by Mary Ellis
‘There you are! I was hoping you’d be here on time. Mama is getting ready to announce the new master distiller. Far be it from Rose to let people unwind with a drink and something to eat before they’re forced to greet their new boss.’ Alexis hissed her words under her breath.
‘Well, I made a plate and these shrimp are delicious.’ Jill licked cocktail sauce from her fingertip.
‘I can’t wait to eat. Hey, where’s your partner?’
‘Over by the bar.’ Jill aimed a carrot stick across the courtyard.
‘At least he looks like he’s having fun.’ Alexis stole a shrimp off Jill’s plate and gobbled it in record time.
‘If you’re hungry, get some food before your employees devour it all.’
‘I would love to, but my mother would have a fit. According to her, the host doesn’t eat until the guests are finished.’ Her words dripped scorn that had been brewing a long time.
‘Rose was born in the wrong century. Why don’t I fix you a plate, then you could hide in a closet to eat?’
‘A smashing idea, my friend, but that will have to wait. My mother has stepped up to the podium.’ Alexis pulled two flutes from a waiter’s tray and tried to hand her one.
Jill shook her head. ‘Not for me, I just finished a glass.’
‘Good grief, girl. The caterers are barely putting a mouthful in these flutes. I’ll make sure you get back to your hotel safely.’
‘All right, fine. But don’t worry about me. Michael and I took Uber here.’ Jill accepted the glass as they walked into the courtyard.
‘OK, this is what we’ll do.’ Alexis helped herself to another shrimp from Jill’s meager supply. ‘As soon as my mother names the new master distiller, you load two plates up with food and head down the hallway marked Corporate Offices. I’ll look for you once my speech is done.’
‘Sounds like a plan.’ Just for a moment Jill wondered if anyone ever told Alexis ‘no’ or to ‘back off.’ But that was probably just the green-eyed-monster rearing its ugly head again.
‘Good evening, everyone.’ Rose Scott’s well-polished drawl boomed from the loudspeaker. ‘Thanks so much for joining us tonight as we name my beloved husband’s successor as the new master distiller.’ Rose waited for the smattering of applause to die down. ‘William loved working at Parker Estate. There wasn’t a single day that he complained to me or our daughter, Alexis, about having to go to work.’ While the audience chuckled, Rose motioned for Alexis to join her at the podium.
‘Oh boy, here we go.’ Alexis handed Jill her flute. ‘Don’t forget to find me later with a plate of grub. I love those little meatballs in cocktail sauce.’ Then with a practiced hand, Alexis smoothed an unseen wrinkle from her silk dress and joined her mother at the microphone.
Since Jill could only carry so many things, she finished the last sip in Alexis’s glass and placed both glasses on the table. She cast a longing gaze around the courtyard for Nick to no avail.
‘To those of you in production,’ continued Rose, ‘my announcement will not come as a surprise. After interviewing several candidates from both inside and outside the company, the board of directors has chosen … Anthony Rossi to be our new master distiller. For those of you not in production, Anthony has been with us for eleven years and served as my husband’s chief assistant for the last five. Please join me in welcoming Anthony Rossi as Parker Estate’s new master distiller.’
As Rose and Alexis clapped politely the crowd broke into uproarious applause. Rossi either had plenty of fans at work or his friends and family had crashed the party. Jill finished her canapes as Anthony thanked everyone but the governor of Kentucky and then went on to pledge his undying loyalty to the brand. Yada, yada. His speech made Jill glad she worked in journalism where advancement was impossible, so schmoozing was usually unnecessary. During Rossi’s entire monologue, Rose smiled like a pageant winner, while Alexis appeared to be biting the inside of her cheek.
When Rossi finally finished, Jill headed indoors to where the food had been replenished on several tables. A long queue soon formed behind her as Jill piled tiny meatballs and shrimp dipped in cocktail sauce on two plates, then glanced around the courtyard. Although she spotted Michael with a gorgeous redhead under the magnolias and Rose chatting with her husband’s replacement, Jill didn’t see her friend. Not one to give up easily, she waited until the guard’s back was turned and slipped through the door marked ‘employees only’. Once Alexis had had enough of her mother and work socializing, she would appreciate the food and a few minutes alone.
Jill wandered down a long hallway of offices, including public relations, community outreach, and human resources. Then she spotted an interesting brass plate labeled Historical Archives. What would it hurt to browse for a few minutes until Alexis turned up? Books lined two walls of the room, while the other two displayed blown-up photographs of downtown during a bygone era. Unfortunately, the room Jill wanted to peruse wasn’t empty. A small man sat in a leather chair at the desk, a bottle of bourbon and snifter in front of him.
‘Excuse me, Mr Parker,’ she said, recognizing him from her visit to the estate. ‘I hope I didn’t disturb you. I’m just waiting for Alexis.’
Robert Parker peered up through thick spectacles. ‘Good to see you again, Jane! Please, join me. Is one of those plates for me? How did you know I was hungry?’
‘It is indeed, sir.’ Jill ignored the incorrect name and placed the heaped plate of food in front of him. After all, she could always get more later.
‘I love meatballs.’ Parker speared a meatball with a toothpick and popped it in his mouth. ‘My granddaughter’s not here, but I would love to buy you a drink!’ Chortling at his joke, he took a second glass from his drawer, filled it with an inch of amber liquid, and pushed it across the desk.
‘No, thank you. I’ve already drunk my quota of champagne.’
His eyes widened in horror. ‘You came to a distillery to drink champagne? This ain’t Paris, France, young lady. This is Kentucky!’
‘I know, but …’
Grandpa Parker cut her rationalization short. ‘No buts! I was the master distiller when this bourbon was bottled. Aficionados would stand in line for hours for a taste of this. I’ll consider it an insult if you refuse to at least try it.’
‘In that case, I would love some.’ Jill picked up the glass and took a small sip. ‘Absolutely delicious.’ She had to admit it was far smoother than any bourbon she’d tasted thus far.
‘So tell me, Jane, do you have enough information for your travel article yet? That is what you’re writing, isn’t it? My daughter thinks you’re up to no good. She also thinks my memory is going bad.’
Jill sipped a bit more. ‘Yes, my article is finished. Tonight I’m here as a guest of your granddaughter’s.’
‘In that case, I hope you have a good time. Just don’t let Rose see you back here.’ Parker studied her intently for a moment. ‘For some reason you rub my daughter the wrong way. Maybe it’s because you’re cute as a button.’ He lifted his glass as though in toast.
‘That’s very kind.’ Although Jill had never seen a particularly cute button, she clicked his snifter with hers and finished the drink, as not to ruffle his feathers.
‘One more for the road?’ Robert lifted the decanter. ‘Although I trust you won’t get behind the wheel of a car.’
‘No, thank you. I’m already feeling the effects of that one.’ Jill steadied herself with the edge of the desk. ‘I should keep looking for Alexis.’
Robert ate another meatball and smiled. ‘I would try the mixing room. That was Alexis’s favorite hideout as a little girl. Down the hallway to the end, then go through the double doors.’
Jill tried to focus on the elderly man. ‘Thanks, Mr Parker. It was nice seeing you again.’
‘Likewise, Miss Curtis.’
Oddly, this time the former master distiller got her name right. But Jill had more important things to worry about. Like staying upright when she really need
ed a nap. Focusing on the double doors ahead of her, Jill put one foot in front of the other. She never should have drunk that bourbon, especially not on top of champagne. Right then and there she pledged never to touch hard spirits again, no matter whose feelings were at stake. Hopefully she would find her friend on the other side of the doors. Alexis would know where the closest restroom was since she felt very dizzy.
Pushing open the doors, Jill stepped into the mixing room just as her knees buckled and the floor rose up to meet her. For an unknown amount of time she remained flat on her back on the cold concrete floor with the other plate of canapes down the front of her pants. When Jill’s eyelids finally fluttered open, she saw Rose Scott and the new master distiller staring at her. Neither was smiling.
‘Who are you?’ Anthony Rossi asked.
‘This is the nosy reporter who has insinuated herself into my daughter’s life.’ Rose huffed in supreme indignation.
‘My name is Jill Curtis,’ she whispered with great effort. ‘Could you help me up, please?’
Rossi placed a hand under each armpit and hoisted her ingloriously to her feet. ‘There are some people who should never drink, young lady. And you are one of them.’ The new boss scolded Jill like a child. ‘Don’t you dare return to the reception in this condition. I’ll have security send you home in a taxi.’
Rose laid a manicured hand on Rossi’s arm. ‘Perhaps we should find out what she’s doing here first. This woman was already warned about venturing into prohibited areas. Maybe she’s being paid by a competitor to spy or plant dangerous materials in our distillery.’
The new boss’s expression changed from disappointed parent to nasty prison guard. ‘I don’t know what you had planned, Miss Curtis, but you’re trespassing on private property. If I catch you inside Parker Estate Distillery again, I’ll have you arrested, whether you’re a friend of Miss Scott or not. Do you understand?’ Rossi shook Jill like a ragdoll, increasing her nausea exponentially.
‘I understand, but I think …’
That was all the thinking she had time for as the champagne, shrimp, meatballs and aged bourbon suddenly bubbled to the surface and across the tile floor.
‘Oh, good grief!’ Rose muttered, jumping back a step.
Jill might have collapsed in a heap if Rossi hadn’t held her upright. ‘I’ve got you, young lady. Bend over and get it all out. You’ll feel better tomorrow.’
Just then the double doors banged open. ‘What’s going on in here?’ asked a familiar male voice.
‘What has happened to Jill?’ screeched a familiar female voice.
‘Nothing,’ Rose insisted. ‘Your new friend had too much to drink and went snooping around the distillery. This is the end result.’ Rose pointed at the mess on the floor with contempt.
Nick caught Jill up in his arms. ‘Are you all right?’ he asked tenderly.
‘I think I’d like to go home now,’ Jill moaned, never so embarrassed in her entire life.
‘Can you walk or shall I carry you?’ Nick swept an arm under her knees.
‘No, no. I can walk.’ Hanging onto Nick’s arm, Jill moved slowly toward the door then stopped. ‘I apologize, Mr Rossi, for the mess, and congrats on your promotion.’
Jill didn’t try to say anything else. She was too busy focusing on not being sick … and the fact that Alexis and Nick had walked into the mixing room together.
Jill remembered very little after climbing into Nick’s car. At some point she fell asleep, which, needless to say, was a blessing. When she awoke she was on a couch under a blanket in unfamiliar surroundings. ‘Where am I?’ she asked, rising up on elbows.
After a few moments Nick emerged from the bathroom with wet hair and a towel around his neck. ‘You’re in my apartment.’
‘What day is it?’ Jill pressed her temples as snippets of recent events returned.
Nick glanced at his watch. ‘Still Friday, but not for much longer.’
‘Good grief. Michael is probably worried what happened to me!’
Nick sat on an ottoman near the couch and took her hand. ‘While I drove you home from the party, Alexis looked for your partner. She assured Michael you were safe and well taken care of. He’ll take an Uber back to the hotel.’
Jill drew her arm back. ‘About that, what’s with you and Alexis showing up together? Where were you all day? What’s going on?’
Nick laughed as though she’d said something amusing. ‘Nothing’s going on, sweet girl. My heart belongs solely to you.’ He thumped his chest with his fist. ‘Alexis spotted me when I arrived at the reception. She said she couldn’t find you in the crowd, but was about to search the distillery. She asked if I wanted to join her and of course, I agreed.’ Nick grabbed her hand again and kissed the back of her fingers.
‘So, no funny stuff behind my back?’ Jill leaned against a pile of pillows.
‘None whatsoever. Alexis was worried about you. She wanted you away from her mother’s claws as soon as possible. So I brought you here to my humble abode.’ Nick flourished his hand around the room. ‘Now, if you feel like talking, I’d love to hear why you passed out on the distillery floor.’
With the ball decidedly in her court, Jill chose her words carefully. ‘I have no idea. Alexis said she was starved, so I fixed us both plates of food.’
‘Why couldn’t she fix her own?’ Nick asked, confused.
‘Her mother said she wasn’t allowed to eat until after the party.’
‘That sounds like Rose. Go on.’
Jill ran a hand through her tangled hair. ‘I fixed the plates of food but I didn’t see Alexis in the courtyard after the speeches. So I knew she was hiding from the whole ordeal.’
‘What ordeal? It was just a party.’
‘I don’t know, Nick, I’m just trying to remember everything that happened.’
‘Sorry. Go on.’
‘I went through the door marked “employees only”, but instead of finding Alexis down the hallway, I found her grandfather. Robert Parker is a sweet old man who said he was hungry, so I gave him a plate of food.’ Jill paused, but when Nick’s expression didn’t change, she continued. ‘Mr Parker asked me to have a drink with him. Since I’d already had two champagnes I declined, but he insisted.’
‘That’s how you ended up drunk?’
Jill sucked in a breath. ‘I’m sure that’s how it looked, but I don’t think I was drunk. I think I might have been drugged. I saw Rose Parker lurking around my champagne glass.’
Nick released her hand. ‘Do you know how ridiculous this sounds? You almost never drink, yet you had two glasses of champagne and a high-proof bourbon. That amount would get a regular drinker drunk. That plus not eating much was what made you sick in the mixing room.’
Jill dropped her chin to her chest. ‘Oh, dear, I’d hoped that was part of the bad nightmare I had on your couch.’
‘It really happened, but at least Rose Parker didn’t make you clean the mess up yourself.’ Nick grinned. ‘She was madder than I’ve ever seen her.’
‘Mr Rossi said he would have me arrested if I set foot in the distillery again.’
Nick sat next to her on the couch and wrapped both arms around her. ‘Let’s not worry about that. Your travel article is done and the Louisville police are investigating the homicide. If you still wish to see Alexis I suggest a coffee shop or restaurant.’
‘Speaking of Alexis … was she horribly mad at me for ruining the reception?’
‘You didn’t ruin anything. The reception was in the courtyard, not the mixing room. Alexis was very worried about you. You passed out cold, Jill. You could have cracked your skull when you fell.’
‘Not to worry. Hard as rock.’ Jill tapped her head with her knuckles.
Nick pulled an afghan from the back of the couch. ‘OK, Miss Rock-Head, time to lie down and go back to sleep. Alexis still wants you at the attorney’s office tomorrow for the reading of the will, if you’re feeling up to it. She left you the lawyer’s business card with h
is address. Alexis said sparks could fly if her mother doesn’t get everything she’s entitled to.’
Jill stretched out her legs. ‘Do you think it’s wise, considering how Mrs Scott feels about me?’
‘That’s entirely up to you.’ Nick pulled the afghan up to her chin.
‘Will you be there?’
‘Definitely not. Mama Rose doesn’t like me either.’
Jill bolted upright, causing a sharp pain between her eyes. ‘You never told me where you went today. You were going to explain but I stole your thunder.’
Nick pushed her back down. ‘I drove to Lorraine because my sister was having problems with Mom, but it’s nothing that can’t wait until tomorrow. Go to sleep. Morning will be here before you know it.’
‘OK, Nick. And thanks. You and Alexis saved me and I won’t forget it.’
Whether Jill would remember or not was anyone’s guess, since she was sound asleep in under a minute.
ELEVEN
Jill studied the business card left by Alexis while waiting for her taxi to arrive. Since the official reading of William Scott’s will was scheduled for a Saturday, she called a cab in case Michael wanted to use his car to get estimates on the damage. Jill was dropped off directly in front of the law firm of Bradley, Cooper and Day on the same street as the distillery. After riding the elevator to the top floor, she opened the conference room door to two warm smiles, owned by Alexis and Grandpa Parker, and two sour frowns, belonging to Rose Scott and the distinguished man sitting at the head of the table.
‘Excuse me, miss. I am Kenneth Bradley, senior partner of this law firm. This is a private reading for those expressly named in the estate.’