Read Online Murder at the Big T Lodge: A Liz Lucas Cozy Mystery by Dianne Harman - Free Book Online
Authors: Dianne Harman
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true I know very little about
Milt Huston, my husband went to law school with him and thought he was a very
good man. I understand he was quite liberal and had even called a press
conference for next week announcing he was going to be a candidate for the
office of governor of California.”
Liz took a deep breath and
continued, “I know this may sound silly, but from the time I was a little girl
I had this thing I’ve learned to call a niggle, for lack of a better word. It’s
like a little voice in my head that talks to me. It’s helped me all my life
with things like crossing to the other side of the street before a car jumps
the curb, or making sure my car door’s locked. In the murder cases I’ve
recently been involved in, each time the niggle has demanded my attention, and
I’ve learned to listen to it. It’s been very active this morning. That’s why
I’d like to hear whatever you can tell me about Milt and the other guests.”
Chef Jackson put his fork
down and appeared to be deep in thought. Finally, he spoke. “The last two times
Milt was here I’m certain he was having an affair with Amanda DeLuise. Her
husband, Emilio, likes his drinks and really likes his brandy after the hunt
and dinner. He usually stumbles off to bed quite early, and Amanda stays down
here and talks to the other guests. Several times I noticed that after Milt
left, very soon thereafter she would say good night to everyone and likewise
leave. I think what I observed in the past is true based on what I heard last
night.”
“And what would that be?”
Liz asked.
“After dinner I heard
angry voices just outside the kitchen. They were coming from the porch. I’m
sure I heard Amanda saying ‘So you couldn’t wait any longer, is that it? I told
you I was going to divorce him and then we could get married, but instead you
wanted the perfect wife for your campaign, right? You didn’t want to have to
deal with the issue that you and a divorcee were planning on getting married.’
A man’s voice who I’m certain was Milt’s answered her, ‘You got that right. I
finally came to realize that the only thing you care about is money, and you
knew I’d never have the kind of money Emilio has. I hope you’re happy with him.
I’m just glad he never found out you were having an affair with me.’
“Amanda answered him and
said, ‘You don't know that for sure. He very well just might know about it and
may want to take revenge against you. Italian men are not known for taking
cuckoldry lightly. Anyway, now that you’re a married man, it’s over. It's one
thing for me to have an affair with a single man, but quite another to have one
with a married man.’
“The man, who I believe
was Milt, answered her with a line I’ll never forget. He said, ‘Taking a lot
for granted, aren’t you Amanda? I don’t recall ever suggesting we resume our
affair now that I’m married, and for the record, now that I’m married, our affair
is officially over.’”
“Was that the last thing
you overheard?” Liz asked.
“No. I heard Amanda say in
a low and very angry voice, ‘Merde,’ and then it became very quiet. I’m not
exactly sure what the word means, but I don’t think it’s a warm fuzzy word.
Anyway, that was the end of their conversation, and they both left the porch.
It’s none of my business, but it seems to me Amanda might want Milt murdered,
because she was so angry and then again, maybe her husband knew about their
affair, and only pretended to be drunk. Maybe he wanted to exact revenge on
Milt. I don’t know. I’m just telling you what I heard.”
“Wow! Does Amanda hunt?”
“Amanda does whatever her
husband, Emilio, tells her to do. It’s a business arrangement, you see. He gets
a young attractive wife, and she gets all the money she wants. They came all
the way from Italy for this hunt. Evidently he owns a large prestigious winery
over there, and his family is very well-respected. His wine is excellent, and
he
Milt Huston, my husband went to law school with him and thought he was a very
good man. I understand he was quite liberal and had even called a press
conference for next week announcing he was going to be a candidate for the
office of governor of California.”
Liz took a deep breath and
continued, “I know this may sound silly, but from the time I was a little girl
I had this thing I’ve learned to call a niggle, for lack of a better word. It’s
like a little voice in my head that talks to me. It’s helped me all my life
with things like crossing to the other side of the street before a car jumps
the curb, or making sure my car door’s locked. In the murder cases I’ve
recently been involved in, each time the niggle has demanded my attention, and
I’ve learned to listen to it. It’s been very active this morning. That’s why
I’d like to hear whatever you can tell me about Milt and the other guests.”
Chef Jackson put his fork
down and appeared to be deep in thought. Finally, he spoke. “The last two times
Milt was here I’m certain he was having an affair with Amanda DeLuise. Her
husband, Emilio, likes his drinks and really likes his brandy after the hunt
and dinner. He usually stumbles off to bed quite early, and Amanda stays down
here and talks to the other guests. Several times I noticed that after Milt
left, very soon thereafter she would say good night to everyone and likewise
leave. I think what I observed in the past is true based on what I heard last
night.”
“And what would that be?”
Liz asked.
“After dinner I heard
angry voices just outside the kitchen. They were coming from the porch. I’m
sure I heard Amanda saying ‘So you couldn’t wait any longer, is that it? I told
you I was going to divorce him and then we could get married, but instead you
wanted the perfect wife for your campaign, right? You didn’t want to have to
deal with the issue that you and a divorcee were planning on getting married.’
A man’s voice who I’m certain was Milt’s answered her, ‘You got that right. I
finally came to realize that the only thing you care about is money, and you
knew I’d never have the kind of money Emilio has. I hope you’re happy with him.
I’m just glad he never found out you were having an affair with me.’
“Amanda answered him and
said, ‘You don't know that for sure. He very well just might know about it and
may want to take revenge against you. Italian men are not known for taking
cuckoldry lightly. Anyway, now that you’re a married man, it’s over. It's one
thing for me to have an affair with a single man, but quite another to have one
with a married man.’
“The man, who I believe
was Milt, answered her with a line I’ll never forget. He said, ‘Taking a lot
for granted, aren’t you Amanda? I don’t recall ever suggesting we resume our
affair now that I’m married, and for the record, now that I’m married, our affair
is officially over.’”
“Was that the last thing
you overheard?” Liz asked.
“No. I heard Amanda say in
a low and very angry voice, ‘Merde,’ and then it became very quiet. I’m not
exactly sure what the word means, but I don’t think it’s a warm fuzzy word.
Anyway, that was the end of their conversation, and they both left the porch.
It’s none of my business, but it seems to me Amanda might want Milt murdered,
because she was so angry and then again, maybe her husband knew about their
affair, and only pretended to be drunk. Maybe he wanted to exact revenge on
Milt. I don’t know. I’m just telling you what I heard.”
“Wow! Does Amanda hunt?”
“Amanda does whatever her
husband, Emilio, tells her to do. It’s a business arrangement, you see. He gets
a young attractive wife, and she gets all the money she wants. They came all
the way from Italy for this hunt. Evidently he owns a large prestigious winery
over there, and his family is very well-respected. His wine is excellent, and
he
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