Pairing a Deception

by Nadine Nettmann

  I grabbed a pen at the front desk and flipped over a flyer for their weekly activities. “I need you to call John Dean at this number and tell him that Katie said Isabella is here at the Lancaster.”

  I glanced back at the elevator to see what floor it stopped at. The lever above the elevator pointed to three. “Third floor.”

  “I don’t think I can do that,” said the front desk attendant. “But there’s a house phone over there.” She pointed across the lobby. I took one step but saw the elevator was on its way back down.

  “I don’t have time, please do this for me. Detective John Dean.” I pushed the paper toward her and jogged to the elevator. The ride seemed to take longer than usual. When the car stopped on the third floor, I cautiously stepped into the hallway. Isabella wasn’t outside Hudson’s new room nor was she anywhere in sight. Maybe I had seen the wrong number on the outside of the elevator.

  I continued until the hallway turned. She wasn’t in that section, either.

  “Katie,” said a voice from behind. I turned and there was Isabella, looking as sweet and innocent as ever.

  “Oh, hi, Isabella.”

  “Are you following me?” She still sounded nervous, but there seemed to be an edge to her voice. I worried she might attack me again and I mentally kicked myself for leaving my phone with Darius.

  “No, not at all. I’m just heading to my room.”

  “Me, too.”

  “Funny, I didn’t think you had a room here,” I added.

  Her face shifted into concern. “Is it against the rules not to stay at the main festival hotel?”

  “You mentioned the other day that you were staying at the New Sierra, that’s all.”

  Isabella jumped like she was frightened, though I knew it was an act. “Must have made a mistake.”

  “Are you checking out?”

  “Me? No. I just want to grab my sweater and get back to the festival. Are you done working?”

  “No,” I replied. “Heading back any minute.” I wasn’t sure what else to do. I didn’t buy her sweater comment and I was certain she was about to flee. I glanced at the elevator. Did the desk clerk call Dean? I hoped he would arrive soon.

  She opened the door to her room. “You can come in while I look for my sweater. Then we’ll head back together.”

  I was worried she might attack me again, but I also didn’t want to let her out of my sight.

  I moved inside, but kept the door open with my foot in case I needed to make a fast exit.

  “I’m glad you decided to wait with me,” she said as she searched through her suitcase. “It makes sense since you were following me.”

  “I actually wasn’t, but you sound a little guilty there. Have something to hide?” My voice came out strong, even though my nerves were rampant.

  “I think it’s perfectly reasonable to ask why someone’s following me. Don’t you?”

  “If I was indeed following you, which I wasn’t.” I smiled.

  “This is silly,” said Isabella.

  “I agree. But you should know I know about Rachel.”

  Isabella tilted her head. “What do you mean?” she said in a high, sweet voice.

  “That you paid her to get close to Hudson. I don’t understand why you didn’t just approach him yourself.”

  She turned her attention to the open suitcase in front of her. “This conversation would be much more engaging if I actually knew what you were talking about.”

  “The police are outside. They’re going take you in for questioning.”

  “On what grounds? I’ve done nothing wrong.” She smiled at me. “Life is complicated, Katie. Don’t complicate it further by doing whatever it is you are doing now.”

  “You killed Rachel Carlson.”

  Isabella pulled her sweater out, looked at me, and smiled. “Katie, you don’t know what you’re talking about. I suggest you go off and play with your boyfriend and leave wine things to those of us who know what we’re doing.” She walked toward me and I flinched, but she simply entered the bathroom and riffled through her makeup bag.

  “He’s already on his way here with the authorities.”

  Isabella paused. “You’re joking.”

  “Am I? I don’t think so.”

  She laughed and applied her lipstick with a steady hand.

  I stood at the door, not sure what to do next, but then I saw it. At the edge of the open suitcase was a flash of bright blue. Like the hat the bartender mentioned. Without thinking, I stepped toward the suitcase to get a closer look and heard the door close behind me.

  I turned around to reopen it, but there was Isabella with a large kitchen knife. “Silly Katie.” She pointed the knife toward me. “You should have left when you had the chance. I tried to warn you, but you kept asking questions. Kept pushing.” All nervousness was gone from her voice, the act finally dropped. Now she sounded more like my attacker in the hallway.

  “It doesn’t have to be like this, Isabella. We can talk about it.” The tip of the knife was only three feet away. It was better than having a gun aimed at me, but still not exactly comforting.

  “No.” Isabella held the knife with her hand over the top of the handle. It would be difficult to stab me that way, but I wasn’t about to point it out. “You shouldn’t be here,” she said.

  “Clearly,” I responded. “But it’s a little too late for that.” The only thing I had close to a weapon was the small blade on my wine opener. It would be no match for the large knife she was brandishing. “I know you paid Rachel, but how did you know her?”

  “I found her at a gym in Santa Barbara. She was eager to earn a few dollars so I hired her to convince Hudson to join Tama Winery. By whatever means necessary. That doesn’t mean I’m a killer.”

  “But she failed, didn’t she?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She smiled sweetly as she waved the knife. “Hudson announced that he’s with Tama Winery now.”

  “Hudson didn’t want to join. At least until you locked him in the closet in the restaurant. Then he was eager to be a part of your little company. What did you do, blackmail him?”

  Isabella laughed. “Blackmail? Don’t be ridiculous. I simply gave Hudson a little time to think things over. I wasn’t going to leave him in there, but I got distracted. I mean, it’s a festival after all.” A wicked smile formed on her face. “How did you know it was me? I left no evidence.”

  “But you did. The wine bottle in Rachel’s hand.”

  “What does that matter?”

  “You were the only one who knew it was Tama wine last night. It was in a different bottle. It meant you were connected.”

  “That’s entrapment.”

  “Why? I’m not law enforcement.”

  “It’s not enough to convict me.”

  “No, it’s not. But we do have this.” I motioned to the space between us.

  “Self-defense,” said Isabella. “I’m a sweetheart. They’ll believe me.”

  “Hardly.”

  Her eyes narrowed and her smile disappeared. “I should have put you outside Hudson’s door instead of Rachel.”

  I felt a chill climb the back of my neck. “Thanks for the sentiment.”

  Isabella swung the knife in my direction, but I jumped, the bed hitting my calves.

  She laughed as she swiped once more. “I’ll never hire someone to help me again. What a mess! I should have done the whole thing by myself from the start.”

  “Why didn’t you?” I tried to think how I could grab the knife, but her movements were rapid and jerky. If I did anything, it would just end up cutting me.

  She jabbed the knife toward me and I dodged to the right. “I was a silent partner. I didn’t want my name out there. I’ve put my entire life savings into Tama. It has to succeed. All Rachel did was try to foll
ow Hudson for other reasons. She had her own agenda.” Isabella shook her head. “She was ridiculous from the beginning. Stealing someone else’s pass when I gave her enough money to buy her own? That’s just greedy.”

  “So that’s why you killed her?”

  Isabella shrugged. “I snapped, what can I say? It wasn’t like I planned to kill her.” She tossed her hair back and the pause was enough for me to jump behind the bed and pull my wine opener from my pocket. It wasn’t much, but it would have to do.

  “You think that’s any match against this knife?” She laughed. “Please. You’re even dumber than I thought.”

  “Just trying to even up the playing field. In fact, if you put your knife down, I’ll put this one down, too.” My nerves were actually calm and I could breathe. It was like I had been prepared for this situation, though I had no idea how.

  “Not a chance.”

  “Okay then. The status quo remains.” I held my opener up, keeping the space of the mattress between us. If she came around it, I could go over the top. If she jumped up on the bed, I could try and get around the side, but I wasn’t sure I would make it in time. I needed to figure something out before she lunged again. “Not to point out the obvious, but my boyfriend is a detective. He’ll know that you’re the one who killed me and Rachel and tied up Hudson.”

  “This is self-defense, Katie. You followed me and attacked me with that little opener. What makes you think I can’t get away with it?” She reached over the bed so fast, the knife made a whooshing sound as I threw myself to the side. It missed me.

  “You didn’t get away with Rachel’s murder,” I said as I scrambled to my feet.

  “Oh, but I did, and I’m about to take care of you.”

  “They’ll be here soon. The police.”

  “This room isn’t even under my name. The one at the New Sierra is. I’m telling you, Katie, I know how to cover my tracks and you can’t jump into the bushes this time.” She smiled and I knew she was the one that tried to run me off the road.

  Adrenaline pulsed through my veins. “They’ll still link it to you. You’re already wanted for questioning. You couldn’t have covered everything.”

  “I’ll have to take the risk,” said Isabella as she jumped onto the bed and swiped the knife at me. I tried to move to the side again, but she was too close. The tip of her knife sliced through my shirt.

  I grabbed at my stomach as she retreated, a strange smile on her face. I looked down at the line of blood forming on the fabric, though I felt no pain. “Seriously?”

  “All part of the game, Katie. I have a knife and you have a silly little wine opener.” She grinned. “Just means I’m more prepared than you.”

  “Is this what you did to Rachel? Stab her in front of Hudson’s door and leave her there as a warning to him?” I held my abdomen with one hand while I kept the wine opener up with the other. At least the shock was keeping away the pain, but I knew I was in trouble. I was cornered and wounded.

  Isabella stood on the bed, staring at me as she held her knife. I moved alongside the bed until I was in the middle of the room, but my movements didn’t seem to faze her.

  “It wasn’t supposed to be that way. Rachel was supposed to bring him to me. This room, in fact. One conversation and he would have done what I wanted. But she failed. When I caught her in the hallway and she said she was leaving, I snapped.” She shrugged. “It happens to the best of us. I had to think quick, so I left her there.”

  “You’re lying.” I took a step backward to the door. “People would have heard.”

  “You’d be surprised at what people ignore when it’s late at night and they’re tucked safely in their beds.” She paused. “Or busy at a grand tasting.” She lunged toward me, her knife high in the air.

  I threw my arm up to block her attack as she landed. My forearm hit hers and sent it to the side as I grabbed her hand, twisting it around and barely missing the blade.

  She punched with her other hand, smacking me in the face. I pulled both hands behind her back, my knee in the middle of her spine as I took her down to the ground, the knife clattering to the floor.

  “Wow,” said a male voice.

  I glanced up as Isabella struggled underneath me. A hotel employee held a ring of keys at the door with Dean, who pushed past him. “We came just in time.”

  “How did you know where to find me?” I released my grasp on Isabella as he handcuffed her.

  “I got your message from the front desk. We’ve been opening nearly every door on the third floor.” Dean’s face went pale. “Katie, you’re hurt.”

  I put my hand over my abdomen to try and stop the bleeding. “I’m fine. I think. But I had her, so what did you mean about coming just in time?”

  “To see those moves. Where did you learn those?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe the Academy. Maybe karate class when I was a kid.”

  “I’m impressed,” said Dean. “What other tricks are you hiding?”

  “Do you have to talk about this right now?” said Isabella. “I want to press charges.”

  “Sorry, I don’t think that’s an option,” replied Dean. “Come on, let’s go. I have some boys in blue who want to meet you.” He glanced at me. “And we need to get you to a doctor.”

  “Take care of Isabella first. I want to see her in the back of a squad car, knowing that she’s fully trapped. Then we can worry about this.” I took a good look at my stomach for the first time. The cut was deeper than I had realized.

  thirty-five

  pairing suggestion: tokaji aszú—tokaj, hungary

  Created from grapes affected by botrytis (Noble Rot), this wine is golden and sweet.

  The police officers put Isabella in the back of the car as medics tended to my injury. A crowd had formed to watch the squad cars and ambulance arrive, but the temptation of food and wine won in the end and now only a small group remained focused on the activity.

  “You’ll need stitches, but I’ve secured it with bandages for the moment,” said the medic.

  The pain had set in once the shock wore off, but I didn’t want to show it in my face. “Great, just what I need. A lovely scar.”

  “Scars can be cool,” said the medic. “Besides, you’re lucky it wasn’t worse. Do you want to come in the ambulance?”

  I shook my head. “We’ll drive in our own car. I don’t need all of the flashing lights.”

  The medic stared at me, a skeptical look on his face.

  “Don’t worry, I’m going to go to the hospital,” I added. “Save the ambulance for those who really need it.”

  “I’ll drive her,” said Dean.

  I looked up at him. “Not exactly a great end to our special weekend.”

  “I wouldn’t say that. Wine, food, and stitches.” Dean touched my shoulder. “I’m just glad you’re okay.

  One of the officers came over to Dean, holding a pair of handcuffs. “I think these are yours.”

  “They are.”

  “Okay, then. Thanks for your help today,” said the officer. “We’re going to take her in now. We’ll need your statement. Both of you.”

  “Definitely,” replied Dean.

  The officer glanced at me. I wanted to point to my bandages and tell him that he would get the statement after I had stitches because I had been in a knife fight, but I decided to let it go. “Not a problem,” I replied.

  “Come over when you’re ready,” the officer said and walked away.

  I looked at Dean. “You always carry handcuffs on you?”

  “Force of habit.” Dean didn’t smile. “Will you be okay for Tuesday?”

  “Of course. But at the moment, don’t remind me.” I put my hand on my stomach, the bandages awkward and bulky with a tremor of pain beneath them.

  Hudson ambled over from the officers, the ever-present wineglass in his
hand. “Katie, Dean, thank you for everything. I really appreciate it.” He motioned to the bandages around my waist. “Is that from Isabella?”

  “Yeah. She had a bigger knife, but I won in the end.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “I will be after a few stitches, but Hudson, I still don’t understand why you didn’t tell the police after Isabella kidnapped you.”

  Hudson shook his head. “Isabella knew where I lived and knew my wife and kids were there without me. She said if I didn’t go along with it or if I involved the police, she had an associate waiting near my house.” He shrugged. “I figured it wasn’t worth the risk. I mean, it’s just a winery. I can promote that if it means the safety of my family.”

  “Are they safe now?”

  He nodded. “Officers are at the house and apparently Isabella’s now backpedaling, saying there wasn’t even anyone waiting. I also heard from the owners of Tama a few minutes ago. They had no idea she was doing this. Looks like I have some legal issues to deal with this week but no matter what, I’ll be at the exam.” He paused as he looked at us. “I don’t know what I would have done if you weren’t here. Either I’d be in jail or I’d be …” His voice fell away before he could finish his sentence. He took a sip of his wine. “Anyway, thank you.” He motioned to my bandages. “I guess this means you won’t be there on Tuesday.”

  “Are you kidding? I’m not letting this hold me back. I’ll be in Phoenix.”

  “Good to hear,” said Hudson as he nodded. “Unfortunately your work this weekend won’t affect the test results.”

  “I would be upset if it did,” I replied. “I want to be judged on my wine knowledge, not my ability to solve crimes or end up in knife fights.”

  “I’ll see you on Tuesday then.” He glanced at Dean. “Or at least one of you. Are you taking the exam?”

  “No. I’m not a sommelier. I’m a detective,” replied Dean.

  “Ah, that makes sense then. You did a lot of good detecting this weekend.”

  “Actually, it was mostly Katie. She’s excellent at it.”