Murder & The Secret Cave: High Desert Cozy Mystery

by Dianne Harman

  She sighed. “Jeff, I feel certain I’m overlooking something. The killer must have still been on Randy’s property when I went back there. Both you and the sheriff said he’d only been dead for a few minutes. I probably interrupted him. It gives me the willies to think he may have seen me. Do you think he did?” she asked, grimacing at the thought.

  Jeff was quiet. “If it’s any consolation, I didn’t sleep well either. Yes, that thought also occurred to me. Did you see any cars when you went back?”

  “No, and if someone was there, they had to drive out to Randy’s place. It’s too remote for someone to just walk up to it. For the life of me, I can’t figure out what it is that I’m missing.”

  “Maybe it’s just your imagination. I wish I could be with you today, but I have to go to work. There’s a case that needs my attention, and I don’t think the captain would be very happy if I told him a woman I care a great deal about was more important than my job.”

  She was quiet for a moment, knowing that they were getting close to the time when decisions needed to be made about their relationship. The events of yesterday, and Jeff’s concern for her left no doubt about his intentions. She didn’t know if that included marriage, but it certainly wasn’t out of the realm of possibility. If anyone had told her when she was leaving the Midwest that she would seriously consider getting married again, she would have said they were crazy. It wasn’t sounding so crazy anymore.

  “Thank you, Jeff, and thanks for being there for me yesterday. Do what you need to do today. I assume you’re coming to dinner tonight. I think John would be devastated if you weren’t here, but I’m beginning to think I would be too. John told me last night that it wasn’t half as much fun when you and I weren’t there. He wished you’d come to dinner while I was in Chicago.”

  “I’ll remember that the next time you go out of town, and since I don’t want to disappoint your pal John, tell him I’ll be there for sure. What’s on your schedule today?”

  “I think I’ll take some time off for a couple of days. Laura mentioned that the insurance company wanted me to do an appraisal for the desert home of the man whose Tiffany collection I did in Chicago. I may just veg until then.”

  “Sounds like a good idea. I’ll see you tonight. Take care of yourself.”

  Marty got dressed, bootied up Duke, and took him outside. Something was still nagging her, something she’d missed yesterday. She couldn’t put the thought out of her mind. It was like it was on a loop and kept repeating itself, over and over.

  Although I hate to ask her, I wonder if Laura has any ideas about what it is I’m missing. With her psychic ability, she might come up with something. I’m sure she’s up and getting ready for work.

  She knocked on Laura’s door which was opened a moment later. “Marty, how are you doing?” she asked as she motioned for Marty and Duke to come in. “I spent all night thinking about you.”

  “That’s why I’m here. Is there anything you can tell me about what happened yesterday? I’m really frustrated, because I feel like I’m missing something.”

  “I think you are. I’m not exactly sure what it is, but I’ve had the same feeling. It has something to do with a clue to the murder, and I’m pretty sure it’s out on Randy’s property. Problem is, I knew if I told you you’d want to go out there, and given everything that’s happened I’m not sure that’s a good idea. I’m sure Jeff wouldn’t think it was a good idea. I watched him last night, and he did that thing where he rubs his thumb and his index finger together whenever he’s nervous. I think he’s very nervous about you.”

  Marty smiled. “I like him a lot more than I realized. After I found out that Scott was having an affair with his secretary and wanted out of our twenty-five year marriage, I swore off men. I can’t believe I’m letting one into my life and thinking of letting him in permanently.”

  Laura gave her a hug. “I think you could do a lot worse. He’s a good man, and he seems to have your best interests at heart. A lot of relationships have started with less.”

  “I just thought of something, Laura. The county sheriff and the man from the Bureau of Land Management decided to station a guard on Randy’s property until they could get a court order to remove the items from the scene of the crime. They were afraid of looting once word got out that Randy was dead. A lot of people knew he had some very good Native American artifacts. Tell you what. I’m going out to Randy’s property and see what I can come up with, but only if the guard is there. I’ll identify myself, but I promise if there isn’t a guard, I won’t stay. Does that sound okay to you? After all, you’re the one who knows stuff,” she said, grinning at her sister.

  “If you can promise me that, I won’t feel like I have to call Jeff and tell him. Yes, that sounds okay. I’m not getting any bad feelings about it. I have to go to work now, but tonight I definitely want to hear what, if anything, you find out, and I have a feeling you’ll find something. I also have a feeling you’re not going to be too sure what to do with it. I’m getting vibes that you need to talk to a Native American woman.”

  “What do you mean by that?”

  “I have no idea. That’s just the feeling I’m getting. See you later.”

  Duke and Marty walked the few steps back to her house. “Time for breakfast, Duke. Come.” Later she heard John leave in The Red Pony, and she thought once again how lucky she was to be living in a place that had its own resident chef.

  CHAPTER 19

  “Duke, I’m whipped, and that bed of mine looks awfully inviting. I’m going to see if I can get a little sleep. If I went out to Randy’s as tired as I am right now, I’m sure I’d miss whatever it is I’m supposed to see.” She lay down on her bed and within minutes was asleep.

  Marty woke with a start, trying to figure out what time of day or night it was. She vaguely remembered lying down, but she had no idea how long she’d been asleep. She looked over at the clock on the nightstand.

  Well, that’s a first, she thought. I’ve been asleep for five hours. It’s already two in the afternoon.

  Within minutes she’d showered and dressed. “Come on Duke, time to go outside. I need to go out to Randy’s and figure out what I’ve missed. I’m sorry you can’t come with me, but I have no idea how long I’ll be there, and I don’t want to leave you in the car.”

  Marty told him to stay as she opened the compound gate and walked to her car. She thought about taking her camera, but decided if she did need to take a photograph, she could use her cell phone.

  When she got to the parking area near Randy’s shack, she noticed a sheriff’s car. Good, she thought, that means they must have posted a guard, and it’s safe for me to go up there. The only other vehicle she saw was Randy’s old orange truck.

  She walked up the footpath to where Randy’s shack was located and saw that yellow tape had been placed across the entrances to the shack, the shed, and the cave. A man in a sheriff’s uniform was sitting in a chair outside the shack reading a magazine. He looked up as she walked towards him, hand near the gun he wore on his hip.

  “Hello, I’m Marty Morgan,” she said walking up to him. “I’m the appraiser who discovered Randy’s body yesterday. I had a long talk with Sheriff Antonio and the man from the BLM, Rich Willis. They told me they were going to post a guard. I assume that must be why you’re here. Right?”

  The deputy sheriff stood up and shook her hand while he said, “My name is Sam Loomis. That must have been quite a sight. Don’t think I’ve ever heard of a murder that involved a tomahawk. I’m surprised you’re back here.”

  “For some reason, I have this feeling that I missed something yesterday. Would it be all right with you if I spent a little time just looking around? I don’t even know what I’m looking for.”

  “Sure. Help yourself, but if you do find something that could be used as evidence, you’ll have to leave it with me.”

  “Of course. Thank you.”

  She looked at the shack, the shed, and the cave, not quite sure wh
ere to begin. While she was standing there deciding what to do next, she suddenly realized what it was she’d overlooked yesterday. “I think I’ll start here and work my way over to the shed and cave. It shouldn’t take me very long.” She knew exactly where she needed to go, but she didn’t want the deputy to accompany her.

  Marty walked around the shack several times, looking at the walls and the ground, then did the same with the shed. The deputy sheriff became engrossed in the magazine he’d been reading when she first saw him. While he was reading it she walked over to the where the cave was located.

  When I called Jeff yesterday after I’d discovered Randy’s body, I had to walk over here to get cell phone reception, and although it didn’t register at the time, I vaguely remember seeing some cigarette butts that didn’t look like the kind Randy smoked, but I don’t remember exactly where I was standing.

  She took her phone out of her purse and walked past the entrance of the cave and the two artificial boulders next to it until she saw the signal connection bars pop up on her cell phone. This must be where I stood. I was so shaken by seeing Randy I simply forgot exactly where I was standing.

  Marty looked down at the desert ground and spotted three cigarette butts. She looked back at the deputy who was still engrossed in his magazine.

  She quickly took several photos of the exact location of the cigarette butts with her phone and slipped it back into her purse. Marty knelt down and picked the cigarettes up with the Kleenex she’d taken out of her purse. Maybe I can get Jeff to run a fingerprint test for me. I’m sure they’re not Randy’s. I definitely remember he smoked nonfiltered cigarettes, and these have a filter. She put them in the side pocket of her purse and spent a few more minutes walking around as if she was still looking for something.

  Several minutes later she walked over to Deputy Loomis and said, “Well, I was hoping I could find something, but I didn’t. Obviously the feeling I had was wrong. I was so shaken up when I saw Randy I was afraid I’d missed something. Looks like I didn’t. Thanks for letting me walk around. How long are guards going to be posted out here?”

  “I don’t know. It depends on whether or not the sheriff can get a judge to sign an order allowing the sheriff’s department and the BLM to remove all of the artifacts. I hear Randy didn’t have any next of kin, and from what I was told, looks like a lot of this stuff should be returned to the tribes they belong to. I know that dealing in stuff like that is a billion dollar a year business, but it gives me the creeps. You’d never catch me digging up someone’s grave. Hope they find out who killed Randy and hope they find out who took the stuff from the Indians in the first place, but I’m sure that’s probably not going to happen.”

  “Unfortunately, I imagine you’re right, but I guess maybe if these things are returned to their rightful owners, some justice will be done.”

  “Nice meeting you, Ms. Morgan. Probably won’t see you again and sorry you had to be the one to discover him. Things like that can stay with you for a while.”

  “Yes. I’ve heard it’s just going to take some time. So long.”

  She walked back down the path, got in her car, and began to drive down the road. As soon as she saw bars on her cell phone, she pulled off the road and called Jeff. “Jeff, I’m sorry to bother you at work, but could I come to your office? I need to show you something.”

  “Marty, is everything all right? You sound pretty excited.”

  “I am, and I think you will be too. Is it okay if I come over now? I can’t wait until I see you tonight.”

  “Those are the words every man wants to hear. How long will it take for you to get here?”

  “I should be there in about half an hour. Can you take a coffee break? I could meet you at that coffee shop next to the station.”

  “Sure. I’ll meet you there in half an hour. You may be excited, but promise me you’ll drive safely.”

  “I will. See you in a little while.”

  CHAPTER 20

  Marty parked in the last available spot in the coffee shop parking lot and walked in the door. She spotted Jeff sitting at a booth facing the door with two cups of coffee already on the table. She hurried over to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

  “Well, that’s a nice way to begin the late afternoon. What did I ever do to deserve that?”

  “Just trying to keep your downtown image intact. I imagine you have women walk up to you all the time giving you a kiss,” she said as she laughed and sat down.

  “Fraid not sweetheart, but any time you want to repeat that, you have my permission.”

  “Jeff, I’m pretty excited. I was able to find a couple of clues, and I need your help.” She told him about going to Randy’s, and what she’d found.

  “Marty, I really wish you hadn’t gone out there. I would have been happy to go with you. I’m glad it worked out, but that’s the kind of thing you do that drives me nuts. I’m a detective. I’m supposed to protect and help people. I’m supposed to solve crimes. What I’m not supposed to do is spend all my time worrying about you. Oh well, I can see that it’s hopeless,” he said in a slightly raised voice. “You are what you are. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

  She took the Kleenex with the cigarette butts out of the side pocket of her purse and showed them to him. He spent a few moments looking at them and then said, “I saw the coroner’s report this morning. Did you know that Randy had lung cancer? These must have been his.”

  “Randy had lung cancer? He didn’t tell me that, although I bet that’s the reason he wanted to sell his collection. He probably knew he was going to die. Wow!” She sat back in the booth and took a sip of her coffee. “Jeff, these aren’t his. The whole time I was with Randy he smoked one cigarette after another, and they definitely weren’t filtered cigarettes. These are filtered cigarettes, and they can’t be his.”

  “Are you sure he didn’t smoke Desert Springs?”

  “Is that their name? How do you know?”

  “I had a partner who was a chain smoker, and that was his brand. There was always an ashtray full of them on his desk. It was when you could still smoke in the workplace. Glad it’s illegal to smoke in an office now. Anyway, those are definitely Desert Springs cigarette butts.”

  “Jeff, I think they’re from the killer. I found them slightly behind the boulder to the right of the cave entrance. Someone could hide behind the boulder, and by peeking around it, have a straight view into Randy’s house. Remember, he left the door open for the breeze. Maybe he was even there before I left the first time and was waiting for me to leave. Anyway, can you run a fingerprint test on them?”

  “That would be a little tricky, Marty. First of all, you need to turn these over to the sheriff. There’s a good possibility they have something to do with the murder, and the case falls under his jurisdiction. Secondly, I’m not working on any cases at the moment that involve cigarettes. It would sure make everybody suspicious if I suddenly asked the lab to run some tests on these cigarette butts. I don’t see how I could do it, and even if I could think of a way to do it, if anyone ever found out that I, sworn to uphold the law, did something like this, I could be fired.”

  Marty’s face fell. “Jeff, you know I’d never do anything to jeopardize your job, but isn’t there some way we can find out if fingerprints on these butts match someone’s fingerprints? If nothing shows up, I can turn them over to the sheriff and say that I put them in the pocket of my purse when I was calling you after I’d seen Randy, but I was so distraught, I completely forget about it.”

  “What do you intend to do if there is a match?” he asked.

  She held the coffee cup up to her lips. “I don’t know, but it would be a start. I guess it would depend on who it was.”

  “In order for there to be a match a person must have their fingerprints in the system. If they aren’t in the system, in other words if they’ve never been fingerprinted, we’ll never know whose fingerprints are on these butts. Anyway, it’s a non-issue, because I can’t just take
them to the lab and tell them I need it for a case I’m working on. I would have to get the chief’s signature on something like that, and there’s no way he’s going to do it.”

  Marty started to wrap the Kleenex around the butts when Jeff put his hand over hers. “All right. I can’t stand to see you looking so sad. I’ll take them. Actually I’ve done a couple of favors for the head of the fingerprinting department. It involved his son and drugs. He’s indebted to me. Let me see what I can come up with. I’ll give him a call right now.”

  He took his cell phone out of his shirt pocket and pressed in a number. “Hi, Lou, it’s Jeff Combs.” He listened for a minute. “I’m fine. How’s your son doing these days?” Again he listened. “Glad to hear that. Looks like we can put that whole incident to bed, and I’m sure that’s a chapter in your life you’d like to forget. I have a favor to ask of you. Actually, it’s a huge favor. I have some cigarette butts in my possession, and I’d like you to run a fingerprint test on them and see if you can get a match. This is on the QT. Nothing illegal, just rather no one in my department knew about it.”

  Marty heard Lou say that would be fine and asked Jeff if he could come to his office right away. He told Jeff that one of his employees had called in sick that morning and the other one had arranged to take the afternoon off some time ago. There was no one in the office but him for the rest of the afternoon, so it would be a perfect time for him to privately run some tests.

  Jeff stood up and said, “I’m on my way, Lou. Be there in five minutes. Thank you so much.” He turned to Marty. “That was a serendipitous stroke of luck.” He carefully wrapped the Kleenex around the butts and put them into a baggie he always carried with him. He’d learned long ago to keep one, just in case. This was definitely a “just in case.”

  “Go. I’ll leave a tip and see you tonight. How long do you think it will take? Will you know anything tonight?” she asked.