MURDER AT
THE BED & BREAKFAST
By
Dianne Harman
(A Liz Lucas Cozy Mystery Series - Book 4)
Copyright © 2015 Dianne Harman
www.dianneharman.com
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form without written permission except for the use of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.
Website, Interior & Cover design by Vivek Rajan Vivek
Paperback ISBN: 978-1518622793
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Every time I get a favorable email or someone posts a compliment on my Facebook page, or Family, friends, people who email me and tell me how much they like my books – I’m indebted to all of you for your continuing support. It means so much to me.
I would be very remiss if I didn’t thank the two people who make my books look so good, Tom Harman and Vivek Rajan. My husband Tom reads every word of every book several times looking for timeline problems, inconsistencies, and whatever else he feels the book needs or doesn’t need. Believe me, without him, I’d be lucky to sell any books. Once the book is ready to be published it goes to Vivek. He’s the one responsible for designing the fabulous covers and making sure that it all comes together in book form. It’s a collaborative effort, and I so appreciate the time both of you put into making me a best-selling author.
Lastly, my thanks to you, my readers. Without you, I wouldn’t be an author, and I never would have discovered my passion at a rather advanced age. I’ve never had so much fun! Again, thanks to each and every one of you!
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Table of Contents
Prologue
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 32
Recipes!
ABOUT DIANNE
Prologue
Laura wasn’t surprised when she heard the soft knock on the bedroom door. She was the full time nanny for Bob and Renee Salazar’s infant daughter, Celia, and she knew they’d be returning from the wedding and reception any minute. She opened the door expecting to see them, but instead, a person wearing a ski mask dressed entirely in black barged into the room.
She looked down and saw a gun in the intruder’s hand that was pointed at her. Instinctively, knowing whoever it was meant to kill her, she positioned herself as far away as she could from the baby’s crib. The last thing she heard was the pop of the gun; it’s normally thundering sound softened by the silencer that had been attached to it. The baby, sensing something was wrong, began crying, scaring the killer, who quickly ran out the open door and down the hall, disappearing into the darkness of the night.
CHAPTER 1
Liz Lucas stood by one of the large windows in her living quarters located on the lower level of the lodge looking out at the ocean. She was spending her last few hours as an unmarried woman quietly reminiscing about her past life and thinking about her new husband-to-be. The wedding was to be held within the next hour in the side yard next to the lodge. She smiled to herself as she thought about how well her children and Roger’s, her future husband, had gotten along the previous evening.
Her daughter, Brittany, had flown in from Palm Springs, and her son, Jonah, from Dubai. By prearrangement they'd been met at the San Francisco airport by Roger’s son, Jake, who had driven the two of them and his brother, Cole, to the spa and lodge located about sixty miles north of San Francisco. The four of them had become fast friends by the time they arrived at the spa.
The full family meeting the previous evening had gone very well, with all four children approving of their parent’s future spouse. Liz and Roger had both been a little nervous about how the evening would go. Neither one of them had ever met the other one's children. Fortunately, it was a nonissue. All four of their children had one wish and one wish only, and it was that their respective parent would be happy. The prior spouses of Roger and Liz had died at an early age, and both of them had struggled with having lost someone they had dearly loved. It had not been an easy time for either of them, and their children were well aware of it.
Neither Liz nor Roger had ever thought they’d find someone they would want to marry. In fact, both of them had made a promise to themselves they would never marry again. As often happens, life has a way of intervening, and that’s what happened when they met at Roger’s law firm. Liz was there talking to the attorney who had handled the probate of her husband Joe's estate about a few loose ends that needed to be tied up. Roger was a senior partner in the law firm, and his specialty was criminal law. During the past few months he’d been invaluable in helping Liz solve a couple of murder mysteries in which she’d become involved.
Her reverie was broken by a quick knock on the door followed by her daughter bursting into the room. "Mom, it's time. I'm here to help you with your make-up and hair. Are you nervous?" Brittany asked.
"Yes, I’m terribly nervous. I simply can't believe I'm getting married. I really thought when your father died I would never remarry, yet here I am, about to walk down the aisle. In some ways I feel disloyal to Joe, but I know he'd want me to be happy."
“Well, if it's any consolation, Jonah and I are thrilled you're getting married. We really like Roger and his two sons. Come on, Mom, it's time. Jonah will never forgive me if I keep the bride from being on time, since he's giving you away. Think it's kind of cool that Jake is going to stand up for his dad,” she said gently pushing Liz into a chair. “We talked briefly about who the other guests are, but let's go over them again. Fill me in while I help you with your make up.”
“I think I told you when we first talked that the wedding was going to be very small. Just the immediate families and a couple of friends. I know you remember Judy, Tiffany's mother. She's driving up from San Francisco. Bertha, who I employ as my manager here at the lodge and spa, and her husband Hank, are coming. On Roger's side he's asked a friend of his, Bob Salazar, and his wife Renee. Roger and he became very good friends when they worked for the same law firm in San Francisco. Bob recently won an election as a county supervisor for Dillon County.
“They have a baby daughter, Celia. Renee’s sister, Laura, is living with them. She’s a nurse and when her last job ended, she decided to take them up on their offer of living with them and taking care of Celia so Renee could be more of a political wife and still have her psychology practice. The cottages here at the spa are only two to a room, so they're staying in a two bedroom suite at Cindy's Bed & Breakfast about a mile from here. That way there will be a separate bedroom for Laura
and the baby.”
“So that's it as far as who will be attending the wedding?”
“Yes, we only wanted a few people to attend.”
“I think you told me you were expecting a lot of people at the reception.”
“Sweetheart, this is a very small town. I've gotten to know a lot of the people in the three and a half years I've been here, plus, I've met a few more because of some murders I was involved in. I expect ...”
She was interrupted by Brittany. “What murders? You never said anything to me about any murders.”
“Yes, that’s true, but I didn't want to worry you, so I kept it to myself. Things just kind of happened, and I somehow became involved. Fortunately I had Roger to talk to and with his background in criminal law, he was invaluable to me. It all worked out, but let's talk about something else. I'm finished with murders.”
Little did Liz know how untrue those words would soon turn out to be.
CHAPTER 2
The first thing Nick Hutchinson did when he walked out the door of the Serene Valley Rehabilitation Center was call his ex-wife Laura.
“Hey, Laura, it's me, Nick. Just wanted you to be the first to know I made it through three months at the Rehab Center, and I'm clean as a whistle. I know I promised you a bunch of times that I'd quit using drugs, but this time it's for real. The doc at the Center said he'd never met anyone who had such a good outlook for the future. First thing I want to do is see you. I'll be at the house in about an hour.”
He listened to Laura for a minute and then said in a raised and angry voice. “You're kidding! You mean to tell me I just spent three months of my life doing what you've been begging me to do for years, and now you're telling me it's too late. No, I don't think so, sweetheart, I'm on my way.” He ended the call and got in his car, enjoying the feeling of freedom and knowing he would never have to take another drug test for the rest of his life.
What's wrong with that crazy broad? I do everything she asks, and then she tells me it's too late. That's crazy. She's never been able to resist me. Today won't be any different.
A moment later a little voice in his head that he hadn’t heard for the past three months made itself known to him. “Why don't you call John?” the seductive silky voice asked. “After three months, you could use a little boost from something that will make you feel really good, and anyway, you're going right by his place on the way to Laura's.”
What the heck. After three months of being on my best behavior, I deserve a little something. Probably would help the nervies I'm feeling. I've got this thing whipped, so a little of the good stuff John always keeps on hand couldn't hurt me. And anyway, if Laura had been nicer to me, I wouldn't need to do it. It’s all her fault.
“John, it's Nick. Yeah, spent a little time at Serene. Figure I deserve a treat for getting out. I got this puppy whipped. Okay if I stop by?” He listened a minute. “On my way, man, thanks, and yeah, I want the good stuff.”
CHAPTER 3
Zack, the handyman at the spa, had made Liz promise to let him marry them when he heard she and Roger were getting married. He’d taken a course on the Internet and received a license which allowed him to conduct a marriage ceremony. As a handyman, he had a tendency to look a little shaggy. As a minister, he was very handsome and cleaned up well. His long black hair was tied back in a neat ponytail. He was cleanly shaven and wore a crisply ironed open-necked white shirt with black pants. Liz barely recognized him.
Next to him stood the groom-to-be, Roger Langley, along with his eldest son, Jake. His other son, Cole, was seated in one of the chairs that had been set out for the wedding guests. Brittany was Liz's maid of honor, and Jonah was giving her away. The guests were seated when Bertha started playing the song, "At Last" on the CD player in the lodge and then walked outdoors to take her seat. Jonah escorted a smiling Liz down the aisle between the chairs. She was radiant and wearing a cream-colored suit whose soft color contrasted well with her auburn hair and green eyes. Brittany privately thought they could have dispensed with anyone else being there, because it was apparent that Liz and Roger only had eyes for each other. Zack had clearly rehearsed his part and even gave a little "sermon" on the beauty of finding love again. Everyone who attended the wedding thought he might want to consider changing vocations and go into the ministry. Liz made a mental note to start looking for a new handyman.
“Who gives this woman in marriage?” Zack asked. He hadn't told them that he'd invited Liz's dog, Winston, to stand up with the couple. Liz and Roger grinned, looking at the big boxer who wore a cream-colored collar which matched Liz's silk suit.
“My sister and I do,” a smiling Jonah said. Just as if he could understand everything that was being said, Winston barked, acknowledging he was giving his okay and allowing Roger to become a permanent fixture at the lodge and spa.
Zack took Liz's hand and placed it in Roger's hand while he put a ring on her finger. She did the same. After the exchange of rings, Zack said, “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Although there were only a few people in attendance, their rousing clapping and joyous shouts sounded like a whole lot more people had attended the ceremony. Roger and Liz hugged each other as well as all of the guests. Bertha and her husband, Hank, went into the house and returned with champagne flutes and champagne.
“I didn't know we were going to have champagne before the reception,” Liz said. “Bertha, you never told me you were doing this.”
“As manager of the Red Cedar Spa and Lodge, I figure I can occasionally take some license with what I do here, and I definitely thought this was something that needed to be done.” Hank filled the last of the glasses and Bertha turned to face Liz. “I'd like to make a toast. Everyone, please raise your glasses. To Liz and Roger, may you bring as much joy to each other as you bring to everyone else. We all wish you a long and happy marriage.”
Everyone took a sip of champagne, and just then a plane towing a banner that said “I Love You, Liz,” slowly flew overhead. Liz looked up, and the tears of joy she'd been holding back freely flowed down her cheeks.
“Oh, Roger, that's beautiful. Thank you so much.”
The reception was being catered by the owner of Gertie’s Diner located in Red Cedar. Gertie and several of her employees had been to the lodge earlier in the day to get ready for the reception. Now they began in earnest. A long table was set up next to the lodge with soft drinks, wine, and glasses.
The big cedar table in the great room of the lodge was groaning from the amount of food Gertie and her helpers put on it. Ovens were turned on and prepared food was taken out of the refrigerator. Spa employees arrived and helped carry chairs and tables out to the yard. Within a very short time, candles had been lit on the tables, wine was icing, and a large wedding cake was on a separate table in the great room. Cars filled with guests who had been invited to the reception began to fill the parking lot in front of the lodge. The reception began in earnest.
Just as Liz had predicted, a lot of townspeople attended the reception. Roger had recently opened a satellite office for his law firm next to Gertie's Diner, and almost all of his partners and their significant others attended the reception. Several other employees of the firm were there including Sean, who had been Roger's chief investigator when he was working in San Francisco and still helped him from time to time.
It was a joyous occasion, an occasion when two middle-aged people who were loved by many celebrated their wedding with friends and family.
No one could have predicted how the evening would end, least of all Roger and Liz. They would soon learn how short-lived happiness can be.
CHAPTER 4
The Reverend Lou Jacobs looked around his office in the rectory and fingered the cross that hung from a chain around his neck. He wore his black hair short so the grey at his temples gave him more credibility. Although he was in his mid-50’s, he was still a very handsome man, and the Reverend Jacobs had no compunctions about using his good looks
to appeal to the ladies in his congregation. He knew that some ministers felt they should dress humbly, but he’d never agreed with that philosophy. His monthly trips to the best clothing stores in San Francisco kept him looking as up-to-date as if he were a male model for a clothing company.
He thought about what he needed to do in the coming weeks to win the election. I am so close. Just a couple more weeks, and I'll be the newest member of the Dillon County Board of Supervisors. Yes, Supervisor Jacobs sounds even better than Reverend Jacobs. I can smell the prize. This time I’m going to make it. The only thing standing in my way is that stupid little wetback, Bob Salazar.
He picked up the phone on his desk and made a call. “Lester, it's Lou. Were you able to find out about Salazar's parents?” He listened for a moment. “You're absolutely sure that neither one of them is a legal citizen, and that they're definitely here illegally?” Again, he listened. “Okay. You got some proof, like a document or something? I need it for a hit piece I'm going to do on him. If you could bring it by right now, I'd appreciate it. Election's in two weeks, and I'd like to sew this up sooner rather than later.”
Ten minutes later there was a knock on the door of his office. “Come in, Lester. Close the door behind you. I really don't want anyone else to know about this. I'm having a little holy water," he said, winking. “Would you care to join me?” He walked over to a table which had a small pitcher of what appeared to be water on it along with two glasses. He filled one up with vodka and handed it to Lester. “Cheers. Remind me when I'm the new county supervisor to find a place for you. I can always use a man like you in my organization. Let me see what you have.”
Lester withdrew a folder from his briefcase, took out a piece of paper, and handed it to the reverend. The Reverend Jacobs spent a few moments looking it over and then put it down. “Thanks Lester, this is exactly what I need. Now I want you to make an anonymous phone call for me. I’m going to write down what I want you to say.” He spent the next few minutes writing out a script for Lester to read when he made the phone call and then handed it to him.
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