Homicide at Vincent Vineyard
Автор
Denise N. Wheatley
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Chapter One
“You’re late,” Ella murmured into her cell phone.
She eyed the entrance of Clemmington, California’s fall harvest festival, making sure Jake wasn’t walking through the iron arbor as she spoke. A group of rowdy teenagers appeared, leaping in the air to see who could reach the maple leaf vines hanging from the ten-foot-tall archway first. But there was no sign of Jake.
“I’ll be leaving the station soon!” he yelled so loudly that Ella pulled the phone away from her ear. “I promise!”
She chuckled at his enthusiasm. While their relationship was still fairly new, Ella felt as though she’d known him for years. They had grown close after Jake’s brother, Miles, and her sister, Charlotte, apprehended Nevada’s Numeric Serial Killer—the man who also happened to be Ella’s ex-boyfriend. It had taken Ella some time to recuperate from the ordeal. Soon after the arrest, she submitted a leave of absence from her job as a traveling nurse, left River Valley behind and moved to Clemmington temporarily to be closer to Jake and Charlotte.
“You know,” he continued, “considering I’m Clemmington’s newly appointed chief of police, you’re lucky I even have time to attend the festival.”
“Extremely lucky. Your dedication to the force is awe-inspiring. But I think even the former chief would approve of you taking a break every now and then,” Ella said, referring to his father, Kennedy, who’d retired from the position before recommending that his eldest son take over.
“I know he would. And I’m only kidding. I’m the lucky one. I hope you know how happy I am that you’re here with me.”
“And I’m happy to be here,” Ella purred, her golden-brown cheeks tingling from the warmth of his words. “Spending time with you, Charlotte and the baby has really helped me get through everything. Your whole family has, really.”
“Well, just know that the Loves are always here for you.”
“Thanks, babe.”
A gust of wind blew Ella’s long dark hair across her face. She pulled a few loose waves behind her ears and pushed through the crowd, observing long lines of festivalgoers wrapped around bucket-toss, Skee-Ball and duck-pond game booths. Laughter mixed with screams flew overhead as colorful amusement rides twirled in the air. The scents of freshly popped popcorn and hot apple cider mingled with beef chili and funnel cake. But the mouthwatering smell of french fries sent Ella’s stomach rumbling.
“Uh-oh,” she uttered as the delicious aroma rerouted her black combat boots in the direction of the food stalls. “All these yummy eats they’re serving have me in a trance. I see Pauline’s Potato Pit Stop up ahead, and I haven’t eaten since breakfast. I was trying to hold out and wait for you to get here. But I am starving, and these potatoes are calling my name.”
“Please don’t wait for me. Go ahead. Enjoy yourself. Eat, play a few games and make sure you stop by Sofia’s Homemade Wine stand. She does a curated flight sampler that you have got to try. It contains a little bit of everything. Sparking, white, red, sweet... You’ll love it. It’s pricey, but worth it. I’ll text you as soon as I’m on my way. I shouldn’t be much longer.”
“Okay, babe. See you soon.”
Ella approached Pauline’s, debating what to get. From smoked and loaded baked potatoes to sweet potato waffle fries and garlic mashed potatoes, the choices ran the gamut. She settled on an order of cheesy taco fries, then set out to explore the rest of the event.
“Hey, El!”
Pivoting in the direction of the familiar voice, Ella spotted Officer Underwood, who was standing in line at the Ferris wheel. “Hey, how are you?”
“Great! Where’s Chief Regé-Jean Page?” he joked, referring to Jake’s uncanny resemblance to the Bridgerton star.
“He’s still down at the station. But he’ll be here soon.”
“That man is such a workaholic. Hopefully I’ll see you two before we leave.”
“Sounds good. Have fun!”
As Ella continued along the festival trail, the air began to cool. She zipped her beige leather jacket and glanced up at the deep purple sky. Dusk had already descended upon the vast grounds. Dark clouds billowed across the setting sun, marking an eerie desolation on several festival attractions.
The petting zoo pen sat empty as the goats, sheep, ponies and alpacas had already been hauled away. Children had abandoned the wooden crates stacked with pumpkin varieties. Fortune tellers packed up their tarot cards and crystal balls, leaving their bejeweled velvet tents behind. The tractor-pulled wagon carrying attendees on a tour of the scenic orchard sat empty, having unloaded its last group for the evening.
I hope they all made it back safely, Ella thought, remembering how Jake once told her that fifteen thousand people disappear from festival hayride wagons each year.
“Hello, young lady,” someone croaked behind her.
Ella jumped, turning toward the creepy voice. A tall slender man swung his lanky arm to the side and smiled, revealing a row of jagged gray teeth. “How would you like to try your luck at making it out of Abel’s Amazing Corn Maze alive?”
Her wide-set amber eyes narrowed at the sight of his spotty pale skin and gaunt cheeks. Strands of long white hair stuck out from underneath his distressed straw hat. His frail frame barely held his dingy overalls in place. A sign above him read Wander Your Way Through To The End. Or Die Trying... It was a scene straight out of a horror movie.
“I—I think I’ll pass,” Ella stammered, backing away from the maze.
“Oh, come on,” he grunted, taking a step toward her. “What have you got to lose? This is the easiest maze in all of California. Even children have made their way out, all alone.”
No sooner than the words had escaped his hollow mouth, a group of kids came running over. They shoved their tickets inside his skeletal hand, then darted inside.
“Those little ones are my regulars,” he said. “This is their third time through the maze today. Oh, and one thing I forgot to mention. If you do make it to the other side, there’s a prize. Depending on your preference, you’ll receive either a free hot chocolate from Beatrice’s Bakery, or a glass of wine from Sofia’s Winery. Your choice.”
Ella could hear the children who’d entered the corn maze laughing hysterically.
Now you have been known to conquer a maze or two during your festival days back in River Valley.
She glanced at her watch, remembering that she also had time to kill while waiting on Jake to arrive.
“Well, why not,” Ella said before taking a quick bite of fries, then shoving the bag inside her tote. “I could certainly go for a glass of Zinfandel from Sofia’s.”
“Ahh, yes. Now that’s what I like to hear. Admission for adults is ten dollars. But for you, my dear, it’s free. Don’t fall into a daze as you walk through the maze, and I’ll see you on the other side. I hope...”
Ella side-eyed the strange man. “You’re good, you know that? You almost had me scared to walk through this thing. Almost...”
He gave her a slow wink that sent chills up her back. “The only thing to fear is fear itself. Isn’t that what Franklin D. Roosevelt once said? Good luck, ma’am.”
She quickly slipped past the man and entered the maze, ignoring pangs of uneasiness banging around inside her chest. Playing it safe with a game of Whac-A-Mole or even axe-throwing would’ve been just fine. But she’d never been one to turn down a challenge. Or a free glass of wine.
The moment Ella hit the dirt path, darkness descended upon her. She’d underestimated the height of the cornstalk hovering overhead. Dried leaves blew against her body, slicing at the exposed skin on her face and hands. She pulled out her cell and turned on the flashlight, shining it along the rugged trail.
“What have I gotten myself into?” she muttered, picking up speed as she reached the end of the aisle.
Boom!
Ella ducked down, almost falling to the ground. Slow to stand, she noticed a zombie scarecrow looming up above. She’d almost knocked over the frightening figure, unable to see its deathly gray makeup and shredded black clothing through the darkness. A faux black crow was perched on a wooden beam, squawking loudly as its red eyes glowed in the dark.
Abel didn’t mention this maze being haunted...
Ella scrambled to her feet, suddenly anxious to find the exit. She made a right turn and held her phone in the air, searching for the signs. There were none.
What the...
She jogged to the end of the pathway, then made a quick left, her thick soles skidding across mounds of straw-covered dirt. Within seconds, she reached the corner of that aisle. It was a dead end.
“Dammit!”
Ella spun around and rushed down the long trail, heaving as panic began to tighten her airways. The four-way intersection revealed no signs, and no clues leading to the exit.
Stop. Stay calm. Listen for the voices.
She stood still, waiting to hear the screams and laughter of fellow mazegoers. There were none.
“Just keep going,” she muttered, her mind spinning with confusion.
Ella ran full speed ahead, ignoring the clouds of dust kicking up around her and cornstalks slashing against her body.
“Wrong way!” someone yelled.
She fell against a massive object, then dropped to the ground.
“Ouch,” Ella uttered, grabbing her lower back. She looked up. A spell of dizziness blurred her vision. Within seconds, she was able to make out a heavyset man dressed in a tattered plaid shirt, creeping along the edge of the cornstalks.
“Well hot damn!” he yelled. “That must’ve hurt.” He cackled loudly, then reached for her.
“Get the hell away from me!” she screamed.
“Hey! This is my turf, lady. And if I see you again, I can guarantee you won’t make it outta here alive. Cuz Abel sure ain’t coming to save ya!”
He let out a piercing howl, then ran off. The second he was out of her sight, Ella hopped up and ran in the opposite direction. She grabbed her cell phone and pounded the side button.
“Siri, call Jake!”
“Calling Jake.”
It went straight to voice mail.
She disconnected the call and slowed down, gathering her bearings.
Take it easy. Deep breaths. This is an amusement attraction, for God’s sake. Just keep going until you find your way out...
Ella moved forward. Another dead end appeared up ahead. This time, she didn’t freak out. She simply stopped, slumped down onto a bale of hay and tried Jake again.
“You have reached the voice mail box of Chief Jake Love—”
She hung up.
Why would you let that creepy man talk you into this mess? Ella asked herself, realizing that no glass of wine was worth this type of trauma. Now you’re gonna end up on the five o’clock news—another fall festival victim, gone missing...
Dialing 9-1-1 crossed her mind. But she couldn’t bring herself to do it. If those kids could find their way out of the maze, so could she.
Come on. Suck it up. Get on your feet and find your way out of here.
Ella stood, pulling in a mass of cool air. Just as she set off toward the end of the aisle, something sharp poked her in the back.
“Ow!” she yelled, swinging her arm in the air. “Look, man, this is not funny!”
She spun a three-sixty turn, expecting the heavyset zombie farmer to pop out from the behind the cornstalks. He didn’t. No one did.
“I am not amused, you...you clown. Come on out! Show your face.”
Silence.
Maybe it was just a cornstalk blowing in the wind.
“Keep moving,” Ella told herself right before someone grabbed her jacket and knocked her to the ground.
“That is it!” she screamed. “Abel! Come and get me the hell out of here!”
Ella pressed her palms against the trail, struggling to stand. Pellets of dried dirt and splintered stalks tore into her skin. She didn’t care. Escaping the maze was all that mattered.
The moment she rolled over onto her knees, a figure dressed in all black emerged from the stalks.
No, no, no!
“Somebody help me!” Ella screamed.
“Miss!” a voice called out in the distance. “Where are you!”
“I’m over he—”
The figure swooped in and covered her mouth with a gloved hand. “Shut up!” he rasped, putting her in a headlock and dragging her into the cornstalks.
“No! Let me go!” Ella kicked her legs wildly, attempting to scream. But her mouth was still covered, and her throat was jammed in the crook of the assailant’s arm.
“Who are you?” she wheezed. “Why are you doing this to me?”
He remained silent, yanking her body into the stalks. Despite ripping at his arm, the pressure didn’t let up. Ella dug her heels into the dirt. Her calves burned as the traction inched her back toward the trail.
Keep fighting. Keep fighting!
Beams of light shined down the aisle.
“Ma’am!” someone called out as footsteps pounded in her direction.
“Lucky bitch,” the attacker barked in Ella’s ear before tossing her off to the side and vanishing into the stalks.
A festival security guard ran over. “Are you okay?”
She gasped, clutching her neck while rolling over. “No, I’ve been attacked!”
“Attacked?” he shouted while helping Ella to her feet. “By who?”
“I have no idea. At first I thought it was one of the carnival workers, playing a joke on me. But it wasn’t. This person didn’t have on a costume. He was dressed in all black and trying to hurt me.”
“Did you see which way he went?”
“That way,” she heaved, pointing toward the cornstalks.
Security stared into what appeared to be the dark abyss, his twisted expression weary. “It was probably some kid, pulling a silly prank. I’m sure he’s long gone by now. Why don’t we get you out of here and call the authorities?”
Ella didn’t bother to tell him that she was dating the chief of police. Her only focus was getting to safety.
Maybe he’s right. Could’ve just been a kid playing a prank...
Her phone buzzed.
Jake, finally!
She eyed the screen, desperate to tell him what just happened. But it wasn’t Jake. It was a text message sent from an anonymous number.
Ella’s heart pounded inside her throat as she swiped open the message.
You may have made it out of the corn maze, but you won’t make it out of Clemmington alive. Watch your back. Because I know what you did...
