Cozy Mystery Box Set: Murder Mysteries in the Mountains

by Liz Turner

  “Oh.” Jim looked startled. “Do you think there will be investigations? For a suicide?”

  “Just a formality, of course.” Victoria said, “Still, it can’t hurt for us to cooperate.”

  “Yes, of course.” Jim agreed. “Poor old Leo.”

  “Poor old Leo indeed,” Gray said. “I’ll catch up with you two later. Someone has to break the news to the others. I better get on with it. Tess is still asleep, I think.”

  They watched him walk out of the room, and then, between the two of them, lifted Deedee out of the chair in which she was sitting. Deedee’s eyes were open, but she didn’t look like she was conscious of anything they did.

  “Did you know him for a long time?” Victoria asked Jim.

  “Ages,” Jim said. “When I first met him, I was fifteen, an orphan, and weighed about 300 pounds.”

  Looking at him now, Victoria found it hard to believe. Jim was built large, but every inch of his body was covered with muscle, not fat. He caught her look, and smiled.

  “Leo did this. Leo made me who I am.” Jim said, gesturing to his muscular body. “I don’t know if it’s like this for everyone, but for me, the fat was just tied into loneliness. My parents left me in the guardianship of my uncle, a good man, but he didn’t care much about me. He only cared about the fortune my parents had left. So I stayed in his house, he pocketed the money and by and large let me play video games and eat all the junk I wanted. He didn’t treat me badly; he just didn’t, you know? And at that stage in my life, I was desperate for someone who would care.”

  “So what then?”

  “Then, I fell in love,” Jim said. “Repeatedly, with girls who wanted nothing to do with me. I mean, I don’t blame them now, but at the time, I was so angry with the world.”

  “It must have been hard.”

  “It was terrible,” Jim said. “But you know, I wanted to improve. I searched online and in those days, the internet wasn’t a crowded superhighway. It was a small country lane. Somehow, I read this small article Leo had written. Something about the way he spoke, about accepting who you are and about letting light fill your mind instead of dark thoughts. Well, it all clicked. I wrote to him, and to my great surprise, he wrote back.”

  “What did he say?”

  “He told me he was interested in meeting me,” Jim said. “Can you believe that? Here I was, a fifteen-year-old nobody and a guy like Leo wants to meet me! I was thrilled. That was when he changed my life. He told me his theory of tribes; his theory of why cavemen were happier than we are today. I’ve never been the same since. I began living with him and his tribe, that’s how me, Matt, Gray, Cara, Deedee, and Tess know each other. We were always the core group; his alpha disciples.”

  As they talked, the two of them were escorting Deedee to her room, which they accessed through a connecting door. They laid her on the bed, and the poor girl, still clearly in shock, proceeded to lie there with her eyes open.

  “I gave her a pill,” Jim said, looking a little ashamed. “There was a bottle of valium next to the bed, and I thought maybe one would calm her down.”

  Victoria shrugged. It was no business of hers. Still, she kept it in the back of her mind. Leo had been taking medication to manage his moods. Funny, for a man who prided himself on being a health guru of sorts.

  “Deedee was very close to him,” Jim said, looking down at her with undisguised love. “She treated him like a father. He felt the same way.”

  If this was true, Victoria certainly hadn’t noticed it in their brief interaction the day before. In fact, she had thought that Deedee was scared of Loams, who had been ordering her about as if he expected her to obey.

  “I just don’t know why he would do this,” Jim said. “Leo wasn’t the kind of person to take his life. He loved his life. He loved being alive.”

  “He was a powerful man,” Victoria said. “I didn’t know him too well, but he was clearly well loved.”

  Jim nodded, looking forlorn.

  “Victoria.” Simon came hurrying into the room. He glanced at Jim, then Deedee, and gently closed the connecting door which still gave them a view of Leo’s room. Locking it, he pocketed the key. “Just a safety measure.” He said. “I’ve locked the other door too. I don’t want people tramping up and down in that room today.”

  “Good idea,” Victoria said.

  “There’s some bad news for us all,” Simon said. “The RCMP can’t make it our here right now.”

  “They can’t?” Victoria felt her heart sink.

  “Not as long as the blizzard keeps up,” Simon said. “Corporal Jager said he might not make it until tomorrow morning, so we’re keeping the body secured for now.” He made a face. “This entire situation is just dreadful.”

  Chapter 7

  “I’m honestly worried, Victoria,” Simon said. Jim, who had been sweaty, had decided to take a quick shower. Simon and Victoria had agreed to watch over Deedee, as Jim was worried she might harm herself in her grief. Victoria honestly thought he was overdoing his protectiveness. The Valium had knocked Deedee into a daze, but she assured him she would stay.

  “Simon. The Larch Luminary has been around since the 1800s. Don’t worry so much about your business. It will last.”

  “A business that is confident it will last is exactly the kind of business that eventually fails,” Simon said.

  Trying to take his mind off it, Victoria said, “Did you know him well? Leo Loams?”

  “Pretty well,” Simon said. “He was a regular here at the Luminary. Plus, he was a famous man. So I went out of my way to ensure that his stay was smooth, and he had everything he needed. I didn’t need a bad review from an internationally bestselling writer like him.”

  “Was he fussy?”

  “Was he fussy!” Simon laughed. “Yes, very. He used to insist that everything is just so. The maids who cleaned his room had to go over it twice and he would still complain sometimes. His food was often sent back because it had one extra grain of salt. That’s the kind of man he was. But, he tipped well, and even when he was complaining, he was so gracious about it that people tried their best to please him.”

  They’d moved just outside Deedee’s door so that their conversation wouldn’t disturb her.

  “Leo mentioned that he met with you yesterday,” Victoria said. “Said he had some whiskey with you.”

  Simon looked bemused. “He did, did he?”

  “Well, you did, didn’t you?”

  “I suppose,” Simon said. “Listen, Victoria, I’d rather not too many people not know about that, alright? I’ve got a certain respect around here, and I don’t want… well, I don’t want people to think I laze on the job by having whiskey with guests.”

  Victoria doubted this. More likely, he didn’t want any publicity associated with Leo’s death.

  “I won’t talk, Simon. You know me.” She said. “But I’m interested to know. What did you talk about?”

  “What did we talk about?” Simon mused. “Well, we talked about you. How’s that for a good conversation?” He laughed.

  Victoria tucked a loose hair back behind her ear. “He was asking you about my career as a writer, is that it?”

  “Yes,” Simon said. “Since I’m a big fan of yours, I gave him glowing reviews.”

  “Michael was the one who made those books special.” She said quietly. “I just did some editing and research.”

  “Rubbish,” Simon said. “I read an interview where your husband said that he’d not have been half as popular, or half as close to the truth if it weren’t for your skills at digging deep and figuring out the truth of what happened. Almost everyone thinks that the Brandonson-Wayne cold case is solved thanks to you.”

  “I put a theory forward,” Victoria said. “The police were never able to find the proof. It’s still an open case.”

  “It was a cold case,” Simon said. “The police weren’t likely to find the proof seventy years on. But even the detective in that county said that you were most like
ly right. Sensational stuff.”

  “Simon, please,” Victoria said. “Let’s talk about your conversation with Leo instead.”

  “Oh but we are,” Simon said with a sly grin. “This is exactly what I was telling him.”

  “Did he say anything to you?” Victoria asks. “I got the feeling that last night he drank more than he was used to. He had quite the hangover.”

  “Leo was the kind of guy I usually hate, to be honest.” Simon laugh. “You know, he told me yesterday that he doesn’t touch stimulants. No alcohol for him, no caffeine even. He’s all about green smoothies and herbal medicine and keeping his body as clean as a temple. Now me, I’m a man who likes meat, and potatoes, and cheese, and every fine alcohol that man has had the good sense to create.”

  “So it’s very unusual that he drank whiskey,” Victoria said.

  “Well… not exactly. It just happened. He knows I love Crown Royal, and he bought me a bottle. But I insisted he has some too. I practically forced it down his throat.” Simon laughed. “Initially, he refused. But then…” A strange frown crossed Simon’s face.

  “What happened?”

  “Well, you know, I was so upset about everything that I never realized how significant it was,” Simon said. “I’d gone to his suite, where he presented me with the bottle,” Simon said. “And I was kidding around with him about how he should drink too. I’d poured two glasses, but Leo was refusing.” Simon frowned. “Then, there was a knock on the door. Leo went to answer. I was busy savoring the whiskey, so I didn’t even turn my back to see who it was. Leo told me he’d be back in a minute. He took much longer. Probably half an hour. By the end, I was about to leave the room. I went near the door, and I heard him arguing with someone.”

  “What was he saying?” Victoria asked, suddenly alert.

  “He was…” Simon paused. “Listen, Victoria, I’d like to assure you that I’m not the kind of man who eavesdrops, okay?

  “Of course, you aren’t,” Victoria said. “Who would ever say that?”

  “Thanks,” Simon said. Then did a double-take. “Is that sarcasm?”

  “Simon… just tell me what you heard.”

  “Alright.” Simon screwed up his face, trying to remember. “I couldn’t hear who it was that he was talking to,” Simon said. “I got the feeling it was a man, but of course, I’m likely biased. It’s equally possible it was a woman.”

  “So what did you hear?”

  Simon recalled, mimicking Leo’s voice fairly well. He’d heard Leo angrily commenting, “So you think that, do you? Well, you should just let sleeping dogs lie. Shame on you! After everything I’ve done for you, you come here and tell me what I should and shouldn’t be doing? I’ll tell you one thing; it’s my way or the highway.”

  “I couldn’t hear what the other person said, or if they even spoke,” Simon said. “But I heard Leo yell, “Yeah, walk away. Remember you’re nothing without me. You owe me your life!”

  Victoria felt a chill crawl up her spine. Simon had said those words casually, but she remembered hearing Leo say them before. In a very different context. He’d been talking about how Tess had an emotionally abusive boyfriend who used to tell her “you’re nothing without me.” Was it a cruel jab at Tess, then? Had she been the one he was talking with or was it unrelated? Was it simply one of his disciples to whom he had unwittingly said the same cruel things that Tess’ boyfriend had once said to her?

  “That’s all I know,” Simon said. “He yanked the door open, and I ran back to the chair, trying to pretend like I had heard nothing. He came up to me, grabbed the glass, and downed that whiskey in one sip. What a waste. Crown Royal is to be savored, not downed! After that, he was drinking quite a bit.”

  “Did he say anything more?” Victoria asked.

  Simon opened his mouth to speak, then stopped as two women approached them. Victoria recognized one since Tess took up most of the hallway as she walked to them. Once again, compared to her Tess’ spot-on fashion sense, Victoria felt rather shabby in her black shirt and blue jeans outfit. Victoria gasped as she recognized the girl next to Tess. It was the famous supermodel, Cara Levine.

  Chapter 8

  For a supermodel, or perhaps because she was one on holiday, Cara seemed deceptively plain. She had on no make-up, and only wore sweatpants and a green tank-top. Her distinctive thick eyebrows and piercing blue eyes were unmistakable and exquisite. It surprised Victoria, though, who always associated a certain glamor with Cara, to see how plain she was in person. Almost like the girl next door. Tess, meanwhile, was as much a diva as she could be.

  “You’re the manager, aren’t you?” Tess asked, her voice rising. “I think it’s deplorable. Horrible. Poor Leo is dead, and the police are too lazy to investigate it! Someone had the gall to suggest that Leo took his life! Why any fool would know that Leo would never do something like that.”

  “The RCMP are trying their best,” Simon said. “There’s a blizzard right now which prevents them from coming, as you’d notice if you bothered to look out the window.”

  Tess gave a gasp. “Is that how you talk to your customers?” She said angrily. “I’ll make sure to leave a review online.”

  “Go ahead,” Simon said. “Quite frankly, I’m appalled at your implication that there’s been a murder. Leo is dead, that’s all we know, and I’d thank you for keeping quiet and not go spreading rumors until the RCMP get here.”

  Tess puffed herself up, and Simon squared himself.

  “Tess, they’re trying their best, I’m sure,” Cara said placatingly.

  “Let it go, Simon,” Victoria said at the same time, putting her hand on his forearm. Both she and Cara exchanged a look and a small nod.

  “Trying their best? They’re idiots, all of them.” Tess took out a handkerchief and wept into it. “My poor, darling Leo. He was young, too young. And now the manager tells me I’m some gossip queen, spreading rumors!”

  “You were very close to him,” Victoria said, trying to soothe Tess. “This must be a shock.” Close she may have been, but Tess had taken the time to do her makeup, Victoria noticed. Her mascara and eyeshadow seemed almost professionally done and her outfit perfectly coordinated.

  “We were all his disciples,” Cara said.

  “So… was Leo, a cult leader?” Simon asked. “Forgive me for asking, but he was never very clear about what he did for a living.”

  “He didn’t need to make a living; he was earning enough through his books,” Tess said, her voice dripping ice. Then, overcome, she cried again. “Oh, Leo!”

  “Leo grew up poor,” Cara said, clearly trying to take Tess’ mind off it. “He was the son of a field doctor, and grew up helping tribals in India, Brazil and Chile.”

  “That’s an unusual upbringing.”

  “He was an unusual man,” Cara said. “He eventually gained a scholarship to study medicine in Nevada. He graduated and began working as a psychiatrist.”

  “That’s where he met me,” Tess said. “I was his secretary back then. So long ago, it was. Why Deedee was probably not even born.” She erupted into sobs again.

  Cara petted her hair, “I know it's hard for you, Tess. You’ve been with him all along.”

  She continued, “Well, after treating many patients, Leo realized that modern life in the USA was a breeding ground for mental illness and unhappiness.”

  “Did he, now?” Victoria murmured, “Is that why he chose to come to Canada?”

  “What? No. He loved the Banff National Park and the Rockies, but Boston was his home.” Tess laughed, in between sniffs. “He would never leave it.”

  “Well, what made him leave his career as a doctor, then?” Simon said.

  “Leo developed a theory,” Cara said. “He’d seen a lot of misery growing up. The tribals in India and Brazil had more death, disease and poverty amongst them than anybody in the USA could even imagine. But still, they were happy people. Leo theorized that it was because they had all the things that a human being needs, and
none of the wants.”

  “Ah, he was saying that a simpler life makes one happier?” Simon nodded.

  “Quite the contrary,” Cara said. “He was intensely grateful that he and the people around him would never have to deal with the kind of barbarism and unhappiness that those people do. But, he noted that they also have a very strong, tight-knit sense of community. They always seemed to be surrounded by people willing to live and die for them. They also have a strong sense of purpose; survival is, after all, their main purpose.”

  “Well, that’s where it all started,” Tess said, taking over. Cara nodded passively. Tess continued, “Leo always loved to help people. He always wanted to create a utopian town. A place where everyone had a purpose, community, and happiness.

  Soon after, he met Jim. Jim was young then and became the second disciple. I was the first.” Tess smiled. “He’d improved my life so much already. He always encouraged me to break apart my thoughts, to analyze what I wanted and why. He also encouraged me to start very slowly. He told me that the main reason people fail to make any change is that they are very dramatic about it.

  “One step at a time. That’s how they climbed Everest.” He’d tell me. He encouraged me to set up my own business. He encouraged me to stop looking at life as a competition, and instead focus on my well-being.” Tess paused, blew her nose, and continued. “He was truly a great man. You have no idea. He lived to help people. He told me the only legacy he wished to leave behind was the legacy of having made other lives easier.”

  “So that was when he quit?” Simon asked. “Seems he could have helped a lot of people as a doctor.”

  Tess glared at him, and Cara took over hurriedly.

  “I’m not sure just when Leo decided to quit being a psychiatrist. But I know that his pamphlet had gotten him some small amount of fame. Soon after he met Jim, he also met Matthew and Gray.” Cara said. “As for me, I was very young at the time and right at the peak of my modeling career. But I was very broken. I had self-destructive habits. He took me under his wing too.”

  “You’re at your peak now,” Simon said, with a smile.