A Sacrificial Matter

by Ilona Fridl

  After the carnival ended, Luke took Sarah back to the theater, and on the way she gave him the report to take to the sheriff. She returned the clothes but wanted to keep the wig for a little longer. Kata put the elastic net, a tube of spirit gum, and the wig into a hatbox for her.

  ****

  Amos pored over the book on pagan rites and rituals until he started nodding off. Nat was happily drooling over a hard biscuit in his playpen. Suddenly, something he was reading caught Amos’ eye. It was about the rite of midsummer on the solstice. He checked the calendar on the wall. That was the night of the murder. He had just started reading more of that information when Sarah came back.

  “I found something.” He rose and gave her a kiss. “How did you do?”

  Sarah picked up Nat, then seated herself in an office chair and started feeding him. She told Amos about Hiram Bates and his invitation to the Institute. “What did you find?”

  “This is about the pagan rite of midsummer that takes place on the solstice. There is a ritual that sacrifices the oak god to make way for the holly god that will rule until the winter solstice. It says here that in ancient times, a member was chosen for the actual sacrifice which now has become symbolic.” He snorted. “Symbolic, in a pig’s eye.”

  Sarah thought for a moment. “There was an oak wreath near the body.” She paused. “Would that make the whole group guilty of murder, or just the one who struck him down?”

  “Good question. Hopefully, you can find your way into this group. Bates was impressed with you, eh?”

  “Mary secretly told me when he was coming. I just did some wonderful guessing. Kata let me keep the wig for now, so I can keep up the disguise. I think I’ll go to the Institute on Monday.”

  Sarah started gathering things together so they could close the office. Amos followed suit and tucked the volume under his arm. Deep down, he knew Sarah had to do this to get information, but he couldn’t shake the dread he felt for her. These people had killed before.

  ****

  With the wig firmly affixed to her head, Sarah was off to see Hiram Bates. She had done her makeup like Kata had originally. Her cloche hat wouldn’t sit right on the wig, so she put on her wrapped turban-style hat. It was stretchy and looked good on the curls. Dropping Nat at her mother’s, she headed to the Institute.

  There was a cold drizzle, and Sarah prayed that the spirit gum would hold fast. At least Amos had let her take the Oldsmobile, so she wouldn’t be out in the wet for long.

  The large educational building loomed ahead of her, and she parked the auto on the dirt lot next to it. Walking into the reception area, she stopped by the desk where an attractive young girl sat to monitor those who came and went. “Excuse me, miss. Is Mr. Hiram Bates in?”

  She checked a list and smiled. “Yes, he is. Go to the second floor and turn right. His office is at the end of the hall.”

  Sarah thanked her and went up the large main staircase. There was a long walk to his office, but she found the door with the frosted glass that had the words in black paint: Hiram Bates – World Religion Studies Department. She opened the door and was met by another girl at a desk.

  “Yes, ma’am?”

  “Could you tell Mr. Bates that Roma Spiros is here to see him?”

  The girl disappeared into the office in the back, then appeared again with Mr. Bates. He clasped Sarah’s hand. “Miss Spiros, how good it is to see you again. Come in!”

  She stepped into an office that looked like a scene from a moving picture about Dracula. Objects from every conceivable religion were on display. A framed picture caught her eye, and it took some acting not to gasp. It was a shadowy form of a man with ten colored spots on his body all linked with numbered lines. That looks like what was on Abner Wells. “Interesting office you have, Mr. Bates.”

  He waved his hand toward a chair. “Please have a seat. And you may call me Hiram.”

  She took the seat. “You may call me Roma. Now, why did you want me to come to visit you?”

  “Because you seem to have a real gift. Tell me something of yourself. Are you from Juneau?”

  She shook her head. “I just moved up from Seattle. I have some friends here. Are you from here?”

  “I was born here during the gold rush. I never knew my father. Are you American? You have a slight accent.”

  “My parents were from Greece. They came to America, and all their children were born here. I guess I picked up the accent from them, but they never spoke Greek around us. They wanted us to blend in.”

  “When did you realize you had a gift?”

  “My mother always had deep insights about things. She had a deck of tarot cards and taught palmistry to me. It’s something that came naturally.”

  He walked around the desk and stood in front of her. “I’m having a meeting of friends who are interested in things like that. Would you come? I could escort you. Where do you live?”

  A knot of panic played in her stomach and she thought fast. “I’m at the Northern Lights hotel. I haven’t found a permanent place to live yet. I could meet you in the lobby. When is it?”

  “Saturday evening next. I can pick you up at six-thirty. We can have dinner first.”

  This was dangerous. Sarah hoped she could steer him to where there wasn’t a likelihood that someone would recognize her. But she’d traveled this far, so she may as well go along. She put out her hand and rose. “All right. I’ll be ready.”

  He took her hand and kissed it. “I’ll be looking forward to it, Roma.”

  She departed and hurried to the auto, coaxing it to go as fast as it could to the Northern Lights. Sarah strode to the reception desk. “May I speak to the manager, please?”

  The man went into a room and came back with a gray-haired gentleman. “May I help you?” the older man asked.

  “Is there a place we can talk in private?”

  He motioned to the door. “We can speak in my office.”

  As soon as the door was closed, Sarah said, “Mr. Taylor, I’m Sarah Darcy and I’m working undercover on a case. I need a favor.”

  An amused expression crossed his face. “That’s a wonderful disguise. I didn’t recognize you.”

  “Can I register a room to a Miss Roma Spiros until Sunday next? If you lose money on it, I can pay.”

  He waved his hand. “I’ll just put Miss Spiros in one of our overflow rooms. Anyone who comes looking wouldn’t know the difference.”

  “I’m going to be picked up in the lobby Saturday evening for dinner. If anyone asks for me in the meantime, tell them I’m out.”

  He held up his hand. “Wait here.” He stepped out of the office and returned with the register book and a key. “Sign the book for room thirty-four, and here’s the key. That way if any of the staff asks, your name will be in the book, and you can show the key to the room.”

  She signed “Roma Spiros” in the register and put the key in her pocketbook. “Thank you for your help.” At his bow, she walked out and drove to the office. Parking the auto in back of the office, she went in to find Sam and Amos engrossed in conversation.

  Sam did a double-take when he saw her. “Luke said something about your disguise, but I didn’t realize you’d look so different. Amos told me about the ritual that might have been the basis for the murder. How are you doing on getting into the group?”

  Sarah told them about her morning adventures. When she came to the dinner with Hiram Bates, Amos’ face twisted.

  “You’re going out to dinner with him?”

  She grinned. “Amos, how sweet! You’re jealous.” She removed the wig. “I’m not going out to dinner, Roma is.” She dropped the wig into the hatbox. “That’s Roma.”

  Amos gritted his teeth. “Yes, but you happen to be attached to her.”

  “Don’t worry. I can take care of myself.”

  Sam cleared his throat. “Did he say where you were going to have dinner?” Sarah shook her head. “Maybe I could have someone tail you to a restaurant.”

&nb
sp; Sarah paused. “That might work. But don’t tail us when we go to meet the group. That might raise too much suspicion.”

  Amos was making some unintelligible sounds at his desk. Sam slapped him on the back. “Sarah is the only one now that can get us through the door. She has to do this.”

  Amos took a deep breath. “I know, but this is turning into a case from hell.”

  Sam laughed and put on his hat. “Relax. Don’t let the green-eyed monster get you. Good day to you both.”

  After he left, Sarah turned to go to her office. “I have to remove this makeup, and then I’ll pick up Nat from my mother. Since there’s nothing more today, I’ll see you at home.”

  Amos stood and snagged her arm, whirling her around to face him. He bent her backward into a long kiss that curled her toes. He pulled back, leaving her shaken and weak-kneed. “Just remember who you’re coming home to.”

  “I couldn’t forget if I tried.” Sarah gave him an enticing wink and sashayed out of the office.

  Chapter 4

  Sarah waited, drumming her fingers on the arm of the fancy velvet chair in the lobby of the Northern Lights hotel. She checked her watch. It was six-forty. Bates was ten minutes late.

  Her disguise well in place, she had purchased an entire new outfit and shoes, to Amos’ chagrin. She explained to him that people might recognize her own clothes. He sputtered, but saw the reasoning. Anyway, she had secretly wanted a new dress, so this worked out to her advantage.

  The lobby door to the outside opened, and a distinguished-looking man in a dinner jacket stepped inside. Bates. He hurried to her. “I’m sorry to be late, Roma, but a problem came up I had to attend to.”

  Sarah rose. “Maybe we should call this off, postpone for another time.”

  He grasped her hand and kissed it. “No, my dear. I’m not in the habit of breaking dates. Come.”

  Hiram Bates led her out to his Packard and helped her in. As the car pulled away from the curb, Sarah took a compact from her pocketbook. While seeming to check her face, she held the mirror so she could see out the back window. A familiar Model T turned behind them from a side street. Looked like Sam and a young lady were following. So Sam is going to keep an eye on me at the restaurant. She powdered her nose and returned the compact to her pocketbook.

  They arrived at a gravel lot next to the Glacier Bay Inn. Hiram escorted her inside, and a host seated them. Sarah took a seat where she could see the door. As Hiram was studying the menu, she saw Sam and his young lady come in. Their eyes locked for a second, and she hoped Hiram hadn’t noticed. Sam and the girlfriend were seated on the other side of the room.

  Hiram raised his eyes from the sheet. “How about the salmon fillets?”

  Sarah nodded. “Yes, why don’t you order that?”

  Hiram gave the order for both of them, and when the waiter came back he brought chilled ginger ale and a relish tray. Hiram poured the ginger ale into two iced glasses. “A toast, my dear, that we can get to know each other better.”

  After she drank a sip, she put her glass down. “May I ask about the group you want me to meet?”

  He paused. “They’re friends of mine who are secretly unconventional. We delve deeper into spiritualism than what’s fashionable.”

  “Like what?”

  “We share a fascination with ritual and magic. Medium practices to communicate with the other side. We’ve mixed some druid rites with cabala. Very similar to the Golden Dawn. Have you heard of them?”

  “No, but it sounds interesting.”

  He leaned forward. “I think you have a sensitivity that would work well with us.”

  “Where and when does your group meet?”

  “Once a month, on the last Saturday, at my office at the Institute. We also have rites and meet on weekends in the summer at our naturalist camp.”

  Sarah had lived there all her life and never heard of the place. “What is a naturalist camp?”

  “For us, it’s a fenced acreage above the old Treadwell mining site. Naturalists are people who enjoy sunshine and fresh air unencumbered by clothes.”

  She had to stop a gasp from passing her lips and was grateful when their order came. This has to be the group I’m looking for. One of these people is a killer. Maybe all of them.

  He half-smiled. “You don’t seem to be shocked.”

  She paused. “There’s all kinds in the world.” They finished their meal and rose to go. Sarah hung back. “I need to go to the powder room before we leave.”

  He inclined his head. “I will bring the auto to the front door.”

  In the powder room, she tore a sheet off her notepad and wrote down the information. Walking past Sam’s table, she let the folded paper fall from her palm and went on out the door to the waiting auto.

  At the Institute, he led her inside, and they walked up the stairs to his office. There didn’t seem to be anyone else in the halls, but she heard conversation coming from an open doorway. There was a group of five crowding Hiram’s office beyond that door, and his secretary seemed to be one of them. He introduced them to Sarah, using first names only. She was introduced as Roma.

  “These are all the members except Maxine and Fitz. They had to take care of some personal problems.”

  One of the young women, Dora, studied Sarah. “Weren’t you the fortuneteller at the carnival?” She turned to Hiram. “Why did you ask her to join us?”

  He gazed at Dora sternly. “Because she has remarkable insight.”

  One of the men, Adrian, gave her a once-over. “I feel like I’ve seen you before.”

  Sarah remembered him from one of their cases and prayed her acting was convincing enough. “I’ve been in Juneau for several weeks now. You might have seen me around town.”

  He shook his head. “Maybe you’re right.”

  They were allowed to ask her questions, and she told them the same things she had told Hiram. At the end of the grilling, Hiram turned to her. “We will decide tomorrow whether to let you join us.” He spoke to the others. “Will you meet here tomorrow after lunch and give me your decision?”

  Everyone agreed, and the meeting broke up. When Hiram had taken Sarah back to the hotel, he walked her to her room, where she removed the key from her pocketbook. He grasped her hand and kissed it. “I’ll stop by tomorrow afternoon and let you know our decision.”

  Sarah’s stomach clenched. “I―work tomorrow.”

  His eyebrows furrowed. “Tomorrow is Sunday. Juneau is closed on Sunday.”

  Thinking fast, Sarah smiled. “I work backstage at the Golden North theater. Ask for me by the stage door.” She withdrew her hand. “Thank you for the lovely dinner.”

  He inclined his head. “Tomorrow, then.”

  Sarah unlocked the door as he turned and walked away. She closed it behind her and counted to sixty before opening it again. There was no one in the hallway. She leaned against the jamb and blew a slow breath. That was close. I’ll have to go in with the lunch crowd tomorrow at the theater and have Kata help me out. There’s a children’s matinée at one o’clock. She slipped the key into an envelope she had placed in her pocketbook; the envelope had Mr. Taylor’s name written on the outside. Going to the lobby, she handed it to the desk clerk. “See that Mr. Taylor gets this.” At his nod, she headed out the back door and into the alley.

  Amos was waiting for her in the Oldsmobile. She unstrapped Nat’s harness, and Amos held the boy while she climbed into the passenger seat and settled Nat on her lap. Peeling off her wig, she said, “Let’s go home. I’ll let you know what happened.” Then she really looked at him.

  Amos had his hat lowered to his eyebrows, looking like a thundercloud forming on the channel. “I don’t like this. I don’t like this at all.”

  “Amos, what’s wrong? We’ve worked undercover before.”

  “These people are dangerous. And married women should not go out to dinner with other men.”

  She pursed her lips as he started the auto. “Don’t worry. This is just ano
ther job. Hiram is not the type of man I’d be interested in anyway.” She paused. “Roma, on the other hand―”

  “Sarah!” he said with a warning light in his eyes.

  She chuckled as he turned out into the street.

  ****

  Grace Lakat smiled as she sat beside Amos, holding Nat in her lap. “This is a treat to come here to see the children’s matinée. Where is Sarah, did you say?”

  He hunched down in the seat. “She has some business to take care of, and then she’ll join us.” Amos didn’t understand why he was having so much trouble with this case. They knew, going into the detective business two years ago, that there would be times they would have to do undercover work, and they had. He tried to reason with himself that Sarah had the best chance of getting into this group. It looked like she might accomplish that goal, but it was nagging at him. He couldn’t put his finger on whether it was jealousy or fear for her.

  Halfway through the children’s program, Sarah joined them. She had dressed as Roma to meet Bates, then took off the disguise and changed her clothes backstage in case someone from the group happened to be in the audience out front. She slid into the seat beside Amos. “May I see you outside?” She reached across Amos and laid a hand on her mother’s arm. “We’ll be back in a minute.”

  They strolled outside and around the back to the fences in the alley. Sarah glanced back and forth for prying eyes. “I’m in. There’s an initiation rite next month. Maybe someone will say something or I can make conversation. Have you or Sam been getting anywhere?”

  “Everyone who knew Wells is as tight-lipped as a clam shell. Even Wells’ wife claims she had no idea he was in any group.”

  Sarah paused. “I wonder if perhaps he wasn’t in the group but one of the members got him doped up for a real sacrifice.”

  Amos stroked his mustache. “I suppose anything is possible. If that’s true, you’re going to be on alert all the time. I mean, don’t eat or drink anything they give you.”

  “Don’t worry. I know this isn’t the time to slip up. Everyone working with me has been sworn to complete silence.”

  “Who all knows?”