White Cloud Retreat

by Dianne Harman

  On their way to the Center, Kelly said, “Deidre was in the coffee shop today and told me you’d complimented her on her Christian Louboutin shoes. She said no one else had ever done that. I think you’re a hero in her eyes because of it.”

  “That was the strangest thing. I’d read about them in the paper just the day before and then I saw this pair of sandals with red soles. Talk about coincidental!”

  “We’re almost at the Center, but I need to tell you what Luke told me today about Blaine.” She recounted her earlier conversation with Luke about how Blaine had mysteriously disappeared.

  “That certainly is suspicious. You’d think he’d at least wait until after the service to leave. That’s really odd. Any idea where he went?”

  “No, from what Luke said, he and Zeb talked to all of the other people who were in the residential training program and no one knew anything. Evidently he wasn’t well-liked by them. They thought he’d changed recently.”

  She thought back to the note she’d found early that morning. “Mike, did you find any notes today?”

  “No. It seems to have quieted down. I’ve decided it’s just paranoia on my part.”

  “I wish that was true, but I don’t think it is. When I walked out the door this morning to leave for the coffee shop, I saw someone running away from your car. I would have thought I was imagining it, except Lady growled and barked. Her hackles were raised, so I’m pretty sure it wasn’t my imagination. Then I went over to your car and there was a note on it that said, ‘Be very careful. I know where you are.’ Here it is,” she said, opening her purse and handing it to him.

  “Okay, this is definitely not imagination working overtime for either one of us. Remember that gun I bought you a few months ago? Well, as soon as we get home I want you to put it in your purse and carry it with you all the time. I have mine and just like you asked me to do, I’ll make sure to take Rebel with me wherever I go. You do the same with Lady. I know she’s young, but from what I’ve seen, she’d protect you. Deal?” he said as he parked the car in the Center’s parking lot.

  “Yes, although it’s a deal I wish I really didn’t have to make. I don’t like to think of either one of us being in danger. Oh, there’s one more thing,” she said, putting her hand on his arm to keep him from opening the car door. “Charlie’s father wanted to get a message to us. Charlie told me that Chief Many Trees had a dream about us and he wanted to warn us to be careful, because we’re both in danger.”

  “That’s just great. It’s not bad enough that I feel like I’m being watched, I’m getting threatening notes, and you’re seeing people running away from my car, now Chief Many Trees has some vision or dream that we’re both in danger. And the thing is, I’ve heard that old guy is usually right about his dreams and visions. I’ll be so glad when this case is solved. I’m starting to get spooked and that’s a pretty new feeling for me.”

  “Well, we need to put it behind us for now. This is a service for Scott and I want to honor his memory. I know you do to. Let’s go in.”

  CHAPTER 23

  The large meditation room of the Center was completely filled with mourners who stood, looking at the altar and the robed priests who were in front of it. Most of the people wore white with the exception of the priests, including Luke, who were dressed in brown and black robes. Kelly looked around and nodded to several people she knew. A few minutes before 4:00, Deidre entered the room and stood behind Mike and Kelly. Promptly at 4:00, Luke asked the mourners to put their hands together, hold them in front of their hearts, and keep them there for the duration of the service. He told them that each aspect of the service had a special significance. The chanting they would hear was the teaching of the Buddha; the scent of incense purified the participants; and the smoke rising from the incense is said to deliver the thoughts and prayers of the mourners to the decedent. At the conclusion of the one-hour service Luke stepped forward and thanked everyone for coming. He asked them to stay and enjoy the light refreshments which had been placed on tables on the porch.

  Kelly and Mike walked out to the porch and helped themselves to the fruit offerings many people had brought as well as tea. Mike looked around to see if any of the people he had put on his list of suspects had attended the service. He knew it was very common for the killer to attend a service or funeral for the decedent. The only people there who were on his list were Deidre and Luke. She wasn’t anywhere near the top of his list and she’d been attending classes and workshops at the Center ever since it had opened, so it was to be expected that she would be present. And since Luke was Scott’s brother and the managing director of the Center, as well as a Zen priest, he would certainly be expected to be there as well. There was no sign of the Pellino brothers, Blaine Wright, or Jim Duncan, which didn’t surprise Mike given his strong aversion to any Eastern religions.

  Kelly felt a tap on her shoulder and turned around. It was Jesse, the owner of The Crush. “Hi, Jesse. I don’t know much about Zen Buddhism, but that was a lovely service, don’t you think? Have you ever taken any classes or workshops from the Center?”

  “No. I came because of the relationship Scott and I developed over our mutual interest in wine. I’ll be curious to see what happens to the wine produced here. I know he was interested in spiritual matters, but he was also very well versed in all things related to wine. He constantly read up on the latest techniques and what he could do to improve his wine. He was one of those people who had a very refined sense of taste. Scott could tell you if there was a hint of a berry or smoke or whatever with one sip of wine. Actually, I’ve seen him smell wine while he swirled it in his glass and identify every flavor in it. I’ve been around wine a long time, and my nose and taste is a lot better than most people’s, but he had me beat by a mile.”

  “I really never knew that side of him. The only thing I know about wine is whether I like it or not and I always seem to like the Center’s wine. I wonder what the Pellino brothers will do now that Scott’s dead.”

  “I heard a rumor they were going to try and buy the Center. One of my customers told me that the brothers had some ties back East and they were being financially backed by them. Given the brothers’ Italian names and everything, I wonder if we’re going to see some Mafia money roll into Cedar Bay.”

  “Oh, I hope not. We’ve got enough problems as it is.”

  “To change the subject. I’ve ordered the wine for your wedding. Since it’s winter, I ordered more red than white and I also ordered some Pellegrino sparkling water in case people don’t drink alcohol or prefer not to drink during the day. Since you’re being married at 10:00 a.m. and the wedding celebration is at noon, I’ll come to the house directly after the wedding and get set up. I’ll have the white wine on ice in the van. I’ve got napkins and glasses, so you don’t need to worry about anything.”

  “That’s wonderful, Jesse. I really appreciate you taking care of it and thanks for giving me a discount on the price!”

  “My pleasure. I’ve got to leave and get back to the shop. Talk to you later.”

  Kelly turned around and noticed that Mike was talking to Deidre. She walked over to them and heard Mike say, “Since you’re off tomorrow, I’ll probably be there around two or three. See you then.” Deidre walked away and Mike turned to Kelly.

  “Are you about ready to leave? I need to go into my office for a few minutes, but I’ll take you home first.”

  When they were in the car, Kelly asked Mike what he and Deidre were talking about. “I told her I needed to talk to her and asked when would be a good time. She told me she was off tomorrow. You heard me tell her I’d be at her apartment in the afternoon.”

  “She seems to have calmed down since I saw her at the coffee shop the other day. I noticed she had tears in her eyes during the ceremony, but I did too. I guess maybe the passage of a little time is helping her. Oh by the way, I learned something interesting from Jesse. He heard from one of his customers that the Pellino brothers had ties to people back East who
wanted to bankroll them so they could buy the Center. Jesse wondered if those were Mafia ties.”

  “That’s interesting. Particularly since the ballistics expert said that the bullet placement that killed Scott was very similar to those seen in Mafia murders. Wonder if the Pellino brothers had a contract out on Scott? Maybe someone came out here to kill him. Wouldn’t that be something? The Mafia in sleepy little Cedar Bay. That really would be a case of truth being stranger than fiction.”

  He stopped the car in the driveway to let her out. “See you in a little while. I shouldn’t be too long. Remember, I asked you to get your gun and keep it with you.”

  “I will, but wait a minute while I get Rebel. I want him to be with you. Deal?”

  “Deal!”

  CHAPTER 24

  A number of the people who came to Kelly’s Koffee Shop on Friday morning had attended the service for Scott the previous afternoon and wanted to see what everyone else had to say about it. It amazed them how many people had traveled to their sleepy little town from all over the world to attend the service of a man they’d simply known as Scott – a man who dressed in jeans and was a winemaker. Obviously, from the number of international high-ranking spiritual people who had attended the service, there was a lot more to this man than they’d realized.

  In keeping with his habit, promptly at noon Doc walked in with Lucky. “Kelly, when you have a minute, I’d like to talk to you,” he said, grinning broadly.

  “Well, from the smile you’re wearing, I’m making an assumption that your sons’ visit was a success. I’ll be with you as soon as I can. Take a seat.”

  “Okay,” Kelly said, a few moments later. “I’ve got a little time. I want to hear all about it.”

  “Kelly, I don’t know when I’ve been so happy. It couldn’t have gone any better. Just as Madison told us, Brandon was on a school break and he took the boys horseback riding on his ranch. Madison went too. I wonder if there’s something going on between those two. Anyway, my sons are city boys, so all of this being in the great outdoors and enjoying nature is really new to them. Matter of fact, I don’t think they’ve ever been horseback riding before, and they loved it. When they finished riding, Brandon took them down to the tide pools below his ranch house and showed them how to look for jade. They both found several pieces and can’t wait to show them to their friends.”

  “I’m so glad. I’ve been thinking about you all week.”

  “Well, that’s not all. They loved Lucky which didn’t surprise me. We used to have dogs and a big back yard, but when I left to come here, their mother didn’t want to deal with yard work, so they sold the house and moved into a condominium. My ex-wife went to work as a nurse and with the boys in school and no lawn for a dog to play on, they didn’t feel it would be fair to the dog to stay cooped up all day, so they made a decision not to have one. The boys have always had a dog and they said not having a dog to come home to and me being gone were pretty rough things for them to adjust to.”

  “Poor things. Their lives really changed. Dad gone, no dog, and living in a new place.”

  “Yeah. We talked a lot. I think they understand a little more why I left and moved up here. Anyway, Madison’s dad took them shore fishing and they both caught a couple of fish. That was pretty exciting, but the best thing I’ve saved for last.”

  “Out with it, Doc. Roxie’s looking over here and it probably means my time with you is about up.”

  “Last night Liz came to dinner and to meet them. She’s done a lot of work with teenagers and children whose parents are divorced, so she had a pretty good idea what to expect.”

  “Doc, I’m curious. How did you introduce Liz to them?”

  “I told them I’d asked a woman I worked with at the clinic to come for dinner. I mentioned she was a psychologist, but I didn’t tell them I had been seeing her outside the clinic.”

  “That was probably a good idea.”

  “Well, here’s the best part. Liz, unbeknownst to me, is a gaming freak. You know I don’t have a television, but I’ve got an iPad and iPhone and the boys had theirs as well. I guess Liz always travels with both of hers, so the three of them spent an hour before dinner playing games on their mobile devices while I was cooking dinner.”

  “I’m curious. What did you fix for dinner? That must have been a tough menu to come up with.”

  “I remembered that the boys loved a dish their mom used to make for them. It’s a slow cooked beef burgundy served over noodles. I made it last Sunday and froze it, so all I had to do was defrost it and cook it for another hour. The noodles are super easy and I’ve got a recipe where you don’t even have to drain them, they cook in butter and water in just a few minutes.”

  “I’m getting hungry thinking about it. If you don’t mind, I’d like to have the recipes for both of those.”

  “I’ll bring them Monday when I come in. I also had asparagus with some garlic, olive oil, and parmesan cheese. Made some biscuits and finished it off with that cheesecake recipe I got from you a couple of months ago.”

  “Well, I’m impressed and I bet the three of them were too. As I remember, Liz loves to eat, but cooking isn’t high on her priority list. Good thing she has you.”

  “The dinner was great, but what was even better was about an hour after dinner Liz said it was time for her to leave. She told the boys she knew it was our last night together and she didn’t want to intrude on our time. They both insisted she stay and the four of us talked about school, their sports, and a million other things. It was one of the best nights of my life. They loved Liz. After she left, they told me they wouldn’t come back unless I made sure that Liz was included in everything we did. If they hadn’t liked her, I don’t know what I would have done.”

  “Doc, are you thinking of marrying Liz?”

  “Funny you should ask. I’m thinking of asking her tonight to be my wife. The boys had an early flight out of Portland and I had a little time after they left, so I went to a jewelry store. I guess I can show you this,” he said, pulling a small jewelry box out of his pocket and opening it. “What do you think?”

  “It’s absolutely beautiful! What woman wouldn’t love a diamond like that? But I have a feeling she’d marry you if you only had a wedding band for her. I know tomorrow’s the weekend, but I want to hear what she says. Okay?”

  “Promise. You’ll be the first to know. I keep having to pinch myself to make sure that all of what’s happening to me is real. I’m practicing medicine again, my boys are in my life, I’ve got a great dog, and there’s a good chance a wonderful woman is going to say yes when I ask her to marry me. I’m not sure life can get any better than this.”

  “Doc, I’ve got to get back to work.” She stood up from the table, walked around it to him, and lightly kissed him on the cheek. “I’m so very happy for you. You deserve all of this. Don’t forget to call me tomorrow.”

  CHAPTER 25

  It had been a long week and Kelly was ready for the weekend. After she locked the door to the coffee shop, she and Lady walked over to where her minivan was parked in the lot adjacent to the pier.

  Darn. I just remembered that I need to renew my driver’s license over at city hall and time is running out. The next two weeks I’m not going to have time to take care of anything but working and getting ready for the wedding, plus Julia and Cash will be here in a week. I better take care of it now. Hate to waste my time doing things like that, but it would just be my luck to get a speeding ticket and then word would get out that the sheriff’s new wife was driving on an expired license.

  She pulled into the Cedar Bay City Hall parking lot and noticed what she thought was Mike’s patrol car parked across the street. As far as she knew, he was the only one who drove a car with the words “County Sheriff” written in white on it. She could make out Rebel’s form in the car and it looked like he was barking. He was standing in his usual place on the passenger seat with the window partially open. When she opened the door on her minivan, she clearly
heard him barking. That’s strange, she thought. Rebel never barks when he’s left alone in the car. Lady jumped out of the minivan and whimpered. Mike had given Kelly a key to his car in case it was blocking hers in the driveway and she needed to move it early in the morning in order to get to the coffee shop while he was asleep.

  She walked over to Mike’s car, unlocked the car door, and let Rebel out. His barking turned into a deep growl and the black hackles along his back were raised. He hurried over to a nearby building with white shutters and looked back at Kelly and Lady, as if to say “Follow me.”

  That’s Deidre’s apartment building and now I remember that Mike was going to her apartment today to talk to her about what he’d found out from that Arizona detective. What I don’t understand is why Rebel’s almost in an attack mode.

  Lady, Rebel, and Kelly rode the elevator up to the third floor and got out. Rebel sniffed the carpeting as if he was searching for a scent. Kelly and Lady hurriedly followed Rebel down the hall to Deidre’s apartment and stopped in front of the closed door. Kelly put her hand down, indicating to the dogs that they were to stay where they were. She heard Deidre’s voice inside the apartment. Kelly put her ear to the door and listened.

  “If I can’t have you, I’ll make sure Kelly can’t either. I’m going to take your shoes off. I want to get a picture of your feet to remember you by. You’ll never know,” she heard Deidre saying in a faraway sounding voice.

  Kelly didn’t hear any sounds or words coming from Mike. Deidre continued, “You’re just like Scott. I offered myself to him too, but just like you, he said no and you know what happened to him.”

  Kelly took her gun out of her purse and looked at both of the dogs. Rebel’s hackles were raised and Lady was watching Rebel and trying her best to do what Rebel was doing. Kelly put her finger to her lips and shook her head. The dogs stood as close to her as they could. She could feel Rebel’s body quivering.