Murder & The Monkey Band: High Desert Cozy Mystery Series

by Dianne Harman

  “I knew Jeff was at the front door and everything would be all right, and it was.”

  “We’ve got the same parents. Is it possible for you to transfer a little of that psychic ability to me?”

  “You’re not the first one to ask, but the answer is no. I don’t know how it works, but I just know it does work.”

  “I’ll vouch for that. I was a total disbeliever in the beginning, but you’ve converted me,” Jeff said. “Do psychics drink or eat anything special?”

  “Don’t know about other ones, but on a hot night like tonight a vodka tonic made with Ketel One goes down real easy.”

  “Meet me at the door when I show up for dinner tonight!”

  EPILOGUE

  LOU

  Lou and his island lady, Devan, were looking out at the blue Caribbean from the porch of his condominium on Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman Island. Lou thought it was fitting that they were sipping on mai tais which brought back memories of the Jensen fiasco.

  It cost me fifty grand, but a deal’s a deal. The housekeeper left the security system off just like I’d asked. It wasn’t her fault someone got to the Monkey Band set before I did and killed a woman in the process. Don’t know what that was all about, but as soon as I realized what had happened, I put on one of my disguises and got the heck out of Dodge. Anyway I needed a little R and R, and the mai tais work real well on the rest part of R and R and lord knows, Devan can sure help a man relax.

  Think I’ll lie low down here for a couple of weeks and then head back to the States. Heard there’s some good jewelry in a house in Dallas that might be open to a heist. I’m told the housekeeper there has a little gambling problem and might need a little extra money. Yeah, it’s a good life.

  JIM MORGAN

  Jim never left Pam Springs. He bought Mai Tai Mama’s from George Ellis, who could no longer run it now that he was in jail awaiting his trial, and the judge had denied him bail.

  George told Jim he’d sell him the restaurant with the caveat that when he was released from jail, because he was certain he’d be acquitted, he could buy the restaurant back for the same amount of money he’d sold it to Jim.

  Everyone but George knew he was going to prison for a long, long time. His attorney had recommended he accept a plea bargain a number of times, but to no avail.

  Jim discovered he was a born restaurateur. He loved greeting the customers and overseeing all of the operations of the restaurant. It had taken him a long time to figure out what he could be good at, but even Brian Jensen would have heartily approved of the way he ran the restaurant.

  It even looked like he might make a marriage work, at least the hostess Jill was hoping it would work out. Life was good, finally.

  HENRY SIEGELMAN

  Henry searched the Internet diligently and increased the amount he paid the people who were on the lookout for him for the three pieces he needed to complete his Monkey Band set.

  His great regret was that he couldn’t persuade Pam Jensen’s stepdaughter, Amy, to part with the set. As soon as he’d heard she was the one who would be inheriting Pam’s antiques, he’d gotten in touch with her and offered her an unbelievable amount of money for the Monkey Band. She’d told him in no uncertain terms that not only was she not interested in selling it, she would never sell the Monkey Band under any circumstances. She told him she felt the set was a link to her stepmother and even her father, since he had bought it for Pam. She told him that of all the antiques she’d inherited, the Monkey Band was her favorite.

  Henry spends many a night thinking and scheming about how he can get the three pieces he needs to complete his set, but so far he hasn’t found a way.

  ROSA

  Rosa loved being Amy’s housekeeper. She’d always enjoyed every minute of the days she spent in Pam Jensen’s home, and everything in it was special to her. She never considered what she did as being work, just an enjoyable thing for her to do. It was Rosa who suggested to Amy that she turn the pool house into a writing area, and it proved to be a very good suggestion. Amy had just published her first book and was deep into writing the second in what might prove to be a very profitable series.

  She never heard from Lou again, and she used the money he’d given her to pay for her granddaughter’s operation which was one hundred percent successful. The doctors assured her that her granddaughter could now lead a totally normal life.

  Because of their deep religious faith, over time she and Julio had come to think of Lou as an angel delivered to them by God from heaven above. They believed Lou was an angel in disguise while he was here on earth, but that he couldn’t tell her who he really was. Simply stated, he must have been a gift from God in the form of an angel. Without Lou, Rosa knew her granddaughter’s life would have turned out quite differently. What other explanation could there possibly be?

  Julio had found work as a gardener for a company that specialized in the residential area where Rosa worked, so from time to time they could even have lunch together. She’d never been happier.

  JEFF AND MARTY

  The attraction between the two of them hadn’t lessened with time, and if anything, it had grown. Jeff had become a fixture at the compound, and Marty spent many an hour listening to him talk about his latest cases. She found she enjoyed it and often gave him some of her thoughts and ideas that occasionally had actually helped him solve a case. She began to wonder if maybe she had a little of what Laura had.

  In addition to the insurance company referrals, Marty was getting many referrals from people satisfied with the work she’d done for them. Jeff thought she should hire a couple of people and expand her practice, but she was happy the way things were. Scott continued to pay her a large amount of alimony each month and that, in addition to the money she made from appraising, allowed her to be free from any financial concerns.

  She recognized that the alimony she was receiving could become a potential problem in her relationship with Jeff. On one hand it allowed her to do pretty much whatever she wanted, but on the other hand, if she ever married Jeff, and he had hinted at it, under the terms of the divorce, the alimony would end. She knew the day was rapidly approaching when she’d have to make a decision, but until then she’d decided to let things continue as they were – having a very attractive, attentive detective in love with her.

  Hey, life could be worse, she often thought!

  Recipes!

  There's a surprise following the recipes.

  CUBANO SANDWICH (SERVES FOUR)

  Marinade Ingredients:

  Boneless pork shoulder butt roast (5-6 pounds)

  4 garlic cloves, sliced into 16 pieces

  2 large onions, sliced

  1 cup orange juice

  1 cup lime juice

  1 tbsp. ground cumin

  2 tbsp. dried oregano

  1 tsp. salt

  1 tsp. pepper

  Sandwich Ingredients:

  4 oval French rolls (shape of a hot dog bun)

  ¼ cup butter, softened

  4 tbsp. Dijon mustard

  8 thin sandwich dill pickle slices

  ¾ lb. sliced Black Forest deli ham

  ¾ lb. Swiss cheese slices

  Directions:

  Cut 16 one inch slits in roast. Insert garlic slices.

  In a large bowl combine onion, orange juice, lime juice, and seasonings. Reserve ½ cup marinade. Put a layer of aluminum foil on the bottom of a large shallow roasting pan to help with clean up. Put the roast in the pan and cover with the remaining marinade. Refrigerate overnight.

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Drain marinade off of roast. Pour the reserved marinade over the roast and bake for 2 ¾ hours – 3 ¼ hours, depending on size of roast. Let stand 15 minutes before thinly slicing.

  Sandwiches:

  Cut rolls in half lengthwise. With a serrated knife blade, trim a thin slice off the top and bottom of each roll. Spread butter on the outside top and bottom of each roll. Smear mustard over the inside top and bottom halves of each ro
ll. Layer bottom halves of roll with pickles, pork slices, ham, and cheese. Replace tops. Cook in panini cooker or in heavy pan over medium high, turning when brown. Enjoy!

  MEXICAN EGGS BENEDICT

  Corn Bread Ingredients:

  2 tbsp. butter

  1 cup yellow cornmeal

  1 cup whole wheat flour

  ½ tsp. salt

  2 tsp. baking powder

  2 eggs

  3 tbsp. honey

  ¼ cup cooking oil

  1 cup milk

  Remaining Ingredients:

  1 tbsp. olive oil

  1 clove garlic, minced

  1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

  3 cups cold water

  ¼ cup white vinegar

  ½ tsp. salt

  8 large eggs

  ½ cup shredded cheddar or Monterey jack cheese

  ½ cup chopped tomatoes

  2 tbsp. chopped cilantro

  Directions for Corn Bread:

  Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place the butter in 8” x 10” pyrex pan. Set in oven to melt. In large bowl, whisk the dry ingredients and make a well in the center. Whisk the wet ingredients in another bowl and mix the two together. Tilt the pan with the butter to coat all sides and bottom, and then pour batter into pan. Bake until corn bread is golden on top and begins to pull away from the edges, about 25 minutes. Cool slightly and cut into 6 to 8 squares. Set aside.

  Direction for Eggs and Beans:

  Heat olive oil and garlic over medium heat and add beans, stirring to coat. Add ¼ cup water and simmer for 5 minutes.

  Combine the 3 cups of water, vinegar, and salt in a large skillet and bring to a simmer. Crack the eggs, one at a time, into a small bowl and gently slide them into the skillet. Poach the eggs, spooning some of the water over the tops of the eggs occasionally. Cook until the whites look firm and the yolks are slightly cooked through, about 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the eggs and transfer to a plate to drain.

  To assemble the eggs benedict, place 2 squares of corn bread on each plate and top with black beans, 2 poached eggs, shredded cheese, tomatoes, and cilantro. Serve and enjoy!

  PAN FRIED RIB-EYE STEAK WITH CABERNET REDUCTION SAUCE (SERVES TWO)

  Ingredients:

  16 oz. boneless rib-eye steak (thick cut)

  2 tbsp. BBQ seasoning rub (Monterey Steak Seasoning recommended)

  1 tbsp. cooking oil

  ¼ cup shallots, rough chopped

  ½ cup cabernet sauvignon wine

  ¼ cup sliced green onions

  ¼ cup rosemary, chopped w/stems removed

  2 tbsp. butter

  1 cup mushrooms (quartered)

  1 tbsp. dried herbs de Provence

  1 tbsp. corn starch mixed w/two tbsp. water

  Directions:

  Trim all excess fat off steak. Generously coat and pat both sides of steak with seasoning rub. Lightly oil 12” frying pan and pre-heat on high. When pan is hot and thin film of oil is sizzling add seasoned steak and cook for approximately 3 minutes on each side for medium. Remove cooked steak from pan, cover w/foil and set aside while sauce is prepared.

  Reduce heat, add shallots and mushrooms and cook for 1 minute. Add green onions and cook for 1 minute. Add wine, increase heat to high and reduce volume by half (takes about 3-4 min’s). Add butter, rosemary and herbs de Provence. Cook 2 min’s. Mix corn starch and water in separate bowl until well combined. Slowly pour and stir into pan as needed until proper thickness of sauce is obtained. Cut steak in half and plate. Spoon wine sauce over steak and serve. Enjoy!

  LAMB MEATBALLS WITH WARM YOGURT SAUCE

  Ingredients for Meatballs:

  1 lb. ground lamb (look for it in frozen food section)

  1 egg, lightly beaten

  ½ cup bread crumbs

  ½ cup finely diced onions

  1 tsp. dried oregano

  1 tsp. salt

  ½ tsp. ground cumin

  Fresh ground black pepper to taste

  1 tbsp. olive oil

  Yogurt Sauce

  1 cup chicken broth

  2 cups plain yogurt

  1 egg, lightly beaten

  2 cloves garlic, grated

  2 tbsp. chopped fresh dill, plus more for garnish

  2 tsp. butter

  ½ tsp. red pepper flakes

  ¼ tsp ground cumin

  1 16 oz. package egg noodles

  Directions:

  Combine lamb with the next seven ingredients and mix well with your hands. Shape into 24 balls, dipping hands in cold water as needed to keep mixture from sticking. In 12” frying pan heat olive oil over medium heat. Add meat balls in single layer. (You may have to do this in two batches) Fry gently, turning with two soupspoons or tongs so they brown on all sides, about 4-5 minutes. Remove meatballs to a plate and discard any excess fat in pan. Return pan to medium-high heat, add broth, and heat for 2 minutes. Add meatballs, cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 10 minutes. Using slotted spoon return meatballs to plate.

  In a large bowl whisk yogurt, egg, garlic and dill together. Slowly whisk in about ½ cup of hot broth. Pour yogurt mixture into pan, cook over medium-low heat, stirring, until sauce thickens and just begins to simmer. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add meatballs to pan, turning to coat. Cover and simmer until hot.

  Boil the egg noodles per instructions on packet (approximately 10 minutes) and pour in a strainer when cooked. Place equal parts of cooked noodles in 4-6 separate bowls. Spoon meatballs and sauce on top of warm noodles. Melt butter in small sauce pan and add red pepper flakes and cumin. Swirl until butter is foamy and aromatic. Drizzle over each portion and garnish with chopped dill. Serves 4 to 6. Enjoy!

  *****

  Here's an incredible book that turned my life upside down, literally. I wish I'd read it 40 years back. It would have saved me a lot of heartache and made life so much easier. I've never come across something this good in recent times, and boy do I read a lot. The author (http://www.vivekrajanvivek.com) has been endorsed by Brian Tracy and T Harv Eker.

  The Best Book on Money and Success That'll Take You to the Top

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER 1 - A New Beginning

  CHAPTER 2 - What Do You Want?

  CHAPTER 3 - Plugging Massive Energy Leaks

  CHAPTER 4 - Empty Yourself First

  CHAPTER 5 - Resistance Explained

  CHAPTER 6 - Sin, a Wretched Invention

  CHAPTER 7 - Nothing can kill

  CHAPTER 8 - The Turnaround

  CHAPTER 9 - Actionless Action - Act Without Acting

  CHAPTER 10 - Mother's Special Recipe for Success (Reader's Favorite)

  CHAPTER 11 - The Power behind a Choice or Decision

  CHAPTER 12 - Why do some people never get what they want?

  CHAPTER 13 - Be Very Selfish & Don't Forget the F Word

  CHAPTER 14 - Reverse Engineering your Deepest Fear

  CHAPTER 15 - Living in the Now & The Secret of a Billion Bits

  CHAPTER 16 - The Essence

  CHAPTER 1

  A New Beginning

  It was the first week of March and Spring was just around the corner, eager to burst forth and bless everyone with life and warmth once more. A beaming sun and blue skies dotted with white fluffy clouds greeted all those who had assembled. Smiles abounded, and even those who were grouchy couldn't help flashing their pearly or not so pearly whites.

  The organization catered to those who needed someone "to listen" to them in their moment of crises, and in the long run steer them away, tactfully, from committing suicide. It had been in existence f or decades, tucked away in a quaint house in a leafy neighborhood in the suburbs. What these callers didn't realize was that loneliness was killing them, slowly and softly.

  Those who called the helpline came from all walks of life and over the decades the clientele included shop owners, taxi-drivers, cashiers, celebrities, office clerks, fast food workers, engineers, nurses, waiters, waitresses, CEO's, customer service reps, truckers, actors,
actresses, loaders, baggage handlers, authors, directors, producers, janitors, warehouse workers, journalists, secretaries, bookkeepers, teachers, maids, pilots, maintenance people, lawyers, hoteliers, government officials, pimps, hookers, bankers, ex-convicts etc.

  Twice a year the organization would hold a get-together where the Chairman would host a feast for the volunteers who were educated, compassionate, eclectic, enthusiastic and inspiring. The Chairman was a wise and generous man revered for his wisdom, both, from a monetary and spiritual angle. He wanted to share his secrets, "real secrets of life", with them.

  There are principles and then there are tactics or techniques. Principles are few and far in-between whereas tactics range in the hundreds or thousands. He wanted to share his life-transforming principles (and a few techniques), the best of the best, with these good Samaritans; they deserved it. The possibilities were limitless once the foundation was laid.

  The chairman had a handsome forehead, deep-set eyes, lush eyebrows, an aquiline nose and a head covered with silvery-white hair. The volunteers could invite their family and friends, and the event was always a memorable one.

  The post lunch session was the most precious part of the day. By then all barriers had been broken and the gathering resembled one big, happy family. The Q&A session would begin where they could ask the Chairman absolutely anything. No topic was deemed inappropriate or juvenile, and they were free to go in any direction. The volunteers came from all walks of life and despite vast differences, both economic and social, they all shared a common thirst for love, money and happiness. Yet, at times, the intensity of that thirst seemed to get in the way of everything they yearned for.

  CHAPTER 2

  What do you want?

  “So what's the first question going to be?” asked the chairman, as he smiled magnanimously.

  “How do we make money? Lots of it?” asked one man.