to start
with Madame Dika. I can sure see why Seth has been going to see her. She’s
quite beautiful, and it looked like she was wearing a black lace bra. Naturally
he’d be enchanted,” she said laughing. She went on and told him about Madame
Dika, her home, and the reading.

“Whoa, Liz. I’m trying to
picture this in my mind. Are you telling me you just happened to turn over The
Lovers card, and that your question was about a lover? I hope to heck you’re
referring to me.”

“Yes, my question was
about you, and that’s the card I turned over.”

“Pardon me for being
skeptical, but that’s the nature of my job. Answer a question for me. Didn’t
you tell me she had you close your eyes before you turned the card over, after
you’d cut the deck and placed it on the table?”

“That’s correct. Why?”

“Well, again, pardon the
sarcasm, but isn’t it possible she put that particular card there while your
eyes were closed?”

Liz was quiet for several
moments, thinking back to the reading. Finally she answered Roger. “Yes, I
suppose she could have done that, but I’d like to believe I picked it because
it was a question about lovers. She seemed honestly surprised when I’d picked
it.”

“Again, forgive me, but
two things occur to me. One is that although you went out there to see what she
was all about, there was a good chance you wanted to believe what she was
telling you. The second thing is that she might be a very good actress. Did
either of those things occur to you?”

“Roger, I asked if you and
I would ever get together permanently, and she said because I picked that card,
the answer was yes. I want to believe that.”

It was Roger’s turn to be
quiet for a few moments. “Well, Liz, I don’t know if she’s a fraud or not, but
I received some information today that leads me to believe we will be together
permanently. I’ll tell you all about it when I see you Wednesday. Maybe she’s
legit after all. What else did you find out today?”

“I spoke with Lisette, the
massage therapist who treated Donna Morris, Leroy’s ex-wife. She said something
that leads me to believe his ex-wife might be a suspect. She told Lisette how
much she hated Leroy, how happy she was that he was dead, and that she was in
love with someone named Anton, but the thing that really got my attention was
that she said that the police carried an insurance police on Leroy, and she was
going to get a lot of money from it now that he was dead. Do police forces
typically provide that kind of benefit for their employees?” Liz asked.

“It’s pretty much up to
each individual city, but usually it would be the city, not the police force,
that would carry the insurance on an employee. I suppose you could find out
from Seth. If it’s true, she would have a motive to kill him.”

“Hmmm, seems a little too
obvious, but you never know. I went into Gertie’s Diner for a late lunch. She’s
amazing. I swear that woman knows everything that’s going on in this town. She
already knew I was working on the case, but what I want to tell you about is
that there was a man there she said was Madame Dika’s brother. He’s been seeing
Leroy’s ex-wife. Gertie had a bad feeling about him and my niggle started
acting up when Gertie had doubts about him.”

“Fraid I can’t help you on
that one, sweetheart. Let me tell you what Sean found out. First of all, Tom
Rice is the name of a man who got out of prison a couple of years ago, but
here’s the interesting part. Leroy was the one who arrested him and testified
at his trial that he had witnessed Tom beating his wife. Tom was convicted of
committing a felony by a judge who had a real bias against anyone who had been
accused of spousal abuse. The talk is that the judge was beaten by her husband,
and if someone accused of that crime is in her courtroom, the defendant can
just about plan on getting the maximum sentence. That’s what happened in Tom
Rice’s case. The judge gave him the maximum sentence in California – three
years in prison.

“Sean was able to get in
touch with several people who had known Tom Rice when he was in prison, as well
as some guards at the prison, and they all told him Tom hated Leroy and had
threatened to do something to Leroy so he’d suffer as much as Tom had suffered.
Evidently his wife divorced him, and he lost everything.”

“Wow! There’s another
suspect, but why would he wait this long if he intended to do something to
Leroy? That seems odd.”

“Sweetheart, if I’ve
learned one thing during the time I’ve been a criminal defense attorney, it’s
that human nature is pretty unpredictable. I have no idea why he waited so
long, and we don’t even know if he was the one who murdered Leroy, but it’s
certainly a coincidence.”

“Yes, and once again I
know how much you don’t like coincidences.”

“That’s true, but like everything
else, sometimes a coincidence is just that, a coincidence. Now to Ratface and
Anton. Ratface is a well-known bookie in the San Francisco area. Sean found out
that Leroy owed Ratface a lot of money, and it wasn’t the first time he’d been
seriously in debt to Ratface. Sean was able to talk to some people who told him
Ratface had said that was the last time he’d ever take one of Leroy’s bets and
if he didn’t pay him, Leroy would be very sorry. Looks like another suspect.”

“First we didn’t have any
suspects, and now they’re coming out of the woodwork. I suppose you’re going to
tell me Anton is a suspect as well,” Liz said.

“I don’t know. He is
Madame Dika’s brother. Quite coincidental that he’d be involved with Donna
Morris. I find that a little too convenient. I wonder if he and Leroy knew each
other. I have pictures of both Anton and Ratface, and I just sent them to you
as an email attachment. Why don’t you take a look at them and see if they look
familiar to you? I’ll hold while you get them.”

Liz walked across her
office, printed the attachment, and gasped. She hurried back to the phone.
“Roger, the European man is definitely the one that Gertie told me was Madame
Dika’s brother. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the other one, Ratface, but I can
sure see why he’s called that. What else did Sean find out?”

“No one is exactly sure
where Anton lives, but he has a lot of contacts in San Francisco, and there are
rumors he’s involved with a Southeastern European group of men who are engaged
in credit card fraud and things of that nature. It’s very shadowy and not much
is known about it. He’s a waiter at Le Petite Orangerie, a very upscale
restaurant in San Francisco. Waiters are not known for being wealthy, but he
drives a brand new car and seems to have a lot of money.”

“I honestly don’t know
what to make of any of it. I’m not even sure what my next step should be.
Everything seems to swirl around Madame Dika. I think I need to have another
reading. I’ll tell her I was so impressed with what she told me I wanted to
have a full spread done. Maybe I can find out something from her. Is there any
chance Sean could talk to Tom Rice and see if he knows anything?”

“Well, since he works for
me, I can certainly suggest he contact Rice and find out what he knows. By the
way, I’m very leery about you going back to Madame Dika’s. If she is the nexus,
you could be in danger. I know you promised you’d take Winston with you, but I
also want you to promise me you’ll have your gun with you as well.”

“I promise. Roger, I need
to go. It’s almost time for the guests to come, and I’ve left Emily alone long
enough. Poor thing had to cover for me during the cocktail hour last night. I
hate to ask her to do it two nights in a row. Loves and sleep well.”

“Call me tomorrow and let
me know what’s happening. I’ll put Sean on the Rice thing and hopefully, I’ll
have something for you soon. Enjoy your guests.”