“Okay. We’ve got a problem.” Graham took in the view from the marble balcony. It didn’t matter how often he went to Dorothea’s mansion, the grandeur still put him in awe. He couldn’t imagine Guy growing up in such a luxurious place, even though he also knew this child’s playhouse was also a very lonely place. With a step-grandmother running an empire, battling the media’s love of controversy, and overseeing the upkeep of the mansion and expansive grounds—complete with lawns, themed gardens, fish ponds and swimming pools—there wasn’t much time for a young child. Then there had been Geoff, the great-uncle who used to beat the pulp out of Guy when he could catch him.
Graham smiled. He wouldn’t have traded his own upbringing for anyone else’s. He grew up in a blended home of siblings, half-siblings and step-siblings. It was chaotic and crowded with nine crazy kids but there had always been love. There had always been someone to hang out with, get in trouble with.
“Why? What’s going on? Do we have any answers yet? Tarin? Oliver?”
Pulled from his reverie, he looked at Guy. He’d left Tarin at the office that morning, thinking it was the safest place for her to be. Bill would keep a close eye on her.
“I don’t know. How do you like them apples? Oops, I mean grapes. I wouldn’t want your grandmother to think I disrespected her.” He looked around surreptitiously as though he was going to get in trouble.
Guy chuckled before sitting in one of the oversized, cushioned bamboo chairs. “I’m going to tell her what you said. That you forgot you were standing in the middle of wine country and had the audacity to mention apples.”
Graham jerked back, his eyes wide, his right hand pressed against his chest. “Nooooo. Anything but that.”
“Anything but what, Graham?”
He gave Guy a look of panic before he came to his feet as Dorothea joined them. He nodded in greeting and sat after she had taken her usual seat under the large umbrella.
“I was just telling Guy how much I admire the place. Emilio has outdone himself with the gardens. They look outstanding. And will be perfect for the wedding.”
She smiled knowingly. “You’re a real charmer, aren’t you? All right, let’s get to business. Do you have any answers? Who do you think is out to sabotage my business?”
“We’re not sure, Gram. We’re still looking into that. Sorry. What we need to know is anything about your employees that we won’t find in a background check.”
“I already told you, Guy, it can’t be one of my staff. It can’t be.” The conviction with which she said it was sorely lacking. “On Oliver’s computer, what did you find?”
Graham glanced at Guy, hoping they didn’t have to say anything until they reached the end of the meeting. How did he tell her someone had been on his computer and had erased all the information? I’ve skimmed it; copied some information and I’m doing a deeper dive at the office. I’ve upgraded your security so it’ll be very difficult for anyone to get into any of your information.”
“Let me know what you find.”
“I know it’s tough Mrs. L—” Her stern look stopped him. “Dorothea. Let’s start with your frontline staff. You get new ones each year to help with the picking, right?”
“Yes. I used to meet each one but sadly I don’t anymore. A few years ago I could have told you each and every one’s name, where they were from and their dreams.”
Graham noticed the slight tremor in her hand as she sipped her iced tea. “And those staff who do the packaging? You’ve had quite a turnover?”
She stiffened before answering, “There have been some, yes.”
Guy looked at him. It was enough to know they were thinking the same thing. Things had changed since her brother Geoffrey caused such havoc for her, almost taking down Caspian Winery. She’d been fighting for its life over the past two years, trying to untangle Geoff’s web of lies and deceit, including the fraudulent way he’d used the company’s money. She’d brought it a long way but Graham still felt with the current situation was somehow connected. They’d exhausted every other sensible possibility.
“None of them would have the kind of access needed to swap out a bad bottle of wine with a good bottle. Yes, one of them could have stolen a bottle and a label but it wouldn’t have been easy.”
“Okay, how about the more permanent staff?”
“Well, let’s see. Oliver is my shipping and receiving manager and until I hire someone else, he also oversees the wine tasting room. Tom is our vineyard manager. Martin is our senior winemaker. Cara is our account manager. Then there’s my new assistant, LJ. There are several others on staff but that’s my senior team.” She looked sternly at Guy.
Obviously, Graham thought, they’d had words about the new help—LJ. She had a checkered past. Guy and Bailey had tried to reason with her but she was adamant the woman was right for the job. She had all the qualifications she’d been looking for—able to run a successful business, able to give as good as she got and a keen eye for how to expand a business. It hadn’t mattered to her that the woman had once run an escort service; something Guy and Graham considered half a step away from a brothel. Dorothea had been amused by that and impressed with the woman’s gumption. She had however made it clear that none of them were to meet her, talk to her, interrogate her or do any more background checks on her until Dorothea had given them permission.
It didn’t make sense to Graham but he knew how to cover his tracks so any sleuthing wouldn’t be discovered. He certainly did not want to be on the receiving end of Dorothea’s wrath.
“Oliver’s been here a long time, right?” He changed the subject so he could possibly find out who had wiped his computer clean and where he might be at that moment.
“Oh my, yes.” She sported a genuine, happy smile. She obviously had good memories with him. “He’s been here for fifteen years. He was the first man I hired. Oh, in the beginning we butted heads. He hadn’t wanted to take orders from a woman. But he’s a good man—married for thirty-five years, they have two married children, four grandchildren and he’s active in his church. He’s very principled. His wife was a lovely lady.”
“Was?”
“Sadly she died from cancer three or so years ago.”
“And how long has Tom been here?”
She frowned but quickly relaxed. “He’s been here about three years. He’s the only good thing Geoff did for this company.” She paused. “He’s very good with the grapes. Had us change our handling procedures and the watering. And he was right. His mother is in a retirement home. She has severe rheumatoid arthritis. She became too much for him to look after. It broke his heart to have to put her there. Thankfully he found a place for her at Living Life On The Avenue. He’s not married.”
“That’s a retirement place.”
“Yes, Living Life On The Avenue is. He’s hired a full-time nurse to look after his mom. He said it was better than moving her into a nursing home. He’s taking good care of her. He’s normally an easy-going man, but he does have his moments when he’s dealing with Oliver. Although that’s all Geoffrey’s—” She looked away as though ashamed of what she’d been about to say.
Guy took her hand in his. “I know you don’t want to talk about him. But what do you mean it’s all Geoffrey’s—what, fault? What are you referring to?”
She squeezed his hand before waving her other one in the air in dismissal. “There are some personality clashes at work.”
“Grandma, if he created some issues at work, we need to know—especially if you’re still dealing with problems two years after his death.”
She gave him a chilling look; she knew something.
“He caused some trouble between the two men. He promised them things I couldn’t deliver. It seems that everything he did fueled the animosity between them. We’re finally at the point though where I believe that’s all in the past. Things have settled down.”
Graham caught Guy’s eye. If Geoff had stirred up something over two years ago and it was still an issue, then they had a problem.
“What’s this about selling the business?”
“That’s none of your business.”
“Which means you’re considering it.”
“No. I think I’ve found someone to take over though.”
“Who is it?”
“I’m perfectly capable of running this company, Guy. I’ve been doing it most of my life. And I think I’ve done a pretty darn good job.” With that she got up, gave them each a nod and walked laboriously toward the house. At the door she paused and slowly turned. “I hope you find out who’s been doing this.”
Graham and Guy took the five marbled flights of winding stairs to the front door. Once inside Graham’s Hummer, Guy spoke up, “She doesn’t look good, does she?”
“Considering she’s thirteen years past normal retirement and she’s still running an empire, she looks pretty damn good. But I know what you mean. She’s clearly exhausted.”
“And pale. Gray even.”
“Yeah.”
“Oliver appears to be a prime suspect. Tom is too, if for no other reason than because Geoff hired him. What do you think?”
“Same. She sees them all through rose-colored wine,” he quipped. Growing serious, he continued, “She’s still living in the ‘50’s where loyalty was the norm. Nowadays, everyone is looking out for themselves. So what are we missing? We did a background check on all of them.” Graham contemplated their conversation with Dorothea, wondering about the usual conviction in her voice—somehow, it seemed lacking. “And then there’s Geoff.”
“She insisted we come out here because she wanted to tell us who has been responsible, yet she didn’t share anything.”
“No, but did you see her expression when you mentioned Geoff’s death?”
“Yeah. She doesn’t think he’s dead either, does she? But there’s no way she could come out and say she thinks her brother is responsible. Again.”
“Dig again as deeply as you need to. Has any staff received large sums of money or spending more than they make? I’ll check with Walters at the police station and see if he’ll do some checking through their system. He owes us.”
“And who’s going to be the one to tell Dorothea if we find out one of her trusted employees is sabotaging her business? Or that Geoff might be behind it, dead or alive? He could have easily set something in motion to take her down. As feeble as she’s getting, this might kill her.”