“You are just so ridiculous, I can’t even believe it,” Holly said, shaking her head and looking out into the garden.
“The Knight of Wands! I knew you were keeping something from me,” Kate crowed, dropping back into her chair.
“The Knight of Wands?” Ivy asked.
Kate realized she’d made a tarot reference and exchanged a glance with Holly. She quickly covered, saying, “That’s something from a book we read in book club and it’s kind of become a code word for Mr. Right.”
“I think Manelli is Holly’s Mr. Right,” Ivy said leaning against the porch railing. “You should see how he looks at her, but she just refuses to admit it.”
“Unbelievable,” Kate said shaking her head at Holly. She patted the chair for Ivy to sit back down and said, “So tell me all about him.”
“I have to pee,” said Holly, getting up and going into the house.
Unwilling to face the teasing about Manelli, Holly went up to her bedroom, closed the door, flopped down on the bed, and promptly fell asleep. The restless night before, the drive on winding roads, and the two frosty beers combined to make for the most restful two hours of sleep she’d had in a week.
26 A GAME OF CLUE
Holly awoke to the sound of dogs barking. She sat up, put on her sneakers and ran down to the porch in time to see the pack of four coming up the street, Ivy carrying several shopping bags. Released from their leashes once in the yard, the dogs ran over to greet her.
“You finally got up. Didn’t want to talk about Manelli, huh?” Ivy taunted.
“Don’t start,” Holly warned as she bent down to pet the dogs.
“Don’t worry,” said Kate. “Ivy filled me in on all the details. I told her it’s just your usual pattern. A guy’s attracted to you, you deny it, you’re unreceptive to his signals, he persists, you run in the opposite direction.”
“Could we talk about something else?” Holly said. “I see you’ve been shopping.”
“Yes. Kate took me on a tour of downtown Reddington Manor.”
“The tour took all of 10 minutes,” Kate joked. “The rest of the time we’ve been window shopping, or taking turns holding the dogs while one of us went inside stores to actually buy something.”
“One of you? I’m sure you were the one holding the dogs while Ivy shopped,” Holly said to Kate as they mounted the porch steps.”
“These shops had the nicest things.” Ivy sat down to open the bags and show Holly her treasures. “Look at this hand-quilted handbag. Isn’t it beautiful?”
“It’s okay. Kate shows me a new one every time I come up here. She buys them in seasonal colors. I don’t know how you can keep everything from falling out without a zipper,” Holly said.
“Didn’t I tell you, Ivy?” Kate said, turning back to Holly. “She was going to buy one for you, Holly, but I stopped her,” she added as she opened the door to the kitchen. “I’m going inside to start dinner.”
After they ate and walked the dogs again, everyone settled in the living room. Kate located the remote control and plopped down in an armchair. “So, you want to watch TV?”
Holly’s eyes darted from Kate to Ivy and back again. “Actually, I was wondering if we could maybe talk about Mrs. Hagel’s murder,” she said.
“I thought we were done with that.” Ivy frowned.
“I know, but I just can’t stop thinking about it. Can’t we just talk, sort of theoretically?”
“You mean, like a game of Clue?” Kate asked sitting up like a dog who just heard the word “treat”.
“Yeah, that’s what I mean. Like a game. It doesn’t mean we’re going to do anything, Ivy, but maybe Kate can help us sort through the suspects.”
“All right. I guess that couldn’t hurt,” Ivy conceded.
“Look at it this way,” Kate said. “You’re saving me from brain atrophy. I haven’t had any mental stimulation in weeks. Let me get some pads and pens. This will be fun!” she giggled as she ran upstairs.
“Do you have an easel?” Holly called up to Kate. “We could create one of those boards like they do on all the crime shows.”
“That would be great,” Kate said as she came back down the stairs and handed them legal pads and pens. “Unfortunately, I didn’t anticipate a murder mystery weekend. No easels.”
“Okay,” said Holly. “Why don’t we start by listing the suspects? First is Novardo Development.”
“How can a company be a suspect?” Kate asked.
“There are two owners. One or both of them could have committed the murder.”
“Or one or both of them could have hired someone to do it for them,” Ivy suggested.
“Good point.”
“Hey, let’s create two columns--suspects and motives,” Kate suggested.
“That’s good,” Holly said.
After a few minutes, their lists consisted of the following:
Novardo Development: $30-million development
Louie Brunetti: Variance to build a pool
Phillip Hagel: Inheritance
Granddaughter Hagel: Inheritance
“What about Mrs. Hagel’s son? What’s his name? I’m sure he stands to inherit more than the grandchildren,” Kate speculated.
“See, this is why it’s good to do this with somebody new to the facts,” Holly said. “I wouldn’t have thought to consider him a suspect. I don’t know why. What do you think, Ivy? He didn’t impress me as a killer.”
“Me either, but he did really fly off the handle when he realized who you were. And he was really defensive, saying he’d call the police if he caught us talking to any of the members of his family.”
“He actually said that? I’d definitely put him on the list,” Kate said writing on her pad.
“Maybe he suspects his own kids,” Ivy mused. “He could just be covering for them.”
“That makes him an accessory after the fact,” Kate said.
“Listen to you,” Holly hooted. “Did you get that from a Bones episode?”
“That or NCIS,” Kate snickered.
“You know, there’s something about that whole thing that bothered me at the time, and I just can’t put my finger on it,” Holly said.
“I know what,” Ivy answered. “I wondered how Steven Hagel knew we were helping Leonelle Gomez. He said his lawyer told him, but how did his lawyer find out?”
“That’s it! The police certainly wouldn’t have told him.”
“You mean Manelli?” Kate smiled.
“All right. Manelli. He’s a jerk, but even I can’t imagine him being chummy with a lawyer, or doing something as unprofessional as pointing us out to a suspect’s lawyer.”
“And why would Steven Hagel be lawyering up?” Kate asked.
“Lawyering up? Really, you have been watching too much TV,” Holly laughed.
They all pondered the list silently for a few minutes, when Holly pounded the arm of her chair and spat out, “Grabnick! It had to be that sleaze ball. He’s really the only other one who knew we were helping Leonelle.”
“You’re right,” Ivy said looking glum. “What chance does Leonelle have if her own lawyer is unprofessional enough to reveal information like that to the victim’s family?”
“It certainly shows he’s not working in her best interest,” Holly replied.
“You know, he could get disbarred for that,” Kate interjected.
“But how could we prove it?” Holly asked.
“We could at least threaten to bring charges against him, couldn’t we?” Ivy added.
Now it was Holly’s turn to look glum. “That puts us right back in actual, not theoretical, mode.”
“Okay, okay,” Kate jumped in. “Let’s not get off track here. Put Grabnick off to the side for a minute. Let’s keep working. Steven Hagel is definitely a suspect, and if you ask me, he’s got more possible motives than anyone else. One, he is the only son and so he probably gets the biggest inheritance. Two, if he didn’t do it, but contacted his lawyer for advice
because he suspects his kids might have, he’s aiding and abetting criminals. Thirdly, if he’s got his lawyer breaching ethics by soliciting confidential information from another suspect’s lawyer--I don’t know what that’s called--but it’s got to be illegal,” Kate said, a triumphant grin on her face.
“You really are enjoying this, aren’t you?” Holly laughed.
“Okay. I’m adding Steven Hagel to the list,” Ivy said, putting her pen to paper.
“That’s the spirit.” Kate punched the air. “Okay, we’ve got all our suspects, now…”
“Wait,” Holly said. “You know, another thing that bugs me is the fact that the neighbors next-door left town the morning after the murder.”
“I forgot about them,” Ivy said. “Does seem fishy.”
“Who are they?” Kate asked.
“That’s just it. I don’t really know them,” Holly answered.
“Let’s add ‘neighbors’ to our list, motive unknown.” Kate wrote the addition on her legal pad. “Now what is it they say about motive, means, and there’s one more.”
“Opportunity,” said Ivy, finishing the addition to her list.
“You watch detective shows, too, Ivy?” Kate queried.
“Yep.” Ivy nodded. “I’ve watched so many Castle re-runs on TNT, I could play Beckett’s role.”
“I told you this would be fun!” Kate wiggled in her chair.
“Yeah, but I’d be enjoying it more if it really was just a game,” Holly said.
“Buzzkill!” Kate snarled.
“Back to work.” Holly looked at her notepad. “We’ve got the motives. Anyone who got into the house had the means. Mrs. Hagel was murdered with her own pills which were right on the kitchen counter. But who had opportunity? This is where it gets hard because we’re just guessing. We don’t know the time of death and whether or not any of these suspects has an alibi.”
“True, but we do know there was no break-in and that the family all had keys to the house. Novardo Development probably did not, and Louie Brunetti probably did not,” Ivy said.
“The unknown neighbors, either,” Kate added.
“Don’t be so sure about that. My neighbors have keys to my house,” Holly said.
“Okay, it’s possible,” Kate replied. “But I still think it’s unlikely they’d have keys.”
“You’re right,” Ivy said. “It looks an awful lot like one of the family did it.”
“But which one?” Holly wondered out loud.
27 TAROT
Holly, Ivy and Kate studied their lists of suspects and clients. After a few minutes, Ivy looked up and asked, “Do you think that Manelli has reached the same conclusion? I mean, that it’s probably a family member?”
“No, he believes Leonelle did it,” Holly answered.
“I think you’re wrong about that, but I can’t argue anymore. I’m really tired and have to go to bed.” Ivy stood up yawning, her eyes drooping.
“I’d have fallen asleep an hour ago if I hadn’t had that nap after lunch,” Holly said.
“And you do need to rest up so you’re fresh for the Trout Parade tomorrow,” Kate added. “I put towels in your room, and there’s an extra blanket in the closet. If you need anything else, just yell.”
“Thanks. See you in the morning,” Ivy said as she climbed the stairs.
“Good-night.” Holly turned to Kate. “She must be exhausted. I’m sure she didn’t get much more sleep than I did last night.”
“You realize she’s as invested in this as you are.”
“And it’s killing me because I just wanted this vacation to be all about her and what she wanted to do. I’m afraid she’ll never want to come visit again, let alone move in with me.”
“Don’t underestimate your sister. She’s not as fragile as you sometimes describe her. Remember, you’re cut out of the same cloth.”
“I know. I forget that. Then I think of things she’s done like joining the army and not taking her husband’s last name when they got married, and I remember she’s got a spine and a mind of her own.”
“Good. Now let’s get down to business.” Kate jumped up. “Let me get my tarot cards.”
Holly was clearing off the coffee table when Kate re-entered the room with the deck of cards and her notes for how to interpret them.
“Don’t forget,” she cautioned, “the cards don’t lie, so you better not either. I still can’t believe you denied that you’d met a man when the King of Wands came up in your reading.”
Holly moaned. “You and Ivy are the same. If a single man comes within 25 yards of me, you swear he’s interested in me. They never are or they’re men that make me feel lukewarm at best.”
Kate rolled her eyes as she shuffled the cards, “I don’t know about you.”
“Shut up and deal.”
“What is your question for the cards?”
“I’m not entirely sure. You know, Ivy’s right. We really don’t have to do anything. The police …”
Kate tilted her head, smirking.
“Okay. Manelli told us to back off. I have to admit I did get scared when he asked me if I realized that if Novardo or Louie Brunetti were guilty, that I put Ivy and me in danger just by talking about it. I hadn’t thought about us being in danger. I talked to Ivy about how much I hate the fact that I used to be fearless about everything, and now I’m a chicken. If I see trouble, I want to run, not walk, in the opposite direction.”
“That’s normal, you know.”
“Is it? That’s what Ivy said, but when Juan was charged with the murder, I didn’t even think about being scared. I just knew I had to help him if I could. Then when Ivy said she thought we should help Elena, I agreed, even though I didn’t think it was such a great idea. I wasn’t afraid until Manelli asked me that question.”
“Nobody could blame you if you didn’t do anything more.”
“That’s right. The hardest part was telling Elena and we did that. Okay, my question for the cards. Should we just forget about Leonelle Gomez and trust the police to find the real murderer? Can we just go home and start doing all the things we’d planned for this vacation because we’ve done all we can?”
“Here. Shuffle the deck and focus on your question.”
Holly shuffled and handed the cards back to Kate who slowly placed the cards on the table one by one in a Celtic Cross spread. When she reached number ten, she put the deck down, and turned over the two center cards.
“The Six of Wands crossed by the Eight of Cups. That’s the heart of the matter.”
“What do they mean?”
“The Six of Wands signals victory or success.”
Holly smiled. “Whew. Then I guess we’re off the hook.”
“Not so fast. That success is crossed by the Eight of Cups, a card about walking away, of deserting the source of your happiness or enterprise.”
Holly’s smile turned into a grimace. “So what you’re saying is my walking away from this could block a successful outcome?”
“Maybe. Let’s keep going.” Kate turned over the remaining cards. “Oh, boy. In the Fears and Doubts position you have The Tower. That means things are out of control. There’s instability and insecurity.”
“Terrific.” Holly leaned back, closing her eyes, resting her head on the back of the couch. “That is exactly how I feel.”
“Hold on though. I know there are positive aspects to this card, too.” Kate feverishly turned the pages of her notes. “Here. It’s about tearing down the present order to make way for something new. Could be a job or marriage.”
Without opening her eyes, Holly barked, “Don’t say it. Just keep going and finish this reading.”
Kate shook her head and smiled. “Okay. In the Outside Factors spot, we have the Knight of Swords. I know he’s all about rushing forward and riding into battle. Let’s see. My notes say he’s intelligent, forthright, courageous. Gee, I wonder if that could be …”
“Bite me.” Holly sat up and scowled.
&nb
sp; “There is a negative here. It says he’s eager to achieve his goals and maybe at the expense of others.”
“A chink in his armor?” Holly sat up.
“You’re admitting it’s him?”
“How many more cards are there?” Holly snapped.
“Just two--hopes and wishes and the outcome.” Kate turned over the next to last card. “The Sun. It’s all about glory, triumph and victory.”
Holly smiled and moved forward to the edge of the couch. “That’s good, isn’t it?”
“It doesn’t get better than that. Look at the card. It practically glows. But it is hopes and wishes. The last card is the outcome card. Let’s see what it is.”
Kate turned over the card and both she and Holly gasped. The Three of Swords showed a heart pierced by three swords dripping blood.
“That can’t be good, can it?” Holly whispered.
“Let me see.” Kate read silently, then looked up at Holly. “Okay. I’m going to read this to you exactly. ‘Need for clarification, need to see clearly. Emotions are clouding judgment. You’re not dealing with the emotions of the situation. Must accept the work.’”
“No.” Holly eyes widened, her skin turning pale.
“One more thing--here, you read it yourself because I don’t want you to say I’m making this up.” Kate handed Holly her notes, pointing at the line she wanted Holly to read. “Lesson: Take pain into our hearts and transform it with courage and love.”
“You can’t stop,” Kate said.
“How do I tell Ivy?”
“Tell me what?”
Holly and Kate looked to the stairs where Ivy was standing in her nightgown. Neither answered.
Ivy looked down at the coffee table. “Are those tarot cards?”
28 MUST ACCEPT THE WORK
Unable to deny the obvious, Holly looked at Ivy and said, “Yes, they’re tarot cards. Now before you …”
“Really?” Ivy quickly descended the stairs. “I’ve always wanted to have a reading, but I was afraid I’d get robbed if I went into one of those places with ‘Psychic’ flashing in neon over the front door.” She sat down directly in front of the coffee table facing Holly and Kate.
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