“Oh, that’s good,” Simon said.
“Good? Good? No. The guy is an admitted killer,” Nikki said.
“He thought the man was a terrorist,” Marco interjected.
“Yes, but the thing is, this guy knows how to kill, and from reading this, he does seem a bit unstable,” Nikki said.
The boys couldn’t disagree with that. Over the next couple of hours, way late into the night, they all read over the applications. Nothing else really stood out. Yes, everyone had some kind of dysfunction and turmoil. They were all seekers of enlightenment, but nothing screamed at Nikki the way Kensington’s application had. Combine that with his horrific dream board, and as far as she was concerned, he appeared certifiable.
The three of them lay back on her couch looking stoned and feeling wiped out.
“You did good, boys. Thank you. I needed your help. But I have to tell you that you scared me to death tonight. You can’t tell me that it took you five hours to break and enter the suite and then head on over to Barnes & Noble.”
“It did take some time to locate the books,” Marco said. “But that’s not the only reason it took so long.”
“Oh,” she said. “I get it.” Oops. She did not need any intimate details.
“You have such a dirty mind, Snow White. It’s not what you think.”
“It’s not?”
“No,” they both said.
“After Marco heard about the vision board and the baby idea I’ve been mulling over, he was kind of surprised. We needed to talk.”
“Yes, we did,” Marco added.
“And after we talked, we had a wonderful dinner of grilled salmon in this amazing Pinot sauce, and some champagne. Then we went to the bookstore and found the books, and then we came straight here.”
“That’s all you’re going to give me?” she asked. “What’s the champagne all about?” They drank champagne only on special occasions or to celebrate.
“Well, Snow White.” Simon looked at her with tears in his eyes. “Marco and I are going to have a baby. We are going to find a mother to have our child. In fact, we want to know if you’ll have our baby.”
Twenty-three
NIKKI slept soundly through the night with Ollie at her side. Visions of babies and their toys weaved in and out of her dreams. She was happy for the boys but also a little concerned. A baby was a huge responsibility and she wondered if they were truly up for it, or only following what seemed to be the latest fad, adopting. She had told them gently but clearly that, for her, being the mother of their child was absolutely out of the question. She explained that if she had a baby, she was keeping it for herself. Marco understood right away, but it took Simon a little time to get it through his thick skull that she would not even consider the idea.
It was a little past seven when she poured her first cup of coffee and moved onto the porch with Ollie to drink it and soak in the serenity the valley gave her and so many others who lived there. But as peaceful as the valley was at that moment, a dark cloud of murder continued to hang over her and the winery. When she finished her coffee, she would have to call Derek and let him know about this latest murder. She also needed to get ahold of Alan and find out his plans. This morning was supposed to be free time for the group anyway and then the afternoon was to be spent in meditation with the option to take a yoga class. She also had to get those applications back to Hayden as she’d promised.
Thinking about Alan, Nikki remembered that she needed to go over the notes Derek had taken during their meeting the other day. Regardless of the situation, she still wanted to approach Alan on the product deal he’d discussed with Derek. With all the ickiness that had gone on, she’d almost forgot that one of Alan’s reasons for choosing the vineyard as a replacement location to hold the workshop at was because he was interested in working out a licensing agreement deal for the spa products and the organic wines that Malveaux made.
She went into the house, took the notes off Derek’s desk in the study, and walked back outside with the coffee. Ollie hadn’t changed positions. She would really have to get him up for a run today. They could both use it to burn off some steam.
Nikki started reading over the notes. Luckily for her, she’d learned to read Derek’s chicken scratch and then could write things out on a separate piece of paper so they were legible and made sense to her.
Derek had written down what type of payment there would be to Alan and what Alan’s responsibilities to the winery and spa would be. He’d notated a basic marketing campaign and put Marco and Simon in charge. This was all stuff he’d mentioned to her. A note at the bottom of the second page was what caught her eye and made her go “Hmmm.” Derek had written down VisionS cope and next to that Iwao Yamimoto’s name. What was that all about? VisionScope? Nikki knew she’d heard that name before, but maybe she was thinking of the dream boards? No. VisionScope. Nikki wracked her brain. Wait a minute. She got up and went back into Derek’s study, scanning the books on the shelf. There was one on organic viticulture. She pulled it out. She’d thumbed through it before because Malveaux grew their grapes and processed through organic means. She looked on the side of the book; the logo read VS. She knew that didn’t stand for Victoria’s Secret. No half-naked women in this book. She turned to the inside cover and found the copyright and the publisher to the book. There it was: VisionScope. They were located in Ontario, Canada. What did any of this mean? And how could she call Derek up and ask him? She had to call Derek and tell him what had happened to Mizuki. How could she in the same breath try to tie in this note he’d written in a more nonchalant business discussion? She closed the book. Impossible.
She took the book back outside and closed her eyes for a minute. What was it she was missing?
“Ah, you do breathe.”
Nikki’s eyes shot open to find Alan standing over her, dressed in a pair of blue jogging shorts and white T-shirt soaked in sweat. “Hi. I see you’ve been out for a run.”
“Beautiful morning. I needed the exercise and to think.”
“I’m sure. Hey, would you like a cup of coffee? It’s fresh.”
“Normally I would turn caffeine down, but today I feel more human than I have felt in years. I didn’t sleep last night at all. I suppose there’s still quite a bit of ego left in me after all.”
“Is that a yes to the coffee?”
He laughed. “Sure. I’d love some.”
“Why don’t you come on in? I’d hate for you to get a chill.”
He followed her into the house. Ollie came up, sniffed him, and then trotted right behind.
“That’s Ollie.”
“Hey, boy.” Ollie pushed his head under Alan’s hand, forcing the pat and causing Alan to laugh.
“He likes you.” Nikki handed him the coffee.
“He knows I love animals.”
“Come in. Sit down.”
They sat down in the family room and for a few seconds sipped their coffee silently. Surely Alan felt as tense as she did. Ollie broke the silence by laying his thick head in Alan’s lap. Although Nikki had pretty much decided that Alan Sansi wasn’t a murderer, that moment with her big silly dog trusting the man implicitly cemented it for her. Ollie had good instincts.
“I suppose you’re wondering what I’m going to do about the workshop,” Alan said.
Nikki set her cup down. “Kind of. I’m sure everyone is.”
“I forgot how good coffee can be.” He smiled. “I’ve been thinking about it all night and then out on my run and maybe this isn’t the best time to conduct a workshop. Maybe everyone needs some space to digest what has happened and then we can regroup at a later time.”
He looked sad. Really sad. Nikki thought about it for a moment. “Can I suggest something?”
“Of course.”
“I found it kind of weird that when Iwao was killed, the group moved on so quickly, you know. We didn’t change up the program. Nothing. I understand that you were trying to get people into a different frame of mind, but
isn’t there something to be said for talking about what occurred and how people might feel about it?”
“There is and it’s also something that I was thinking about while on my run. I’ve tried so hard to get people to live in their spirit mode that I tend to forget we are also humans and we have to acknowledge that humanity in all of us. I tell people that we are spiritual beings being housed by a body and we are here for the human experience. I suppose that I have forgotten the latter part of that teaching—the idea that we are having a human experience, and if that’s so, then we need to feel the feelings. It’s possible I’ve mixed up feelings and ego a little too much and clouded everything when my intentions were to only make things clearer.”
When he looked at her again, Nikki could see the lines framing his blue eyes. The passive smile he’d worn since being at the vineyard had faded, and he appeared drawn and even frightened some—he now seemed human. “Maybe, and maybe it’s that recognition you acknowledged that makes you the great teacher you are. Instead of bailing on the workshop, can you change it so that the members work through whatever it is they need to around all of this? I would imagine that for some it could be sadness. I mean, you seem pretty sad about it, and for good reason. Iwao was a student of yours.”
“Iwao was not so much a student in the way that, say, Simon and Marco are. They truly believe they are working on their souls.”
“Aren’t they?”
“Absolutely.” He took a sip from his mug.
“Then what do you mean about Iwao?”
He closed his eyes, squeezed tight, and then opened them. “Iwao wanted to be a part of the movement of New Age philosophy. Directly in the sales of it. What he failed to understand is there is nothing New Age about anything that I, or many of my colleagues, teach. These teachings have been around since the days that Christ walked the earth and spread his message, or the Buddha, or Krishna. Many of the great teachers of the past have been preaching the same messages that I do. The difference now is that there is what I call a movement in which people who are not necessarily serious about their own personal growth, or that of others, are trying to capitalize on the teachings because they see dollar signs. Look at what the book The Secret did. Since then, and even somewhat before that book and movie, people all over were trying to get on the bandwagon to make a buck all in the name of enlightenment.”
“How about you?” Nikki asked.
He shook a finger at her. “That’s what I like about you. You don’t hold back at all.”
“No I don’t. I’ve been accused of that and I’ll plead guilty.”
“Some might say that I am only out for the almighty dollar, but it’s not true. I’ve been spreading my beliefs for over twenty-five years and I truly believe what I teach. The reason we have the money we do is because I don’t believe in lack; therefore, I never live in a lack of.”
“I’d say not. I know how much it is to become a member of this group.”
“Yes. Did you also know that seventy-five percent of that membership fee goes directly to two charities I sponsor? One is for abused children, the other for abused animals. I believe abuse to be the downfall of our society. Abuse can and does wreck the soul. If you don’t believe me about the charities, I will happily show you the books. The other twenty-five percent of the fee covers the expenses for these events. Much of which I subsidize.”
Could she just go crawl under a rock right about now? Yikes. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you.”
“Not at all. You didn’t. I don’t go around advertising the fact, and the reason I do have people pay that large sum is because I want to know they’re serious about it. There is a commitment level there. Even the superwealthy feel a hit at a hundred thousand dollars. It’s not something you want to throw away.”
“I would say so. But what about Iwao and his lack of sincerity? Why was he in the group? You’re not the only one to tell me that he wasn’t here for the real deal, by the way.”
“I’m sure that I’m not. Iwao needed this group. It was my hope, as it is for everyone who joins, that even though their initial intention seems apparent and good, that they discover the real reason for their involvement. Take Simon and Marco. They think they’re here because they want to lose all sense of ego by dropping the name brands and the fancy cars and all the expensive things they buy. But that’s not why they’re really here. They’re here to figure themselves and each other out. They don’t need to get rid of all that external stuff, although I always suggest it, especially at first. If you can be comfortable and happy with nothing, then you have it made. We come here with nothing and we leave with nothing. My guess is those two moments—the one of conception and the one at the point of death—may be the two happiest moments of our lives.”
“I suppose.”
“I know. I get off on tangents. Iwao joined us with the hopes of becoming my publisher and promoter in order to take what I’m doing to his country and make me what he called me the other day, ‘a superstar.’ That’s not what I’m about. I’d hoped that through being with us, Iwao would discover there is real truth in what I say and what people discover through these workshops and that it isn’t simply a dollars-and-cents game.”
“I see. You have a loyalty to Inspiritus and Rich Higgins.”
“I do. To Rich’s mother actually. Rich is new at this and sometimes we don’t see eye to eye. He can have a tendency to only think about the bottom line. But he is coming into my family, and because of that, I think I can guide him. My family and my daughter will be a part of his growth and experience.”
“You really don’t allow much to bother you.”
“No. It’s a waste of time. But what’s happened with Iwao and Mizuki does bother me. I didn’t know Mizuki at all. This was the first time that I’d met her. I’d heard of her, although she’d never joined Iwao at a workshop event.”
It was not the first time his daughter Sierra had met her, however. Nikki thought about revealing that photo to him and then decided against it.
“Do you have any idea who would want to kill them and why?”
He shook his head. “No. But as you already know, people are not always what they seem.”
“That’s the truth.”
He stood. “I better get back and see what my girls and son are up to and start the day. I like your suggestion. I think what I’ll do after breakfast is have the meditation be focused on feelings about these deaths and then we can have some discussion if people are open to it. You’re a good teacher yourself. Will you be joining us at all?”
“Maybe for a bit, but I’m having some people over for dinner tonight. In fact, I’d love it if you and your family joined us around six.”
“I think that would be wonderful. Thank you, and thank you for listening and teaching me.”
Ollie licked his hand as he got up to leave. Nikki walked him to the door and, closing it behind him, leaned against it. Yes, people definitely aren’t always who they seem to be. The question was, whose mask was the killer hiding behind?
Twenty-four
NIKKI showered, dressed, and then dropped off the applications with Hayden before heading out to do the grocery shopping for the evening affair.
“Did you find out anything?” Hayden asked.
“No. Everything looks kosher to me.”
Hayden sighed. “Good. I’m glad I could help.”
Nikki didn’t want Hayden to know what she’d learned about Kurt. If Hayden wanted to, she could read the applications herself and make her own determinations, but there was no need to rile the woman up. She’d been decent enough to let Nikki have them.
She’d tried to call Derek on her way to the store but he didn’t answer. Was he ignoring her? He wouldn’t do that. She didn’t like that in almost three days they’d hardly spoken. Was he angry with her? And what about this Sophia? Argh, Nikki was driving herself nuts with thoughts like that. It was totally ridiculous. Derek was simply busy making his deal with Vicente Salvatore and s
he knew that couldn’t be easy. If it were her deal, she’d have given up on the old man a while ago.
After putting the groceries away, she made herself a sandwich, allowed Ollie to eat half of it, and then tried Derek again. This time the call went straight to voicemail. Huh! Okay, then. She knew she should go down and see what was going on with the S.E.E. group and touch base with the boys. Ollie whined at her.
“You’re right. I’ve been ignoring you. Want to go for a run?”
Ollie stood up and made the sound he always did before they went on a run—it sounded kind of like a dying seal. She was never sure exactly what that meant. Either he dreaded getting up, but did it to please her. Or it was the sound of sheer joy at the prospect of stretching his long legs. It didn’t matter. She’d been planning on running with him that morning and then she’d blown it off. Now they were heading out. She’d go check out the meditation program afterward for an hour, see if she could learn anything new, then get back home and start fixing the meal.
Once on the trail, hearing her feet pound the earth beneath her as she weaved in and out of rows of grapevines, making it a game for Ollie, Nikki let go of thoughts of murder, notions of beautiful Italian women trying to scam her lover, and philosophies from New Age, old age, or whenever. It was her, the ground, and the dog—all moving together.
At one point she sprinted up the hill on the shadiest section of the vineyard. That was the best place for Chardonnay grapes. In the newest vines taking hold, small buds illuminated the ends as the sun cast down a soft, light yellow, like a baby chick’s new fuzz. As she went farther up the hill, Ollie at her feet still, the vines matured and twisted into fruitful plants with grapes filling with their sweet juices. The ends of these plants now glowed a soft green that she was certain no artist had ever captured. This scene was God’s painting.
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