Murder and Brandy Boy: A Liz Lucas Cozy Mystery Series Book 2

by Dianne Harman

  “Absolutely,” Emily said, taking off her apron and hanging it on a hook. “I think I’ll spend the time until then looking at some of the cooking shows on television. Who knows? Maybe I can even get some ideas we could use here. Graduation’s next week, so I really don’t have any homework. The few classes I have left will mainly be about signing yearbooks. Have a good weekend! See you Sunday!”

  With a smile on her face Liz closed the door behind Emily as she left, happy that Emily was working out so well.

  This might help to get her mind off of Mark’s death and adjust to whatever the future holds for her. I really like her. If she continues to enjoy working here, I might hire her full-time. I could use some more help. I’ll keep it in the back of my mind, but right now I need to put the finishing touches on tonight’s dinner for the guests. It’s kind of a double-edged sword. I love it that all of the cottages are full, but when they’re full, it means more work for me. Ahh, the price of success!

  Promptly at 6:30, the guests started to arrive for the wine and cheese, meeting one another, talking about the various different treatments they’d had during the day, and which ones they were going to have tomorrow. Liz was pleased to hear the positive comments, knowing that word of mouth advertising trumped any other kind.

  The chicken and vegetables were a huge success, and the guests raved about the baked zucchini strips, several of whom asked for the recipe. Liz regaled them with stories of Brandy Boy, and how the only thing that caught his attention was the ding-ding-ding of a cottage’s bell when someone rang it for a late night nip of brandy. Several of them said they had to see it for themselves and planned on ringing their bell later that evening. A few of the guests asked for paper towels so they could take the peanut butter and chocolate toffee cookies to their cottages and have them as a snack with their brandy.

  The last guest left shortly after 9:00. Liz let Winston out and finished cleaning up so the kitchen would be ready for Bertha in the morning when she served breakfast to the guests. She let Winston back in and left the upper half of the Dutch door open to let in some fresh air.

  There was a knock on the door and Liz walked over to it. ­­­­­­­­­Helen Bird was standing on the porch. “Liz, would you mind coming out and giving me a hand with your clothes? I’m having some problems with arthritis in my hands.”

  “Of course not. I’ve already made a check out to you. Here it is,” Liz said, stepping out onto the porch. She closed the bottom half of the Dutch door and saw Winston standing on the other side, his big head resting on the sill, his eyes watching her.

  She turned to follow Helen Bird to her car, but she didn’t see one.

  “Where did you park? I don’t see your car,” Liz said, stepping over Brandy Boy who was sound asleep.

  Mrs. Bird answered her from the far side of the porch. “It’s down by the highway where I parked when I cut the brake line on Mark’s car. I took the path and came out at the parking lot.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I’m talking about this,” Helen Bird said, waving a gun that she suddenly produced in her right hand.

  “I don’t understand.”

  “You will. You’re going to join Mark in a few minutes. Both of you tried to get my William in trouble. Mark was going to tell people about it just like you told the assistant principal about it this morning. You know too much, just like Mark knew too much. A couple of my customers were right. You were snooping around. That’s why I left the note on your car. Sorry, but I can’t have you alive anymore. Sooner or later you’d make trouble for my William. He was such a good boy not to tell you or the assistant principal anything today. That was the smart thing for him to do, and I’m so proud of him.”

  “Are you telling me you’re the one who cut the brake line on Mark’s car?”

  “Yes, I did. It doesn’t matter anymore. Might as well tell you. Where you’re going there won’t be anyone for you to tell anyway. It was a piece of cake since I do all the repair work on my own car. I knew right where the brake line was located, and I cut it with a pair of garden clippers I use to trim my roses. Nothing is more important than my William, and I’ll kill anyone who tries to stand in his way. Unfortunately that included Mark, and now it includes you.”

  Liz watched her, convinced that she had become unhinged at some point in time. She’d thought the woman was strange before, but there was no doubt in Liz’s mind that all thoughts of sanity were a long ways away from Mrs. Bird as she stood before her waving the gun in her hand which was pointed directly at her.

  I did just what Roger said I shouldn’t do. Winston is in the house and so is the gun. I am totally defenseless, just like poor Mark was. I can’t believe I did something so stupid, and now it’s going to cost me my life. Everyone’s in their cottage, and there’s no one who can help me. She’s going to kill me and get away with it.

  Suddenly Liz heard the faint ding-ding-ding of a cottage bell ringing in the distance. Brandy Boy, all one hundred sixty pounds of him, was up in a shot, barreling towards the sound of the bell. Nothing stood in Brandy Boy’s way when the bell sounded, and to him Helen Bird was nothing more than some minor collateral damage. The impact of the huge dog running into the petite woman was predictable. She was violently knocked down, and the gun came loose from her hand and slid over the edge of the porch.

  She scrambled to her feet and tried to get to her gun. At that moment, Winston saw what was happening, realized Liz was in danger, and jumped over the bottom half of the Dutch door. Growling, he leaped on Mrs. Bird and pinned her to the ground with his feet. She was no match for ninety pounds of pure growling steel.

  “Get him off of me! Get him off! He’s going to bite me!” Mrs. Bird screamed.

  Liz turned to open the lodge door so she could get her gun and her phone when car headlights danced over Mrs. Bird and the front porch. A car came to a screeching stop in front of the lodge as Roger threw open the car door and jumped out.

  “Liz, what’s going on? Who’s this?” Roger asked, pulling a gun from a shoulder holster under his jacket. He aimed it at the woman lying on the ground. “You can tell Winston to get off. I have her covered.”

  “Winston, stand down. It’s Nerdy’s mother. She’s the one who killed Mark, and she was going to kill me. Oh Roger, I was so stupid. I did just what you said I shouldn’t do. I walked outside without Winston or my gun. I’m so glad you’re here.”

  “Just stay where you are, Mrs. Bird. You’re going to be arrested for murder and attempted murder. If you move, Winston will make sure it’s your last move. Do you understand what I’m saying?” Roger asked.

  Mrs. Bird looked first at Liz and then turned to Roger. “If it hadn’t been for you, she’d be dead, and she wouldn’t ever be able to hurt my William. My poor little William. What’s going to happen to him?”

  “Don’t worry, Mrs. Bird, I’ll go to your house and tell him once the police get here. I’ll make sure he’s okay,” Liz said.

  “You better take care of my William. Tell him I’ll be home in the morning, that this whole thing is a big misunderstanding. Tell him I’ll make his favorite pancakes for him.”

  Liz and Roger looked at each with dismay. Mrs. Bird seemed to have lost touch with reality and clearly didn’t comprehend the gravity of what she had done.

  “It looks like I got here just in time,” Roger said. “My meeting ended early. I don’t want to even think about what might have happened if it hadn’t. Here’s my phone, call 911. I suppose the call will have to go to the chief of police since the lodge is located in his area.”

  “Afraid so, but I don’t care. I just want her out of here.” She told the 911 operator that the chief of police was needed at the spa, and that he needed to arrest someone for attempted murder. The operator said he would be there within a few minutes.

  They both looked down at Mrs. Bird who was still lying on the floor of the porch. Her glasses had been broken in the fall, and she was holding her left elbow which she’
d landed on when Brandy Boy knocked her down. Just then Brandy Boy returned to his usual place on the porch, totally unaffected by the drama that was unfolding in front of him, enjoying the dog treat the guest who had rung the bell had given him.

  “Brandy Boy, you saved my life, and you too, Winston,” Liz said She gave each of them a hug. In the distance they heard the sound of a siren getting closer to the lodge.

  Brandy Boy plopped down on the porch and within seconds was sound asleep, however, one ear seemed to be twitching slightly, hoping to pick up the sound of another ringing bell and an opportunity for another dog treat.

  *****

  The grossly obese chief of police swung his belly over the steering wheel of his patrol car and lumbered over to where Liz and Roger were standing. Pulling himself up to his full height so he could look important, he asked, “What’s going on here? Why’s Helen Bird lyin’ there on the porch? She wouldn’t do nothin’ to nobody. Known her forever.”

  “Well, you may not know her as well as you think. She tried to kill Liz, and she killed Mark Scott by cutting the brake line on his car. You need to arrest her for murder and attempted murder,” Roger said.

  “Helen, is this true? You and me, we go wayyy back. You wanna tell me ‘bout it. I’ll be happy to hear your side.”

  “Be careful what you say and do, Chief Williams. She is entitled to an attorney and to tell her side of what happened here tonight. But before that happens, you need to take her to jail and book her for murder. Don’t forget to read her the Miranda rights or some smart lawyer will get her off on a technicality.”

  “Ya’ tryin’ to tell me how to run my business, big shot?” Chief Williams asked. “How do ya’ know ‘bout them Miranda rights?”

  “I happen to be a criminal defense attorney, and if you mess this case up, I’ll make sure it’s the last case you ever mess up. Might even quit my job in San Francisco and run against you in the next election. You can take that to the bank. Just keep it in mind. I’ll be watching you every step of the way.”

  The Helen Bird that Seth had known almost all his life was seemingly gone. In her place was a woman who was completely unaware of what was going on around her. She kept muttering to herself about how William was more important to her than anyone, and she’d do whatever she had to do so he could share his remarkable intellect with the world. She babbled about this and that, much of it unintelligible to the listener. A second police car pulled into the lodge parking lot, and Seth’s deputy, Elroy, got out of his car.

  “Chief, what’s goin’ on? Susie said somethin’ ‘bout murder.”

  “Yeah, looks like Helen’s gone off her rocker. Ya’ got a security screen in yer’ car between ya’ and the arrestees. Yer’ gonna have to take her in. Looks like we’re gonna have to book her for murder. I’ll help ya’ get her in yer’ patrol car. Such a shame, a nice person like Helen.” Seth helped Leroy put Helen into the back of his patrol car, and then Leroy left for Red Cedar jail.

  Seth walked over to his car and then leering, turned back to Liz. “Hot shot boy probably don’t know ‘bout Victoria and them black lace things ya’ like, but I do. Keep it in mind. Be seein’ ya. So long Mr. fancy San Francisco lawyer.” He got in his car and drove down the road leading to the highway, red lights on his patrol car blinking and the siren sounding.

  Roger turned to Liz. “Victoria and black lace? Want to explain that?” he asked, laughing. “That guy is every bit as obnoxious as you told me he was. You know it would be a huge life style change for me, but I just might run against him some day.”

  “Wish you would, then you wouldn’t have to leave for San Francisco every time you come here. I have to go over to Nerdy’s and tell him what happened here tonight. I’m sure not looking forward to that.”

  “I’ll go with you. Seems to me you mentioned that it’s just he and his mother. You might offer to let him stay here tonight. Poor kid is going to be terrified. Do you know if he has any relatives?”

  “No. I need to find that out once I talk to him. Maybe he’ll talk to the assistant principal now that his mother’s not going to be around. Since you’re with me, and she’s admitted to the murder, I think it will be all right for me to leave Winston here.”

  “Under one condition. It’s either Winston or me with you at all times from now on. You just seem to have a way of attracting trouble, Liz. It’s amazing.”

  “I can’t help it. It just happens. Roger, I have a question for you. Why did you have a gun with you?”

  “It’s not something I like to dwell on, but in my line of work threats are pretty common. A few years ago I was getting a lot of them, so I got a permit to carry a gun. I usually have it on me, just in case I need it. Glad I had it on me tonight.”

  “Me, too.”

  CHAPTER 24

  “I am so not looking forward to this,” Liz said. “I don’t think I’ve ever had to tell someone their mother has been arrested for murder. If I look like I need a little help, feel free to jump in while I’m talking to him.”

  They walked up the steps to the small sterile looking home, and Liz rang the doorbell. She looked around and shivered when she saw the roses that had been trimmed by the same shears that had cut the brake line on Mark’s car. Nerdy opened the door, and when he saw who it was, immediately tried to close it.

  “William, I’m sure I’m the last person you want to see, but I’m not here to talk to you again about the break-in and the computer hack. I have some news about your mother, and I really need to come in.”

  The door opened and he said, “What about Mother?”

  “May we come in? Please. This is Roger Langley, he’s a friend of mine.”

  He unlocked the screen and opened it for them. “Tell me about Mother. Where is she?” he asked.

  “Why don’t we all sit down? This may take a little while.” She told him about the events of the night, beginning with the phone call from his mother that afternoon. “William, I’m sorry, but your mother gave us no choice. If it’s any consolation she talked about you the whole time.”

  “Are you telling me my mother killed Mark? He was my friend, my only friend.”

  “Yes. She admitted she killed him to stop anyone from finding out that you had committed the computer hack, even though you were being threatened.”

  Nerdy was quiet for several minutes. “What will happen to her now?”

  “Roger, why don’t you answer that question? You know far better than I do what happens in a case like this.” She turned to Nerdy. “Roger is a criminal defense lawyer in San Francisco.”

  “William,” Roger began.

  Nerdy interrupted him. “From now on I want you to call me Bill. If my mother did what you say she did, I never want to see her again.”

  “Bill, your mother has been taken to the Red Cedar jail. She’ll be booked for murder and attempted murder. Tomorrow she’ll be arraigned, and if she doesn’t have her own attorney, the court will appoint one for her. It’s customary for the defendant to plead not guilty, and I’m sure that’s what her attorney will advise her to do. From that point on, it will be up to her attorney. Since she seems to be having trouble dealing with reality the Court may require that psychological tests be administered to determine if she is mentally competent to stand trial. If she is, there may be a plea bargain, or she may go to trial. Sometimes a trial by jury is waived, and the facts are put on before a judge who makes a decision.”

  Bill was quiet for several moments. “What’s going to happen to me?”

  “I’d like you to spend the night at the lodge. Do you have a relative I could call?” Liz said.

  “I have an aunt, my father’s sister. She and my mother don’t speak to each other because my aunt didn’t approve of the way my mother was raising me. Her name is Alma Harrison. She’s a widow. I haven’t seen her in a long time.”

  “Do you have a telephone number for her?”

  “Yes. It’s on my computer. I’ll be back in a minute.” The poor young boy stru
ggled to hold back tears as he walked out of the room.

  Liz and Roger exchanged looks of sadness, feeling for Bill and the changes that were bound to occur in his life. A few moments later he walked back into the room with the telephone number. From the redness in his eyes, it was clear he’d been crying. Liz excused herself and walked out to the porch to call his aunt.

  When she’d finished the call, she walked back into the room. “Good news, Bill. Your aunt’s going to come to the lodge around noon tomorrow. She’ll stay with you in the house here until you two make a decision about what’s next. She sounds very nice and very concerned about your welfare.”

  “Liz,” Roger said, “Bill and I had a little talk while you were on the phone with his aunt. He wants to get all of this behind him. He asked if there was any way you could set up a meeting for him with the assistant principal. He’s ready to tell the truth about the break-in and the computer hack.”

  “Coincidentally, Mr. Jones gave me his cell phone number when I met with him earlier today. I’ll call him right now. Maybe he can set up a meeting with the superintendent for tomorrow morning.”

  She walked back out to the porch and a few minutes later, opened the door, smiling. “He called the superintendent and set up a meeting for tomorrow morning at 9:30 in his office. I can go with you if you’d like.”

  “Yes, please. Could we leave now and go to the lodge? I don’t think I want to stay here any longer.”

  “Absolutely. Why don’t you pack a few things you’ll need for tonight and tomorrow morning? We’ll meet you in the car. Do you have a key to the house?”

  “Yes, I’ll lock it when I leave. I’ll be just a few minutes.”

  When they returned to the lodge, Brandy Boy was in his customary place on the porch, but what wasn’t customary was the television news crew filming Brandy Boy.

  “What is going on?” Liz asked a TV reporter who was with the film crew as she got out of the car. “I’m the owner of the spa, and I want to know why you’re filming my dog.”