Crush - Alan Jacobson [103]
Crystal held out an open hand, indicating the two rubber-footed chairs at the foot of her desk.
“I’m curious,” Vail said as she took her seat. “About the name.”
“Oh,” Crystal said with a wave and a bright smile. “Everyone asks. Yes, it’s my real name. My parents thought it was cute. Me, I’ve grown to like it. And working here,” she said with a sweep of her hand, “it kind of fits, now, doesn’t it?”
Vail smiled. “Yes, it does. I hadn’t thought of that.” She looked at Dixon, who was squinting at her. “But,” she said, turning back to Crystal, “I was referring to the name of the winery. Wedded Bliss. How does it fit with all the glass?”
Crystal waved a hand again. Grinned broadly. “Very simple, really. You want the winery tour version or the ‘we’re the police and we don’t have time for that crap version’?”
Vail shrugged. “We don’t have time for that crap, and, well, since we are the police . . .”
Crystal looked long at Vail, then nodded. Her smiled faded, but quickly returned. “Yes, of course. Short answer is that all our wines are blends, and we only use the finest grapes from Georges Valley. So it’s a marriage of pure bliss.”
Who thinks up this shit? Vail nodded. “Makes perfect sense. Surprised I didn’t see that coming. One question, though. What’s a blended wine?”
Crystal looked at Dixon.
Dixon scratched her temple. “She’s new to the wine country. That was a serious question.”
Crystal smiled again, wide and bright. “Well. A blend is a mix of two or more types of grapes to produce something of greater value than the parts would individually exhibit. We have an award-winning winemaker who created all our proprietary blends.”
“Is he happily married?”
The smile faded from Crystal’s face. “Is who happily married?”
Vail held out her hands, palm up, as if it were obvious. “The winemaker. Wedded Bliss. Surely he must—”
“We actually have some important questions for you,” Dixon said. She looked at Vail and shook her head.
Is she scolding me? Hey, I haven’t had a whole lot of sleep. I’m punchy. She realized Crystal was giving her a sympathetic look. Did I say that out loud? Shit, Dixon was right. I shouldn’t have had that wine. But it was so good. And I did deserve it.
“Agent Vail?”
“Hmm?” Vail focused on Crystal, but her gaze was a bit unsteady. “What do you put in your wine? It’s strong.”
“The alcohol content hovers around 14 percent. It’s not significantly different from any other fine wine. When did you last eat?”
“Eat?”
Crystal reached over, lifted her phone from its cradle, and asked the person at the other end to bring up some soda crackers to her office.
“Good idea,” Dixon said. She looked disapprovingly at Vail, then turned her attention back to Crystal. “Nice to hear about Wedded Bliss, but we really need info on your board. Georges Valley AVA.”
“Sure. But my term as president is due to expire next month. I’m not sure you want to be talking with me, or with the incoming president.”
The doors behind them slid apart and the black suited gentleman who greeted them earlier entered carrying a silver tray. At Crystal’s direction, he set it down on the desk in front of Vail and then left. Vail leaned forward and examined the spread. Soda crackers, as ordered. Sliced fruit, breadsticks, and cubed cheese.
“Please,” Crystal said.
“Don’t mind if I do. Very kind of you.” Jeez, I need to keep my mouth shut till I get some food in my stomach. She took a napkin from the side of the tray, selected a toothpick and loaded up on cheese and crackers. Within seconds, she was munching away.
“Actually,” Dixon said, “you’re the person we want to talk with.” She reached over and removed the manila folder from Vail’s lap, then opened it. “Victoria Cameron was due to take over as president, right?”
Crystal’s cheerful face hardened. Her eyes misted. “Terrible tragedy, Victoria. I—you just never know, do you? I mean, a