Chapter 57

 

Rachel’s car was in the driveway when Thea pulled under the overhang of the house. Instead of getting excited, Hannah shook a finger at Thea. “She’s heard about the fire. You’re in trouble.”

“Hey, how would you feel if she yawned when she found out?” Thea asked.

Hannah wrinkled her nose. “I’m going to watch cartoons. If she wants to take me home with her, I’m not too tired.”

Thea nodded. Hannah loved spending time with Rachel and Isak. She even loved spending time with Annabel. That made Thea think. “Now that your mom doesn’t have to stay with Cynthia, maybe we could have her guard the studio some afternoon so that Gabe can go see his grandmother.”

“Why? Annabel can’t see him,” Hannah said.

“I think it would make Gabe feel better just knowing that she’s all right.”

Hannah shrugged. “I’ll tell Mom.” She hit the steps and hurried into the house, then disappeared into the basement.

Rachel was pacing in the kitchen. “You’ve got to be more careful!” she said when she saw Thea. “You can’t send Josh away and then die while he’s gone. And I’m not trained enough to take your place!”

Thea put up a hand to calm her. “Lacey came to warn us.”

“This time.” Rachel ran a hand through her thick, dark hair. “Doggone it, Mom! I hate this. You have to stop it.”

“I’m trying.”

“You’re not trying hard enough. Find out who’s doing this and make them stop.”

Seeing Rachel so upset rattled Thea. “I’m convinced Randall’s behind it, but he was in L.A. last night. He couldn’t have set the fire. I think Melissa might be helping him. Remember when she came and asked me to do a life map for her? I’d be worried if I was working with Randall, too.”

Rachel shook her head. “Melissa’s in Indy right now, seeing Les’s lawyer about his will.”

For a minute, that news deflated Thea. But Indy wasn’t that far away. Just far enough to be a good alibi if Melissa needed one.

“You want it to be Randall and Melissa,” Rachel said. “What if it’s someone else?”

Thea shrugged. “Who else would it be? They benefit from each person who died.”

“Stop guessing and find out who it is,” Rachel snapped.

Thea bit her lip before she snapped back. Rachel was only angry because she was worried. Arguing wouldn’t make anything better.

“I’m going to call and talk to Lindsay at Les’s winery. She’s supposed to be back from her vacation today.”

Rachel relaxed a little. “It’s a start.”

“I’m hoping that she’s Lacey’s sister. I found out that Lacey worked at the winery for a while.”

Now Rachel looked interested. “When did she leave?”

“I’m going to find out, but it was sudden. Without a word.”

Rachel nodded. “I’ll take Hannah home with me. That will give you time to visit the winery.”

While Melissa was in Indy, Thea thought. This would be perfect.

When Rachel backed out of the driveway with Hannah, Thea wasn’t far behind her. When Rachel turned to go into town, though, Thea turned to go to Les’s winery. Thea followed Ruby Riverwalk to Gold Galleyway, took a right past Shari’s inn, and turned onto Vintage Drive. The winding, blacktopped pavement ambled between tall trees and lush, green lawns to a sprawling, white stucco building with a red-tiled roof. Cars were sprinkled in the visitors’ lot for the tours and wine tasting. Several couples had spread blankets on the lovely expanse of grass and were enjoying picnics. You could purchase baskets filled with goodies inside. A brick patio, shaded by a trellis with a wisteria vine dripping purple blooms, was dotted with wrought iron tables and chairs. People lounged there, enjoying gourmet treats and glasses of wine.

When Thea pushed through the heavy, double oak doors of the entrance, she was surprised by the opulence that greeted her. She knew that Les had renovated recently, but she didn’t expect vintage chandeliers, polished clay floors, and exquisite antiques. One of her own weavings hung on the far wall.

“Hello.” A young girl stood behind the long, mahogany bar at the side of the room. Thea recognized the girl. She was the daughter of Robert Kroft, who managed the golf course for the country club. “Feel welcome to browse. When you want to sample some of our wines, let me know.”

“Thanks.” Thea circled the room, admiring the rows of jams and curds, fancy crackers, and pate^’s. Coolers held sandwiches packed with thin slices of ham, watercress, and specialty cheeses. She looked for a sign with times for tours, but didn’t see one. She’d almost made her way back to the girl at the bar when she saw a group coming upstairs from the deep cellar beneath the building. The group was led by a short, sturdy, young woman with a round, cheerful face. That’s how Rachel had described Lindsay.

Thea waited politely for the people in the group to disperse before asking, “Lindsay Warner? Could I speak with you a minute?”

Lindsay gave her a warm smile, and Thea was immediately reminded of Les. The girl’s build. Her coloring. Her smile.

When Thea’s eyes widened, Lindsay’s mouth crumpled in a grimace. “No one else has placed it,” she said.

“Not even Melissa?”

Lindsay motioned Thea into a small, private office-- plush, but cozy. “Especially Melissa. It’s all coming out soon, though. Melissa went to talk to Dad’s lawyer this weekend. She’s not going to be happy when she comes back. Dad was going to tell her, but never got around to it.”

Thea tried to wrap her mind around the word ‘dad.’ She wasn’t having much success. “Les and Ethel never had children, did they?”

“Ethel couldn’t.” Lindsay sank into a chair and motioned for Thea to do the same. “My mom and dad met when they were both young. They lived together for four years.”

“Les?” Thea asked, still struggling with the image. “He was so practical, so conservative.”

“He married Melissa, didn’t he?” Lindsay asked.

“Yes, but---“

“He didn’t like being alone,” Lindsay said. “And remember, he was young when he met my mom. I take it there was lots of love, but nothing much in common. They never got married. Finally, they decided it wasn’t going to work.”

“After they had two babies?” Thea asked.

Lindsay smiled. “Mom only told us about it when she knew she wasn’t going to make it. She wrote Dad, too. She said Lacey and I kept her and Dad together when they should have given up, but we made it fun, almost like playing house. Dad needed a clean break when they finally split, moved away and started over, but he sent Mom money once a month to raise us. We didn’t know anything about it until Mom died a year ago.”

Thea wasn’t sure what to say. Les with daughters. It had never occurred to her. “You’re saying ‘we’. Did you have a sister named Lacey?” Thea asked.

Lindsay went stiff. “I have a sister named Lacey,” she corrected.

Thea took a deep breath. “You don’t know me, and I’m not sure if you’ve heard about me. . . “

Lindsay interrupted. “You’re the town’s weaver. I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m not sure if I believe in any of it.”

“The thing is. . . “

Lindsay shook her head. “This is serious, I can tell. We can’t talk here. If Lacey’s gotten herself in some kind of trouble, I’d rather keep it private. She took off a while ago, ran away with a man. She never forgave Les for deserting us when we were babies.” She glanced at her watch. “Meet me at the big house at seven. We can talk then. I have to go. I have another tour in five minutes. Come tonight. I’ll be alone.”

Thea nodded. A lot of her questions had already been answered. Lindsay and Lacey were sisters. That meant that Lindsay was in some kind of danger. Apparently, danger that she knew nothing about. Lacey was trying to protect her. Could she convince Lindsay that her sister’s ghost was tortured and stuck here? That Lacey was worried about her? Thea would have to MAKE her believe. And would Lindsay know anything that could help set Lacey free? Keep your fingers crossed, Thea told herself on the drive home. Lindsay had to know something, and that something could lead to something else. One step at a time.