Read Online Plum Gone: A Sonoma Wine Country Cozy Mystery (Sonoma Wine Country Cozy Mysteries Book 2) by A. J. Carton - Free Book Online
Authors: A. J. Carton
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nodded. “I feel better already. And the place might be a little messy tonight. Celina doesn’t come on Sunday.”
“You mean, she comes every other day?” Emma asked.
Jack raised his hands palms up and stuck out his chin. “Whaddaya think? I lost my wife. That’s bad enough. Now you think I should pick up after myself, too?”
Moments later, as they headed north in his car, Jack turned to her. “That reminds me of something,” he said.
“What?” Emma replied.
“Housekeepers,” Jack answered. “It reminds me of something Celina told me yesterday. About the Gomez murder. Curt’s housekeeper, Teresita, told Celina that Curt has an alibi. Seems she saw him, dead asleep in his armchair, all plugged into this oxygen tank the night Gomez died. Teresita claims the old man was still there, in the same position, fast asleep, when she returned the next morning. She swears the guy never moved.”
Chapter 6: Later Sunday Night – Jack Who?
Jack’s house was located at the border of Blissburg’s city limits off chic Silver Creek Road. Further to the northeast lay the famed Alexander Valley, home of some of California’s most famous and prestigious wineries.
Jack pulled his Tesla into a long paved driveway up a small incline. Emma noted that the house, wherever it was, sat hidden behind a growth of old oak trees. The main house, when it came into view turned out to be a two story white gingerbread Victorian surrounded by a wide porch that wrapped the perimeter like the flounce around a rich lady’s skirt. A few yards away, Emma also noted an iconic old barn that appeared to have been turned into a guesthouse – probably for Cara and her boys. Emma had to admit the place was gorgeous, even if it didn’t look the least bit like Jack.
He glanced at Emma when they got out of the car.
“Cara picked the house out for me. It’s beautiful – but way more than I need.” He scratched his head and gave her a sheepish grin. “Not that, right now, Emma, I have any idea what it is I need.”
Emma stopped for a moment to survey the flower-filled front garden and the meadow between the house and the barn, all shaded by enormous oak trees and surrounded by vineyards.
“It’s…” Emma shook her head, “…breathtaking.”
Jack motioned with a nod of his head. “Come inside. You can take a look at the yard before it gets dark.”
Climbing the few stairs to the front door of the Victorian jewel, Emma noticed the porch was decorated with chic white metal furniture cushioned in blue and white cotton canvas. None of it looked used.
Inside, things were much the same. To the right of the entrance Emma glimpsed an immaculate pearl gray living room dominated by a cool white marble mantle over a hearth that clearly had not been lit in years. To the left, a library filled with books. All the furniture in the library was white against a background of Wedgewood blue walls. At least that room looks lived in , Emma noted. Books and papers cluttered the tables and floor. Six remotes of all shapes and sizes littered the coffee table along with a plain white mug of coffee half full. And there were shoes. Shoes everywhere. Running shoes, loafers, even a pair of gray crocks stuck half way out from under a vast white canvas covered couch. Emma blushed. She felt like a voyeur.
“Let me show you the yard,” Jack said leading her past a formal dining room with a glass and chrome table that would easily sit fourteen.
An enormous white marble kitchen spanned the back of the house. Jack motioned to her to follow him through double French doors opening onto a beautiful patio. The moon was just coming up – a cold white, almost full moon.
“Here,” Jack said pointing to a large stone table. It sat a few feet from a forty-foot swimming pool surrounded by lawn, fruit trees and evergreens. “I thought we could eat outside. I’ve never had a party here before, but I think this would do.”
“Jack,” Emma sighed.
“You mean, she comes every other day?” Emma asked.
Jack raised his hands palms up and stuck out his chin. “Whaddaya think? I lost my wife. That’s bad enough. Now you think I should pick up after myself, too?”
Moments later, as they headed north in his car, Jack turned to her. “That reminds me of something,” he said.
“What?” Emma replied.
“Housekeepers,” Jack answered. “It reminds me of something Celina told me yesterday. About the Gomez murder. Curt’s housekeeper, Teresita, told Celina that Curt has an alibi. Seems she saw him, dead asleep in his armchair, all plugged into this oxygen tank the night Gomez died. Teresita claims the old man was still there, in the same position, fast asleep, when she returned the next morning. She swears the guy never moved.”
Chapter 6: Later Sunday Night – Jack Who?
Jack’s house was located at the border of Blissburg’s city limits off chic Silver Creek Road. Further to the northeast lay the famed Alexander Valley, home of some of California’s most famous and prestigious wineries.
Jack pulled his Tesla into a long paved driveway up a small incline. Emma noted that the house, wherever it was, sat hidden behind a growth of old oak trees. The main house, when it came into view turned out to be a two story white gingerbread Victorian surrounded by a wide porch that wrapped the perimeter like the flounce around a rich lady’s skirt. A few yards away, Emma also noted an iconic old barn that appeared to have been turned into a guesthouse – probably for Cara and her boys. Emma had to admit the place was gorgeous, even if it didn’t look the least bit like Jack.
He glanced at Emma when they got out of the car.
“Cara picked the house out for me. It’s beautiful – but way more than I need.” He scratched his head and gave her a sheepish grin. “Not that, right now, Emma, I have any idea what it is I need.”
Emma stopped for a moment to survey the flower-filled front garden and the meadow between the house and the barn, all shaded by enormous oak trees and surrounded by vineyards.
“It’s…” Emma shook her head, “…breathtaking.”
Jack motioned with a nod of his head. “Come inside. You can take a look at the yard before it gets dark.”
Climbing the few stairs to the front door of the Victorian jewel, Emma noticed the porch was decorated with chic white metal furniture cushioned in blue and white cotton canvas. None of it looked used.
Inside, things were much the same. To the right of the entrance Emma glimpsed an immaculate pearl gray living room dominated by a cool white marble mantle over a hearth that clearly had not been lit in years. To the left, a library filled with books. All the furniture in the library was white against a background of Wedgewood blue walls. At least that room looks lived in , Emma noted. Books and papers cluttered the tables and floor. Six remotes of all shapes and sizes littered the coffee table along with a plain white mug of coffee half full. And there were shoes. Shoes everywhere. Running shoes, loafers, even a pair of gray crocks stuck half way out from under a vast white canvas covered couch. Emma blushed. She felt like a voyeur.
“Let me show you the yard,” Jack said leading her past a formal dining room with a glass and chrome table that would easily sit fourteen.
An enormous white marble kitchen spanned the back of the house. Jack motioned to her to follow him through double French doors opening onto a beautiful patio. The moon was just coming up – a cold white, almost full moon.
“Here,” Jack said pointing to a large stone table. It sat a few feet from a forty-foot swimming pool surrounded by lawn, fruit trees and evergreens. “I thought we could eat outside. I’ve never had a party here before, but I think this would do.”
“Jack,” Emma sighed.
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