The Caspian Wine Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Series

by Maggie Thom

  It was long past time for her to retire. At eighty, she should be doing what her friends were doing: going south for the winter, visiting and playing cards. But she knew in her heart that wasn’t her. Although she did realize it was time that she step down and find something a little less stressful, like maybe skydiving.

  She smiled at her own joke, knowing her family would have a fit if she did anything like that. But the truth was that it was time for someone else to take over. Since her family had all turned her down, she needed to look elsewhere. It left a bit of a bitter taste in her mouth but she knew in her heart she couldn’t blame them.

  Being the head of Caspian Wine had been her dream and thanks to her brother Geoff, her nightmare as well. Since she was the oldest, it only made sense that it went to her, even back in the day when women were not in charge of businesses. But to him she had always stolen it out from under him. In reality, he’d always hoped to be able to use it to redeem himself in their parents’ eyes. An innocent child badly abused and humiliated he was the offspring of the patriarch and the maid. A young, tender-hearted Dorothea had always felt guilty that she hadn’t stopped her parents from making a mockery of him. And Geoff had used her soft side against her. He’d taken so much from her. The guilt of all he’d been through was her cross to bear but never again would she let him almost destroy her family. She was still bothered about his death, though; something about it hadn’t seemed real. She had grieved losing him but she’d never really had the sense he was gone. Not that she’d shared her thoughts with anyone but no matter how many people she’d hired to find him, he was a ghost—one who may have finally decided he wanted back in her life. Hopefully, she’d soon get answers on who was attempting to sabotage her business.

  When the elevator doors opened, she made her way to room 712. Bracing herself for the tale she was about to be told, she knocked. The door opened and a mature woman stood there; the only telltale sign she wasn’t as confident as she appeared, was the slight involuntary tick at the corner of her eye. She waved Dorothea in.

  Dorothea entered the suite, glancing around the room. There was just the two of them as promised. It didn’t mean there wasn’t someone hiding in the bedroom or bathroom, though. The woman never let her gaze waver but openly stared at her. It had Dorothea rethinking her own actions. But there had been something in her voice, in her story, that convinced Dorothea she had to see her alone. Taking someone at their word was not something she was usually so gullible about. Dorothea sat in a high-backed stuffed chair.

  “Before we start, I’d like a glass of water and please turn on the television. I don’t want this conversation overheard or recorded.”

  The woman appeared startled. “I would never... Oh my god, I promise you that’s not why I contacted you. I called you because I think you have a problem at your winery and I’m not sure you have a clue what it is. And what I need to share with you—” she drew in a shaky breath, “may shock you beyond anything but I promise you I’m not making it up.”

  She spun away, flipping the television on as she passed on her way to the mini-fridge. After taking out a bottle of water, she poured half into a glass. Once there was noise to mask her movements, Dorothea took out her phone and snapped pictures from her hip. She hoped her aim was good. She slipped it back into the pocket of her trench coat as the woman started making her way toward her.

  Blue-green eyes, dark, dowdy brown hair that was the poorest excuse for a wig. The clothes were cheap—jeans were torn and the white blouse was simple but stylish. She’d never seen the woman before; nor did she resemble anyone she knew.

  She accepted the glass of water and took a sip. The woman moved to the window, pulling back the lace curtains to stare out. Finally she moved to the sofa to Dorothea’s right. She clasped her hands in her lap and curled her bare toes back, resting her feet on the Berber rug.

  “Thank you for meeting with me. I know that my story will seem unbelievable... but I—”

  Dorothea nodded. “I do want to listen to your tale but please make no mistake; I’m here because I want to know why. Why are you telling me and what do you have to gain? If this is a plot to blackmail me, there is nothing that can implicate me. Now, you mentioned Caspian Winery and my brother. I’ve seen it all. I’ve heard it all. Tell me your name. Your real name and how you know so much about my business and my family.”

  “I don’t know where to start. Let me go back a couple of years. I need you to understand how this came about...”

  Forty-five minutes later Dorothea was thankful her heart was in decent shape because otherwise she wasn’t sure she could have survived what she’d heard. It was unbelievable but something she knew had been coming. Life had been almost normal for a short while. She had high hopes the fairytale life Guy and Bailey were living would continue, but with what she’d heard she knew that wasn’t meant to be—at least not without at least one or more mountains to climb. She clutched the pages and the receipts the woman had given her, unable to believe what she’d heard and what she was reading. She stuffed the papers into her purse. Leaning heavily on her cane, she came to her feet. The woman who towered over her diminutive 5’3” immediately rose to help her, providing a steadying hand. Dorothea grasped it more firmly than she needed to.

  “I have some things to work out. I’ll get back to you. Do you have somewhere to lie low, where you’ll be safe?”

  “You believe me?”

  “I have some things to look into first. I’ll be in touch.”

  “I can look after myself. I’ve been doing it a long time. I’ve closed down my business and vacated my apartment. I don’t think I’m in danger. My daughter, however, I’m not so sure about. I really need to find her. I’m close to locating her. I’m scared if I don’t get to her first, he will. I already know he’s capable of some pretty sick stuff.”

  “You have my number. If something happens call me immediately. The fewer people that know about this the better. Give me a day or two. You have no idea who the father of your child is—or the identity of the man threatening you?”

  “No. I know you want to confirm the story I’ve told you is true. I promise you I’ve told you everything. I want my daughter but I want her to have a different life than I’ve lived. That’s why I gave her up for adoption. I thought she’d be fine; I never imagined her life would be in danger. I believe he’ll follow through on his threat if I don’t do what he asks. I’ve never hurt anyone, at least not intentionally. I don’t know why he wants me to damage Caspian Winery but he does. I haven’t lived a pure life; owning an escort service kind of puts me out of that category but I promise you, I’ve tried to live an honest one.”

  “Someday I want to know how you got into that kind of life. I assume you made a living at it?”

  The woman frowned. “Before I closed it down, around $120,000 a month.”

  “You’re sure this man that is threatening you wasn’t one of your clients?”

  “I’m sure. I’m cautious with clients, screening them thoroughly before I take them on and I haven’t had a new client in well over a year. And I haven’t heard from the man who did this to me in almost eight years. My daughter turned seven. I know it seems unbelievable and I can’t give you a description but I’ve paid some private investigators quite well to find what they could. Their search led me to you and who I think is behind this. I don’t want your money; I want my daughter to be safe and she won’t be if I don’t follow through with something destructive to your business. He killed my cat—” she wiped a tear from her eye before continuing, “in the most heinous way so I would get the message.”

  Dorothea nodded. “I’ll be in touch.” She slowly made her way out of the room, her limp more pronounced and her movements slower. In the hallway, she continued to an alcove, where she sat heavily in an armchair. Pulling out the smartphone Bailey had spent hours teaching her to use, she flipped through the telephone numbers until she found the contact she needed and pressed call.

  “Hello
.”

  “Calib?”

  “Yes. Hello, Dorothea.”

  The sound of his voice brought back so many happy memories. He had been a good friend to her and Jonathon. She took a deep breath before slowly letting it out. “It was good to see you last week. Thank you.”

  “Indeed. What’s going on? Things were happening so fast when we met, I never got a chance to say I was sorry to hear about your brother. Such a tragic death.”

  “Thank you.” She couldn’t change the past but she could change the course of what her brother had put in motion before his death. This time, she would not be so gullible. She would not be taken in by him or whoever was behind this sick game and she would not be killed because of him. Not that she was going to share any of that with Calib. He was a man she could trust but she didn’t want to get him any more involved than absolutely necessary.

  “Did you get a chance to look through the names I sent you? I split the list into who would be good candidates and who would be great.”

  “I did.”

  “And?”

  “Thank you.”

  “But none quite fit what you’re looking for.”

  “I know they are all qualified and doing outstanding work but no, they aren’t what I’m looking for.”

  “It’s not easy to leave a business you built from the ground up and have taken care of all your life. I know.”

  “You’re lucky you had—I mean found someone.”

  “Yes. Sadly, it should have been my son. Alas, but he thought it more important to go into business for himself in an attempt to put my company out of business.”

  “I’m so sorry.”

  “Me too. My fault for being away so much. His mother did a lot to make him the bitter man he is. Anyway, let’s not talk about him. I may have another suggestion for you on someone to hire, my granddaughter. She’s smart, has run a portion of my son’s business, C-Lite Hotels, she’s savvy. I have to find her. My butthead son has lost track of her. How can you lose your own daughter?”

  “I’m sorry, Calib.”

  “Let’s not talk about it. You called me because—”

  “Do you still have that computer genius working for you?”

  “Yes but I’m sure he’s nowhere as good as the fellow working with your step-grandson.”

  “I know, but some things can’t be shared with family. At least, not yet. I need him to do a background check. I need him to dig deep. I don’t think her information will be all that easy to find. I have some information but I’m not sure how much is true. I’ll text you some pictures shortly as well.”

  “No problem, I’ll have him check her out. When do you need it by?”

  “Today? Tomorrow? As soon as he can.” Dorothea closed her eyes as a glimmer of hope was finally shining through. “Thank you. You do this and I’ll find your granddaughter. Deal?”

  “Deal. Always a pleasure talking with you.” There was a slight hesitation. “I got the invite for your granddaughter’s upcoming wedding. Congratulations. If you need help with any of the arrangements, please ask. I know you already have the best but sometimes things happen and I want you to know my hotels can help if you’re stuck.”

  “Thank you. I—would you like to come as my guest?”

  “I wasn’t fishing.”

  “I know. I would honored if you came as my escort; it’ll give me someone to talk to while my family is off having fun. I know you got a formal invite but I would like you to sit with us.”

  “I would love to. Maybe we can even dance.”

  “That would be lovely. And discuss business.”

  A few minutes later, she hung up. It wasn’t until she was back in Graham’s Hummer that she let the reality of what she’d learned hit her. Life was going to get a whole lot rockier.

  “Graham. I need you to find me a nanny.”

  “A... nanny? Uh... is there something I don’t know about? Guy and Bailey?”

  “No. Not for them. Find me one that is trained in martial arts too, okay?”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  The heat of the day slapped her like a wet rag as soon as she stepped out of the house. Beads of sweat popped out on her face and she could feel the dampness pooling between her breasts. Tarin was tempted to turn around, play hooky from work and instead, take Chance to a waterpark to play.

  Stephen hadn’t called or texted in a little over a day. It was what she had hoped for, but it also left her feeling all the more unsettled. He’d texted continuously almost since the day she’d left and now nothing.

  Climbing into Bobbie’s Camry, she immediately turned on the air conditioner. Once she arrived at work, she parked around the side of the building in her usual spot. Her stomach felt queasy, which it had for the whole weekend thanks to the whiskey she’d downed and the guilt she wasn’t digesting very well. The thought of facing her boss wasn’t sitting very well either. If it wasn’t imperative that she find out what the hell had happened to her life and ensure Chance’s safety, she would have run long and far. It almost made her proud that for once she was going to deal with her own mess. Well, if she didn’t throw up first.

  She got out of the car and grabbed her bag and lunch. When she turned around, the guard she’d encountered the other night was standing less than two feet away. She jerked back, sending her bag flying out of her hands. Her heart thudded rapidly beneath her hand as she leaned back against the vehicle’s hot metal.

  “Bill. Right? Is it okay if I call you that?”

  His steady gaze never wavered.

  “What can I do for you?” She made a motion like she was going to step forward but he didn’t back up. She took a side step, scooped up her bag and closed the door, locking it. She hugged her arms to her chest as she slowly continued to edge sideways.

  “You’re late.”

  “I know. I had some things to do—” Well really, I was just avoiding coming in.

  “Not good to be late.” He walked away, disappearing from view around the corner of the building.

  She frowned as she looked around to see if she’d missed something. It wasn’t odd to see Bill, she supposed; she only wished he hadn’t snuck up on her. It made her wonder if he’d always been watching her and was adept at fading into the background—until he’d decided she’d crossed a line and accosted her. Feeling uncomfortable, she sprinted up two steps at a time. She’d just stuffed her bag in the desk drawer and turned on her computer when the inner door opened. But it wasn’t Graham or Guy who came out but Bailey.

  “Hi.”

  She almost sagged in relief. She was not looking forward to seeing Graham. The text he’d sent her—Please come back to work. We really appreciate all the work you’re doing. You’ve helped a lot. We can’t get through this without you—was why she was there. No one had ever appreciated anything she’d done before. It had been expected. She wanted to delay the inevitable moment when she came face to face with him. She was sure she’d look sunburned due to the embarrassment she felt.

  “Hi. Sorry, I’m running a bit behind.”

  “Hey, don’t tell me, because I can plead ignorance if the boss questions me.” She winked as she walked by.

  “Uhm. How are things going with the wedding?”

  Bailey stopped but didn’t do very well at hiding her surprise. “Good. It’s all coming together I think. There are a few hiccups but I guess that’s normal, right?”

  Tarin’s eyes widened. For a split second she thought her statement implied she’d been through it herself, but she hadn’t shared that she was married. Then she realized she was being crazy. There was no way Bailey could know she’d just left her husband. “I guess whenever you’re planning something big like this there will be a few problems. Nothing serious, I hope?”

  “No. No. It’s the wedding planner has hired a new staff and since we’re so easy to get along with, she assigned her to us.” She shrugged. “I don’t know if I’ve been called easy to get along with before—anyway there have been a few issues tha
t have cropped up since she’s taken over. Things were going along smoothly and now—I’m trying not to be judgmental and I’m sure they aren’t her fault but—”

  “But it’s all happened since she took over.”

  “Yeah, everything was going smoothly and then suddenly there’s a problem with the band. Then with the flowers. Then with the invitations. Then with—I don’t even know what. It’s one thing after another and then of course she has her own ideas. I’ve had to rein her in a bit. She wanted us to change venue from Caspian Winery—actually Grandma’s mansion—to something closer to Toronto. Anyway, I shouldn’t be boring you with all of this, it is what it is and the wedding will happen no matter what. You know, I wanted something simple but Grandma got in the mix and there was no way an intimate gathering was going to happen.”

  Tarin smiled at the affection in her voice. She couldn’t help but be envious of her. Bailey seemed to have it all; money, a great guy and a loving family. Some people had no idea what a tough life was like. Not that she could really complain; she’d grown up with money too. And when she looked at someone like Bill, she knew although her upbringing had been emotionally bereft, the physical comforts were more than he currently had.

  “You mean her?” Tarin nodded toward one of the many wall pictures of Dorothea Lindell.

  Bailey’s expression softened as she looked at the woman. “Yeah. She’s something.” There was a sad hitch to her voice. “Really, I’m forever grateful to that woman. She’s amazing and I am truly blessed to have her in my life.”

  Again something sounded off. “She’s okay, isn’t she?”

  “Oh my god, yes. She’ll outlive us all. She’s someone who radically changed my life.”

  “You’re lucky.”

  “You know I never used to think that but you know what? I am.” Bailey glanced at her cell phone. “I have to run. I have a new client I’m meeting.”

  “Have a good day.”

  She was at the door before she stopped and turned around. “Are things okay with you?”