“I’m sorry, Lana. I’m just so scared about losing new clients.” He attempted to kiss her on the neck but she pulled away.
“Okay, so I forgive you, now leave me alone.”
“Where are you going?” His voice grew louder.
“If you must know, I’m meeting Kay Murphy for lunch.”
“Excellent,” Max praised her. “Please say hello from me,” he added as Lana walked downstairs. His smile dissolved instantly with her reply.
“Don’t worry, Max, I’ll say hello and a whole lot more.”
5
Both Lana and Kay arrived fashionably late at 12:45. More accurately, Kay arrived at 12:20, waited in her car, watched Lana’s driver bring her to Valentino’s front door, then followed shortly afterwards. Lana was seated at her favorite section, a corner table that overlooked a window. She called for Kay as soon as she heard Kay’s voice speaking with the maître d.
“I’m around the wall,” Lana called, wine glass in her hand and already pouring Pinot Grigio for Kay.
“There you are,” Kay said cheerfully. The two women hugged. Kay was wearing a low-key business suit and instantly envied the glamor which Lana exuded.
“Alonso, we’ll start with Calamari Fritti and then a toss salad with fresh chilled shrimp and mushrooms,” Lana instructed the waiter. She sat down with her back against the wall looking into the restaurant to keep a watchful eye on other patrons. Kay settled-in the chair across the table from Lana facing the window which overlooked the parking lot.
“This is a lovely place,” Kay marveled. She looked around impressed at the fine-dining atmosphere, noting silently that it was quite a change from pubs and the diners that she was accustomed.
“Let’s have a toast,” Lana said lifting her wine glass toward Kay. Kay hurried to take hold of her glass to bring toward Lana. “Here’s to friendship and roses.”
“Yes, definitely to roses,” Kay emphasized and sipped the white wine. “Oh, this is delicious,” she blurted.
“You’re so animated and real, Kay. That’s what I like about you! And especially your cute dimples when you smile.”
“I brought some photographs for you to look at,” Kay said and slid an envelope toward Lana.
“I’ll take a look at these later,” Lana replied giving the photos or Kay’s feelings little thought.
After the waiter had served the food, Kay delicately broached last night’s encounter. She carefully chose her words as she chewed the calamari.
“Lana, about last night. Is it alright if we talk about it?”
Lana finished her second glass of wine, poured more in her own glass and topped Kay’s glass. She shook long tresses and sipped wine not responding to Kay.
“I’m sorry did I say something wrong?” Kay asked.
Lana placed her glass down, wiped her lips, smiled at Kay and reached for her hand.
“I thought you’d never ask,” Lana assured her. “I was the one who pleaded with you to come today, yes? Of course I want to tell you what that was all about. I know what it must have looked like to you and the other women. But not all sparkling wine is Champagne.”
“I’m not sure I follow you,” Kay admitted.
“Kay, my life is complicated. My mother used to say that I was born with glass of wine in my hand,” Lana said with a laugh. “My life is the wine world, and I see envy and deceit from every angle. That is what I meant about the Champagne.”
Just then Kay thought she saw Gail Potter emerge from a sports car in Valentino’s parking lot. It was Gail and she was walking toward the front door. Alonso, the waiter brought Gail to Lana’s table.
“Lana, your other guest, Ms. Potter,” he politely announced, pulled a chair from the table to assist her.
“Kay, you know my good friend, Gail Potter,” Lana said matter-of-factly. “She’s the committee chair.”
Kay was speechless.
“Two dirty martinis,” Gail ordered and smiled at Kay.
***
When Gavin arrived at Norman’s real estate office he was surprised to see his niece Peggy with her boyfriend, Josh, and more surprised to hear what she said to Norman.
“Norman, I’m not going to keep the Harmony Tea Shoppe building. I want to close the business.” Josh was resting his hand on her shoulder as she spoke.
“Close it? You just started a few months ago?” Norman expressed with concern.
“Business has taken a dive ever since the fiasco about the cold case murder that happened there. The place is cursed!” Peggy argued.
“That’s not my fault,” Norman countered defensively.
“My arse,” Gavin boomed from behind.
Peggy quickly turned around to see who said the very words that expressed her feelings. “Gavin!”
“Yes, it’s me your Uncle Gavin,” he said mischievously.
“Gavin, please don’t interfere. Last night was different.” Norman now stood up from his desk.
“It’s all about trust,” Gavin began. “How can I to trust you to sell my Pearl River home after what happened to Peggy.”
Norman threw his arms in the air and sat down again. “So sell the building, I’ll sell it for you.” Without skipping a beat or sale opportunity added, “And Gavin, I’ll be happy to sell your home.”
“OK, on one condition,” Peggy demanded. “That you don’t take a commission on either of these sales.”
“Are you nuts? I’m not a charity. I have a family to support,” Norman said proudly and looked straight at Gavin as he spoke.
Gavin chuckled, went around to Norman and patted him on the back. “Good to hear, but me thinks the lady’s request should be honored.”
***
Kay could not conceal her astonishment at Gail’s audacious behavior. She wasn’t sure what rattled her more, Lana’s nonchalance or the sudden alliance between the two women just after last evening’s showdown. Kay cleared her throat several times unable to come up with a neutral topic. Just when her conversation with Lana had started to scratch below the surface Gail’s appearance changed the dynamics. It was like digging a hole in her garden only to bury it without planting the bulb, and covering it with dirt.
“Kay, I hear you used to be a teacher?” Gail said and dipped her lips into the martini.
“Yes, I’m retired now.”
“I always wanted to be a teacher,” Gail patronized. “But the glamor and thrill of public relations pulled me in an entirely different direction.”
Thank God for that, Kay thought. You would have been a terribly self-absorbed teacher.
“Well, I loved teaching,” Kay said trying not to sound too defensive.
“Of course you did,” Lana agreed patting Kay’s wrist. “And I’m sure the children loved you too.”
While the luncheon continued, Kay noticed the two “frenimies” exchanging furtive glances that went along with their guarded conversation. It made Kay’s discomfort build like the steam in a tea kettle. Whatever was going on, she had no tolerance for feigned friendships. A straight shooter all her life, a person was either friend or foe, and if they were the latter, you certainly didn’t dine with them at some posh restaurant.
Lana who was about the same age as Kay, sensed the uneasiness, plus she didn’t want to ruin the possibility of Kay becoming a trusted ally. But before she could take control of the conversation, Gail’s second martini had loosened her lips.
“I spoke to Barnaby today,” she mentioned casually. “I’m going up to Connecticut today to discuss the labels.”
“Good, tell him I say hello when you see him,” Lana replied as calmly as she could.
Kay’s wheels began to turn. She searched her memory why the name Barnaby sounded familiar. Before she could collect her thoughts the waiter came with the leather billfold which Gail promptly grabbed.
“Gail, I invited Kay for lunch,” Lana scolded her. “Let me handle this.”
Without another word, Gail rose from her chair passed the billfold to Lana and they kissed
one another on both cheeks.
“Nice to see you again, Kay,” Gail called as she left.
“I’m sorry she crashed our luncheon. Potterbottom is such a pain,” Lana lamely explained.
“Why do you call her Potterbottom?”
“That little detail I’ll save for our next luncheon,” Lana hinted. “My driver is waiting.”
Kay couldn’t believe what had just transpired. This was something out of movie, you just can’t make these things up, she thought. Taking full advantage of the window view, she witnessed both Gail and Lana entering the car where Lana’s driver waited. They sat together in the backseat to be transported to Connecticut. That’s when Kay’s memory made the connection and silently repeated the answering machine message from the other day: Thank you for calling Galaxy Distributors, Barnaby here. Sorry I missed your call, leave a message.
***
Kay dug her heels into the last bit of gardening soon after changing into her old jeans and sweatshirt. The sheer physicality of gardening would help her become centered. The Wine & Roses event was only about 6-weeks away and she wanted so much to win the floral competition. Her roses usually bloomed in early June, pale-pink blossoms that she gifted to colleagues and friends with fragrant bouquets over the years. It never ceased to amaze Kay how these roses started as a mere cutting from her former sister-in-law’s garden and flourished into several bushes with abundance.
While turning over the soil and sifting the rocks out, Kay continued to mull over the luncheon looking for clues. Gail said she was going to see this Barnaby, Kay thought, and since she left with Lana, that means both of them must be going to see him. I think it’s time to do some Internet search on Galaxy Distributors.
6
Galaxy Distributors, a fanciful name that hid behind the door to a bleak hole-in-the wall in New Haven, Connecticut, was where Barnaby conducted his business as a wine supplier. His upper crust home was at an undisclosed location in affluent Richfield County. But having come from humble beginnings, Barnaby was more at ease in a two-story walk-up surrounded by dingy furnishings, his three laptops, and a refrigerator stocked with beer, vodka, assorted white wines. Cases of red wine were stacked against a far wall.
Gail knocked on the door while Lana crouched behind her. As soon as Barnaby opened the door, Gail shouted, “We’re here!”
Barnaby looked at her with a confused expression. “We?”
“Yes, Barnaby,” Lana stepped out to be seen. “Surprised?”
“The two of you never fail to surprise me,” he said and opened the door wider to let them in. “And I have a surprise for you as well.” He pulled them into his office and locked the door.
***
Satisfied with the garden, Kay went straight to her computer to do some online searches. It was a perfect time without Gavin around who was probably in Pearl River having Norman look at the house again. She typed in several key words: Galaxy Distributors; Barnaby + wine supplier; Barnaby + Connecticut. Kay’s search was as fruitful as her budding tomato plants. There was one article from 2002 that shouted “Cheat!”
Kay made a sound of disgust when she saw Barnaby’s picture. He looked oily and flamboyant, with a mop of hair, a thick mustache, and a shirt with colors that were as loud as a truck horn.
Barnaby Bishoff, longtime premier wine distributor was accosted by the FBI just moments before an auction at Sotheby’s in New York. Their investigation uncovered his nefarious business of selling counterfeit wine as authentic while successfully duping investors and buyers in the millions.
Barnaby Bishoff had a collection of international wines that made him a multi-millionaire and the envy of others. Once a lowly wine clerk, he rose to the top of the barrel, buying and selling expensive wines to the rich and famous from coast-to-coast. His claim to fame was how he could sniff-out out a fake bottle of wine. That didn’t stop him from selling it, however.
Kay wondered whether she should share any of this with Gavin or Lana. She didn’t lie or distort the truth. Would withholding information be the same as lying? Kay always philosophically wrestled with her conscience. It’s on the Internet for anyone to read, she argued. Sadly, Kay would soon forget and not easily retrieve what she just read.
When she heard Gavin entering the kitchen, she shut down the computer and decided this was not the time to share this news. He already became irritated when she pointed out the suspicious wine label in one of the photos she took. But she couldn’t wait to tell him about the luncheon with Lana.
“Hey you’re home,” Gavin greeted and joined her on the couch. “Well, it looks like Norman is going to sell my Pearl River home.”
“I know it must be hard for you to give up the memories,” Kay assured Gavin. He touched her cheek.
“I know. But that was then, and this is now. You and I have a lot of living to do.” Gavin said with a heavy sigh that belied his words.
“If you’re not ready to sell the house, it can wait,” Kay offered.
“You’re such a sweetheart,” Gavin replied and kissed her forehead. “When are we ever ready for change?”
“Aren’t you the least bit curious about the luncheon?” Kay asked impatiently.
“The luncheon and Lana! How could I forget, tell me all about it.”
Kay described it as only a woman would with blow-by-blow details from the gold pin Lana wore on her periwinkle cashmere sweater dress to Gail’s sudden appearance and an order of two dirty martinis.
“What in the world is a dirty martini?” Kay asked exasperated.
“Oh it’s just when the brine from an olive is added to the mix,” Gavin explained. “Nothing special. So Gail had two of them?”
“Who cares,” Kay went on. “Isn’t it weird that Gail would show up at Valentino’s after she and Lana had a nasty exchange last night, right here!”
“Hmmm, that is strange,” Gavin agreed. “If they’re really friends, why did they create a scene here?”
“Well, something Lana said when I questioned her about it you may find interesting,” Kay continued. “Lana said something like, ‘there are many sparkling wines but that doesn’t make them Champagne’.”
“I’ll drink to that,” Gavin joked but quickly sobered his tone when he saw Kay’s annoyance. “Uh, I guess she means that not everything is as it appears. And sometimes circumstances appear suspicious but they’re not. Don’t get involved.”
“So that could mean she and Gail may or may not be friends? I’m still not sure.”
Gavin went upstairs to answer emails and work on his novel while Kay continued to ruminate over the recent several puzzling events. There was something suspicious about Max, Lana, and Gail. Why did Lana seem so desperate to see me then rush away with Gail? And now there was this Barnaby Bishoff, a man who had been charged with fraud. Kay’s main concern had been that the Wine & Roses Competition be successful and that the garden club raised lots of money for college scholarships. “The rest are distractions.” Kay said aloud.
She threw in a load of laundry when she repeated the phrase aloud “the rest are distractions” and put down the laundry detergent to run upstairs. Cody followed dutifully.
“Gavin! I’ve got it!”
“What?” He looked-up from the computer.
“They’re distracting us.” Kay said flatly.
“Kay, what are you talking about, who is distracting us from what?”
“It’s all smoke and mirrors, and I’m going to clear the air and see whose reflection is real and who steps from behind the mirror.”
“Just don’t wreck my article before its published next month,” Gavin warned.
Kay turned on her heel, gave Cody a pat, and descended back to the kitchen. She had missed a call on her cell phone. There was a message from Lana, her voice trembled as if she were in pain:
Kay, please accept my apology for leaving so suddenly from Valentino’s.(pause) I had some business to take care of. I hope you understand. (pause) If my voice sounds a little strange it’
s because I took a fall late in the afternoon and hurt my lip. We’ll talk soon.
Kay’s first impulse was to call Lana back but changed her mind. She thought to keep a safe distance from Lana was best for Gavin’s article. How can I befriend someone who I don’t trust, she reasoned with harboring suspicions. Kay put down the phone and hoped that it would be the last time to hear from Lana until the Wine & Roses event.
PART – 2
Wine & Cheats
Six weeks later
7
“Your roses look incredible!” Gloria gushed as she walked around Kay’s garden. “What do you make them bloom so beautifully? Mine aren’t half as opened as yours yet.”
Kay smiled and soaked in the compliments. She and Gloria shared their love of gardening and both were competing in the Wine & Roses garden club competition. Even so, Kay was wouldn’t dream of not sharing her “gardening secrets” with a good friend.
“Well, it’s the soil, and the sunny location. My garden doesn’t have a northern exposure. And I sometimes bury rinds and scraps of fruit just beneath the area that surround the roots. It’s all organic and it nourishes the rose bushes.”
“I would have never thought of that,” Gloria marveled. “I’ll have to try that—next year.”
They continued to walk around the garden admiring Kay’s ferns, blue Hydrangeas, and day lilies that were beginning to sprout. Kay had even laid a slate walking path that led to what she called her garden oasis, a small hidden area with a stone bench where she could enjoy solitude. The two friends eventually reached this area and sat together, first quietly just taking in an occasional bird calling and a spring breeze.
“How is Melanie? Are she and her husband, Mark, getting along again since she moved back?”
“Yes, thank goodness. You know all couples go through trials. They’re in counseling now, and I’m hopeful. And so is Norman!” Both Kay and Gloria laughed knowing how Norman could be a handful even under the best of circumstances.
Wine, Roses & Cheats (Gold Trotter Mystery Series Book 5) Page 4