Diane Greenwood Muir - Bellingwood 06 - A Season of Change (27 page)

“Then what was it about?” J. J. countered.

“I don’t know. That was a long time ago, but Lori and Annalise had gotten over their problems with me long before I was married.”

“Okay, okay,” Polly interrupted. “So the two women didn’t hate each other. Was Bruce happy working here?”

“Where are you going with this, Polly?” Henry asked.

“Lori told me that Bruce wasn’t happy with the way things were going and that the three of you were cutting him and Wayne out of business decisions. Is that true?”

Ryan spun around to Wayne. “Is that true? Did you guys think that?”

“No. I didn’t and I don’t think Bruce did either. You’re paying us well and you’ve given me free rein to do what I think is right for the vineyard. Bruce never had any complaints.”

“Well, that doesn’t make much sense, then. Why would she say that to me?”

“I don’t know,” Ryan said. “We’ve tried to make sure she is taken care of through this. We’re paying for all of the funeral costs. We’re even paying to have his body sent back to California. I know we’d taken out a life insurance policy for him when he came to work here. That should give her plenty of money to live for a while and last week we offered to set up a trust for Seth’s future.”

“Really,” Polly said. “And I suppose Bruce’s parents don’t hate Seth either.”

“Hate that little boy?” J. J. responded. “Who could hate him? He’s a sweet boy.”

“She lied to me about everything,” Polly said. “Why would she do that? She told me that Bruce’s parents weren’t comfortable around Seth because he’d never be a real grandson to them.”

“That’s crap,” J. J. said. “I only met them once or twice when we still lived in California. Bruce’s dad works at a winery up in Napa. That’s where Bruce learned his craft. They don’t make a ton of money, but they’re good people.”

“I get it that she might try to make me not like you guys because you’re right here in town, but why in the world would she lie about Bruce’s parents? She is strange,” Polly said. “Aaron, there’s something odd going on with her. Are you going to check it out?”

He chuckled. “If I don’t, you will, won’t you.”

“Patrick, I know you don’t want to think your wife is doing anything wrong, but there are a lot of people in Bellingwood from a little town in Missouri right now. Between Annalise and Simon, Lori Victor and this Barry Manush guy, something is going on.” Polly tried to reach out to him, but he shook her off.

“She wouldn’t hurt me,” he insisted.

Polly gripped his arm and steered him away from the rest of the group, then said quietly. “Patrick. You might not want to believe she would hurt you, but we all saw her behavior last week. She was high as a kite and so was that Simon character. Are you going to be upfront about this or are you going to keep insisting that she hasn’t done anything wrong?”

“I don’t care what J. J. and Ryan think about you two. You have no right to be in our business. You don’t know how tough it has been for her.”

“This is a small town. Everyone is in everyone’s business and you know it. You can tell me I don’t have a right to butt in and you’re probably correct, but here I am. I’m not trying to hurt you, but if something is going on, you can’t let it get out of control. That will only make things worse.”

“I’ll deal with it,” he said. He looked over her head at the rest of the group. “She’s had a hard time getting to know people. No one wants her around.”

Polly scowled at him. “You know that’s not true. If she were nice, everyone would welcome her. You grew up here, it isn’t that hard to make friends.”

“Not everyone is like you, Polly. You came back into town and started spreading money around. Of course they want to be your friend.”

Polly clenched her hands at her sides. She wanted to slap his face. “Patrick Stephens, that was horrible and you know better.”

He had the grace to look chagrined. “I’m sorry. It’s just that I should never have forced her to move to Iowa.”

“Well, the two of you are here now and you have to face reality. Your wife might be involved in something illegal. If she’s getting high too, that’s going to make things even worse for you. Patrick, it’s obvious to everyone what she’s doing. You can’t be this naive.” Now she wanted to shake him and make him see how foolish his words were.

“What would you do if it were Henry?” he asked.

“I’d tell him to grow the heck up. Anything else is a cop out. You can’t live your life hiding from tough decisions. If you have to be the strong one in the relationship, do it and quit apologizing for her bad behavior. Make her deal with it.”

“It’s not that easy.”

“Then I’ll tell you to grow the heck up and face life. This is ridiculous.” Polly turned on her heels and walked back to where Obiwan had lain down on the floor. She looked back at Patrick, who didn’t know what to do. He stood in place, rocking back and forth on his feet.

He seemed to make a decision and headed for the door. Before anyone could say anything, he walked out. Aaron turned to Polly. “Where’s he going?”

“I think he’s going to deal with his wife. Either that or he’s fleeing the country. Who knows.”

“Okay boys,” Aaron said. “I think Polly has gotten the investigation off the ground.” He winked and grinned at her. “I’m going over to Lori Victor’s and ask some questions. We’re still looking for Barry Manush. Call if anything else comes up.” He strode over to Polly and patted her shoulder. “You have enough on your plate. I’m not hiring you.”

“Leave me alone,” she said. “If I hadn’t been here this morning, you wouldn’t have put this all together.”

“When you’re right, you’re right,” he agreed. “Henry, marry her, will you?”

Polly nearly burst into giggles, but slipped her left hand into Henry’s to hide the fact that she was wearing a wedding ring. Aaron looked down and when he saw the band on Henry’s hand, he let out a moan. “I still don’t know anything and that’s my story. You’d better tell my wife what you’ve done pretty soon or there will be trouble
.”

CHAPTER
TWENTY-SEVEN

“Look you, I was promised breakfast,” Polly said, laughing, when they got back in his truck. She unwrapped part of the blanket and used it to wipe mud off Obiwan’s paws. He licked her face and sat down. “The dog wants breakfast too. Where are you taking us?”

“Where should we go?”

Polly put her hand on Obiwan’s back and thought, pursing her lips. “I’d settle for McDonalds.”

“Oh, come on,” he protested. “We can do better than that.”

“Not with a dog in the car. They’ll hand me coffee and food and I don’t have to think about it.”

“Polly, I love you and if that’s what you want, that’s what we’ll get.”

He drove around the trailer and then stopped.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

He put the truck in reverse. “Wayne’s waving at us.”

Wayne waited until Henry backed up to the path leading down to the winery and then approached the truck.

“What’s up?” Henry asked.

“I found this behind one of the barrels. Do you think I should call the Sheriff back?” Wayne held out a hair pin that looked like a butterfly.

Polly peered at the pin, knowing she had seen it before. Then she said, “That belongs to Annalise Stephens.”

“How do you know it’s hers?” Henry asked.

“She wore three of them at the murder mystery party over at Lydia’s house.”

He chuckled at her. “Well, I’m glad you saw it, because I
wouldn’t have paid attention to it,” he said to Wayne. “We’re going to Boone. We can take it to Aaron, if you’d like.”

Wayne hesitate
d and drew back from the truck.

“Let me call him,” Polly said. “He’ll tell me what to do.”
She dialed Aaron’s phone and before he could speak, said, “No, there isn’t another body, but Wayne Phillips just found one of Annalise’s hairpins behind a barrel. Do you want us to bring it to Boone? I’m making Henry buy breakfast for me at McDonalds down there.”

“We’re at Lori Victor’s right now. She’s not home. Tell Wayne I’ll be back. I want to see for myself where he found this..”

“Thanks, Aaron.”

“Thank you. You’ll solve this for me yet!”

Polly hung up. “He’s coming here, Wayne. Will you wait?”

Wayne nodded. “I may as well stick around while I’m still employed.”

“Aaron will find the wine,” Polly said. “Things will be okay.”

“Uh huh.” Wayne turned and walked back down the path.

“Aaron better find that wine or the boys are going to be sunk. It will take time to get things back on track if they have to wait for another harvest,” Henry said.

“He will.” Polly straightened up in her seat and put her hand on Obiwan’s neck. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Annalise and Simon have something to do with the theft, but who knows.”

“Patrick wouldn’t be able to stand that. He’s the most level headed of the three of them and to have his wife steal from him will kill him,” Henry said. He pulled out onto the highway and headed south toward Boone.

“Well, he’s the fool who married her.”

Henry reached across the dog’s back and took Polly’s hand. “You’ll never make me look the fool.”

Polly chuckled. “Except for the people who already think you shouldn’t be in a relationship with me.”

“They just think I’m crazy because I didn’t move in right away and corrupt your little self.”

“I love you for that. You do understand that, don’t you?” Polly smiled at him.

“Yes I do. They can take their busy body selves and jump off the nearest cliff. I won now, didn’t I? You’re mine and they are stuck in their narrow-minded heads with nowhere else to go.” He gave her an evil grin. “I certainly hope their minds don’t go where we were last night. That would be embarrassing.”

“Stop it, you,” she said, laughing. “Lydia’s planning an engagement party. I wonder how surprised she’ll be when we show up with rings on.”

“Surely Aaron will say something. How could he keep a secret from her? She knows everything.”

“We’ll see. At least I have until he’s done with work today. As long as she doesn’t look him in the eye, we’re safe.”

Henry made another couple of turns and headed south on Story Street, through the center of town.

“I feel kind of guilty going to McDonalds without Andrew or Rebecca,” Polly said. “I’m not going to be able to tell them.”

Henry let out a laugh. “You don’t even have children of your own and kids control your life. No guilt today, Polly. Take back your freedom.”

“Maybe we should buy some extra breakfast food to take home.”

“They’ll be fine.” He glared at her. “Get over it.”

“You just wait. You live around these kids too long and you’ll be as sappy as me.” Polly ruffled the scruff of Obiwan’s neck. “At least the mean man can’t ignore that you’re in the truck.”

She was looking around while Henry drove. He pulled into the left lane to turn into McDonald’s and she said, “Look!”

“Stop that,” he said. “I’m turning.”

“No, you can’t. Look over there.”

There was a hotel on the right side of the four lane street. Henry was already in the turning lane and committed. “I have to turn,” he said. “What’s over there?”

“I think it’s Lori Victor and Barry Manush.”

“Well, crap,” he said and turned after traffic had passed. He swung into a driveway and headed back out. They were aimed directly at the hotel. “Where are they?” he asked.

“Over there under the trees.” The parking lot for the hotel was down an embankment and there was no easy access from the street.

“What do you want me to do, Polly?” Henry asked. “There are cars behind me. I can’t sit here.”

“Go. Go.” she said, pointing to the street in front of them.

“Which way?”

There was only one entrance into the hotel, just in front of a Mexican restaurant attached to the south end of the hotel.”

“Go to the restaurant. I’ll call Aaron.”

Henry pulled out while Polly dialed.

“Aaron?”

“Another hair pin or another body?” he asked.

“I found the wine. But someone needs to get here right now.”

“Where are you?” he asked.

“Okay, I didn’t find it for sure, but Lori Victor and Barry Manush are at the hotel across from McDonald’s in Boone. Unless Lori is moving, that big U-Haul has to be holding the wine, don’t you think?”

“I’ll get someone over there. Don’t do anything stupid,” he said.

“Oh Aaron, I’m the epitome of propriety.”

He sighed. Loudly and dramatically. “Polly …”

“I know, I know. I’ll be careful.”

“Is Henry with you?”

“Yes. He’s driving.”

“Tell him I trust his judgment. I’m hanging up now.”

Henry pulled into a parking space. “What did he say?”

“He trusts your judgment. But don’t park here. We have to go down there and stop them from leaving. You can pull your truck in front of the U-Haul, can’t you?”

“That doesn’t sound like a good idea. We can wait for Aaron’s men to get here.”

“But, we can’t let them leave,” she protested. “And what are they going to do to us in the middle of the day?”

“Polly, if they were the ones who killed Bruce Victor, who knows what they’d do?”

“Let’s just drive down there and look around, then. Please?”

“No.”

“What if they aren’t even in the truck? Maybe they went back in the hotel. At least we could go look and see if the wine is there.”

“It’s probably locked. Stop it.”

“Please?” she asked again.

“You aren’t going to stop asking, are you?”

Polly grinned at him. “Probably not. Just drive down there. If they look dangerous, you can turn around and we’ll come back out and wait patiently.”

Henry gave a deep sigh and backed out of the parking space and slowly drove to the end of the parking lot.

“Henry, I was right. That’s Lori’s BMW.” Polly pointed at the car. Lori Victor was sitting in the driver’s seat, her window rolled down. She was talking to Barry Manush, who was standing between the car and the truck.

“Well, now what?” he asked, when he was nearly in front of the two vehicles.

“Stop here.”

“You have to be kidding me.”

“Do it! Now!”

Without thinking, Henry reacted and stopped the truck. Polly unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the door, then jumped to the ground.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

Polly walked to the passenger side of Lori Victor’s car and opened the door. The woman realized who she was and in an instant, her demeanor became furious. She asked, “What in the hell are you doing here, Polly Giller?”

“I think the better question is what are you doing here?” Polly responded. “Is that the wine from Secret Woods?”

Lori turned around to see what Polly was pointing at. “Wine? What do you mean?”

“All of the bottled wine is gone from Secret Woods. Did you steal it? What are you planning to do with it?”

“You stick your nose in places it doesn’t belong. Why would I steal wine?”

“Maybe because Bruce wasn’t making enough money to satisfy you and your new boyfriend,” Polly said, jamming her fists on her hips.

“My boyfriend? My husband just died.”

“Uh huh. So when the Sheriff’s Deputy gets here, you’ll let him look inside the truck?”

“It’s not my truck. He’d have to ask the owner. Now, move. I need to go home.”

Polly looked inside the car. Seth wasn’t there. “Where’s your son?” When Polly and Lydia had been in Lori’s home, the young woman had made it seem like she had no help other than Bruce and that she wasn’t comfortable leaving Seth with anyone else, but this was now the second time Polly had seen her in Boone without the little boy.

“That’s why I need to get home. The babysitter is expecting me.”

“Lori, you might as well quit lying. Everything is going to come out sooner or later.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. You’re a nosy know-it-all. I don’t have time for this. Have your friend move his truck or I’m calling the police.”

“You can try, but I already have and when they get here, they will probably have questions for you instead of me,” Polly said.

Lori Victor’s face went white.

Henry was standing beside Barry Manush, who looked sick to his stomach. He hadn’t made a move to leave.

Polly looked up and over the car. “Are you going to show us what’s in the truck?”

Manush looked down at Lori Victor, pleading in his eyes.

“Don’t you dare,” the woman threatened.

“It seems kind of stupid to let her get you into any more trouble,” Polly said. “The deputies are going to be here pretty soon.”

He shrugged his shoulders as if to admit defeat and walked to the back of the truck. He unlocked the door and lifted it up.

Henry pulled a packing blanket out and nodded at Polly. “When you’re right, you’re right, Polly. I just wish we could have waited for the deputy.”

Manush sat down on the tailgate of the truck and bent over, his head between his knees.

“What are you planning to do now?” Polly asked Lori. “What will happen with Seth?”

The woman looked at her in shock. “What do you mean? This isn’t any big deal.”

“It’s theft, Lori. Plain and simple. How long did it take you to get this out of the winery? You couldn’t have done it all at once. People would have noticed a big truck. Where did you store it until you loaded it into the U-Haul and where in the world were you planning to take it?”

Lori just shook her head. “I’m not talking to you.”

“You’re going to have to talk to someone. It isn’t like we caught you red … oh!” Polly grinned. “I guess we did.”

Then Polly looked the woman in the eyes. “Did Bruce catch you stealing his wine? Is that why you killed him? Who stabbed him? You or your buddy over there? Who ran over him with the utility vehicle?”