Murder in Cottage #6 (Liz Lucas Cozy Mystery Series Book 1)

by Dianne Harman

  She told him everything that had happened during the day beginning with Gertie and ending with her conversation with Darcy.

  “Liz, I completely agree with the coroner. From what I’ve heard, the police chief probably couldn’t find his hat if it was on his head. Yes, you probably are going to have to do what you can to find the killer. I just want you to be careful. Do you own a gun?”

  “I have one, but I haven’t used it in a long time. Joe fired an employee quite a few years ago, actually before we moved here, and the employee threatened him and insinuated that I could be in danger. Joe bought a gun for me, and he took me to a pistol range several times to practice. He wanted to make sure I could use it if I ever had to. Fortunately, I never had to. Why?”

  “When we get through with this call, I want you to get the gun and keep it with you. I know it’s a scary thought, but a killer was on your property as recently as two nights ago. The killer may be long gone, but using poison as a way to kill someone indicates to me it was premeditated, not an emotional spur of the moment killing. If someone goes to the trouble to plan a way to get the victim to take the poison, in my mind, that person is a lot more dangerous than someone who kills someone in the heat of the moment. Do you see what I’m saying?”

  “I do, and it doesn’t make me feel very good. I know where the gun is, and I still have the box of ammunition Joe gave me. It’s a semi-automatic pistol, and I actually got to be a pretty good shot with it, but like I said, that was a while ago.”

  “Trust me, Liz, it’s kind of like riding a bike. Once you have the gun in your hand, you’ll be good to go. Let’s just hope it doesn’t come to that. Keep it in your purse or on you or next to you when you’re in the lodge. Is Winston scary looking or what?”

  “He’s big enough that I think he definitely would frighten someone. Ed gave me a sheet of paper with written instructions. One of the paragraphs lists the commands to use for protection and guarding.”

  “I want you to memorize those and keep him with you everywhere you go from now on. So you’ve talked to Darcy and Dave, and they’re covering for each other.”

  “Yes, but I have a feeling they genuinely care about each other. I find it hard to believe that either one of them might be the killer.”

  “Maybe yes, maybe no. They both have a powerful motive for wanting to see Barbara dead. Very simple. If she’s dead, they can be together and ride happily off into the sunset. Most crimes are committed in the name of love, heat, lust, or call it whatever you want, and for that reason it’s the number one motive in murder cases. That’s why homicide investigators always look to the spouse or lover first. And from what you’ve found out about Barbara’s strong religious faith and lack of any factual basis for having a boyfriend, I wouldn’t spend much time looking for a boyfriend who might have been so angry with her he would kill her. Pretty far reach, if you ask me.”

  “I agree. Nothing anyone has told me points in that direction and don’t forget, this small town feeds on rumors. I think Gertie would have hinted at something like that if there was anything to it.”

  “What’s your gut feeling on this guy Zack who works for you? He certainly would know the lay of the land and how to get into the cottage, probably even if the door was locked. What he said to you was odd, and remember, he did say he couldn’t even tell you where he’d been.”

  “I think he could definitely qualify as a suspect. I guess the motive could be getting back at Dave by killing Barbara, but since everyone I’ve pretty much talked to knew that Dave and Darcy were having an affair, surely Zack would have known about it too. If Dave does want to marry Darcy, Zack would actually be helping Dave achieve his goal. He wants to harm Dave, not help him. It wouldn’t make a lot of sense.”

  “Possibly,” Roger said. “What about keys to the cottages? Which employees have them?”

  “Bertha and I are the only two who have keys to all the cottages. I don’t know if Zack does, but I wouldn’t be surprised, because he’s probably had to work in all of the cottages over the years. That’s a good question. He may be the only one who could have entered the cottage without being allowed in by Barbara.”

  “That’s true. So that means we have to figure out if Barbara knew the person who possibly entered her cottage. If it was Dave, she probably would have let him in. Do you know if she knew Darcy?”

  “When I talked to Darcy this afternoon, she mentioned she had met Barbara only once. From everything I’ve heard, Barbara knew about Dave’s affair with Darcy, so I can’t see her inviting Darcy in, but who knows?”

  “I had Sean find out everything he could about the Tiffany lamp buyer, Henry. His last name is Sanchez. He lives in a bad part of town in a run-down apartment building, but the rent is really reasonable which fits in with what you told me about his penny-pinching ways. He’s well-known in the antique world and as a matter of fact, has been in most of the shops in the last week or so with a picture of the disputed Tiffany lamp, asking people if they think it’s authentic. Evidently he’s become totally obsessed with the notion that he was duped into buying what he now believes is a fake.

  “He’s not well liked and several of the terms used to describe him included ‘nut case,’ ‘wacko,’ and ‘a man angry at the world.’ I don’t think he can be ruled out as a possible suspect. He paid a lot of money for something he’s been told is a fake. Barbara had mentioned to him she was going to a local spa and even told him when she’d be returning. By process of elimination, he could deduce that it was the Red Cedar Spa. As far as knowing which cottage she was in, I suppose all one would have to do is look through the windows. He knew what she looked like. Seems to me people park their cars next to their cottage. He may have even staked her out beforehand to see what kind of a car she was driving.

  “Who knows? If he’s as unbalanced as people indicated to Sean, it’s not that far of a stretch. What troubles me is her opening the door. Maybe she would feel safe enough in that environment to open the door without personally knowing who was standing on the other side, but I can’t see her willingly letting him in.”

  “Please thank Sean for me. Sounds like he’s a very good investigator.”

  “I’ll thank him and yes, he’s the best. He works full-time for me, and other attorneys are constantly trying to get him to work for them. He’s kind of a legend in his field. He also did some work verifying the ownership of the antique shop. The woman you met with, Linda, told you the truth. The shop is in her name only. Whenever anything is bought or sold, while Barbara may have conducted the transaction, the actual purchase or sale is in Linda’s name alone. Barbara’s role was to obtain antiques from the people in the surrounding area and help out Linda with her knowledge about Arts and Crafts antiques and decorative items. She must have been very good because there is no record of anyone suing the shop for misrepresenting the authenticity or value of an antique and that’s pretty rare.”

  “Oh Roger,” Liz sighed, “I don’t feel I’m any closer to finding out who the murderer is than I was before I talked to you. We’ve identified Darcy, Dave, Zack, and Henry as possible suspects, and there may be others we don’t even know about. Each of them seems to have a solid alibi or explanation of why they didn’t do it. It’s very frustrating.”

  “That’s true. I think I’ll have Sean pay a visit to Henry tomorrow and try to find out where he was during the time frame we think she was murdered and if anyone can back it up. Oh, one thing we haven’t talked about is the people who work at the spa. Have you had a chance to talk to the two women who did treatments on Barbara during the time she was at the spa?”

  “No. I think I told you Judy is driving up tomorrow and staying for a couple of days. I made reservations for us with the two women who did treatments on Barbara. I figured if there’s anything there, it would help if both of us saw them, and we can compare notes. Really, that’s about everything.”

  “One other person who comes to mind is the guy who ran against Dave. What was his name?”


  “Gene Harris. I don’t know much about him other than he’s run against Dave twice before. Why? Do you think he could have done it?”

  “Yes and no. He probably hates Dave, but I go back to what we talked about with his brother. If he killed Barbara, he’d ultimately be doing Dave a favor by freeing him to marry Darcy. One of the first things people do who are running for office is find out every piece of dirt they can about their opponent. I would bet everything that Gene knew about the affair.”

  “Well, we’re back to square one. A huge cast of characters with no one bolting into the lead at the moment. Tell you what. I had a busy day. I’m going to have a glass of wine, make some dinner, and fall into bed. I’ll call you tomorrow night after our spa treatments and let you know what I found out. I have a little time between my appointments, so I think I’ll go into town and talk to Bart. He’s the owner of the Red Cedar Tribune, the local paper. I’d like to see what he knows. I’ve met him a couple of times. He’s a nice guy.”

  “Okay, but I’m really serious about what we talked about earlier, Liz. People know you’re looking into this, and that could make it very dangerous for you. Remember what I told you about keeping your gun on you and Winston next to you. Will you do that for me?”

  “Yes. I promise. Good night and good luck in court tomorrow.”

  “Good night, sweetheart. Sweet dreams.”

  CHAPTER 13

  Liz felt a paw on her hand and opened her eyes to find Winston looking at her. “Need to go out, boy? You sure were quiet last night. Let me put on a robe.”

  One of the features she liked best about the lodge was the soundproofing. Although no guests had spent the night in the cottages last night, even if they had, she wouldn’t have heard Bertha making and serving breakfast. She opened the door and let Winston out. Glancing at the clock, she saw she had about thirty minutes until her appointment for a massage at the spa.

  I wonder if I should take Winston. Seems kind of silly, but I promised Roger I wouldn’t go anywhere without him until this murder is solved. Better keep my promise. I’m sure Cindy will find that very strange. Oh well, it’s my sandbox, and I can play in it however I want.

  Liz let Winston in and fed him. She wanted him to get used to eating in her apartment rather than in the big kitchen upstairs. That way she wouldn’t have to get dressed and talk to the guests until she was ready for the day. She didn’t think they’d be very impressed that the owner of the lodge and spa was feeding her dog while dressed in her bathrobe and slippers.

  She quickly dressed and walked upstairs to get a cup of coffee before her appointment. “Morning, Liz. I was just going over the appointment book and not only is the spa completely full today, but the cottages are all booked as well. Did you ever hear anything from the coroner about Mrs. Nelson’s death?” Bertha asked.

  “Yes. I’ve heard from the coroner. I’m sorry, I should have called you last night and told you about it.” She recounted what Wes had told her.

  “I saw you with the dog yesterday and wondered if you’d heard something and felt you should have a dog here for protection. Given that it was murder, I think that was the right decision.”

  “Actually Bertha, I wasn’t planning on buying Winston. A friend of mine was adamant that I should have him for protection, and he arranged to have Winston brought to me.”

  “Well, however you got Winston, I think it was a good thing. This is kind of a scary place when no one’s around. I wonder if this is going to affect the reservations for the spa and the cottages. Do you think it’s going to be a problem for us?”

  “It certainly could be. I’m going to do everything I can to see if I can discover who murdered Barbara even though I’ve never done anything like this before. Don’t worry, we’ll get through this.”

  “I sure hope so, because I love working here, and it seems that it’s become kind of the ‘in’ thing for people from San Francisco. If I can help, let me know. Is it okay if I pet Winston?”

  “Absolutely. Although he’s a trained guard dog, he’s really quite gentle, and I’d like you two to be friends.”

  A few minutes later Bertha said, “Time for me to get back to work, but if you ever decide you need someone to watch him for a few days, I’d love to. We’ve got a big back yard. Keep it in mind.”

  “I will and thanks, but I’m not anticipating going anywhere soon except over to the spa because it’s almost time for my appointment with Cindy. Oh, I almost forgot to tell you that my friend Judy Rasmussen will be here shortly. I told her to check in with you. Thanks, Bertha, for everything you do here.”

  Liz took two pork loins out of the freezer, so she could make pork medallions with a white wine sauce for dinner along with glazed carrots, rice pilaf, salad, and for dessert, the all-time favorite of her son Jonah, mud pie. Whenever he came to visit, he had a standing request for mud pie.

  Good, that’s out of the way, she thought. I can get dinner ready in a few minutes, and since none of the guests have been here before, I can use the sausage cheese balls and onion bits I have in the freezer for appetizers. They won’t know I served them earlier this week. After my massage, I’ll come back here and make three mud pies, so they’ll be ready for tonight. Easy peasy!

  “Winston, come. It’s time for my spa appointment.” Together they walked over to the spa with Winston stopping every ten feet to smell all the wonderful smells of his new home.

  “Good morning, Delores. I want you to meet my new friend, Winston.”

  Winston held his paw up for Delores to shake. “Oh my gosh, Mrs. Lucas. That is the cutest trick I’ve ever seen. Did you teach him that?”

  “No, I just got him yesterday as a present. His trainer taught him to do that when he meets people. I’m taking him into the treatment room with me. I hope Cindy isn’t allergic to dogs.”

  “Not that I know of, but no one has ever brought a dog in here before. I know some of the guests bring their dogs and keep them in the cottages, but this is a first. Glad it’s you, because I’m not sure what I would tell someone if they asked if they could bring their dog with them into the treatment room.”

  “Tell them it’s the owner’s prerogative,” she said, laughing as Winston and Liz followed Delores down a short hallway to one of the massage rooms. Every time Liz was at the spa, she was glad she’d spent the extra money needed to redesign it after she and Joe bought it. She’d always loved the sound of a fountain, and one of the walls in the reception room had a stone and copper wall fountain which emitted a continuous sound of falling water. Soft music played in the background and wide pastel upholstered chairs filled the reception area. One wall was mirrored with acrylic shelves showcasing skin care and beauty products that were available for the guests to purchase.

  Adjacent to the reception room was a locker room and dressing area with white fluffy towels, robes, and slippers. There were six sinks with a range of hair care and personal hygiene products displayed on acrylic trays for use by the spa patrons. All of the treatment rooms had a sound speaker for music. They were painted a soft dove gray with crisp white painted moldings and doorjambs. She’d decided not to have incense in the rooms, aware that some clients might be allergic to it. She wanted every guest to feel they were special and pampered when they left the spa, and from what she heard, they did.

  Bertha was in charge of hiring the people who worked at the spa. She was diligent about checking their references and making sure their licenses were up to date. Each new spa employee was not only given written instructions on what Liz expected of them as a spa employee, they were also given an indoctrination talk by Bertha. Bertha had set the bar high, and it was one of the main reasons that the spa had become extremely popular, many of the clients coming just for spa treatments and not staying in the cottages.

  “Good morning, Mrs. Lucas. I see you have a new friend. May I pet him?”

  “Absolutely, Cindy. I just got him yesterday, so I want him to become familiar with the property. I hope you don’t mind
if he stays during the massage.”

  “Not at all. I love dogs. I just wish I could have one in the apartment where I live, but it really wouldn’t be fair to leave a dog in it when I’m gone all day. Is there any place special you’d like me to concentrate on today?”

  “No. I’d just like you to work out some of the kinks I’ve developed as I’ve gotten older. A traditional massage will be fine,” Liz said.

  “Okay. Why don’t you turn over on your stomach, and I’ll start on your shoulders and neck. As I remember, that’s where you seem to store a lot of tension. Let me know if I’m hurting you.”

  “Will do. Is this the type of massage that most people ask for?”

  “Yes. It’s definitely the most popular one. Just a plain old traditional getting the kinks out type of treatment. A lot of people also like the warm stone massage. The heat loosens their muscles and seems to help in reducing tension. As a matter of fact, I was going to do one on that woman who died. She was scheduled for an appointment at 8:00 that morning. When she wasn’t here at the scheduled time, I asked Delores to call Bertha, and I think that’s how she was discovered.”

  “Yes. You’re right. I only talked to her briefly at dinner. Did you and she talk much during your session?”

  “Not really. She was pretty quiet. I’ve learned over the years that I’ve worked as a masseuse that there seem to be two types of clients. There are the ones who talk all the time they’re on the table and want to tell me their life story because I’m a captive audience, and there are the ones who come simply to have me release the tension from their bodies so they’ll feel better when they leave. I’d have to say she was in the latter category. Other than exchanging a few amenities when she first came in and thanking me when she left, I don’t believe we talked at all.”