A Whiskey Sour Wipeout Read online

  Digger scrunched up his face. “Well, that makes no sense. Why would the Grumpy Chicken want to tell us Occam’s razor?”

  “She is telling us to keep it simple. Follow the facts.” I tapped Occam’s razor into my phone's browser and read the search results. “Seems our spectral chicken is pretty smart. But, why is she telling us to keep it simple and use the answer with the fewest assumptions?”

  Piper snorted. “That makes some sense. We don’t know if Lugnut was poisoned yet. We don’t know how someone could get a hold of a top-secret gas. We don’t know of anyone who would have a motive to kill anyone. That all means we have to make assumptions, and that has bothered me since we started on this.”

  I shrugged. “So, we have to follow what the evidence tells us, even it seems bizarre.”

  “Isn’t that what I just said.” Piper used her best snarky voice.

  Star ignored our exchange. “I think that message from the chicken means something to me. I have sensed an evil entity here in Statesboro. And it makes sense if there is someone trying to kill others running around. But it is more than that and I have been trying to ignore it. If I am honest, and trust everything I have learned about the other side, I would have to say there is another medium here in Statesboro using her talents for no good.”

  Digger blinked a number of times. “What do you mean? There is someone else like you here that is the murderer?”

  Star studied the old grave digger’s crusty face. “Exactly. I didn’t believe it, but the pieces all fit. Including Lugnut’s spirit presenting itself to me so soon after his death. I think it is even more important to contact Lugnut’s spirit tomorrow morning and try to find out who is using their spiritual talents for evil.”

  Guardrail let out a big burst of air. “Well, I’m not sure I can sleep after all this talk about ghosts, and using the other side for evil. But I think we should try to get some sleep. It is late and we have a loooong day in front of us tomorrow. I'm hitting the sack, goodnight.”

  “Guardrail is right, we should all get some sleep.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Bianca and Star agreed it would be better to hold the séance at the hotel and I made arrangements to use one of their meeting rooms. Star woke early and went to the room, making preparations for the séance. She rearranged the room so that she was comfortable. But she was missing the big crystal ball used for seances back in her new age shop.

  To adapt, she placed a small lamp in the center of the conference table. She didn't plug it in and hoped it would work in the same manner as her prized crystal glove, glowing once for yes and twice for no to answer her questions. She removed the shade to expose the bulb as a stand in for a crystal ball.

  Bianca was excited to conduct the séance and showed up early. “Good morning, Star. Are we ready to do this?”

  Star pointed to a chair. “Yes, and it would work best if you sit here. All we need now is Piper and Dixie.”

  “I’ll go get them.” I hurried from the meeting room and headed upstairs. Piper and I shared a room and I knew she was still asleep when I left. I hoped she was up now.

  As I entered the room, I heard the shower running. “Come on, Piper. You’re holding us up! Bianca is here and Star is ready. She needs us down there, now!”

  The shower water stopped and after a minute she emerged wearing a robe, her hair wrapped in a towel. “Son of a gun! I feel like I have a lead weight strapped onto my back today. And my head is buzzing, but I’ll get it together.”

  There was a knock on the door and I answered. It was Dixie. “Come on guys, I went to the room and they said you came up to get Piper.”

  “Come on in Dixie. Now at least I don’t have to go and track you down, too.” I eyed Piper as I spoke to let her know she needed to pick things up.

  After a few minutes she was dressed and she made one last stop in the bathroom to do her hair. I groaned. “Just brush it out and don’t worry about it.”

  Piper surprisingly did just that, no fussing or blow drying. It was not like her, but we were in a hurry.

  We headed for the elevator and went back downstairs to the meeting room. Star was waiting for us and smiled as we entered. “Perfect! We are all here now, so we can start. Piper can you turn the lights down?”

  Piper complied, then we all took a seat. Star began, “Now, if we could all hold hands and form a circle.”

  We joined hands and Star closed her eyes. “Are there any benevolent spirits here that would like to communicate?” Star stared at the bare bulb of the small table lame. It did nothing.

  Star repeated, “Are there any benevolent spirits here that would like to communicate?”

  The bulb did not even flicker. But there was a light, only it came from the charm hanging on a chain around Bianca’s neck.

  Star cocked her head and studied the glowing jewelry. “We have a spirit with us. And I think it is someone who loved Bianca.” The charm glowed once again, one short pulse.

  Bianca was shaking. “I’m scared. Am I going to be alright? I don’t like this. Why is it messing with my jewelry?”

  Star smiled. “Is the spirit with us the man they called Lugnut?”

  The gondola shaped charm glowed once. Bianca broke into tears. “I am so stupid. Lugnut bought this necklace for me on our trip to Venice. It was my favorite trip ever, and I wear this necklace all the time.”

  Star grinned. “Lugnut loves you very much and he is trying to answer our questions, but he also wanted to let you know he loves you.”

  “I love you, too, you screwy old nut.” Bianca wept and could hardly speak.

  Star continued. “Lugnut, did someone tamper with your heart pills, causing your death?”

  There was a pause, then suddenly the bare light bulb exploded sending glass shards flying. The five of us let go of each other’s hands and covered our faces while ducking behind the table.

  I sat back up and looked to Star. “Was that a yes?”

  “I think so.” Star checked herself for injuries as she answered.

  Bianca sobbed. “My poor baby. Who would do this to you?”

  Star looked around to make sure no one was hurt, and when she was sure we were all fine, she said, “Please rejoin hands. And we can only ask questions with a yes or no answer. I think it is best if I ask the questions.”

  The group clasped hands again and we all stared at Star. “Thank you Lugnut for coming and answering our questions. I know this is difficult for you. Did you know the person who did this to you?”

  Bianca’s necklace glowed bright once. Her tears were slightly subsiding and she pleaded with her eyes to Star.

  Star understood. “Lugnut, are you at peace now?”

  Bianca’s necklace glowed with bright, white light, once.

  Bianca blurted out. “That makes me feel so much better. Thank you, honey. I miss you so much already.”

  Dixie was white. She had been through one séance, but she didn't like it and that dislike was evident in her face now. She blurted out, “Come on Star, ask about the gas, too?”

  Bianca pinched her eyebrows and frowned as she stared at Dixie. “What gas?”

  Star intervened. “Bianca, we have questions for Lugnut, too. I’m so sorry for Dixie's outburst, but we do need to ask a few questions.”

  Bianca nodded. “I understand. The things that have happened the last few days are so strange. And we need to figure out who caused all this.”

  Star smiled at Bianca. “Thank you for understanding. I know finding out the truth about Lugnut’s heart attack was hard. You are very strong and considerate to help us, Bianca.”

  “I want to help find who hurt the love of my life.” Bianca had a slight growl when she said the word ‘who .’

  Star closed her eyes once again. “Lugnut, are you aware your friend Slick was hurt?” One flash. “Do you know how he was hurt?” One flash. “Do you know who did it to him?” One dim red flash.

  Bianca almost swore, but she stopped herself then said, “This
is so frustrating he can’t tell us a name.”

  Star nodded, “I know, but let me ask a few more questions.”

  Bianca wiped her nose then nodded yes.

  Star continued, “Is the person who did this to Slick still in Statesboro.” One white flash. “Is it the same person who hurt you?” One white flash. “Did they hurt you both because of money?” Two white flashes. “The gas used to harm Slick is a military secret, do you know who would have access to a gas like that?” One white flash. “Is this person in the military?” Two white flashes. “Is the person male?” Two quick flashes.

  Piper cleared her throat and shook her head. “Star, my head is buzzing and I feel like something is wrong.”

  “I noticed how quiet you were, Piper. I feel it, too.” My head felt like ten swarms of bees were buzzing inside.

  Star opened her eyes. “I have felt something since we started, but it is getting stronger. Lugnut, are you aware of an evil entity that is working against us?” One white flash. “Is the entity on the other side with you?”

  Nothing. Dixie whined, “That is not helpful.”

  Star wrinkled her forehead. “Is this entity with us?” Nothing. “The entity must be on your side or ours. Are you still here with us, Lugnut? One flash. “Then I am confused, it must...wait, is there a medium working with an evil spirit on your side? One flash. “So, the evil is operating on both sides.” A single flash again. Star pinched her eyebrows. “Are we safe, now, here in the hotel?” Nothing. “Have these evil entities completed their work?” Two bright red flashes from the necklace.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Guardrail made the turn into Dog’s hospital room. “What are you doing out of bed? And why are you out of your hospital gown?”

  “I’m going home. Well, at least I’m being discharged this morning.”

  Edith was curled up in a chair in the corner, still asleep. Dog got an awful grin and tip toed over to her. He picked up a loose strand of yarn from her knitting and held so it dangled a few inches from his hand. Then he hung over Edith’s face lowered it till it just touched her nose, tickling it ever slow slightly.

  Without warning she picked up one of the knitting needles and wielded it like a knife, barely missing Dog’s thigh.

  Guardrail broke into laughter. “Careful there, Dog. You almost became a patient again.”

  Dog glared at Edith. “I was just fooling with ya. And who knew you had the reflexes of a cat?”

  Edith picked up her knitting supplies and said, “You're lucky they aren’t as good as they used to be, or you would have a knitting needle sticking out of your leg right now.”

  Dog shot a glance to Guardrail to see if he thought the old spinster was joking. But Guardrail raised an eyebrow and frowned.

  Dog grunted. “Dang. Well, I learn something new every day.”

  “What’s going on in here? I see we have a party already.” The VA policeman smiled at Guardrail, but then studied Digger. “Who’s he?”

  Guardrail glanced to Digger and then back to the policeman. “He is another of our friends from Potter's Mill. His name is Digger.”

  “Nice to meet you. They call me Heat.” The VA policeman grinned after announcing his new nickname.

  Edith waved at him and whined. “Oh, just because Slick called you Heat, and Candy liked it, doesn’t make it a nickname.”

  “True. But all the nurses and other VA blues liked it, too. So, it's stuck and my official handle is Heat.” Heat stared down Edith to let her know the decision was final.

  “We were wondering if you heard about the test results from Lugnut’s body?” Digger looked at Guardrail as he spoke instead of Heat for some reason.

  “Well, not sure why I would know. But thanks for asking.” Heat scanned the room for more information.

  Guardrail gave in. “The M.P.’s at Lugnut’s wake told us you would be our line of communication.”

  “Well, they didn’t tell me, yet. That’s for sure.”

  “Thanks, Heat. Do you know anything about who might have access to this top-secret gas? It may be the key to figuring this whole thing out.” Digger locked eyes with the VA policeman this time.

  “Well, that is kind of sensitive. But it is well known by everyone here that there is a classified laboratory on the campus here. I shouldn’t be telling you, but with the potential for more being hurt, I was told to try and help you any way I could.” Heat clearly was uncomfortable about divulging the lab. “But, I’m pretty sure you would learn of it eventually.”

  Digger grunted like a pig that just unearthed a white, winter truffle. “Oakum’s razor.” Everyone gawked at Digger. “What?”

  Guardrail started laughing. “I’m not sure the stuff used to waterproof old ships is the same as what you meant.”

  Edith let out a loud hiss. “I have no earthly idea what any of Digger’s mumbo jumbo means.”

  Guardrail continued. “Occum’s razor. That is what I think he meant. It means when looking for a solution to a tough problem, the answer with the fewest assumptions is probably right. Even if it is a bizarre answer.”

  Edith snorted. “I’m still confused.”

  Dog tried to help her. “Remember the letters from the Grumpy Chicken? We played with them late last night to keep busy after Ginger called us.”

  Edith tilted her head back. “Oh, yeah. We didn’t make heads or tails from it.”

  Heat jumped in. “I got the razor word. But we couldn’t figure out the Oakum part.”

  Guardrail chuckled. “Neither could we. But Piper, the journalist friend of ours, knew the word and figured it out. And why were you with Edith and Dog late last night?”

  “The CO put me in liaison duty. Wanted someone watching them so nothing else happened.” Heat turned to Digger. “So, why do you think knowing about the lab is part of this Occam’s razor thing.”

  Digger grinned. “It ain’t hard. Top-secret gas, classified lab. Slick and Lugnut spent lots of time at the VA. The gas must have come from the lab.”

  Heat folded his arms. “We run a tight ship here. I don’t know.”

  Edith threw out. “Even if that were true. It doesn’t make sense to me that someone could have gotten into the lab.”

  Heat nodded in agreement. Then his face went white. “There is one other thing. The more I think about it, it makes more sense. And it explains why the FBI has two agents running around here asking questions.”

  Edith sat up straight. “Well, spill it. Or your nickname will be mincemeat when I'm done with you.”

  Heat smiled at her. “You are a tough one. I like you. But I don’t know if I can tell you.”

  Guardrail assumed his best official voice. “The MP’s with the FBI guys standing right next to them told us you would help us and be our line of communication.”

  Heat put his hands in the pockets of his perfectly pressed blue slacks. “The director of the classified lab has gone missing. He's been gone for a few days and I assumed all the hullabaloo was about that. But you boys have no connection to him or the lab. It doesn’t make sense.”

  Digger snorted. “It doesn’t make sense because we haven’t found the link. But if there is a link, a lot of what we know fits. The gas from the VA was tainted. The pills from the VA may have been tainted. Now, we learn there is a missing person, someone who runs a classified lab. This all wreaks of a government cover up. We just need to find that last link now.”

  Dog’s voice became squeaky and high. “Me? In a government cover up? They're knocking us off because I used 10W 30 instead of 10W 40 in a general’s jeep more than forty years after the fact? I don’t think so.”

  Guardrail smiled. “I’ve been telling them...”

  A pretty nurse came in with some paperwork. “If you sign, here, and here, you can be on your way.”

  Heat studied her for a moment. “Where’s Linzi? I though she was on today”

  “She called in sick.” The nurse smiled at Heat and then took the papers back from Dog. “Thanks. Someone will b
e here in about ten or fifteen minutes to take you out.”

  Dog moaned. “Dang, can’t I just walk.”

  The nurse laughed. “You been through this more than once, you know the rules.”

  Dog let out a raspberry. “Not you. You're sweet, I like you. But that rule.” He let out another Bronx cheer.

  Guardrail laughed at his partner when his phone rang. “Hey, Ginger. Glad you called. Dog is getting out this morning.” Digger, Dog, and Edith paid close attention to the call. And Guardrail noticed that Heat did as well. “Wow, the séance told you all that. Well, the pieces are starting to come together. What? Slow down.”

  Edith glanced at Heat and noticed he looked confused. “You met Star and know she is psychic. Well, sometimes she talks to the other side and asks for their help.”

  Heat nodded to show he understood. “Yeah, but somehow it's different when it's on TV. Happening in my home town, and with me involved, it's just...kind of creepy.”

  Edith waved her hand at him. “Oh, don’t be silly. You love it. I saw how you looked at Star.”

  Guardrail hung up and looked at his toes. “You aren’t going to believe this. The séance went well. They learned Lugnut was poisoned. And that the killer was a woman. But Ginger also got a call from Ida. Seems a Linzi Howard ordered a bunch of books and stuff on how to be a medium. And she even ordered some stuff through Star’s mail order service in Potter’s Mill.”

  Heat took a gulp of air. “Linzi Howard, the nurse that works here?”

  Guardrail nodded. “The one and the same.”

  Digger chuckled. “The grumper is right again. Linzi was close to Slick and Lugnut. Connection made.”

  Guardrail continued. “It's even a little stranger than that. One of the other things they learned at the séance was that a medium was working with an evil spirit. They think they've been trying to control people’s thoughts and actions.”