“Yes, but Randy’s de, dea, dead. He’s got a tomahawk in the back of his head.”
“Marty, stay away from him. Are you someplace where you can sit down?”
“Yes,” she said sliding to the ground and putting her head between her knees. She knew from past experiences that if you felt like you were going to faint, it helped, and she definitely felt like she was going to faint.
“Marty, listen to me. I’ll be there in about ten minutes. I’m calling the county sheriff. This is in his jurisdiction. I’m sure I’ll be there before he is, but if he should get there before I do, it’s okay. Just hang on. I’ll drive as fast as I can. Do not go into the shack. Stay wherever you are. Will I be able to see you when I get there?”
“Yes,” she sobbed. “I’m next to the two boulders that are in front of a cave.”
“See you in a few minutes.”
True to his word, Jeff came roaring up the narrow dirt road a few minutes later and came to a screeching halt in a cloud of dust. He flung the door of his car open and sprinted up the footpath. He spotted Marty slumped on the ground next to the cave entrance and rushed over to her. “Put your arm around my neck and let me help you stand up. The sheriff is on his way. Is Randy in the shack?”
“Yes,” she said tearfully. “Oh, Jeff, I’ve never seen anything like that. Laura was right.”
“I’m going over to the shack. Stay here. I’ll be right back.” He returned a few moments later and grimly said, “I’ve never seen anything like that either, and trust me, I’ve seen a lot in my thirty years as a cop.”
CHAPTER 16
Marty and Jeff heard the sirens approaching the shack, and moments later two sheriff’s cars pulled to a stop on the dirt road below the shack. Three uniformed men quickly made their way up the trail. Jeff walked over to the first one and gestured towards the dilapidated shack. The officer motioned to the two men to follow him. In a few moments he stepped out of the shack and walked over to where Jeff was standing with Marty.
“I’m Sheriff Juan Antonio,” he said to Marty. “I understand from Jeff you were the one who discovered the body. I’m sorry, but at some point, now or later, I’m going to need a statement from you.” He turned to Jeff. “Coroner’s on his way. From what I’m seeing in the shack, I think I better call the Bureau of Land Management, too. I’m sure they’ll be very interested in some of those things he had in there.”
Marty’s eyelid was twitching furiously, and Jeff knew by the telltale sign she was even more nervous than she was letting on. “Marty, can you tell us what happened? I thought you were going to be up here earlier this afternoon. I’ve been waiting for your call.”
She started to talk but was interrupted by the sheriff. “Do you mind if I record this? I can use it as your statement, and you won’t have to tell it again.”
“Sure, that’s fine.” For the next half hour Marty told them everything that had happened from the time she’d first gotten to the shack to when she’d returned, including what Randy had shown her in the shed and the cave.
“Marty, did you see anything suspicious while you were with Randy? Did you notice anything that would make you think someone was lurking nearby?” Jeff asked
“No, nothing, but then again, I was so caught up in the unbelievable collection of artifacts I was seeing, I’m not sure it would have even registered.”
A few minutes later a dark government looking sedan pulled to a stop on the road below, and a man waved to Jeff and Juan when he got out of it. He walked up the path and Juan introduced him, “Marty, this is Rich Willis with the BLM. Rich, Marty Morgan. She’s an appraiser Randy was going to hire to appraise his Native American collection. Looks like he had a lot of things he shouldn’t have had.”
“Marty, I’m sorry to ask you this,” Rich said, “because I’m sure this has been a horrible experience for you, but would you mind telling me what Randy said about his collection? If you’re not up to it, I won’t ask you to go back in the shack, but would you mind walking through the shed and the cave with me? Again, I’m sorry to ask you this, but I’m concerned that as soon as the word gets out that Randy’s dead, people who know about his collection will try to loot it.”
“Did you know him?” Marty asked.
“Not personally. I’m not at liberty to say much at this point, but let’s say Randy Jones and his collection have been of interest to the Bureau of Land Management for a long time. There’s a man in our department who’s an undercover agent who has a pretty good idea what Randy had out here, but I’d like to hear your side of it.”
“Rich, I just thought of something. When I was going through the shack, the shed, and the cave, I took a lot of photographs. I can send them to you and you could send them to the undercover agent. Maybe they’ll be of some help. Actually, I’d like to think that something good will come from this day.”
“That would be great. Here’s my email address,” he said writing it on the back of his business card. “You can upload them to your computer and send them to me. I’ll see that he gets them. Are you sure you’re all right with going back in these places?”
“Yes. I’ll be fine.” She turned to Jeff. “How long do you think he’d been dead when you saw him?”
“Not long. Not long at all. I’m just glad it wasn’t you. I wonder who would want to kill Randy and why. His next of kin needs to be notified.”
“I don’t think that will be necessary. He told me the only next of kin he had was a son he hadn’t seen in over forty years and didn’t know where he was.”
“Well,” the sheriff said. “We’ll start looking into it. With a collection like he had, his death might very well have been about it. Hate to put you on the spot, Marty, but can you ball park what his collection would be worth?”
“As I explained earlier, how can you put a value on something that’s illegal to buy or sell?”
“I know what you’re saying, but look at it this way. It’s illegal to buy or sell cocaine, but there’s still a price put on it.”
“Good point. I’m going to say a figure that keeps popping up in front of my eyes. Five million.”
The sheriff whistled. “Wow! That alone would be a motive for murder. I suppose the good thing is that no one can say that your valuation is wrong.”
For the first time she laughed. “All right, gentlemen. I’ll give you the tour and tell you what Randy told me about the items. Let me get my notes, and I’ll be right back with you.”
The sheriff, Rich, and Jeff listened as she described the items in the shed and cave. At the end of an hour she said, “That’s pretty much it. I really am tired. Would it be all right if I leave now?”
“Yes, and we really thank you. I’ve recorded everything, and I’ll get it to my undercover man. He’s probably going to want to talk to you. Would it be all right with you if I gave him your contact information?”
“Absolutely. I’d be happy to help in any way, if I can. Actually, I’d like to find out who did this. Randy was definitely a character, but no one deserves to die the way he did.”
CHAPTER 17
Marty followed Jeff back to the compound in her car after assuring him she was calm enough to drive. As usual, Duke was at the gate watching for her. They each got out of their cars and started to walk up to the gate. Jeff put his hand on the gate, stopping her, and said, “I hope you don’t mind, but I called John and told him what happened today. I didn’t want you to have to relive it one more time by telling everyone. You’ve been through enough today. John said to tell you he’d made a big batch of gazpacho for the food truck earlier and had enough left over for dinner tonight. He also said he’d make some soft fish tacos to go with it. He was going to tell Laura and Les, so you don’t have to, but I imagine all of them will be worried about you.”
“Thanks. I’m glad you called him. I know Laura would never say she told me so, but if I were her I’d be thinking that. At the moment I could use a glass of wine and a quick shower. I not only feel the desert dust a
nd dirt on me with the way that wind was blowing today, but I’d also like to try and wash away what I saw today.”
“As someone who’s had to view more than a few scenes like that, I wish I could tell you a shower will help get rid of it. Problem is, it doesn’t. It may wash the desert grime off, but the memory of what you saw will still be there. What I will tell you is that time’s a wonderful healer. I’ll personally make sure you have some good memories to cover the bad ones. Fair enough?” he asked, grinning.
“Very fair, and believe me, I’m ready for some better memories other than what I have of today.”
As soon as they walked through the gate and greeted Duke, Laura walked over to Marty and hugged her. “I’m so sorry you had to be the one to find the man who was murdered. It must have been horrible.”
Marty stepped back and looked at her. “You knew something like that was going to happen, didn’t you? That’s why you didn’t want me to take that appraisal.”
“My extra sensory powers aren’t usually quite that specific. I kept getting the feeling you were in danger, and I was very concerned. I was so concerned I called Jeff and asked him to stay somewhere close to where you were. I told him I was sure you were going to call him, and you’d need him.”
Marty looked at Jeff. “You didn’t tell me that was why you stayed nearby.”
He looked abashed and said, “I wasn’t going to say anything, but your sister was pretty adamant that I be on standby. I’d told you I wouldn’t be down in Palm Springs, but actually, I spent a lot of time at the Hi-Lo talking to Lucy. She’s quite a character. Did you know she has a photographic memory when it comes to certain things?”
“No. She’s never mentioned it. Like what things?”
“She told me she never forgets a license plate number or who buys what kind of cigarettes from her at the drugstore. She said it’s really annoying, because once she sees a license plate or sells someone cigarettes, it’s in her memory bank.” He laughed. “She went on to say that she probably should work someplace where there weren’t so many cars going in and out of the parking lot and people buying cigarettes, because her mind goes on overload.”
“What a strange type of mental ability to possess. I’m sure there’s some way she could make that work for her, but at the moment it’s not coming to me. I’ll be back in a few minutes. I really do need to shower. Come on, Duke,” she said as she walked into her house.
Jeff and Laura walked over to the long picnic table in the courtyard and sat down. Les came out of his house carrying a bottle of wine. “Jeff, I heard you drive up and figured you could use a glass of wine. The glasses are already on the table.”
“Jeff, how’s Marty doing? She looks pretty pale,” Laura said.
“It’s never easy seeing an individual who has just been murdered, particularly when it involves a tomahawk. I’m sure it will take her a little time to get over this. What’s really sad is if she hadn’t been so conscientious about her appraisals, she wouldn’t have been the one to find Randy.”
“What do you mean? I have to tell you I had a premonition that some of the things she was going to see were very dark, as if there were spirits associated with them.”
“You were right. Marty initially left his shack to come home, but then she decided she couldn’t ethically do the appraisal because so many of the items in the collection were obviously stolen from sacred Native American burial grounds. She went back to tell Randy, and that’s when she discovered his body.”
“How horrible, but I have to say I admire her for doing it. I hope she doesn’t get any ideas about trying to find out who murdered him. She helped solve the Jensen case, but that was probably a fluke. You might want to mention that to her. I don’t think she’ll take it from me at the moment,” Laura said.
“I will.”
Just then John, the portly owner of The Red Pony food truck, walked out of the fourth house that formed a compound around the courtyard. “Jeff, I’m glad you were able to help Marty. Sounds like she had a really bad afternoon. Max is in the kitchen making the salsa for the fish tacos, and I have some killer gazpacho. I hope that will help. I’m a firm believer that good food makes everything seem better.”
“I couldn’t agree more. Sure is in my case, but everyone, please let’s all be a little gentle with Marty for the next couple of days. She’s been through a lot, and it’s going to take some time for her to get through this,” Jeff said. “Believe me, I speak from experience.”
The door to Marty’s house opened, and she and Duke walked out and came over to the table. “Before anyone says anything, because I don’t want to start crying, I just want you to know how glad I am that all of you are here. I’m with my best friends, and that gives me a good feeling after the terrible events of today.”
“Does that mean I’ve been demoted from a possible romantic future to one of friendship,” Jeff asked in a joking manner.
Laura noticed he was rubbing his index finger and thumb together. She knew from being with him in the past that was his tell, or in psychic speak, she knew he was nervous.
Interesting. He comes off as an all polished I’m in control Mr. Detective, but underneath there’s a little boy who’s afraid of being rejected. I sure hope Marty sees that and doesn’t hurt him.
“No, Jeff, you haven’t been demoted. I’ve had people tell me that their best friend was their husband.”
“Does that mean you’re proposing to me?” he asked.
“Possibly. After today, I may need someone to take care of me.”
“This is a subject that definitely needs to be pursued at a later…”
Jeff was interrupted by a call from Max, asking John to come into the kitchen and help him serve the gazpacho. A few moments later bowls of chilled gazpacho garnished with chives had been put in front of everyone.
“Dig in,” John said. “I pay Max enough that he can take care of barbecuing the fish while I eat with you, which is something I don’t get to do very often.”
As usual, whatever John served was excellent, and the gazpacho was no exception. Laura was the first to speak. “John, I’ve never had your gazpacho before, and it’s definitely the best I’ve ever had.”
“Thanks. I serve it a lot at The Red Pony because I can make a big batch of it a day or so ahead of time. It keeps beautifully. I don’t serve bowls this big at The Pony. I serve it in little paper cups. People usually buy it in place of a salad and have it along with a sandwich. It’s kind of a Southwest thing, plus it’s pretty. I’d offer you seconds, but I don’t want you to be so full you won’t eat one of my fish tacos.”
He stood up and walked into his kitchen returning with a large tray which held warm tortillas, homemade fresh salsa, and cabbage tossed with a bit of ranch dressing and lime juice. He deftly cut the fish into pieces and said, “Please, help yourselves.”
“John, I’ve had a lot of fish tacos over the years, but I’ve never had one that was this simple and tasted this fresh. Usually the fish is fried with a heavy batter and piled with all kinds of things that really don’t taste that good. Is this something you serve at The Pony?”
“I can answer that, Les,” Max, John’s assistant said. “On the days when we serve it, maybe once a week, I set up a barbecue next to the truck to cook the fish, and we always sell out. Right, John?”
“Yes. It really is one of our best sellers. Since we’re all stuffed, I’m going to bring out a little treat to sweeten your mouth. A customer brought me one of these a few days ago, and it was so good I asked her for the recipe. Back in a minute.” He returned with a plate of what looked like chocolate covered pretzels.
“John, these look wild! What are they?” Marty asked.
“Exactly what they look like. A chocolate covered pretzel with a pecan in the middle. It’s a very interesting combination of flavors, sweet, salty, and nutty. I think I need to put these on the menu.”
Jeff spoke up. “Everyone, this has been a great way to end a horrible day, but if anyone�
��s noticed, Marty’s eyes are starting to get glassy looking, and she can barely keep them open. Think it’s time for her to go to bed. I’m going to tuck her in and give her a couple of aspirin so she can sleep. As always, thanks, John.” He stood up and walked around the table to Marty. “Come on, sleepy. Time for bed.”
Jeff walked Marty into her house and told her to get ready for bed. “Duke, hate to do the bootie bit, but tonight Marty’s really tired, so I’m the one who will have to take you for your evening walk. Thank heavens we’re far out here in the desert, and it’s dark. Don’t want anyone to see me doing this. Come on, boy, let’s get these things on.” He struggled with the booties and after a few minutes took Duke out to commune with nature and the desert floor.
When they walked back into Marty’s house, she was already asleep. Duke settled in on his bed and looked balefully at Jeff as he kissed Marty on the forehead. He found a bottle of aspirin in the bathroom and put it on her nightstand along with a note on which he’d written “You know you can call me anytime if you want to talk.” He leaned down and whispered, “Good night, sweetheart. I promise tomorrow will be a better day.”
CHAPTER 18
Although Marty had easily gone to sleep, the night was not kind to her. She woke up several times feeling like she was suffocating. Finally dawn came, and she wearily got out of bed and made a pot of coffee. She had the feeling she’d overlooked something from the prior day’s events. The more she thought about it, the more certain she was that the killer had been on Randy’s property when she’d gone back to talk to him. She wracked her brain, but nothing came to her. At 7:30 her phone rang.
“Good morning, sunshine. I hope you had a good night’s sleep,” Jeff said.
“Well, I can lie or be truthful. Which do you want?”
“Might as well go for the truth. By that I take it you didn’t sleep well.”
Murder & The Secret Cave: High Desert Cozy Mystery Page 7
