The Death Card: A Liz Lucas Cozy Mystery (7 page)

Liz looked at the big kitchen clock
above the back door and said, “Emily, I have to leave. I’ll see you later.
Winston, come.” She and the big boxer walked to her van and drove to Madame
Dika’s home. She knew she was early, but she hoped the extra time might provide
her with a way to see if the gun in the nightstand was Seth’s.

Liz opened the door of
Madame Dika’s, and she and Winston walked into the front room which was used as
the reception area for clients. There was another car in the driveway, so she
assumed Madame Dika was giving someone a reading. She was debating what to do
when the door to the reading room opened, and Madame Dika walked out.

“Oh, Liz, you’re early. I
heard someone come in, and I knew your reading wasn’t scheduled until 6:00. I
wanted to see who it was. Have a seat, and I’ll be with you in about twenty
minutes,” she said, walking back into the room and closing the door.

That’s exactly what I’d
hoped for,
she thought.

She stood up and motioned
for Winston to follow her. Her heart was beating wildly in her chest as she
tip-toed down the hallway. There were several closed doors leading off of it.
The first one she opened looked like it was Madame Dika’s bedroom. Everything in
the room was purple from the carpeting to the bedspread to the curtains. Framed
photographs of what she assumed were family members were hung on the wall. Liz
quickly closed the door and went to the next one which was the bathroom. The
third door she opened was a bedroom, and from the way it was decorated, or
undecorated, it appeared to be a man’s room.

This must be Anton’s room
, she thought.

She quickly looked around,
stepped into the room, closed the door, and gave a hand motion to Winston to
sit next to the door. Men’s clothes were scattered on the bed and the chair. It
didn’t look like anyone had slept in the bed for a long time, but someone had
definitely used the room to change clothes. Liz turned and saw the nightstand
Jessica had told Gertie about next to the bed. She walked over to it, every
nerve in her body on high alert, saying a silent prayer to the gods who had
always looked out for her in the past, asking them if they would please do it
one more time. She took a Kleenex from her purse and pulled on the drawer
handle. It was just as Jessica had told Gertie – the gun was laying in the
front part of the drawer looking up at her. She saw some numbers etched on it
above the handle and realized they were the serial numbers.

The drawer had come open farther
than she’d planned, and she saw a notebook behind the gun and also some sort of
a small electronic device. She took the notebook out of the drawer as carefully
as she could, trying to not move the gun. She pulled her phone out of her purse
and took a photo of the electronic device and the serial numbers on the gun.
Liz looked in the notebook and saw that numbers had been written on every line.
Quickly, she turned the pages. The entire notebook was filled with the numbers.
Each line had sixteen numbers, a space, and then three more numbers.

Just as she was putting
the notebook in her purse she heard Winston growl. He left his position next to
the door and walked over to the window. She followed him. A man was getting out
of a car, and he looked exactly like the man she had seen at Gertie’s and the
one who was in the photo Roger had sent to her. It was Anton. He wore a sport
coat over a white shirt which was unbuttoned to his mid-chest. A thick gold
chain necklace lay against his hairy chest. She supposed some women found him
attractive, but he repulsed her.

She motioned for Winston
to follow her, and as fast as she could she opened the bedroom door, quickly
walked the few steps to the bathroom, and went into it with Winston, closing
the door behind her. She locked the door, turned the faucet on, and flushed the
toilet. A few moments later she opened the door, and she and Winston walked
out, nearly bumping into Anton.

“What are you doing here?”
he asked in a heavy European accent. “And why was that dog in there with you?”

“I have a tarot card
reading at six this evening with Madame Dika, and I had to go to the bathroom.
I thought there must be one down the hall. I’m prone to epileptic seizures, and
my dog is trained to spot when one is coming on, so I can take medication for
it. He knows before I know. Isn’t that amazing?” she said, smiling, “I don’t
know what would happen to me if it wasn’t for him.”

Anton glowered at her,
then turned and walked down the hall to the bedroom Liz and Winston had just
left. They walked back down the hall to the reception room. She picked up a
book about tarot card readings that was on the table, willing her thudding
heart to calm down. Anton was only in the bedroom for a few minutes, and then
he left without saying another word to Liz.

He must not have
discovered that the notebook is gone. Otherwise he would have been very angry,
and obviously I would be suspected as the one who had taken it from the
nightstand. Wonder if the gun and that electronic device are still there? Don’t
think I’ll tempt the spirits again by trying to find out.
Winston looked up her.
She wondered if his heart was pounding in his chest as much as hers was.

A few minutes before six that
evening, Madame Dika walked out of her tarot card reading room followed by a
middle-aged woman who looked like she’d been crying. She hurried past Liz and
ran out the door. Liz didn’t know what had happened during the woman’s reading,
but she assumed she hadn’t received good news.

“Liz, I’m ready for you. I
assume you’re going to bring that thing in with you again,” she said, referring
to Winston.

“Yes, he goes wherever I
go. I’m prone to epileptic attacks, and he’s been trained to alert me when one
is coming, so I can take my medication for it. I never go anywhere without
him.”

“That’s interesting. I
only did the question tarot card reading for you yesterday, but I certainly
didn’t see any health issues.”

“Well, it’s usually pretty
mild, and with the medication I take, it seems to be under control. Maybe
that’s why.”

They sat down at a small
table in her tarot card reading room, Winston standing next to Liz. “Winston,
lie down,” she said, giving him the hand command as well. “I’ve never had a
spread tarot card reading. What do I need to do?”

“I use a special deck for
spread readings. There are very few of these decks in the world, but it’s my
favorite, and I brought it with me from Romania. It was my great-grandmother’s,
and I am named for her. She had her initials put on each card. You can see the
small MD initials in the upper left hand corner of each card. What I want you
to do is shuffle the deck and cut it. Your energy will be transmitted to the
deck. I will then take ten cards from the cut deck and put them in a design I
use which is similar to one that most readers call a Celtic Cross.”

“I think I may have heard
of it. What will these cards tell me?”

“They will tell you about
what’s happening in your present life, issues from the past, what challenges or
problems you’re encountering, the future, what’s happening in your
subconscious, give you advice, and a final outcome. When you leave you will
know what you’re dealing with now, why you’re dealing with it, and what will
probably happen in the future. I want you to keep one thing in mind when I
interpret the cards. No matter what shows up, you have free will, and you can
always make the necessary changes to make your life better. The cards are
simply a guide. Now, please shuffle the deck.”

“Okay, Madame Dika, I’ve
shuffled them. Now I cut them, right?”

“Yes, and I will draw the
top ten cards and put them face down in the position of the Celtic Cross. Your
energy has dictated which cards those will be. I am going to close my eyes and
spend a few moments in silence to center myself in order to allow the cards to
speak to me.”

She was quiet for some
time and then she opened her eyes and said, “The first card is the Empress,” as
she flipped it over. “That’s the card of femininity. It can also indicate you
have concerns for family matters. You are being restricted in your family life.
That might have something to do with The Lovers card you drew yesterday.”

“Yes, I do have concerns
about my family life. That would fit.”

“The second card is the
eight of swords. This card tells me there is a man, possibly a lover, who has
been prominent in your past. It also shows that you feel powerless about the
situation.”

“There is a man in my life
and yes, he has been very prominent in the recent past. I don’t feel like I
have any power over the outcome of our relationship. You see, he lives and
works in San Francisco, and I live and work here in Red Cedar.”

Madame Dika drew another
card. “The knight of cups tells me this man is very calm and peaceful. Everyone
finds him very attractive and charming.”

“That he is. I’m a widow,
and at times I feel I’m being disloyal to my deceased husband. I hope this man
and I can be together permanently.”

Madame Dika turned over
the Strength card which was reversed or upside down. “When this card is
reversed it shows you’re uncertain whether or not what you’re doing and feeling
is the right thing. Does that sound correct?”

“Yes, that’s true. I guess
I’ll have to adapt to the fact that it’s time for me to move on, you know, move
away from my deceased husband and concentrate on my relationship with this
man.”

Liz looked at the next
card that Madame Dika turned over and sharply drew in her breath. “Oh no, the
Hanged Man. Isn’t that a bad card to draw?”

“Not at all. It very much
reflects what you’re telling me. It shows you feel sadness regarding your late
husband, almost a suspended feeling, but there is hope for the future. It
indicates there has been a period of indecision on your part.”

“That’s a relief. That
card scared me when I first saw it. And this one you just turned over, the two
of cups. What does it mean?”

“This is extremely
unusual. This card depicts a man and a woman exchanging cups. Some interpret
this as a wedding taking place. From this I would be quite surprised if you and
the man you’ve spoken of aren’t married in the near future. Coupled with the
Lovers card from yesterday, I think this is very, very positive. Liz, it’s time
to let go of the past. The cards are showing that your future is what is
important. You must listen to the ancient wisdom of the cards.”

“You and the cards are
probably right, but it’s just a hard thing for me to do.”

“Everything that is
worthwhile is hard to accept. This is not an exception. This next card is the
five of cups. It shows you have positive feelings for the future, but you’re
disappointed that something didn’t turn out the way you hoped it would. It also
tells me that your innate hope and optimistic beliefs will keep you strong.”

“Well, once again, it
probably has something to do with my deceased husband. I was so disappointed
that the move from San Francisco to Red Cedar wasn’t enough to counterbalance
the stress he’d been under that resulted in his massive heart attack and
death.”

Madame Dika turned over
three more cards in quick succession: The Chariot, The Star, and the ten of
cups. “The Chariot indicates you need to use your strength to attain a positive
outcome. The Star indicates renewed hope. The Chariot and The Star are very
spiritual cards. They show that you will be getting more in touch with that
side of yourself.”

“That wouldn’t surprise
me. As I’ve gotten older I’ve begun to think more about spirituality. I’m sure
there’s a lot more than what I can see.”       

Madame Dika continued,
“The overall outcome is very good. You are a very strong woman and while you
have had to face death and new beginnings, you ended the reading with the ten
of cups. That’s a wonderful card to have drawn, given what you’ve been dealing
with in the recent past. It shows a man and woman united, and it also indicates
happiness in the future. Often it’s a wish card. You asked a question yesterday
and wished that you and this man could permanently be together. From the cards
that have been turned over today, I would say there is a very good chance you
will. You must be strong for whatever happens in the next few days. After that
you will find that the situation you find yourself in will be resolved. Do you
have any questions?”

After the tarot card reading had been
completed, Liz looked across the small table that separated them and said,
“Madame Dika, I’m curious about one of the cards in the tarot deck. I’ve heard
so much about the Death card, but I’m not sure I’ve ever seen one. This is only
my third tarot card reading, so maybe it just hasn’t come up for me. Could you
show me what it looks like and interpret it for me?”

“I can’t interpret it for
you, because it changes with the rest of the cards or the question, but I can
show it to you. Let me find it.” She quickly riffled through the cards and
looked up at Liz. “How strange. I can’t find it. Let me try again.” She riffled
through the cards again. “I don’t understand this. It’s not in my deck. I don’t
loan this deck to anyone, and the only time it’s ever used is during a Celtic
Cross spread reading. I haven’t done one other than yours in several weeks,”
she said, clearly agitated.

“Well, it’s probably in
the reception area. Maybe it got mixed in with one of the other decks. Never
mind. It was just something I’ve always been curious about. I can probably look
it up on the Internet. Oh, one other thing. Seth Williams was the one who
recommended you to me. He told me he comes here often for readings. He said he
was here last Sunday, the day his deputy sheriff, Leroy Moore, was murdered.
I’m sure you’ve heard about that.”

“No. I didn’t know about
it. I don’t think I’ve ever met his deputy, and I haven’t seen Chief Williams
for several weeks. Chief Williams was definitely not here on Sunday. That is
the one day I rest. I don’t do any readings. I am a Roma, you may know us by
the name of gypsies although we don’t like that word, and I follow the ancient
way of goddess worship. Sunday is the day I do that. No, I did not see Seth on
Sunday, and as far as the other man, Leroy Moore, I don’t know him. I’m sorry,
but I can’t help you.”

“Thank you. I must be
mistaken. By the way, while I was waiting for you in the reception area, I had
to use the restroom, and I ran into a man in the hallway when I came out. He
looked a lot like you. Is he your brother?”

“Yes, Anton has a room
here, although he spends most of his time in San Francisco. He is a waiter at
one of the most expensive restaurants in San Francisco, and he works so late he
often stays with a friend. My mother asked me to take care of him, and I try to
as best I can.”

“The man I told you about
during our session lives in San Francisco. What is the name of the restaurant
where your brother works? I’ll bet Roger’s been there.”

“I’m not sure. I think it
is called Le Petite Orangerie. He told me it’s very hard to get hired there,
and he was very happy when they offered him the job. Anton has worked in Paris
at some of the top restaurants. He’s a very good waiter.”

“I’ll ask Roger if he’s
ever been there. Here’s the money for the reading. Thank you very much. I feel
much better about the future. Winston, come,” she said to the big dog sleeping
at her feet.

“I will look for the Death
card, and when I find it I will show it to you the next time you’re here.”

“Thank you. Good evening.”
She and Winston walked out the door.

I can’t wait to get home
and see if the Death card I found in Leroy’s office has her initials on it.
Considering how Seth butchered the evidence in the high school computer hacking
case, my instincts were right to keep the card. If her initials are on it, it
doesn’t mean she was the one who murdered Leroy, but it certainly would be
suspicious. Given her past, she must not want to get involved in a police
investigation. I can’t think of any other reason why she would deny that Seth
had been to her home on Sunday. I don’t think Seth’s a very good policeman, but
I’ve never known him to lie, and he was very clear that he had a reading from
her on Sunday. Think I’ll call him and make sure that’s what he said, although
I’m pretty certain about it.

She pulled the van up in
front of the lodge and saw the spa guests sitting at the long cedar table
inside, laughing and enjoying themselves. Candlelight spilled through the front
windows, and she could see Emily carrying plates to the kitchen to be washed by
Sara. She and Winston walked in the front door of the lodge.

“Greetings, everyone. If
we haven’t met before, I’m Liz Lucas, the owner of the Red Cedar Spa and Lodge.
I’m sorry I wasn’t here earlier, but I know you’ve been well taken care of by
Emily.” She turned to Emily. “Why don’t you leave? You’ve been here long
enough. I’ll serve everyone dessert. Thank you so much for covering for me.”

An hour later, after the
last guest had left and she’d helped Sara, the young woman she’d hired to clean
up the dishes after the nightly dinners, she and Winston went downstairs to her
private living quarters.

“Winston, I need to talk
to Roger and Seth, but first I have to see if there are any markings on that
Death card I put in my desk for safekeeping. I’ve been anxious to look at it
ever since I was at Madame Dika’s.”

Liz had brought a package
of latex gloves with her from the pantry upstairs, and she slipped on a pair.
She took the Death card out of the drawer and looked in the upper left hand
corner. Sure enough, the initials “MD” were faint but visible. Liz sat for a
moment, deep in thought. She knew it wasn’t the smoking gun, but it was close,
and it certainly made Madame Dika a prime suspect in the case.

She put the card back in
her desk and took her cell phone out of her purse, clicking on photos. She
compared the numbers on the gun in the photograph with the serial numbers that
Seth had given her over the phone. They were an exact match.

That means the gun is
Seth’s. He told me it was stolen while he was at Madame Dika’s. Anton must have
stolen the gun from Seth’s car while he was having a reading. I can’t think of
any other reason why Seth’s gun would be in Anton’s nightstand. I don’t see
Seth walking into Anton’s bedroom and putting the gun in the nightstand. That
wouldn’t make any sense at all.

After looking at the
photos, she used the cell phone to call Seth. “Seth, it’s Liz. I’m sorry to
call so late, but I had a reading from Madame Dika today. I mentioned that you
had referred me to her, and that you had been to see her on Sunday. She said
she never saw clients on Sundays and you must have been mistaken. She said she
hadn’t seen you for several weeks. Are you certain you saw her last Sunday?”

“Liz, ya’ know I wouldn’t
lie to ya’. Yer’ darn tootin’ I was out at her place on Sunday, and here’s
somethin’ else you oughta’ know. I got a funny call at the station this
afternoon. Some dude called and said he’d read about Leroy’s death in the
newspaper. Asked what time Leroy’d been murdered, that the paper hadn’t
indicated the time. I ‘tol him it was late afternoon, didn’t have the exact
time in front of me. He ‘tol me he was drivin’ by the station about that time
and he’d seen a gypsy woman walkin’ into the station. He thought that was purty
strange and wanted me to know about it. What do you make of it?”

She was quiet as she
thought about what it implied. She wasn’t ready to tell Seth what she had
discovered about the Death card.

“Seth, I don’t know other
than it sounds like she doesn’t want to be involved. I know you told Roger she
was your alibi, but that alibi doesn’t look very good now. You don’t think she
was the murderer, do you?”

“Don’t know what to think.
I trusted her, but if she’s lyin’ ‘bout my readin’ and then some dude sees her
walkin’ into the station, and we know Leroy was murdered in the station about
that time, don’t sound good fer her.”

“Seth, it’s still early in
the investigation, and we really don’t have any solid evidence, but I sure wish
you had an alibi that somebody could corroborate.”

“Sweet lady, if it’s any
consolation to ya’, I do too.”

“I’ve got to go, Seth. Go
to bed and get some sleep. I believe you when you say you weren’t responsible
for Leroy’s death. I just need to find some way to prove it, and I will. Try
not to worry.”

“Yeah, easy fer ya’ to
say. Ain’t yer’ life on the line.”

“I know Seth, but have
some faith in me.”

“Okay, ain’t got nothin’
else goin’ fer me right now.”