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  DEARLY DEPARTED

  Mary put the lid on her cookies. “I can’t believe Summer and Auntie are gone or that Auntie made such a mistake.”

  “You know, my dear, if it wasn’t an accident,” the Professor said, “it means suicide or someone murdered them.”

  We all sat up straighter at the word murdered.

  “Well . . . well . . .” Mary seemed at a loss for words. “I just meant she knew her plants. It doesn’t seem possible . . .”

  “Not suicide for either of them,” Gertie said. “Auntie was a devout Greek Orthodox, and Summer was committed to saving Mark.”

  “The process of elimination means someone killed them,” Martha stated.

  With her strident voice, the word killed leapt out. I doubted any of us wanted to go down that path, but there it was. The fork in the road. Accept that it was an accident, mourn them, and move on, or take a step toward a dark place where people took the lives of others . . .

  Books by Janet Finsilver

  MURDER AT REDWOOD COVE

  MURDER AT THE MANSION

  MURDER AT THE FORTUNE TELLER’S TABLE

  Published by Kensington Publishing Corporation

  Murder at the Fortune Teller’s Table

  Janet Finsilver

  LYRICAL UNDERGROUND

  Kensington Publishing Corp.

  www.kensingtonbooks.com

  All copyrighted material within is Attributor Protected.

  Table of Contents

  DEARLY DEPARTED

  Also by

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  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

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  To the extent that the image or images on the cover of this book depict a person or persons, such person or persons are merely models, and are not intended to portray any character or characters featured in the book.

  LYRICAL UNDERGROUND BOOKS are published by

  Kensington Publishing Corp.

  119 West 40th Street

  New York, NY 10018

  Copyright © 2017 by Janet Finsilver

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

  Lyrical Underground and Lyrical Underground logo Reg. US Pat. & TM Off.

  First Electronic Edition: March 2017

  ISBN: 978-1-6165-0933-0

  eISBN-10: 1-61650-933-3

  ISBN-13: 978-1-61650-934-7

  ISBN-10: 1-61650-934-1

  To my husband, E.J., for his understanding and support.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  I want to thank my husband for being there for me as I wrote Murder at the Fortune Teller’s Table. We were remodeling our home and went through some hectic times. I appreciate all the feedback from my fabulous writing group made up of Colleen Casey, Staci McLaughlin, Ann Parker, Carole Price, and Penny Warner. I want to give a special thanks to my Greek friend, Georgia Drake, who shared her knowledge of Greek customs with me. I am grateful to Mario Abreu, staff naturalist at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, for sharing his knowledge of poisonous plants with me and to Greg Firman for helping me with the military information in this book. I’m fortunate to work with a great agent, Dawn Dowdle, and a wonderful editor, John Scognamiglio. Thank you all!

  Chapter 1

  I stepped out of my Jeep and stopped to marvel at the colorful Redwood Cove scene before me. Brightly hued banners rippled in the ocean breeze, and tables covered with multicolored cloths dotted the green lawn. Baked goods, jars of honey and jam, and an assortment of knitted scarves and hats filled the one nearest me. Groups of kids wearing school sweatshirts darted between groups of milling adults. In the distance, the Pacific Ocean glistened in the early-afternoon sun.

  “Miss Kelly! Miss Kelly!” Tommy Rogers’s frantic waving to get my attention made him look like he was doing jumping jacks. The electric company would make money if they could figure out a way to tap into the blond ten-year-old’s boundless energy.

  I headed toward him and his mother, Helen. A bit of gray graced her brown hair. “Glad you could make it,” she said.

  “The guests have all checked in. Redwood Cove Bed-and-Breakfast has a full house tonight,” I said.

  “The themed rooms you thought up have really attracted people.”

  “I’m glad Michael liked my idea and decided to give it a chance.”

  When I had proposed the plan to my boss, Michael Corrigan, owner of Resorts International, he’d raised an eyebrow, tilted his head, and said, “Sure. Let’s do it and see what happens.” I remembered my excitement. It was my first suggestion as the new manager for the property . . . and the beginning of my new career.

  “My cell phone works in town, so I left a note on the door if anyone has questions,” I said.

  “I’ll leave in time to get the food and drink ready.” Helen lived on site and worked at the inn as a general assistant as well as preparing breakfast and the evening wine and cheese for the guests.

  A tall, thin woman with wavy gray hair falling to her waist and a perky yellow daisy tucked behind her ear approached us. Soft hues swirled together on her long, flowing skirt, and she wore an embroidered vest over a peasant blouse. She smiled at me and turned to Helen. “Have you seen Mary Rutledge? She’s going to give me a break this afternoon at Auntie’s table.”

  Helen pointed to a row of displays next to a stand of redwoods. “She and Gertie Plumber are at the last table.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Summer, I’d like you to meet Kelly Jackson. She recently moved here to run Redwood Cove Bed-and-Breakfast.”

  The woman’s gaze was as warm as the season she was named after. Her soft hand reached out and clasped mine with a light touch. “Pleased to meet you. My name is Amy Winter, but everyone calls me Summer.”

  Her nickname and the serene look she gave me were a perfect fit, reminding me of long, lazy days during the summer.

  “Welcome to Redwood Cove,” she said. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  “Same here.”

  Summer floated off.

  “Miss Kelly, look at my sweatshirt. My class made the design,” Tommy said.

  A dark gray whale swam on a light blue background, a white spout of spray trailing it.

  “Everyone loved watching the whales migrate and learning about them. We used ideas from our projects for our booth and class banner.” Tommy grabbed his mom’s hand, tugging. “Come see what my class did.”

  “Okay. Let’s go,” Helen said, and I followed along.

  Tommy stopped in front of a table decorated in a marine theme, swarming with blue-shirted children as they showed their parents their class display. I admired the artwork, declined a whale-shaped cookie thrust in my direction in the hand of an excited fifth-grader, and then said my good-byes. I
drifted down the row of tables as Tommy began to explain a project in extensive, accurate detail to his mother, as he was prone to do with his touch of Asperger’s syndrome.

  A couple of displays down, I stopped to look at a brown satin banner featuring images of Native Americans. Someone had even added beads to their outfits. My gaze scanned the group, and I saw the back of a girl with straight, blue-black hair standing next to a man with high cheekbones and light brown skin. I recognized Allie Stevens and her father, Daniel. Until recently, he’d been a handyman at the inn. Now he managed a sister property, the Ridley House, and we often worked together on orders and events.

  Daniel spied me and waved. “Welcome to our annual fund-raiser and get-to-know-your-school event.”

  “You have quite the turnout.”

  “The community is very supportive. We’re lucky to live here.”

  Allie pointed to the flag. “I helped design it, and the class all wanted me to put in one of my ancestors to represent my tribe.”

  “It’s stunning, Allie.”

  She beamed, a far cry from the angry teenager I’d first heard about when I arrived at Redwood Cove.

  I surveyed the event, which was popping with color and action. “I’m going to wander around a bit. I’ll catch you later.”

  “Sure thing.” Daniel turned and helped tack up a poster. Another person was standing on a chair, struggling to put the placard in place, an easy task for Daniel with his height.

  I strolled between the displays, soaking in the sun, occasionally stopping to inhale the fresh salty air. I stepped over to a row of tall redwoods lining the edge of the function and watched the seagulls soaring overhead. They dipped, dove, and spun on thermal drafts . . . a visual representation of my spirits. This was my new community, and I was thrilled at the smiling faces and outpouring of support I saw from the people of all ages before me.

  Rejoining the crowd, I spied a couple of pairs of knit baby booties with rainbow designs. I ran my hand over their soft fabric. They’d be perfect for my sister’s twins. Next to them, thick woolen scarves made me think of my brothers, and nearby hats brought images of Grandpa and Dad. A Wyoming cattle ranch in winter defined the word cold, and my family would appreciate these cozy items. A few booths down, I found handmade coasters made from wine corks. We opened the ranch to paying guests in the summer, and Mom could use these in their cabins.

  I went looking for Mary and Gertie and found them, sun glinting off their silver hair, manning a table full of baked goods. Boxes of coconut-covered cookies and chocolate bars filled the area in front of Mary. Gertie had homemade loaves of a stout-looking bread. No surprise there. Mary loved her sweets, and Gertie’s Pennsylvania Dutch background lent itself to hardy food.

  “What do you think of our little gathering?” Mary asked, her round face lit with a smile.

  “It’s great. I’ve already started my Christmas shopping!” I held up the bag.

  “Good-quality items, and the money helps the school,” Gertie said. “I helped one class sew a quilt using scraps of leftover material. Maybe some of them will keep it up after this is over.”

  Two tan furry triangles appeared at the edge of the table next to Mary. They began to rise, revealing two large ears. The top of a brown head emerged, followed by two small dark eyes and a black nose. Then there was the jeweled collar. Rows of large pink crystals glittered in the sunlight.

  “Princess, you need to stay in your carrier,” Mary said.

  Collar, head, and ears slowly sank out of sight.

  I leaned over the table to get a better look at the dog—a little Chihuahua.

  Mary reached over and petted the dog. “Good girl.”

  “Princess?” I hadn’t seen her before.

  Mary nodded. “My sister lived with me until recently, and Princess was her hearing-assistance dog. Princess is beginning to have some hearing problems herself, so she’s now retired. We both raised her, and when my sister moved to Sacramento, Princess stayed with me.”

  “She’s cute.”

  “Thanks.” Mary glanced at her watch and turned to Gertie. “I need to go relieve Summer in about ten minutes. I said I’d help Auntie out so Summer could look around.”

  “Who’s Auntie?” I asked.

  “She’s a Greek woman who has lived here for ages. Auntie tells fortunes, reading coffee grounds. It’s a fascinating process. She also sells herbal remedies. Auntie used to be a midwife, but she no longer does that.”

  “Where’s her table? I’d like to see how she does it.” I wondered what the fortune teller would reveal about this next chapter in my life.

  Mary gave me directions, and I headed out to discover my future. Auntie’s table was off by itself, some distance away from the crowd. Summer and a pale man sat across from a woman in black, voluminous clothes, a cloth scarf on her head. She was staring into a small cup, and I could see her lips move.

  Suddenly, Summer stood, and even at a distance, I heard her loud “No!” She turned to the man, who was now standing next to her, and grabbed his arm. She pulled him away from the table, and they headed in my direction.

  The man put his arm around her shoulders as they walked by me. “Mom, it doesn’t mean anything. It’s coffee grounds and Auntie’s active imagination.”

  Tears had pooled in Summer’s eyes.

  “You don’t know.” She shook her head from side to side and looked stunned. “The things I’ve seen come about.”

  “Mom, I have no dark secrets from the past that will be revealed,” he said, his voice beginning to trail off as they moved away. “And no one is going to die.”

  Chapter 2

  Dark secrets?

  People dying?

  I turned in the direction of the fortune teller. What had seemed like a fun lark had taken an ugly twist. Did I want to hear what she had to say about me? I was enjoying the beautiful day and was on top of the world with my job. What if she predicted problems? Failure? I’d struggled to find a place where I fit in, and this felt like it. I didn’t want anything to mar the experience. I took a step back.

  Mary came bubbling up beside me. “Oh, good. You’re going to have your fortune told. It’s fun!”

  She swept me along with her, and the next thing I knew I found myself sitting at a table covered by a white crocheted tablecloth. Layers of black material covered the diminutive form across from me and rustled as she leaned forward. Folds of black formed a headdress atop a deeply lined face. Each wrinkle spoke of a story to be told.

  “You would like to know your future, yes?” Her voice was reedy.

  I nodded, but my heart was in my throat.

  “I am Despina Manyotis. Here I am called Auntie.” A smile creased her face. “In my country, we read the patterns in the grounds of Turkish coffee to predict the future. It’s a very ancient practice. Some people call it tasseography.” She shrugged her shoulders. “To me it’s fortune telling.”

  Mary had been bustling around a one-burner stove a short way behind the fortune teller. “The coffee’s about ready.”

  “My hands, you see . . .” Auntie put her crooked hands on the delicate lace cloth. “I cannot handle the briki, the special pot for preparing the coffee, by myself anymore. Summer and Mary help me so I can continue to tell the future.”

  “It’s done.” Mary turned the burner off.

  Auntie’s gnarled hands pulled a white demitasse cup in front of her, and Mary filled it with hot, steaming coffee. “First you drink the coffee,” Auntie said.

  She pushed the cup over to me as Mary placed the long-handled, triangular-shaped copper pot on the table.

  I took a sip of the dark, aromatic liquid. Auntie then nudged a plate of braided cookies in my direction. “These are koulourakia, made like in the old country.”

  Picking up a delicate braided treat, I nibbled on it. The buttery cookie melted in my mouth.

  “You must drink from the same side of the cup for the entire process and leave a little in the bottom. With your last
sip, make a wish.”

  I drank some more, then put the cup down with thoughts for a positive future. “Okay. There’s just a little left.”

  “Now put the saucer on it upside-down, swirl it three times, and flip it over.”

  I did as instructed and managed to keep everything together when I upended it.

  “Now it must rest for a short while.” Her voice was a broken whisper, and I leaned forward to catch her words. “The grounds need to flow into their shapes.”

  She folded her hands and stared at the cup. After what seemed an eternity, Auntie carefully separated the cup and saucer. “The patterns—they tell of your past, present, and future. I see you are right-handed, so we start at the cup’s handle and move from right to left.”

  She peered intently into the cup, moving it around, examining the sides and bottom. Then she inspected the saucer. Auntie nodded slowly.

  I flinched each time she frowned, fidgeted when she stared fiercely into the cup and muttered, and cringed when she shouted “ha” a few times. Finally, she sat back. Her dark brown eyes looked at me from their creased folds. Her face transformed as a smile spread across it.

  “You are like an eagle that has journeyed to find its aerie, the place it will call home. You landed, tucked in your wings, and have found your destination.”

  Whew! I almost fell off the chair with relief. Not that I believed in any of this stuff, but then again . . .

  Mary had stayed in the background but now stepped forward. “What do you think? Did you enjoy it?”

  I did now that it was over and the future looked bright. “Absolutely. Thank you, Auntie.”

  The woman gave a slight nod, then the glow left her face. She looked off in the direction Summer and her son had gone and crossed herself. “I’m through for the day.” She rose, slowly unbending each part of her body to stand. “Summer will take care of this for me.” A sweeping wave took in the table and the equipment.