Blue Goodness (Michael Kaplan Mysteries)

by David W. Cowles

  “What about your wife, Michael—does she work?”

  “Yes. Myra’s in charge of public relations for the Gold Crest Casino,” he stated proudly.

  “That sounds like an important position. She must spend a lot of time at work.”

  Michael squirmed slightly and lowered his head before he replied. “Yes, she does.”

  Soozie, who considered herself an excellent judge of body language, perceived that the question made Michael uncomfortable—or, was it his answer that bothered him? Perhaps all was not well in Kaplanland. She jotted that bit of information down in her mental notebook.

  “The Gold Crest is my favorite casino. I go there all the time. Perhaps we can do lunch there some day soon.” She watched his eyes intently for a flicker of response, but there was none. “Or, somewhere else.” Still no response. He didn’t take the bait. The man seemed to be all business and no hanky-panky. She was having a difficult time psyching him out.

  Soozie handed Michael a three-page form and a ballpoint pen imprinted with her name, the name of the real estate agency, and several phone numbers. “You can keep the pen,” she offered. “That way you’ll always have my phone numbers handy. You can call this office, my cellular number, or my home, at any time. I’ll be available for you twenty-four seven, Michael.” As she spoke, she gave him an inviting stare, and again rolled her tongue over her lips seductively. Most men would have understood precisely what she meant— their relationship needn’t be strictly business. Michael gave no indication that he received her not-so-subtle message.

  What’s with this guy? Soozie thought. I’m not getting any reaction at all. Maybe he’s a closet gay. With all the hints I’ve dropped, most men would be hitting on me by now. Could it be possible Michael’s totally in love with his wife and absolutely faithful to her? That would be a rarity, indeed. And a challenge.

  “While you’re filling out the form I’ll get us something to drink. Would you prefer coffee, tea, or a soft drink, Michael? Or, something harder?”

  “Coffee’s fine. Two sugars, with a dash of cream, please.”

  The real estate agent left Michael alone in the office. He watched every movement as she sashayed out the door and down the hall.

  The first page of the form asked for personal data about the buyers—names, addresses, phone numbers, incomes, and employment histories. The second page had to do with their general requirements—approximate size of the house, number of bedrooms, price range, geographical area. The third involved style and features desired. Most of the questions were multiple-choice, and Michael had the form completed in less than ten minutes. As he finished each page he handed it to Soozie, who had returned with their coffee, and she typed the data in her computer. After the information from all three pages was keyed in, there was a pause of about half a minute, and then an ink-jet printer sitting on a table next to Soozie’s desk began printing.

  Soozie stood over the device, removing and glancing at each page as soon as it was printed. From time to time she would nod her head approvingly, or make a semi-audible comment to herself. “Yes. Very good. This may be it. A distinct possibility. Best of the lot.”

  When the printer stopped a few minutes later Soozie turned to Michael. “There are a number of excellent choices here, but one stands out above all of the others. Would you like to see it now?”

  Michael was amazed at how quickly the process was proceeding. “Do you really think you’ve found a house we’ll like?” he asked.

  “Sweetheart, I’m almost positive I have precisely what you’re looking for,” she informed him. And to herself, she added and, I think I’ve found exactly what I’ve been looking for, also. This will prove to be an interesting afternoon for both of us.

  “GUNTHER, FORGET IT. I won’t be joining up with you, and that’s final,” Stewart Lamb told the man sitting on the other side of the table. Lamb had deliberately arranged for them to meet for breakfast in a busy coffee shop, hoping that by being in a public place, Hogg would be able to keep his temper under control and not make a big scene.

  Gunther’s face turned red. “What the hell do you mean, Stewart? I was counting on you merging your veterinary practice with mine. Sharing expenses would save us both a lot of money. What changed your mind?”

  Stewart looked Hogg directly in the eyes. “You want to know what changed my mind? Okay, I’ll give it to you straight, Gunther. I watched you for more than a month, while we were negotiating a deal. I don’t like the way you run your clinic. It’s a filthy mess—a breeding ground for infectious diseases. I’m surprised you haven’t been written up by inspectors from the Board.

  “You’re grossly unprofessional. You don’t bother making follow-up calls. You don’t return your phone messages. You don’t show up for house calls on time, if at all. Don’t try to tell me you do. I know otherwise. I’ve heard the complaints.

  “I’ve checked your records. You perform too many unnecessary operations—including major surgery on animals in terminal condition—just to increase your billings. The mortality rate in your clinic for animals that are good candidates for surgery is atrocious, because of the unsanitary conditions and your sloppy procedures. Many dogs and cats that died after you operated on them would still be alive today if you had done your job right and hadn’t used dirty instruments. There’s no reason why so many should succumb to peritonitis after spaying or simple surgery. Hell, I even watched you yank a dog’s tooth out with a pair of pliers you bought in a hardware store. We’ve taken an oath to ease suffering, Gunther, not cause it.

  “I saw what happened to one poodle you’d spayed. You had tied it to your back door while it was still tranquilized. The poor little thing strangled to death on the leash. Then, you didn’t even bother to put the carcass in the freezer, the way you were required to do by law—you just left it lying there in a pool of blood and urine. No wonder the dog’s owner threw a fit when she came in to check on her pet and found it lying there dead. It’s a damn good thing for you I happened to be there at the time and was able to calm her down. She was ready to kill you on the spot.”

  “Yeah, I appreciate what you did, Stew, I really do. The woman was a real pain in the ass. I was wrong, though, and I admit it.”

  “I don’t want my reputation tarnished by association with you and I don’t want to become a co-defendant in a spate of malpractice suits,” Stewart stated with determination.

  Gunther was becoming quite unnerved, but tried not to show it. “So, I’ve made a few mistakes. What’s the big deal? I’ll clean up my act. I promise. Let’s just merge our practices and start making money together.”

  Stewart was becoming angrier by the minute. “What kind of a person do you think I am, Gunther? I wouldn’t have you as my partner if you were the only other veterinarian on earth. I’m ashamed to be practicing in the same city as you, and, damn it, I’m going to see that your license is taken away if it’s the last thing I do. I’ve decided to file a formal complaint with the Nevada Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. I can’t wait to testify against you at your hearing.”

  Gunther Hogg clenched his fist. “You bastard. You wouldn’t dare. If you go to the Board, it’ll be the last thing you ever do.”

  Stewart stood up. “Are you threatening me?”

  “No. I’m making you a promise.” Gunther slammed his fist on the table.

  “Well then, Hogg, I guess I’ll just have to take my chances, won’t I?”

  Six

  “LET’S TAKE MY CAR, Michael,” Soozie said, pointing to a late model maroon Cadillac with her first name and the initial of her last name on the license plates. The vanity plates could be interpreted as either SOOZIE S or SOOZIE’S. “Leave your Mercedes in the parking lot. It’ll be safe until we get back.”

  Michael took a white handkerchief from the left front pocket of his slacks and wiped his brow. It was 118 degrees. Normally, the heat in Las Vegas is dry— likened by some to an oven or kiln or Bessemer furnace or the corona of the sun— but, mos
t people consider the dry heat to be not unduly uncomfortable. However, the storm two nights previous had brought unusually high humidity to the valley, and even the short walk of a hundred feet or so from the real estate office to Soozie’s car was debilitating.

  “Are you hot, sweetheart?” Soozie asked. Michael had already observed Soozie called everyone sweetheart, even the secretaries in her office—in much the same way many waitresses in coffee shops and change girls in casinos address all of their customers as darling or honey. He wondered if Soozie had ever worked in a field where a little flirtation helped increase the tips. Perhaps she was just not good at remembering names and masked that fact by using the affected term of endearment.

  “Yeah. I hope your car’s air conditioner is working.”

  “It is,” she assured him. You’ll be comfortable in minutes.”

  Soozie unlocked and opened the passenger door and held it for Michael while he entered. Then, she climbed in on the driver’s side, started the engine, and pointed the Cadillac toward Spring Valley, which is on the west side of the Strip.

  “My time is yours today, sweetheart. I’ve cleared the entire afternoon for you. What’s your schedule like?” she inquired. She hoped he didn’t have to hurry back to work.

  “I wasn’t planning to look at houses all day, but I don’t have to be back in the office at any set time. I suppose I can spend as much time with you as it takes.”

  Soozie’s face acquired a peculiar smile. “That’s good. We’ll just play things by ear.” An idea was brewing in the back of her mind. If Michael didn’t make a pass as her soon, Soozie had an alternate plan. She felt a frisson of anticipation as she contemplated the delicious possibilities.

  Michael adjusted the air conditioner vents so they blew full force on his face. “Tell me about the house we’re going to see,” he requested.

  Soozie started her sales pitch in earnest. “The house is less than three years old—a magic age. By that, I mean all of the yardwork is already done for you— both the front and back are beautifully landscaped—which will save you a lot of money. Everything’s new enough so you won’t have to worry about repairs for a long time. There’s no pool—you probably wouldn’t want one anyway, with small kids—but, there is a whirlpool spa, which you’ll really enjoy, and a large patio. Do you do much entertaining?”

  He shook his head. “Not now, but we probably will in the future.”

  “You’ll love the neighborhood—a grade school’s only two blocks away, and there’s a nice shopping center with a supermarket a block or two farther—all within walking distance. Except in this heat, of course.”

  She sped up to make it through an intersection before the traffic light changed from yellow to red. “It’s everything you asked for, sweetheart, believe me. The owners are out of the country on vacation and won’t be back for a month or so. But they gave me their itinerary, so if you decide you want to make a deal, I can reach them by phone and we can handle the paperwork by fax. I wouldn’t wait too long to make up your mind, though. The property was just put on the market, but it’s underpriced and I know it’s going to sell fast.”

  When they arrived at the house, Soozie parked in the driveway. Michael liked his first impression of the place. It was a typical Las Vegas style: pseudo-Spanish architecture, stucco walls with a red tile roof, and an attached two-car garage. A slumpstone wall enclosed the back yard and separated the property from that of the neighbors. The front yard was, as Soozie had indicated, beautifully landscaped, with a plush green lawn, several olive trees, and flower beds in full bloom.

  Soozie opened a real estate association lockbox hanging on the doorknob, removed a key from inside, and unlocked the front door. The interior of the home was as beautiful and well-maintained as the exterior. Michael checked every room and fell in love with the layout and the decorating scheme. He knew Myra would be ecstatic over the fireplace in the master bedroom.

  Next, they walked the back yard, which had a large covered patio, a brick barbecue, the whirlpool spa, a lawn large enough to play croquet on, and numerous shade and fruit trees.

  “Whew,” Michael said, as he took out the handkerchief and wiped his sweaty face again. “This heat is too much for me. Let’s go back inside.”

  “Good idea,” Soozie agreed. “I’ll see if I can find us something cold to drink.”

  While Soozie was in the kitchen—there was a six-pack of Coke in the refrigerator—Michael strolled through the house again. Soozie was right, he thought. Everything’s perfect for Myra and me— and a bunch of kids.

  Soozie rounded the corner and nearly bumped into him. “Here’s a Coke. I hope that’s okay,” she said. They took their glasses into the living room and sat down.

  “Thanks. I was getting really thirsty.” He downed the entire glass in just a few large gulps.

  “Well, what do you think?” Soozie asked. “Shall I write up an offer, or do you have to bring your wife back to look at the house first?”

  Soozie’s attempt to close the sale then and there was a little too sudden for Michael. “Oh, I can’t do anything without Myra,” he told the real estate agent. “I’ll find out when she can get away from work and come see this house. But I don’t dare tell her it’s the only one I looked at. She’d say I wasn’t being thorough enough. Can we check out a few other places this afternoon?”

  “We can if you think it’s necessary. Are you ready to go now, or do you want to take another look around here first?”

  “Maybe I’ll take one more walk-through. Not the back yard, though.” Michael got to his feet and nearly fell back into the chair.

  “What’s the matter, sweetheart?” Soozie asked solicitously. “Are you feeling all right?”

  Michael held on to the back of the chair. “Well, I was okay before I stood up, but now I seem to be a little woozy. I guess the heat outside affected me more than I realized.” He took a few steps, but the entire room was spinning. He grabbed the top of the television for support. “I don’t know what’s wrong, Soozie. I’m getting very dizzy.”

  Soozie rushed to his side. “You do look a little pale, sweetheart. It’s probably the heat. Maybe you should lie down for a few minutes. Let me help you into the bedroom.” She took Michael’s arm and led him down the hall. He was going to say something, but didn’t have the strength to open his mouth. He collapsed before they reached the bedroom. As Michael fell to the floor, everything went black.

  GUNTHER LOOKED AT HIS WATCH. It was after one. Jennifer had promised to pick up some Chinese food at a nearby takeout and bring it to the clinic by noon. He was starting to get worried. She hadn’t called to say she would be late, and he couldn’t call her, because she didn’t have a phone in her apartment. Gunther couldn’t go out looking for her, either. She had borrowed his truck that morning to run some errands.

  Two uniformed officers from Metro entered the front door. Damn, he thought. The cops hit me up for a donation for something or other just a couple of months ago. They must figure it’s payoff time again.

  “Are you Gunther Hogg?” one of the policemen asked.

  Gunther wiped his hand on his smock and extended it toward the officer. There was a big smile on his face. “Yeah, that’s me. Dr. Gunther Hogg. I own this clinic. What can I do for you?” he asked.

  The officer didn’t respond to Gunther’s offer of a handshake. “Dr. Hogg, we’re going to have to ask you to come with us. You’re under arrest.”

  Gunther dropped his arm to his side. An expression of complete surprise found its way to his face, and he could feel blood rushing to his head. Did this visit from the police have anything to do with what Stewart Lamb had threatened? he wondered.

  “You gotta be kidding. What for? Did I park in a no parking zone or something? Oh, I get it. This is a joke, right? Someone’s put you up to playing a trick on me.”

  The second officer took over the conversation. “This is a very serious matter, Dr. Hogg. You’re under arrest for harboring a runaway juvenile, con
tributing to the delinquency of a minor, and statutory sexual seduction—that’s consensual sex with a minor over fourteen.”

  “What in hell are you talking about? I don’t even know any—”

  The policeman held up his hand to cut Hogg off in mid-sentence. “Dr. Hogg, I must warn you: Anything you say may be used against you.” He turned to the first policeman. “Officer Luke, please read Dr. Hogg his rights.”

  Luke fumbled in his pocket until he found a card with the Miranda rights printed on it, and recited them in a bored tone of voice. “Now, do you understand what I’ve just read to you?” he asked.

  “Yeah. Sure. Now, what is this all about?” Hogg was completely confused.

  The second officer spoke. “Do you know a Miss Jennifer Smith?”

  “Yeah, of course. She’s my girlfriend. So what?”

  “Are you aware she’s only fifteen years old? That’s jailbait, Dr. Hogg.”