Murder at the Clinic: A Midwest Cozy Mystery Read online

  MURDER AT THE CLINIC

  By

  Dianne Harman

  (A Midwest Cozy Mystery - Book 2)

  Copyright © 2016 Dianne Harman

  www.dianneharman.com

  All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form without written permission except for the use of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

  Website, Interior & Cover design by Vivek Rajan (Rewire Your DNA)

  Paperback ISBN: 978-1537621456

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Thank you for taking the time to read this book. I’ve told my readers before how much I enjoy writing, but having readers like my books is the icing on the cake!

  This is book number two in the popular Midwest Cozy Mystery Series featuring Kat Denham, also known as the writer, Sexy Cissy. If you like it, you might enjoy the books in my other four cozy mystery series, Cedar Bay, Liz Lucas, High Desert, and Jack Trout. Because of you, every one of my books has received Amazon’s prestigious “bestseller” gold banner, and as I’m writing this, two of them currently have the coveted banner next to their titles. I feel so lucky to be the author whose books have received this recognition. Again, thank you!

  I’m often asked how I come up with ideas for my books. Even I have to admit the idea for this one was unique. I was at my acupuncturist’s clinic receiving a treatment for my chronic low back pain – a result of too many hours writing at my computer – when a thought came to me and I asked my doctor, “What would happen if…?” He looked at me and said, “In twenty years, no patient of mine has ever even thought of something like that. You’re not normal.” I told him I thought normalcy was a highly overrated attribute, and so this book was born!

  I’ve been going to Dr. Lam off and on for twenty years and have always had great results. It’s well worth the thirty minute drive from my home to his office in Buena Park, California. Here’s his website if you ever get to that neck of the woods and have a health issue: http://www.eliteprofessionalmedical.com.

  As always, thanks to Vivek Rajan, who I depend on for creating the wonderful covers for my books as well as preparing them for publication. And I would be remiss without giving my husband, Tom, a huge shout out for his unfailing cheerleading and vigilant eye for manuscript mistakes. To say I’m grateful to them would be a total understatement. Thanks to both of you for making my work look good!

  And as I usually do, a verbal ear scratch for my dog Kelly, for maintaining her place at my feet while I’m writing and her need for physical exercise which makes me take a break once in a while from my computer. Thanks, Kelly!

  Lastly, if you would like to read something a little different from my cozy mysteries, you might want to try the Teddy Saga, two books about politics. Some of you know that I spent twelve years in Sacramento, California, when my husband was in the Legislature, so a lot that’s in those books is “inside baseball.” I have also authored the Coyote Series, three books of international psychological suspense. The first one, Blue Coyote Motel, was the recipient of a number of awards. Enjoy!

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  Table of Contents

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15

  CHAPTER 16

  CHAPTER 17

  CHAPTER 18

  CHAPTER 19

  CHAPTER 20

  CHAPTER 21

  CHAPTER 22

  CHAPTER 23

  CHAPTER 24

  CHAPTER 25

  CHAPTER 26

  Recipes!

  ABOUT DIANNE

  CHAPTER 1

  Kat Denham walked up the steps of the country club and stood at the top for a moment, breathing in the scents of the warm spring day. She loved the seasons in the Midwest, even the hot summers and cold winter months, but there was something special about Spring. She inhaled deeply and let the earthy smell of the freshly mowed golf course grass fill her nostrils. The club gardening crew had planted hundreds of spring bulbs which provided a riot of color that lined the steps and overflowed the raised planters surrounding the front of the clubhouse.

  The woman she was meeting for lunch, her acupuncturist, Mitzi Green, didn’t know it, but today was a special day for Kat. She’d just finished writing her tenth novel and had dropped the manuscript off at the home of Bev Simpson, her friend and editor, to read. Although her novel writing had been a leap of faith in the beginning, she now had a solid following of loyal readers who looked forward to each of her new releases.

  “Hello, Mrs. Denham. It’s good to see you. Involved in solving any murders today?” Barbara, the affable dining room hostess, asked as Kat walked over to her. Barbara’s allusion to murder brought back the memory of when Kat discovered the body of her then editor, Nancy Jennings, and Kat was forced to find the murderer before she became the next victim.

  Being the author of steamy romance novels written under the pen name of Sexy Cissy at first had been a liability when the local residents of her small Kansas college town discovered that Kat and Sexy Cissy were one and the same. However, it all seemed to change when she succeeded in catching the murderer who had killed Nancy Jennings. Once that happened, things began to return to normal. Even her daughter, Lacie, had accepted the fact her mother was the very successful Sexy Cissy.

  It didn’t seem to have affected her relationship with the handsome district attorney, who was more than happy to spend time with someone who wrote sexy novels. She smiled wryly at his ongoing suggestion that their relationship should move on to the next stage. Widowed, in her fifties, and having been out of the dating scene for a long time, she wasn’t sure just how that was supposed to happen. He always laughed when they talked about her books, and he constantly reminded her that anyone with her imagination, if that’s what it was, should have no problem taking their relationship to the next level.

  “The answer to your question, Barbara, is a resounding no, and believe me, I’m glad to be able to say that. I’m meeting Mitzi Green for lunch. Is she here yet?”

  “She got here a few minutes ago. She’s at the table at the far end of the dining room. I didn’t think you’d want to sit at or near that dining room table where the whole mystery of the Jennings murder began, so I decided to put you there.”

  “Thanks, Barbara, that was very thoughtful. I appreciate it, and you’re absolutely right. I really would prefer to forget that whole experience. See you later.”

  “Here’s today’s menu. I need to seat the group that just walked in,” Barbara said as she handed Kat a menu.

  Kat threaded her way through the maze of tables in the dining room, glad that Mitzi had thought to make a reservation. For some reason Mondays at the country club were always busy, and today was no different. She saw Mitzi waving to her and smiling broadly as Kat approached the table. Mitzi stood up and Kat gave her a big hug and then she sat down across from her. When she saw the champagne filled glass in front of her place setting Kat asked, “Ho
w did you know?”

  “Know what?” Mitzi asked.

  “That I finished my tenth book early this morning and dropped it off at my editor’s home on the way here. Why, isn’t that what we’re celebrating?”

  “Well, we certainly can celebrate that, but it wasn’t why I wanted to meet you for lunch today. There’s something else I’d like to celebrate,” Mitzi answered with a smile.

  “Other than the fact that we’re probably celebrating your loss of the last ten pounds you’ve been trying to lose for the last year, I’m clueless.”

  Mitzi picked up her champagne flute and said, “Kat, please pick yours up. Okay, here goes. I’m getting married. I’d like you to be my matron of honor. Will you?”

  Kat sat with her raised champagne glass in her hand, unable to speak, her mouth hanging unattractively open. Finally, she recovered and said, “First of all, yes. Second of all, who is he? And thirdly, I’ve never been so happy for anyone in my life. Now, tell me everything.”

  Mitzi Green and Kat Denham had been friends since college. Even then, Mitzi had been overweight, actually very overweight. She’d never married and had worked as a librarian for many years. When she turned forty-five she had what some would call a mid-life crisis. For Mitzi, it meant that her dabbling for years in Eastern philosophies and Eastern medicine culminated in her decision to become an acupuncturist. The university in the small college town where they lived had recently added a Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine to their curriculum, and Mitzi had quit her job at the library in order to become a full time student there.

  She’d flourished in her studies, and the department had been so impressed with her academic record that when she graduated they offered her a job teaching acupuncture at the university. Along with her morning teaching job, the department gave her permission to treat private patients as well as have the level one interns observe her acupuncture treatments. She also oversaw the level two interns who provided acupuncture treatments to people who came to the department to obtain free treatment for a variety of physical problems.

  During her career reinvention, Mitzi decided to reinvent herself as well. Having taken a number of classes in oriental medicine, she applied what she’d learned and for the last few years had slowly and methodically lost one hundred fifty pounds. A year earlier she’d undergone surgery to remove the excess skin resulting from the dramatic weight loss.

  Kat smiled at the beautiful woman sitting across the table from her who bore no resemblance to the woman she’d known for years except for the large hazel eyes that never missed anything. In addition to the skin removal, Mitzi had undergone a facelift and an eyelift.

  Never having worn makeup in the past, the term mousy librarian, no, make that fat mousy librarian, described her perfectly. Now she was an expert at applying makeup. Her creamy complexion set off those unforgettable eyes which had been enhanced with perfectly applied eye shadow and liner. French tip fingernails and toenails spoke to the extent of the change in Mitzi Green. Her light brown hair was subtly woven with blond highlights. Quite simply, Mitzi Green had become drop-dead gorgeous.

  Kat had never been jealous of Mitzi’s redo. While Kat knew she was definitely getting older, since face and body maintenance took a little longer each day than it used to, with her big blue eyes, blond hair, and a figure that still commanded attention, she was very secure with how she looked. Although some would say she was aging gracefully, at times Kat called it a big pain in the neck!

  CHAPTER 2

  “I’m not the least bit surprised some man wants to make you his wife. It’s about time you were discovered,” Kat said, “but you’ve never mentioned anything about him to me. Who is he? What does he do? Where does he live? When’s the wedding?”

  “Whoa, Kat. Let me start from the beginning. I still can’t believe all this is happening to me, Fat Mitzi.”

  “Mitzi, those days are long gone. Look at you now!”

  Just then the waiter walked over to their table. “Have you made your decisions, ladies?” he asked. They gave him their orders, and Kat continued.

  “I never want to hear that name again. It’s a name from the past for someone who no longer exists. Look what you’ve done with your life. I’m so proud of you, and I’m so happy for you.”

  “Okay, his name is Rex Brown. He’s a doctor, a plastic surgeon, and we met when I was his patient.”

  “Mitzi, I thought doctors weren’t supposed to develop personal relationships with their patients. Are you sure that was a wise thing to do, even though it’s probably too late now? And it makes me a little nervous about him. Sorry, but that’s just how I feel.”

  “That’s okay, Kat. As I understand it, ethically doctors aren’t supposed to develop relationships with patients they are presently treating. Rex called me after he’d finished treating me, and asked me out to dinner. As you know, my life has not been one of dates and dinners. I was so scared I didn’t know how to answer him. On some level, I think he understood. He asked for my address and said he’d pick me up the following evening, and that I should dress casually. I really never had a chance to say yes or no. Don’t forget, the man has seen me at my worst. Well, maybe not my worst, because I’d lost almost all of my weight when I went to him for surgery, but there was a whole lot of excess skin just hanging on my body.”

  “Mitzi, this is so romantic. You know you’re going to be an inspiration for every woman who knows you, both for having a first marriage at this stage of your life and for achieving a major weight loss.”

  A shadow crossed Mitzi’s face, and she said, “I think there are a few people who wish I’d never changed. I’d put Rex’s ex-fiancée at the top of the list. Don’t think she was too thrilled to lose out to Fat Mitzi. Another one who’s not real thrilled with the new me is a Vietnamese doctor at the university. Actually he’s just not pleased with me, period, neither the new me nor the old me. He’s in my department, and we’re both being considered for the position of Assistant Dean of the Acupuncture Department. It’s a pretty big deal. He and I were students together, and we got along alright then, but with the weight loss and everything else, I get the distinct feeling he wishes I would just go away, so he can become the assistant dean.”

  “I’m sure there are some people who would have preferred it if you’d simply stayed just like you were. Often when people change for the better, they become a threat. Looks like that’s true in your case. On one hand you’re a romantic threat, and on the other hand, you’re a professional threat, but look at it this way, before those changes, you weren’t a threat to anyone! Think most people would take being a threat over not being a threat, if it meant an improvement in their lifestyle.”

  “That’s probably true, but it would be nice if everyone was just as happy for me as I am. I suppose that could only happen in a perfect world, and from what I’ve seen, a perfect world doesn’t exist.”

  She was interrupted by the waiter who served a large salad to Mitzi with oil and vinegar on the side. He served Kat the special of the day, braised short ribs over bleu cheese mashed potatoes. “Sorry, Mitzi,” Kat said. “I hope this doesn’t bother you, but I can’t pass up short ribs. They’re one of my favorites.”

  “Not in the least. Believe it or not, I’ve gotten to like rabbit food. Actually, I’ve been using a type of psychological behavioral conditioning, and I’ve learned how to convince myself that if I eat something like that, I’ll become sick.”

  Kat put down her fork and said in a concerned voice, “Mitzi, please tell me your weight loss didn’t happen because you’ve become bulimic.”

  Mitzi laughed and said, “Kat, you know me. Even when I’m sick I’ll walk around for hours before I’ll throw up. I’ve been known to deliberately hold my head up so I won’t throw up. I’ll do anything not to. That’s why this particular type of mind exercise works so well for me. I’ve convinced myself that I’ll throw up if I eat fattening things, and since I’ll do anything to avoid that, it makes it easy for me to st
ay away from those things.”

  “All right. Let’s change the subject. Have you decided on a date for the wedding? Has Rex been married before? Are you going to be a stepmother? I’ll let you take a bite of your salad before you answer,” Kat said as she took a bite of her entrée. She decided it would be unwise to tell Mitzi just how good it was.

  “Okay, Kat,” Mitzi said after she’d sampled her salad. We’re getting married in late July. You can drop the surprised look on your face. I know it’s only two months away, but at our age, and he’s a little older than I am, what are we waiting for?”

  “Actually, I think that’s smart. Tell me more.”

  “In answer to your questions, Rex has never been married, and he has no children. He’s told me he was married to his work until he met me, although he was recently engaged. I’m glad he doesn’t have any children, because I’ve heard horror stories of relationships between stepmothers and stepchildren. I’m glad I won’t have to go through that.”

  “Me, too. Where are you going to be married?” Kat asked.

  “Well, that’s one of the reasons I wanted to have lunch with you.”

  “I’m confused. What are you talking about?”

  Mitzi took a deep breath and said, “Kat, you know how much I love your house and your beautiful back yard. Rex and I’ve decided to have a small, intimate wedding,” she said as she began to speak rapidly, “And I was hoping we could be married in your back yard and have the reception at your house. Of course, I’ll take care of all of the costs like the flowers, the catering, etcetera. What do you think?”

  “I think I’m in shock, Mitzi. I’m flattered you like my house and garden that much, but are you sure you want to be married there?”

  “If it’s all right with you, yes. Obviously I talked to Rex about it, and he thinks it’s a wonderful idea. By the way, he plays golf with Blaine, so he feels like he knows you. I was actually thinking I could have the country club cater the reception. Well, what do you say?”