The Blue Butterfly: A Liz Lucas Cozy Mystery Read online

  Olivia waited for a few minutes to see if he’d return. She glanced at her watch and realized she needed to get home. When she got to the parking lot, no one was there. She looked back to where she’d last seen Trace and thought, I would have sworn Trace had light brown eyes. I can remember thinking how beautiful they were when he was teaching that environmental class I took from him at UC Berkeley, before I had to quit a few months ago because of mom’s heart surgery. Strange. He must really be excited about this butterfly because, he sure didn’t seem like himself today.

  CHAPTER 6

  “Hi, Mom. I’m home. How are you feeling?” Olivia asked the woman who was lying on a couch in the living room with a blanket wrapped around her.

  “I’m fine, honey. Don’t worry about me. I’m sure I’ll feel better soon. The doctor said that being tired after heart surgery is pretty common. I’m just not used to it. Ever since your father died, I’ve pretty much done everything around here, and having no energy is a strange feeling for me. I feel so bad about you dropping out of Berkeley. I know how much you enjoyed going there, and whenever you called you mentioned how exciting the environmental classes were and how much you enjoyed them.”

  “Mom, you know you, Cissy, and Amber are more important to me than finishing college. Next year I’ll probably go to the small college that’s over in Joplin. I can live here while I finish my degree there. Anyway, with you out of work, money’s a little tight. I know we’re pretty much living on what grandma and grandpa left you when they died, but at some point that’s going to run out. I don’t want to be the one responsible for using up all your money just so I could go to Berkeley. By the way, where are Cissy and Amber? They should be home from school by now.”

  “Mrs. Nichols called and asked if they could go home with her daughter, Jenna. She said Jenna gets lonesome now that her sister’s married and left town. She’ll bring them home after dinner.”

  “Good. This hasn’t been easy for them, either.”

  “I know. I feel bad for all of you. Where did you go this afternoon?”

  “I think I told you in one of my phone calls from Berkeley that a teaching assistant, Trace Logan, and I had become friends. He called last night and asked if I could meet him and then show him where the Jefferson Lumber Company property was located. He said an endangered species had been spotted there, the Lotis Blue butterfly. I told him I’d meet him in front of Gertie’s Diner. I figured if he got lost someone would be able to give him directions to it, because it’s kind of an institution in this town.”

  Olivia’s mother looked up at her and smiled. “Is he a friend like a regular friend, or is he a special friend?”

  “Mom, it wasn’t anything like that. He really is just a friend. We had coffee a couple of times after he taught the Introduction to Environment class.”

  “He must be quite a bit older than you if he’s teaching at Berkeley.”

  “No, he’s only a couple of years older. He’s not a full professor. He’s what’s called a teaching assistant. Trace is working on his master’s degree, and Berkeley has TA’s teach a lot of the introductory classes. I think he’ll really be a good professor.”

  “Olivia, you seem a little concerned about something. Does it have anything to do with this Trace guy?”

  “Well, I can’t put my finger on it, and since I haven’t seen him for a couple of months, maybe I’m imagining it. I mentioned he teaches the intro class in Environmental Studies. Somehow he heard that there was this butterfly, it’s called the Lotis Blue butterfly, and that it had been spotted on the Jefferson Lumber Company property. Evidently it’s on the Endangered Species List. When I talked to him on the phone he thought it would really be something if he could find it and be responsible for saving it. He told me it would help him when it came time for him to apply for admission to the doctorate program. He said that again today when we met.”

  “That doesn’t seem unusual. Why the frown?”

  “I don’t remember Trace as being as intense as he was this afternoon. I mean he was really passionate about how important it was to save this butterfly, and then I noticed something I thought was strange. I remember that Trace had beautiful light brown eyes, and today I noticed that his eyes were light green.”

  “Maybe they were hazel and he wore brown contact lens sometimes and green ones sometimes. I read where a lot of people do that, and it’s not just a female thing. The article I was reading said more and more men were wearing them for cosmetic effects.”

  “Yeah, you’re probably right. I’m sure it’s nothing. I thought I’d make spaghetti for dinner tonight, and it’s been a long time since I had that special chocolate filling and frosting that grandma used to make for her yellow cakes, so I thought I’d make that too. I stopped and bought a cake mix and the frosting stuff on the way home. I thought the girls would like it.”

  “I don’t think they’ll like it. I know they will. Thanks, Olivia. I don’t know what we’d do around here without you. You’ve been our lifesaver.”

  “Mom, now that you’re feeling a little better, I need to see about getting a job. When I was in town I saw Bart Stevenson. I’m sure you remember him; he’s the owner of the Red Cedar Tribune. He told me he’d heard I was back in town and asked how you were feeling. I told him you were making progress, and he said if I ever needed a job to give him a call. He said he was interested in getting a younger person’s slant on what was happening locally. I think I’ll give him a call.”

  “You could do a lot worse than Bart. He’s a good man. I’ve known him for what seems like forever. We went to school together.”

  “Okay, I’m off to the kitchen. Do you need anything first?”

  “No sweetie, not a thing. I’m going to watch TV for awhile and then I’ll probably take a nap, so I can be fresh for the girls when they get home.”

  CHAPTER 7

  After she left home, Ruby drove to her job at the California Forestry Service office, parked her car, and walked in. The first person she saw was David Sanders. She gulped involuntarily, as he looked up and smiled at her. He walked over to her and said, “It’s a little overdue, but I guess best wishes are in order on the occasion of your recent marriage. I hope he appreciates what a wonderful woman he’s getting.”

  She struggled to keep calm and answered, “Yes, I’d like to think he does. What are you doing here? Are you the reason a meeting was called for this afternoon?”

  “Yes. We’ve got a little issue that’s come up in your district. Evidently there’s been a spotting of a Lotis Blue butterfly. Don’t know if you’re aware of it, but it’s on the Endangered Species List, and if the location of the sighting is correct, it might mean a whole lot of trouble for the Jefferson Lumber Company.”

  “I’m completely unfamiliar with it, but I imagine that would be a huge problem for them if it turns out to be true. I’ve heard they’ve also had a problem with an employee being diagnosed with cancer. There’s a lot of talk around town he got cancer from exposure to formaldehyde at their plywood plant. Evidently it wasn’t handled properly. ”

  “I don’t know anything about that,” David said. “I’m going to spend a little time telling your group about the Lotis Blue butterfly, and then I’m going out to where it’s supposed to have been spotted. Your boss told me I could take one of his employees with me. I’d like you to join me,” he said smiling at her with his dazzling million dollar smile she’d tried so hard to forget.

  She was quiet for several moments and then said, “I’m not sure that’s a good idea, David. I almost feel like we have a little unfinished business concerning our relationship, and I know George, that’s my husband, wouldn’t be happy about it. He’s had some anger issues in the past, and I don’t want to give him a reason to bring up those kinds of issues.”

  “I can understand that. If I were married to you, I wouldn’t be very happy about my wife going out alone in the woods with her ex-lover, but I would like you to think about it. I need to give my talk now.” He
turned and walked away.

  The whole time David was talking to her fellow Forestry Service employees, Ruby’s mind was struggling. She remembered the good times with David, the fun they’d had, and the many nights they’d spent enjoying each other. She wondered if she’d been wrong to leave him. After all, a lot of people thought that his sibling, or in his case, his step-sibling, had inherited things she wasn’t entitled to.

  Ruby had just gotten tired of him constantly complaining about it, and one night when once again he’d brought it up, she told him she didn’t want to be with someone who lived in the past. She knew theirs had been a strange relationship, and that she was young enough to be his daughter, but it hadn’t mattered to her. She couldn’t deny that she was still very physically attracted to David. She decided it wouldn’t hurt to spend one last afternoon with David, and she’d make sure George never found out about it.

  When David had finished talking to the employees about the Lotis Blue butterfly, she walked over to him and said, “I know I probably shouldn’t do this, but I’d like to see this butterfly you were talking about. Why don’t I meet you at the lumber company property in about half an hour?”

  He looked down at her and gave her his killer grin which had never failed to make her heart skip a beat. “I’d like that, Ruby. I’d like that a lot. I was hoping I’d have a chance to see you and talk to you. Matter of fact I even brought a bottle of Stag’s Leap wine which I remember was your favorite wine. Think of it as a wedding present from me to you. I’ll be leaving in just a few minutes, and we can have a couple of hours to ourselves out at the property. Let me get you a map of where we’ll be going. There’s a copy machine over there. It’ll just take a moment.”

  A few minutes later David walked out to the parking lot and got in his car. A half hour later Ruby walked out and got into her car. Neither one of them saw George’s car parked behind a nearby dumpster.

  CHAPTER 8

  “Liz, that dinner was fabulous. I could tell that the cottage guests liked it every bit as much as I did. I’ve never had pork cooked like that. Was it hard to fix?”

  “No. It’s embarrassingly easy. I just rub it down with a barbecue seasoning salt, sear it in a frying pan on all sides in a little oil and then exactly twenty-three minutes before I want it to be ready, I stick it in the oven. How easy is that?”

  “Easy, but what was that sauce? I’ve never had anything like it.”

  “It’s called a chipotle raspberry sauce. Actually I got the recipe from a man who lives in Santa Fe. His name is Erick and he was staying in one of the cottages. He’s the one who also told me he served that sauce with the pork. I think it goes with it perfectly.”

  “Me too, and I gotta tell you that dessert was delicious. You know I’m an ice cream freak, so that was a no brainer for me. I especially liked that raspberry balsamic sauce that was drizzled over it. I’ve never had anything like that before. Yeah, that was a real hit.”

  “The recipe originally called for pistachio ice cream along with the strawberry and chocolate, but I prefer the green tea ice cream. Glad you liked it. I’ve got a couple more things to do in the kitchen, and then I’ll join you downstairs.”

  “See you in a few minutes,” he said as he walked towards the stairs leading to the lower level of the lodge. Just before they’d gotten married, they’d remodeled a downstairs storeroom next to Liz’s living quarters and made it into a home office and a den for Roger. Floor to ceiling windows had been installed, so Roger could look out at the Pacific Ocean when he was working, a view he never tired of.

  “Liz,” he said a moment later walking back up the stairs, “your phone was ringing when I got downstairs, so I answered it. It’s Seth.” He handed the phone to her. She grimaced as she took it from him.

  “Hello, Seth. How are you?” she asked. Seth Williams was the Red Cedar Chief of Police, and Liz would be the first to admit she had a love/hate relationship with him. On one hand she couldn’t believe that voters kept re-electing the obese, bumbling, insensitive man to the position he held. Yet, on the other hand, there was something about him that was childishly appealing. There was no love/hate relationship on Seth’s part. He clearly idolized Liz, a fact that hadn’t escaped Roger’s attention. Liz was aware that Roger hadn’t gone back downstairs.

  “I’m fine, Liz, jes’ fine. I was jes’ fixin’ to get in bed, ‘cuz I was so busy givin’ out speedin’ tickets today that I’m all tuckered out. Anyway, jes’ got a call from George Myers. Ya’ know him?”

  “No, Seth, I can’t say that I do.”

  “Well, he was all cryin’ and sayin’ his wife, Ruby, hadn’t come home yet and could I do somethin’ about it, like find her. Yeah, like I could find her at this hour of the night. Been my experience if’n a woman or man don’t want to be found ‘bout this time a night, ain’t no way I can find ‘em. He said sometimes she goes to that bar on the other side of town, the Last Chance Saloon, with a friend after work, so he wasn’t too concerned when she was late comin’ home from work. He called the bar a little while ago, and they tol’ him she weren’t never there tonight. Says he’s worried somethin’ mighta’ happened to her. I tol’ him if she ain’t home by tomorrow mornin’ we’ll start lookin’ for her. Reason I’m callin’ you is to ask you to keep a heads up for her, ya’ bein’ the one everybody seems to talk to all the time.”

  “I’ll keep my eyes and ears open, and if I see or hear something I’ll let you know, but since I’ve never met her, rather doubt that will happen. Talk to you soon, Seth. Good night.”

  “Nite purty lady. Ya’ tell that Roger he’s one lucky dog.”

  “Thanks.” She ended the call and saw Roger looking at her and shaking his head. “What?” she asked.

  “I overheard what that joke of a police chief said, along with everything else. I really don’t like another man talking like that to my wife.”

  “Oh, Roger, that’s just Seth. He’s really harmless.”

  “Okay, I’ll let it go. That name, Ruby, rings a bell with me. Let me think about it while you’re finishing up in the kitchen. I can’t quite pull the trigger on...”

  He was interrupted by Liz’s phone. “Sorry, Roger, I better take this. It’s Gertie. I wonder why she’s calling at this time of night.”

  “Hi, Gertie. How are you?”

  “I’m fine, honey. Jes’ wondered if my step-brother made it to dinner at the lodge tonight?”

  “No. He wasn’t here. I thought you said he wasn’t coming for dinner, so I wasn’t expecting him.”

  “Well, even though him and me had words at lunch, thought he’d probably stop by here for some dinner, but he didn’t. Do ya’ know if he’s in his cottage?”

  “No, I haven’t been out since dinner. If you’re concerned, Roger and I can walk down there and see.”

  “I don’t want ya’ to do that. He’s probably sound asleep by now. Guess I’m just feelin’ a little guilty ‘bout that set-to we had in the kitchen at lunch. Don’t worry none about it. I’ll talk to him tomorrow. I’m sure he’ll come here fer breakfast. I’ll call ya’ after we talk.” “Must be a night for missing persons. I just talked to Seth. Do you happen to know a woman named Ruby?” Liz asked.

  “Why?”

  “Well, evidently her husband called, and she hasn’t come home tonight. Seth seemed to think it wasn’t that uncommon and insinuated that it was probably a male-female thing.”

  There was a long silence on the other end of the phone. Finally Gertie spoke. “Liz, honey, I don’t wanna think what I’m thinkin’. When Ruby moved here two years ago, she came to the diner and introduced herself. She and my step-brother, David Sanders, had been romantically involved when she was livin’ in Sacramento, but she’d left him ‘cuz he was always jawin’ ‘bout how he shoulda got his dad’s money, not my momma and then me. I like her.”

  “Gertie, I honestly don’t know what to say. I saw your step-brother today when I walked into the kitchen at lunch time to see if you were all right, but to
my knowledge I’ve never met her. I’m a little reluctant to go down to his cabin with this information. I guess what happens, if anything, between consenting adults is their business and not mine.”

  “Honey, I wish it were that easy. Here’s the thing. Ruby married George Myers after she broke up with David and moved here from Sacramento. George works out at the Jefferson Lumber Company. Guy’s got a real temper. When he was a teen he was always gettin’ in fights. Matter of fact he spent a little time in jail for beatin’ a guy up real bad when he found him in bed with his girlfriend. Ruby comes in from time to time, and she tol’ me he’d been gettin’ some anger counselin’ and it was workin’. Said that was why she married him. Liz, I got a real bad feelin’ ‘bout this. If George thinks Ruby and David are together, he’s got such a bad temper he could kill him.”

  “What do you want me to do, Gertie?”

  “Let’s see what happens in the mornin’. I’m gonna think good thoughts about it. Y’all get some sleep. I’ll talk to ya’ tomorrow.”

  “Good night, Gertie, and thanks for the call.”

  When she’d ended the call she turned to Roger. “Did you hear that conversation?”

  “Yes, and I agree with Gertie. I don’t think it sounds very good. You stay here. I’m going to walk down to the cottage where David’s staying. I remember you mentioned at lunch that he was staying in number one. I just want to see if there’s a car next to it. I won’t knock or anything. Be back in a couple of minutes. I’d take Brandy Boy with me, but we both know how worthless he is. I’ll take Winston.” He turned to Winston. “Come on, boy.” A moment later they walked out the door.

  When they returned Roger had a worried look on his face. “There’s no car parked next to the cottage, and no lights are on in the cottage. It didn’t appear that anyone was there. I don’t know what to make of that.”