Murder, Mayhem, and Tarot Cards

By Harry Harris

There is an unassailable, wall-encircled, ultra-luxurious housing compound located in the center of Scottsdale, Arizona known as The Townsend Estates. It is considered the most bountiful settlement in the country. What is also amazing about that captivating, kinetic urban sprawl is the number of people, -- literally thousands of them -- that are employed within its walls to keep the homeowners content. The average individual could never fathom, even in their wildest imagination, that such a place exists let alone that a murder had been committed there. But that was exactly what took place at that enchanting compound...and it happened one evening during a winsome masquerade ball.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Harry Harris
• Release date: Mar 20, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311562678

Book preview

MURDER,

MAYHEM,

AND

TAROT CARDS

A riveting story of a deceptive murder during a winsome masquerade ball

By Harry Harris

Copyright 2015 Harry Harris

Published by HERCULES-APOLLO MYSTERIES

at Smashwords

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

#prologue

#Chapter1

#Chapter2

#Chapter3

#Chapter4

#Chapter5

#Chapter6

#Chapter7

#Chapter8

#Chapter9

#Chapter10

#Chapter11

#Chapter12

#Chapter13

#Chapter14

#Chapter15

#Chapter16

#Chapter17

#Chapter18

#Chapter19

#AboutAuthor

#Otherbooks

Prologue

There is an unassailable, wall-encircled, ultra-luxurious housing compound located in the center of Scottsdale, Arizona known as The Townsend Estates. It is considered the most bountiful settlement in the country, and rightly so, for on its vast, artistically manicured grounds there are more than fifty thousand trees, shrubs and flower-gardens, and interspaced among that imposing paradisiacal beauty there are four hundred, multimillion-dollar homes, each with its own distinctive swimming pool, Jacuzzi, and sauna; three dozen tennis courts; five

36-hole golf courses; the Meadowlark, an exquisite four-spoon restaurant; an attractive meeting hall and staff office; the Townsend Tavern, a cozy bar and grill; and the Victoria Hotel, a small, intimate, five-star hotel to accommodate visiting guests.

What is also amazing about that captivating, kinetic urban sprawl is the number of people, -- literally thousands of them -- that are employed within its walls to keep the homeowners content: Maids, Butlers, Chauffeurs, Gardeners, Doctors, Nurses, Waiters, Cooks, Office personnel, Mechanics, Electricians, Janitorial crews, and many unskilled laborers for the odd jobs that may be required. The compound also has its own security system, a fire brigade, and a Board of Directors whose only interest is to ensure that everything in that settlement runs smoothly, and that the rich and famous living there are not inconvenienced in any way. The, Townsend Estates is truly a millionaire’s paradise,

The average individual could never fathom, even in their wildest imagination, that such a place exists let alone that a murder had been committed there. But that was exactly what took place at that enchanting compound…and it happened one evening during a winsome masquerade ball.

Chapter One

George Levendis was the only son of the multi-millionaire plutocrat, Peter Levendis, the renowned shipping magnate who was a force to be reckoned with within the shipping business, second only to Greek ship owner and financier, Aristotle Onassis. Unlike his father who was a plain looking man, George was a handsome, vain, ne’er-do-well; a good for nothing rascal who never did a day’s work-in his life but lived on the enormous wealth he inherited from his mother; his father having disowned him for being sexually inverted.

George made his home in Scottsdale, Arizona, in the ultra-sumptuous Townsend Estates, but he found life there dry-as-dust, and since he didn’t have any hobbies or interests in his depraved life, he whiled away his time globe-trotting to exotic places around the world. And he did so with only one purpose in mind: to meet attractive young men with whom to copulate.

it was on one of those excursions, this time to Australia, that he met Jules Evans, a handsome young man twenty years his-junior, with whom he fell madly in love. Falling desperately in love was a shock to George; it was

something that he had never experienced before. Of course, during

the fifty years that he charmed the world with his presence, he had often become enamored with some of the young men he met, however, he eventually found their insipidness too much to bear and his relationship with them never amounted to anything. Hence, as the years vanished before his eyes, George felt that he was destined to go through life alone without ever experiencing a true, endearing relationship; a love that he so desperately coveted. The ‘Ultimate gift from-heaven’, he called it. But that was until he met Jules, for Jules educed a frenzy of desire within him that he had never known before, and he was certain that the gods had ordained that they were meant to be together. However, although he was grateful for the gods’ decree, he, nevertheless, decided to assist them by doing everything in his power to get Jules to find him attractive and ultimately get to be his lover.

Although George fell madly in love with Jules the moment they met,

-- Feeling at the time as if he had been hit by a bolt of lightning -- it

wasn’t the same for Jules. Jules was only attracted to women; so much so, that he was affectionately thought of as a satyr by many of his friends; hence, he had no idea how George felt about him, or if he did, he didn’t care. Jules considered George simply as a charming, wealthy individual who enjoyed spending his money recklessly. However, what Jules didn’t realize was that George was not one to be taken lightly, that he never took no for an answer, his wealth enabling him to always get his way. George was, therefore, confident that one day Jules would become his

inamorato.

George started his campaign to woo Jules by plying him with little gifts; the first one a silk, Armani tie; the second, a gold cigarette case; the third, a gold cigarette lighter to go with the case, and so on; small presents, which he considered inexpensive. However, before leaving Australia he gave Jules the Porsche he had purchased on his arrival in Sydney, explaining: Please, Jules...take it. Hell, I would have sold it for a song anyway; I’ll buy another one when I get back to the States.

His campaign to pursue Jules continued even after he left Australia: He cabled Jules with message after message, not expressing any sentiments of love for him but describing the exciting adventures he was having, the

unusual sites he was seeing, and the exquisite cuisine he was enjoying. He-wired him from Spain, China, and Japan, -- as well as from countless other countries -- always ending his messages with the thought that he would have enjoyed the trips a great deal more had he been able to share them with someone.

Four months later he returned to Australia to continue serenading Jules.

Consequently, at the end of his month-long visit in Australia, after he had wined and dined Jules in Sydney’s finest .restaurants, he told him that he was leaving again, this time to go to South America, and he bluntly asked Jules to go with him.

Jules, George said, as one man to another, I can’t tell you how fond I’ve become of you and how much I treasure our friendship. I’ll be honest with you, I wish you were with me on some of those jaunts; it’s always better to share experiences like that with a good, sympathetic friend.

I can’t believe that you don’t have a slew of friends who’d love to join you on those trips; anyway, as much as I’d like to see some of the places you visit I can’t afford to, so that’s that.

"Jules, you don’t seem to understand. Those trips aren’t worth a tinker’s damn unless they’re shared with someone pleasant…someone... as you. If they’re not, they become boring, and there’s nothing worse than being bored. Hell, take my last trip to Japan for example: I visited several picturesque islands from Kyusku in the south to Hokkaido in the north; 1flew over Mt. Fuji; went to museums and art galleries where some-of the world’s greatest art exhibits are on display, and I dined in Japan’s finest restaurants, but I didn’t enjoy myself. Why? There was no one to share

viewing those magnificent sites or to enjoy the exquisite gastronomic experiences with me. I’m afraid, Jules, if you don’t have someone to share such adventures…life isn’t worth living."

George, I don’t understand why you don’t hook up with some gorgeous broad; with your good looks and a bank account to match, you wouldn’t have any trouble finding a beautiful woman to go on those exotic jaunts with you.

Women! George exclaimed disdainfully. He looked at Jules a long time, and then he said, Jules, I don’t think you’re as naive as you pretend to be.

"What do you mean?

Let’s cut the crap, shall we? You know I’m gay.

"I had an idea that you might be gay the way you were plying me with

gifts, but I wasn’t sure. You certainly don’t look like a fag."

Well, now you know, and I’ll thank you not to refer to homosexuals as fags. Homosexuals are human beings, just like you, but with a different sexual orientation. No one said a word for the longest time, and then George put his hand over Jules’ and whispered, I fell in love with you the moment we met; Jules, I’m crazy about you.

Pulling his hand away slowly, Jules said, I think the world of you too, George, but not in that way. I wish your life-style would do it for me…but it doesn’t. That doesn’t mean we can’t be friends.

Again the men remained quiet for quite some time as they played with the food in front of them, and then George said, "Since we’re such

good friends, why don’t you join me on my travels as simply just that…a-good friend and companion? We enjoy each other’s company when I’m here...so why not on the trips I take? And, since I can afford it, I’ll be happy to take care of all the expenses."

Jules thought about the offer for the longest time; then he said very

seriously, Your offer sounds tempting; going on those journeys with you is something I’d really like to do…however, if I do decide to join you we’ve got to get one thing straight, and that goes for the both of us: We’ve got to respect each other’s sexual orientation and life style...and, most importantly, that our ships are never forced to sail on the same seas.

George laughed aloud. You sound just like my father, he said, but okay, it’s a deal. The two men shook hands, and on that fated moment a bond was formed between them. Little did Jules realize at the time, the danger he’d be facing in his liaison with George.

Chapter Two

Marlys turned over ‘The Lovers’ -- the picturesque tarot card in her hand -- so that the ‘Archangel Raphael, Healer of the Most High’ could ‘speak’ to her. As she concentrated on the Archangel, -- his arm raised in blessing, suggesting the wholeness resulting from women embracing their maleness and men-embracing their femaleness -- a story began to form in Marlys’ mind concerning the person for whom she was reading the major ‘Arcane Spread’. After she had consulted the seven-card layout in front of her, she looked up at her friend, Dorothy, and making a face, she said, "Nope, I’m afraid, darling, that a trip to Chicago to see John is not

right for you at this time."

Dorothy appeared disappointed. Darn! she said, disgusted with herself. I should have made arrangements to go to Chicago last week when you read that my time there with John would have been favorable.

Marlys Anderson and Dorothy Snyder, whose fathers were multi-millionaires, were life-long friends. They grew up in the same affluent estate in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania; attended the same private schools, and both went to the University of Athens in Greece, getting a BA degree in Fine Arts.

The Fine Arts curriculum at the university proved fascinating to them; it not only comprised the study of paintings and sculptures, but all artistic works, including literature, architecture, drama, music, dance, opera, and even up-to-date entities like television and movies. However, what-intrigued Marlys and Dorothy most was that murder, if cleverly executed and without clues to incriminate its perpetrator, was also considered as one of the Fine Arts.

Two years after they graduated and returned to the United States, they both married wealthy stock brokers. Marlys married Jim Blanders, and Dorothy was united in wedlock to Erick Manners; ironically both divorcing their husbands during the same month four years later. And after commiserating with one another over their failed marriages, Marlys and Dorothy decided to move in together.

Marlys and Dorothy loved one another dearly but they were not lesbians, far from it, they enjoyed men’s company immensely, in every sense of the word, but not full-time, and certainly not under the same roof. They simply felt that living with a man was too much for-them to bear, savoring the pun when they shared those sentiments with female friends. In any event, since they enjoyed each other’s company, they decided that living together in the same dwelling would be far more satisfying than doing so with a controlling male. Consequently, to get wholly away from their

previous lives, they moved to Scottsdale, Arizona. That was where their tarot cards advised them was the place best suited for their unusual life style.

Since Marlys’ ‘gift’ for reading the tarot cards appeared to be more veracious than Dorothy’s, she was the one that always referred to them when the pair sought advice for some reason or another. Her largess became evident when she read that Arizona would be the place where they would find happiness, for from the moment they moved to Scottsdale their life could not have been more fulfilling. Unfortunately, what-they didn’t realize at the time, was that conducting their lives by always consulting the tarot cards, and adhering to mind reading, -- secret

communications beyond the bounds of ordinary or natural knowledge -- that one day it would come back to haunt them and involve them in murder.

Marlys and Dorothy purchased a home in the fabulous Townsend

Estates, and they hired Janet Wells, an elderly woman who had been their ‘Sitter’ when they were children and whom they loved dearly, to be their live-in cook and confidant.

Once ensconced in their lovely home, they didn’t waste any time getting to know their neighbors. Although Marlys and Dorothy were very attractive

women, it wasn’t their looks that made them special and sought-after but their vivid and friendly personalities. it made them popular with everyone they met, men and women alike; also, due to their great sense of humor and their flair for story-telling, which they exhibited with relish during the ‘Happy Hour’ sessions held weekly at the estates’ elite Meadowlark restaurant, they were invited to more get-togethers and dinners than they could accept. At the same time, they also began to enjoy their common interest in the occult, and before they knew it many of their neighbors

began asking to have their fortunes told. That pleased Marlys and Dorothy immensely for ever since they were children they couldn’t resist reading about psychics, spiritual healers, astrologists, fortune tellers and the like, and when they could, having their own fortunes told by some of the better known mystics. And now here they were foretelling the futures of the people living in the Townsend Estates, which gave them a great deal of pleasure.

Dorothy was introduced to the occult world through her friend, Marlys, when they were both teenagers, but Marlys came by it .naturally: Her mother and maternal grandfather were seriously involved in such phenomena, and they happily passed their interest in the supernatural along to her.

Marlys’ grandfather, Frank Albertson, was renowned as one of the world’s foremost psychics, and her mother, Marie Anderson, also had ‘Second Sight,’ which she practiced by foretelling fortunes for friends, neighbors, and for anyone else who might have been interested. And in the years that followed, her reputation in the occult world was enhanced ten-

fold when she successfully used her gift of Second Sight to help the police locate the bodies of several murdered victims that had been

missing for months.

It was, therefore, a foregone conclusion that one day Marlys would

realize the full potential power of her gift for mind-reading and the

foretelling of future events, and thus continue in the family tradition of being a bona-fide soothsayer. And so it came to pass, that during the years Marlys and Dorothy lived in the Townsend Estates they foretold the futures for .many of their female neighbors. However, the men in that grandiose compound weren’t the least bit interested in prognostication; in fact, they ridiculed the idea; that is, except for six of them: four men who wanted advice concerning their financial investments in the stock

market, and two others, George Levendis and Jules Evans, who

sought a reading just for the fun of it.

I’ll never understand, Dorothy said one day when she and Marlys were engaging in some idle chatter, why men aren’t more interested in having their fortunes told? Look at the ones that sought financial advice from you...they benefited tremendously by it and…

Yes, they certainly did, Marlys said interrupting her friend, "and

they certainly showed their appreciation: Remember the gifts and

flowers they sent to thank us."

To thank you, you mean, Dorothy said, you’re the one with the God-qiven gift for reading minds and foretelling fortunes. You’ve gotten as good at it as your famous grandfather was.

‘I wish! Marlys said, smiling wryly. Although I must confess that I can now read people’s minds and foretell their futures without using the tarot cards. I’m now enjoying ‘Second Sight’ all the time; it happened exactly-as my grandfather said it would; that the gift to read people’s minds without using cards or a crutch of any kind would come to me suddenly, just as it did with him.

Chuckling, and making a face, Dorothy said; In that case, tell me if John will be able to get away from his wife long enough to escort me to next week’s Masquerade Ball?

All right, give me your hand. Marlys took Dorothy’s hand in hers, and closed her eyes. She kept them closed for the longest time, and then she said, I’m afraid, darling, that we won’t be going to the Masquerade Ball next week, and the reason…

Oh, why not for Heaven’s sake? Dorothy said interrupting Marlys. It’s the event of the year and I was looking forward to it; so was John. I was planning on going as Pocahontas and John as Capt. Smith. Darn, Marlys, we haven’t missed going to that ball in the five years we’ve been living here.

I know, I know…and I was planning on going as Mahatma Gandhi, but I’m afraid what I saw was that it wouldn’t be right for us to attend this year.

And that’s because…? Dorothy asked, continuing to frown.

"And that’s because I saw that if we go to the Masquerade Ball we’ll be

involved in a murder."

Chapter Three

Miss Ruth Hennessy, holding a black briefcase in her hand, strode brazenly into the Townsend Estates’ Security Guard Station, which

was situated by the wall at the far end of the compound, and without knocking entered the captain’s office.

Capt. Russ Mulligan, the officer in charge of the private police force employed by the Townsend Estates, was busy at his desk when he heard someone enter his office, and it annoyed him that the person hadn’t knocked. Seeing that it wasn’t anyone he recognized he said harshly, I don’t know who you are, Miss, but you’d better learn to knock before entering a room. He paused a moment scrutinizing the women, and then he said, again as harshly, Now what can I do for you?

The first thing you can do for me, Capt. Mulligan, is to relax and listen to what I’ve got to say, and frowning as you’re doing won’t help your situation any. Forcing a smile, the woman added sarcastically, My name’s Ruth Hennessy and I’m your new boss, so keep that in mind the next time I enter your office without knocking.

For your information, lady, Capt. Mulligan said angrily, I only answer to Mr. Henry Armstrong, the man who governs this compound. He’s my boss, not you, so I’d appreciate it if you would leave my office right now; I’ve got too much work to do to indulge in any more of your nonsense.

Looking at the captain superciliously, Miss Hennessy said, "Mr. Armstrong is no longer in charge, and the company that hired him to manage this estate has also been replaced. So please understand that I’m the one you’re to answer to. As of eight o’clock this morning, the Townsend Estates is being supervised by the Hamilton Management Company and