A Case of Syrah, Syrah

by Nancy J. Parra

  “So you don’t find it odd that Laura let them continue their affair while she was dying?”

  “Oh, no, I highly doubt Laura knew about Dan and Amy. She would have exploded if she found out.”

  “Huh,” I sipped my drink. “How do you have an affair under someone’s nose and keep it secret? Especially if she is a micromanager like Laura.”

  “My guess is they didn’t do anything about their feelings until Laura died,” Emma said. “Dan is a man of honor, and Amy liked Laura no matter how mean she was. Wow, the secret must have been tearing Amy apart. I’ll have to call her and see how she is.”

  “I’m afraid that might be impossible,” I said. “Amy confessed to killing Dan’s sister.”

  “Why would she do that?” Emma’s eyes grew wide.

  “She was caught burying the gun that killed Ivy,” I said.

  “What? No, no I can’t believe it.”

  “I don’t think she did it. I suspect she thinks Dan did it and is covering for him.”

  “Dan killed his sister?”

  “He confessed as well,” I said, “but I don’t think he did it either. He probably thinks Amy did it. They’re in love, and each is willing to fall on the sword for the other.”

  “That’s terrible,” Emma said, “but if they didn’t do it, how’d Amy get the gun?”

  “I’m not sure,” I said and sipped my drink. “Good question.”

  “Ah . . . so you don’t know,” Emma said. “Do you think Laura’s killer killed Ivy? I mean, it’d be a strange coincidence that they were both murdered within weeks of each other.”

  “I don’t know that either. I can’t figure out who killed Laura or why. I thought perhaps it had something to do with the identity-theft ring.”

  “You think Laura found out and confronted the killer.”

  “It sounds like something Laura would do,” I said.

  “Yes, it does,” Emma said and chewed on her bottom lip.

  “What I want to know is why the killer used my corkscrew,” I said. “I think if I could figure that out, then I might be able to figure out who killed Laura and most likely Ivy. But you see, the police have told me I have to have concrete proof before I float any of my ideas past them again.”

  “I see.”

  “Do you?”

  “Yes,” she said. “You think I know who killed Laura, and I can help you out. But I don’t.”

  “Are you worried that you are on the suspect list?” I asked. “Because I wouldn’t be meeting you for coffee if I thought you murdered anyone.”

  “Well, that’s a relief,” she said.

  “I have one more question.”

  “Go ahead,” she said.

  “Who do you think was helping Ivy steal the client list? Is there anyone else who needed extra money?”

  “We all needed money, so I highly doubt it was the only factor in Laura’s death,” Emma said.

  “Yes,” I said and frowned. “It had to be something more.”

  “Well, good luck with it. It sounds to me like the only ones with motive were Amy and Dan, but they knew of Laura’s illness and didn’t need to kill her.”

  It seemed my investigation was once again stymied.

  * * *

  “There you are.” Chelsea spotted Holly and me at the Taco Heads on the corner of Maple and Pine. We sat outside and were talking about my adventure the night before.

  “You look excited,” I said as Chelsea pulled up an extra chair and joined us.

  “Well, I have news.”

  “Good or bad?” I asked and eyed my lunch of two fish tacos.

  “Interesting,” Chelsea said and flagged our waitress down. “Iced tea, please,” she ordered before turning back to us. “I filed my report and can now tell you that my source was Ivy’s neighbor, Mrs. Hernandez, who heard Dan and Ivy arguing the day Ivy was killed. She saw Ivy slap Dan in front of Ivy’s house. Mrs. Hernandez was not close enough to hear what the argument was about.” Chelsea read her notes then looked up. “My guess is that Ivy wasn’t happy with the wedding.”

  “Wow, Ivy slapped Dan? Was Amy there?” I asked.

  “She was in the car. Mrs. Hernandez told me that she’d stepped outside to get her newspaper when she saw the slap. But she has no idea what led up to it.” She checked her notes. “After the slap, Amy got out of the car, pulled Dan away, and begged him to leave. So they did.”

  “Did any of the neighbors hear the gunshot?” I asked.

  “No,” Chelsea said. “Mrs. Hernandez left for work. No one else saw or heard anything until the police were there.”

  “Sounds like Amy thinks Dan shot his sister, and Dan thinks Amy did. But if neither of them did it, how did they get the gun?”

  “Neither one of them is saying,” Chelsea said.

  “But they can’t both be guilty,” I pointed out. “One or both of them is lying.”

  “My guess is that Ivy encountered Laura’s killer,” Holly said. “If we can find out who killed Laura, we will most likely know who killed Ivy.”

  “What if Ivy killed Laura, and Dan discovered it and killed Ivy?” I said. “Amy could have decided that’s what happened and tried to cover for Dan.”

  “But Dan isn’t confessing why he killed Ivy, so we’re no closer to solving Laura’s murder.”

  I frowned. “If I didn’t do it, and Dan and Amy didn’t do it, that leaves Ivy, Emma, Sally, Rashida, and Juliet. I really haven’t talked to Sally since that day. Maybe we should go see her.”

  “They kicked us out of the yoga studio.”

  “I can follow them like we did Amy and see if I can’t find a time to talk to them.”

  “I don’t think that’s such a good idea,” Holly said. “You can get into big trouble.”

  “Not if I go with her,” Chelsea said.

  Holly rolled her eyes. “You two got into trouble last night.”

  “Then come with us,” I said. “You’ll see it’s mostly waiting in cars for people to go places.”

  “Fine. When do we start?”

  “What are you doing this afternoon?” I asked.

  “Getting into trouble, I guess,” Holly answered. Chelsea laughed.

  “Who are we going to follow first?”

  Chapter 29

  We decided on Sally. She was working at the yoga studio, so we hung out in two cars—one at the front of the studio and one at the back. Chelsea was in front since fewer people would recognize her. We made a pact to text each other should anything interesting happen.

  “You were right,” Holly said as she leaned back in her seat. “Stakeouts are dull. We need donuts and coffee.”

  “There’s a coffee shop at the end of the strip. Why don’t you go get us some?”

  “Me? Why don’t you go get the coffee?”

  “Fine,” I said. “What do you want?” I wrote down her order of a large triple expresso macchiato with a shot of raspberry and cream.

  “Oh, and bring a box of those little donuts. You know, the powdered sugar ones?”

  “Okay,” I said as I got out of the car. “Promise you’ll text me the minute you see Sally.”

  “Will do,” Holly said and leaned back into her seat. She had on her sunglasses, and I wasn’t sure if she was watching or sleeping. I texted Chelsea to see if wanted anything. She sent me a request for a latte.

  The coffee shop was crowded, and it took me longer than I thought to get the food. I walked to where Chelsea sat first and got into her car. “Did you see anything?”

  “Class got out,” she said and took her latte from the paper holder. “I counted ten people leaving. Does Sally have another class?”

  “No, I think Juliet’s the next instructor—I saw her go in a few minutes ago on my way to get coffee. But Sally usually stays and cleans up and does paper work.

  “Do you really think Sally or Juliet killed Laura and Ivy?”

  “I don’t see it,” I said.

  “Sally or Juliet could’ve picked up Rashida’s jacket
and used it to shield them from the blood when they killed Laura.”

  “Do you think they did it together? One could have knocked her down and the other stabbed her.”

  “That’s an interesting theory.”

  “I’m going to text Holly and let her know I’m coming around the back. Keep me posted if you see Sally leave.”

  “Will do.”

  I cut through the cycle shop next to the yoga studio and headed toward Holly’s car. I noticed it was empty. “Holly?” I called, looking around. The driver’s side door was open. My heart went into my throat, as there appeared to have been a struggle. I looked around. The parking lot was void of people. A few cars remained parked. “Holly!” Nothing. I called Chelsea.

  “Hey, what’s up?”

  “Chelsea, did you see Sally leave the studio?”

  “No, why?”

  “Holly is missing. It looks like she was forcibly taken from the car.”

  “What? I’ll be right there.”

  “Stay on the phone with me,” I said.

  “Will do. I’m backing out of my spot now. I need to drive around to the back of the strip mall.”

  “Hurry.”

  “I’m hurrying.”

  “Holly!” I called again and took steps from the car to the bushes that lined the front and side of the parking lot. I saw Chelsea come around the corner in her car. She parked next to me and stepped out.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Holly’s gone,” I said with fear in my voice. “It looks like there was a struggle.” I pointed to the open door and the spilled bag of chips on the driver’s seat.

  “That’s not good. Call nine-one-one.” Chelsea took pictures with her phone as I dialed.

  “What’s your emergency?”

  “I’m in the parking lot behind Divine Yoga, and it looks like my friend has been abducted.”

  “What is your name, please?”

  “Taylor,” I said as I looked around in vain. “Taylor O’Brian.”

  “I’m sending a squad car now. Wait. Are you the suspect in the Laura Scott murder?”

  “What does that have to do with my friend’s disappearance?”

  “You also discovered Ivy Scott’s dead body.”

  I grew impatient. “What does that have to do with now?”

  “Is anyone with you?”

  “Yes,” I said. “Chelsea McGartland is with me. Are you sending help?”

  “Help is on its way,” she said. “Please stay on the line. Who do you think was abducted?”

  “Her name is Holly Petree, and she works at Le Art Galleria.”

  “And she was taken from the parking lot?”

  “I left her in the car when I went to go get coffee, and now she’s gone. The door was open, and there were signs of a struggle when I got back.” My voice rose in panic.

  “Please stay calm. Help is on the way.”

  I watched as Chelsea took more pictures and video. “What good is a video?” I asked, covering my phone with my hand.

  “We might see something later that we can’t see now in our panic,” she said.

  The sound of sirens filled the air.

  “I hear the squad car,” I said. “They’re here.”

  “Best of luck, Miss O’Brian.”

  I hung up as Deputy Ferguson stepped out of the car. A junior deputy was with him. I told them both the whole story.

  “I see,” said Deputy Ferguson. “Did you call her cell phone? Are you sure she didn’t step away?”

  “She didn’t,” I said and dialed Holly’s cell. “We were on a stakeout.”

  “A what?”

  Lucky for me, the sound of Holly’s cell ringing distracted everyone.

  “The phone’s in the car,” the junior deputy verified after sticking his head into the vehicle.

  “See? There’s no way she would walk away willingly and leave her phone when the car door was open,” I pointed out.

  “Is Holly a minor?”

  “No. She’s my age.”

  “We’re in broad daylight in the middle of a parking lot with lots of people coming and going. It seems highly unlikely she was abducted. Are you sure she didn’t just run into the yoga place to use the bathroom?” Deputy Ferguson asked.

  “Oh, this is ridiculous,” I said and dialed the sheriff directly.

  “Hennessey,” he said as he answered his phone.

  I explained what was going on.

  “Give Deputy Ferguson your phone,” he said.

  I narrowed my eyes, trying to convey that he was going to be in big trouble, and handed him my phone. “The sheriff wants to talk to you.”

  “This is Deputy Ferguson,” he said as he took my phone. “Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Right. Will do.” He handed me back my phone and walked over to the junior deputy to discuss something in private.

  “Hello?” I said into the phone.

  “Don’t go anywhere. I’m on my way down,” Sheriff Hennessey said.

  “Okay,” I replied and hung up. I looked at Chelsea. “I think I got his attention.”

  “Let’s hope so,” she said. “Holly’s been missing nearly an hour.”

  “He said not to leave, but I’m going to walk the perimeter of the parking lot,” I said. “Will you come with me?”

  “I will,” Chelsea said.

  We walked in silence. I kept my gaze down on the ground, looking for clues. Chelsea looked at the bushes and shrubs to see if they might produce some kind of evidence.

  “I’ll go inside the yoga studio and see if anyone saw anything.” She left to go into the back door. I noticed that the flashing police lights were drawing a bit of a crowd, both inside the building and outside.

  “What’s going on?” someone in yoga pants and a T-shirt called out.

  “Were you inside?”

  “Yes,” she replied. “We got out of class and saw the lights.”

  “Did you happen to see Holly Petree?” I asked.

  “Who?”

  “She runs the art gallery. She’s tall, brunette, and slender with big brown eyes.”

  “No, I haven’t seen her.”

  “She’s missing,” I said. “I’m afraid someone took her from the car.”

  “That’s terrible,” the woman said and turned to the person beside her. “It’s an abduction.” The news spread like wildfire through the crowd.

  If Holly were around, she would surely have heard and stepped forward.

  The sheriff pulled up in his squad car. I went over to him as he stepped out. “Sheriff Hennessey, please tell them we have to find Holly.”

  “Listen, I told you to stay home. What were you doing out here anyway?”

  “We were . . . well . . . following Sally.”

  “Why were you doing that?”

  “We wondered if she or Juliet had anything to do with Laura’s death.”

  “I asked you to leave that to me,” he said with a stern face.

  “I’m sorry. My entire life is on hold while I wait for you.”

  “Now your friend’s life may be in danger,” he said.

  “What do you mean? Do you know who might have taken Holly?”

  “There’s been a break in your case, and following Sally was the last thing you should have been doing.”

  “Why? What happened? What did you find out?”

  “They found a thumbprint on the bullets. We ran it through the DMV since everyone with a California driver’s license is required to have a thumbprint taken.”

  “Bullets—what bullets?”

  “The ones in the gun that shot and killed Ivy.”

  I put my hand to my mouth in shock. “Whose thumbprint was it?”

  “Sally’s,” he said grimly. “I’d hoped you girls would stay away.”

  “She was the one Laura caught with the SD chip.”

  “That is a safe assumption,” he said. “I’ve got squad cars going to her house right now.”

  “We just saw her inside the studio.”

  �
�I’ll send an officer in to check if she’s still there.”

  “Do you think she took Holly?”

  “I don’t know, but I don’t like it.”

  There was a squawk on his radio, and he stepped aside to listen. He turned to the other deputies. “We have a hostage situation. Wait for the crime scene folks to come, and preserve the evidence. I’m going to help with negotiation.”

  “I’m going with you,” I said.

  “Me too,” Chelsea said.

  “No!” The sheriff was stern. “I need you safe and as far from the scene as possible.”

  Then he turned on his heel and left. I looked at Chelsea, and she looked at me.

  “Are you willing to leave your car with the deputies?” she asked.

  I looked at my car and the two men and held up my keys. “Yes, let’s go.”

  Chapter 30

  We got into Chelsea’s car, and she did a quick Google search to see where Sally lived. It was only two blocks away. We were able to get a block closer, but the police had her street closed off. I jumped out of the car and ran to the barricade.

  “That’s my best friend inside,” I said to the policeman patrolling the barricade. “Please let me in.”

  “I’m sorry. I have strict orders.”

  Chelsea came up behind me and flashed her press badge. “I’m with the press. Let me in.”

  “Not for an active scene,” he said stubbornly. “You ladies are going to have to wait here like the rest of the lookie-loos. It’s not safe.”

  The wait was excruciating. My phone rang, and I saw it was Aunt Jemma.

  “Are you all right? I heard there was a hostage situation not too far from the yoga studio.”

  “I’m fine,” I said. “It’s Holly. The police think Sally took her from our car while we were on our stakeout.”

  “Where were you when that happened?”

  “I was getting coffee,” I said. “I feel horrible. She might not have taken Holly if I’d been in the car with her.”

  “No, she might have taken you both, and then no one would know you were missing.”