“When my men heard the gunshot, they rushed next door to apartment 1A, kicked in the door, and luckily for the officers, the man holding the gun that he had just used to shoot and kill Anton dropped the gun and peacefully surrendered to the officers. A search of the room revealed numerous disposable cell phones along with a huge number of sheets of paper with credit card numbers written on them that were scattered all over the apartment. It was obvious from the evidence that the officers seized that the apartment was being used by the men as a “boiler room” to phone retailers, airlines, or whatever to make fraudulent charges using the stolen credit card numbers. All of the men in the room were arrested and are currently in jail awaiting arraignment in court later today. Naturally they’ve hired an attorney who will try and get them out on bail. The individual holding the gun when the officers barged into the apartment has been charged with murder, which is a no bail offense, so he’s going to be in jail for a long, long time.”
“Has Madame Dika been told about Anton’s death?” Liz asked.
“No, and I’m not so sure she’ll be very sorrowful, and here’s why. We discovered that the Death card that was found at the scene of Leroy’s murder had a very small thin crack on one of the edges of the card. Believe it or not, a small human hair had become snagged in that tiny crack. It looked like a chest hair.”
“Jim, when I saw Anton at Madame Dika’s, I remember that Anton had a very hairy chest and wore his shirt unbuttoned so his chest hair was quite visible.” Liz said.
“Turns out it was a chest hair. I had the coroner get a DNA sample from Anton’s body while it was in the morgue and there was a match between the DNA from the hair sample and the sample obtained by the coroner. I also had the coroner get fingerprints from Anton’s body. Apparently he had never been fingerprinted by any law enforcement authorities. We compared the fingerprints the coroner provided to us with those on the Death card and there was a match. So the end result was that both Anton’s fingerprints and his DNA were found on the Death card.”
“Do you think Anton killed Leroy?” Liz asked.
“Yes, I’m certain he did for several reasons, number one being that one of the men who was arrested said that Anton had told him he’d killed a man who was the ex-husband of the woman he was going to marry. Anton told him the police department carried an insurance policy on Leroy, and his wife-to-be could collect her back alimony from it. He told the man he hated his sister, and it would serve her right to do prison time again. Anton said she was always telling him what he should do, and how she didn’t like his friends.
“He also told the man he’d left a little evidence at the scene of the murder that would make everyone think his sister had committed the crime. That would be the Death card that Anton apparently had stolen out of Madame Dika’s special deck of tarot cards and deliberately left at the murder scene, knowing she’d be considered a prime suspect. After all, the card had her initials on it, it had mysteriously gone missing from her deck, and her fingerprints were all over the Death card. She was practically the only person who ever touched the card. As I said earlier, Anton’s fingerprints were on the Death card too, but apparently he wasn’t concerned about that, because he knew he’d never been fingerprinted by the authorities, and they wouldn’t be able to trace the prints on the card to him. Since his sister had served prison time, he knew her fingerprints would be a match.
“It was only after his death and the coroner provided us with a set of his fingerprints that we were able to tie him to the Death card. Concerning the DNA evidence against him, my guess is he stole the Death card from Madame Dika’s deck of tarot cards and put the Death card in his shirt pocket. After he shot and killed Leroy in his office, he pulled the Death card out of his shirt pocket and dropped it on the floor, but in doing so, one of his chest hairs snagged in the small tear in the card.
“By leaving the Death card at the murder scene, it’s obvious he wanted to make it look like Madame Dika had killed Leroy. I’m sure Anton was thinking something like the following: it’s her card; it has her initials on it; it’s missing from the tarot card deck that is more or less exclusively under her control, and suddenly without explanation it shows up at the murder scene; Leroy is threatening to shut down her business, so she has a solid motive to kill him in order to protect her business. That’s a long answer to the rather short question you asked Liz, but for all of those reasons, yes, I’m certain Anton killed Leroy.”
“So this means Seth is no longer a suspect in the case, and for that matter none of the others we had identified are either. Right?”
“When Sheriff Brown comes back from what’s now officially bereavement leave since his wife has died, and I tell him what’s happened on the case, I’m certain he’ll agree that based on what we’ve found out, Anton was the killer and tried to make it look like his sister did it. Funny thing, if Anton had worn his shirt buttoned a little higher and used a pair of latex gloves, Seth might have been tried for murder.”
“Jim, thanks for calling. Sounds like you’ve had a long night. Any chance you can go home and get some sleep?” Roger asked.
“Not until I get this paperwork done. This is just the beginning. It’s going to take awhile to prove that any unauthorized fraudulent charges were made on those credit cards. Naturally, the restaurants will have to be involved, and they’re pretty skittish about stuff like this becoming public and hurting their business.”
“Roger, Jim, would it be all right if I was the one to tell Madame Dika?”
Both of them spoke at once. “No.”
“I feel sorry for her. Her brother was her only relative who lived in the United States, and several times she mentioned her mother. I think she’s very close to her, and it’s going to be very hard for her to have to tell her mother that Anton is dead.”
“Liz,” Roger said, “One of the things I love about you is your innocence. Madame Dika is not a good person. I don’t know if she’s running a scam with the tarot cards or not, but I do know she fleeced a lot of people out of a lot of money in Southern California with her jewelry scam. Sounds like her brother wasn’t much better. Jim, we’re going to be married in a few months, and this may be our first argument. Probably better sign off and talk to you later.”
“Hold on, Roger. Liz, if things don’t work out with that caveman husband-to-be of yours, I want you to know you can always have a job with the San Francisco Police Department. The work you did on this case was brilliant. I really want to commend you for it. Thank you. Matter of fact, might just call you up and pick your brain from time to time. By the way, just for the record, I agree with everything Roger said about Madame Dika. I’ll have one of my men tell her. It would probably be better if she heard it from an official source. Again, Liz, without you, we never would have been able to crack this case. Now it’s in our hands and we need to make it stick.”
“Jim, if you ever need a place to come for a little R & R, I’d be happy to put you up at one of the cottages and even make an appointment for you to have a massage.”
“That just might happen. Again, thanks,” he said ending the call.
“Roger, you’re both probably right about Madame Dika. I do need to call Seth and tell him what’s happened when the hour is decent. What about Leroy’s ex-wife? She should probably be told as well.”
“That’s another one you can stay clear of. I’ll text Jim about her. It’s in the police department’s hands now. All I want you to do is think about being Mrs. Langley. Woman, we have a wedding to plan!”
“You’re right, Roger, I can do that.”
“I think I’ll treasure this moment. This may be the only time in the foreseeable future I’ll hear you say I’m right.”
“You’re right about that too, Roger,” she said grinning.
Recipes!
There's a surprise following the recipes.
CANTALOUPE SALAD DRESSING
Ingredients:
1 cup cantaloupe pieces
2 tbsp. rice wi
ne vinegar
4 tsp. sugar
¼ tsp. salt
Directions:
Combine ingredients and puree in blender until smooth. Place in a container and refrigerate until needed to serve over melons as a fruit salad.
MAPLE BACON CINNAMON ROLLS
Ingredients:
1 can refrigerated crescent rolls
3 tbsp. maple syrup, divided
¾ lb. thick cut bacon, preferably applewood-smoked, sliced crosswise into 1/4 inch pieces
½ cup light brown sugar
1 tbsp. ground cinnamon
2 tbsp. cream cheese
2 tbsp. butter
½ cup plus 2 tbsp. sifted powdered sugar
2 tbsp. milk for thinning glaze
Silpat cookie sheet liner or parchment paper
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Open the can of rolls and separate them into triangles. Place them on a silpat or parchment paper lined cookie sheet, approximately ½ inch apart. Fry the bacon for about 15 minutes until crisp. Reserve 2 tbsp. bacon grease.
In a small saucepan, melt the butter and add 2 tbsp. maple syrup. Remove from heat and set aside.
In a small bowl, whisk the brown sugar and cinnamon together. Set aside.
Brush the crescent roll dough triangles with the butter-maple syrup mixture and sprinkle with the brown sugar mixture. Top with bacon bits keeping 1 inch empty along the long side of the dough triangle. Roll each triangle into a tube beginning with the long side and ending with the point. Place the rolls, seam side down on the lined cookie sheet. Place in oven and bake for 25 minutes or until brown. Remove the rolls from the cookie sheet and cool for a few minutes on a baking rack.
While rolls are cooking, make the glaze. In a medium bowl with a hand mixer combine the cream cheese, powdered sugar, 1 tbsp. each bacon grease (melted) and maple syrup. If too thick, add the milk until the desired consistency is reached.
Plate and drizzle the glaze over the rolls. Enjoy!
NOTE: These can be assembled the evening before and refrigerated. Take them out of the refrigerator and let them come to room temperature, then bake as directed.
WARM ASIAN NOODLES
Ingredients:
12 oz. thin Asian noodles
¼ cup soy sauce
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp. rice vinegar
2 tbsp. brown sugar
3 tbsp. sesame oil
2 tbsp. cooking oil
3 tbsp. hot chili sauce (start with 1 tbsp. until desired heat is reached)
4 green onions, thinly sliced
Directions:
Cook noodles in boiling water according to package directions. While they’re cooking, combine the rest of the ingredients with the exception of the green onions. Pour the sauce over the warm noodles and toss to combine. Sprinkle the green onions over the noodles and serve. Enjoy!
SALMON OVER SPINACH WITH BÉRNAISE SAUCE
Ingredients:
1 large fillet of salmon or steelhead trout (skin on)
1 pkg. Knorr béarnaise sauce
¼ cup butter
1 cup milk
3 bunches of fresh baby spinach (stems removed)
1 tsp. Lowry’s Lemon Pepper seasoning salt
½ tsp. paprika
3 Tbsp. olive oil
Directions:
Prepare béarnaise sauce per package instructions in small saucepan. Set aside and keep warm on low heat until salmon is finished and ready to serve.
Heat the barbecue to medium hot. Lightly brush olive oil on “good side” of fillet and place “good side” down on hot grill for 4 minutes. After 4 minutes, using two thin spatulas loosen the fillet from the grill and flip the fillet away from you so it is now skin side down.
Lightly baste “good side” with olive oil and lightly sprinkle Lowry’s Lemon Pepper salt on fillet. Cook another 4 minutes with skin side down. One minute before fillet is removed from grill shake very small amount of paprika on it (for color only).
After 8 minutes total cooking time, remove fillet from grill to cookie sheet. Slide fillet onto cutting board. Using long-handled flat spatula, slide it under the fillet lengthwise and flip fillet so skin side is up. Using sharp edge spatula and your fingers, gently pull the skin off. It will come off in one piece.
Using sharp edge of spatula gently scrape off the “dark matter” that’s left after the skin is removed. When finished, flip fillet so “good side” is up. Place the uncooked spinach leaves on the plate. Cut the fillet into serving size pieces and place on top of the spinach leaves “good side” up. Spoon warm béarnaise sauce over fish and serve. Enjoy!
FORGIVING STUFFED ZUCCHINI BOATS
Ingredients:
4 medium zucchini, washed and halved, lengthwise
2 tbsp. olive oil
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
½ cup mushroom, chopped
2 tbsp. white wine
1 lb. extra-lean hamburger meat
3 tbsp. chopped fresh basil
1 tbsp. chopped fresh rosemary
¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg, beaten
2 tbsp. butter
1 ½ tsp. salt
1 ½ tsp. pepper
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Scoop out zucchini halves with a small spoon. Reserve the inner pulp.
Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat until oil is hot. Add the mushrooms and sauté for 1 minute. Add the garlic and the reserved pulp of the zucchini and cook for 3 minutes. Add the white wine and cook for one minute. Add the hamburger and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon until brown, approximately 7 to 10 minutes. Stir in herbs and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, place in bowl and let cool.
When cool, mix in egg, butter, cheese, salt, and pepper. Fill the zucchini shells with the mixture and fill a baking pan with ¼ inch water. Place the zucchini halves in the pan and bake for 40 minutes, until golden brown. Place the cooked zucchini halves on plates and serve. Enjoy!
NOTE: I have substituted ground pork or veal for the hamburger as well as a finely chopped rib eye steak. Cook as per directions for hamburger. I have also used whatever cheese I had on hand and Panko crumbs to bind the mixture and change the taste. This is something you can play with. Enjoy!
*****
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The Best Book on Money and Success That'll Take You to the Top
CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1 - A New Beginning
CHAPTER 2 - What Do You Want?
CHAPTER 3 - Plugging Massive Energy Leaks
CHAPTER 4 - Empty Yourself First
CHAPTER 5 - Resistance Explained
CHAPTER 6 - Sin, a Wretched Invention
CHAPTER 7 - Nothing can kill
CHAPTER 8 - The Turnaround
CHAPTER 9 - Actionless Action - Act Without Acting
CHAPTER 10 - Mother's Special Recipe for Success (Reader's Favorite)
CHAPTER 11 - The Power behind a Choice or Decision
CHAPTER 12 - Why do some people never get what they want?
CHAPTER 13 - Be Very Selfish & Don't Forget the F Word
CHAPTER 14 - Reverse Engineering your Deepest Fear
CHAPTER 15 - Living in the Now & The Secret of a Billion Bits
CHAPTER 16 - The Essence
CHAPTER 1
A New Beginning
It was the first week of March and Spring was just around the corner, eager to burst forth and bless everyone with life and warmth once more. A beaming sun and blue skies dotted with white fluffy clouds greeted all those who had assembled. Smiles abounded, and even those who were grouchy couldn't help flashing their pearly or not so pear
ly whites.
The organization catered to those who needed someone "to listen" to them in their moment of crises, and in the long run steer them away, tactfully, from committing suicide. It had been in existence f or decades, tucked away in a quaint house in a leafy neighborhood in the suburbs. What these callers didn't realize was that loneliness was killing them, slowly and softly.
Those who called the helpline came from all walks of life and over the decades the clientele included shop owners, taxi-drivers, cashiers, celebrities, office clerks, fast food workers, engineers, nurses, waiters, waitresses, CEO's, customer service reps, truckers, actors, actresses, loaders, baggage handlers, authors, directors, producers, janitors, warehouse workers, journalists, secretaries, bookkeepers, teachers, maids, pilots, maintenance people, lawyers, hoteliers, government officials, pimps, hookers, bankers, ex-convicts etc.
Twice a year the organization would hold a get-together where the Chairman would host a feast for the volunteers who were educated, compassionate, eclectic, enthusiastic and inspiring. The Chairman was a wise and generous man revered for his wisdom, both, from a monetary and spiritual angle. He wanted to share his secrets, "real secrets of life", with them.
There are principles and then there are tactics or techniques. Principles are few and far in-between whereas tactics range in the hundreds or thousands. He wanted to share his life-transforming principles (and a few techniques), the best of the best, with these good Samaritans; they deserved it. The possibilities were limitless once the foundation was laid.
The chairman had a handsome forehead, deep-set eyes, lush eyebrows, an aquiline nose and a head covered with silvery-white hair. The volunteers could invite their family and friends, and the event was always a memorable one.
The post lunch session was the most precious part of the day. By then all barriers had been broken and the gathering resembled one big, happy family. The Q&A session would begin where they could ask the Chairman absolutely anything. No topic was deemed inappropriate or juvenile, and they were free to go in any direction. The volunteers came from all walks of life and despite vast differences, both economic and social, they all shared a common thirst for love, money and happiness. Yet, at times, the intensity of that thirst seemed to get in the way of everything they yearned for.
The Death Card: A Liz Lucas Cozy Mystery Page 12
