by Laina Turner
Was there something more going on between her and David than just business?
Chapter 21
Trixie hated to go to Deanna looking for answers with everything Deanna had been through, but after her conversation with Danny she thought long and hard on the way home. She felt that there was no choice but to ask Deanna if there could've been anything more between Tracy and David that didn't fall under the manager/employee relationship.
Luckily, Bramble Patch Winery was between Monroe and her house so she didn't have to go too far out-of-the-way or she may have talked herself out of it. She got to the winery and hadn't texted Deanna first so hoped she wasn’t busy, but as she pulled up she found her on the porch outside.
“Hey, good to see you. What brings you out here?” Deanna said as Trixie approached.
“I have a couple questions to ask you if you don't mind?”
“Not at all. I'm just sitting out here relaxing. This is one of my favorite spots on the property,” she said as Trixie slid into the seat across from her. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“No, I'm good.”
“What's on your mind?”
“Was the winery in foreclosure?” Trixie blurted out, figuring being direct was the best way to go.
Deanna look shocked and then confused. “What are you talking about?”
“You know how this town can be. I've heard from a couple people now that the property was heading into foreclosure and that David was working trying to sell it.” Deanna wore a horrified expression, her hand covering her mouth.
Shaking her head, she started speaking, “What is wrong with people? Where do they get their information?”
“Are you sure something wasn't going on that maybe you didn't know about?” Trixie asked gently. She could understand one person saying something, but when she heard it from a couple different people who were unrelated - what was that old saying, where there's smoke, there's fire? There was definitely something on fire at Bramble Patch Winery.
“David handled all the financial stuff. I've just never liked dealing with anything pertaining to bills and money. We have our regular checking and savings accounts, but he handles all the investments like stocks and stuff.”
Oh, Deanna you never do that, Trixie thought. Rule number one her dad told her about money, never trust anyone else with it. Always make sure you were never left in the dark. “You don't think David would have done anything you weren’t aware of, do you?” Trixie asked, knowing the answer already but hoping to hear it from Deanna.
Deanna bristled and the last thing Trixie wanted to do was upset her or make her mad, but these questions had to be asked. Too many people were talking about foreclosure and, if it wasn't true it needed to be put to a stop. If it was true, Deanna needed to protect herself and see what other things she didn't know about.
“I know my husband. He would never take advantage of me,” Deanna said harshly.
“I'm not trying to upset you; I'm just trying to get to the bottom of this. You did ask me for help.”
“I didn't think asking you for help meant you would be trying to tell me David was doing things behind my back.”
“I'm not blaming it on David, I'm just asking a question. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you.”
“I think you should leave,” Deanna snapped.
“Deanna,” Trixie pleaded.
“We can talk later. I just think you should leave for now.”
Trixie got up and she felt really bad. “I'll call you later.”
Deanna nodded then looked down at her iced tea and didn't say anything else.
As Trixie left the winery, she became angry. Not at Deanna, but at David. Her gut was telling her now even more than before that there were some things David had done that Deanna didn't know about. Trixie just didn't know exactly what or why.
Instead of taking the turn that would lead her to her street, she went to the rest of the way into town. There was only one bank in town and it's where most everyone who lived in Romero did their banking. The bank manager, Derek, also happened to be someone she went to high school with. While she normally wouldn't ask him to divulge confidential financial information, she thought maybe he could tell her if her suspicions were right.
She pulled into the bank parking lot and realized she had made it just in the nick of time. The bank was going to close in ten minutes, which might work to her advantage as there might not be that many people there. He might be more inclined to share if it was just them.
When she walked in, she headed right over to his office. She could see through the windows that made up the entire front of his office that he was in. The door was open, and she knocked on the frame to get his attention. He looked up and waved her in.
“Hey, Trixie, what brings you in?” Derek said with a big smile.
“Do you have a minute?”
“For you, of course.” He said and waved at her to have a seat.
Trixie closed the door and sat down where he instructed.
“This must be serious if you're shutting the door. Problems with the ex-again?”
It wasn't uncommon for her ex-husband's child support checks to bounce and she’d needed his help on more than one occasion to straighten out her checking account.
“No, this is about Deanna.”
His expression changed to a somber one. “Horrible, isn't it? It's hard to believe that something like that happened in our town. Have you talked to Deanna? How is she doing?”
“She's doing as well as can be expected. But I came here because I was hoping that you might be able to answer a couple questions about the winery and David.”
“I can try as long as it's not confidential bank information.”
“Well, it kind of is. I've heard from a few different sources that the winery was almost in foreclosure. I asked Deanna about it and she got angry and said there's no way. But honestly, while I don't normally want to listen to gossip, I believe it. I’m afraid he was hiding things from her.”
“That would fall under confidential banking information,” he said slowly.
“So, you can't tell me anything?” He paused and Trixie could tell he knew something but was conflicted. She understood him not wanting to put his job in jeopardy. “I’m not just trying to verify gossip, I'm trying to help Deanna figure out who killed her husband.”
“What I can tell you is that you should listen to your gut.”
If she did that then the winery was going into foreclosure and Deanna knew nothing about it. What did that mean? What had David been hiding? More importantly, why?
Chapter 22
All roads seemed to lead back to Tracy, Trixie thought after she left the bank and stopped by Read Wine to close up and let Cora go home. Maybe Tracy had killed David. If she wanted to buy the property maybe it was would be easier if he wasn’t around. But then that didn't make sense because Danny said that David was working with her and Tracy was bending over backward to help him. If only she could ask Deanna, but after their last encounter she didn't want to go back and upset her unless she had proof. It seemed odd that every path included Tracy in some form. That had to mean something.
Trixie wanted to confront her and see what she had to say; however, she didn't want to do it at the winery because she didn't want Deanna to know. She needed to catch her at home, but she had no idea where Tracy lived. Though there was one person who might know.
She went to pick up her phone and make a call when someone walked in.
“How can I help you?” Trixie asked the customer.
“A large iced vanilla latte please and you better make that decaf. It's a little late in the day to have caffeine.”
“Sure thing. Can I interest you in a pastry to go with that?”
“No, just the coffee, thank you.”
Trixie turned around and fired up the espresso machine, grabbing a large cup and filling it with ice, milk, and the vanilla syrup. She poured it in the shaker while she waited for the coffee to brew.
When it was done, she dumped it in the shaker, put the top on, gave it a few shakes and poured it back in the original cup, putting the lid on it and sticking in a straw. She turned back to the counter, set it in front of the customer and rang her up.
“That will be three dollars and twenty-four cents, please.”
The woman handed over her credit card and Trixie swiped it, giving it back to her and then handing her receipt. “If you're not in a hurry feel free to browse around, we have a very nice selection of used books. You can even sit down and read one of them and don't have to buy it,” she said cheerfully.
“Why thank you.”
The woman went off to browse and as soon as she was out of earshot Trixie grabbed her phone and dialed.
“Hello,” the man answered on the second ring.
“Dean? This is Trixie. I was wondering if you could help me with something.”
An hour later, after the store closed, Trixie was on her way to where Tracy lived. Dean had given her Tracy's address and had also told her Tracy’s schedule the next couple of days.
It took her about thirty minutes to reach Tracy's condo. She was located halfway between Romero and Monroe, right on the edge of both. Technically in the town of Monroe, she lived in a complex of condos that had been built just a couple years ago. As Trixie pulled in, she couldn't help but wonder why Tracy would pick this place of all places to live. Not that it wasn't nice, it was, but knowing she came from money it was just hard to reconcile the choice when as small as the town was there were some high-end areas to live. But the fact that Tracy was working when she didn't have to did say a lot about her lack of interest in material things
Trixie looked at the scrap of paper where she'd written the exact address and pulled into an empty spot close to the building. Her stomach started to churn from nerves because she wasn't sure at all how Tracy would receive her stopping by.
She took a deep breath after getting out of her car and let it out slowly to calm her nerves and then walked up to the door, ringing the doorbell. She heard a dog bark and footsteps and soon the door opened.
Tracy peered out, a look of confusion on her face. Clearly the last person she expected to visit her was Trixie.
“I hope I'm not coming at a bad time. I'm sorry I'm dropping in unannounced. Do you have a few minutes?”
“Sure, come in,” Tracy said, still looking confused but backing up and opening the door allowing Trixie to walk in.
When Trixie walked through the door she was greeted by an excited golden retriever.
“Down, Rocky,” Tracy said, and the retriever stopped and sat, but still looked at them as his whole body shook with excitement.
“Sorry about that. We’ve been working on it. He doesn't quite understand not to jump on people.”
“That's fine, he's just excited and wants to play.”
“Can I get you anything; soda or water?”
“No, I'm fine.”
“Then come into the living room and have a seat.”
Trixie had to admit Tracy was being awfully gracious for someone who had an unexpected guest that wasn't a friend.
“What can I help you with? I mean, I assume you didn't just come here for a social visit.”
“No, I wanted to talk to you about David.”
“What about David?” Tracy said slowly, a look of apprehension on her face.
Trixie paused as this was the uncomfortable part of the conversation. “I heard that Bramble Patch was going into foreclosure and David was helping you try to buy it, or you wanted to help him save it. The story has a few different versions.”
Shock registered on Tracy's face. “How did you find out?”
“So, it’s true?”
Tracy nodded. “But I don't see what that has to do with David's murder.”
“Maybe you thought with David out of the way you would get a better price?”
“Are people saying that?” Tracy said, eyes filling with tears. “I did not kill him.”
“Then who did?”
“I don’t know. I was just trying to help him not lose all his money. I swear, I didn’t kill him.”
Chapter 23
After a sleepless night tossing and turning, mulling over her conversation with Tracy, Trixie thought the only way to get to the bottom of things was to get Tracy and Deanna together. Maybe if Deanna heard from Tracy that the winery was in foreclosure and David was working to sell, she’d believe it.
Trixie invited them both to Read Wine for coffee, though not telling each that she’d invited the other one. Tracy arrived first and Trixie was busy making her a latte.
“I appreciate you inviting me. I’ve heard good things about your place but just hadn’t had the chance to stop by.”
“You’re here now,” Trixie said, nerves building because she was expecting Deanna any moment and she had a feeling it wasn’t going to be a pleasant gathering.
The door chimed and Trixie looked up to see it was Deanna and her stomach churned with apprehension. When Deanna reached her and Tracy, she wore a confused look on her face.
“What are you doing here?” she directed toward Tracy, but Trixie stepped in.
“I invited both of you here today because I thought we should talk.”
“What about?” Deanna said warily.
“About the rumors going around regarding the winery being in foreclosure.”
At this Tracy looked very uncomfortable and she could see Deanna was mad.
“I’m not going to stay here for this,” Deanna snapped, and Trixie looked at Tracy for help and Tracy looked even more uncomfortable.
“Deanna,” Tracy said softly. “It’s true. David was trying to spare your feelings. He wanted to get the deal all worked out and then tell you.”
“Only because you turned him against me!” Deanna spat out, pointing to Tracy. “She is jealous of me. I told David to get rid of her, but he said she was a good employee and good employees were hard to find. Well. it looks like he was wrong about keeping her around. She murdered my David.”
Tracy started crying. “I didn't kill him. I loved him.”
While Trixie had suspected for a while that was the case and had a feeling Deanna knew too, it was still a shock to hear. She glanced over at Deanna to see how she was reacting, but she just had fire in her eyes. It was clear this wasn’t a surprise to her.
Trixie moved a little closer to her, almost afraid she might try to attack Tracy she seemed so angry.
“You helped him embezzle money from the business to pay his gambling debt and you did harmful things to the winery to give Adam a better position to buy us out because you knew as much as David loved this place, he needed the money. But it still didn't get you what you wanted.”
“You're so wrong. He loved me.”
“And that's how you got him killed,” Deanna interrupted her with a scream.
Trixie’s head reared back, and Tracy's eye snapped open in shock. Had she heard her right? Did Deanna just go from accusing Tracy of killing David to saying she got him killed?
Realization dawned on Trixie and she wondered how she could have missed it. The woman scorned and all that. The oldest reason in the book.
“You did it,” Trixie said softly, putting her hand on Deanna’s arm. Deanna shrugged it off angrily.
“You killed David?” Tracy said.
“He was mine. My husband, my business partner, my soul mate and you ruined it. I knew about him owing money, but I loved him and knew he would handle it. I supported him because I loved him, but you took him away from me. I wasn't going to let you have him,” Deanna was screaming.
Trixie slowly stepped toward where her phone was sitting on the counter and picked it up. Neither woman noticed her as Deanna was screaming at Tracy and Tracy was crying hysterically. Trixie quickly texted Clive and set the phone down where she could see the readout, hoping Clive got her text and fast.
“You killed him?” Tracy sobbed. “Why? Why did you kill him?”
“
If I couldn’t have him no one was going to,” she shrieked that last sentence just as Clive walked in.
“Deanna! It’s true? You killed David?” Clive said and Deanna looked at him then fell to the floor sobbing.
“What have I done?” she wailed as to more officers followed Clive in and pulled her off the floor, handcuffed her and walked her out to the waiting police car.
“Are you two okay?” Clive ask Tracy and Trixie. They both nodded, but Tracy was heartbroken. Trixie could see she really loved him.
“Did you suspect?” Trixie asked Clive.
“I had my suspicions, but I wasn’t sure.”
“I can’t believe Deanna felt she couldn’t let him live without her.”
“It’s too bad because now her life is over too.”
Trixie looked over to Tracy. This tragedy had ruined three lives. All for what? It made Trixie appreciated all she had. Her life was good. Really good.
The End
Download the next in the Read Wine Bookstore Cozy series: Lawyers & Liars.
Download the first in the Spencer University Cozy series: Death by Suspenders.
If you liked this story you can read a Presley Thurman cozy mystery Promotions & Poisons.
Thanks for Reading
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