A Vintage Murder (27 page)

She put it all back in the trunk and shoved the wig into her purse. Then, she heard the door to the trailer open. Great. She hid behind one of the racks as Amy laughed and then shushed someone.

“Quiet. Come on, maybe we can play dress up.”

Who was she with?

“You’re a bad girl. I never would have guessed.”

It was Kane’s voice!

“Oh, you must have known by the e-mails. You didn’t think I agreed to help you with your little charade for nothing, did you?” Amy asked.

“Honey, it’s not a charade. It’s business, and it’s going to work out perfectly for everyone. You included. You get that little extra we agreed on, and I think—for a little while anyway—you can have me.”

Oh gross. Nikki had to get out of there. How was it she always wound up in these situations? It was like they fell right into her freaking lap, and as curious as she was about the charade they were talking about, and the money Amy was getting, she would have preferred to be far away from there. God, she didn’t even think Kane knew Amy existed. When had all this come about? Now they were rendezvousing in the wardrobe trailer. Ick.

“I think you’ll be happy about the information I passed on today. By the time we get home, Nikki and Shawn will be on the front page of every tabloid and they’ll be all the rage.”

“Good,” he said.

“I told Marne about how Nikki didn’t like the outfit we’d picked out for her and how Shawn was so nice to her and talked her into coming back on the set, and once she was out there the chemistry between them was hot,” Amy said. “Red hot. Oh, and how about the Martian angle Marne put in?”

“Did you have anything to do with that?”

“Of course. I told her that Nikki was snooping about Lucy, and then Marne thought up the perfect story.”

“Do you think she found the note you put in Lucy’s jacket?”

“Totally. She’s a busybody, that one. It’s good, because the more nutty we can make her look, the better the publicity. The public loves nut jobs.”

“Publicity is everything. Right now, I have to turn the negatives into positives. Since Marne thinks Nikki is such a diva, that’s what you keep giving her, and Shawn will be the lion tamer, making their love the source that tempers her rage. Kind of a Brangelina thing. Looks like it won’t be too hard to get rid of the wine guy. He’s not even around. I’ll get Shawn to sweep Nikki off her feet. He can end it after the movie premieres, but for now I need to make this movie a hit. I can’t let Lucy’s death overshadow this production. I’ve also been thinking more about having Nikki do the TV series—the wine and mystery thing. I think I can hook her. With her live sleuthing it makes a great publicity campaign. I’m working on Shawn. He’s being a bit belligerent about going along this time. He’s started flirting, but it’s not enough. He actually likes her, and that’s causing him some type of moral dilemma. I need to sit him down and have a long talk with him.”

“I’m sure he’ll come around.”

Nikki could not believe what she was hearing. Part of her wanted to step out from behind the clothing racks and pull an Angelina Jolie à la Mrs. Smith on them both, but she was riveted by what they were saying. Also, her sixth sense told her that keeping mum behind the clothes would serve her well in the long run. Marne Pickett was bad enough. But the betrayal by Kane Ferriss . . . !

“I can’t say that I miss Lucy,” Amy said. “Sure, it was a shame that she died, but Nikki is easier to work with.”

Gee thanks, a kind word
.

“I agree. She may turn out to be exactly what this movie needed. She’ll bring us the kind of publicity that gets people talking, and once people start talking, they’ll have to go and see the movie—especially if the stars are creating a stir in their private lives.”

“Don’t you kind of feel bad for Nikki, though?” Amy asked. “I’m sure she didn’t know what she was getting into.”

“Bad? Hell no. In the long run, she’ll probably thank me. She’s not the kind of person who will snap under this pressure. She’s got a good head on her shoulders. I’m going to make her a star, like I did Shawn, and who knows, maybe those two will find a happy ending. God knows I’ve been trying to get Shawn to settle down for some time now. After the Fiona fiasco and all the cash she got out of us. I think Nikki will be different. But, I’m going to continue needing your help on this.”

“You got it.”

“Just keep feeding Marne the tidbits. I’ll work on Shawn. I would say work on Nikki’s pal Simon, but he’s in love with Shawn and he’s the wine guy’s brother. We have to get him off the set because the sooner Nikki breaks her Napa Valley ties, the better off we’ll all be.”

“I’m already on it,” Amy said. “Or at least Harv is. Simon doesn’t only have eyes for Shawn. He likes my assistant, too, and Harv is a heartbreaker—love ’em and leave ’em. They are out and about tonight at my suggestion. Harv had been nasty to the poor guy, and I told him that it would be in our best interest to make nice. So he is.”

“Should we seal the deal with a kiss?” Kane asked.

“Sure.”

Nikki covered her ears.

“Maybe we should go someplace a little more comfortable,” Kane said.

“You mean somewhere with a bed?” Amy asked.

“You said it.”

Nikki waited until they left the trailer before letting out a breath. Then, she smiled. So Kane wanted a diva, huh? Fine. Because that was exactly what he was about to get.

Nikki put on the wig, the beanie, and a big jacket. She took two beers out of the fridge in the wardrobe trailer, then snuck back to the car. A few minutes later she pulled up to the security station. Will looked at her oddly. She handed him the two beers.

“Hey, Will.”

“Nikki? Is that you? What are you doing?”

“I am going crazy. I have to get out of here.”

“You’re supposed to be with your bodyguard.”

“He’s busy.”

“Oh, I dunno then. I could get in some trouble. Kane would not be too happy.”

“I know. But I only want to go for a drive. And I brought you some beers.” She handed them to him.

He took a quick glance around. “Fine, but I’m off in an hour and if you aren’t back, I don’t know what to tell you.”

“Thanks. You’re a champ.” She turned out onto the road, looking in her rearview mirror several times. The paparazzi must have given up for the time being. They were being handed a B.S. story regularly from an on-the-set source—Amy, the wardrobe queen. Ooh. That bitch.

She would get even later. Rest assured. For now she headed toward the Fritz Winery, which she hoped was still open. She thought about the other day, when she and Derek had driven to the winery. Thinking about him both upset her and made her smile. She missed him. Was he missing her? Would they—could they—work this out? She also thought about Simon calling Sarah Fritz a liar. Simon had never been known for having any kind of intuition that she was aware of. But he had not liked Sarah. Not at all.

Ten minutes later she pulled onto the Fritz property. The winery did look closed, but she saw a light on in the house, a few hundred feet up a dirt driveway. She took a chance and drove on up. Stopping the car, she took off the beanie and wig.

She thought twice before going to the door. What was she looking for, and what was she going to ask the woman? What did she want from Sarah Fritz? To find out more information about Elizabeth. And why hadn’t Sarah mentioned that they’d worked together? Was she being ridiculous? The woman knew how to handle a poisonous snake, granted, but what reason would she have to want Lucy dead? There seemed to be no motive.

Nikki rapped on the door a few times. Sarah opened it. “G’day, Nikki. Nice of you to come by again. That’s funny, because I was going to see about getting a message to you about inviting you for dinner. We had such a nice chat the other day. Your friend was a bit off, but that’s okay. I get kind of lonely when people don’t come by too often. The winery has been slow these days.”

Nikki figured she’d already had a drink or two.

“I’m sorry to hear that. Listen, I was wondering if we could talk.”

“Of course. Come in. Would you like a glass of wine and something to eat?”

“No. I’m okay, thank you.”

Sarah led the way down a hall and into a small, quaint family room. “I need to tidy up some. I apologize. My son has been working quite a bit and he comes and goes and leaves a mess.”

“You have a son?”

“All grown up.” She smiled. “But he still depends on me. He says that I’m controlling and won’t let him move out, but that’s not true. I wish he’d find a nice woman and settle down. Give me some grandchildren.”

“Right.” She smiled.

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to chatter on about my problems. You came here for a reason, I suspect?”

“Yes. Did you ever work with Elizabeth or Grace?”

“I did work with Elizabeth, after school. I was in one of the documentaries they did on her.”

Nikki breathed a sigh of relief. “That was you then. I watched those last night and I thought I recognized you. What about Grace?”

“Grace? What about her?”

“I’m not sure I understand why you have such a personal beef with her.”

Sarah sighed and ran her hand along her face. “See this scar?”

“Yes.”

“Grace Hahndorf did this.”

“What?”

“Yes. Driving too fast one day, hit my car, and the windshield broke and glass went flying. But do you think she went to jail for it? No. They’re established here, the Hahndorfs. They have friends in the police department like that idiot Von Doussa. I hated her already for being the cause of losing the only friend that I ever had. I lost everything after Elizabeth died. Even my husband left me.”

“Why would he leave over your friend’s death?”

“I guess because I couldn’t get over the sadness of losing her. Maybe it’s why I hang on to my son so tightly. He says I do anyway. I’m not going to lose anyone else I love. And, that is exactly what is happening.” Her eyes grew wide and Nikki didn’t like the tone in her voice.

Sarah continued. “You like wine. Come on, take a walk with me. I have a great cellar in the back of the house.”

“No. I think I should be going.” Something was way off here.

“Sure. I see. You can ask me all sorts of questions and I take my time with you, even bring your rude friend over to insult my wine, but you can’t indulge me?”

“I . . . have an early call in the morning. I do need to go.” This had not been a good idea. She started toward the door.

“I wouldn’t do that,” Sarah said.

Nikki heard a click. She turned around to see Sarah pointing a gun at her. “I think you’ll take that walk with me now.”

As they headed down the hall, the gun in Nikki’s back, she saw photos of a child from the time he was a baby until he was a grown man—Will. Will Henwood.
Her son.
She now knew that Sarah Fritz had killed Lucy Swanson, and why.

They turned the corner into a small room. Sarah switched on the light. Nikki gasped. The room was filled with terrariums that held snakes—all kinds of snakes.

“These are my friends. Would you like to hold one?” Sarah asked and then started laughing.

“Sit down,” she ordered and pointed to the single chair in the room.

Nikki didn’t have a choice. “You’re Will’s mother.”

“I am. I understand he’s mentioned me to you.”

“What do you mean? I had no idea he was your son.”

“Yes, he does sort of leave out that his mother is Sarah Fritz, winery owner. What does he do? Goes against my wishes and takes a job over at the Hahndorfs. And I warned him, I warned him all about you people.”

“I’m sorry, Sarah. I’m confused.” Nikki knew that Aunt Cara would tell her to keep the woman talking as long as possible. See if she couldn’t find a weapon.