“We can if I take a minute and call Jack to say yes. I told him I was 99.9 percent sure this would work, but I needed to check with you first. He’s married, so he understands.”
“Geez, call him! Don’t wait!” I was so happy, I kissed Frank and then jumped onto the bed and bounced with Anastasia. She loved it. I woo-hooed, and she barked until Frank told us to shush while he placed the call to his new detective friend. Just as Frank said hello, someone banged on the bedroom door.
“What’s going on in there?” Tommy shouted. “If you’re making whoopee, I can’t blame you for being so enthusiastic after the dry spell you two have had. Could you cool it, though, before our guests arrive?”
“Will you please be quiet?” Frank asked as he opened the door. Tommy must have been leaning against it because he fell on the floor. Anastasia woofed and jumped around on the bed. I lost my balance and yelped as I tumbled onto the floor not far from Tommy.
“No, not you, Jack. Sorry. It’s a little noisy around here, as you can probably tell. Is that a baby?” Frank asked. There must have been a little background noise on the other end too.
“I’ve heard Siamese cats sometimes sound like babies. I believe it now. Anyway, I called to tell you Jessica is as happy as I am about the offer of a job with New Arcadia. So, it’s a definite yes.” Tommy’s head popped up, but he stayed on the floor. I put a finger to my lips before he could bellow about what he’d just heard.
“Uh-huh. That would be great. Where are you staying?” Frank nodded as he listened. “Dinner’s on us. Why don’t we meet you for dinner there at Morgan’s?”
Frank was silent for another minute or so. Suddenly, there was more noise in the hallway as Laura called my name and rushed to the door.
“What are you doing on the floor, Tommy? That goes for you too, Jessica. Why is Anastasia going wild?” Laura asked. Frank had his back to us and waved, trying to keep us quiet.
“Shh!” I whispered as I picked myself up off the floor and sat on the edge of my bed. “Frank’s on an important call.”
“Let me check,” Frank said, turning toward me.
“How about dinner tomorrow night at seven?”
“It’s fine with me,” I said.
“That works fine for Jessica. We’ll see you at seven. Thanks for everything.” Frank ended the call, tossed his phone on my writing desk, and dove for the bed, dragging me with him.
“Uh, oh. We should leave, Tommy,” Laura said.
“You can’t leave—you just got here!” Bernadette exclaimed as she bustled into the room. “Why are you on the floor, Tommy? Never mind. Get up, and you all quit playin’ around. Louie’s here with Martha and Ruth. Nick and Auntie Rosie were right behind them. Peter and Betsy are picking up Auntie Agnes, so they’ll be here any minute. Come welcome our guests.”
“Frank has some great news,” I said, wriggling free from him and running to smooch Bernadette. “He’ll tell you all about it later.”
“That means you’ve got to stick around to hear it.” I spun around, grabbed Laura’s arm, and hugged her.
“And you have to get through dinner on your best behavior—no talk about anyone making whoopee, okay?” I nudged Tommy with my foot, where he was still lying on the floor.
“Oh, all right. If you insist,” he said as he pulled himself up off the floor. Anastasia jumped off the bed and was at Tommy’s side with one of her paws in the air.
“Later, Anastasia. Not now.” She dropped to the floor, covered her face with her paws, and whined. “Okay, okay, but we have to save some of your new tricks for after dinner.” Then Tommy issued a command.
“Ready!” Anastasia was up on her feet.
“Set!” She went on point like a bird dog.
“Go!” Anastasia shot down the hall, with Tommy racing after her.
“Ay, yi, yi! I hope they don’t run over that sweet little girl.” Bernadette took off them, as Laura and I scooted after them.
“Hello, Ruth! You look wonderful.” She ran and threw her arms around my waist. Anastasia nudged us with her nose. “She wants to get in on the hug.”
“Come on, Anastasia. Up!” Ruth commanded. Anastasia stood as we each wrapped an arm around her. “She’s so smart. Sandy enjoyed meeting her. You have to visit us again and see how much help Louie’s been in the garden.”
“I’d love to!” The doorbell rang, and Anastasia took off. “Hop onto my feet, and we’ll go talk to Louie and your mom,” I said.
Ruth giggled as I walked her over to where Martha and Bernadette were chatting. She was light as a feather in jeans and a sweater. Martha had braided her hair and arranged the braid into a ring around her head in almost the same way she’d done Ruth’s hair. They both had rosy cheeks—cheeks that were no longer sunken but round—especially when they smiled.
While in the hospital, Ruth and her mother had been treated for their exposure to the “tea” Christian had insisted they drink. They would have been in worse shape than they were except that Martha had become adept at merely pretending to sip the tea. When Christian became distracted or left the table, they poured it out. Nevertheless, they still had traces of the nasty stuff in their systems.
As I learned when I spoke to Martha later, pretending to drink the “tea” was only one of the many strategies she’d used to manage life with Christian. Christian had grown increasingly difficult to live with after her father was killed. He’d grown moody, secretive, and much more strident in his role as the family patriarch. It wasn’t until her aunt died, and they returned to live in the home behind the dry-cleaning shop that Martha began to fear him.
Martha had even tried to leave Christian a couple times—once in the middle of the night, and another time when he’d left after being seized by the spirit. Each time she left, she was quickly engulfed by guilt and began to doubt her fears that she and Ruth were in danger from Christian. Once the doubt set in, fear that to disobey her husband was an affront to God took over, and she returned before Christian discovered they were gone.
Betsy hadn’t been a bit surprised to hear Martha’s words. She’d heard dozens of similar stories from abused women who’d changed their minds more than once before finally seeking help. Martha and Ruth were both getting counseling to deal with the psychological trauma and loss.
“Sharon says I’m making a good adjustment. I don’t have nightmares much. I told her it’s partly because my room is so peaceful. The sky on the ceiling makes me sleepy when I look at it. My new bed is like sleeping on a cloud in the sky.”
“We’ll never be able to thank you for all the changes you helped us make to the house,” Martha added. “Louie’s been a big help too. He has a green thumb, and everything he touches grows like crazy in the greenhouse my aunt loved so much. Louie took some of his fresh herbs to work. His friend, Sammy, says they’ll buy them from us for the casino’s kitchen.”
“That could be a whole new direction for you, Louie,” I said.
“I don’t know about that, but gardening is helping me,” Louie offered. “I understand why Sacramento wanted to protect and preserve the soil—digging in it and growing things makes me feel healthy.”
“Aw, you’ve known that all along,” Auntie Agnes argued as she joined us along with Peter and Betsy. “That’s why you chose to spend so much time out in the desert. You must also see now how it fits with the old ways.”
“I think so,” Louie responded. “One of Sacramento’s books that I’m reading is about a Lakota Chief, Luther Standing Bear. He writes about how important it is to touch the earth.”
“I know what you’re talking about,” Betsy added.
“There is a road in the hearts of all of us, hidden and seldom traveled,
Which leads to an unknown, secret place.
The old people came literally to love the soil,
And they sat or reclined on the ground with a feeling of Being close to a mothering power.
Their teepees were built upon the earth
And their a
ltars were made of earth. The soul was soothing, strengthening, cleansing and healing.
That is why the old Indian still sits upon the earth instead of Propping himself up and away from its life-giving forces.
For him, to sit or lie upon the ground is to be able to think more deeply
And to feel more keenly.
He can see more clearly into the mysteries of Life and come closer in kinship to other lives about him.
“Yes, that’s it. I haven’t learned it by heart,” Louie said, smiling.
“You’ve learned its message by heart,” Nick asserted. “That’s what matters.”
“Those are beautiful words, Betsy. Thanks for sharing them with us,” Bernadette added. “I hate to interrupt, but the food’s ready. Help yourselves and find a seat outside, or you can stay in here if you prefer. Tommy’s up to something.”
“I’m going to sit outside because Anastasia’s going to be in a show,” Ruth said. Then Ruth covered her mouth with both hands. “Oops! That was supposed to be a secret.”
“Thanks for letting us know,” I said. “Let’s hope we can enjoy the show without Tommy splashing us with water, hitting us with a baton he’s twirling, or something like that.” Ruth giggled.
“Would Tommy do that?”
“He wouldn’t mean to do it,” Auntie Agnes replied. “Now that I’ve gone back home, I miss the parties around here with all the surprises. Manny will be sorry he had to work when I tell him there was a show to go with the food.”
In a few minutes, we were all happily stuffing our faces. George and a few others had joined us by then, including Frank’s parents and his kids. We all jumped when music suddenly blasted from the patio speakers.
“Sorry!” Tommy hollered. “Too loud!”
When it started again, I recognized the James Bond movie theme. Tommy and Brien emerged from around the corner near the suite my mother slept in when she’d lived here. A wave of nostalgia swept over me, and I wished she and Dad were here. My wistful mood didn’t last long.
Tommy and Brien were dressed in the orange hunter’s camo outfits that I’d hoped I’d never see again. When they stepped apart, Anastasia in an orange camo doggy suit bounded forward and somersaulted. The cheering and clapping began as all three of them took a couple steps toward us.
“Left!” Tommy shouted, and they all looked to the left. Tommy and Brien searched with a hand above their eyes. Anastasia did the same using a paw. They repeated the actions in the opposite direction when Tommy shouted, “Right!”
“Roll!” he commanded. They dropped to the ground and rolled one way and then the other. As they lay still, Anastasia leaped over Brien and went on point. Then she jumped back in between them, leaped over Tommy and went on point again before settling back into the middle.
“Forward!” Tommy commanded, and they all crawled forward on their bellies.
“Yay, Anastasia!” Ruth shouted, and Anastasia’s tail whipped wildly. She stayed on her belly, though.
“Intruder!” Brien shouted. They were up on their feet and dove behind a few potted palms they had “borrowed” from inside the house and set out on the lawn. As she dove, Anastasia did another of those somersaults. I clapped and whistled. Even though she was supposed to be hidden, I could still see her pom-pom tail wagging.
Suddenly, a man dressed in black appeared from somewhere. Maybe from the opposite side of the house—near my room—or maybe he’d been lurking closer than that. He crouched low, carrying what was supposed to be a weapon, I guess. It was, in fact, a banana. As he searched for the orange camo brigade members, he moved past where they were hidden. Anastasia, the wonder dog, came dashing from her hiding place and launched herself at the assailant’s back. He went down, and the banana flew. She planted both front feet on his back and barked twice as Tommy and Brien emerged from hiding.
Just then, the man on the ground tossed a handful of something out ahead of him. Anastasia cocked her head one way and then the other. She whined and looked at Tommy, then dashed off in the direction the faux assassin had tossed his secret weapon.
“Hey! That’s not in the script!” Tommy wailed. “Are those treats?”
“Sorry, I couldn’t resist a little improv. That was my favorite part of acting classes,” Jerry said as he stood up and pulled off the ski mask he was wearing. He beamed a smile at Tommy. “At least, I’ve shown you the wonder dog’s weakness, so you can work on it.”
Jerry bowed and walked onto the patio. Anastasia had run back to Tommy after gobbling those treats. Tommy didn’t say a word as a wicked grin spread over his face. Using a couple hand signals, Anastasia bolted straight for Jerry. This time, when she jumped up onto his back, she caught him by surprise, and into the pool he went!
“That was on purpose,” Auntie Agnes told Ruth, who was laughing along with the rest of us.
“Improv is the best part, isn’t it?” Tommy asked. Jerry hopped out of the pool, and Tommy took off. In minutes, they were back, and Tommy jumped into the pool. Of course, Anastasia dove in too.
The silliness slowed down after that, but the laughter had left us all in a party mood. There were still surprises to come since what Louie believed was a “Release Party” celebration was also a birthday party. We’d hidden loads of gifts for him. The happiness we shared that day was a reminder, once again, that even dark events and sorrowful challenges can result in great good. The human spirit is remarkably resilient as our new friends, Louie, Martha, and Ruth, had revealed to us.
—The End—
****
Thank you so much for reading A Dead Nephew Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery #6. Please, please, please leave reviews for me on Amazon, Bookbub, and Goodreads! Your feedback is important for readers of this book and others in the Jessica Huntington series.
What’s next for Jessica Huntington? There are lots of changes taking place in Jessica’s life and in the lives of her “Cat Pack” friends. Kim and Brien are off on their honeymoon to Corsario Cove with surprising consequences leading to a series of their own. https://www.amazon.com/Corsario-Cove-Cozy-Mystery-Book/dp/B07XZB5CN8
There are more surprises to come in A Dead Surgeon Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery #7. It’s not easy blending two families, but Jessica’s delighted to have found love again and that it brings her a ready-made family. Life is blessedly calamity-free until Jessica goes for a checkup. Her personal life and career are turned upside down at the news she receives during her visit.
Before Jessica can absorb the shocking news about her health, calamity strikes. Dr. Angela Murdoch, Jessica’s personal physician, calls asking for legal help. She’s become a suspect in the murder of a former colleague. That’s not too surprising since the handsome, rich, well-known surgeon was also Dr. Murdoch’s husband until their marriage ended in a nasty divorce—nasty enough to have resulted in murder? When Jessica decides to help Dr. Murdoch, she and her Cat Pack have another mystery to solve. They soon discover the dead surgeon’s ex-wife wasn’t the only one with a motive for murder. For release late 2020.
Follow me on Amazon http://bit.ly/acburke and subscribe to my email for news about books, discounts, giveaways, and special events: https://desertcitiesmystery.com.
In the meantime, I hope you’ll have a chance to try out a recipe or two from the dishes featured in this book. Enjoy!
RECIPES
Italian Beans and Green
4-6 servings
Ingredients
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
4 or 5 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons lemon juice
8-10 fresh basil leaves, finely chopped
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 15-ounce cans of cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 large head of escarole, 6 cups spinach, 1 bunch swiss chard, OR some other green, alone or in combination, coarsely chopped
3 cups vegetable broth [or chicken broth but it’s no longer ve
gan/vegetarian]
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
Put shaved or grated Parmesan cheese on the table, so your non vegan guests can add the cheese. Make red pepper flakes available too, so everyone can spice it up as they please!
Preparation
Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic, oregano, and crushed red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring constantly to allow the spices to “bloom” in the oil. The mixture should bubble in about 30 seconds. Pour in broth, bring it to a boil, and cook about 6 to 8 minutes until the liquid is reduced by half.
Stir in the basil, then add the beans. Bring the dish to a boil and cook over medium heat for another 6 to 8 minutes.
Finally, add the greens and cook until they’re tender—about 5 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve family-style on a platter, garnish with a light sprinkle of red pepper flakes and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.
Tangy, Spicy Chicken Margherita
Serves 4
Ingredients
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, pounded to less than 1-inch thickness
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (OR 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano + 1/4 teaspoon dried basil + 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme)
4 slices mozzarella cheese [about 1 ounce each]
1/2 cup basil pesto (you can buy this or make your own with the recipe that follows)
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 cup sliced pitted kalamata olives
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
A Dead Nephew Page 34
