Chapter 8
The next morning was
as horrible as the events from the day before. Isabel’s
arraignment, regardless of the wonderful defense attorney Andrés
hired, turned out dismally. The judge would not release her on
bail, citing that she was a flight risk because she had been in the
United States for just under two years, and he felt that she might
possibly flee to Spain. Andrés stayed behind after the arraignment
to see Isabel, but Nikki had to get to work. She also wanted to see
what she could find out about a possible prenuptial agreement
between Susan and Kristof.
Instead of taking the
freeway back into Napa, Nikki had the compulsion to go the long way
through Sonoma and to pass by the Waltman Castle. She’d just have
to add on some extra time at work that afternoon.
Passing by the
castle, she continued to wonder if some dark secret resided within
those walls. She thought about stopping and seeing who might be
around, but on what pretense? She was sure that if there were any
lurking detectives or crime scene specialists hanging out, they
wouldn’t appreciate her interrupting their job. However, she still
believed the theory that she and Andrés had conjured up the night
before might prove a valid one, and knew that she would have to
make a surprise visit in the next day or two. With that thought,
she decided to go into Sonoma Square to pick up a sympathy card for
Kristof, et al., and use it as her excuse to drop in. A flimsy one,
yes, but still an excuse. She’d take the card over after
work.
How plans had changed
by the time she left Sonoma Square . . .
She stepped outside
the local card and gift shop, and stopped in her tracks. Seated
across the street at the Ledson Hotel & Restaurant at one of
the outside tables—granted it was a corner table and somewhat
blocked by a post—having what looked to be a cozy lunch together
was none other than Kristof Waltman and Deirdre Dupree. Kristof had
some gall, now didn’t he? Wasn’t he supposed to be the bereaved
widower? Odd to be out and about with none other than your former
girlfriend.
She wished she had a
damn camera because if she had, Detective McCall’s focus might take
a different direction.
They were partaking
in early afternoon liquid vine. Not only was Deirdre Dupree Kristof
’s previous love, she was also the corporate sales manager at
Waltman Castle. Nikki had heard their breakup had been nasty, but
that Marty Waltman loved Deirdre, who did a phenomenal job for him.
And, with some bonuses and a major pay raise, she’d stayed on.
Rumor had it that Deirdre was the one who initiated the breakup
after a wild weekend out in the city where she’d hooked up with an
old flame.
Funny thing was that
at that moment neither Kristof nor Deirdre looked too unhappy to be
in each other’s company. Nikki walked into the Church Mouse Thrift
Shop and continued to watch from behind the front window while
feigning interest in a pair of candleholders. The two looked to be
talking animatedly, and from what Nikki could see from her vantage
point, with even a laugh or two here and there.
Then, a real poignant
moment when Deirdre leaned across the table and wiped what Nikki
presumed was a tear from Kristof ’s face. Okay, maybe he was really
in mourning and she was being a pal and getting him out of the
house. Hard to swallow, but maybe. Could their lunch simply be an
old friend comforting another? Or, could it mean something more?
Nikki had to find out.
She went back to her
car and looked up Deirdre’s cell phone number in her Day-Timer.
They’d met at a winemaking event about a month earlier and found
they had some things in common. Since then, Nikki had met Deirdre a
couple of times for coffee, so calling her might not seem totally
out of the blue. Then again, it might, but she had to do
it.
Deirdre picked up
after a few rings. “Hey, Deirdre. It’s me, Nikki Sands, over at
Malveaux.”
“Oh,
hello.”
Was that a bit of
strain Nikki heard in the other woman’s voice? “Listen, I’ve been
talking to Derek about doing some diversifying with his wine and
he’s considering buying some of the grapes over there in your neck
of the woods. I tasted some of your wines while at the wedding the
other night and don’t say anything to my boss, but I really found
your pinot superior to the pinots we’re making.” Nikki had learned
that a bit of lying was required while snooping into the lives of
others. She didn’t consider it lying exactly, because it was really
a means to an end, and wasn’t the end about getting to the truth?
“I know I should probably be calling Marty or Kristof, but it’s
such a difficult time for them, I’m sure. Plus, I want your opinion
and ideas about how I should talk to Derek about it. And we keep
talking about getting together. Why don’t we have dinner tonight?
My treat.”
“Um, yeah,
okay.”
“Great. I’ll meet you
at the square at six.”
Nikki hung up the
phone with a sense of purpose and started the car. Halfway back to
Napa, her cell phone rang. “Hello.”
“Nikki, it’s me
Derek. I’m in Houston right now, getting ready to board my plane.
We still on for tonight?”
Crap! How could she
have forgotten her dinner with Mr. Luscious? In all the hubbub with
Isabel’s arrest and disappointing arraignment, and then seeing
Kristof with Deirdre she’d lost it and forgotten her dinner plans
for the evening. Nikki coughed and first thought maybe she should
tell him that she didn’t feel good. No. Lying to Derek wasn’t an
option.
“Derek, I’m so sorry,
but I can’t. Something else has come up that can’t wait. I hope you
understand. Can we do it later this week? Mr. Lareby can join us,”
she said, referring to the accountant who was supposed to have been
meeting with them over dinner. “How about Friday? Can we do dinner
at my place?”
He didn’t answer for
a few seconds and she figured she’d totally blown any chance she
might ever have had with him.
But then he finally
said, “Friday sounds good. Better actually, because it’ll be the
weekend and we can wind down. We can meet with Mr. Lareby another
time. We won’t have to worry about getting up early for work, so we
can make it casual. I’ll bring a movie with me. Sound
good?”
“Yeah. It sounds
great.” They agreed on a time and Nikki flipped shut her phone and
then let out a yelp of glee. Dinner at her house on a Friday night,
and a movie to boot. Now that sounded
like a date.