A Superhero Ever After by H. L. Burke

Author:H. L. Burke [Burke, H. L. & Burke, H. L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: H. L. Burke
Published: 2023-06-26T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

The winery proved another dead end, though they did run into Bess, Brian, and Pastor Craig who were leaving as they got there, Brian carrying a box of sparkling wine they’d purchased.

Lara charmed their sommelier and questioned him for details about the staff to find there were just two people working that day, and neither were new employees. In fact, similarly to the inn, it was a family run business. The middle-aged couple who owned the winery even lived on the upper floor of the building. They did mention that one of their employees had been scheduled to work but had ended up being a no-show and attempts to contact her hadn’t worked.

“We’ve noticed text messages aren’t going through,” Lara commented as she sipped her splash of chardonnay from their tasting flight.

“Yeah, not sure what’s up with that.” Their sommelier took his phone out of his apron pocket, glanced at it, and shook his head before putting it back. “So that wine I just poured you, is from last year. It’s more of a floral wine with notes of chamomile, almond, and fresh pear.”

Glint took a drink, but just tasted wine.

The sommelier motioned to the cheese board sitting between them. “I suggest pairing it with the Brie. The crispness of the wine and the creaminess of the cheese are just—chef’s kiss.” He made the motion before returning to the bar area.

Glint looked around. The other tables were unoccupied. “I don’t think this place has anything to do with anything.”

“Me either.” Lara pushed a cracker through the Brie. “Do we want to investigate the spa next?”

Glint checked his phone. “We’ve only got about an hour until the rehearsal. Are we going to skip it? What are we going to tell everyone?”

Lara hesitated. “I don’t know.”

Glint fell silent. This sort of puzzle wasn’t something he was built for, but he’d hoped Lara could figure it out. If she was stumped, what hope was there?

“Maybe we should stop focusing on who or what caused the loop and start looking for a way out?” she said. “Like what have we tried so far? Driving out didn’t work. Phoning out or otherwise calling for help doesn’t work. What else have you tried?”

“Nothing, I guess.”

“So how does the ‘reset’ work?”

“I’m not sure. It’s always been when I was sleeping,” he said.

“You haven’t tried staying awake? Even if it doesn’t work we could at least get some intel about how it happens that we can use on the next go around.”

“I stayed up past midnight once.” He considered this. “I guess the loop doesn’t have to reset at midnight though. I don’t really know when it resets.”

“Even knowing that is more information.” She munched on her cracker. “It’s worth a try. I’ll stay up with you. Help you focus.”

“I’d like that.” Knowing he could lose all the progress he’d made today, the idea of falling asleep was a little unnerving. “What about the rehearsal though?”

“I say we go through it. The dinner after, especially, gives us another chance to talk to people and ask questions.

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