A Vintage Murder

by Michele Scott

  Nikki stopped her. “If he loved Elizabeth so much, how is it that Grace was able to seduce him?”

  “He’s a man. Liquor him up and make the moves. We’re women. We all know how to do it.”

  Nikki didn’t like hearing this at all. She believed that a man or woman in love could handle being seduced by another.

  “It also didn’t hurt Grace’s case any when she told Liam that the reason Elizabeth didn’t want to marry him and never would was because she truly belonged to her cause. And, I believe that is true. I think Liam knew it also, and in a weak moment he succumbed to Grace. I told you she is controlling and manipulative. Once Elizabeth found out about the betrayal, that’s when she took off on her own expedition, and the rest is history. It would appear that the night Grace and Liam tangled, she wound up pregnant with Hannah, and so there you have it. The man is weak, loses the love of his life, blames himself for it, and then does the honorable thing by marrying the pregnant cow.”

  “What about Hannah? She does not seem like a very happy young woman.”

  Simon sighed. “This is a bad soap opera. Oh, go ahead and pour me some more of that wine, if I have to listen to this.”

  “He always so gracious?” Sarah asked, pouring him a new glass.

  “Always.” Nikki turned to him, knowing what he was about to do. “Don’t you dare kick me,” she said, and then faced Sarah again. “Do you know anything about Hannah?”

  “You know they’ve had some trouble with Hannah being a bit of a party girl, but my goodness, she is a grown woman. She and her mother have different ideas about her future. Hannah has always wanted to go into zoology. Ever since she was a girl. I’ve known her all her life basically, and she was always into the animals, which of course gets right under Grace’s skin because that’s who Elizabeth was. It’s ironic that here Grace stole Liam from Elizabeth and they had this child together who wants to be exactly like Grace’s nemesis. I think it’s rather humorous. Hannah will get her way from the looks of it, though.”

  “What do you mean?” Nikki asked.

  “I’ve seen Hannah and Andy Burrow hanging out together and if you ask me she has eyes for him and he looks to be returning the affection. That won’t make her parents happy. They’ve known Andy for years, too. As a matter of fact, Hannah and Andy Burrow came to the winery last evening.”

  “Really? I was with them over dinner at the Hahndorfs’ last night.” Nikki glanced at Simon.

  “They came in early, maybe five or so, and they were pretty cozy. Although at one point Hannah got upset and Andy comforted her.”

  “Andy is old enough to be her father,” Simon interjected.

  “Love doesn’t know age. To Hannah, it’s probably pretty romantic. Here is this Aussie hero type, one who is involved with animals like she wants to be, and he’s doting on her.” Sarah finished off her wine in one fell swoop.

  “Did you get the sense that he meant it? You know, that he was really into Hannah?”

  “My opinion, yup.”

  “Nikki, we should get back,” Simon said. “I’m hungry and I want a glass of wine.”

  “What do you think that is?” Sarah pointed to his wineglass.

  Simon frowned. “Nikki, come on.”

  “You better take your friend home. Looks like he turns into a pumpkin when it grows dark.”

  Nikki apologized and said good-bye. Back in the car she turned to Simon. “What was that all about? Why did you have to be so rude to her?”

  “I don’t like her. There’s something wrong with her.”

  “You sound like your brother. I would have thought that you would have loved town gossip.”

  “No. What I would love is a good glass of vino and that tasted like horse piss.”

  “You drank it.”

  “I had to in order to swallow all her banter. She is a liar, Nikki. I can feel it.”

  “Now are you going to tell me you have a built-in lie detector, kind of like your gaydar?”

  “No. I don’t know what it is . . . maybe I’m like Derek in some way. I really don’t like when people talk so negatively about someone who has been nothing but nice to me, and Grace has been. She came down to the set earlier and we talked. I like her.”

  “Wait a minute. She was down on the set today? I didn’t see her.”

  “She was there for a little while.”

  “What did she want?” Nikki asked.

  “I don’t know. I guess to watch a bit. But we got to talking and I was telling her about Marco, and she gave me some sage advice. She said that people will do anything for love, give up anything, go the distance. That’s what love is. I thought it was beautiful, what she said.”

  Nikki didn’t know how to respond. She had a lot going on in her mind. First off, everything that Sarah had told them about Grace and Liam and Elizabeth. Was it true, or was Simon right? Was the woman a liar? What she said made sense. It did. But what about Grace showing up on the set? Nikki hadn’t seen her. She would have thought that Grace would want to stay as far away from the set as possible.

  They made it back to the vineyard. Will was at the security kiosk. “Nice evening?” he asked.

  “Oh hunky-dory,” Simon replied.

  Will looked at him strangely and Nikki said, “It was nice. Thank you.” She drove on up to the RV. “You need to really behave yourself.”

  “I’m sorry. I’m a bit hungry, and it makes me grumpy if I don’t eat. I think my sugar levels are dropping.”

  “Right. Why didn’t you go into acting?”

  “Funny. So what are we going to eat?” he asked.

  Once inside the motor home, she hunted through the cabinets, which to her delight were stocked with food, bottled water, soda, and even wine. “Hey, check this out. Lucy must have demanded all of this.” She pointed to the food. “I think I can whip us up something.”

  “Where is that wine?”

  “On its way.” She opened a bottle and poured him a glass.

  “Now this is good,” Simon said.

  “I’m glad you’re happy.” She found tomato soup, macaroni and cheese, and fixings for a salad. “Comfort food coming soon.”

  “Goody.”

  They took out plates and bowls and ate their comfort food while splitting the rest of the wine. Talk turned to the set and the movie. “It’s hard,” Nikki replied when Simon asked how things were really going. “I don’t know how I’m doing. I suppose okay, because we are getting through it, but under the conditions of first Lucy’s bizarre death, and now Marne Pickett haunting me, it’s kind of tough. How about you? What do you think of things around here?”

  “Interesting. I’ve never been on a movie set before. It’s kind of like its own little city here, with pretty much everything one needs all set up. And then you have the pecking order—which, by the way, I am not low man on the totem pole.”

  She laughed. “You’re not, huh?”

  “No way. They all buy into my Jiu-Jitsu act. I think I have them scared to death of me.”

  “Who is low man on the totem pole then?”

  “Who knows, really. What I do know is that Amy and Harv haven’t scored points with many people around here.”

  “Tell me about it.”

  “I thought that Harv might be cool and we could hang out,” Simon said. “But he’s rude. And that Amy may know how to pick out clothes, but she’s a real bitch. I tried to take her a cup of coffee because I heard her tell Harv she wanted one, and she said that she changed her mind, when I went to give it to her.”

  “Why do you think they’re like that?”

  “Who knows? Superiority complex.”

  “I know they didn’t like Lucy much. Maybe they did her in.”

  Simon laughed. “Come on. Why?”

  “Because she was horrible to them.”

  “So what? That’s showbiz. Actresses are awful to people all the time. I doubt it bothers those two very much. You’re not still on this kick about Lucy’s death being a murder? Is that w
hy we just took the trip down to that so-called winery?”

  “Yes I am, and yes that’s why.” Nikki went into everything she’d discovered, from Hannah’s book on poisonous snakes, to Liam’s love for the real Elizabeth Wells and Grace’s jealousy, to the fact that Johnny, Hannah, and Lucy partied with Will the security guard the night that Lucy died. Then of course there was Shawn’s contentiousness with Lucy, along with Kane’s. Nikki had started wondering if Kane might have killed Lucy just because she was setting the schedule back with her temper tantrums. A new actress could get the movie done on time and for less money. That could be, but if so, why wouldn’t he have just fired her? Of course there was also Andy Burrow, who knew how to handle poisonous snakes, was certain that his suit had been moved, and then had changed his story.

  “Okay, I’ll play Nancy Drew with you. I think I’m just about tipsy enough.” Simon retrieved a second bottle of wine. “There is a hole where Andy is concerned. Why would he tell the cops that his suit had been moved and set on a different peg and then change his story to say that he must have been mistaken?”

  “Good question. Why exactly.” Nikki took the refilled glass from him. “Thanks. Last one for me. I’m feeling it.” She took a sip. “That is a really good question. Maybe it was to deflect attention away from himself as a killer.”

  “Huh?”

  “Think about it. He tells this story about his suit before he even realizes that the cops have basically dismissed the entire thing as an accident. Maybe he was covering his butt before he even needed to. Once he realized that the cops were not handling this as a possible murder case, he sang a different tune.” Nikki theorized.

  “Maybe, but I think Andy is really on the up-and-up,” Simon said.

  Nikki shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve also wondered if security guard Will might have been dazzled—and seduced—by Lucy and then have turned on her. He may also know how to handle a snake. He grew up around here. They all seem to have antivenom or know how to treat a bite. What if Lucy did something to upset him after the fact? I already know she was teasing him at the bar and he left because Hannah told him Lucy was only putting him on. Actually, Hannah’s another one I’ve had some serious suspicions about. There’s something off about Hannah Hahndorf.”

  “What about her?”

  “Hannah has been friends with Will since they were kids. They all had drinks together the night that Lucy died. Johnny said that they crashed Grace’s car after being run off the road by someone else, which no one really believes. Hannah is also into zoology. She’s buddy-buddy with Andy. I saw a book in the den where she’d been reading when I was there earlier—on poisonous snakes.”

  “Where are you going with this?”

  “Okay, so if Hannah and Will are pals, and Hannah is friends with Andy, and Hannah wrecked her mom’s car while partying with Lucy and Johnny, and Grace had a conniption. Then, Lucy treated her friend Will like he was a piece of you know what. And finally, Lucy had been demeaning toward Andy and his animals, both of which Hannah loves. What if Hannah did away with Lucy? She has the know-how and the motive. Andy Burrow could be thinking the same thing, or maybe he even knows for sure, since Hannah had been with him the night Lucy died, checking on the animals. Maybe that’s why she was crying on his shoulder at Sarah Fritz’s place. He could be covering for Hannah because he cares for her on more than a friend level, or simply because of his ties to her family. But what I can for sure tell you is that when Hannah found out Lucy was dead, her reaction was strange.”

  “Too much Law & Order, that’s your problem,” Simon said, slurring his words.

  “No. I don’t think so. I think I am on to something. I believe that Hannah Hahndorf may have killed Lucy Swanson. Now I have to prove it.”

  Chapter 28

  The next morning before six, Liam showed up with food and coffee. Simon had agreed to Nikki’s request for some space when she said that Liam was coming by and that she needed to speak with him. He’d gone for a walk to try and burn off the calories from the night before, although he wasn’t happy about having to rise at such an early hour.

  After they’d stayed up talking, with Simon telling her repeatedly that her theories were out in left field and she should really concentrate on her film, she’d done exactly that and picked up the articles about Elizabeth. She’d read about Elizabeth’s contributions to the world of wildlife and what her ethics had been. It was interesting, but didn’t give Nikki much insight as to who she was. She’d also watched one of the documentaries that Kane had given her, about sharks. Elizabeth, an attractive woman, had been kind to all animals. She also appeared shy, almost childlike, but she had a quiet strength about her. Nikki could see why Elizabeth would have appealed to so many people. She hadn’t gotten all the way through the documentary because she’d grown tired and finally shut it off, vowing to watch all three that Kane had given her soon.

  Liam knocked on the door after she’d showered, and she was relieved to see he’d shown up. She was nervous, too, but so far she’d found Liam Hahndorf open and generous. Although she knew it was a sensitive subject, she figured the best tactic to take would be to get right to the point. After she buttered a croissant he’d brought and took a sip of coffee, she sat down across from him.

  “You have questions about Elizabeth?” he asked—again, that sadness in his eyes shone through.

  “I do. You loved her.”

  “Yes. I did. Very much. Elizabeth Wells was a wonderful woman.”

  “I can tell by what I’ve read about her and by the script you wrote. I want to portray her as best I can. Can you give me some insight?”

  “I’ve seen some of the dailies, and I’ve been on the set a few times during shooting and to be truthful, your portrayal of Elizabeth is astounding.”

  “I didn’t know that you had been on the set.” She needed to start paying more attention. Both Liam and Grace had been around and she hadn’t noticed.

  “I have, a couple of times, but it has also been painful for me.”

  “You want this movie made, don’t you?”

  “Of course I do. It’s important to me.”

  Nikki nodded. “I get the feeling it is not as important to Grace.”

  Liam didn’t reply. He held his stomach for a moment. Nikki noticed the color drain from his face.

  “Liam? Are you okay?”

  “I’m feeling a bit ill. Sorry. Excuse me.” He stood and went into the bathroom.

  Nikki sat there, baffled. She was sure she heard him vomiting. Poor man. He came out a few minutes later, pale and sweating. “Sit down, please. Should I go and get Grace?”

  “No. Please don’t. It’ll upset her. No, don’t do that.”

  “Can I get you anything?”

  “No. Sit down. I have to tell you something. It’s important that I tell you now. I didn’t want anyone to know. But for you, for the part you are playing as Elizabeth, it is important that I explain everything. But first you must promise me, you can’t tell anyone. Only a few people know, including Derek.”

  “What does Derek know? What are you talking about?”

  Tears filled Liam’s eyes. “He knows that I’m dying.”

  Chapter 29

  Nikki was shaken by Liam’s story. “Cancer?” She had to repeat herself. “You’re sure.”

  He smiled. “I’ve known for about a year. It’s my second bout with it, but this time it appears it’s going to get me.”

  “Oh no. I’m so sorry, Liam.”

  He explained to her that seven years earlier he’d been diagnosed with stomach cancer, then it had gone into remission. It was back now, and had spread to his liver and his bones. “I wrote Elizabeth’s story years ago. Remember how I’d told you that I’d been writing for a bit? Her story—your story now—is one of my first scripts, only meant for me. But learning that my demise was imminent, I dusted off the script and sent it to Kane, who had been involved with us on a documentary years back. I also sent it to Andy because of who he is,
and because he also knew Elizabeth. She is one of the reasons Andy started his zoo. It was her passion for the animals that drew Andy in and, bless him, he has done wonders for the animal kingdom.”

  “This tribute to her is because of your illness?”

  “Kane doesn’t know and neither does Nathan. You and Derek know now, and of course Grace. We have not told Hannah.”

  “Does Hannah know about you and Elizabeth? I mean the past?”

  “I am sure she’s heard the rumors, but Hannah is a good girl and we have done what we could to shelter her. Her mother and I both told her that Elizabeth had only been a friend of ours, and that was it. I hope she is convinced, but I had to do this. You see, Nikki, when you’re dying you start thinking about all the mistakes you’ve made, the people you’ve hurt, and you realize that if you had to do it all over again you would do everything in your power never to hurt anyone again. Never say a harsh word. Never tell a lie or connive. You’d avoid all of that, if you could do it over again. It’s terribly tragic really that we don’t come to these conclusions in our youth, when we are so apt to hurt others.”

  “So you think about these things and you want to make amends. My problem is, I have made too many mistakes and have too many amends to make.” He laughed, but his laughter was edged with sadness. “It may sound crazy but I feel this need to make amends with Elizabeth even though she is gone, and I also need to make amends with my wife. I am still stuck between the two.”

  “I can see that.” She wasn’t sure she understood, but she could feel the man’s pain.

  “It’s a long story. But basically I fell in love with Elizabeth. Grace fell in love with me. Both Elizabeth and I made mistakes. I made a bigger one, or at least I thought so at the time when I had an affair with Grace. It was a mistake because I blame myself for Elizabeth taking off on the trip by herself. The trip where she was killed. What isn’t a mistake is my daughter and, I can tell you, I am convinced now that my marriage is not a mistake either. For a long time I thought it was. I married Grace because of the pregnancy. For years there has been turmoil between us. My plan was to leave when Hannah was old enough. Then I got sick the first time and Grace was my savior. For the first time in our lives we became friends. She was with me night and day, researching the best doctors, best treatment, all of it, and I fell in love with her. I did. I love her so very much and I know making this movie about Elizabeth is upsetting her, and the only way I know how to make it up to her is to make the deal that I did with Derek.”