by Cathy Ace
As we shivered in the drafty Bridal Boudoir of Castell Llwyd, my sister, Siân, tried to comfort me, but my mood had become as gloomy as the skies. “Buck up, sis. The storm will blow itself out by Monday. It didn’t stop you and Bud getting here from Canada, or me from Australia, so it could be worse. We’re all here, safe. Though why you chose this place to get married, I’ll never know. It’s like something out of a Vincent Price movie.”
“Why here?” I moaned. “Because I allowed myself to believe I could celebrate the start of my new life in a fairytale castle. For once, just once, I wanted to be a giddy, giggly romantic and wallow in luxury. I suppose it serves me right for trying to do something just a bit impractical for a change.”
“Come on, sis,” said Siân gently, rubbing my back as though I were a sick child. “It’ll be alright. And at least it can’t get any worse. Now, show me your wedding dress. I can’t wait to see it.”
As if on cue, there was a knock at the door. I perked up immediately at the sound of Bud’s voice. “Cait, can I come in?” His tone was urgent.
I pulled open the heavy oak door, smiling expectantly.
As soon as Bud started talking, my nerves were set on edge—he was using his calming voice. “Now, don’t panic, Cait. And don’t get cross. You don’t need to do anything. Mrs. Jones, the cook, has everything under control. Besides, he’s dead anyway, so there’s no real rush. Don’t panic. Right? This death will not spoil our wedding on Monday. I promise.”
“What do you mean? Who’s dead?”
Regardless of whatever reaction he might have hoped for, I felt that panicking was an entirely appropriate response to Bud’s statement. Siân seemed to be in agreement as she rushed to my side.
Immediately reflecting my own undoubted look of horror, Bud scooped me up in his arms and gave me an almost suffocating hug. “Oh, Cait, I wouldn’t have had this happen for the world. But it’ll all be sorted out without too much fuss, I know it will.” Over my shoulder he said, “Hello again, Siân. I’m glad you’re here. You can help me keep her calm.”
Despite the fact that he was speaking of me as though I were a child in need of a good talking to, Bud’s warmth against me was innately comforting. Hugging’s underrated. But while I would have liked nothing more than to linger in his embrace, I knew that wasn’t realistic.
“Okay, okay, you can let me go now!” I snapped a little, and I hadn’t meant to, but I didn’t need cuddling. I needed information. “Both of you can stop worrying. I’m perfectly calm, for a woman whose wedding weekend is about to be thrown into chaos by a death at the venue, in any case. So, what’s happened, Bud? Please, just tell me.”
Bud drew back, held onto my hands, and sighed as he spoke. “The choirmaster fell down the servants’ staircase and he’s . . . well, he’s broken his neck, Cait. He’s dead. But, like I said, it’ll all be sorted out before we know it. For once, this isn’t our problem. It’s not pleasant, I won’t pretend it is, and I’m very sorry for the guy, but this terrible accident won’t impact our wedding. I won’t let it.” His tone was measured and sounded almost matter-of-fact.
“What choirmaster, Bud? When? How?” was all I could muster as I leaned against the creaking door. I felt my eyeballs throb inside my eyelids as I closed them, wishing away Bud’s low-key announcement of a cadaver on the premises.
Acknowledgments
AS IS ALWAYS THE CASE, many people have helped me bring this book to fruition. My mum and my sister were my first readers, my husband has been more patient and supportive than you can imagine (though he did enjoy doing the research with me!), and my dogs have either sat quietly at my feet or allowed me an excuse to run around the garden throwing sticks as I plot and plan.
To Arthur and Jean Sauber and Stephen Feldblum—I know that you’re nothing like the characters who now bear your names, but I’m so happy that I can acknowledge our friendship in this way. Three cruise buddies forever on the page. Happy reading!
Special thanks go to Lyle Tolhurst, divisional manager at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant at Paris Las Vegas, for allowing me to gain such valuable and fascinating insights into life in a fine-dining restaurant that is an elevator ride away from a casino. To Mon Ami Gabi at Paris Las Vegas, for serving food that has inspired the dishes in this book, especially the white chocolate bread pudding. Terry Lynch, the executive chef, and all the management, servers, and kitchen staff are so good at what they do, they made it tough for me to put together only a single meal fit for Miss Shirley—but I hope she’d approve. I found the excellent archives of the Las Vegas Sun to be a valuable resource—thanks to Brian Greenspun and the entire team.
To every member of the TouchWood team, each of whom plays their unique role in allowing Cait to have her adventures, and to Frances Thorsen, my tireless editor.
Last, but far from least, my thanks to you for choosing to spend some time with Cait Morgan—as well as to all the printers, distributors, librarians, booksellers, bloggers, and reviewers who might have helped you find, and get your hands on, this book. Without all of you, Cait would be simply a figment of my imagination; because of all of you, she lives, breathes, eats, drinks, solves murders, and has a wonderful time doing it all. Thank you, on behalf of Cait Morgan.
Welsh Canadian mystery author CATHY ACE is the creator of the Cait Morgan Mysteries, which include The Corpse with the Silver Tongue, The Corpse with the Golden Nose, The Corpse with the Emerald Thumb, and The Corpse with the Platinum Hair. Born, raised, and educated in Wales, Cathy enjoyed a successful career in marketing and training across Europe, before immigrating to Vancouver, Canada, where she taught on MBA and undergraduate marketing programs at various universities. Her eclectic tastes in art, music, food, and drink have been developed during her decades of extensive travel, which she continues whenever possible. Now a full-time author, Cathy’s short stories have appeared in multiple anthologies, as well as on BBC Radio 4. She and her husband are keen gardeners, who enjoy being helped out around their acreage by their green-pawed Labradors. Cathy’s website can be found at cathyace.com.
THE CAIT MORGAN MYSTERY SERIES
The Corpse with the Silver Tongue
by Cathy Ace
In the south of France where hatred simmers in the heat, a man seemingly admired, and certainly feared, drops dead at a dinner party. All of the guests fall under suspicion, including Welsh-Canadian professor Cait Morgan. A criminologist who specializes in profiling victims, Cait sets out to solve the murder—and clear her name. Add to this the disappearance of an ancient Celtic gold collar said to be cursed and there you have the ingredients for a Nicoise salad of death, secrets, and lies. Will Cait find the killer before she too falls victim to a murderer driven by a surprising and disturbing motive?
The Corpse with the Silver Tongue is the first in the Cait Morgan mystery series, a classic whodunit series featuring the eccentric Professor Cait Morgan.
The Corpse with the Golden Nose
by Cathy Ace
A heartfelt plea to look into the death of a world-famous vintner goes hand in hand with the opportunity to attend an exclusive gourmet event in British Columbia's stunning wine country. How can overindulgent foodie and criminologist Cait Morgan resist?
Sure that the award-winning owner of a family-run vineyard was murdered, Cait shares her findings with Bud Anderson, a retired homicide cop. But he is convinced that the woman took her own life, whatever her grief-stricken sister might say. That is, until death strikes once again, in the neat rows of grapevines that clamber up the banks of magnificent Lake Okanagan. Uncovering obsessions that might have fuelled murderous thoughts among the victim's wacky neighbours is a start, but as Cait unravels the clues, she realizes that more lives are at stake. Can she think, and act, quickly enough to thwart the killer?
The Corpse with the Golden Nose is the second book in the Cait Morgan Mysteries, a classic whodunit series featuring the eccentric Professor Cait Morgan.
The Corpse with the Emerald Thumb
b
y Cathy Ace
A dream vacation at a Mexican beach resort swiftly dissolves into a nightmare for criminologist and foodie Cait Morgan when her significant other, Bud Anderson, is wrongly arrested for the murder of the local florist, a gifted plantswoman.
With Bud’s freedom, and maybe even his life, at stake, Cait has to fight the clock to work out which member of the small Mexican community might have killed the respected florist, and why. Investigating under the watchful gaze of the local police, Cait has to keep her relationship with Bud a secret, and she soon discovers she’s not the only one with something to hide. Peeling back layers of deceit to reveal even more puzzles, Cait struggles with a creeping sense of unreality as she desperately tries to save Bud . . . and, ultimately, herself.
The third book of the beloved Cait Morgan Mysteries, The Corpse with the Emerald Thumb travels to the idyllic Mexican countryside and a tequila plantation as Cait races to clear her partner of murder.
Copyright © 2014 Cathy Ace
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise—without the prior written consent of the publisher or a licence from the Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency (ACCESS Copyright). For a copyright licence, visit accesscopyright.ca.
TouchWood Editions
touchwoodeditions.com
library and archives canada cataloguing in publication
Ace, Cathy, 1960–, author
The corpse with the platinum hair / Cathy Ace.
(A Cait Morgan mystery)
Issued in print and electronic formats.
ISBN 978-1-77151-088-2 (html).—ISBN 978-1-77151-089-9 (pdf)
I. Title. II. Series: Ace, Cathy, 1960– . Cait Morgan mystery.
PS8601.C41C665 2014 C813'.6 C2014-902763-X
Editor: Frances Thorsen
Copy editor: Grace Yaginuma
Proofreader: Cailey Cavallin
Design: Pete Kohut
Cover image: Kameleon007, istockphoto.com
Author photo: Jeremy Wilson Photography (jeremywilsonphotography.com)
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support for our publishing activities from the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund and the Canada Council for the Arts, and from the Province of British Columbia through the British Columbia Arts Council and the Book Publishing Tax Credit.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Table of Contents
Praise for the Cait Morgan Mysteries
Title Page
Dedication
Seating Arrangements
1: House Lights Down
2: Overture
3: Beginners, Please
4: Curtain Up
5: Baritone and Chorus
6: The Diva Takes Center Stage
7: First Intermezzo
8: Quartet
9: Male Trio
10: Chorus
11: First Intermission
12: Adagio
13: Con Brio
14: Cadenza
15: Second Intermezzo
16: Da Capo
17: Duet
18: Another Duet
19: Chorus
20: Reprise
21: Medley for Two
22: Deceptive Cadence
23: Second Intermission
24: Nonet
25: Octet
26: Refrain
27: Die Tote Stadt
28: Third Intermezzo
29: Cavatina
30: Cabaletta
31: Grand Cadenza
32: Finale
33: It Ain’t Over Till...
Corpse with the Sapphire Eyes Preview
Acknowledgments
The Cait Morgan Mystery Series
Copyright