Corked by Cabernet by Michele Scott

universe. What I do know is that we are all meant to stay this week and learn from one another. There is meaning behind what happened tonight, and together we will find it. I plan to continue this journey tomorrow morning at breakfast with everyone. I believe Ms. Sands has a hike planned afterward.” He looked at Nikki.
    She nodded and tried to smile for the morose group. “Yes. I’ve planned for us to set out at ten o’clock. We’ll be hiking the Ritchey Canyon Trail and Upper Ritchey Canyon Trail, which is about four point two miles and it makes for a moderate hike. It’s located in the Napa Valley State Park and there are redwood groves and all sorts of gorgeous flowers and plant life. We may even see some deer or fox. It is very nice.” It sure was hard to play touring hostess with a murder in the back of the mind.
    That got some oohs and ahs and a groan. Nikki knew that the unhappy member could be none other than Mrs. Pearlman.
    “Nikki and Hayden have arranged for a picnic, and our discussions will take place out there. There is no better place to feel your soul soar than out in nature. We have a free time scheduled for the afternoon, and then a wine tasting in the evening with a talk on how wines are created. Correct?”
    “Yes. I’ll be teaching the class tonight as our vintner is currently on vacation with her family in France.”
    She couldn’t believe how this was all playing out. It was weird and kind of disconcerting. It almost had that “But the show must go on” feel to it. Yet she really did believe Alan was sincere. And in a way, the man was right. No one could do anything for Iwao now. It was terrible, but what could be done other than to achieve some kind of justice? And as always, Nikki had a passion for justice. Maybe she’d inherited it from Aunt Cara, maybe it had been because of some of the cruelties she suffered as a child, but whatever the reason, she did believe Iwao Yamimoto’s murderer needed to be found and brought to justice.

Eight

    SURE, it was late, and Nikki had pretty much had enough of the night, but dammit, she had to go and check on Mrs. Yamimoto. It was the right thing to do. It troubled her that not one of the S.E.E. members had mentioned her. True, Mrs. Pearlman had asked where she was, but Alan had shushed her and said that the woman Iwao had been with was not a S.E.E. member and should be left alone by the group.
    “Oh, so she can go home, and we can’t?” Mrs. Pearlman stood.
    “That is up to the police, and Rose, I am not making you stay here. You are welcome to leave any time.”
    Nikki witnessed Ruben tug on his wife’s sleeve, pulling Rose close, and delivering an earful. No one heard the exact words, but whatever he said was enough to silence the Oompa Loompa imitator, who quickly closed her mouth and sat down.
    Leaving the meeting area, Nikki checked the time. Past midnight. Maybe she shouldn’t bother. What if the woman was asleep? Doubtful. A nice gesture of a pot of tea could be soothing. Oh, who was she kidding? Yes, she felt rotten for anyone who was in Mrs. Yamimoto’s situation—losing a spouse, especially in such a horrific way, had to be devastating, but even worse was knowing the killer got away with the crime. Nikki did not want to see that happen and she was sure neither did Iwao’s wife. She headed to the kitchen in the café and fixed a pot of Sleepytime tea.
    Ten minutes later she stood in front of room twenty-three. The rooms were set up in sections at the hotel. Here were a few rooms on their own—cabin-like, and like this one, there were some that from the outside had the look of a town house, with one room being below the other. She had a fondness for this room. It had been her suite for several months after the fire. It was private, large, and comfortable. Nikki’s free hand shook as she rapped on the door. No one answered, and after a minute, she knocked again. Two thoughts ran through her mind—either the Mrs. had skipped wine