by Cat Chandler
Jenna picked up the marker. “Okay then. What have we got to put on the board?”
Nicki sat down in a chair with a clear view of the wall that their “murder board” was taped to. “Ricki James told me something. She said in her experience, thieves always got what they came for.”
“So you believe the murderer came specifically to kill Robin Boral?” Maxie clasped her hands together. “That’s very disturbing and puzzling, dear. We don’t have anyone with a motive.”
Nicki’s brow furrowed as she picked her way through what they already knew, and what Mink had said. “We need to add a few things to the board. The missing wine was from a cabinet that Robin’s father kept in his house. Mink said Robin took it. I’m guessing that was after his father had passed away. And she also said that Robin had cabinets in his house where he kept bottles of wine, but the one in his office had more security, so he kept his expensive wine there.”
Jenna paused writing down the shorthand notes of what Nicki was saying and turned away from the wall. “So you’re thinking the missing wine wasn’t just ‘Dad’s wine’, it was also very expensive?” She frowned. “And that the guy who murdered Robin Boral was really after the wine?”
“It’s a real possibility.”
“But if the wine is so valuable, why steal it now? Wouldn’t it have been easier when it was at the father’s house?” Maxie asked.
“We don’t know if it was valuable, at least for more than sentimental reasons,” Nicki admitted. “But it’s been bothering me that every other wine in that display case was worth thousands of dollars, according to the little cards underneath each of them. So why is that one the only one missing?”
“Because it was the most valuable one?” Jenna nodded and drew a circle around the word “wine”.
“Thieves usually get what they came for.” Maxie relaxed into her chair. “Very clever. If we believe that, then perhaps Robin wasn’t the target at all?”
“Collateral damage.” Nicki solemnly nodded. “He was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“That’s a little bit cliché, but I can write it on the board.” Jenna chuckled as she wrote down their questions. “But how do we prove any of this? And if it’s true, who’s the thief?”
Nicki sighed. “Unfortunately, Maxie brought up a good point. Why steal it now? Why not when it didn’t have an office with an alarm system and a cabinet with some kind of hidden camera in it?”
“Uh oh. I know where this is going.” Jenna pointed the marker at Nicki. “You think someone at the catering company didn’t know about the expensive bottle of wine until Robin put it in his office.”
She certainly didn’t like the idea, but Nicki was well aware that it had some merit. The timing of the theft and the alarm not going off the night Robin was killed, pointed to someone who knew about the wine and had access to the building. And that would be an employee. And there was also the little matter of the missing pin.
“The wine isn’t the only thing missing. The pin that was attached to the blue ribbon is also gone. And it was taken after the murder.” Nicki was back to tapping a finger against her lower lip. “Mink wasn’t sure what the pin was for. She said Robin’s father had it because he was a veteran, and it meant so much to him, he wanted to be buried with it.”
“If that’s true, dear, why was it in the cabinet?”
Nicki shrugged. “Robin didn’t follow his father’s wishes. He kept it and hung it around the wine bottle he inherited from his dad.”
“Weird.” Jenna wrote down that the pin was stolen. “The pin caper sounds like an inside job too.”
“Unfortunately, yes,” Nicki agreed. “But who?”
Jenna snapped the cap back onto the top of the marker. “With most everything done, and the cupcake party not starting until the day after tomorrow, with the wedding the day after that, maybe we should do a little snooping tomorrow?”
Maxie smiled and took the empty bowl out of Nicki’s hands and placed it on the table next to her chair. “Snooping where?”
“The caterer’s for starters. I’d like to get a look at this hidden camera the girlfriend mentioned,” Jenna declared.
Nicki rose and stretched before she smiled at Jenna. “So would I.”
The genealogist nodded. “No need to get a rental vehicle. Take my car.”
Chapter Ninety-Six
Nicki walked into the lobby the next morning and instantly smiled. A happy chaos had taken over the entire center section right across from Sally’s coffee cart. Ty, Joshua, Nate, and Matt stood together, to-go coffee cups in their hands and a mountain of their much-talked-about hiking gear at their feet. She walked over and gave Matt a kiss before turning to grin at the others.
Ty gave her an exaggerated wink. “I guess I don’t have to ask how it’s going between the two of you. Kind of got that impression last night when Romeo there left the food and the game to go order you something from the cafe.”
“Not too fond of the Romeo thing,” Matt said. “I have a better ending in mind.”
Nate paused in his efforts to devour a breakfast sandwich as he looked between them. “You prefer a geeky engineer to a fireman? I thought we were always first pick with the ladies.” He grinned and took another huge bite of his sandwich.
“Just some, Nate,” Alex said. She was standing with one arm around Ty and the other holding a coffee cup. “And certainly not for your table manners. Now behave yourself. Matt and Nicki are perfect together.”
“I vote we go with that and make a pact that there will be no relationship talk for the duration of the trip.” Joshua looked at the big-faced watch on his wrist. “Starting now.”
“Since I’m the groom, I reserve the right to make a few mushy comments,” Ty declared, then held a hand up when Josh looked like he was going to protest. “My party, my rules.” He looked past his fellow fireman and his eyebrows shot up. “I think that’s our guide.”
A huge man with dark hair that reached to his shoulders, and dark eyes that were fixed on their little group, was making quick work of crossing the lobby. Ricki James easily walked beside him, her long hair swinging back and forth in rhythm with her steps. Nicki admired the woman’s easy athletic grace and wondered where she’d found that guide. He looked as if he could play professional football. And be very successful at it.
“Hi.” Nicki raised a hand to greet her new friend, but didn’t offer her usual hug. Ricki James just didn’t seem like the hugging type. She knew she was correct when she detected the faint signs of relief in Ricki’s eyes before the former US Marshal nodded.
“How are you, Nicki? It looks like you got everyone here on time.”
“They got themselves here,” Nicki said. “And I should warn you, they just made a rule that there will be no relationship talk on this trip.”
“That’s good to know.” The two women exchanged a smile before Ricki glanced over at Alex. “You must be the bride.”
Alex nodded. “And I’m glad to meet you. Everyone was pretty impressed with your hamburgers, and that is hard to do where Jenna is concerned.”
Ricki laughed. “I’ll be sure to tell Goose. He’s our cook.”
“I’m the groom. Tyler Roberts. And I’m allowed to make a few mushy comments during the trip.” Ty kept a wary eye on the giant standing next to Ricki.
“I would hope so.” Ricki gave a pointed look at his arm holding Alex close to his side before turning to the man she’d walked in with. “What do you say, Bear? Do they look like they’re in good enough shape to make the trip?”
Joshua put his sandwich down on the nearest table and cleared his throat. “Bear?”
The big man held out his hand and engulfed one of Joshua’s in a quick handshake. “A nickname I got in high school that I still get called on occasion.” He shook his head at Ricki. “My adult friends call me Ben.”
The diner owner frowned at the backhanded rebuke, but Nicki didn’t think it really bothered her. There was an easy energy between the two o
f them. Nicki couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but she’d guess they knew each other pretty well.
“Gentlemen. Benjamin James, who prefers to be called Ben in spite of the nickname used by all the locals, will be your guide for this overnight hike, and you won’t find a better one,” Ricki announced.
“Ben is good. I can live with Ben,” Nate said. “I’m Nate, and this is Josh., You’ve already met Ty and Alex, and that gorgeous woman over there is Nicki. The guy with her is her boyfriend, Matt.”
As everyone said “hello” and exchanged a few words while Ben talked over their gear with them, Nicki went to stand by Alex, who leaned over to whisper in her friend’s ear.
“Benjamin James? Do you think they’re related?”
Nicki had been wondering the same thing. “Maybe.”
Alex pursed her lips. “They do look alike. Same coloring, anyway.”
“I don’t know. They don’t act like siblings.”
The doctor laughed. “How would you know that? You don’t have a sibling.”
They both fell silent when Ricki walked over and joined them. The brunette smiled at the two friends and leaned over, keeping her voice to a whisper. “He’s my ex-husband.” She shrugged when both Nicki and Alex stared back at her. “It’s a long story.”
“I’ll bet,” Alex said.
“How’s the murder investigation coming? I was going to ask Clay when he called last night, but he didn’t get around to it.”
“Does the chief call you every night?” Alex smiled. “He seems like a great guy.”
“Pretty much,” Ricki said. “And he is a great guy. Certainly a patient one.”
When no other elaboration on that comment was given, Nicki decided not to ask. Some things were meant to be kept private. She rarely talked about her mother’s murder, and never did with anyone she didn’t know very well.
“We might have an interesting lead from Mink. It turns out she’s not quite as clueless as everyone thinks.”
Ricki smiled. “People usually aren’t. It’s just an easy way not to take any responsibility for something.”
Alex nodded. “True words.”
“We’d better get this show on the road.” Ricki clapped her hands to get the attention of her latest group of hikers. “Are you guys ready? The SUV is outside. We’ll take it to the trailhead and drop you all off. I’ll meet you back there tomorrow at three o’clock.”
“What if we’re late?” Nate asked.
“We won’t be.” Ben nodded at Ricki. “Let’s go.”
While the other men sorted through their gear, Matt easily swung a large backpack up over one shoulder and motioned to Nicki. She crossed the distance between them, smiling when he leaned down and gave her a kiss.
“I want you to stay out of trouble while we’re gone.”
“Trouble?” Nicki grinned. “There won’t be any time for it. I expect to be up to my eyeballs in cupcakes and wedding plans.”
“And a murder investigation,” Matt reminded her. “One where there’s no clear suspect to be avoided, and that a gun was involved in.” His gaze was serious as he pushed his glasses further up his nose. “I don’t like it.”
“You don’t have to worry,” Nicki assured him. “Think of me surrounded by cupcakes and a sea of midnight-blue and yellow ribbons.
He finally smiled. “I’ll do that.” He took a firmer grip on his backpack and went to join the other men. Ty gave Alex one last kiss and did the same. With waves all around, the hikers and their guides moved off, leaving Alex and Nicki standing together in the lobby.
Alex yawned as she looked down into the remains of her coffee. “I don’t know whether to get another cup, or go to my room and take a nap.” She glanced at her watch. “I don’t have to meet Mom for another two hours.”
“Take the nap,” Nicki advised. “This is the quiet before the storm. The day after tomorrow we ice hundreds of cupcakes and have to get ready for the rehearsal dinner.”
“We aren’t really going to rehearse,” Alex said with another yawn. “I had the minister write the sequence down and told Ty to memorize it. All he has to do is show up at the altar. It’s the bride’s group that has to be all orchestrated, and I figure you and Jenna can handle it.”
“We’ll do our best to justify your faith in us.” When Alex nodded again, Nicki gave her a gentle push toward the elevators. “Go. Nap. Jenna and I are going to go to Robin’s Catering to check on things, and then we’ll be available to help you with whatever you need.”
“A big glass of wine and a massage comes to mind.”
Nicki laughed. “That can certainly be arranged.”
As Alex headed for the elevators, Nicki took out her phone and sent a text message to Jenna to meet her in the lobby. When Jenna immediately texted back that she’d be there in fifteen minutes, Nicki smiled and headed for the coffee cart.
Sally greeted her with a friendly wave and a big smile. “How are you? And who were all those hot guys you were with?”
“The groom and his friends,” Nicki said as Sally went about making her latte without having to ask what she wanted. Nicki smiled. Small towns did have an advantage or two.
“You really do know a lot of good-looking men.” Sally set the foaming cup of coffee in front of Nicki. “Like that one over there.”
Busy getting the cash out of her purse, Nicki didn’t look up. “What one?”
“The one coming our way. Great-looking blond guy. Dressed real nice.”
Nicki closed her eyes. It couldn’t be, could it?
“Hey, babe. I thought I saw you. I need to tell you something.”
Suddenly remembering the missing wine, and that Rob might be the perfect person to ask, Nicki set her mouth into a smile and turned around. “Hi, Rob. I need to talk to you, too, but you go first. What did you want to tell me?”
Flashing his signature smile, Rob took her arm and led her away from the cart. “It’s about that dance I promised you?”
Nicki frowned. What dance?
“I still intend to make good on the promise, but I need to take a rain check on it.” He let out a dramatic sigh. One Nicki used to hear quite often. “I have to fly to Denver tomorrow for a sales meeting. And I can’t get out of it. Forgive me?”
There really wasn’t anything to forgive as far as Nicki was concerned, but she nodded anyway. “If you’ll answer a few questions for me.”
She almost laughed when he glanced around as if he were looking for an escape. “It has to do with wine, Rob.”
“Oh.” His smile was instantly back in place. “Sure. Fire away.”
“How valuable would an old Cabernet, or burgundy, or maybe a Bordeaux wine be?”
Rob lifted a hand and scratched the side of his face. “It depends. How old are you talking about?”
Nicki did a quick calculation in her head. “Say from World War Two? So at least seventy years old, probably more.”
The wine buyer shrugged. “The reds can have a shelf life of about fifty to sixty years if you go for the ten-ten-ten rule.”
She was familiar with that particular rule – ten years to age to peak, ten years at peak, ten years to decline. Nicki sighed. It could well be that anything beyond that would likely not be drinkable. “So anything much older than that wouldn’t be worth drinking?”
He paused. “That would take the value down quite a bit unless there was something else unusual about it.”
“Such as?” Nicki prompted.
“If it was from a vineyard no longer in existence, or someone famous had signed the bottle, like Eisenhower or Franklin Roosevelt. Or Clark Gable might even be better. I read that he served in the war.”
Clark Gable? Great. Nicki sighed. “But without a signature or something else, it would be too old to hold its value?”
“It depends, babe. No rule about wine is iron clad. Some can last much longer than you’d think, depending on how they were stored, the temperature they were at, so you never really know until you uncork it. Wh
y? Have you come across an old bottle of wine?” He looked around the ornate lobby of the St. Armand. “It wouldn’t surprise me if this place had a few in its wine cellar. Amanda took me on a tour of it. Pretty nice for being in such an out-of-the-way location.”
“I’m sure the hotel was glad to hear your assessment of it.”
He reached out and ran a hand along Nicki’s arm. “I’ve even missed that half-sassy, half-snotty tone you use whenever you get annoyed. I’m sorry about the dance. But I need to run to catch my plane. I’ll call you when I get back to San Francisco.”
Nicki managed to take a step back quick enough to avoid Rob’s attempt at a kiss. He had to settle for a wave before he turned and walked rapidly to the elevators. When the doors opened, he came face-to-face with Jenna, who kept walking, forcing him to jump to the side or get run over.
Rob sent a nasty look to Jenna’s back before the elevator doors closed. Nicki shook her head. Her friends had never liked him, and reluctantly she was starting to agree with them.
Shaking the whole ex-boyfriend thing off, Nicki gestured to the coffee cart. “Did you want to get a cup before we head out?”
“Not necessary. I settled for a Coke with cold caffeine this morning,” Jenna said. She looked at her watch. “It’s still a little early to go to the catering company, isn’t it? They don’t open until ten o’clock.”
“I thought we’d stop in at the police department first. I want to tell Clay everything that Mink said, and that the cabinet in Robin’s office is supposed to have a camera in it.”
“You want to drive over to Massey? Why don’t you just call him?”
“We have over an hour to kill, and it’s a pretty drive,” Nicki replied. “It will give us a chance to relax a little before all the craziness starts.”
“Crazier than checking out a cabinet for a video camera, hoping it caught a killer?” Jenna shook her head and held out a set of keys. “Okay. I’m with you. Let’s go.”
Twenty minutes later they pulled up in front of the police station. Except for a few official vehicles, the small parking lot was empty.