Murder at Glenmore

By Margaret J Garberick

Lieutenant Jerry Cordova, Detective Danny Smith and a team of detectives are called out to investigate two murders at an actor's house in the hills above Santa Fe, New Mexico. They find a man with a medieval axe in his chest and the actor's wife outside by the pool with a mace nearby. The team try to balance their personal life along with findin

• Language: English
• Publisher: Margaret Garberick
• Release date: Mar 24, 2023
• ISBN: 9798987527825

Margaret J Garberick

Margaret Garberick wrote her first murder mystery at age 5 about bunnies running around with Sherlock Holmes hats looking for missing easter eggs. Then life sort of got in the way. After an illustrious career in IT, she decided to try it again. Currently working on her second book in the series "Murder at the College." Margaret currently lives in Minnesota with two cats and her partner Mitch.

Book preview

Chapter 1

"TYLER, DO YOU KNOW WHERE my key card is?" Lieutenant Jerry Cordova asked his son.

Daddy, just a sec, Tyler replied. I was playing with it, sorry. I’ll get it.

Look I have to go back to work, buddy. Dispatch called me, Jerry told his 6-year-old.

Another murder Daddy? Tyler asked.

Yes, that’s what I do, so bring it to me and please finish your dinner.

His son went into the bedroom he shared with his sister and got it.

Here you go, Dad, he remarked, giving Jerry the key card.

Mariella toddled out of the bathroom. Daddy, she cried. Come look!

They went into the bathroom. Jerry noticed that his wife, Irene, who had just left for classes at the college, had once again left her towel on the floor so he picked it up and put it over the shower curtain rod to dry.

I used the potty! Look!

Yes, you did. That’s wonderful! Jerry replied.

He picked the potty chair up and flushed the contents down the toilet and then sprayed it and wiped it out with a paper towel from under the bathroom sink. He put the little chair back down.

Daddy needs to get you a sticker for your board now, he replied. He opened a drawer next to the sink. Here you go, sweetie, Jerry told her. He peeled it off the backing and she slapped it on a piece of poster board Jerry had tacked on the wall.

Wow, how many are there now? he asked his daughter.

She thought for a moment and then held up 7 fingers. There were 9 but she hadn’t exactly learned her numbers yet. Still, she was pretty close.

Okay, let’s put on your big girl panties on, Jerry remarked. He got a pull up diaper out of the bag.

No, she replied. Big girl panties. Like Mommy.

Just in case, Jerry replied. She started fussing.

No, daddy, she pouted.

Please, Jerry implored her. Daddy has to go to work.

No, she repeated, stamping her little foot. Great, he thought. He looked at Mariella. She was standing with her little arms crossed. So he called his sister, Marie, on his cellphone.

Hello?

Yeah, I got called to go investigate a murder and Mariella won’t put her big girl panties on, Jerry told her.

I’ll be over as soon as I can, she laughed.

Thanks sis, he replied. You’re a saint, as usual.

Come on, Jerry, you know that’s not true, Marie told him.

Jerry hung up. Now Mariella, please let me put a pull-up on you. Sorry, he told her.

He looked at his watch. Tyler came in.

Lookie, Mariella, this one has dinosaurs on it, he told her. She grabbed it.

Yes, and we put it on like, Jerry began. One leg at time. Here, let me help you. Jerry finally got the diaper on.

Thanks, Tyler, he told him. Tyler nodded.

No problem, Dad, he smiled.

Tyler needed his own room, but when Jerry had discussed it with his wife Irene, she sprang the college on him, and he had to pay for that instead. So the thought of getting a bigger house had to wait. And since she had gone off to college, she started staying there longer at night and Jerry suspected something was going on there besides having to stay late to use the library.

Marie had a key to the front door, so she opened it up and came in. Jerry had given one to her when Irene started college. He came down the hall to greet her.

Well, we got Mariella all set, Jerry told her. They’re playing right now.

Great, Marie told him. So when is Irene due back?

Let’s see, she just left 20 minutes ago so not for a few hours, Jerry replied. She just has one night class, and it has to be tonight.

He put on his jacket.

It stopped raining at least and there’s a pretty sunset. But it’s cold, she told him.

The two kids ran up to her and Mariella started chattering away. Jerry walked up to Tyler and gave him a hug.

Now mind, Aunt Marie now, okay? he told him. Mariella hugged Jerry’s leg, so he picked her up.

You mind Aunt Marie too, Jerry told her. He kissed Mariella on the forehead and then put her down.

Jerry sighed and then went through the kitchen and through the door to the garage. He got Mariella’s car seat out of his car and put it on the worktable in case there was an emergency, and his sister or Irene needed it. I just don’t have time to carve anything anymore, Jerry thought, looking at the blocks of wood stacked in the corner of the table, getting dusty. He used to carve dolls with his dad, and they would paint them traditional colors of the pueblo and give them to kids. He wanted to do the same for Mariella and Tyler.

Jerry stopped by the precinct to get his gun out of his locker. He never had the gun at home, too many calls where kids were playing with mommy or daddy’s gun, and it didn’t end well. He put it in his arm holster and closed his jacket coat.

Jerry knew where Glenmore, New Mexico was. The exclusive community that was attractive to more than a few Hollywood actors and directors was in the hills above Santa Fe and the old houses where ranchers used to live had been replaced by expensive gated properties. There was a wild party in one of the houses up there he had to break up when he was an officer. It might have been this house, he thought as he approached it.

Fortunately, the gate was open, but nobody was in the glassed-in guard’s shack, either. Jerry stopped his car and got out his phone.

Dispatch, a man’s voice announced.

Yes, we need backup at 132 Glenmore, please.

You have two officers already, the man replied.

Well we need someone to man the gate, Jerry sighed. The guard seems to be missing, and we don’t want the crime scene destroyed. Okay? I saw a news van on the way up, getting lost, thank goodness.

Sure sir, sorry. The new chief just arrived and we’re a little short-handed because he’s talking to them right now. But sure, I’ll send someone out…oh good, short meeting. I’ll send someone out now, he told Jerry.

I was just there at the precinct. The desk guy didn’t say anything, Jerry replied.

It was a surprise to everybody, the Dispatch operator laughed. Jerry hung up.

Jerry shook his head and then put his phone away in his pocket and started up his car again. Hardly funny, he thought. He drove down the long driveway that curved in front of the house and ended at what looked like a multi-car garage. The house sprawled across the cliff overlooking Santa Fe and all the windows in the two story property had a great view of some spectacular scenery of the hills that led to the Sangre de Cristo mountains. Not like his house, which was on the outskirts of Santa Fe with the view of a strip mall and gas station. At least the house sort of kept to the southwest ranch style, except for some of the landscaping. They probably needed to replace the small palm trees in front every year, he thought.

Jerry parked his car next to the police SUV. There was a brown car parked on the other side that belonged to Detective Daniel Smith, so at least he was here. There appeared to be a beige car parked in front as well. No forensics van yet, he noticed. Jerry adjusted his glasses. He had to get new ones someday but right now was not an option. On top of what was happening at home, Jerry also had to try to reorganize the homicide department after one of his detectives decided to run off one of the back roads north of town and right into the Rio Grande River. Now he was vegetating in a nursing home in Albuquerque. Sure, Detective Matt Kelly drank a lot and had some personal issues, but the crash was ruled an accident. Jerry knew it probably wasn’t.

Jerry made sure his spiky black hair wasn’t doing anything odd, then he opened his briefcase. He got out some gloves to wear, then got out of his car with his case. There was a rather tall Asian police officer standing at the front door.

Jerry put his gloves on while walking down the adobe brick path to the house.

It’s a mess, sir, the officer remarked. I’m Officer Yamaguchi, by the way.

Were you one of the first ones here? Jerry asked.

We got a call from Dispatch about one of the neighbors who reported that they were driving home from the grocery store and noticed the gate was open and it looked suspicious, Yamaguchi replied. Jerry noticed his first name was Nariko on his badge.

The officer opened the little notebook he carried. It was about 2 pm, sir, when they passed by, according to Dispatch. Nobody called until after 5 pm, because, I guess, they had to discuss it first.

Jerry laughed. Sorry, I can just imagine them talking.

Yamaguchi smiled. Well, he began, usually there’s a guard here but the gate was open, so we went in. We got here at 5:28 pm and noticed first this beige car so I called it in so someone’s looking up the license plate. The front door was ajar, so we pushed it open.

Jerry put his hand over his forehead. The setting sun was in his eyes. It would be dark soon. Jerry noticed that Yamaguchi moved a bit, so Jerry didn’t have the sun to contend with. That was nice, he thought.

So my partner and I went in. The door stuck for a moment and then opened right open after my partner pushed on it. There’s a man in the living room with what looks like a double-edged axe in his torso and a woman outside on the pool deck on her stomach. We tried not to touch anything, but I did check her pulse and nope, dead. My partner sort of lost his cookies, sir. He’s over by the garage. He’s a rookie though. Last name is Johnson. I’m fine. I told your two detectives where the bodies were. And I did a quick search upstairs and in the back but didn’t see anyone else here.

Thank you, Jerry replied. Too bad about the new guy. Maybe he should go home and rethink his career.

Yamaguchi laughed. He stepped aside and Jerry opened the door.

I’ve been here before, Jerry remarked.

Really? Yamaguchi asked.

Yes, there was a wild party here, oh about 5 years ago. Right before I passed my lieutenant’s test and transferred to Homicide. We got called and was a mess. One guy got hit by a beer bottle, so I had to call for an ambulance. And the owner was, well, not very nice. He was this actor guy. Ray Steele. Oh, by the way, aren’t you taking your detective’s exam soon? he asked him.

Yep, in a week. I’m cramming every night, Yamaguchi smiled.

Good, Jerry thought. I recognized your name from the list we get. You know, then we lieutenants let the new detectives roll dice. Whoever loses, goes to Homicide.

Yamaguchi laughed. I hope I lose then.

Jerry smiled at him and then he walked through the front door. Yes, the curved staircase. So the living room was on the right. Might as well start there if that’s where Danny is. He walked in through an arched doorway and saw Detective Carla Thompson standing next to one of two white couches. To her back, there was that huge sliding glass door, and he could see Danny out by the impressive looking pool, squatting next to the body of a woman, who was wearing a red plaid suit and boots and had blonde hair. Danny was taking pictures but had stopped and was putting something in an evidence bag.

Doesn’t look like there’s any blood, Jerry thought. At least not from this angle. He turned to go back see if Forensics or the coroner had arrived, but Carla caught his attention.

Sir, Carla began, could you please come over here first?

So Danny drove you here, then? Jerry asked.

Yes, my stupid car wouldn’t start again, Carla replied. First we stopped off at my mom’s house so I could drop my daughter off. You know, you can’t exactly leave a 3-year-old girl alone and daycare closes at 5 pm.

Sorry, Jerry replied. He knew her husband was in federal prison in Arizona, so she divorced him and got custody of her daughter. She had told him when she joined the department, in case he had a problem with it, a few months ago.

Carla looked upset but was doing her best to be professional. Jerry walked over to the couch. As Yamaguchi told him, a man laid there, on his back, with an axe in his chest. There was a splash of blood on the white couch and the man had his left leg bent. There was also a pool of blood on the wooden floor underneath the body, and it was mostly to the right of the body. Kind of an odd position, Jerry thought. Something about the left leg didn’t look right.

Carla pointed with her gloved hand to the wall across from them. I think the axe came from there, Carla told him. Jerry looked where she was pointing. It was a display of medieval weapons. The glass on the display was broken. They looked real and there were two empty brackets, so the axe was one of them but what was the other one and where was it?

I was here about five years ago investigating a call about a loud party and that display wasn’t there at the time. Thank goodness, Jerry remarked.

Jerry cautiously went up to the display to avoid the broken glass and looked. There was a shield, a flail, and a sword. It looked like they were real. He turned around. Yep, the axe must have come from here.

I wonder where the other weapon is? he asked.

I don’t know sir, she replied. I haven’t been anywhere else. Detective Smith told me to stay here.

Well the axe certainly looks real, Jerry told her. He went back to the axe in the man’s chest. It was double-edged and the other half was sticking out of the man’s bloody shirt. The axe was at an odd angle to the left side of his body.

So definitely, that’s where the murder weapon came from, Jerry told her. The axe is probably heavy, so whoever buried it into his chest must have been fairly strong.

Yes sir, I thought that too, Carla replied. She tried to pull her black processed hair into a ponytail but failed so just left it. She looked a little pale.

Are you okay? Jerry asked Carla.

Yes, it’s just a bit, you know, gruesome, she remarked. I’ll have to get used to that.

Yep, Jerry replied. You’re doing fine, though.

He looked at the coat rack.

Did you get a chance to check the coat there? There might be something in the pockets. Jerry pointed to it.

No sir, I, well, this is my first real homicide investigation. I wanted to make sure I was doing the right thing, Carla replied.

Yes, I know, Detective Kelly trained you. Or didn’t. I’m sorry, Jerry replied. Carla nodded.

I looked around but couldn’t find anything that would have broken that glass, so far, Carla remarked.

Jerry went over to the display and looked at the hole. A flower pot? Iron skillet? We’ll have forensics figure it out. I wonder if they got lost. They should be here by now.

He looked at the man again and then at Carla.

Go check the coat, okay?

Oh, something else sir, Carla replied, pointing down, It looks like the couch was moved. Jerry looked down. There was a scratch line from one of the couch legs. He crouched down and looked at it.

Carla walked over to check the coat. Just a piece of paper with the address on it sir, she told him. And ‘11 am with S’.

Well that means that he’s not a regular visitor then, doesn’t it? Jerry replied.

Yes, yes, it does, Carla replied.

Did you notice anything else? Jerry asked. Carla looked around.

Um, no sir, she replied.

Good, then I’ll go see Danny, Jerry told her. Would you please take pictures? Especially the couches, the scratch here and of course, the victim. Because at least we can work on these while we wait for forensics. I wonder what’s keeping them.

Sure, sir, Carla nodded. And again, I’m sorry.

Don’t be sorry - you just joined us a few months ago and I know assigning Detective Kelly to you wasn’t one of my better ideas, Jerry sighed. He’d take shortcuts all the time. I don’t. So we use our forensics team and the coroner and take our own pictures and so does Forensics. And I’m not going to give you a quiz when we get back, so don’t worry.

Carla smiled. She got a small camera out of her briefcase and started taking pictures. Jerry went over to the sliding glass door when a framed photo distracted him. He went over to it. It was one of a woman and Ray Steele. Of course, the woman was most likely Sally Steele-Taylor, and it was Ray who apologized that night and told him it wasn’t his fault if his guests were lightweights. Jerry wondered who the man in the living room was. Maybe someone thought the two were having an affair.

Jerry saw the open door to the kitchen area. And was that the same tarantula banging against the terrarium case by the stairs? He looked at it. Maybe it knew something. Didn’t have much to say the last time. As he recalled there was yelling upstairs in the hallway leading to what they called the ‘party room’. Along with loud, booming music that carried all the way to the road.

Jerry opened the sliding glass door and closed it behind him He noticed a mace lying on the other side of the female victim. The other weapon from the case, he thought. There looked to be a red stain on it.

The sunset was beautiful, but the air was cooling off. Yes, fall in Santa Fe. The scent of pinyon pines and chilies roasting in the big roasters they set up in the town square where the tourists went. But these murders were more important right now. He looked at Danny. Danny was trying not to cry.

Crap, Jerry thought.

You okay there? Jerry asked.

Yeah Jerry, just over tired, Danny replied. Stuff.

Danny got a handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped his eyes.

I didn’t turn her over, Danny told him. This looks to be the murder weapon, he added, pointing to the mace, but not sure.

I saw you were taking pictures, but did you find something too? Jerry asked.

Yes, I did, Danny replied. He pointed to two evidence bags. She’s kind of in an odd position, there, too, Danny remarked.

Just like the man in there, Jerry replied, pointing, this victim is lying on her stomach and her hands are bent by her sides, as it she was going to do a push-up.

Yeah, I noticed that, Danny replied. I picked the mace up, then put it back where it was. It’s a little heavy.

Well, let’s carefully turn her over a bit, Jerry replied. Just so we can see. Can you take a few more pictures after we do?

Of course, boss, Danny replied. Jerry and Danny gently turned the victim on their side. Jerry noticed that the hands and arms didn’t move like he thought they would. Danny had his camera out already, so he took a few pictures of her.

That’s Sally Steele-Taylor, by the way. I used to tape her soap opera, he remarked. Why are her arms like that?

I don’t know, Jerry replied. It certainly looks odd, doesn’t it?

The woman’s eyes were open, and her mouth was open as well, as if she was struggling to breathe.  There was a wound above her waist that would probably match the mace. Danny took a few pictures and then helped Jerry put the body back down.

Did you see her face? he asked Danny.

Yes I did. It was like she knew she was dying, he told Jerry. The mace wound doesn’t look fatal, though.

Jerry noticed she had a bruise on the side of her face and as he leaned over, he noticed she smelled a little like fish. He made a note in his notebook. Jerry looked at the table and there were two champagne glasses, plus an unopened bottle. There must be an empty somewhere. Jerry turned the bottle around. Expensive champagne, he thought. The chair in front was facing towards the body; the other one was facing the pool. He noticed that Danny had turned away from the victim.

Danny? Danny turned around. He wiped his eyes with his handkerchief again.

Are you sure you’re okay? Jerry asked.

Yeah, sorry, I’m dealing with some stuff with my ex, Danny replied. But also Matt Kelly’s wife called me this morning at work, and I had to listen to her crying for a few too many minutes and then she wanted me to come over and help her sign some papers because he called me from a bar somewhere right before he aimed his car at the Rio Grande, so I would know everything, only I don’t. Sorry.

Well, if you need to leave… Jerry began.

No, I’m okay. I usually can keep this together but for some reason… the look on the victim’s face. I’ve never seen anyone look like that. And I noticed she was also unnaturally stiff. Not from rigor mortis…also that fishy smell. Maybe she had it for lunch? I sure hope it’s not poison, but I can’t recall what it could be.

Yes, I smelled it too, Jerry replied. try to, you know, compose yourself there. We need you.

Yeah, Jerry, I know. Oh, I found a contact lens, Danny remarked. And a woman’s fake fingernail. I think she put up a fight. Can’t tell for sure, though.

I just don’t want to turn her over again, Jerry told him. We’ll get your camera to the forensics lab for the pictures. But be sure to take a picture of the evidence bags too, Jerry sighed. For sure, the nail doesn’t belong to Sally; she has all hers. I’ll go check back with Carla.

Sure, boss, Danny replied. Sorry, I should have checked the eyes when we had her on her side, instead of feeling sorry for myself.

Maybe try to get a good night’s sleep there. Like you could turn your phone off or something, Jerry told him.

Jerry walked back into the house.

Sir… Carla began, I think that one or more servants appear to be missing. I checked the kitchen over there and the dining room. I’ve, well, read about her in a few magazines - she’s a soap opera star and she was in a small role in a movie. And they had this house in one my magazines and there was a butler and a couple of maids in a few pictures.

Yes, Danny recognized her face and there’s a picture of her and her husband on the wall over there. When I was here, breaking up the party 5 years ago, there was just a maid in the kitchen. She was a little scared, so I calmed her down. Ray Steele, he’s the one who owns this house, was yelling. But in the magazine, I think the pictures were just staged, Jerry suggested Also, Yamaguchi did a quick look around and reported that nobody else was here.

Oh, she replied.

Why don’t you go upstairs? You can look around there for evidence. I’ll send Danny upstairs in a few, Jerry told her. As I recall there’s a big bathroom, a master bedroom with an attached bathroom, a couple of guest rooms and at the end of the hall, there’s the, um, party room. Plus, an office and weight room.

Carla smiled. Thanks, sir.

Hey, we had to search the house for missing party girls, Jerry smiled.

Jerry watched as Carla started up the stairs. He then went into the kitchen. Nothing looked out of place, he thought, as far as he knew. There was a huge double refrigerator, a nice island in the middle of the kitchen to work on, a couple of cook-tops and two ovens. And there were lots of cabinets. A set of expensive kitchen knives hanging on the side of the cabinet next to one of the stoves; one was missing.

Jerry opened a door on the side to go into the dining room. The table was set for two - one on the end and then one next to it. The chairs were different, and the pictures were too, from last time he was here. Then there were huge posters of Ray Steele’s movies like he never got tired looking at himself.

Jerry looked at the table. There were the remains of a salad in one place, and what looked like steak and potatoes on the other plate. No fish though. He got out his camera and took a few pictures. Then he walked out the other dining room door to see Danny coming in.

Please go upstairs and help Carla, he told him.

What the hell is that? Danny asked, pointing to the terrarium. A tarantula?

It’s not poisonous, Jerry replied. Just really pissed off. It was here last time.

Same spider? Danny asked.

Maybe, I don’t know. Guess we need to call animal control. Jerry smiled. I had a couple when I was a kid, but they usually ran away, presumably screaming.

The tarantula was now just relaxing by the heat lamp. As soon as Danny turned to leave, the tarantula jumped and hit the glass, like it was attacking. Danny smiled and then went upstairs.

Jerry went outside in front of the house to see if anyone had arrived yet. Yamaguchi was in the driveway, shaking his head. There was another officer outside and it looked like he had just pulled up in his car. The driver’s door of his police car was still open like in a cop show, the police radio squawking. He was outside looking at the view. The only thing missing was the sting music from ‘NYPD Blue’ or something. The officer saw Jerry staring at his car and ran back to shut the door.

Sorry, Lieutenant Cordova. I was interviewing the people who made the initial call, the officer told him. They didn’t see any cars out of place, and only noticed the gate was open when they got back from shopping. And that there was no guard.

Did you drive by here first? Jerry asked. He looked at his badge. Paul Burns.

Um, yes. There was another police car behind me, and they turned off into the house, so I thought well, that’s nice, and I continued up the hill.

You’re Officer Burns, aren’t you? Jerry remarked.

Yes sir, he replied.

Aren’t you a transfer from Albuquerque? Jerry asked.

Yes, I am, sir, Burns replied.

A drug bust gone wrong? Jerry asked.

Yamaguchi stifled a laugh as he stood, guarding the door.

Well, just so you know, Jerry continued, a bit irritated. "First off,