“You’re really going to kill all of us?” Neely asked. “Aren’t there enough restless souls roaming these empty corridors?” As she said that, the cold, clammy breeze that had hit me before, swirled around us. It was tinged with a hint of the terrible odor that had come from the site where that skull had gaped at me, wide-eyed and open-mouthed.
“No one’s going to die unless you force my hand,” Eddie said. All we want is that painting and then we’ll leave. Your lives are a parting gift for figuring out where the vault’s located. Whatever else he was, Daniel De Voss was clever. Bernie tells me, before his parents shipped him off to boarding school, he spent much of his childhood exploring the passageways. He must have had a map to find his way around down here or he would have gotten lost.”
“Danny Jr. was the same way until Ted sent him away to school. When he came back, I couldn’t understand his fascination with this place until he told me Daniel had left him a note about a hidden family fortune. It finally made sense to me that I’d never seen some of Daniel’s favorite artwork. They weren’t in storage, either, I checked. Ted finally admitted Daniel had stolen them and that’s what had provoked the crisis with Cookie and Daniel. Ted couldn’t get either one of them to tell him what Daniel had done with the family treasures he’d stolen.”
“Stolen is right—not all of them by Daniel, either. The family’s love of other people’s property goes as far back as their interest in smuggling. When I asked Danny to cooperate with the latest investigation, he had no problem acting as an informant if I agreed to let him keep searching down here. I didn’t get it, so I offered Bernie a similar deal and she told me about Danny’s obsession with the fortune.”
“Which is when you sold out and decided to go for the gold yourself,” Joe commented. Eddie’s trigger finger wiggled ever so slightly as Joe became his new target.
“He’s my candidate for the first to die. How about it, Bernie? That guy and his stupid buddy came close to blowing the whole investigation wide open and putting me in a very bad spot! Especially when they had Mickey cornered.”
“That’s fine with me, Eddie. I know you didn’t want to kill Mickey, even though he let you down and didn’t pick up Danny for you. I’m not sure Danny would have told you about this painting, or what it meant, even if Mickey had gotten to him. Besides, I doubt he’d figured out the invisible ink angle or he and his fortune would have been long gone.”
“You figured wrong since we found the black light down here. If not, he was on the right track and it was only a matter of time before he led you to it. Given what a great friend he considered you to be, Eddie, he might even have told you or shared his good fortune with you—like George says you’re going to do with him, Bernie.”
“Said.”
“Time is one thing we don’t have, folks. Nor do you. If you’re stalling because you believe Hank Miller is on his way, forget about it. He’s got his hands full already, and I’m the point person on the cottage today.”
I knew Eddie was lying about letting us all go. I’m not sure what he had in mind—maybe he’d use the map we’d found in invisible ink on Daniel’s picture to lead us into the web of corridors and leave us ther. The great wall had given up its secrets—to us. I didn’t intend to let Eddie get his hands on the painting even if I had to destroy it. I made eye contact with Charly as I slowly slid my hand toward the closest corner of the painting.
“Time’s up, folks. I’m not going to kill anybody, but how about a new knee for Joe?” As he pointed the gun at Joe, I grabbed the painted and gouged it with a finger nail.
“Put the gun down or I’ll scrape off more paint. He turned the gun on me. As he did that, Charly whipped out her kubotan, and using it as a flail hit his hand hard enough to draw blood. The gun flew out of his hand and Bernie scrambled to get it. I was on her in an instant. Without a flashlight handy, I hit her with the edge of the painting instead. Charly had Eddie Vargas in a jiu jitsu hold, so Carl and Joe grabbed Bernie, while Neely picked up the gun.
“What on earth made you believe you could take down our entire gang?” Marty asked.
“Yes, it was a foregone conclusion you that couldn’t outwit the Grand Old Lady Detectives and Charly’s Angels.” Eddie Vargas and Bernie De Voss just stood there gawking. I’m sure nothing Midge had just said made a lick of sense to them. These two were no fans of Shakespeare, that’s for sure.
∞
It didn’t take Hank long to arrive once I’d gone upstairs and called 911. When I heard stomping overhead, I was so relieved I threw myself into his arms. I hadn’t realized it at the time, but I was drenched in sweat. When another of those odd, cold clammy breezes blew around me, it lingered longer than it had before and then left me chilled to the bone. I was shivering and one of the EMTs who’d responded to the 911 call, draped a blanket around my shoulders.
“Did you feel that this time?” I asked Charly. She nodded yes as she gratefully accepted a blanket, too. “What was it?”
“An uneasy spirit set free, maybe.”
“You don’t really mean that, do you?”
“‘There are more things in heaven and earth, Miriam,
than are dreamt of in your philosophy.’ Who am I to argue with Shakespeare? Seaview Cottages if full of spirits. That’s why we’re drawn here, and why we stay. We conger them up every time we utter a dead writer’s name. I’m not talking about comic book or horror story versions of ghosts and goblins, but if you believe in any kind of an afterlife, you must feel better considering the possibility that their genius, foibles and all, still exist somewhere. Even your poor, desperate Hemingway.” On some level, I sensed she was right. Or maybe it was more a matter of hope. In any case, I couldn’t imagine her bright spirit ever yielding to anything—not even death.
“So, let’s go get this settled, clean ourselves up, and feed Joe. As I recall, you mentioned that we have another client.”
“We do. A cold case, like Cookie De Voss. Perhaps, another restless soul seeking justice. An old friend of mine, Judith Rogow, has asked us to find her son’s grave on Dicken’s Dune.
—The End—
Thanks for reading The Murder of Shakespeare’s Ghost Seaview Cottages Cozy Mystery #2. I hope you’ll take a minute to leave me a review on Amazon, Bookbub, and Goodreads. Follow me, too, on Amazon http://bit.ly/acburke. Subscribe to my email for news about books, discounts, giveaways, and special events.
What’s next for Miriam and her friends? Their next case, of course, and Miriam has a new secret. Sometimes the most dangerous secrets are those we don’t know we’re keeping. Grave Expectations on Dickens’ Dune Seaview Cottages Cozy Mystery #3 is coming soon. More fun, food, and mystery. I hope you’ll have a chance to try out a recipe or two from the dishes featured in this book. Enjoy!
RECIPES
Strawberry Cake
About 16 Servings
Ingredients
Cake
2 cups self-rising flour
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 cup canola or coconut oil
1 cup milk
1/4 cup sweetened strawberries, mashed
1 small box strawberry gelatin
Icing
2 cups sliced strawberries
1 cup butter, softened
3 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Mix all cake ingredients and pour into greased 9×13 pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
While the cake bakes, prepare the icing.
Mix together all icing ingredients until smooth. Add more powdered sugar, if needed. Icing should be spreadable but not runny.
Once the cake is cool, spread the icing on the cake.
Refrigerate for at least two hours. Serve chilled.
Baked Macaroni & Cheese
Serves 4-5
Ingredients
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons flour
12 ounces canned evaporated milk
1/2 cup half and half
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, grated
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1/2 cup jack cheese, grated
Salt and pepper to taste
8 ounces uncooked Macaroni
Preparation
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F
Cook macaroni according to the package directions. Drain well.
Add butter to skillet. As soon as the butter melts, whisk in flour until flour is fully mixed with butter. Then cook for about a minute to get rid of the flour taste.
Slowly add evaporated milk a little at the time. Then add the half and half and whisk until the mixture is smooth. Simmer for about 3-5 minutes until the mixture thickens slightly.
Add cayenne pepper and simmer for another 2 minutes.
Reserve ½ cup cheddar for topping. Stir in the rest of the cheese and continue stirring until cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth. Salt & pepper, to taste.
Add the cooked pasta to the pot and stir to coat it in the cheese sauce.
Pour the pasta mixture into a lightly greased 2-qt. baking dish. Top with the remaining cheddar cheese.
Bake at 375 Degrees F for 20 minutes or until golden and bubbly.
Beef Tenderloin with Red Wine, Anchovies, Garlic, and Herbs
Serves 8
Ingredients
4 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/2 stick), 2 tablespoons cut into small dice and chilled
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
8 shallots, sliced or minced
Kosher salt
2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon fresh oregano or 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
8 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed with the flat side of a chef’s knife
12 anchovy fillets packed in olive oil, drained and minced
2 pieces beef tenderloin, 1 1/2 pounds each, trimmed and cleaned
Freshly milled black pepper
2 teaspoons sugar
¼ cup brandy
1 ¼ cups good red wine
Fresh arugula, for serving
Preparation
In a large, heavy-bottomed pot in which the beef will fit without touch each other or the sides of the pot, heat 2 tablespoons butter and 1 tablespoon oil over low heat. Add the shallots, sprinkle with a little salt, and sauté until soft and transparent, about 5 minutes. Add the thyme and oregano and cook for 2 more minutes, stirring, then add the garlic and mix with the other ingredient.
Add the anchovies and cook until they sort of melt into the rest of the ingredients already in the pot. Transfer mixture to a bowl.
Add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the pot and turn up the heat. Pat the beef dry and season it all over with salt and pepper. Sear the beef on all sides, while sprinkling with the sugar to get a crusty exterior. Add the brandy, let it bubble, and then add the wine.
Return the shallot mixture to the pot. Lower the heat and turn the meat over. Stir to make sure the shallots mixture doesn’t stick or burn. Cover and cook for 10 minutes.
After ten minutes uncover and check the meat. If it’s springy to the touch, it’s rare. It that’s the way you want to eat and serve it, remove the meat. If you prefer medium rare—still springy but with some resistance, turn the meat over, cover and cook for about five minutes longer or closer to ten minutes for medium. When the meat close to the way you want it, (it will cook a little more as it rests), transfer to a cutting board. While the meat rests finish the sauce.
Fish out the garlic from the pot with a spoon. Then turn up the heat and let the sauce bubble. Taste it and add salt, if needed, and pepper. You may want to thin it with a little water. Take it off the heat, add the meat juices from the cooked beef, stir in the remaining chilled, diced butter and serve immediately.
To serve, slice the beef, arrange it on a plate surrounded with arugula. Drizzle over some of the sauce, leaving the rest in a sauce boat for your guests to pour for themselves.
Baked Ziti with Vegetables
4 servings
Ingredients
8 ounces uncooked ziti pasta
2 tablespoon olive oil
2 cups chopped yellow squash
1 cup chopped zucchini
1/2 cup chopped red onion
2 cups sliced cherry tomatoes
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup part skim milk mozzarella, shredded
1/4 cup ricotta cheese
1/4 cup grated Romano cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
2 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon cayenne
1 large egg, beaten
Preparation
Cook pasta according to the directions—about 10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
Preheat broiler while the pasta is cooking. Place oven rack 6 inches from heat. Toss squash, zucchini, tomatoes, onion, garlic, 1 tablespoon olive oil, ½ teaspoon salt, and then spread on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet in a single layer; broil until browned and tender, about 10 minutes.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Stir together Romano cheese, ricotta cheese, egg, 1/4 teaspoon salt, basil, oregano, and cayenne
Combine vegetables, pasta, ½ cup mozzarella and spoon half into the bottom of a tw0 quart baking dish that’s been coated with cooking spray. Drop spoonfuls of the ricotta & Romano cheese mixture, using half. Then create another layer using the pasta and veggie mixture then topping with remaining Romano and ricotta cheese mixture. Cover with the remaining half cup of shredded mozzarella.
Bake for 15 minutes until brown and bubbly. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
Triple Ginger Cookies
About three dozen cookies
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup minced crystallized ginger
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup packed golden brown sugar
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1/4 cup light, mild-flavored molasses
2 teaspoons finely grated fresh peeled ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/3 cup granulated sugar
Preparation
Preheat to 350°F.
Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
Whisk together flour, crystallized ginger, baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in medium bowl.
In a separate large bowl, use an electric mixer, beat butter until creamy. Gradually add both brown sugars and beat on medium-high until creamy, about 3 minutes. Add egg, molasses, fresh ginger, ground ginger, cinnamon, and cloves, and blend well.
Add flour mixture in thirds, beating on low speed just to blend between additions.
Place 1/3 cup sugar in small bowl. Measure 1 tablespoon dough. Roll into ball between palms of hands, then roll in sugar in bowl to coat; place on baking sheet. Repeat with remaining cookie dough, spacing cookies 1 1/2 to 2 inches apart.
Bake cookies until surfaces crack and cookies are firm around edges but still slightly soft in center, about 15 minutes. Cool completely still on the baking sheets. Cookies can be stored in airtight containers at room temperature.
About the Author
An award-winning, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, I hope you’ll join me snooping into life's mysteries with fun, fiction, and food—California style!
Life is an extravaganza! Figuring out how to hang tough and make the most of the wild ride is the challen
ge. On my way to Oahu, to join the rock musician and high school drop-out I had married in Tijuana, I was nabbed as a runaway. Eventually, the police let me go, but the rock band broke up.
Retired now, I’m still married to the same sweet guy and live with him near Palm Springs, California. I write the Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery series set here in the Coachella Valley, the Corsario Cove Cozy Mystery Series set along California’s Central Coast, The Georgie Shaw Mystery series set in the OC, The Seaview Cottages Cozy Mystery Series set on the so-called American Riviera, just north of Santa Barbara, and The Calla Lily Mystery series where the murder and mayhem take place in California’s Wine Country. Won’t you join me? Sign up at: http://desertcitiesmystery.com.
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