Murdered by Superstition Read online

  Cody told him what had happened to him during the last few days, concluding with the interrupted assault that had occurred the prior evening. He also told him everything he knew about his murdered fiancée, Nicole. When he was finished Liz told him what she and Judy had found out when they were in New Orleans, including her meeting with Jean Baptiste and the gris-gris pouches he’d made for them. Matt listened, making notes from time to time.

  When they stopped talking Matt said, “Liz, you mentioned your friend, Judy. Will she corroborate what you’ve told me?”

  “Yes. The reason she’s not here is that she had to leave when we returned to get back to her hotel and spa in Calistoga. She felt she’d been gone long enough. Going to New Orleans with me was a spur of the moment thing.”

  “Okay, I’ll call her if I need to. Cody, you mentioned that Nicole had a sister, and there was also a woman she’d fired. I think that’s a good place to start.”

  “Yes, but I don’t think either one of them is a viable suspect.” Cody went on to outline what Liz already knew from Judy. “Nicole and her sister were estranged. She once told me that her sister legally changed her name to Marie Laveau, you know, the woman who was known as the voodoo queen in New Orleans. She said her sister had really gotten into voodoo. She wondered once if she and her sister had become estranged because Nicole was so fat, and her sister, Marie, was so beautiful. She thought Marie might have been embarrassed to have a sister as fat as she was.”

  Liz interjected, “Before you go on, Matt, let me tell you what I heard about what Marie’s been up to.” She told him about her conversation with Jean Baptiste and how Marie was practicing voodoo.

  “Okay, bear with me,” Matt said. “I may have to interrupt from time to time. Let me get this straight. She said she hadn’t seen her sister for years, and Nicole thought they might have been estranged because she was so fat. Was she?” Matt asked.

  “Not when I met her,” Cody said. “She told me once she’d lost a lot of weight. She said she and her sister really didn’t have any mutual contacts who might tell her Nicole had lost weight, so she probably didn’t even know that Nicole had transformed her appearance and become quite beautiful. She mentioned that their mother was deceased.”

  Matt fired off more questions. “Was she on Facebook? Did she post pictures there? Did anyone take her picture that you know of? I’m trying to figure out if there is any way her sister might have found out about the weight loss.”

  Cody shook his head. “She told me once that she was leery of those social network things and that she wasn’t on Facebook. The only time she mentioned anything about pictures of her was when her bank did an article on her weight loss. She was pretty embarrassed about it. She said it was entitled something like ‘If This Top-Notch Bank Employee Can Do It, So Can You!’ She mentioned the bank was having some type of a health promotion for their employees. She said she’d felt like she was nothing more than a poster child, and it wasn’t a very good feeling. She said she hadn’t wanted to do it, but the bank had been pretty insistent.”

  “Do you know if it got picked up by any other media? And Cody, are you talking five pounds overweight or more?”

  “I don’t know. It wasn’t something Nicole liked to talk about. She felt she’d dealt with it, and it was in the past,” Cody said.

  “I think I can answer that,” Liz said. “Judy and she belonged to the same fitness center here in Red Cedar, and Judy told me Nicole had told her she’d lost one hundred fifty pounds, so it was a lot more than five pounds.”

  Matt scribbled in his notebook and turned back to Cody. “You mentioned something about Nicole firing someone. What was that about?”

  Cody told Matt about the woman Nicole had fired when she’d become the bank manager and how it had worked out in the woman’s favor.

  “Matt, that’s the same thing that Maddie Sanders, the woman who was Nicole’s assistant manager told me. I think both her sister and the employee are dead ends,” Liz said.

  “Okay, it looks like we can rule out both of them. Cody, I understand that you and Nicole were going to be married. Had she been seeing anyone else before you started seeing her? Say someone who would have been angry because the two of you had apparently developed a serious relationship?”

  “Not to my knowledge,” Cody said. “She told me once that she felt like she was in junior high instead of being a successful thirty-year-old bank manager, because people normally didn’t have their first dates at that age. I took that to mean that she hadn’t dated, and if she was that overweight, there was probably some truth to it. She was the real deal. We loved each other. It was that simple.” His voice was breaking up, and he stood up and walked over to the window. Liz noticed him wipe what looked like a tear off his cheek.

  “Cody, I’m sorry to ask you all these questions, but believe me, it’s necessary, so we don’t waste precious time on irrelevant things. This is pretty obscure, but what about you? Were you seeing anyone before you started dating Nicole? Would someone want to get back at you by murdering Nicole and then scare you. I see the look in your eyes, but people get real funny about things, and this could be a reason.”

  “Yes, there was someone, but I haven’t seen her since I started seeing Nicole.”

  “All right. Give me her information.”

  Cody told him about Candace, where she worked, and how he had broken up with her. He told Matt he’d had no communications with her since then.

  “Well, I think that’s about all we can do for now. Let me see what I can find out.” Matt turned to Liz. “I’m not a big voodoo fan, but I don’t think it would hurt for you to call this gris-gris doctor in Louisiana and have him do some mumbo-jumbo. Looks like someone wants to make life pretty difficult for Cody. Liz, Roger, if it’s all right with you, I’d suggest Cody stay here for a couple of days until we get a handle on this.”

  “That’s fine with me,” Liz said. “As I mentioned to Cody last night, we had a cancellation, and the cottage he was in last night will be vacant for the next couple of nights.”

  She turned to Cody and said, “Winston was with you last night, but I also think Winston should be with you at all times until this gets solved. Even at work. You can put him in your office, and he’ll be fine.”

  At the sound of his name, the big boxer, who had been sleeping on his bed in the corner of the great room, walked over to her. Liz put his head in her hands and said, “Winston, go to Cody. Stay with him for now. Be on guard.”

  Liz had always suspected he understood English, because he went over to Cody and sat down next to him. Liz called Bertha and told her Cody would be staying in the cottage for a few days.

  “Okay, Cody. Bertha is setting it up for you. Take a little time for yourself. As you know it’s quiet here. There aren’t any televisions in the cottages, but there is Wi-Fi. I doubt you slept much last night, and I think right now a nap would be the best thing for you. There’s a refrigerator in the cottage, and it’s well stocked. Dinners are here at the lodge. Unless something comes up, I’ll see you tonight. Winston, go with Cody,” she said in a commanding voice.

  When they were gone, Liz said, “Matt, I didn’t want Cody to hear this. He’s got enough on his mind, but I need to tell you a couple of things. The first is that I have a photograph of the woman he’d been seeing before Nicole.” She told him of her conversation with Gertie and showed him Candace’s photograph. The voodoo doll could clearly be seen in the photograph.

  Matt picked up Liz’s phone and spent a lot of time looking at it. “Liz, would you email this to me? I definitely want to find out more about this woman. Here’s my email address,” he said as he handed her a business card. “What else do you have for me?” he asked as he returned her phone to her.

  She spent a moment emailing him the photograph of Candace and then continued, “I told you about the conversation I had with the man in the museum gift store, but I omitted part of the conversation.” She told Roger, Matt, and Jonah about how the man ha
d seen the photograph of Maddie and was certain she’d been in the shop a week earlier.

  All three of them were speechless when she finished. Roger was the first to comment. “Liz, you and Judy had lunch with Maddie. What was your gut feeling about her?”

  “I thought she was very forthright, and I felt she was honestly grieving over Nicole’s death. If it hadn’t been for my conversation with the man in New Orleans, I never would have thought twice about her. I mean, she was the one who got me in touch with Cody.”

  Liz looked down at her phone and said, “I suppose it would be a long shot, but maybe she wanted to be the manager of the bank. Maybe she was the one who murdered Nicole, although I find that a real stretch. But even so, from what I understand, she didn’t even know Cody, so where does an attack on him and the voodoo things he’s received fit in? It makes no sense to me. Maybe it’s two people, but it’s pretty hard to believe that there would two people in the little town of Red Cedar who wanted to harm people by using voodoo.”

  “I agree, but it certainly seems significant. You said the man in the store saw a photo. Was it on your phone?” Matt asked.

  “Yes, here it is. I’ll send it to you. It was a photo of Judy, Maddie, and me, which was taken by Gertie. Those are the two things I was talking about.”

  “Okay, you’ve definitely given me some food for thought on the drive back to the city.” Matt turned to Jonah. “Let’s err on the side of caution. I’d feel better knowing that you were keeping that gun with you. Let’s hope you don’t have occasion to use it, but I’ll feel better if it’s close by. I’ll call you as soon as I know anything. Liz, try not to worry. You’ve done a great job and given me plenty to work with.”

  *****

  After Cody had gone home to feed his dog, he decided to forget work. He returned to the lodge’s cottage, took a nap and when he woke up he’d come to the lodge. He was sitting in the kitchen watching Liz and Gina prep the food for the dinner that was being served at that lodge that evening when Liz’s phone rang. “Liz, it’s Matt. May I speak with Cody?”

  “Sure, just a moment. He’s sitting here talking to Gina and me while we get ready for tonight’s dinner.”

  “This won’t take long,” Matt said.

  Liz handed the phone to Cody and said, “It’s Matt.” She continued the preparation, and a few minutes later Cody returned her phone to her.

  “Liz, thanks for your hospitality. I really appreciate it. Matt said he’d hired a bodyguard for me. He’ll be staying at my home until this is resolved. Matt said he’s used him a number of times before, and he trusts him completely. He did tell me he thought it would be a good idea if I took Winston with me, if you don’t mind.”

  While they were talking, Jonah walked into the kitchen with his suitcase in his hand. “I heard that, and I think that’s a good decision, you’ll feel much safer with a bodyguard. He turned to Liz. “Mom, be careful. I’d stay if I could, but I have an important meeting I have to attend. I’m worried about both you and Cody. Maybe you should get a bodyguard, too.”

  “No. I’ll be fine. We’re pretty secluded here, and Roger will be here at night, as well as Bertha and her husband, plus all of the guests staying in the cottages. I don’t think there will be any problems here. I’m so glad you could come, even if it was just for one night.”

  “Love you, Mom,” he said, kissing her lightly on the cheek. “I’ll be calling and checking in on you. Good luck, Cody. I’ll be thinking of you,” he added as he turned and walked out the door.

  *****

  As soon as Jonah got in his car, he called Roger’s law firm and asked for Matt. “Matt, it’s Jonah Lucas. I’m worried about Mom. I just heard you got a bodyguard for Cody. If you think Mom needs one, I’ll pay for it.”

  “No, and that’s one reason I wanted Cody to be away from your mother. I’m pretty sure Cody is the target, not your mother. I think the black cat incident was because Cody had been at the lodge just before the three of you went to the restaurant. I imagine someone had been following Cody but didn’t want to risk being seen driving onto the lodge property. I’d bet whoever it was thought he’d gone with you to the restaurant. I promise if anything occurs that makes me think otherwise, I’ll hire one in a New York minute. Okay by you?”

  “Thanks, man. I really like Roger, but I haven’t been around him all that much, and I have no idea if he can protect her if he needs to. I’m leaving on a trip, and I won’t be around to lend a hand if he needs it.”

  Matt laughed. “Trust me. Roger would do everything in his power to protect your mother. He absolutely adores her. I really don’t think you need to worry about it. When I left the lodge earlier today, I took some time and looked around. There’s only one way in and out and certainly enough people around that I don’t think anyone would try and harm Liz.”

  “I trust your judgement, but please keep me in the loop.”

  “Will do and have a safe trip.”

  CHAPTER 19

  “May I speak to Jean Baptiste?” Liz said to the young woman who answered the phone with a heavy Southern drawl.

  “Jes’ a minute. I’ll get him.”

  A few moments later a man’s voice said, “This is Jean Baptiste. How may I help you?”

  “Jean, this is Liz Lucas. We met two days ago. You said to call if I needed you, and I think I do.” She told him about the dead black cat and the assault on Cody.

  “Both of you need a spell. I wish you were here, but my grandson tells me what a computer whizz he is and says he can send things by computer. Let me have your email address, and I’ll cast a spell for you and your friend. Johnny can send them. What’s your email address?”

  Liz gave it to him. “Is there anything else I can do until we find out who’s doing this?” she asked. Liz wanted to make sure she had all the bases covered. If Jean Baptiste had told her to run naked through Red Cedar, she would have considered it if she thought it would help find the murderer.

  “You and yer’ friend be sure and have your gris-gris pouches on you at all times. Don’t have to be around your neck. They can be anywhere on your body. ‘Portent thing is that they’re on your body. They’ll protect you.”

  “Thank you, Jean Baptiste, I really appreciate your help.”

  “Yer’ welcome. Funny thing happened. Had a call a little while ago from some woman who lives in Northern California. Said she needed more powerful magic than she’d been usin’. Said she tried to use magic to break up a relationship, but it hadn’t worked, so she needed something stronger. Said she’d been to a gris-gris doctor, but his magic hadn’t worked. Tol’ her I don’t do black magic. Kind of a coincidence, don’t you think? You and yer’ friend bein’ from Northern California and all.”

  “I think that’s beyond coincidence. Did she give you a telephone number?”

  “She did but can’t find it right now. If I do, I’ll send it to that email address of yours. Probably nothin’, just kind of strange is all.”

  “Yes, very. Thanks again, and I’ll look forward to hearing from your grandson.”

  She got off the phone and called Cody, filling him in on what Jean Baptiste had said about the gris-gris pouches. The next call she made was to Matt. “Matt, I’m sorry to bother you, but the more I think about this, the stranger it is.” She told him about her conversation with Jean Baptiste and what he’d said about the woman who had called him.

  “Liz, give me his number. There’s a little-known device that one of my men uses that can trace a phone call after a number has been called. I’ll call this voodoo guy and see if we can make it work.”

  She gave him Jean Baptiste’s number. “Oh, Liz, one more thing. Your son is very worried about your safety and wanted to hire a bodyguard for you, but I’m certain the only reason the dead black cat was left next to Roger’s car was because Cody would be in the car. This has nothing to do with you. If I felt otherwise, I’d arrange for protection for you.”

  “Thanks, Matt. I appreciate it. Please, let me
know what happens.”

  *****

  Her phone rang late that afternoon. “Liz, I have good news and bad news,” Matt said. “We were able to trace the number from Jean Baptiste’s phone. That’s the good news. The bad news is that we traced the call to a pay phone in a restaurant in Red Cedar. Some place called Gertie’s Diner. Ever heard of it?”

  Liz audibly gasped. “Are you kidding, Matt? It’s practically an institution in our town and in this part of Northern California. It’s even a stop for people on bus tours, and the owner is a friend of mine. Jean Baptiste told me that the call was made this morning. Does that jibe with what your guy found out? Do you have a particular time?”

  “Give me a minute. He wrote it in an email. Here it is. It was made at 11:47 Pacific Standard Time. Think you can find anything out about it?”

  “I’ll call my friend right now and get back to you. There’s a pay phone at the restaurant in the hall where the bathrooms are located. Let me see what I come up with.” Liz ended the call and pressed in Gertie’s name on her phone.

  CHAPTER 20

  A moment later Liz heard the aging icon on the other end of the line. “So how was The Big Easy?” Gertie asked. “Bring me some of them pralines I asked ya’ to get me? And aint’ you home early? Ain’t seen Handsome today, that gorgeous husband of yers’, so didn’t know ya’ was back. Comin’ in today with my pralines?”

  “Let me start by saying The Big Easy was wonderful, and I do have pralines for you. I can’t come in today, but Roger can give them to you tomorrow. And yes, I am home early. Do you have a minute?”

  “Fer’ you, darlin’, I got all the time in the world. What’s up?”

  Liz told her everything that had happened since she’d last seen her, knowing that even though Gertie knew everything that was happening in Red Cedar, if the situation called for it, she could be the soul of discretion. She left out the part about Jean Baptiste’s conversation regarding the phone call he’d received and Matt tracing the call. She planned on asking Gertie about it, but she wanted her answer to be spontaneous.