“And did he?”
Toni shrugged. “Henry passed along some bullshit information, but mostly he kept trying to put Fairfield off. He doesn’t know who was doing the sabotage at the winery like the tractor and stuff.”
“You believe him?”
She nodded. “I do. He’s an honest person, and he kind of spilled his guts. If he’d done anything to Nico, he would have told me.”
“So Fairfield and Marissa were blackmailing Henry, who has an alibi for this attack.”
Toni nodded. “And the reason I went over to talk to Marissa after work yesterday was to find out who else they might be blackmailing.”
“In my admittedly limited experience with blackmailers, it’s a fairly safe bet your man wasn’t the only one.” Drew raised an eyebrow. “But you thought Marissa was just going to tell you?”
Toni shrugged. “I can be pretty persuasive when I need to be, and Marissa isn’t as smart as she thinks she is. She gave me a couple of names. And she said that Fairfield had a safe. Said he kept guns in it and a black book with his contacts.”
“I knew about the firearms. He had them registered. Have not found any book like you’re talking about.”
“The gun that killed Fairfield? Was it his own?”
“Yeah.” Drew nodded.
“Weird and horrible,” she said softly.
Henry shifted and leaned toward her. Toni put her head back on Henry’s shoulder and he rested his head on top of hers.
Drew smiled. “You guys are cute.”
“Don’t get started, okay? This isn’t exactly how I’d planned to introduce him to my crazy family.”
“Ah, he’s a good guy. Cynics like us can tell who the jerks are, and he’s not one of them.”
“I’m not a cynic.”
“Of course you are.” Drew crossed his arms over his chest and yawned. “Names?”
Toni was too tired to argue with him. “Of who? Blackmail targets?”
Drew nodded.
Toni lowered her voice even more. “I’m not positive, but she mentioned Marla Price at the Moonstone Cove Ledger. She mentioned Ruben Montenegro, who—according to Marissa—did not get along as well with his boss as he makes out. And she mentioned his accountant. I can’t remember his name, but it was a guy. And one more person…” She closed her eyes. “Um, the lady at the club. At the country club. The social director?”
“Pamela something? Yeah, I’m pretty sure she had a relationship with Fairfield. That was an affair. Fairfield’s fiancée knew about Marissa, but she didn’t mention Pamela.”
“Interesting.” Toni took a deep breath. “That’s it. Those are the only names I can remember.”
“I wonder if Marissa knows who killed her boyfriend or if she simply suspected someone and confronted them. Maybe she thought she could continue Fairfield’s blackmail operation.”
“You think whoever killed Fairfield is the one who beat Marissa up?”
“Yes.” He nodded. “I do.”
She frowned. “That seems like a leap. If it was the same person, wouldn’t they have killed her?”
“I’m starting to wonder whether Fairfield’s death was intended. Before he was killed, the medical examiner says that Fairfield was beaten quite badly.” Drew nodded at the hospital doors. “Not unlike your relative here. Cracked ribs. A busted jaw. Whoever beat Whit Fairfield up was a powerful person. Likely a man around six feet tall based on the injuries. Whit Fairfield might be the victim of a fight that got out of hand. A crime of passion, so to speak.”
“A crime of passion against Whit Fairfield and Marissa by a powerful man around six feet tall?” Toni glanced at Henry, then at Nico. “So what you’re saying is…?”
“Unless Nico has an ironclad alibi for last night, I still can’t rule him out.”
Chapter 17
“An alibi?” Nico rubbed two hands over his exhausted face. “It was Tuesday night. School night. I made the kids dinner, helped Ethan with some geometry homework, and went to bed.” He frowned. “Watched a movie for a while. Fell asleep. That’s it.”
They were sitting in Nico’s office at the winery, Drew and Toni in the chairs across from his desk and Henry leaning against the edge of it.
Marissa was stable but still unconscious. They had performed the surgery she needed the previous night and were keeping her in a medically induced coma for the first twenty-four hours to give her body the best chance to heal.
Nico had taken the kids home to sleep. He and Henry were trying to organize the harvest crews at the winery so they could run without him, leaving him free to shuttle the kids back and forth to the hospital if necessary.
Drew looked disappointed. “Mr. Dusi, I’m trying to help. Can you think of anything—?”
“Why the fuck would I beat up Marissa?” Nico was obviously exhausted. “She’s Beth and Ethan’s mother, for God’s sake. You think I’d do that to my kids?”
“She is your soon-to-be ex-wife, involved in a messy divorce, and in a relationship with a man who repeatedly tried to sabotage your business.” Drew spread his hands. “I can’t ignore it even if I want to rule you out.”
Henry looked at Drew. “Do you need me to make some kind of statement about what Marissa and Fairfield did? What they threatened me with? Nico didn’t know about any of it.”
“Until four days ago,” Toni said. “And three days after Nico found out, Marissa was beaten up. So I don’t know if that really helps.”
Henry clamped his mouth shut.
“Thanks, Toni.” Nico’s sarcasm was tangible. “You’re really helping this guy?”
“Katherine, Megan, and I went over to Marissa’s yesterday to ask her about the blackmail stuff. She told me some more names, and then she was attacked. There has to be a connection between someone on that list and whoever did this. We’re trying to help because I don’t want a cloud of suspicion hanging over you. Just suck it up and accept the help.”
“Who did she say they were blackmailing?” Nico asked. “Who else besides Henry?”
“Pamela Martin, for one. Or at least that was a name she mentioned.”
Nico looked half-asleep, but he tapped both his hands on the edge of the desk. “You need to talk to Jackie maybe.”
“Jackie, my sister-in-law Jackie?”
Nico nodded. “They were in school together, and I think they’re still pretty close. I’d be shocked if Pam and that guy were actually involved, but Jackie would be the one to ask.”
“Okay.” Toni glanced at Drew. “I guess I’ll call Jackie then.”
Drew pursed his lips. “What makes me think I’m not invited to this meeting?”
“Do you want actual information from this woman?” Toni asked. “She’ll talk to other women. She’s not gonna talk to a police officer. Not without knowing what it is you want from her.”
Drew took a deep breath. “This town is so damn insular it drives me absolutely nuts sometimes.”
“Just be glad you have me on your team,” Toni said. “Me and my sister-in-law.”
* * *
The next day, Megan picked Toni up at the garage so they could meet Toni’s sister-in-law for lunch. They met Jackie at a South Beach bistro that looked over the pier and backed up to tasteful boutiques just a block away from the boardwalk.
Jackie had grown up in a ranching family farther down the coast. She was the privileged oldest daughter of two successful parents and had a keen financial mind that had taken Frank Dusi’s vegetable business national and then international.
Jackie also knew everyone.
“Hey.” She stood and kissed Toni’s cheek. “How’s Nico?” She turned to Megan. “You must be Megan. I’ve heard a lot about you, and I adore that bag.”
Megan held up a mustard-yellow leather tote bag that complemented her rose-colored blouse. “Thanks. I was just looking at yours.”
“It’s my favorite, and you can’t get them anymore because the shop went out of business. Isn’t that the worst?”
“I hate that.”
“Wow,” Toni said. “Yeah. Purses. And stuff…”
Jackie smirked. “Toni will never admit to caring anything about fashion, and yet she always manages to look amazing and completely her own style. As long as she’s out of her work coveralls, obviously.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Toni knew she stood out in the pale, sun-washed dining room decorated with tasteful coastal influences and driftwood. She was wearing a slim pair of dark blue denim jeans, her favorite Merle Haggard concert T-shirt, and a brown leather jacket. “You asked about Nico.”
“Yeah.” Jackie’s expression turned hard. “This whole thing with Marissa? It’s bullshit. Anyone who knows Nico—knows our family at all—knows that we will come down like a ton of bricks on anyone who hurts one of ours.”
Megan said, “So you had a good relationship with Marissa? Because most of what I’m hearing is—”
Jackie lowered her voice. “Oh, don’t get me wrong. I think she’s a complete bitch.”
Megan blinked. “Oh.”
“But she’s a bitch. She didn’t abuse her children. She didn’t murder anyone. She fucked around on Nico—I’m pretty sure—and she was never satisfied with the life they had, but she’s gonna regret those things eventually. She’s still Beth and Ethan’s mom. And she adores her kids. She’s a selfish little shit about it, but I know she loves them.”
Toni said, “Her parents were at the hospital. Did you see them?”
Jackie nodded. “Marissa is gonna end up straightening up her life after this. She was going through some kind of midlife crisis, but she’s got a good family, and she’ll figure it out. Whoever beat her up like that?” Jackie shook her perfectly coiffed head. “They better pray the police arrest them before Frank and the boys find out who it was.”
Toni looked around the small restaurant. “So Pamela Martin is going to meet us here?”
Jackie kept her voice low. “I told her to meet me about fifteen minutes after I told you so we have a little time to talk. You think Pam knows something?”
“I think she was involved with Whit Fairfield,” Toni said. “That’s what Drew said. Marissa thought they were sleeping together.”
Jackie wrinkled her nose. “No accounting for taste, but it wouldn’t be her worst. I like Pam a lot, but she tends to have horrible judgment when it comes to men. Of course, it wouldn’t be a bad move for her professionally.”
“Why?”
Jackie kept her voice barely over a murmur. “Everyone knew he was expanding his place. What did Nico call it that one time? The Disneyland of wine? He’s not far off. Fairfield wanted to build a hotel, a spa, a restaurant. Rumor was he even wanted a golf course attached to it.”
“That’s ambitious,” Toni said.
“Yep. But land is still cheap here compared to up north. He wanted to put Moonstone Cove on the tourist map and buy up as much property as he could before everyone discovered it.”
“He was looking at development?”
“Oh yeah. He picked up some acreage over in the hills above North Beach. Got another stretch farther south, closer to my parents’ place. And there was that piece he wanted to buy from Nico, of course.”
“Do you have any idea why?”
“I think it’s just proximity. Fairfield’s tasting room and operations look over the creek right into that little corner of Nico’s land. If Fairfield had it, he could build a bridge and expand a little. It seems minor, but if Whit got it into his head? I can see him being a massive asshole until he got what he wanted.”
“But why was it good for Pamela to hook up with him?” Megan asked. “She’s got a steady position at the country club.”
“A club that would have a lot less appeal if Whit Fairfield created a hotel, spa, and golf course smack in the heart of wine country,” Jackie said. “The country club is already seeing things die off in the events department. Younger people are wanting the more ‘rustic wine country’ look for events and not the ‘polished country club’ thing.”
“So Pamela may have been looking for work,” Megan said. “Looking for the next big opportunity.”
“She’d have it with Fairfield.” Jackie had started to scan the restaurant. “Because I don’t know who’s in charge of that whole estate now, but from what I hear, they’re not letting up on their plans for Moonstone Cove.”
“There she is,” Megan said.
“And you’re looking to get into events too, right?” Jackie sipped a glass of ice water. “That’s the reason I’m introducing you?”
Megan nodded. “I had a very successful event-planning company in Atlanta before I moved, but I’m starting from scratch here. Honestly, it really is a favor for me to meet her.”
“No problem.” Jackie rose and stretched out her hands, pulling Pam into a hug. “Hey, you! It’s been too long.”
“So nice to see you.” Pamela was smiling. “And your sister-in-law, right? It’s Toni, isn’t it?”
“Yes.” Toni shook Pamela’s outstretched hand. “And this is a good friend of mine, Megan Carpenter. She moved here a little over a year ago from Atlanta.”
“It’s so nice to meet you,” Megan said. “I think we were introduced at the club months ago, but it was at a big party.”
Pamela narrowed her eyes. “Yes. I remember. You do look familiar, and I remember your adorable accent.”
Toni bit her lip and tried not to snort at the “adorable accent” comment. Her friend just loved it when people patronized her because of her native Atlanta sound.
Megan cocked her head and gave Pamela a dimple-inducing smile. “Well bless your heart, you probably meet so many people in your line of work, I don’t know how you’d keep any of them straight!”
“Yes.” Pamela’s smile faltered for only a second. “What brings you to Moonstone Cove?”
“Well, my husband was transferred out here for work” —Megan laid the accent on thick— “so I packed up the kids and closed my event-planning business in Atlanta so we could come out west for a new adventure, only to find out he’s been dippin’ his brisket in someone else’s sauce if you know what I mean.”
Pamela’s jaw dropped.
“Oh, not you.” Megan took a sip of water. “I think she was a cocktail waitress or whatever you call those little girls who pour wine at the wineries.” She waved a hand. “So I kicked him out. Now I’m looking to start up an events business again. I’m really looking forward to a new challenge. I hate being bored.”
“I imagine.” Pamela didn’t know quite how to react to Megan. “What kind of events did you throw in Atlanta?”
“Oh, the usual. Weddings. Birthday parties. Bar mitzvahs. Corporate conventions. Book signings and film openings. Stuff like that.”
Pamela perked up when she heard film openings. “Really? That’s a pretty impressive résumé.”
“Yes, I’ve had a few former clients offer to fly me out to coordinate events for them, but honestly I’ve had so much going on here that I just haven’t been able to accommodate them. Plus I’m looking to build a more local clientele. I don’t want to have to be flying cross-country to keep busy, you know?”
Jackie waved the server over. “Megan and I are tossing around ideas for Frank’s company party the end of next month. She’s so creative.”
They were? Toni smiled. That was news to her and probably Megan too. She had to hand it to her sister-in-law—it did not take much to get Jackie up to speed.
Jackie ordered a bottle of white for the table and a bruschetta appetizer that had Toni’s stomach sounding off. “Anyone object to those?”
“Not me,” Toni said.
“Sounds amazing.”
“Thanks, Jackie.”
“So Pam,” Jackie started. “What a shock about Whit and Marissa, right?”
Pamela nearly did a spit take, but she caught herself. “It’s…” She cleared her throat. “It’s so shocking. How is Marissa doing?”
“Looking like sh
e’ll pull through one hundred percent,” Toni said. “Thank goodness.”
“When I heard about Whit…” Pamela genuinely looked stricken. “I know not everyone liked him, but he was kind to me.”
“Kind how?” Megan’s eyes were wide. “Was he a client?”
“No. Well, not yet.” Pamela shrugged. “I don’t think it’s that big a secret that he was looking for an events coordinator, and we were talking about the position.”
“I hadn’t heard that,” Toni said. “He’s not too far from me. Do you really think people would have booked events there?”
Pamela smiled. “With his plans? Absolutely.”
“So he was really talking about expanding the place, huh?”
“The level that he was talking about was just…” Her face nearly glowed. “It was so beyond anything offered in Moonstone Cove currently. Right now we’re kind of a quirky beachside town. Whit’s plans would have put us on some lists. The kind that Silicon Valley money would have eaten up.”
“He thought there was that much potential in the area, huh?”
“Whit had big plans,” Pamela said. “But he had the money and drive to follow through with them. There were just a few obstacles that he had to smooth out, and then the sky was the limit.” Something about Pamela’s mouth turned bitter. “I suppose it might just come to nothing now. It’ll all depend on what his fiancée decides.”
That brought Toni up short. “Sorry, what?”
Megan asked, “Did you say his fiancée was in control of the estate now?”
“I didn’t know he was engaged.” Toni played innocent. “Are you sure?”
“Oh yeah. He told me when it happened.” She wrinkled her forehead. “Honestly, it seemed more like a business merger than a marriage. Angela Calvo was an equal partner in the investment company with Whit. That was the deal.” She looked a little uncomfortable. “I know people speculated about me and Whit, but it honestly wasn’t like that. He thought it was funny to insinuate we were sleeping together.”
Fate Actually: Moonstone Cove Book Two Page 14