A Flair for Chardonnay by Deborah Garner

Author:Deborah Garner [Garner, Deborah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Cranberry Cove Press
Published: 2016-05-12T23:00:00+00:00

* * *

As Sadie stepped into the store, she passed an exiting customer laden with several large Flair bags. Multiple purchases always set an optimistic tone for the day, and she smiled.

“Good sale?” Sadie asked Amber, who looked proud.

“Excellent sale,” Amber replied. “Black satin pants, a beaded tunic, two lace camisoles in different colors, a cashmere sweater from the new arrivals section and a matching necklace-bracelet set.”

“Nice job,” Sadie said as she tossed Amber a double vanilla crème. “See? You don’t even need me here.”

A sharp yip from the velvet pillow signaled Coco’s not-so-subtle demand for a treat, as well.

“Sorry, Coco,” Sadie said. “No chocolate for you. Here’s a nice, healthy treat,” she said as she dug into a pocket and pulled out a tiny biscuit. She patted Coco’s fuzzy head and scratched her behind the ears as the little dog ate, then turned back to Amber.

“It’s not true that you’re not needed here,” Amber laughed. “Someone has to pay to restock this merchandise when it sells. Oh, you had a phone call. I left a message on your desk.”

“Thanks. Anyone in particular?”

“No one I know. Just a woman who asked me to have you return her call. It’s a 707 area code, if that helps,” Amber said as Sadie headed for her office.

Sadie sat at her desk and picked up the message. As she already knew by the area code, it was from St. Vin, or somewhere in that general vicinity. It wasn’t a stretch to assume it could be from the Tremiato Winery. Yet, to her knowledge, no one in the Tremiato family knew how to contact her except Tina. When she first arrived in wine country, she had purposely not handed out business cards to avoid revealing her connection to Matteo. And once her field trip turned into a murder investigation, she was more focused on listening than on advertising her role as amateur sleuth or fashion guru. She dialed the number and leaned back in her chair.

“Detective Shafer speaking.”

The female detective’s voice took Sadie by surprise. She’d been expecting Stefano or even Angelo, who could have gotten her number from Tina. She took a breath.

“This is Sadie Kramer.” A straight business approach seemed best.

“Hello Ms. Kramer. Thank you so much for returning my call.” The sound of shuffling papers crinkled through the phone line. “I’m working on the Tremiato Winery case, and I’m calling guests who stayed at The Vintage Vine recently. I believe you were there a few nights ago?”

“Yes. The night before the murder.” Why waste time mincing words, Sadie figured. She already recognized the voice and name from the kitchen visit at the inn. Clearly the detectives had obtained a list of guests and contact information.

“We just have a few questions.” More paper shuffling.

“Yes, how can I help you?” Sadie shifted in her chair, her investigative instincts giving her that familiar sense that she was standing on tiptoe looking into a forbidden box full of delicious information.

“Actually, we were hoping you might be able to come in; otherwise we can do this on the phone,” Detective Shafer said.

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