Murder at the Big T Lodge: A Liz Lucas Cozy Mystery Read online

  MURDER AT THE BIG T LODGE

  By

  Dianne Harman

  (A Liz Lucas Cozy Mystery - Book 6)

  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: 978-1533669940

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  As always, thank you for spending your valuable time reading my books. I love writing them, but without loyal readers like you, I wouldn’t be a successful author. This is book number 6 in the popular Liz Lucas Cozy Mystery Series. I hope you like it as much as you’ve enjoyed the books in my other three cozy mystery series, Cedar Bay, High Desert, and Midwest.

  Here’s a little backstory on how this book came to be written. I, like so many others, recently read about the death of Antonin Scalia, a United States Supreme Court Justice, who died unexpectedly while he was at a hunting lodge in Texas. What fascinated me was the Texas law stating that if there are no signs of foul play and a justice of the peace is not available, (often the case in counties with small populations), the death certificate can be signed by a judge without the judge having to make any kind of inquiry as to the cause of death or even seeing the body. I was amazed that such a law existed, and began to think about its ramifications. This novel is a book of fiction, so therefore it’s a figment of my imagination, but that imagination was fueled by the circumstances surrounding the death of Justice Antonin Scalia.

  I’m completely indebted to the two people who help make every book of mine a bestseller. First there is Vivek, who patiently formats my books for both print and digital, as well as designing wonderfully inventive book covers. I’ve come to rely on his ability to sense what the cover should be when I don’t have a clue! The second person is my husband, Tom. He’s very careful to make sure my books are as error free as possible, particularly as to time sequence and characters. Many times he’s caught me having written the wrong name or the wrong place! Thanks to both of you!

  And as I usually do, I need to thank my dog, Kelly, for finally leaving the puppy stage! I’d like to say she was the inspiration for my first cozy mystery, Kelly’s Koffee Shop, but the truth is we got her after I’d written the book, thus she had to have the name Kelly!

  Finally, you may wonder why the dog in this book is a bullmastiff. I can’t answer that other than to say the breed fascinates me. We’ve owned boxers for years, and they kind of look like miniature bullmastiffs, so that might be the reason! Hope you enjoy the read!

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  I'm giving away seven free autographed paperbacks. Find out more at www.dianneharman.com/freepaperback.html

  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

  CHAPTER 27

  CHAPTER 28

  CHAPTER 29

  CHAPTER 30

  CHAPTER 31

  CHAPTER 32

  CHAPTER 33

  CHAPTER 34

  CHAPTER 35

  Recipes!

  ABOUT DIANNE

  CHAPTER 1

  “So, my love, what’s on your schedule today?” Liz Langley, the owner of the Red Cedar Lodge and Spa asked her husband, Roger, while they were having breakfast.

  “I’m off to San Francisco. The partners’ meeting is this morning,” the handsome middle-aged attorney said. “After that I’m having lunch with Milt Huston and then some more meetings with a few clients I still deal with when I’m in town.”

  “Hmmmm,” Liz said. “That name rings a bell with me. Isn’t he some big political deal? Why are you meeting with him?”

  “If you consider being Attorney General of the biggest state in the United States, yeah, I’d say he’s quite a big deal. He’s probably going to be an even bigger deal if he becomes governor next year. I’m meeting with him for just that reason. My law firm is making a large political contribution towards his race for governor, and since I went to law school with him they asked me to personally deliver the check to him. And yes, in answer to your unasked question, I will take another one of those bacon biscuits. Those are delicious.”

  “Thanks. I serve them a lot to the guests here at the lodge. They love them. Anyway, why do I have the feeling he’s pretty controversial?” Liz asked as she passed the biscuits to Roger.

  “Because he is. He recently won a major lawsuit on behalf of the State of California against oil companies that were polluting the ground water near their oil operations. It involved illegally dumping toxic oil well byproducts. Sort of like what was in the movie about Erin Brockovich a few years ago. The oil companies are going to have to pay millions, as well they should. Water has always been a critical issue for this state, and even more now that we’ve been in a drought situation for years.”

  “Roger, you know I don’t have a political bone in my body, but what’s the big deal about water? I mean the people in the cities need it, farmers need it, ranchers need it, and a lot of industries need it. Seems to me there’s plenty for everybody.”

  “Fraid not, Liz. There’s been a fight over the water rights in our state for longer than we’ve been alive. The northern part of the state thinks they own the rights to what’s collected there, and the southern part of the state feels it should get half of the water no matter where it comes from, since they’re part of the same state. Believe me when I say it’s been a political storm for years.”

  “I didn’t know that. Do you think Milt can get elected governor because of what he’s done with water issues?”

  “As far as a political move, I’m not sure it was a smart decision for a man who wants to be governor, but he’s a man of integrity, and he acts on what he feels is best for the people of California. He’s very liberal, and a lot of people don’t like him for that, but on the other hand, a lot of people do respect him for his liberal views. It’s going to be an interesting election.” Roger looked at his watch and said, “I better get out of here if I expect to make the partners’ meeting on time. They don’t look kindly on partners who arrive late.” He stood up and walked to the door, taking his suit coat with him.

  “Winston, keep Liz safe today, and I’ll see you tonight,” he said as he opened the door and walked out to his car. Winston, Liz’s big boxer, sat by her side, seemingly taking Roger’s advice to heart.

  “Big guy, I think Roger meant to stand by just in case,” Liz said. “I don’t think you have to spend the day at my side. Anyway, I have to go into town and get some groceries. Thought I’d stop by Gertie’s as well. You can go in with
me now that she keeps that special service dog harness for you. I’ll get dressed, and we’ll be out of here in no time.”

  As she was getting dressed she looked at herself in the mirror and decided that even though she was in her early fifties, she’d luckily inherited her parents’ good genes. Although she’d never been to a plastic surgeon, she’d been sensible about staying out of the sun, and the only lines on her face were laugh lines around her sparkling green eyes. She wore her auburn hair cut short, and it was a perfect frame for her heart-shaped face. She was full-figured, but the fullness was usually described by others as being curvaceous.

  An hour later, after Liz had checked the pantry and the refrigerator to see what she needed to buy in town, she said, “Winston, time to go.” She carefully stepped around Brandy Boy, the big St. Bernard mascot of the lodge, who was lying in his usual place on the porch waiting until the sun set, and the first guests rang their cottage bell to signal they needed a little nip of the brandy he carried in a cask around his neck. She looked at him and thought, He’s probably the most worthless dog I’ve ever been around. He does nothing other than lay on the porch all day, but ever since that article ran in the San Francisco paper about his exploits, business has never been better. I’ll keep him around for that if nothing else.

  After loading up on groceries at the market and buying dog food for Winston and Brandy Boy at the pet store, Liz headed for Gertie’s Diner, intent on treating herself to one of Gertie’s famous hamburgers and a malt. She parked in front of the diner and opened the door of her van for Winston, who eagerly ran to the front door of the diner. Gertie, the irrepressible octogenarian owner of Gertie’s Diner, had Winston’s service dog harness in her hand when Liz and Winston walked in.

  With her signature blond beehive hairdo, a pencil stuck behind her ear, bright blue eyeshadow, thick dark red lipstick, and stiletto heels, there was no one else quite like her. Her warmth was legendary, and people came from all around the area to eat and spend a little time with her. She loved her customers, and they loved her.

  She adeptly fit the service harness, which she had purchased at a garage sale, over Winston’s large chest. “Okay boy, you’re legal now. Can’t nobody complain ‘bout me allowin’ a dog in my restaurant since yer’ now officially a service dog,” Gertie said with a wink directed towards Liz. “And guess what, Winston? Think I saw a big helpin’ of steak and eggs sent back to the kitchen. Evidently my new waitress got the order wrong, but that ain’t no problem. Purty sure it has yer’ name on it. I’ll have Ginny bring it out to ya’ in a minute.”

  Liz laughed, “I honestly think he lives for these moments. You’re spoiling him rotten, you know.”

  “With what he did to save yer’ life after my brother’s murder, it’s the least I can do. A little payback time, right Winston?”

  The big dog shook his head up and down agreeing with her. Liz rolled her eyes and said, “If anyone overheard this conversation they would think Winston knows everything you’re saying.”

  “Ya’ must have missed the memo on that, doll, cuz’ he does. To change the subject, I ain’t seen my tenant, that handsome husband of yours, around today. He got business in the big city?”

  “Yes, he’ll be there most of the day. I’m glad he rented the office next to your diner. It’s worked out well for him.”

  “Glad to hear it, honey,” she said looking up as the door opened, and a customer walked in. “Gotta go. I’ll tell Ginny to get yer’ order. Assume ya’ want yer’ usual burger and malt, and I’ll have her bring Winston’s out to him too. Tell handsome hi for me,” she said with a wink.

  “Will do.” Liz looked around the diner and smiled at a number of the people who had become her friends since she’d come to the small town of Red Cedar several years ago. It was on the coast about an hour north of San Francisco. She thought how much her life had changed in these few short years. She and her husband, Joe, had bought the lodge and spa hoping it would help him reduce his stress levels and result in better health for him. It didn’t, and he’d died of a heart attack not long after they’d moved to Red Cedar.

  After Joe died, Liz thought she’d never remarry, but when she met Roger Langley she knew she’d been given a second chance at love and had happily become his wife. She was thankful that the power that controls the universe, whatever it is, believed in giving people second chances. She smiled, reminiscing, as Ginny brought her burger and malt along with Winston’s steak and eggs.

  She sat for a moment, glad her life was relatively quiet after she’d recently been involved in helping solve several murders. Little did she know all that was about to change.

  CHAPTER 2

  When Liz returned to the lodge, she unloaded the groceries and then she and her assistant chef, Gina, prepped as much food as they could for the evening meal Liz served to the guests staying in the cottages at the lodge. She loved to cook for the people who seemed to thoroughly enjoy her food. She’d just told Gina to take a short break before they started the final preparation for the meal when her cell phone rang.

  She looked down at the monitor and saw it was Roger. “Hello, sweetheart, how did your meetings go?”

  “Well, very well, as a matter of fact one of them went so well we’re going to be taking a little trip.”

  “What are you talking about?” Liz asked.

  “Remember how I told you this morning that I was going to meet Milt for lunch and give him a political contribution from our law firm? Well, I did, and he was very grateful. We talked for a while catching up on classmates of ours from law school. Neither one of us is very active as alumnae, but it’s always interesting to hear about what some of the others are doing these days. Anyway, his cell phone rang while we were at lunch, and it turned out it was the owner of the Big T Lodge in Texas.”

  “I’ve never heard of it. Should I be familiar with it?”

  “No, I’m not surprised you haven’t heard of it, but anyone who’s a duck or quail hunter certainly knows about it. It’s probably the most exclusive hunting lodge in the United States. Milt’s been going there for years, and he’s leaving this weekend for his annual trip to the Big T Lodge. The owner of the lodge had called to tell him that he’d just received a call from a couple who had to cancel their reservation because it turns out their daughter gave birth prematurely, and her husband’s in Afghanistan. Naturally, they dropped everything to be with her.”

  “Okay, but I still don’t see what any of that has to do with us.”

  “Here’s the thing, Liz. The owner asked Milt if he knew any hunters who might be interested in taking their places. Milt put his hand over the phone and asked me if I’d like to go. I didn’t even have to think about it. I said yes. I’ve wanted to go there forever, but everyone knows it’s almost impossible to make a reservation because it’s so exclusive, plus it’s terribly expensive. I mean really, really expensive, but here’s more good news. The managing partner of the law firm distributed the annual bonus checks today and mine is twice what I thought it would be. It will more than pay for the trip. I know you’re not a hunter, but I thought you could relax and might even pick up some recipes from the chef at the lodge. I hear the food is fabulous. What do you think?”

  “I think if you’re that excited about it, I should get excited too, although this is a world I know nothing about. How many guests will be at the lodge?”

  “From what I understand the lodge is quite large and luxurious. I think Milt said last time he went there were twenty guests. Milt told me it’s considered to be the best hunting lodge of its kind in the United States.”

  “Where specifically are we going and when?” she asked.

  “We’re going to west Texas, and we leave this Sunday. I’ll hunt on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and then we’ll return home on Thursday. When I said we’d go, Milt handed his phone to me, and the lodge owner gave me the airline flight times. He’s also sending me a packet of information. All that’s left for us to do is make our airline reservat
ions and let him know what time we’ll be arriving at the airport, so one of the SUVs from the lodge can pick us up. I’ll do that tonight when I get home.”

  “Roger, today is Wednesday. That sure doesn’t give me much time to make sure everything is ship-shape here at the lodge.”

  “Liz, as well-run as the Red Cedar Lodge and Spa is, I hate to tell you this, but it will run without you just fine. You know Gina can handle the meals on her own, since she’s had to do it a couple of times before when you were involved in a murder investigation. Bertha, your lodge manager, can handle everything else, and we’ll only be gone for a few days. It’s not like we’ll be out of touch for a month or more.”

  “You’re right. This will certainly be an adventure, and one I never thought I’d be involved in. What does a well-dressed woman wear to a hunting lodge?” she asked.

  “Jeans and boots. We’ll know more after I get the packet from the owner. I asked him to FedEx it to me, so we’d have a little heads-up before we leave for the lodge. Anyway, we’ll talk more about it tonight. I’m just getting ready to leave the office, so I should be home in about an hour depending on traffic. Liz, I’ve got to tell you I have never been so excited about anything.”

  “I’d prefer to hear you say you’ve never been so excited about a trip. I think getting married should be right up there in your excited ratings,” she said drily.

  “Well, that goes without saying,” Roger said. “You know that.”

  “Right, Roger, right. See you soon, and yes, I’m excited too.”

  Liz ended the call and turned to Gina. “Any chance you can come in a little early tomorrow? Looks like I’m leaving Sunday for a hunting lodge in Texas. Never saw that one coming. Anyway, we need to figure out what meals you can serve while I’m gone. I know you can do it, it’s just a matter of planning. I’ll talk to Bertha in the morning about getting someone to help you, but for right now, let’s finish up with this one.”

  CHAPTER 3