Author: F.M. Meredith
Publisher: 31 Months LLC
Pages: 190
Genre: Mystery
A fortune teller is murdered in the small beach town of Rocky Bluff, California. The RBPD’s investigation uncovers several suspects—all with motives and opportunity. But which one killed her?
The body of a suspect is discovered on the fortune teller’s property. Clearly, the two killings are related, but how? Who is responsible?
Meanwhile, the mayor’s daughter, Kayla, whose best friend is Detective Doug Milligan’s daughter, is upset because her mother’s sister wants her to leave Rocky Bluff to live with her in Los Angeles. Can her friends convince Kayla’s aunt to leave her there with her father?
Book Information
Release Date: April 8, 2022
Publisher: 31 Months LLC;
Soft Cover: ASIN: B09XLQCNZB; 190 pages; $12.99; E-Book, $2.99
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3EA50Eo
First Chapter:
“Dad, I need you right now.” Beth, Detective Doug Milligan’s daughter sounded desperate.
“What is it? Can’t it wait? I’m right in the middle of an….”
“No, Dad, it can’t wait. We found a dead woman.” He could hear another young voice in the background.
“Calm down. Who’s with you?”
“Kayla.”
Kayla Duval, the mayor’s daughter, was Beth’s best friend.
“Where are you?”
“You know that fortune teller or whatever she is…was? We’re at her place.” Beth’s words came out in a rapid stream. “The house on Valley Boulevard.”
Rocky Bluff P.D. had received several complaints about the so-called psychic or spiritualist, Bernadette Wolfort, and Doug had even gone to her home to interview her once. The complaints had been vague. Nothing really added up to a crime. If people were foolish enough to visit a fortune teller and pay her, they got what they deserved, didn’t they? He knew where to go. “You two stay put, and don’t touch anything.”
“We didn’t. I know better. We knocked, but when no one answered, we tried the door. It was unlocked, and we opened it. After all, Kayla was told to come here this morning. There she was, lying on the floor. We could tell she was dead.”
“I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
He’d no sooner finished the call when Doug and his partner, Detective Felix Zachary, were summoned to Chief Taylor’s office. She hadn’t given the reason for the meeting, but Doug guessed she wanted to discuss problems she was having with the Rocky Bluff City Council.
Fairly new to the department, Chief Chandra Taylor, Black and female, had proved to be a strong and steady leader. Seldom in uniform, she usually wore blouses, slacks, and tailored jackets. Today, the blouse was a bright print, much like the abstract paintings on her office walls.
Doug remained standing. “I’m sorry, Chief, but I have to go. My daughter, Beth, called a minute ago. She and Kayla have discovered a dead body.”
Chief Taylor didn’t comment but showed concern with her expression. Kayla, was the daughter of Mayor Devon Duval, whom Taylor’d been dating.
Felix, already seated, said, “I’d better come with you.”
“No, stay. I’ll give you both a call as soon as I find out what’s going on.”
Chief Taylor nodded. “Let me know as soon as possible. I’ll fill Zachary in on the department’s latest problem, and he can brief you. I don’t think it’s an emergency. However, I’d like both of your input.”
Though certainly curious about his boss’s reason for the meeting, a dead body, especially one found by his daughter, had first priority.
Driving an unmarked car, he used his emergency lights but not his siren to proceed swiftly down Valley Boulevard. Valley was the main street through the beach town of Rocky Bluff, where many businesses were located. The name of the town came from the bluff jutting high above the town itself. It held the large and expensive homes of the more well-to-do citizens.
The major, and older part of the city was built on a slope from Highway 101 flowing downward. It contained mostly small residential homes and a few apartment buildings. Closest to the ocean, a smaller road led to the entrance to the beach and a short row of six new condominiums.
A light fog had rolled in from the ocean, bringing with it the salty scent of the sea.
Doug drove past a lawyer’s office, the bank, the Mexican restaurant with the Chinese cafe upstairs, several older houses converted to offices and shops, one of them, the address he sought.
The small area in front of the tiny bungalow had been cemented and turned into a parking space, now empty. A white Acura RDX, with tinted windows and black tires, was parked beside the house on a gravel driveway. Doug guessed the car belonged to the fortune teller. The teenagers stood a few feet away from the simple cement porch. The bright blue front door gaped open.
His daughter had her blonde and purple hair in one thick braid that hung down to one side. He knew it was a school holiday, teacher’s institute or some such thing. It seemed odd for the middle of the week, especially since the schools had only recently resumed in-person classes.
Her friend Kayla’s hair appeared like a curly blonde halo. Racially mixed, she was strikingly beautiful. Despite the damp chill from the fog, both girls wore cut-off blue jeans and loose, colorful blouses and sandals. The pair never seemed to dress for the weather.
He parked the sedan next to the curb.
When he met Beth halfway, she threw her arms around him. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Before I go inside, tell me what brought you down here.”
Beth pointed toward Kayla, who joined them.
She took a deep breath. “I had an appointment, Detective Milligan. This is the second time I’ve visited Bernadette Wolfort. I’m trying to find out if I’ll have to move.”
Doug knew Kayla’s aunt had recently appeared in Kayla’s life and wanted the girl to move to Los Angeles to live with her.
“Okay, I get it. You came here for a consultation of some sort. Did this woman….” He thought for a moment trying to remember her name. “Wolfort, know you were coming?”
Kayla nodded. “I called her last night, and she said she could squeeze me in today before her first appointment. She told me the door would be unlocked.”
Doug took out his notebook. “What time did you make the call?”
“It was a little after eight. I called between TV shows.”
He jotted the information down. “I want you both to wait by my car while I take a look.”
The girls moved backward.
Doug stepped up to the open door. The medium-sized brass sign above the bell simply read “Bernadette Wolfort, Universal Life Counselor.” He peered inside. Except for the woman sprawled face down on the Oriental rug in the middle of the room, the space appeared to be much the same as when he’d visited her before. Horizontal blinds covered the windows, multicolored decorative hangings, embroidered with what Doug assumed were supposed to be uplifting messages, covered the walls. Instead of the usual movie set-up of a table and chairs for a fortune teller, the room was furnished like most living rooms with a comfortable couch and two large overstuffed chairs. Multiple candles in votive cups were crowded onto several small tables along with crystal balls of various shapes and sizes.
One large crystal ball lay on the floor near Bernadette Wolfort’s head. Crimson blood stained her long blonde hair.
He took out his phone, punched the number of the chief’s office, and identified himself. “We have a definite homicide. I’m calling Zachary now as well as the coroner’s office.”
“Thanks for letting me know.” Chief Taylor didn’t ask any questions. “I’ll wait for your report.”
He turned back to the girls. “Did you see anyone leaving as you arrived?”
Beth shook her head. “No, we really weren’t paying attention. We were deciding whether or not we wanted to go to the beach after Kayla’s appointment.”
“You’re going to have to stick around for a while. I need to ask you both more questions.”
An RBPD blue-and-white police car came into view. When it pulled to a stop behind the unmarked black sedan Doug had driven, he was surprised when Felix Zachary stepped out of the passenger side. The driver was Officer Gordon Butler, a longtime friend of Doug’s.
Zachary, with skin the shade of mahogany, was at least three inches taller than Doug’s 5’11”. He always made an imposing entrance. Dressed in snappy attire as usual, today a light gray-striped shirt tucked into creased gray slacks, and a lightweight darker gray sports jacket. He filled out his clothes. Not only was Felix a great partner, he’d been Doug’s friend since they both started working for the department.
“I had Butler bring me. Figured we could use him to keep back the curious.”
Officer Butler, in uniform, stood on the sidewalk beside the police car.
Zachary continued, “When we finally finish here, I’ll ride back with you.” He nodded toward the girls. “What’s the story here?”
“It seems the mayor’s daughter had an appointment with the victim. She and Beth are good friends, Beth accompanied her for support.”
“Did you go inside?”
“No, merely poked my head in to see what the girls reported to me. I’ve notified the coroner’s office. They’ll be here soon, I hope.” Located in Ventura, their response would take twenty minutes or more depending on traffic.
“Wasn’t the victim some kind of fortune teller?”
“A glorified one, at least in the manner she advertised herself. We’ve had some complaints about her, but no one has been willing to go to court. What they wanted was to get the money back they paid her but didn’t want anyone to know about it.” Doug shrugged. “In my opinion, they chose to spend their money on her services. Not getting their desired results isn’t enough for a lawsuit, or an arrest.”
“While we’re waiting, though I know you’ve asked them some questions, why don’t I talk to your daughter and you to her friend? Try to find out more about why they were here.”
“Good idea.” Perhaps Beth and Kayla might remember something more to mention when speaking with someone new.
F. M. Meredith, also known as Marilyn Meredith, has had 48 books published as well as two short stories, most are mysteries, but also a few Christian horror, a roman with supernatural elements, and a cookbook. She’s taught writing in many venues including for Writers Digest and many conferences. She lives in the foothills of the Sierra with her husband.
Her latest book is the mystery, Reversal of Fortune.
You can visit her website at http://fictionforyou.com/ or her blog at https://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com. Connect with her on Twitter and Facebook.
Thank you so much for helping promote REVERSAL OF FORTUNE.
ReplyDelete