Died With a Bow

by Grace Carroll

  “Then I’m very lucky to be alive, since I didn’t have a life jacket or protection against the cold.”

  He gave me a pamphlet on the causes of hypothermia, which I glanced at. Then I added, just to see if he’d stop lecturing me, “Besides, someone wanted to kill me.”

  “They did? Why?” He looked mildly curious. Maybe he heard that a lot in the ER.

  “It’s a long story. Can I go home now?”

  After he told me to drink hot liquids, keep warm and get plenty of rest, he added, “No alcohol. No caffeine. You may seem irrational, but you’ll get over it.”

  “I doubt it,” I murmured.

  I got dressed and then took one more look around for Jonathan, but it was just as well he wasn’t on duty. I couldn’t imagine recounting my unbelievable story of survival in the San Francisco Bay again. Maybe later, after I’d recovered.

  “You think you can live through a brief session at the station before I take you home?” Jack asked. “I can promise you some hot soup and the use of my Forty-niners football blanket to wrap around you.”

  I sighed. “I guess so.” Even though I was feeling a little better, especially knowing he was doing his best to keep me comfortable, I wanted him to think I was doing him a big favor after all the times he’d told me to butt out of this investigation. Besides, there were a few things I wanted to know in exchange for my cooperation.

  One was, what was he doing at the boat show?

  “Believe it or not, I was not, I am not on duty today. I was thinking of buying a boat. In fact, I made an offer on a small sailboat. Then I heard someone yelling. A guy who said his wife had disappeared and he was afraid she’d gone out in a boat by herself.”

  “Lex.”

  “Yes. He didn’t know she wasn’t alone. Why the hell did you go out in a boat with a murderer?” he demanded as he drove down the street toward the Central Police Station.

  “I didn’t know Bobbi was the murderer.”

  “Then why did she try to kill you?”

  “It was all a misunderstanding. She thought I was after her.”

  “Who were you after?”

  “Anyone and everyone. But not her. I suspected Vienna’s old boyfriends, her roommate, her family, and yes, Bobbi too. But I didn’t know it was her until she told me. How did you know?” I asked him.

  “The prints on Vienna’s clothes and her skin and even the hanger used to kill her just came back from the crime lab in Sacramento. I’d gone to arrest her this morning, but she wasn’t there. There was an all-points bulletin, and I had a deputy and a crew watching her house.”

  “But she was at the boat show.”

  “Yeah. And now…”

  “She’s at the bottom of the Bay. You don’t have to find her body, do you?”

  “We have to make sure she didn’t survive. The boats are out there now searching the area.”

  “I learned today that nobody could survive more than fifteen minutes in that water. Untreated hypothermia leads to heart failure, respiratory failure and death.”

  “Did Bobbi tell you how she killed Vienna?” he asked

  “Just like she tried to kill me, by strangling her. Only she used the hanger on Vienna, and a Hermes scarf on me.”

  “I wasn’t aware you reported an attempted murder,” he said, raising his eyebrows.

  “No, but I will next time, I promise. Shall I go on?” I asked impatiently. “After the benefit Bobbi followed Vienna to the shop, where I assume she was going to change out of her gown, and when Vienna refused to give up the necklace, she killed her.”

  “But how did the necklace end up at the pawnshop then?

  “Bobbi took it there to get money for it so she could buy herself a Rolls that Lex wouldn’t buy for her. But he did, so she decided to keep the necklace. Only she didn’t get it back until the night she killed Vienna. Then she took it back to the pawn shop for safekeeping, knowing it would be a damaging piece of evidence if it was found anywhere near her.”

  I sipped the hot soup Jack had brought from a vending machine, while he went behind his desk and unlocked a drawer. He pulled out the famous necklace and held it in the palm of his hand.

  I gasped.

  “Is this it?”

  I nodded. “You got it from the pawnshop.”

  “Just dumb luck. I happened to be passing by while in my old neighborhood and I saw it in the window, but I didn’t want to make the purchase myself where they know me, so I sent my assistant in to buy it.”

  “But the pawnshop guy said the same woman who dropped it off bought it back.”

  “Not true,” he said. “He was confused.”

  “But you’d never seen the necklace. So how did you know…”

  “I’d heard a lot about it.”

  “Who gets it now?” I said, admiring the way the diamonds sparkled around the deep pink stone.

  “I’ll let you know,” he said and locked it up again.

  Jack drove me home and made sure I was warm and safely ensconced in my small bedroom. “You going to be okay?” he asked when he saw my eyelids drooping.

  “I’ll be fine. When I wake up later, I’ll call Meera at the pizza place and have something delivered.”

  “What time would that be?”

  “I can’t believe you’d cadge another dinner invitation from me. Have you no shame?” I asked. Then I drifted off into a deliciously warm slumber, knowing I’d solved another crime and the streets were safe for well-dressed honest citizens again.

  Style Tips

  Rita’s Underwear Rules

  If you’re worried about telltale underwear lines, you’re ready for a thong. Look for something simple and comfortable. Avoid lace; it looks sexy, but it’s uncomfortable and itchy. Buy something in cotton or seamless microfiber.

  If your bra is riding up, it’s too big (in number, not letter). Exchange your 36B for a 34B.

  Don’t buy underwear that has to be hand-washed. Who has time for hand-washing? Besides, eventually you’ll throw it in the washing machine by mistake, so check the labels or ask the sales staff at the lingerie department to be sure you can machine wash whatever you buy.

  Bra straps can show, so be sure and choose your bra with that in mind. Some call it tacky, others call it high fashion. Check out the celebs who show their straps on purpose. How about a yellow tank top with red bra straps? Red is a power color, after all. Or a white top with black straps that match your black, color-intense lipstick?

  Rita’s Hair Tips

  Long hair set in loose waves is always sexy.

  After shampooing your hair, be sure to make the final rinse in cold water—this will make your hair shinier.

  Don’t make the mistake of not rinsing the shampoo completely out of your hair. Rinse and rinse again, using a ton of water. If you don’t, your hair will be dull and listless.

  For maximum volume, blow-dry to the side rather than upside down.

  Braids or one single braid is a cute and sexy style. At night wash your hair and braid it. In the morning, take out the braid and voila—you’ve got waves!

  You wear your haircut every day, so don’t be afraid to spend a bundle on a good cut. If a great cut cost more than your shoes, it would still be reasonable.

  If your hairstylist trashes the beautician who last cut your hair, dump her or him! The best stylists concentrate on doing a good job for you no matter what shape your hair is in. It’s not their job to tell you what’s wrong with you.

  Stick with something that’s closest to your natural hair texture. If you have natural waves, don’t hide them by straightening your hair. If you have long straight hair, iron it and make sure it’s clean, shiny and swingy. For a change, put it up in a bun or tuck it into your hat.

  A bad haircut? It’s not the end of the world. In a year you won’t even remember this disastrous cut. In the meantime, first you cry. Sure you feel ugly and maybe even stupid for going to the wrong place. Then write it down. Where you went, how much you paid and your vow neve
r to make that mistake again. Finally, accept what happened. Your hair will grow and it will look great once again.

  Round face? Try a layered haircut with fullness on top, but keep it close to your face at the sides. Go either short or longer than chin length. A rounded style that ends at your chin will make your face look rounder, just what you don’t want. Oval face? Lucky you, you can wear your hair any length or style you want.

  Color your hair? Don’t do a wild color like blue no matter how crazy you feel. You’ll be sorry in the morning. But deliberate messiness is okay. After all, Jennifer Aniston gets away with it, why not you? Perfumed hair? A great idea unless your hair is dry, in which case spray your nape instead because the alcohol in most fragrances sucks out moisture.

  Rita’s Wardrobe Must-Haves

  A fluffy sweater. Even in the summer you must have one to go with your jeans, your shorts or your miniskirt. Especially if you live in San Francisco where summer can be really chilly. Sweaters are cozy and sexy at the same time, whether they’re slouchy or fitted, alpaca blend or mohair, scoop-neck or turtleneck.

  Colorful booties. You can go solid or print with these. In a bright color, they stand out and make a statement. If you decide on printed booties, it’s because they’re whimsical, bold and attention-grabbing. Choose polka dots or jewel-toned velvet. Wear with slouchy socks or jeans or, for a stunning contrast, a lacy party dress.

  A tuxedo shirt. The look you want is that you just borrowed the shirt from a guy who’s almost the same size as you. Keep the neck exposed by unbuttoning at least three buttons and adding jewelry. Try wide-cuff bracelets at your wrists and metallic wedges on your feet, and carry a vintage silk clutch. Then top it off with a black satin blazer, which is subtle and understated. Finally, a bright short silk skirt with—what else?—black tights, of course.

  The gown. You may say, as Rita did, that you have no place to wear a formal gown, but you never know. When you do and you don’t want to look so formal, go with a pattern and a wild color. How about a temporary tattoo? So fun and so much attitude. With your gown, wear a tough leather jacket and a pair of colorful sequined pumps.

  The party skirt (and what to wear with it even if you’re not going to a party). The skirt is a nylon-blend flouncy skirt. When Rita is in her preppie mood, she wears it with a blazer, a turtleneck shirt, black tights and a pair of faux-suede shoes. When she’s feeling European, she wears her fitted shrunken-tweed jacket, a leather bag, mulberry tights and high-heeled booties. There are days when Rita wants to look more girlie. That’s when she goes to her closet for a thin, lightweight wool cardigan, a silk chiffon blouse, rhinestone earrings and, of course, her best black tights with classic black pumps.

  An all-black outfit. Some days Rita likes to wear black. Even in spring. It feels clean and strong to her. When the mood strikes, she opts for black J Brand zipper jeans with a black Lainey Keogh cashmere sweater, bold wire-rim Ray-Ban sunglasses and a pair of black sneakers. In this outfit she can go anywhere from work to dinner and even fit in a little sleuthing, since everyone knows that black is great for sneaking around at night.

  Hot pants and boy shorts. Rita convinced Dolce to place a big order for these items, sure she could sell them. So of course what better way than to wear them to work? This is a shorter-than-short style and admittedly is not for everyone. But for those who want to wear them, a gym membership is a must to tone the muscles. That’s why Rita will be seen pedaling around Golden Gate Park on her rented bicycle, in her boy shorts, naturally. Sometimes she’ll wear her knee-high or over-the-knee socks with them.

  A day-off look. Even though Rita had had only one day off a week, she needed a special look. First a pair of lean and sexy chinos, which form the neutral base for a khaki-’n’-color combo. Then she added an anorak in a bright color in case of wind or rain. Or she liked a sequined vest to jazz up her basics or add a fashionable touch to a tank and khakis. Wedges are very spring. When it’s her day off, she likes to wear a bra top under blouses or oversize shirts. They’re great with something sheer.

  Recipes

  Meera’s Romanian Mamaliga Balls

  These delicious appetizers are an excellent example of the Eastern Europeans’ love of one food tucked inside of another. In this case, begin with cornmeal porridge (mamaliga) and cook until thick; then form into balls with your hands, stuff with meat such as smoked sausage, and finally, fry the balls until crisp and hot. Serve hot with sliced tomatoes, sour cream or—if you don’t care about being traditional—a marinara sauce. Mamaliga is a wonderful appetizer, snack or addition to any meal. You can substitute the sausage stuffing with chunks of ham or feta cheese.

  Notice that cornmeal porridge is the equivalent of Italian polenta, which can be substituted for cornmeal.

  This recipe makes 6 to 8 servings.

  2 cups yellow cornmeal or polenta

  21⁄2 cups water

  3⁄4 teaspoon salt

  1 tablespoon butter

  Vegetable oil for frying

  1 cup roughly chopped salami or cooked smoked sausage

  Stir together cornmeal, water and salt in a heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cook 12 minutes, stirring frequently, until thick enough to be scooped. Stir in butter; taste and season to your liking.

  Heat oil in a heavy-bottomed pot or deep fryer to 350°F. Using a cookie scoop or your hands, portion the cornmeal mixture into balls. Flatten the mamaliga in your hand, add a chunk of meat to the center, seal and reroll into a ball.

  Fry balls 2–3 minutes until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.

  William’s Recipe for Steak Diane

  Steak Diane was traditionally cooked tableside at fine restaurants like Delmonico’s. The headwaiter would roll a food trolley to your table, and as you watched wide-eyed, he would slice, dice, debone and flambé. The excitement came when he’d set fire to the cognac in the sauce. It’s hard to find a restaurant that will actually do a traditional flambé these days. Maybe it’s because they fear an accident followed by a lawsuit, or perhaps it’s just that the waitstaff is not trained in the art of flambé.

  It’s too bad because flambéing is not just for show. Igniting the cognac or brandy in the recipe intensifies the flavor of the sauce by caramelizing the sugars. During caramelization, the sauce develops its mouthwatering flavor.

  5 Secrets to a Stunning Flambé

  Start with a dry piece of meat.

  Use high heat.

  Use a heavy skillet.

  Use a skillet large enough to accommodate the steaks without overcrowding.

  Use high-quality cognac, brandy or rum

  Steak Diane

  4 3-ounce filet mignon medallions

  1⁄2 teaspoon salt

  1⁄4 teaspoon fresh black pepper

  1 tablespoons unsalted butter

  4 teaspoons minced shallots

  1 teaspoon minced garlic

  1 cup sliced mushroom caps

  1⁄4 cup cognac or brandy

  2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

  1⁄4 cup heavy cream

  1⁄4 cup reduced veal or beef or chicken stock

  2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

  2 drops hot red pepper sauce

  1 tablespoon chopped green onions

  1 teaspoon minced parsley

  Season beef medallions on both sides with the salt and pepper.

  Melt the butter in a large skillet. Add meat and cook for 45 seconds on first side. Turn over and cook for 30 seconds on second side. Add shallots and garlic and cook 20 seconds. Add mushrooms and cook until soft. Place meat on a plate and cover to keep warm.

  Tilt pan toward you and add the brandy. Tip the pan away from you and ignite the brandy with a match, or remove pan from heat to ignite and then return to the heat. When the flame is burned out, add the mustard and cream, mix thoroughly and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add veal stock and simmer for 1 minute. Add the Worcestershire and hot sauce and keep stirring until smooth. Return the meat and juices to pan and turn
the meat to coat with the sauce. Remove from the heat and stir in green onions and parsley. Serve immediately.

  Rita’s Slow-Cooked Pork Roast

  (A Slight Variation to the One She Actually Made) A note about slow cooking: if you, like Rita, don’t have a slow cooker, you can also make this in a Dutch oven or other heavy covered pot. Cook at 250° for about 4 hours.

  This recipe makes 8 to 10 servings.

  3–4 pound pork roast

  Kosher salt

  Fresh black pepper

  1 cup white wine

  1⁄4 cup fresh sage leaves

  8 cloves garlic

  1 teaspoon allspice berries (optional)

  Red pepper flakes (optional)

  METHOD 1

  Rub the pork roast all over with salt and pepper. Bruise the sage leaves (Rita didn’t know what that meant, so she skipped it), and mince or slice the garlic—anything quick—it doesn’t need to be pretty. Put the roast, white wine, sage, garlic, allspice berries and red pepper flakes (if desired) in the slow cooker and cook for 10 hours on low or 5–6 hours on high. If desired, add small potatoes and/or small baby carrots during the last hour of cooking.

  METHOD 2

  This method takes some preplanning and a slow cooker. The day before, rub the meat lightly with kosher salt and black pepper. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate. On the day you are going to cook the roast, heat a little olive oil in a large skillet and fry the garlic until golden, then remove it from the pan. Turn the heat up to medium high and when the pan is very hot, add the pork roast and brown until it’s very dark on all sides. It helps if you cut the pork into pieces first. Don’t worry about the meat drying out—it will reabsorb all its moisture and more. Crack the allspice and fry it, along with the red pepper, with the pork just as it’s finishing browning. Add everything to the slow cooker and cook for 10 hours on low or 5–6 hours on high.

  Turn the page for a preview of

  Grace Carroll’s next Accessory Mystery…

  24-Karat Killer