by J. C. Eaton
My God. I’ve been writing screenplays way too long.
“Don, Theo, thank you so much. I’ll call you or come over as soon as I can.”
“Sure you’ll be okay?” Theo asked.
“Probably not, but it won’t really hit me until later. By then, I’ll be ready for some wine.”
“One more thing, in case you haven’t thought about it. You really should call the tasting room manager and the winemaker to let them know. Or we can do it for you.”
“My gosh, you’re right. I’ll do it as soon as I’m done looking at the…the…ugh, I can’t even say it.”
I gave them each a quick hug and walked directly to the new vineyard. For a second I had the feeling I was being followed and when I turned to look, Charlie was trotting behind me.
“Stay!” I said when I got to the vineyard. “Sit. Stay.” I had no idea if the dog understood commands but thank goodness he didn’t go charging off into the section where the body was located. At first, it looked like a clump of clothing, but when I got closer I could see it was a body all right. Facedown. The arms were outstretched slightly with palms up and the legs were, well, legs. Straight down. Not spread apart or anything bizarre. The vineyard guys were right. It was impossible to tell if it was a man or a woman.
The hair looked dark and hung down to the neck. Whoever it was, they were wearing tan pants (khakis maybe) and a navy-blue windbreaker. I didn’t notice anything else near the body. No cell phone, bag or gun. If it was a poacher, maybe the other poacher took their gun.
“Miss Ellington. Norrie!” John shouted. “You didn’t have to walk over here. We were on our way to the house. The coroner’s right behind the sheriff’s forensic team and they’ll be removing the body and looking at evidence.”
The deputy, who was frantically taking notes on his tablet, looked up. The deep furrows on his forehead and gray stubble told me he’d been around for a bit. “Is she the owner?”
“Co-owner,” I answered. “Along with my sister and brother-in-law who are in Costa Rica.”
“Hurumph.” He rubbed his chin and groaned before continuing his notes. “They picked a convenient time for a vacation.”
“Oh, they’re not on vacation. He’s an entomologist. They’re on a study grant.”
Just then, he was approached by another deputy and a middle-aged rotund man wearing a white shirt and black pants. I figured he had to be the coroner. The three of them conversed while John, Peter and the two vineyard workers stood there waiting. Finally the deputy spoke. “The coroner and the forensic team are going to examine the body at the site, then the coroner will take it to the county morgue for further study. The forensics guys need to stick around and get evidence from the scene.”
The words popped out of my mouth as if they’d been rehearsed. “Do you know if it’s a man or woman?”
The weathered-looking deputy sighed and shook his head. “At this juncture, no. And there’s no sense in all of you standing around. This is a possible crime scene now. It’ll need to be cordoned off before the body can be removed.”
Theo and Don had been right. Cordon off the area. Remove the body. Now what?
The deputy continued as if he read my mind. “Our team will be questioning the employees at this winery as well as the one down the hill.” He gave me one of those no-nonsense looks that every TV cop used. “And, of course, I’ll need a few words with you, Miss?”
“Ellington. Norrie Ellington.”
“Where can I find you?”
“At the house over there or the winery’s tasting room.”
“Fine. Don’t leave the premises today. Understood?”
My God! I’ve used that phrase, too.
“It’s a woman!” the coroner shouted.
I swiveled my head around to where the body was. “Appears to be in her early fifties. I’ll know more when we get her on the table. Doesn’t appear to have any identification on her.”
I wanted to turn away but I couldn’t. Like staring at a road accident with all of the twisted cars and broken glass. It must’ve been an automatic reaction or something. I took a few steps forward and eyeballed the forensic team as they turned the body on its back. Suddenly, I felt as if I was going to retch.
“I know her,” I said. “It’s Elsbeth Waters.”
Chapter 7
The deputy eyeballed Elsbeth’s lifeless body and then looked at me. “Might as well have that conversation right now. How do you know the deceased? Was she a relative? A friend?”
“She’s the…I mean, was the owner of the Peaceful Pines B & B on the next hill. And no, she most certainly was not a friend.”
I regretted uttering that last sentence the minute it came out of my mouth. Words like “most certainly was not” didn’t sit too well when there was a chance the cause of death wasn’t natural or accidental.
“What I’m trying to say is I didn’t know her well. I only spoke with her on two occasions.”
The deputy tapped the screen of his tablet. “What was the nature of those conversations?”
“Uh, once was when she came into our tasting room three days ago to leave a message for my sister and the other was the day before yesterday when I ran into her in our parking lot. She was concerned about our dog.”
“Concerned how?”
I wasn’t sure how to phrase it so it wouldn’t sound accusatory. Finally I said, “Something about fleas.”
“You wouldn’t happen to know if she has any relatives in the area, would you?”
At last! A sentence I could answer without incriminating myself. “Yes. She does. A niece. I don’t know her name but I believe she works at their bed and breakfast.”
The sheriff kept writing. “If I think of anything else, I’ll be in touch. Expect a call or visit later today to arrange for those interviews with your employees.”
I nodded and watched as Elsbeth’s body was placed on a gurney and loaded into the back of the van. There was dried blood on her chin and the shoulder of her jacket.
“I don’t suppose you can tell me how she died?” I asked.
“That’s why we have a county coroner, but if her clothing is any indication, you can cross off old age from your list. We’ll let you know as soon as we hear anything. Got to notify that niece of hers.”
The guy turned and walked away from me just as John and Peter approached.
John wiped his brow and shook the moisture from his hand. “Looks like the installation of the irrigation system will be on hold for the day. They can’t possibly hold us up much longer gathering evidence. I told Robbie and Travis to get to work on the netting for the other section of Riesling vines. That vineyard is downhill and away from this area. You didn’t need to speak to them again, did you?”
I had been so busy talking with the deputy, I hadn’t noticed they left. “What? No.”
John looked at Peter and let out a groan. “Of all things to happen. We’re two months from harvest and we’ve got a new vineyard going in. How on earth did that woman’s body wind up here? And please don’t tell me she was taking a stroll.”
Peter shrugged. “I’m as clueless as the next guy. Maybe once the coroner examines the body they’ll figure it out.” Then, to me, he asked, “You sure you’re okay?”
“I suppose. At least it happened after Francine and Jason left. It could’ve prevented them from going and that would’ve ruined everything for my brother-in-law.”
All of a sudden I heard someone shout, “Cordon off the whole damn acre if you have to.”
John turned and made a mad dash for the vineyard. He was screaming so loud I thought his lungs would explode. “Not the whole area! Stop!”
Peter grabbed my wrist and gave it a slight squeeze. “I’d better go see what’s going on. Last thing we need is to have an entire area roped off. We’ve got to get that new drip system in.”
I watched as he hurried off. Not only good looks but a decent butt, too. I’ll have to remember that next time I develop a new character. It was odd that neither John nor Peter seemed to show any emotion whatsoever regarding the gruesome discovery in their new vineyard. Then again, Elsbeth wasn’t exactly the kind of person anyone would be mourning over. Especially vineyard workers.
Charlie followed me back to the house, drank some water and curled up in his dog bed. The clock on the microwave read 7:23 AM and I rushed for the phone. I had to get in touch with Franz before he arrived. Undoubtedly, he’d look up the hill and see not only the remaining sheriff’s car but a slew of yellow tape indicative of a massacre and not a lone body.
He picked up on the second ring and said, “Hello. This is Franz.” The same formal intonation as before in the winery.
“Franz, this is Norrie. I’m calling because the vineyard workers found a dead body in the new area where they’re running the irrigation.”
“Not one of our workers?”
“Oh no. I identified it. I mean, her. It was Elsbeth Waters from the B & B.”
“I’m not acquainted with her but how did such a thing happen?”
“Uh, the sheriff’s department is investigating. They’re going to interview everyone on our staff.”
“They can’t come waltzing into our production area. It’s a sterile lab.”
“If they show up without notifying me first, tell them you’ll meet with them in the tasting room kitchen. It’s not sterile.”
There was a short silence at his end.
“It’s clean. Meets health department standards. Just not sterile. Will you please let Alan and Herbert know?”
“Of course. Of course. Naturally. I’m on my way in right now.”
“Thanks.”
I hung up and dialed Cammy next. Unlike Franz, it took five rings but luckily she picked up before voice-mail kicked in.
“Hey, this is Cammy.”
“Cammy, hi. It’s Norrie.”
“Norrie? Is everything all right?”
“No. There’s a dead body. A dead Elsbeth. In our vineyard. Well, at the morgue by now I should think. The vineyard guys found her. I wanted to let you know before you got in for work.”
The composure I had shown with the deputy and Franz dissolved the second I got Cammy on the line. Maybe it was because I felt so familiar with her.
“Where are you now?” Cammy’s voice sounded alarmed.
“At the house. In the kitchen.”
“Good. Stay there. I’m on my way over.”
“Wait! Not yet. Can you please call Glenda and Lizzie? Oh, and Roger and Fred? They should know even if they’re not on the schedule today.”
“I’ll start with Sam and Roger. They are on the schedule.”
“Okay. Good. No sense you driving to the house only to turn around to go back to the tasting room. I’ll meet you there in an hour. How’s that?”
“Good. Try to stay calm.”
“I am calm.”
“Sure you are.”
When I hung up the phone, I looked around the kitchen. Theo and Don had cleaned everything and even wiped the counter with something that made it shine. I figured I’d better let them know what I found out.
I couldn’t tell if Theo was alarmed or relieved when he got my call. “Norrie! Are you all right? Don wanted us to drive back up to your place but I told him you were probably besieged with questions from the sheriff. What did you find out? And more importantly, how are you doing?”
“I’m doing okay but it’s kind of automatic. I saw the body. It was Elsbeth Waters. She was face down but when they moved her…there was dried blood on her chin and the shoulder of her jacket.”
“My God! Hold on a second.” There was a short pause and then, “Don! Don! It was Elsbeth. That’s who.”
Theo was back on the line with me and I could hear Don in the background, but I couldn’t make out what he was saying. “That’s horrible. Absolutely horrible. True, she was a despicable woman but still…dead in a vineyard. I don’t understand. Do the sheriff’s deputies think it was foul play?”
“There was only one grizzly deputy and he wouldn’t say. They need the coroner’s report and all that. Which reminds me, the deputy did say they are going to question the employees at Two Witches as well as the Grey Egret. Thought you should know.”
“Sounds like normal procedure to me. Let’s hope they’ll be discreet. Last thing any of us needs is to frighten away the customers.”
“One look up our hill at all that crime tape and they’ll think a battle took place over here.”
“Did they give you any indication of how long they’ll have that area in your vineyard cordoned off?”
“Nope, but John was hoping it was only for today.”
“I hate to say this, but those investigations can drag on. What do you say you pop over here after the wineries close? We can rig up something to eat and you won’t have to be alone tonight.”
“You sure that’ll be all right with Don?”
“Are you kidding? It’ll be fine. We’ll see you later. Hang in there.”
I thanked him and looked out the front window. The forensic crew was still in the vineyard, and I began to wonder how long they’d be taking samples of soil or whatever they thought they needed. Downhill, I saw Alvin at the far end of his pen, facing the investigators. Unless he was in his little hut for the night, he was clearly the only reliable witness we had to whatever happened in the vineyard last night. Too bad he was a goat.
I poured myself a glass of juice and ate a few crackers. I wasn’t sure if I could keep anything else down. Elsbeth’s was the first dead body I’d ever seen, and hopefully the last. Although I’d been to a few funerals in the past decade, they were closed casket or the body had been cremated. I tried not to think about what I’d seen, but it was impossible.
First, the dried blood. Darkish brown. Then her face. Sallow and puffy. She wasn’t wearing her glasses either. Maybe they’d been dropped and the forensic guys had found them. Unless she’d never had them on. I was fairly certain her body had been dumped on our property, but from where? The deputy refrained from using the word “homicide,” but what else could it be? Even the most distraught person wasn’t going to walk into a vineyard and commit suicide. Then again, I had no idea what had been going on in Elsbeth’s mind, other than driving everyone crazy.
I ran my fingers through my hair. It felt heavy and lifeless. Damn. When was the last time I’d taken a shower? I couldn’t even remember. Maybe I was in a state of semi-shock. I took the stairs two at a time when I thought about the West Side Women of the Wineries. Drat! I really needed to let them know, but the last thing I wanted to do was get trapped on the phone.
The sheriff didn’t say anything but I knew I shouldn’t be mentioning the name of the deceased until the next of kin was notified, but what the heck. That niece was right next door, in a manner of speaking, and they were headed over there. How long could it take to tell her that her aunt had met with an unfortunate circumstance? By now that mousy little girl was either bawling her eyes out or looking for the insurance policy.
I decided to call Madeline Martinez, inform her of what had transpired and ask if she would be kind enough to let the other ladies know that they no longer needed the five-minute Elsbeth Waters portion of their meetings. As things turned out, it was a quick call.
“Mrs. Martinez? Madeline? This is Norrie from Two Witches. Uh, I’m sorry to bother you, but I thought you should know Elsbeth Waters’s body was found in our vineyard this morning.”
I heard a gasp and what sounded like wheezing before she spoke. “Her body? Oh heavens! How on earth… I mean, what could have possibly… Oh never mind. Are you all right?”
“Yes, yes. I’m fine. I notified everyone on our staff as well as Theo and Don from t
he Grey Egret.”
“Is there anything we can do?”
“Can you please call the other ladies from the winery group and let them know? I don’t have details other than the fact two of our vineyard workers found her facedown in that new area where we were putting in irrigation drip lines.”
“Certainly. Certainly, I’ll call. What a shock. What on earth do you suppose happened?”
“I have no idea. The deputy sheriff’s coming back to question all of us.”
“Elsbeth Waters more than ruffled feathers around here. She made life miserable for all the wineries at this end of the lake. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if she acquired enemies along the way. Please let me know if we can help in any way.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it.”
I put down the phone, walked to my bedroom and tossed my clothes in a heap before taking a shower. I must’ve been really flustered because I couldn’t remember if I had fed Charlie. I made a mental note to add some more kibble to his bowl.
Once out of the shower and dressed, I left the house and went straightaway to the tasting room. Cammy was already there and the aroma of coffee met me.
“You look awful” were the first words out of her mouth, followed by, “let me get you some coffee and a scone. We’ve got some leftovers from the bistro.”
“Really? I look that bad?”
“Not your hair or clothing. Your coloring. You look drained. Of course, that’s probably normal under the circumstances. Come on, eat something.”
We sat in the kitchen and she placed a cranberry scone in front of me and a cup of coffee. Cammy didn’t say a word until I’d finished half the scone.
“Yeesh. What a way to start your first day here. You’re not going to tell your sister and brother-in-law are you?”
“Not right away. I haven’t heard from them yet, but I imagine there’s an e-mail waiting for me. I haven’t checked. Wow. Usually I start my day scrolling e-mail and Facebook, not standing next to a muddy vineyard watching the coroner remove a corpse.”