by Lyndsey Cole
Hannah backed away from Cal. “What are you suggesting? That I had something to do with Dwayne’s murder since I benefit from all this?”
“I’m not suggesting anything, but how will the police put it all together? What if they found something at his campsite of yours? This looks bad, Hannah, a big motive, especially if the police can place you at the scene of the crime.”
Hannah covered her mouth with her hand, remembering something that could really be the end of her. “I gave him food and my water bottle. What if he took it with him and the police have it bagged with their evidence?” She paced around the room. “But I offered him a job. I was trying to help him.”
“You offered Dwayne a job against everyone’s advice. Someone could make it look like you did it to pretend to like him so you could keep your eye on him.”
Her eyes darted around her apartment. She put the will back in the box and locked it. “I have to hide this somewhere and I have to figure out who murdered Dwayne before anyone finds these papers.”
“You should take everything to Pam and let the police handle the investigation. It will be much worse if you hide something and then she finds out. Don’t lie to the police.”
“I haven’t lied. I just want a little more time. If I don’t find out anything tonight from Blake, I’ll take all the papers to the police.” Hannah climbed onto her counter as she talked and slid the box to the back of the highest shelf, behind the bottle of bourbon.
“Tonight? What’s going on tonight?” Cal asked, an edge in his tone. “Another chance for you, Meg, and Samantha to get into more mischief?”
“Blake invited me for a glass of wine and told me to bring my friends. Do you want to come, too?” She wasn’t completely sure she still wanted Cal to come if he was suspicious of her.
“I’d better come just to keep an eye on you.”
“I want to find out what he’s trying to buy from Marty. I suspect it’s Dwayne’s clarification plans. Which I have the plans to.”
“And you could sell for a tidy sum if you want,” Call added.
“Listen, Cal. What exactly are you trying to say? Don’t beat around the bush if you think I’m up to something.” She glared.
Cal clenched his jaw. “I’m going back to work.” He stomped out of her apartment in a huff. His silence was answer enough for Hannah.
She rubbed her hands together as if she was brushing off dirt. “So much for him,” she said out loud in an attempt to convince herself that she didn’t care what Cal thought about her or her plan.
But she did. She cared a lot.
20
Hannah waited for everyone to pile into her car. Samantha, even though she said Blake wasn’t her type, had a rose silk sleeveless blouse on over white capris.
“No one told me to get dressed up for this,” Meg said as she eyed Samantha’s outfit. “Are you trying to impress someone?”
Samantha blushed. “This?” She waved her hand down her body. “This isn’t anything special.”
“If you say so.” Meg climbed into the back seat. “Where’s Cal? Did he blow you off again?” she asked in her typical blunt fashion.
Hannah was dreading this discussion. “He might stop over,” she lied. As far as she knew, Cal had no intention of being part of the festivities. “Blake’s boat is just across from Cal’s.”
Jack was the last to arrive. “I took care of those papers for you,” he whispered to Hannah before she got in behind the steering wheel. He took the seat behind her.
With Samantha in the front, and Jack and Meg in back, they were good to go. No one in the car understood Hannah’s urgency to gather information tonight. They didn’t know about the will.
The more she rehashed the facts that Cal laid out to her earlier, from anyone else’s perspective, Hannah had a strong motive to want Dwayne dead—a backpack full of money, his papers, and his will. Why, indeed, did all of those items turn up in her possession, someone who barely knew Dwayne?
She was determined to find out who had the real motive.
The marina was busy when they arrived. As Hannah and the others walked down the pier toward Blake’s boat, she couldn’t help but glance at Cal’s spot. His boat was dark. Maybe he chose not to be around to even risk running into Hannah.
It was definitely easier that way.
“Hey.” Meg bumped Hannah with her elbow. “You’ve been awfully quiet.” She nodded toward Cal’s boat. “Are you going to check on him and drag him along with us to Blake’s?”
“It doesn’t look like he’s home yet.” That sounded like the safest answer since she had no intention of telling Meg that she was not going to ask him again. Two nights in a row getting turned down was at least one too many. There wouldn’t be a third invitation.
Meg chuckled. “You can’t fool me, Hannah. You’re mad at Cal. My advice? Get over whatever grudge you’re holding onto because he’s a good catch.”
Hannah kept her eyes straight ahead. She didn’t like that Meg could read her like a storm cloud on the horizon.
Samantha skipped ahead of Hannah. “Look at all the twinkly lights. Blake’s boat looks like a fairyland.”
Meg shook her head and leaned against Hannah. “That one has stars for eyes. She won’t be any help tonight. And you won’t find out anything, either, if you let whatever it is that’s bugging you be a distraction.
Hannah stopped and held Meg’s arm. “Cal thinks I had something to do with Dwayne’s murder.”
Meg’s mouth fell open before she let out a loud guffaw. “He actually said that?”
Hannah shook her head. “Well, he implied it.”
“And why would he imply it?”
Hannah pulled Meg into a shadow. “I found Dwayne’s Last Will & Testament hidden in a box behind that bottle of bourbon you found last night.”
“So?”
“I’m listed as his beneficiary. His only beneficiary. It gives me a motive when you look at all the money and papers that showed up in my possession.”
“You’re a fool, Hannah Holiday. Ruby told me how you let yourself get distracted when you suspected Cal could have been involved in Dwayne’s murder, and now you’re blinding your normally good common sense by building a case against yourself? If you can find out what Blake is trying to buy, you can flush out the killer. It has to be Marty or Ebony that wanted Dwayne out of the way so they could get their hands on his research. Their motive is greed, plain and simple. Now, pull yourself together and let’s get to work.”
Hannah forced herself to stand tall, pull her shoulders back, and put a confident look on her face. Wasn’t half the battle what she presented to others on the outside? She had to find some new direction to send her thoughts or—well, no point in even letting her brain go in the other direction.
Meg hissed in Hannah’s ear. “Look who’s leaving Blake’s boat.”
Hannah moved to the center of the dock with more confidence than she really had at the moment. “Nice evening, wouldn’t you say?” She forced Marty and Ebony Dunn to slow their pace in order to pass her. Ebony misjudged badly as she tried to leave as much room as possible between Hannah and the edge of the dock. The heel of her shoe hit nothing but air and sent her completely off balance.
She screeched as her arms flailed wildly.
Hannah watched the unfolding events as if it was playing out in slow motion.
Marty jumped to her rescue and pulled her to safety seconds before she would have splashed into the cold Atlantic water.
As soon as Ebony managed to compose herself, she stabbed her finger at Hannah. “You did that on purpose. You wanted me to fall off the dock. You probably were hoping I’d drown and be out of your life, but forget about that, Ms. Holiday. I’m your worst nightmare. You and that little doggie.” Ebony’s face was purple with rage and her voice sent shivers down Hannah’s back. “Turn over those papers, or else.”
Hannah laughed. Right in Ebony’s face as she slapped her finger away. “Or else, what? You’ll go to the po
lice? You have no evidence, and besides,” Hannah stepped closer to Ebony, “I think Deputy Pam Larson is looking quite carefully at what you have to gain with Dwayne dead.”
Ebony flinched.
“Obviously, Dwayne didn’t want you to have whatever papers you’re searching for. Why is that, Ms. Dunn? Your only hope to get them was to kill your own husband and trash his campsite. But I guess he outsmarted you or you wouldn’t be threatening me by assuming I have something that doesn’t even belong to you.”
“Dwayne had no clue how to make money from his research. He would be willing to give it all away.”
Marty’s hand was on Ebony’s arm and he tried to pull her away from Hannah. “Be quiet, Ebony. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Ebony turned her fury to him. “Oh yes I do. Don’t patronize me, Marty. You wanted to cut me out of all the money, too. You were always trying to manipulate your brother behind my back. I only want what is mine. Mine, because I’m Dwayne’s wife, and without a will, everything goes to me.”
She stomped away on her wobbly legs until her darn heel wedged in a crack between two boards and she ended up sprawled on her face. Marty tried to help but, like a toddler, she slapped his hand away and scrambled to her feet, yanked her shoe loose, and scurried away with a completely lopsided gait.
“Wow,” Meg said as she watched Ebony’s progress. “That was incredible. No wonder Dwayne moved to a nice quiet campsite away from that angry, greedy witch.”
“Yeah. Let’s get going and find out what was up with Marty and Ebony’s visit with Blake.” Hannah jumped aboard Blake’s boat with Meg right behind. They could hear Samantha’s laughter alongside Blake’s booming voice.
“There you are. I was afraid you got distracted and went to Cal’s boat instead. I stopped by earlier to invite him over, too, but no one was home. Maybe he’ll be joining us?” Blake directed his question at Hannah.
“Maybe,” she said. She had no idea where Cal might be at this time of night. But she was quite sure he wouldn’t be joining them on Blake’s boat.
Blake had two glasses of wine poured and ready for Hannah and Meg. Samantha’s glass was almost empty, and Jack was sipping on what looked like a glass of water.
“Help yourselves. There’s plenty more where this one came from. One of the many benefits of having a winery, I never run out of wine.” Blake laughed as if he just made the wittiest joke ever. “And I put out a tray of crackers and specialty cheeses if you want a little snack. Don’t be shy.” His hands fluttered toward his table covered with more snacks than the five of them could ever eat.
“Oh, Blake, your boat is so cozy,” Samantha said as she slid closer to him on the couch.
What was she doing? Hannah wondered.
“Tell us about your winery,” Samantha encouraged Blake. “That sounds like such a romantic occupation.”
He got a faraway look in his eye. “I do love looking out my window at home to see the view of all those rows of grapevines with the Hudson River in the distance.” His arm snaked around the back of the couch and rested on Samantha’s shoulder.
“It must be so much work, though. How do you manage to get away and enjoy your boat?” Samantha sounded like an enthralled teenager.
Hannah settled comfortably in a chair. Blake’s boat was probably twice as big as Cal’s and held this group easily. She relaxed while she listened to Samantha. She had to be digging for dirt and not flirting with this fool. Hannah hoped.
Blake laughed. “That’s why I have one of the best managers in the country. Even when I’m away from the winery, he keeps everything running smooth as silk and keeps me on top of what’s happening.” He scooched a tiny bit closer to Samantha. “But you can’t be interested in those boring details.”
Samantha giggled. “I’ve always wondered,” Samantha held her wine glass up, “do people really get in the vats of grapes and stomp them with bare feet?”
Blake stared at Samantha then roared with laughter. “Not anymore that I’m aware of, but it would be fun. Maybe that’s something I should add to my event list, A Grape Stomping Time.”
“I bet that wife of yours would be the first one to jump in the vat,” Meg mumbled loud enough for everyone to hear.
A shadow fell over Blake’s eyes and he removed his hand from Samantha’s shoulder. “No, I don’t think Tiff would want any part of something like that. She’s more the, ah, no-dirt-under-her-fingernail type, if you know what I mean.”
Meg shoved a fancy cracker, cheese, olive combination into her mouth. “Yeah, that’s exactly how I pegged her the day she showed up at the cottages. Too bad she couldn’t stay longer.”
Hannah met Jack’s eye and he winked. She could tell he was enjoying the show of Meg making Blake squirm.
“So, Blake,” Hannah said. “This wine is good. Excellent, as a matter of fact. This is your Merlot?”
Blake nodded. He looked much happier to be off the topic of Tiff. “I was hoping you would like it since I’m planning to leave a case with you.” He flicked his hand through the air. “Just a small gift in appreciation of letting me stay at one of your cottages on such short notice.”
And an apology for Tiff’s rudeness, Hannah assumed, but, whatever, a free case of quality wine was a gift she wasn’t going to refuse.
And she wasn’t ‘letting him stay’ in one of the cottages. He was paying quite handsomely for the privilege.
“Very kind of you, Blake. Samantha’s question made me wonder something else about the wine making process. How do you separate the skins from the juice without leaving any bits and pieces behind in the wine? It never really occurred to me until Samantha asked about the stomping thing.”
Blake’s forehead wrinkled. “Interesting question, and not one many people outside of the wine making industry would even consider. I can tell you have a thoughtful mind, Ms. Hannah Holiday.”
He sipped his wine.
Hannah kept her eyes focused on Blake.
No one else said a word.
Waves lapped against his boat and voices filtered through the open windows of his cabin.
“Yes, an interesting question. I suppose it doesn’t matter if I share a bit of my business with all of you. I came here to purchase a new process to do exactly what you just asked. Well, it’s a bit more technical, but for all intents and purposes, it clarifies the wine.”
“Interesting.” Hannah leaned forward. “Where do you purchase something like that?”
“Yes, well, Marty Dunn told me he has just such a process. Something new that no other winery has yet. Do you know how valuable that would be?”
“Not at all, but if I were to guess, I’d say plenty,” Hannah answered.
“A tad more than plenty, I’m afraid.”
“It would give you a leg up on the competition, right?”
“You are clever. But, of course, you’re a businesswoman, too.” Blake set his glass on the arm of the couch. “It seems that the deal ran into a snag but Marty and Ebony assured me not to give up yet. They are trying to fix whatever the problem is that popped up.” He stood. “Now, enough of business stuff. I didn’t invite you all here to listen to my troubles. Let’s have another glass of wine and dig into the food.”
The problem that popped up? Ebony and Marty referred to Dwayne’s murder as a problem?
Hannah steamed as she fought the urge to get up and leave.
She fidgeted the rest of the evening, unable to calm her anger.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Samantha yawned and stretched and they managed to make a more-or-less comfortable departure.
Hannah was exhausted and fell into bed when she got home. No late walk for the dogs, but they could wait until morning.
She stared at the ceiling, wondering what Cal ended up doing instead of joining her for two nights in a row. As hard as she tried, she couldn’t let go of the nagging suspicion that Cal was still hiding something from her.
21
Even as tired
as Hannah was, she tossed and turned all night.
Plump raindrops splashed on her face through the open window above her bed. As the sun started coming up, she gave up on the idea of any meaningful sleep.
A big pot of coffee was definitely on her menu for the morning. As she moved around her kitchen, and her brain kicked into gear, the conversation from the night before worked through her memory.
She thought about Dwayne’s Last Will & Testament and wanted to take another look at it.
Nellie rose from her bed and stretched. She turned around and dropped back in a heap on her cushion.
“Not interested in going out in this rain?” Hannah asked.
Nellie wagged her tail once.
Hannah turned back to her coffee-making and froze. Her head whipped around. Patches’s bed, partly out of view, was empty.
“Where’s Patches?” Hannah’s voice rose. She looked in every corner of her cottage even though the dread in her stomach told her it was useless.
She smacked the counter. “How did I not notice Patches was gone when I got home last night?” Tears welled in her eyes. Was anything else missing?
She pulled her chair to the counter and climbed up. She stretched her fingers into the top shelf. She patted around until she felt the bourbon bottle and pushed that to the side. As she strained as far as possible, her fingers hit the back of an empty cupboard.
What happened to the metal box?
She panicked.
The dread in her stomach turned into a knot.
Cal walked in carrying a paper sack. “I brought an apology gift. Your favorite.” He set the bag on her coffee table before he shrugged out of his dripping raincoat and hung it next to the door. “What are you doing?”
“Where were you last night, Cal? Where is Patches and the metal box? Did you take them when I was gone?” Hannah heard the angry tone in her question.
“Of course not. I wouldn’t do that and you know it. Come down here and we can figure this out together.” He pulled two mugs from her drying rack and poured coffee.
