see a resemblance to Madame Dika. She looked back at
Gertie and asked, “Gertie, you know everything about everyone in this town.
Tell me about Madame Dika?”
“I can tell you Seth has
the hots for her. Spends every extra penny he has gettin’ readings from her.
I’ve only seen her once, but she’s a looker. Don’t know whether she’s the real
deal or not. Have my doubts about that kind of stuff. I mean you can read
anything you want into some card, and the person who’s getting’ the reading is
usually so desperate they believe whatever the tarot card reader’s sayin’, if
you know what I mean.”
“You may be right. I just
think it’s quite strange she lives in Red Cedar. Seems pretty tame for someone
who looks like her.”
Gertie looked at her
shrewdly. “You get a readin’ from her?”
“Yes, I just came from
there. I wanted to see why Seth spent so much time and money there. He said he
was there when Leroy was murdered, but he wasn’t sure Madame Dika would vouch
for him. After being with her, I agree with him. I’m not so sure she’d vouch
for him or anybody else, and even if she did, I’m not so sure she’d be a very
believable witness. I mean having a tarot card reader provide an alibi may not
sit well with some people. Do you know how long she’s lived here?”
“About a year. I heard
about her from somebody who had just had a readin’. They said she was fabulous
and tol’ them exactly what they wanted to know. Like I said, got my doubts.”
“I asked her why she had
come here, and she told me to be near her brother.”
“Could be. Wonder where he
lives. Really don’t know nothin’ about him. He jes’ showed up one day.”
“It didn’t occur to me to
ask her where he lived, and I’m not sure she would have told me. There really
was no reason for me to ask. For all I know he could live with her. Have you
seen her house?”
“Nah, but I’ve sure heard
about it. Guess all that purple’s supposed to mean she’s the real spiritual
deal. Back in the ‘60’s, I spent a little time in Haight-Ashbury, you know,
during the summer of love. Had a lot of wannabe spiritual people around then.
She kind of reminds me of some of them, but as long as people keep goin’ to her
and are happy with what she tells ‘em, who am I to say it ain’t real?”
“I don’t know. She was
interesting, but I certainly am wondering if I was scammed or if she’s legitimate,
and I don’t know how to find out, anyway I’ve kept you long enough. I want a
chocolate malted milk and a hamburger with all the trimmings.”
“You got it. Mitzi’ll
bring it out when it’s ready. Wanna start on that malted now?”
“Yes, please. As thick as
yours are, it will take me awhile to drink it. Thanks for taking the time to
talk to me, and if I ever find out if Madame Dika’s the real deal, I’ll let you
know.” She watched the elderly caricature toddle back to the kitchen, once
again praying she wouldn’t stumble and take a fall.
CHAPTER 11
Liz looked at her watch
when she left the diner and thought, Good, Lisette should be finished with
Leroy’s ex-wife’s massage. I need to talk to her and see if she found out
anything. I know the treatments at the spa are scheduled on the hour, and I can
just make it back there while Lisette is probably taking a break between
appointments.
She and
Winston walked into the spa. “Hi, Delores, any chance I could see Lisette
before her next appointment?”
“Sure. She’s
in the employee’s lounge. Let me call her for you,” Delores said as Winston
walked over to her and looked up, hoping for an ear scratch.
“Thanks, but
don’t bother. I’ll just walk back there. Winston, come,” Liz said. She walked
down the hall and opened the last room on the right. “Good afternoon, Lisette.
If you have a moment, I’d like to talk to you. Could we go into your massage
room?” The room was filled with spa employees who were downing a quick cup of
coffee or a coke
Gertie and asked, “Gertie, you know everything about everyone in this town.
Tell me about Madame Dika?”
“I can tell you Seth has
the hots for her. Spends every extra penny he has gettin’ readings from her.
I’ve only seen her once, but she’s a looker. Don’t know whether she’s the real
deal or not. Have my doubts about that kind of stuff. I mean you can read
anything you want into some card, and the person who’s getting’ the reading is
usually so desperate they believe whatever the tarot card reader’s sayin’, if
you know what I mean.”
“You may be right. I just
think it’s quite strange she lives in Red Cedar. Seems pretty tame for someone
who looks like her.”
Gertie looked at her
shrewdly. “You get a readin’ from her?”
“Yes, I just came from
there. I wanted to see why Seth spent so much time and money there. He said he
was there when Leroy was murdered, but he wasn’t sure Madame Dika would vouch
for him. After being with her, I agree with him. I’m not so sure she’d vouch
for him or anybody else, and even if she did, I’m not so sure she’d be a very
believable witness. I mean having a tarot card reader provide an alibi may not
sit well with some people. Do you know how long she’s lived here?”
“About a year. I heard
about her from somebody who had just had a readin’. They said she was fabulous
and tol’ them exactly what they wanted to know. Like I said, got my doubts.”
“I asked her why she had
come here, and she told me to be near her brother.”
“Could be. Wonder where he
lives. Really don’t know nothin’ about him. He jes’ showed up one day.”
“It didn’t occur to me to
ask her where he lived, and I’m not sure she would have told me. There really
was no reason for me to ask. For all I know he could live with her. Have you
seen her house?”
“Nah, but I’ve sure heard
about it. Guess all that purple’s supposed to mean she’s the real spiritual
deal. Back in the ‘60’s, I spent a little time in Haight-Ashbury, you know,
during the summer of love. Had a lot of wannabe spiritual people around then.
She kind of reminds me of some of them, but as long as people keep goin’ to her
and are happy with what she tells ‘em, who am I to say it ain’t real?”
“I don’t know. She was
interesting, but I certainly am wondering if I was scammed or if she’s legitimate,
and I don’t know how to find out, anyway I’ve kept you long enough. I want a
chocolate malted milk and a hamburger with all the trimmings.”
“You got it. Mitzi’ll
bring it out when it’s ready. Wanna start on that malted now?”
“Yes, please. As thick as
yours are, it will take me awhile to drink it. Thanks for taking the time to
talk to me, and if I ever find out if Madame Dika’s the real deal, I’ll let you
know.” She watched the elderly caricature toddle back to the kitchen, once
again praying she wouldn’t stumble and take a fall.
CHAPTER 11
Liz looked at her watch
when she left the diner and thought, Good, Lisette should be finished with
Leroy’s ex-wife’s massage. I need to talk to her and see if she found out
anything. I know the treatments at the spa are scheduled on the hour, and I can
just make it back there while Lisette is probably taking a break between
appointments.
She and
Winston walked into the spa. “Hi, Delores, any chance I could see Lisette
before her next appointment?”
“Sure. She’s
in the employee’s lounge. Let me call her for you,” Delores said as Winston
walked over to her and looked up, hoping for an ear scratch.
“Thanks, but
don’t bother. I’ll just walk back there. Winston, come,” Liz said. She walked
down the hall and opened the last room on the right. “Good afternoon, Lisette.
If you have a moment, I’d like to talk to you. Could we go into your massage
room?” The room was filled with spa employees who were downing a quick cup of
coffee or a coke
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