A Crafty Collage of Crime by Lois Winston

Author:Lois Winston
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lois Winston
Published: 2023-06-16T00:00:00+00:00

ELEVEN

“We have to go,” I told Constantia.

“I need to get to the truth. What were these men investing in? I don’t even recognize all the names. None of this makes any sense.” She clicked frantically, opening one file after another, her fingers pounding harder and harder on the keys in what was quickly becoming an exercise in futility. Her voice filled with shrill panic. “Why can’t I find anything else?”

Probably because Hart wasn’t dumb enough to leave the evidence of his criminal activity on a computer his wife could access. Unfortunately, Constantia wasn’t in a state of mind to hear such an obvious truth.

If the district attorney was investigating Hart for financial fraud, chances were also good that Hart hadn’t deposited the funds with the local savings and loan. Given the huge sum, any swindler worthy of the title would use an offshore account, one in a country without an extradition treaty with the U.S.

What if someone had tipped Hart off to the D.A.’s investigation, and he was in the process of planning his escape? Had he told Jolene he was leaving and wasn’t taking her with him? Had she retaliated by walloping him with the lamp when he’d turned his back? Had she then faked her horror and grief at finding his corpse?

I kept these thoughts to myself, instead telling Constantia, “You can search more later.” I wouldn’t put it past Bates to shoot out the door’s lock, and I didn’t want either of us pierced by a bullet.

Constantia ignored me and continued pounding the keyboard. I crossed the room and unlocked the door. Before I had a chance to swing it open, Bates barged inside, ripping the doorknob from my hand and slamming the door against the wall. “Get downstairs now,” he seethed.

I avoided eye contact with the deputy and stepped around him into the hall. Behind me Constantia ignored Bates and continued typing. Coward that I am, I didn’t want to bear witness to whatever was about to go down between the stubborn winery owner and the belligerent deputy.

Since Sheriff Granger was looking for any excuse to fire Bates, one way or another, I suspected Constantia would make sure the deputy wound up on the losing end of their encounter. With the animosity I’d observed between them, I wouldn’t put it past her to employ a bit of creative embellishing to do so.

When I entered the dining room, Deputy Norwood raised an eyebrow. I shrugged.

All but two of the seats in the dining room were filled, either with guests or winery staff. I recognized the group of disgruntled crime junkies and many of the same employees from two days ago. After taking one of the remaining chairs, I pulled out my phone and began texting Zack, but I paused as Constantia’s potty-mouthed shrieks spilled down the staircase and filled the house.

A moment later, Bates appeared, carrying a handcuffed Constantia fireman-style, and dropped her with a thud onto the only other unoccupied chair, the one opposite me.

Deputy Norwood pounced on him.

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