Free The Death Card: A Liz Lucas Cozy Mystery by Dianne Harman Page A

I’d
need to lock it clear out there. I was parked in the driveway in front of her
house. When I came out, it was gone.”
    “Seth, specifically where
did you have it in your car, and were there any identifying marks on it? If a
.45 gun is found, how will you know whether or not it’s yours?”                       
    “I left it in the front
seat. Think I tol’ Mr. Big Shot Lawyer that Madame Dika don’t allow no firearms
in her house, so I took it out of my holster and just laid it on the front
seat. It’d be real easy fer me to identify it. Every gun has a serial number on
it, and when the police department gives a policeman a gun, they keep a record of
the serial number. All I’d have to do is look at a slip of paper I got in my
desk, and I’d know if it was mine.”
    “Seth, would you take the
slip of paper out of your desk with the serial number on it and give it to me?”
    “Sure. Jes’ a sec. Okay,
here it is.” He read her the number.
    “Where specifically would
someone look on a gun to find the number?”
    “Everybody knows where a
serial number is. It’s jes’ in back of the trigger above the handle. Ya’ can’t
miss it.”
    “Thanks. You’ve been a big
help.”
    “Mind tellin’ me why you
need this info?”
    “No. I don’t know if it’s
important, but I thought I better have it in case I run across your gun.”
    “Fat chance of that
happenin’. Probably in Mexico by now. Wonder what someone paid fer it?”
    “We’ll probably never
know. One last question. Did you know that Madame Dika has a brother? Did you
ever meet him?”
    “Nah. Saw a guy leave a
couple of times when I got there. Maybe it was her brother. I thought he’d
probably jes’ finished having his cards read, like me.”
    “Seth, I have to go now.
I’ll talk to you soon.”
    “Sure hope ya’ find out
somethin’. It’s makin’ me real nervous. Barely can ticket speeders, and ya’
know what that would mean to the town if I couldn’t do it no more.”
    “I can well imagine that
the town would probably have to file for bankruptcy immediately if you couldn’t
ticket the tourists,” she said, instantly regretting the sarcastic tone of her
voice.
    “Liz, don’t think ya’
unnderstan’ jes’ how important it is to this town. I can tell it to ya’, but I
can’t understand it to ya’.”
    “You’re probably right.
I’m sorry. I’m sure it’s critical to the city. So long.” She ended the call and
decided to follow up on the idea that had been playing across her mind. It was
time to make another appointment with Madame Dika.

CHAPTER 14
                                                                    
    Liz had taken one of Madame Dika’s
business cards from the little cardholder she had on the table that she used
for her readings. She called the number and heard a recording say, “This is
Madame Dika. I am presently in a tarot card reading. Please leave your name and
telephone number, and I will return your call as soon as possible.” Liz left
the information and called the spa.
    “Delores, it’s Mrs. Lucas.
Would you have Lisette call me when she’s free?”
    “Of course. It shouldn’t
be very long. The massage she’s giving will be over in a few minutes.”
    “Thanks,” Liz said and
hung up the lodge phone. It rang a few minutes later. “This is Liz Lucas.” She
paused while Lisette identified herself. “Lisette, I’m really curious about
Donna Morris. You said she liked her massage and told you she’d like to book
another one very soon. I’d like you to call her and tell her we hold a weekly
drawing, and her name was drawn and she’s this week’s winner. I’d like you to
see her tomorrow. Any chance you can do that?”
    “Yes. Delores just told me
about a cancellation for tomorrow morning. Would you like me to call her now?”
    “Please. See if she can
take that appointment. Here’s what I’d