Grapes of Death (21 page)

Perhaps it was time someone from River Bend confronted the man good and proper.

By the time she parked in front of her greenhouse, she arrived at the conclusion that she was just the one to do it.

She would clean up her filing system and then maybe take a trip over to Kohler Winery and have a come-to-Jesus meeting with the man. She'd see what else she could learn from him, too, but she was determined to give him a piece of her mind before she left.

When she got inside the greenhouse and really looked at the mess Stuart had made, Elise realized it wasn't as bad as she'd originally thought, which helped calm her temper a bit. He'd mixed up several files and scattered a few others on the floor, but by the looks of things, she didn't think he'd found what he'd been looking for—her notes on the hybridization process.

As she worked, she couldn't get Henry and his schemes out of her head. It seemed like everywhere she turned, someone was trying to get their hands on her work.

It only took forty-five minutes or so to put her files back together, by which time she'd worked herself up all over again thinking about Henry Kohler's deception and blackmail. Grabbing her purse, she headed for the car. She was going over to the nearby winery before she changed her mind.

As she sped away from the greenhouse, however, she decided to have a word with her grandmother. Abigail had known Henry longer than any of them and might have some tips on how to proceed.

Unfortunately, when she got to the Wine Barrel, she found that Abigail had gone into Austin with some friends, leaving Madison to mind the store.

“Why are you going over to Kohler's?” her sister asked when Elise told her of her plans.

Elise explained everything Jackson had told them. “I want to have a chat with Henry. He was trying to steal my work, and I'm going to tell him how angry it makes me. Plus, I want him to know that I know what an underhanded sleazeball he is.”

Madison leaned on the counter and gave Elise a look full of reproach. “I don't think you should go over there—at least, not by yourself. Why don't you take Ross with you, or better yet, wait for Jackson?”

“Because Henry might speak more freely to me, say something he might not with one of the ‘men' present,” said Elise, using air quotes to denote her understanding of Henry Kohler's likely sexism when it came to business matters.

“True, but I still don't like you going over there without backup.”

“I'll be fine, sweetie. This is hardly Miami Vice. I'll be back in a jiff.”

Her sister gave her another doubtful look, but she ignored it. Back in the car and on the road, it didn't take but fifteen minutes before she was turning off the highway onto the long drive up to the Kohler winery residence.

Pulling up to Henry's two-story home, she parked between his Mercedes and a rental car and climbed from her vehicle, leaving her purse in the car. This wasn't going to take long.

She stormed up to the front door and rang the bell. When she got no response, she rang again. By the third ring, she was starting to get irritated, and just when she was contemplating banging on the door with her fist, it opened.

By the look on his face, finding her on his doorstep had taken Henry by surprise. He obviously didn't expect to see someone from River Bend so soon after his confession of espionage. “Elise. What are you doing here?” He looked around, as if suspecting that she was not alone.

“I'm here, Henry, because we need to talk.”

“This really isn't a good time, my dear. Why don't you come back later—or tomorrow?”

“Actually, right now works best for me,” she said as she slipped past him and stalked toward the living room.

“Elise, wait—”

She heard the fear in his voice but kept going.

Good, a little taste of your own medicine,
she thought. After all, the man had been terrorizing Carlos and Arturo for months.

On the heels of that thought, she rounded the corner and stepped down into the sunken living room.

And realized that Henry already had a visitor—a very familiar visitor.

Twenty-Two

“Elise, how nice of
you to drop by,” Stuart said with a congenial smile. “Inconvenient as it may be.”

Henry stepped into the living room behind her and took her by the arm. “We're in the middle of something here, Elise. Why don't you go home and come back later? We can discuss whatever you want then.”

The nervous quality to Henry's voice and the hard look in Stuart's eyes—despite his pleasant attitude—sent a shiver of apprehension down Elise's spine. Something unsavory was going on here; the atmosphere in the room was thick with it.

“Now, Henry,” Stuart said with a chuckle. “I think it's a little late for that, don't you? I'm guessing our dear Elise has all sorts of questions swirling around in that pretty little head of hers. Knowing her as I do, she won't be put off that easily. I think we should bring her up to speed.”

“Stuart—” Kohler began, but her ex cut him off with a look.

“Let me handle this.” Stuart gestured toward the sofa. “Have a seat, darling. It
is
time to clear the air. I don't know about you, but I didn't like the way we left things last weekend after that unfortunate incident in the greenhouse.”

Dropping down on the sofa, Elise raised her eyebrows. “Uh … if by
unfortunate incident
you mean me catching you
trying to steal from me, then I have to agree. It
was
unfortunate and left a decidedly bad taste in my mouth.”

Stuart went on as if she hadn't spoken. “
You hurt my feelings with your allegations, and I was angry. But we've shared so much and can still have a bright future together. I had planned to contact you later to apologize for the misunderstanding and talk it all out—perhaps when you were feeling a bit more reasonable.”

“I'm sorry, did you say
misunderstanding
?” She scoffed. “I don't think there was any confusion in my mind about what you were up to. Therefore, I have no interest in talking anything out with you, Stuart. And reasonable? Seriously? I thought asking you to leave was incredibly reasonable.”

Stuart frowned and waved a finger at her. “You wouldn't even let me explain, and that's not like you, sweetie.” He tilted his head and pursed his lips in thought. “I blame it on Deputy Landry,” he said at length. “I think he's turned your head, and not in a good way.”

“What the hell are you yammering about? Jackson had nothing to do with my decision to break it off with you. That was entirely my choice. And don't try to change the subject. What's going on here, anyway?” Even as she asked the question she was starting to get somewhat of an idea.

Stuart had nagged her about her hybridization process on several occasions before she'd found him rifling through her files during Deana's wedding reception. Though she didn't want to believe it, thinking back, it was starting to make perfect sense finding him here now: he was working with Kohler. But how long it had been going on was the million-dollar question.

What she was thinking must have shown quite clearly on her face, because Stuart nodded. “Yes, I can see that you're beginning to understand.”

“You and Henry are in business together, aren't you?”

“In a matter of speaking, yes.” He took a sip from the wineglass in his hand and gave her another disturbing smile. “We've been …
collaborating
for some time now.”

Lord love a goose, as her grandmother was fond of saying. How had she not seen this coming? She'd dated Stuart for over six months. Yet in all that time, she never would have dreamed he would involve himself in something as underhanded as stealing her work and giving it to the competition.

Elise turned to Henry, disbelief and sadness coloring her words. “What happened to you, Henry? Espionage, theft, blackmail? You and my grandfather built your vineyards at the same time. You were friends, for God's sake! How could you do this?”

Anger flared briefly in Kohler's rheumy eyes. “Don't you dare think to judge me, little girl. You of all people know how hard the last few years have been in this industry. I've lost crops, had to cut corners, sell vital equipment—and I'm still running in the red. I had to do something proactive or lose the vineyard.” He scowled at her. “I did what I had to do.”

Elise felt pity rise up inside her for the man who'd once been a good friend to her family—and then she squashed it like a bug. That man was gone, replaced by a greedy, unrecognizable stranger. Others had suffered—dealt with loss and struggled to survive—without stooping to theft or blackmail.

She glared at him. “That's a pathetic excuse for what you've done, and I think deep down you know it.”

Stuart had remained silent throughout the exchange, but now he tsked. “Elise, sweetheart, where's your compassion? Henry's family isn't as invested in his vineyard as yours is. He simply wanted to save a piece of his personal history. I helped him do that.”

She aimed a furious look at her ex. “Really, Stuart? And how did you help him? By attempting to steal my work for him?”

“No, darling—at least, not in the beginning. I infused his operation with cash,” he said with pride.

Elise's jaw dropped. “You did what?”

“Of course, it will continue to operate under Henry's family name, but I bought the controlling interest in Kohler Winery. Although it would have been much better to have your hybridization notes, even without them I'm going to build this vineyard into the moneymaker it was meant to be. You'll see.”

“Don't you mean
we're
going to do that?” Henry asked.

“Of course, Henry.” Stuart smiled again. “Forgive me. I misspoke. We're most definitely in this together.”

They might be in business together, but by the look on Henry's face, he wasn't all that happy about it. Which made the next question on her mind a bit dodgier, but she had to ask.

“So, how did Uncle Edmond fit into the plan?” She glanced over at Kohler. “You told Jax he gave you a down payment in cash and was going to buy in with River Bend property.”

Henry gave a short nod. “Yes, but then Laura wouldn't give him the land he wanted.”

“So he was going to give you my hybridization process in place of the property?”

Again, the man nodded.

“But you took out insurance, didn't you, Henry? You tried to blackmail Carlos into stealing it as well.”

She thought he would deny it, as he had with Jackson, but Kohler only shrugged. “Just hedging my bets. I wouldn't have turned his brother into Immigration, but fear can be a strong motivator.”

Again, he gave Stuart a meaningful glance, and Elise got the feeling he was talking about more than blackmailing the Madera brothers. Then after a moment he looked away, and the sensation disappeared. “I figured one way or another, we'd get our hands on your notes.”

“Wow. You guys were working it from all angles, weren't you? Just stringing along everyone involved.” She looked back and forth between the two men. “You didn't expect Carlos to refuse to cooperate, but he did. Uncle Edmond thought he was buying into the scheme, but he was just being used to get access to my research. When he realized that, he backed out too.” She glanced up at Stuart. “But in the end, you were the ace in the hole.” Stuart didn't confirm or refute the allegation, but she figured she had her answer. “You thought you could eventually sweet-talk me into handing my notes over. Must have really pissed you off when I kept saying no.”

Stuart heaved a sigh. “Yes, the whole thing would have gone so much smoother had you just played along like a good little girl.”

“I should have suspected something was off when you kept at me to have a peek at my work. I guess when that tactic failed, you decided to take your shot during the wedding reception.”

Stuart pouted and shook his head. “I don't understand how you can be so ungrateful, Elise.”

“Ungrateful? What are you talking about?”

“Darling, I did this all for us and the life we were working to build! Think of it,” he said as a dreamy look crossed his face. “Working at the foundation together, living the high-life in Dallas—the parties, the accolades. We would've had all that as well as a large interest in not one but
two
lucrative vineyards. It would have been such fun. We wouldn't have wanted for anything, but you had to go and ruin it.”

Elise burst into laughter. “Oh my God! What a load of crap,” she said when she could contain herself. “You didn't do any of this for
us
, Stuart. Face it. Everything you've done here, you've done out of greed and the pursuit of power. You're despicable. And I'm thinking a little bit crazy. I don't know how I didn't see it before.”

Stuart drew himself up as his features turned to stone. “Do not call me that. Do you hear me? I am
not
crazy.”

“Yeah, you keep telling yourself that.” She turned and leveled a cool look in Kohler's direction. “So, Henry, when Uncle Edmond told you he was backing out of the deal, was it really Carlos who hit him with that rock? Or was murder something else you just
had to do
?”

The older man shook his head and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand as a terrified look crossed his face. “I didn't have any part in your uncle's murder,” he stammered.

“Now, that's not entirely true, Henry,” Stuart said and giggled like a little girl.

Kohler's hands shook as he put them out to her in a plea for understanding. “Elise, Carlos hit him in a panic, but neither one of us killed him. Eddy was alive when we left him there. I swear it. Please. You have to let this go.”

“What do you mean by
not entirely true
?” she asked, ignoring Henry and turning to Stuart. “What part could Henry have played if Carlos was the one to hit Uncle Edmond with that rock?”

It was Stuart's turn to laugh out loud, and the odd sound of it sent a chill coursing through her. “What did I tell you, Henry? She's as curious as she is stubborn! You know, Elise, that's always been your problem. You just don't know when to quit.”

“Stuart, answer me. What part did Henry play?” She looked over at Kohler. “Did you come back and finish the job—use that rock to set Carlos up?”

“No!” Henry shouted.

“Oh, I think Deputy Landry is going to find that it wasn't that rock that killed your uncle at all.”

The look in Stuart's eyes when he spoke had Elise's stomach doing a slow roll. “How do you know that?” she asked him.

“Elise, please stop,” Henry begged. “What's done is done. You don't understand what you've stumbled into here.”

This time when Stuart laughed it was low and evil-sounding, but he was clearly enjoying himself. “Where's your cane, Henry? That fabulous oak cane you always use? I haven't seen it for … several weeks now.”

Lord, I think he really might be crazy
, she thought. Stuart's creepy attitude was starting to scare her, and with his comment, a frightening notion exploded in her head.

If Stuart was the mastermind behind the theft scheme, was it possible he was capable of murder? A month ago—hell, a week ago—she wouldn't have even entertained the idea. But seeing him now, the strange look in his eyes …

“You know, I think you're right, Henry,” she said and stood. She needed to get away from both of these men, and fast. “Maybe I should go back to River Bend and let you two conclude your business. We can finish this conversation later.”

Preferably with the police present and a straight-jacket on hand.

Stuart turned and set his wineglass on the mantel behind him. “No. I don't think so,” he said. When he swung back to them, he pulled a small, lethal-looking pistol out of his jacket pocket and pointed it in her direction.

Terror like she'd never felt in her life sprung up and grabbed her by the throat. “Stuart! What are you doing?”

“Elise, come on now. You've figured it out, you know you have, whether you want to acknowledge it or not. It's written all over your face.”

She swallowed hard and struggled to find her voice through her fear. “I don't know what you mean.”

“Oh, sweetie, you've never been a good liar.”

“Stuart, please, no!” Henry said.

“Shut up, Kohler,” Stuart snarled.

“Henry?” Elise put out her hand to the man, but he clammed up and turned away from her, visibly trembling with fear.

“You see, darling, I watched Henry and Carlos meet with your uncle that evening from the trees along the river. They didn't even know I was there. Henry had left his cane behind at the house, which was fortuitous. When Carlos knocked Edmond out and they left, I realized I had a perfect opportunity. I beat your uncle to death with Henry's oak cane.”

“No,” she whispered, shaking her head.

“Oh yes. I've put it safely away, as insurance. My original plan was to eventually leave it where Deputy Do-Right would find it, and Henry would be charged with the crime. But I found that the fear was, as Henry put it earlier, a strong motivator.”

“You're insane,” she replied, trying to get a breath around the constriction in her chest. She couldn't believe this was happening. Her ex-boyfriend had killed her uncle in cold blood.

Stuart frowned and gave her a steely look. “I told you not to call me that. You know, we could have had it all. Up until a few minutes ago, I was willing to give you a second chance. However, now I realize that it was just my nostalgic side speaking.”