by Cat Chandler
“Which might make her as prime a suspect as Suzanne,” Matt said.
“According to Suzanne she would be. She’d asked her mother for more money to continue her education abroad, and Suzanne told us that Catherine had turned her down. Apparently there’s a trust from Ramona’s father, which Catherine has full control of.”
“That’s right,” Maxie nodded. “Until Ramona’s thirtieth birthday, which won’t come around for another four years or so.” She smiled at the questioning glance from Nicki. “Catherine told me that some time ago.”
“Which will make her interview person number four, since I’m assuming she’ll at least stay in town until there’s some sort of memorial service,” Matt said. “Is there a candidate for interview subject number five?”
“The ex-husband, of course,” Maxie and Nicki said together.
Matt shook his head. “When it comes to murder, it really doesn’t pay to be an ex-husband. You almost have to start out proving you didn’t do it.”
“And the twin sister,” Nicki added.
Matt sat up straighter and adjusted his glasses on his nose. “Our victim had a twin sister?”
“Yes, but she lives thirty minutes away, in Sonoma. Her name’s Cynthia.” Maxie smiled when Matt yawned. Her blue eyes crinkled at the corners when she glanced over at Nicki. “Between the time change and all the running around with us today, I think your potential boyfriend is about to fall asleep right where he’s sitting.”
“Maxie,” Nicki warned. She smiled at Matt. “She’s right, though. You look beat. Will you be okay to drive back to your hotel?”
“It’s only fifteen minutes from here. I can make it just fine.” Matt stood and stretched to his full six feet. Looking at him from her much more diminutive stature, Nicki tried not to think about the fact that unlike Rob, Matt didn’t need lifts in his shoes in order to reach that height. But then again, she doubted if he’d use lifts in his shoes even if he was a half-foot shorter. Matt was too comfortable with himself to worry about measuring up to someone else’s opinion about his looks. She really did like that about him.
“What’s our plan for tomorrow?”
“Plan?” Nicki repeated., her mind suddenly blank.
Matt snapped his fingers in the air. “Hello. Earth to Nicki. Where did you go?”
“Nowhere. I was just formulating the plan,” Nicki said hastily. She certainly wasn’t going to admit out loud that she’d been comparing Rob to one of Matt’s finer points. And her editor did have a few in his favor.
“Tomorrow, Nicki?” Matt prompted.
“Yes. Tomorrow. I thought I’d go out and talk to a suspect who wasn’t on your list. Charlie Freeman.”
“The boyfriend?” Matt slapped an open palm against his forehead. “I must be tired. He should have been first on the list.”
“Except he’d never hurt anyone like that,” Maxie insisted, once again coming to Charlie’s defense.
“We just need to find out the same things the chief knows, since I’m sure he’s already talked to Charlie,” Nicki assured her.
“That’s a certainty.” Matt offered his arm to Maxie. “Can I escort you out to your car? It’s time we left Nicki to experience some of that ‘living alone solitude’ she’s missed out on.”
Maxie bowed her head before slipping one arm through his. “I have an appointment in the morning, and Jenna will most likely still be busy with her project, so I’m assuming you’ll be going along to look after our Nicki when she goes to talk with Charlie?”
“That’s also a certainty,” Matt replied as the two of them started to stroll off.
“Excuse me,” Nicki leaned against the counter and called after them. “Nicki grew up in New York City, so I’m pretty sure she can look after herself.”
“Be sure to bring your laptop when you pick me up tomorrow, Miss Connors,” Matt said over his shoulder. “Maybe we can also get some work done at those other jobs of ours. You do remember them, don’t you? The ones that pay the bills.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Nicki and Matt pulled up to the front of the parking lot at Charlie’s winery. Matt had to give the passenger door several hard pushes before it finally opened and he could unfold himself from the narrow bucket seat. Nicki had been grateful when he hadn’t said one word when the car had refused to start for several minutes after they’d stopped for coffee at Starbucks. Or when it had stalled at a stop sign about a mile from their destination. She really didn’t want to get into a discussion on why her budget wouldn’t stretch to a car payment quite yet. But she had high hopes for sometime next year. Of course it would have to be another used car, but that was okay. As long as it had less than two hundred thousand miles on it, she would be better off than she was now.
WineTime, the winery Charlie had owned for well over a decade, boasted a gorgeous tasting room, with huge windows offering panoramic views of the meticulously landscaped grounds which showcased dozens of rose bushes bursting with red and white flowers. A bubbling brook wound its way under a small bridge leading to the front door.
Inside, more flowers adorned high tables that were surrounded with tall stools, and a highly polished wine bar curved around two sides of the room. The view out the large picture windows was relaxing, the room truly lovely, and the small bites from the winery’s kitchen were delicious.
But the wine was simply awful.
Nicki grinned. Despite that fact, the tasting room did a fair business. Mostly from the locals who simply liked Charlie and enjoyed the atmosphere, the view and the food. Everyone who came purchased a tasting flight or at least one glass of wine. And if Charlie was making his rounds in the tasting room, they even drank it. Otherwise it was bought and then left untouched.
“Does Charlie know we’re coming?” Matt looked around, his gaze lingering on the view. “I’m looking forward to meeting him.”
“And tasting his wine?” Nicki smiled and waved to an older gentleman who’d been talking to the barman when they’d come in, but was now making his way across the floor.
“Looking forward to it.” Matt turned toward Charlie who’d stopped in front of Nicki.
Reaching out long arms, the winery owner gave her a hug. Almost as tall as Matt, and slightly hunched in the shoulders, Charlie looked like a softer version of Clint Eastwood in his older years. Although his personality was certainly far different. Charlie was not only trusting and very open about himself, but also exceedingly polite, with an old-world manner and charm about him. Nicki was still having a hard time picturing the fast-paced, high-fashion Catherine as being any kind of romantic match with Charlie.
She returned his hug then stepped back and nodded at Matt. “This is my friend, Matt Dillon. He’s also the editor and owner of Food & Wine Online.
Charlie shook Matt’s hand, a vague smile on his lips. “Do you own that internet magazine that gave a nice write-up about my winery?”
Matt grinned. “Nicki did the write-up, the magazine only published it.”
“She’s a nice girl,” Charlie beamed. “Smart and pretty, too. Have you noticed that?”
Matt grinned when Nicki gave him an exaggerated blink of her eyes. “I have.”
“Matt’s looking forward to trying your wine.” Nicki didn’t dare to look at Matt when she made that announcement.
“Wonderful.” Charlie smiled at Matt. “I’d be happy to buy you a glass. Our pink Chablis is very good this year.” He raised his hand to signal to the barman, lifting one finger and pointing at Matt before giving a questioning look to Nicki.
Catching it, Matt’s grin grew wider. “I’m sure Nicki would like to have a glass.”
“I’m driving, so no, I can’t,” Nicki quickly countered.
“Not even a short pour? I’m sure that’s under the legal limit,” Matt said.
“Better safe than sorry, I always say,” Nicki stated before turning her brightest smile on Charlie. “I hope you have some time to sit with us for a few minutes. I thought you might need to
talk about Catherine.”
“I’ve already spent several hours with Suzanne, so I’m pretty much talked out about all of Catherine’s wonderful qualities. But I’d be happy to answer any questions you might have and tell you the same things I told the chief.” He gave Nicki a wink. “My good friend, Maxie, called this morning and said you’d be by since you were investigating the case. Just like you did with that winemaker over at Holland’s who got himself killed. I’m glad you’re on the case. I told that to Maxie, too. And I think the chief could use the help. There’s only him, Danny and Fran down at that station.”
Charlie gestured to the table directly behind them, and they all settled onto tall stools. Tim came over with a single glass of wine and set it down in front of Matt. Nicki and Charlie both watched as he took his first sip.
“Good, isn’t it?” Charlie boomed out as Nicki quickly raised a hand to cover her smile.
Her eyes sparkled as she watched Matt fight not to make a face. She also had to hand him the ‘good sport’ award when he raised his glass and took another sip.
“Thank you for the wine. I always appreciate a good wine.” Matt said diplomatically, even as he pressed the side of his leg firmly against Nicki’s.
She took it as a warning not to laugh. She’d never hurt Charlie’s feelings that way, but had to admit that watching Matt choke down the worst wine in America, it was a close thing.
“Now that we have the tasting out of the way,” Charlie said. “Go ahead and ask your questions.”
“Were you supposed to meet Catherine that night?” Nicki asked. Having no idea just how deeply involved Charlie and Catherine were, Nicki intended to do her very best not to use the words “killed” or “murdered” in the same breath as Catherine’s name.
“Yes. I was going to have dinner at Mario’s and then go to her place afterwards.” Charlie nodded. “I told the chief the same thing.”
“Then you were going to walk home with her after her shift?”
Charlie scratched his head. “Chief asked the same thing,” he repeated. “But I didn’t know she was working at Mario’s that night. She didn’t say so. She didn’t mention to me about having another appointment before she’d be free to get together, and she didn’t say anything about filling in as hostess at Mario’s either. Chief told me her appointment had been canceled. Maybe that’s why she decided to go to Mario’s thinking we could meet there. She could work a little while I was having my dinner.”
“So you were never going to Catherine’s for dinner?” Matt asked.
Charlie shifted his gaze to the tall editor. “Nope. Catherine couldn’t cook and didn’t want to learn either. We always went out. Or ate here.” Charlie’s eyes narrowed into a squint. “Say. Did anyone ever tell you that you look a bit like that cartoon fellow? I think his name is Waldo?”
“Once or twice.”
Again Nicki had to give Matt some ‘good sport’ points for keeping a smile on his face after being asked the same question for what she was sure was the millionth time.
“I didn’t realize you had dinner at Mario’s. You must have come in after we’d left,” Nicki remarked, drawing Charlie’s attention away from Matt before the older man could ask any more Waldo questions.
Charlie shook his head. “I didn’t. I got so involved with working on my roses that I just plain forgot.”
“Do you like to garden the way Maxie’s husband does?” Nicki smiled at the thought of the two men pruning rose bushes together.
The winery owner chuckled at that. “No, no. He does landscaping. I prefer to create and grow new flowers. I have a greenhouse right in back of the tasting room. I spend the better part of almost every day in there. Growing roses is really my first love. I’m actually not all that fond of making wine, but roses won’t get me a free invitation to all the private wine tasting events in the area, and my wine will. So I just keep on making it, and folks keep on trying it. I guess that’s all that really matters.” He glanced over at Matt. “I’m getting on in years though, so I’m thinking I might hire a manager for the winery. You wouldn’t happen to be looking for a new job now, would you?”
“No, sir, I’m not. Sorry.” Matt adjusted his glasses and his tone turned serious. “Was anyone here that night who saw you working in the greenhouse?”
“No. We close the tasting room at five and all the winery workers go home about then too. I puttered around until ten or so and then came in and watched the news and went to bed. Didn’t think about meeting Catherine until the next day when Suzanne called me with the bad news.” Charlie gazed out the big window for a long moment. “Didn’t quite know what to do with myself after that call. This is the first time I’ve been in the tasting room since I spoke with Suzanne, and I haven’t set a foot in the greenhouse.” He turned back to Nicki with a sad smile. “Told all this to the chief, too.”
“When was the chief here?” Nicki asked. It worried her that Charlie didn’t have an alibi.
“Yesterday afternoon, around lunchtime.” Charlie pulled out a small notebook from the pocket of his shirt and glanced at the scribbles on the front page. “He called this morning and said he wanted me to come down to the station. I guess they found lots of fingerprints and he needs mine so he can eliminate those.”
Or use them as evidence against you, Nicki thought. She sent a worried look to Matt who sent one right back to her.
Completely oblivious to their silent communication, Charlie chuckled quietly. “It’s kind of exciting in a strange way. I’ve never been close to a murder investigation before.”
Nicki sincerely hoped that having his fingerprints eliminated was as close as the chief intended to have Charlie get to Catherine’s murder. But a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach was telling her something else.
Sighing, she placed a gentle hand on Charlie’s arm. “Did Catherine happen to mention to you who she had an appointment with that day? The one the chief said was canceled.”
“She said Cynthia. I thought she meant her sister, but it could have been someone else with that name.” He hung his head a little lower. “I wasn’t paying much attention.”
“That’s okay. We’ll find out.” Nicki hesitated a moment, not sure what Matt would think of her next question, but hoped he’d go along with her plan. “If you’re going to go see the chief, I’d love to ride with you. I need to stop in to see Chief Turnlow too.” She glanced over at Matt who raised a questioning eyebrow at her. “Matt can drive my car back and I can meet him at the hotel. We have some work we need to get done.”
Charlie nodded and smiled. “I’d be happy to give you a ride, if you’re okay to let Matt drive your car. Some people are touchy about that.”
“Oh, not me.” She turned toward Matt. “How about it? Think you can handle my car after that beautiful new BMW you have in your garage at home?”
“Sure.” Matt conveyed his feelings about Nicki’s Toyota by drawing the one word out until it was almost two syllables.
“Just let me get my keys and I’ll meet you in the parking lot out front.” Charlie hopped off his stool and walked to the back of the room while Nicki and Matt went out the front door.
As they approached the sad-looking Toyota with its faded blue paint, Matt rattled the keys in his hand while he gave it a hard stare. “I gather you have some kind of roadside assistance service around here.”
Nicki nodded. “The garage in town. Ask for Don, and be sure to tell him it’s about Nicki’s car.”
Matt leaned a hip against one fender and crossed his arms over his chest. “I think your car is sending you some kind of message when you have roadside assistance on speed dial. How many times have you had to call for this guy’s help?”
“I’ve lost count,” Nicki admitted. “But he always comes as soon as he can.” She laughed. “He’s more reliable than the car.”
“That’s great. Just what I need to worry about. Your car breaking down in the middle of nowhere late at night,” Matt muttered.
T
hinking maybe he was right, and she wasn’t being fair to him, Nicki held out her hand. “I can drive, Matt, and you go with Charlie to see the chief. I’ll be right behind you.”
Matt held the keys further away from her. “I’m not having you drive this thing any more than you need to until we can get you better transportation.”
“I already have that planned out. Now give me my keys.”
“Planned out for when?” Matt’s voice held a skeptical note, and he snorted when she said, “next spring”.
Shaking his head, he unlocked the car and folded himself into the driver’s seat. After he’d adjusted the setting to accommodate his much longer legs, Matt closed his eyes and turned the key. Nicki was surprised right along with him when the engine easily turned over. Rolling his eyes at her smug smile, Matt backed the car out of the parking space just as Charlie pulled up in his older, but beautifully kept, Mercedes. As she slid into the leather seat, Nicki waved at Matt who put her car into gear and puttered off toward the highway leading back into town.
Chapter Forty
Nicki walked into her townhouse early that evening and straight back to her kitchen. Her trip with Charlie to see Chief Turnlow hadn’t left her with a warm and fuzzy feeling. Instead, cold chills had run up her back as she’d watched Danny fingerprint the nice older gentleman, and the chief go over his explanation of his whereabouts the night his girlfriend was killed. Even Matt hadn’t been able to cheer her up much, although working side-by-side with him on several articles for background pieces on the upcoming Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival had been a pleasant distraction from her worries over Charlie.
Matt had stayed behind at the hotel to finish up the work, but only after she’d sworn to him at least three times that she was going straight home and had no intention of straying outside for the rest of the evening. And if she did, she would call him. If her car broke down on the way home, she would call him. She even added in that if she ran out of milk, she would call him. At that point he’d just glared at her as she’d given him a quick airy wave and made a dash for the hotel door.