“No. I’ve told you all I know.”
Nikki tried to say thank you, but the poor woman hung up the phone before she got a chance. “I earned some bad karma there, now didn’t I?” she mumbled. She didn’t like deceiving people, but it had confirmed her hunch. Patrice was willing to pay big bucks to keep the fact that she was Meredith’s biological mother under wraps. And now there was a brother.
She got back in Derek’s Range Rover and sped down the road. She had another stop to make before finally getting to the grocery store and back in time to prepare dinner.
Manuel Sanchez had aged in a matter of two days. He was thinner, haggard, and sad looking. His eyes were red rimmed, the creases on his face tugged at the weathered skin.
“Why are you here?” he asked, talking to Nikki through a thick Plexiglass window, using the provided phone.
“Because I believe you’re innocent, and I’m trying to prove it.”
“You won’t prove it. I’m a poor Mexican migrant worker. What does anyone care if I sit here and rot?”
“I do, and I know your children do. They need you.”
His face brightened some. “Have you seen Catalina and Mateo?”
“I was with them right after you were arrested. They’re wonderful kids, Manuel, and I’m certain they miss you, so you have to fight this thing. You need to tell me a few things. How did you know to look for me in the business office the other night?”
“Easy. I was walking the vineyard and saw a light on. I thought maybe you’d gone in there.”
She could accept that. “What about the drawings?”
“I drew those because of the pain in my heart. I would never kill anyone. People say they are scary and violent, but they are of me and my wife, and how I die every time I think of her. The grapes in the pictures that the newspaper talked about, is only because I see the grapes as a part of our life. Sometimes the grapes seem evil, and sometimes they are good. There are days I blame the grapes for killing her, and other days I know that is not right. I want to blame someone or something.”
“Of course you do. You say you wouldn’t kill anyone but what about—”
“The man in Mexico? He tried to rape my little sister and to kill me. What was I to do? I had a knife, and I fought until he was dead. Another American man saw it happen and told the police it wasn’t my fault. They let me go. There’s nothing more to talk about. I’m not proud of what I did, but I will always protect my family.”
“Do you know who killed Gabriel and Minnie? And why they would set you up?”
“I don’t know who did it. They set me up for the reasons I told you. I’m here in jail, and no one around here cares much. I don’t know why you care, and maybe Mr. Malveaux. But my lawyer, he says it looks bad for me.”
“Don’t give up hope, not yet. I’ve been making promises I aim to keep, and buddy, you’re a part of those promises.”
He looked at her oddly, not understanding what she was talking about.
“I’ll be back.” She hung up the phone and waved at him. He stared at her as she left, the palm of his hand against the Plexiglass window.
Manuel Sanchez did not possess the eyes of a deranged killer, and the words from his mouth were heartfelt and sincere. Nikki had heard enough bull in her day, and she had made up enough of her own bull to know the truth when she heard it.
She made a quick stop at the grocery store and headed back to the vineyard, her mind not on the evening’s dinner but on all of the events that had taken place since she’d arrived in Napa.
Hearing UB40 playing on the ’eighties station, she turned it up and sang along.“‘Red, red wine goes to my head.’”
After unloading the groceries, she went to work on the evening’s meal, which she really wanted to go all out on. She’d planned on making pork tenderloin in salsa verde along with a candied walnut salad and a fruit compote. Her only specialty was the tenderloin, which was a recipe she’d learned from Aunt Cara, who’d picked it up on a trip down in Guadalajara a couple of years ago, and was one of her all-time favorites. Everything else was coming straight from a cookbook that she’d checked out from the library during her investigative session that morning. Glancing down at her watch, she knew she’d better get her butt in the kitchen and open up the cookbook.
Forty-five minutes later, marinated tenderloin in the oven, and walnuts candied, she opened a bottle of Red Meritage, which was a good match for the spicy fare they were going to have that evening, and poured herself a glass.
Nikki rested for a minute at the kitchen counter and polished off her wine. She set the glass down to go in search of a lighter for the candles she’d bought. When she didn’t find one in the kitchen or front room, she remembered seeing a lighter in the drawer of the bedroom nightstand. While in the bedroom rummaging through the drawer, she heard the front door shut. “Derek?”
“No, it’s me, Cal. Sorry, I’m a bit early.”
“Only five minutes. I’ll be right there.” She came out of the room a few minutes later, after sprucing up her makeup and pinning back her hair. “Hey,” she said.
Cal handed Nikki a new glass of wine. “I didn’t think you’d mind if I took it upon myself to pour you one.”
She nodded and took a couple of sips. “Thanks. Derek should be here soon. Maybe I should give him a call.”
“Let’s give him a few more minutes. He’s a busy man. Drink some more of the wine. Tell me what you think. It’s one of my latest creations, and I think it could be a big seller.”
Nikki didn’t really want to drink any more wine until Derek arrived. She didn’t need to be loaded before he showed up.
“What do you think of it? It’s a pretty bold cab, isn’t it?” he asked.
She took a few sips, not wanting to offend him. “Very bold. Nice. I like it.” It was a decent wine, but not a Malveaux creation.
She drank about half a glass of the wine as the two of them made small talk. After about ten minutes, Nikki decided that it would be a good idea to phone Derek. She went over to the phone, suddenly feeling a little woozy. “Wow. I’ve only had one glass of wine, and a few sips of this, but I’m feeling it.”
“Would you like some water?”
“Sure.” She sat down on the sofa. “I guess I really didn’t eat that much today.”
Cal brought her the water. “Your dinner smells and looks delicious,” he said as he came out of the kitchen.
“Thanks.” She tried to remember what she’d eaten earlier, realizing it hadn’t been much.
She took a few sips of the water. Cal got up. “I brought another new wine from my winery I’d like us to try.”
“No more wine for me.” Nikki shook her head emphatically.
“You can’t say no. This is going to be a great bottle of wine. Better than the last.”
“I haven’t even finished the other wine yet.”
“That’s fine. It’ll be sort of like our own wine tasting.” Cal took off his jacket and laid it across the back of the sofa where Nikki sat, trying hard to stay sober.
She turned to watch him as he went back into the kitchen and took a bottle of Chardonnay out of the fridge. “You and Derek will love this. In fact, your boyfriend will want to buy grapes from me once he tastes this.”
“Derek isn’t my boyfriend,” she said.
He uncorked the wine. She knew she shouldn’t have any more. She couldn’t understand how she’d gotten drunk so easily. Sure, she was no drink-you-under-the-table kind of girl, but she could hold her own. One and a half glasses, even on an empty stomach shouldn’t have had her slurring her words and making a total ass of herself, which she was pretty certain she was doing.
The wine bottle Cal was opening fascinated her, as drops like tears flowed down the glass when he held it up to the light. He poured the wine, brought it to his nose, and sniffed as if it were a bouquet of roses. He then looked down at the wine again, held it up to the light, and swirled it one more time before bringing it to his lips.
He slowly walked over to Nikki who couldn’t help feeling nervous. This was all wrong—Cal being in the cottage alone with her, and acting different. She reached for the phone on the table to call Derek and instead knocked it off. Man, that wine was making her far more off-kilter than she imagined. The room spun like one of those carnival rides that go round and round, causing the kind of dizziness that usually leads to a date with the porcelain god. What the hell? A wave of nausea rushed over her, and she tried to stand up, wanting to head toward the bathroom. She attempted to speak, but all that came out was a garbled mess. What was happening to her?
“You okay, love?” Cal asked. His voice sounded like he was speaking in slow motion.
He caught her as she started to fall. Strong hands wrapped around her neck. His grip grew tighter, and in a flash she realized who the murderer was. Manuel was definitely in jail for something he didn’t do, and Nikki wouldn’t ever be able to tell the authorities. Where in the world was Derek? A cold wave of fear traveled through her, a horrid thought coming to mind—Derek might be late, because Derek might be dead. Cal may have gone to Derek’s and killed him before coming over for dinner. She prayed that wasn’t the case, and that he would come bursting through the door, because she knew that she was going to die at the hands of Cal Sumner, right here, right now.
Pork Tenderloin with Salsa Verde
Too bad no one even got a taste of Nikki’s gourmet dinner; however you can and should, especially the pan-roasted pork tenderloin with salsa verde. The wine to pair with this recipe is St. Supéry’s Red Meritage. It is made with fruit from St. Supéry’s estate vineyards in Napa Valley, and is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. It exhibits deep red and purple hues. The aromas are bright, ripe, and forward with a strong concentration of ripe blackberry and anise, with vanilla and oak integration. The generous palate is dominated by ripe, sweet berry and cedar-oak qualities, credited to the extended period spent in barrel. The flavors are long and round, finishing with firm yet elegant tannins.
2 pork tenderloins
1 8-ounce jar of salsa verde (Herdez is a good one.)
1 package of Lawry’s taco seasoning
3 large cloves of garlic
2 seeded, drained, and chopped canned chipotle
peppers (these are spicy—so be careful if you
don’t care for spicy)
2 tablespoons minced red onion
2 tablespoons brown sugar
4 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1⁄2 cup of red wine
salt to taste
1⁄4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
2 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons canola oil
Mix together all of the ingredients except for garlic, onion, and 1 cup of orange juice, half of the salsa verde jar, and pork, in a large Ziploc bag. Place the pork in the bag and marinate overnight. When ready to cook, preheat oven to 425°. Remove pork. Season pork with salt and pepper. Heat oil very hot and sear pork in a large, ovenproof, sauté pan until browned on all sides. Sauté onion and garlic with roast. Place pan in the preheated oven with the other cup of orange juice poured over the meat and into the pan, along with the rest of the salsa jar, and roast for approximately 45 minutes to an hour, basting and turning the roast halfway through. Be careful not to overcook. It’s also important to keep basting with the juices. Remove from oven and let rest for ten minutes to distribute juices and complete cooking. Serves 8.
Chapter 22
The room swirled, and the lights grew dimmer. Fear coursed through Nikki’s every nerve ending, and she settled her mind into an acceptance that she was going to die at the hands of a murderer. Her eyes fluttered shut while twinkling lights shot through her pupils, like sparklers on the Fourth of July.
The lights were followed by darkness as oxygen escaped from her lungs. Before completely fading away, she thought she heard a door close and then a voice—a woman’s voice. The grip on her neck loosened, and the sparklers came back as her lungs filled again with air. There was intense pain where Cal’s hands had squeezed her neck. She slid to the floor and could hear heated words exchanged. Everything was still foggy, and she knew, even in the state she was in, that her drunkenness was from more than a couple of glasses of wine. Cal Sumner had drugged her.
Nikki couldn’t make out whose voice it was she was hearing, but she knew that it was someone she’d heard before.
“This is fascinating, Cal. I would’ve never thought it of you. But, you know a girl like me knows how to do her research, and I’ve been able to put a thing or two together.”
“Put that thing down. If I kill her, it only works in your best interest as well,” Cal said.
“Maybe, maybe not. You’re a killer, Cal, and frankly, that scares me quite a bit. You’re also a bit freaky. Your own sister—yuck, and a twin at that. You look surprised. Everyone thinks I’m only concerned with wines, but I’m also a damned good researcher, and there are all sorts of conspiracies and weird things going on around here. And, you know what I smell behind all of it? Cash. Lots and lots of cash.”
Oh, my god, the twin. Cal was Meredith’s brother. It had to be Patrice he was talking to. No. That didn’t make sense, not if she was truly his mother. Who was he talking to? Nikki had to open her eyes to see. They were so heavy. Prying them open was the hardest thing she ever had to do.
“I do see your point about you killing Goldilocks here being a good thing for me.”
“I don’t know what you think you know, but we can work something out,” Cal said.
“I know we can.”
“Put the gun down, and let’s make a deal,” Cal replied.
Nikki opened her eyes slightly. The room was still a blur, but those spiked heels could only belong to one woman—Tara Beckenroe. Nikki figured her troubles were far from over. She didn’t think Tara was here to rescue her from the madman. She needed to think clearly, but it was almost impossible. Where was Ollie? If he knew that she was in trouble, he’d have come running. He had to be with Derek, and that thought turned her blood cold, because she had no clue where Derek was, and she didn’t want her mind dwelling on dark thoughts about where he might be.
“Don’t be hasty, Tara. Let’s work this out. I can give you Malveaux on a silver platter.”
Nikki heard a tremor in his voice. Tara clucked her tongue. Nikki stayed still, her mind beginning to think a bit more clearly.
“Let’s cut a deal. I’ve always liked you, and I know you’ve had some satisfaction where I’m concerned.”
“I’m a good actress, and one helluva liar.”
“Yeah, you are a liar, because I made you scream, and that was no lie,” he scoffed.
What a typical man. Here a woman was holding a gun on him, and he could still think about his prowess in the bedroom.
“Now, come on, Tara, be reasonable. We can work this out. Why not leave Manuel in jail? He’s the perfect fall guy. You get the man you want, and I’ll get what I want. Let’s get rid of Nikki, and everything is status quo. She can simply disappear.”
Tara cackled. “Don’t insult me. The only way you’ll get what you want is if Derek tells you what you want to know, and then winds up dead. I can’t let that happen. I suppose I could hook up with you after you’re rich and in hiding, but that doesn’t appeal to me. Besides, darling, your family jewels simply don’t do it for me. I want Derek. I always have. I can finally have him, because I’m going to save the day.” She let out an aggrieved sigh.
“No,” he yelled. “You can’t do this.”
Nikki opened her eyes to watch as Tara came over to Cal, continuing to point her gun at him. “Get on your knees,” she ordered. He didn’t respond. Tara cocked the trigger. “I won’t hesitate to use this, you know. It wouldn’t be too difficult to prove self-defense, on
ce a jury finds out your sordid tale.”
Cal did as she told him to. Nikki continued to watch as, once Cal knelt on the floor, Tara brought her arm back, and with a force Nikki didn’t believe the woman had, swung her arm and connected right onto the side of Cal’s head. He slumped to the ground.
Nikki needed to think fast, even if her brain was only working at fifty percent, because who knew what this nut-case had in mind for her.
“Okay, Goldilocks, I’ll do you a favor and tie this lunatic up so he won’t hurt you, but then I’ve got to go and save my man.”
Nikki heard Tara fishing around inside what she assumed was a bag. Nikki moaned and rolled on to her side.
“Hey,” Tara said. “I knocked the bad guy out cold, there. Wanna help me tie him up?”
Murder Uncorked Page 21
