Uncorking a Lie

by Nadine Nettmann

  “No, you can go to sleep, but you need to have someone who can monitor you.”

  The medic continued talking but my attention was distracted as Dean parked on the street.

  He ran across the lawn. “Katie, what happened?”

  “I’m fine, honest.” I stared at him. “Wait, why are you here?”

  “I had a bad feeling about you talking to Simon so I wanted to check on you. I started driving down the street and saw the lights.” He pointed. “Are you sure you’re okay? What’s all over your shirt?”

  I looked down. The wine from the garage had turned into a dark purple stain.

  “It’s okay.” I pointed to the marks. “It’s just wine.”

  “Detective Dean,” said Adams. “We’ve met before.”

  “Yes, nice to see you again.” Dean shook his hand, then glanced at me and back at Adams. “Can I talk with you for a moment?” They walked to the other side of the lawn while I waited on the steps.

  Leanor stumbled out of the house, her black hair disheveled, mascara smeared down her cheeks. She sank down onto the step next to me and grabbed my arm. “Katie, what happened? I came to the house and you were here. Why?” Leanor was a far different person from the one I had met at Paul’s house. I wanted to help her but didn’t know how.

  “I saw Simon at the market. He told me to come here so he could give me some of the bottles and tell me what was going on.”

  “What bottles?” Leanor stared at me as if she was searching my eyes for answers.

  “More counterfeit ones.”

  “I don’t understand.” She continued to shake her head. “What did he want to tell you?”

  “I don’t know. He’d already been hit when I entered the garage.”

  Leanor stared at her hands as she twisted them around each other. “If he wanted to give you wine, it probably had to do with his work.”

  “Where does he work?”

  “I don’t know. Isn’t that terrible?” Leanor shook her head. “He always said that he worked for a retailer in Sonoma, but a few years ago I found out that he didn’t actually work there. We never talked about the truth. He would always be vague and say, ‘just mergers and acquisitions, my dear.’ I figured he didn’t want me to know, which was fine. We all have secrets.” She waved her hand as tears filled her eyes. “I guess it doesn’t matter now.”

  “Was there any hint of what he did?” I asked.

  “One time I asked him about it in a roundabout way. He said that it brought in a lot of money and he couldn’t stop. He was in too deep and if he told me, it would put me at risk. That was where we left it. Until …”

  “Until what?”

  Leanor looked at me. “Two weeks ago he said he had a plan and that everything was going to be better. I figured it was just Watkins being Watkins, but then he made a lot of money at the auction.”

  “You knew he sold wine at the auction?”

  “I followed him. I’m a smart girl when I need to be.”

  “Did you know he sold the bottle of Chateau Clair Bleu? The one that Paul bought?”

  She shook her head. “I only knew that he was selling wine. I didn’t know the specific ones.”

  “What about the crates in the garage? Did Simon refill bottles?” I dropped my voice to a whisper. “Do you think he was involved in counterfeit wine?”

  “I don’t know. But I’ve never seen those bottles before. They weren’t here this morning.”

  Deputy Adams returned to the porch with Dean by his side. “Ms. Langley, are you ready to talk to us?”

  Leanor nodded and stood up.

  “Katie, you let us know if you remember anything else. In the meantime, we’ll be in touch.” He pointed to my head. “I hope you feel better.”

  I looked from him to Dean, unsure of what was happening.

  Adams and Leanor headed into the house as Dean knelt down in front of me, his eyes full of concern and worry. “Are you okay to walk?”

  I was unsure whether to act strong or how I was actually feeling, which was a little rattled. I went with a mixture of both. “I can walk. But am I free to go?”

  “I’ve taken responsibility for you.” He held out his hand and helped me up.

  “Thank you. I really appreciate it.”

  Dean put his arm around me to help me walk, which felt like half a hug. I didn’t want to tell him I was fine to walk on my own. I enjoyed the comfort of his arm and reveled in the scent of his cologne.

  “So what happened?” he asked.

  “I was attacked. By someone. But I don’t know who.” I motioned to my car. “I’m parked over there.”

  “Yes, I see your damaged Jeep.” Dean smiled.

  Although my head hurt, I appreciated the effort to relieve the tension with humor.

  We reached my car and I opened the door and climbed inside.

  “Nope, you’re not driving,” said Dean. “This is just so you can get your phone. You still keep it in the car, right?”

  “Yes. But honestly, I’m fine. It’s just a smack on the head.”

  “Nope. You’re being taken care of.”

  I crossed my arms.

  “The feeling is foreign to you, isn’t it?”

  “Yes,” I replied, but in a way, it was nice to have him care.

  “Besides, I’ve taken responsibility for you so I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

  I looked over the steering wheel and then back at him. “Okay then, what’s your plan? You can’t drive me back to San Francisco. It’s too far.”

  “No, I’m not driving you there. Besides, your apartment may not be safe. Not with the recent break-in and now this.”

  “Yeah. He said that maybe now I’d learn to stay away from his wine.”

  “Who said that?”

  “I don’t know. The guy who hit me. I didn’t see his face. And then there was poor Simon …”

  “That’s it. I know where I’m taking you.”

  My head started to ache even more. “Where?”

  “You need to be safe. Someone is after you and I have a spare room.”

  “A spare room?” I looked into his blue eyes. “I can’t stay with you, Dean. That’s too much of an imposition.”

  “Why not? You can’t go back to your place and I need to watch over you. So you’re coming home with me. I like to help out my friends.”

  “Friends,” I repeated under my breath. “But what about my car? I don’t want to leave it here.”

  “No, I’ll drive your car and have Deputy Peters bring me back here later. I’m not taking no for an answer. You need to be safe. I can keep you safe. Okay?”

  “Okay.” I rubbed the side of my head and climbed over into the passenger seat. “This feels like a date.”

  Dean laughed. “You don’t have time to date, remember?”

  I nodded and felt a pain in my heart as well as my head.

  “You’re lucky it’s not worse. A head injury can be fatal.”

  “I know,” I replied, but there was no enthusiasm to my voice.

  “You can be happy about it, you know.”

  “Now is not exactly a happy time. I’m a suspect in a murder case, another murder has happened, and now I’m starting to think that someone may be after me. I might have even been the original target.”

  He glanced at me. “Really?”

  “Maybe. I don’t know. Cooper sat next to me and … Who knows.” I waved dismissively.

  “Are you okay?” Dean looked genuinely concerned.

  “I’m fine. It just might be time to get a gun.”

  “You know—”

  “I’m kidding,” I added, though I wasn’t really sure. I had been shooting guns since I was twelve, and my dad would definitely support the idea of me getting one. But I had also heard that you shou
ldn’t own a gun unless you were ready to kill someone. And I wasn’t.

  “It might not be a bad idea for you to have something to protect yourself. You could start carrying pepper spray.”

  I shrugged. “I’ll think about it, but it wouldn’t have helped me today. I didn’t even see the guy coming.”

  “Okay, but keep it in mind. Someone did break into your apartment. And if it was the same person who attacked you today, they know where you live.”

  I stared at Dean. “Are you trying to scare me?”

  “No, just making sure you’re aware of the situation.”

  “I’m aware,” I remarked as Dean adjusted the seat and the mirrors. “Very aware.”

  “At least your original investigation is done,” said Dean as he pulled onto the street. “The one for Paul. It looks like Simon was the counterfeiter.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Adams showed me his operation in the garage. All of the bottles.”

  “No, I think someone set him up to take the fall and he interrupted them as it was happening. Leanor said those bottles weren’t there this morning.”

  “You’re going to believe Leanor? Someone you said didn’t like you when we were at lunch?”

  “Yes. She was a close friend of Simon.”

  “All the more reason for her to lie.”

  I shook my head. “I don’t think so. Simon isn’t the counterfeiter. Even though the bottles were at the garage, it’s too easy. No, there’s something I’m missing. I just don’t know what it is.”

  I stared out the window. The bottle was in Roberto’s shop. There would be no reason for Simon to sell it to him only to buy it back and then sell it at the auction. It didn’t make sense.

  twenty-eight

  pairing suggestion: riesling

  —columbia valley, washington

  A crisp and refreshing wine with notes of apple

  and lime in its sweetness.

  -

  Before we reached the winding road that linked Glen Ellen to Napa, I phoned Bill to tell him I wouldn’t be able to make it to work. Wednesday nights were busy at Trentino, but Bill understood and said Kurt would cover for me.

  When the call was done, I glanced at Dean. “Thanks for taking care of me today.”

  “You know I’ll be there for you whenever you need me.”

  “I appreciate it.” I stared out the window as we headed into the mountains, the road climbing as we drove toward Napa.

  “Katie, why do you think you might have been the original target instead of Cooper? Didn’t someone push him down the stairs?”

  “No, he was poisoned. Everyone was with me in the lounge. No one pushed him. I mean, he could have tripped, but the poison was his cause of death.”

  “Why do you think it was meant for you?”

  “Because I identified the wine as counterfeit. I told Cooper and I think he told someone at the dinner. And that person was the one who created the wine and therefore poisoned him. To silence him.” I took a breath. “And now they know I know, too.” I leaned forward and stared at the road in front of me. “Simon sold the bottle, Roberto had it before then, but someone at the table was the one who counterfeited it.”

  “Roberto,” said Dean.

  “I don’t think so. But he did have it. And he’s looking into who he bought it from.”

  “Who else?”

  I shrugged. “Henry, Alicia, Leanor, Martin, or Paul.”

  “Leanor was there today. Could she have attacked you?”

  “No, it was a man’s voice. At least I’m pretty sure it was. Maybe it was Henry …”

  “But why kill someone over wine?”

  I looked at Dean. “There’s so much at risk. Money, reputations, or maybe even something bigger.” There was always something bigger.

  My phone beeped with a text. Although the number didn’t have a name, I recognized it immediately. You can delete contacts from your phone, but that doesn’t mean they’ll leave your memory. Kurt.

  Hey K, I’ve emailed you my set of flash cards. Feel better. Peace.

  A smile grew on my face. Kurt to the rescue. Of course he hadn’t stolen my cards. He wanted to help. He had always wanted to help.

  “What are you smiling about?”

  I looked up as my smile faded. “What?”

  “Who texted you?”

  “Oh, Kurt sent me his file of electronic flash cards that I can read on my phone or the computer. At least he says he did. I haven’t opened them yet and it’s not exactly how I’m used to studying, but it’ll be a great help.”

  “Kurt? I don’t think I’ve heard you mention that name before.”

  “He’s a friend. In my tasting group.” I kept my next statement to myself, that he used to be more than a friend. But Dean didn’t need to know he was an ex. At least not right now.

  Dean slowly nodded. “Just a friend?”

  “Yes. Why?”

  “You had an odd expression on your face. And you may not like this, but I’m actually starting to be able to read you.”

  I was tempted to put on my game face, but I let my real feelings show. “We used to date, but it didn’t work out. So now we’re just friends.”

  “Why?”

  “Why are we friends?”

  “No, I mean, why didn’t it work out?”

  I shifted uncomfortably. “I don’t know. Why do relationships end? Life.”

  “Sorry, I was just curious. Sometimes there’s a reason.”

  I stared at the cars we passed parked along the street. It was time for the truth. It was time to be honest with Dean.

  “It was me. I broke it off. I needed to study for my test. Between work and studying, I didn’t have time for anything else. It wouldn’t have been fair to keep stringing Kurt along. Or fair to me. My sights are set on becoming a Master Sommelier and I’m worried about distractions.”

  Dean studied me for a moment. “Why do you want this so much?”

  “Really? You’re asking me that?”

  “I want to know what drives you. If you explain the reason for something you desire, it makes more sense to the other person. Then they can understand and perhaps forgive certain things, such as not returning phone calls.”

  “Makes sense.” I nodded. “I want the large red pin. I want to be a Master Sommelier. I want to say that I’ve made it, that I accomplished something so few people in the entire world have done. The number is less than two hundred and fifty and only a very small percentage are women.” I took a deep breath. “And all those people throughout my life, kids in school who teased me, that teacher who said I would never make it, this would prove them wrong. And it would prove my doubts wrong. So I’ll keep on going until I have it. No matter how long it takes.”

  “You’ll get there.” Dean smiled at me. “I know you will.”

  “Thanks. Now I have this new set of flash cards so I can keep on studying even though my other cards are gone.”

  We turned into Yountville, a town located ten minutes north of downtown Napa. Dean stopped the car in front of a duplex.

  “Is this where you live?”

  “No, I’m taking you to the hospital.” I looked at him and he laughed. “Yes, this is where I live.” His sense of humor was refreshing after the day I had been through.

  Dean opened the front door and we climbed the stairs to a landing, where he unlocked the door to his apartment. The living room had a green couch, a coffee table, a television, and a bookshelf filled with crime novels. The entire place was spotless and twice the size of my small studio.

  “The bathroom is on your left. My room is at the far end of the hallway and this here”—Dean pointed to an open door—“is your room for the evening. Or for however long you need it.”

  I peeked in to see a black futon and a desk. The
room was tidy, not an item out of place.

  “I’ll get you some sheets, a blanket, and a pillow.” Dean disappeared for a moment and returned with the items. “I’ll call into work so I can stay with you.” He unfolded the sheets onto the futon.

  “I’m totally fine. Go back to work, I’ll be okay here.”

  Dean pulled the blanket across and placed a pillow at the top. “If I had a mint, I’d put it there.” He winked. “How’s your head?”

  “It’s fine. I promise. And I won’t fall asleep, in case you’re worried.”

  “Well, I would say watch TV and stay out of trouble, but knowing you, that’s not likely.” Dean smiled. “But seriously, I would stay away from thinking about everything that’s happened. You need to give yourself a break. We’ll tackle the next step tomorrow and take a look at Henry. Okay?”

  I nodded.

  “Since you’re so big on studying for your test, why don’t you do that? Especially now that you have the flash cards from your friend.” There was almost a hint of jealousy in his voice, but I couldn’t be sure.

  “Good idea.” I sat down on the couch. “I’ll study my flash cards until you return.”

  There was a knock on the door. “That will be Deputy Peters to take me to get my car,” said Dean. “I’ll be back after my shift is over, but hopefully it’ll be sooner than that. I’ll try and cut out early. Be safe and call me if you don’t feel well.” He pointed to the side of his head.

  “Will do.”

  Dean left and I sat down with my phone and started flipping through the flash cards. Questions during the exam can cover anything from grape varietals to wineries to geography.

  “What are the mountains between France and Spain?” I said out loud. “The Pyrenees,” I responded before turning to the answer, the Pyrenees.

  I moved to the next question.

  “What are the names of Sherry casks?” I knew this one. “Hogheads and Butts,” I replied. I continued to the next flash card. “Blind tasting,” I said. “What wine do the following characteristics describe? Ruby color, moderate concentration, lush red fruit, strawberry, cherry, raspberry, ripe black cherry, blueberry, pepper …”

  Peppery Pinot. Like the kind I tasted when I was hit on the head at Simon’s house. The same wine disguised as a 1975 Chateau Clair Bleu. And the type of Pinot that grows in a specific region in Oregon. At that moment, I knew.