She knocked on the door that had the word “Manager” on it and opened it. Bertha, the manager of the spa, was sitting behind her desk examining what looked like a spreadsheet. Bertha had grown up on a farm east of town and had never been more than fifty miles from the little town of Red Cedar. While she didn’t have the sophistication of someone who had spent time in some big urban city, she had a common sense and warmth about her that had helped make the spa and lodge a success. She was small and always had her dark hair severely pulled back in a bun. She wore no makeup, but her genuine warm smile softened her appearance. She ran the spa with an iron hand, but everyone who had ever dealt with Bertha respected her and liked her. The employees knew her standards were high, and they worked hard to live up to what she expected of them. The spa guests appreciated all she did to make their stay thoroughly enjoyable. Liz knew she was fortunate to have a manager like Bertha.
“Bertha, I’ve got some terrible news.”
“It’s written all over your face. Looks like you’ve been crying, and it’s been several hours since the funeral.”
“I just learned Mark was murdered.”
Bertha started to stand up and then sat heavily back down in her black leather swivel chair. “Are you sure?” she asked.
Liz told her about the conversation she’d just had with the two California Highway Patrol officers. When she was finished, Bertha folded her hands and put them under her chin. “So what you’re saying is that the person who murdered Mark cut the brake line on his car in the employee parking lot, and the loss of the brakes on his car resulted in his death.”
“Yes, that’s what they told me, and I have no reason not to believe them. That’s what their job is. What worries me is that Seth Williams will be in charge of the investigation, and you know how incapable he is.”
“I sure do. I’ve known him all my life, and I can’t say getting older has made a whit of difference in his common sense. Liz, you solved Barbara Nelson’s murder. I think you should get involved in this one, or it will never be solved.”
“Bertha, I don’t know where to start. I thought I’d call Roger after the guests leave tonight and see what he thinks. He’s got a lot more experience at this type of thing than I do. He’s in the middle of a big criminal trial, and I know he can’t come up here to help me, but maybe he can give me some advice. The officers said their report wasn’t going to be released until tomorrow, so I have a little time. At least I can start thinking about things that need to be done.”
“I feel so sorry for Mark’s parents. They’re barely making ends meet as it is. That family has never had good luck with anything. I don’t know if you’re aware of it, but Mark’s mother was diagnosed with cancer recently, and they don’t have any insurance. Finding out Mark was murdered is really going to be hard on them. Then again, maybe it’s better than having to deal with your son committing suicide. At least you’d have someone to hate. My heart goes out to them. Who’s going to tell them?” Bertha asked.
“I imagine it would be up to Seth.”
“Tell you what. As insensitive as he is, I’d rather anyone other than Seth would deliver news like that to me. You’re not going to like what I’m going to say, but I think you need to go there tomorrow morning and tell them.”
“Bertha, I don’t have the authority to do that.”
“You may not have any official authority to do that, but sometimes common decency trumps the law, and I think you would do a lot better job at something like that than Seth. Why don’t you call him tomorrow morning and tell him the CHP was out here this afternoon and what they found. Tell him you’d like to tell Mark’s parents because you were the last person to see him alive. Knowing him, he’ll probably be happy to have you do it.”
“You may be right, but it certainly isn’t something I’ll look forward to. Let me change the subject. That Chinese couple who stayed here the last few days were at Mark’s funeral. I thought that was rather odd. Do you have any idea why they would attend the funeral?”
“No. I remember the man, think his wife calls him Clamhammer, asking me for directions to Nate Ackler’s candle shop. He said he’d known Nate when Nate lived in San Francisco. I remember thinking that was strange. Those two seem to be miles apart in wealth, and I wondered how they’d known each other.”
“That does seem odd. When I talk to Roger tonight I’ll ask him if he knows anything about the man. I wouldn’t think there would be too many men named Clamhammer who are successful Chinese businessmen living in San Francisco.”
“Liz, is there anything I can do to help?”
“I can’t think of anything at the moment. If I need something, I’ll let you know. Fortunately Mark and I prepared a lot of food the other day, so even if I have to spend some time away from here, I think we’ll be fine. As always, Bertha, thanks.”
“You’re welcome and Liz, you have good instincts about people. Don’t be afraid to follow them.”
“Thanks. I just wish I didn’t have to get involved in this one.”
CHAPTER 9
Liz put the finishing touches on the dinner she was serving the guests who were staying in the cottages: herbed olives and spinach balls with a mustard sabayon sauce; garlic studded leg of lamb with pan roasted potatoes and carrots; gravy; a mixed green salad with her famous secret dressing; and for dessert, a luscious chocolate chip bundt cake.
I’ve had the recipe for that cake for as long as I can remember. I think I got it from the mother of one of Brittany’s friends in nursery school. She told me it was the richest chocolate cake she’d ever had, and she only gave the recipe to people who really liked to cook, eat, and who loved chocolate. That’s me all right, and from the number of people who have told me it’s the best thing they’ve ever had, I’m not alone. Maybe it will make me feel better, because I sure couldn’t feel any worse than I do right now.
Putting on a happy face for the guests in light of what the highway patrol officers had told her that afternoon about Mark’s death was one of the hardest things Liz had ever had to do. When the last guest walked out the door, she stood with her back against it for a moment, feeling warm tears coursing down her cheeks. After a few minutes had gone by and she felt some semblance of composure returning, she cleaned up the kitchen, and then she and Winston went downstairs to her living quarters.
As soon as she was downstairs, she picked up her phone and called Roger. He answered on the first ring. “Liz, I’m so glad you called. I’ve been thinking about you all day. Probably not the best thing to do when I’m in a trial, but I couldn’t help it. How was the funeral?”
“The funeral was difficult, but it was nothing compared to what followed.”
“Start at the beginning and tell me everything.”
“Roger, Mark was murdered.”
“What! Why do you say that?” he asked in a loud voice.
Liz spent the next few minutes telling him about her conversation with Officer Ganz and Officer Stuart. When she was finished, she began to cry.
“Liz, I’m so sorry. I hear how much pain you’re in, and I wish I could do something for you.”
“Roger,” she said tearfully, “Bertha thinks I need to call Seth Williams. You probably remember he’s the bumbling police chief I had to deal with when Barbara Nelson was found murdered in cottage #6 here at the spa. Anyway, she thinks I should call him and tell him what the officers told me. Once I’ve done that she suggested that I should be the one to tell Mark’s parents because Seth is so insensitive. To make matters worse, as if they could get any worse, Mark’s mother was recently diagnosed with cancer, and they don’t have any insurance. My heart just breaks for the two of them.”
“I agree with Bertha. You have a good way with people, and I definitely think you should be the one to tell them, probably first thing in the morning. Information like that has a way of getting out, and I know you don’t want them to hear it on the radio or television.”
“I’m dreading it. Bertha also suggested I should do what I can to
find out who murdered Mark because the brake line on his car was cut when he was at the spa, so the spa definitely will be mentioned, and not in a particularly positive way.”
“Unfortunately, I agree with her on that as well. Liz, word will get out that you’re looking into it and once again, I worry about your safety. Keep Winston with you. Remember, he’s a highly trained ninety pound guard dog, and that’s why I gave him to you, to protect you. Now let’s talk about possible suspects and motives. Can you think of anyone who would want to kill Mark or have a reason to kill him?”
“No, from everything I’ve heard he was really well liked. He had a girlfriend, Emily, who’s been going steady with him for years. As a matter of fact, they were planning on getting married in a year or two. If he had enemies at the high school, I haven’t heard anything about them.”
“Start with the girlfriend. If they’re as close as you say, she may know something. Do you know her?”
“When I went to pay my condolences to the family she was there, and we were briefly introduced. I suppose I could talk to her. Wait a minute. I had a talk with Mark the afternoon he died, and I think I told you that I sensed something was troubling him. He wouldn’t tell me what it was, but he did mention he had talked to his girlfriend about it. He said he was going to take care of it the next day. Maybe she does know something. She spoke at the funeral today and was adamant he had not taken his own life. She even asked people who were there to help her find out what happened.”
“Well, from what the officers told you, she was right. That’s where you should start, with her. Tell her you’re investigating the case because of the spa’s reputation, and ask her if she can tell you anything at all about what was so worrisome to Mark. See if she knows of anyone who might have had a motive for killing Mark. Tell me about the funeral. Often the person who’s the murderer attends the funeral, bizarre as that sounds.”
“The church was jammed with people. There were a lot of high school students there and townspeople. I recognized most of them, but that doesn’t mean much. I suppose any of them could be the murderer, but there was one thing I thought was rather strange. We had a couple stay here as guests at the spa for a few days. Evidently he’s a wealthy man who lives in Chinatown in San Francisco. His wife told Bertha he had a number of employees and owned an export-import business. He has a really strange nickname, Clamhammer.”
She was immediately interrupted by Roger. “A Chinese man by the name of Clamhammer? Liz, are you sure? Tell me what he looks like.”
“That’s what his wife called him. I think I heard he’s called that because he loves clams. Obviously it’s not the name he used when the reservations were made. They were made in the names of May and Edwin Wu. He’s around forty-five, overweight, about 5’6” tall, and he has a goatee. I talked to them several times at dinner, and they were very friendly and interesting. I guess his wife’s a spa junkie. Oh, I just remembered Bertha told me he asked her where Nate Ackler’s candle shop was located in town. He said they were old friends. Bertha told me she thought that was strange because Nate is not at all wealthy. If anything, he’s very middle class or slightly below, and Mr. Wu is bucks up if the jewelry his wife wears is any indication. Do you know anything about him?”
“I sure do. Small world. He’s well-known to law enforcement authorities in the San Francisco area, but they’ve never been able to convict him of anything, probably because he’s also a very large contributor to political campaigns. It’s said he contributes so much no one is willing to even try and convict him. There’s been a lot of talk he’s one of the leaders of a well-known tong here in San Francisco.”
Liz interrupted him. “What’s a tong? I’ve never heard the word.”
“They’re mainly Chinese secret organizations. Originally they were set up by the Chinese who came to America as a place where they could meet and be with other Chinese people who had recently emigrated. Over time many of them became known for taking part in organized crime activities, kind of like the Italian Mafia. The one that Clamhammer allegedly heads specializes in extortion, drugs, and everything else illegal. Tell you what I’ll do. I’ll see if Sean, my private investigator, can come up with anything on him or his relationship with the candle guy. What’s his name?”
“Nate Ackler.”
“Okay. I’ll give him a call tonight and he can get started on it first thing tomorrow morning. Anything else?”
“Yes. I overheard something at the funeral that was interesting, although I don’t see how it would be connected with Mark’s murder.” She told him about the conversation she’d overheard between Darcy Martinez, the principal of Red Cedar High School, and the assistant vice-principal.
“I don’t know either one of them, but you know how I feel about coincidences,” Roger said. “I don’t think they exist. Strange the conversation would occur about high school students at the funeral of a high school student. Do you know Darcy Martinez?”
“Yes. I met her when I was investigating Barbara Nelson’s death. About two months ago she called and asked me if I would come to the high school and speak to some of the seniors who were interested in the restaurant and hospitality industry. I did, and that’s how I met Mark. He asked me a number of questions and told me he wanted to be a chef. We talked for a long time and although I certainly hadn’t planned on hiring an apprentice, when I left the high school I’d hired Mark to be my apprentice three afternoons a week and on Sundays afternoons through the summer. He started the next day. He really was a wonderful young man,” she said, starting to tear up again.
“Liz, l’m going to end this conversation. You need some sleep. It’s been a rough day for you, and I don’t think the next few days are going to be any easier. Talking to the parents of someone who’s been murdered and then the decedent’s girlfriend is not going to be easy. I’ll call you tomorrow night and let you know what, if anything, Sean finds out about Clamhammer.”
“You’re right. I’m exhausted and the thought of bed is very appealing at the moment, but I do feel better after talking to you.”
“Good, glad I can be of some help even if I can’t be there with you. Good night, sweetheart.”
CHAPTER 10
Liz waited until nine the following morning to call Seth. “Mornin’ beautiful. Saw you sittin’ at the back of the church yesterday and I spent the whole time I was in church wonderin’ if you had on some black lace under that grey thing ya’ was wearing. Whoohee, get hot jes’ thinkin’ ‘bout it. Glad ya’ called. So when are you and me goin’ out to dinner? Assume that’s why ya’ called.”
“Sorry, Seth, this isn’t a social call. This is business.” She pictured him sitting at his desk with his big belly, greasy hair, and more than likely wearing a shirt covered with food stains from breakfast at Gertie’s Diner.
“Aw pretty lady, yer’ killin’ me. Only thing that keeps me goin’ is knowin’ someday yer’ gonna change yer’ mind.” He sighed deeply. “So what’s so important this fine mornin’?”
“Two California Highway Patrol officers came to the lodge yesterday afternoon. They were investigating Mark’s death. They’re releasing their report today, and you’ll probably be getting a call from them shortly. Their investigation clearly showed that the brake line on Mark’s car had been cut, and he had no brakes when he tried to make the turn at the bottom of that steep grade not far from the spa. They said he was murdered.”
“Those chippies have gotta be wrong. His death is a classic case of suicide. I tol’ ya’ how it happens all the time to teenagers these days. Can’t imagine why they’d say otherwise. And why they’d tell you?”
“They found a puddle of brake fluid in the employee’s parking lot behind the spa. They told me because the brake line was cut on my property, I was an interested party and had a right to know all the facts they discovered in their investigation. Seth, I’ve met Mark’s parents, and I know how busy you are. I’d like to be the one to tell them. Since he worked for me, and I was the last person
to see him alive, it makes sense. I didn’t want to tell them without letting you know because the officers told me since the murder occurred in your jurisdiction, the investigation of Mark’s death will be conducted by the Red Cedar Police Department, and you’ll be in charge of it.”
“Ahh, man. I coulda’ done without this case. I’m up to my eyeballs as it is. Tourist season is jes’ ‘round the corner and you know what that means, need to be arrestin’ speeders, so I can fill the city coffers with money from traffic fines. City makes a lot of money offa’ my arrests. Pretty important stuff.”
Right. Ticketing speeders is more important than finding out who killed a wonderful young man. No wonder I detest this man.
“Plus, I jes’ got back from the high school. Got a ‘nonymous call yesterday that a computer was hacked at the high school. Got the dang thing out in the back of my car and Elroy and me was jes’ gettin’ ready to check it out. I’m purty good with computers, if I do say so myself. Why don’t ya’ go ahead and talk to his parents. Since I’m so busy and the crime happened on your property, maybe you could do a little vestigatin’ on yer’ own. Save me some time, and ya’ got pretty lucky on that Nelson case. Maybe ya’ could do it again. Ackshuly, think it’s a real good idea. Ya’ can see what ya’ can come up with and like I said, it’ll save me a lot of time. Let me know what ya’ find out. If ya’ need something from the department, jes’ whistle, but make sure yer’ wearin’ black lace when you do, if ya’ know what I mean. Har, har, har!”
Insufferable, there is simply no other word for him. Completely insensitive and insufferable.
“I think that’s probably a very good idea. I have the reputation of the spa to protect, and I probably have more time to devote to it than you do. I can’t even imagine how busy you must be.”
“Ya’ got that right.” She could imagine how his fat chest was puffed out even farther than usual as he said it, literally ready to pop the already straining buttons on his shirt.
Murder and Brandy Boy: A Liz Lucas Cozy Mystery Series Book 2 Page 4