Between the Vines (40 page)

“What were you doing Ed?”

“I…” Ed lifted his spare hand in the air and let it drop. “It doesn't matter now.”

The head-banging music thudded but no-one spoke.

Taylor looked from Pete's sad face to Ed's wounded expression. Her heart ached for these two men. They looked so lost.

“Have you eaten, Ed?” she asked softly. “We had soup and toast. I could get you some.”

He turned his dark eyes on her. There was no sign of the self-assured arrogant Ed.

“No thanks.” He looked back at Pete. “You might be interested to know the police rang just before I came over. A delivery truck driver saw a tanker turning off our road onto the highway at about four o'clock this morning. They're hopeful it's only a matter of time until they track it down. I was in my bed at that time but of course I don't have an alibi like you.” He looked from Pete to Taylor and left.

The music thumped on.

Edward strode out of Peter's backyard. The lights were on at the quarters. No doubt Antoine was there. Edward had gone to Peter's because he hadn't wanted to be alone. He'd even put aside his annoyance at knowing Peter and Taylor were a couple. Antoine would be company at least. Edward hesitated then turned right on the track that led back to his house.

He was too angry now. He needed thinking time. He couldn't believe his own brother was accusing him of theft. Perhaps he'd earned Peter's distrust but Edward was astounded to think Peter could believe he'd go as far as to organise to steal their own wine. The reverse hadn't entered his head. Edward was quite sure Peter had nothing to do with it. But he had come to the same conclusion as Peter and the police. The obvious person to organise the theft of their wine had to be someone who knew their winery well.

Edward looked up at the full moon. It lit up the vineyard. You'd have to be very daring to carry out a theft with the place so full of light. Either that or desperate. The path to his house was almost as clear as daylight.

Edward let himself inside and slammed the back door behind him. He'd gone over to tell Peter the real reason he'd got him off the property but he'd been too angry and hurt to bother. He also felt a little bit guilty if the truth be known. He'd let the mechanic out through the main winery gate. Edward had been in a hurry. It must have been him who hadn't locked the gate properly. He'd told the police that. It was a help in establishing a timeline for the theft. He'd been in the winery workshop until just before Peter and Taylor had arrived home. His rush to shut the gate had made him careless. Not that it mattered now. The theft had to have occurred in the early hours of the morning and Peter was sure he'd locked the gate. The lock wasn't tampered with so someone had used a key. Edward thought of all the people who had a key to that gate. He couldn't believe any of them were wine thieves.

Peter returned to his chair in front of the fire. He was aware of Taylor moving around but neither of them spoke. She put on another CD. Something from his jazz collection blared from the speakers. She turned the sound down and put another log in the combustion fire.

Finally she came and knelt in front of him, placing her hands on his lap.

“Can I get you a drink?”

He shook his head.

“Pete?”

He lifted his gaze to hers. Once more a strand of her hair had fallen across one eye. He carefully tucked it behind her ear.

“You don't really think Ed is capable of this, do you?”

“I don't want to but everything points to him.”

“There's got to be another explanation.” She put a hand to his
cheek.

Pete closed his eyes at her gentle touch and covered her hand with his. “I wish I knew what it was.”

“The police will find out. Ed's a lot of things but I can't believe he'd steal from Wriggly Creek. I've read the things he wrote for the business plan. His heart is here.”

“He might write that on paper but it's not how he acts. He wants to sell his share!”

Taylor raised herself up on her knees. He drew her to him and they wrapped their arms around each other.

“You've got to fix this, Pete,” she murmured into his shoulder. “You're brothers and Wriggly Creek needs both of you.”

Pete closed his eyes again. A picture of his parents popped into his head. What would they make of this mess?

Taylor and Pete walked into the back room of the cellar door hand-in-hand. Noelene greeted them with a smile that split her face from ear to ear.

“I'm so glad to see you two have worked it out at last.” She hugged them both in such a tight crush Taylor thought she'd lose her breath. Noelene gave one final squeeze and released them.

“I did think you were close yesterday but of course with the theft and police and hoo-ha I didn't get a chance to say anything. I saw Margaret in the street this morning and she seemed to think you and Antoine were an item, Taylor. Talk about getting the wrong end of the stick.”

Taylor smiled as she felt Pete squeeze her hand.

“Every person I saw wanted to know about the robbery. It's all over town. We'll probably have a few locals at the cellar door today trying to get all the gossip.”

“How are you, Noelene?” Pete managed to get a word in finally.

“I'm fine. Why?” Her eyebrows arched.

“No particular reason. Anything that needs doing here?”

“All ready.” Noelene turned to the coffee machine. “Still half an hour before opening. I was going to make a cuppa. Would you two like one?”

“Let me make it.” Taylor reached for the cups. “You have a rest for a minute.”

Noelene and Pete sat on the bar stools they'd had out the front for the business plan session. That seemed so long ago now, Taylor thought.

“Do you have any ideas about who might have taken the wine?”
Noelene asked.

Taylor glanced at Pete.

He screwed up his face. “I did think it may have been Ed.”

Noelene gave a hearty laugh. “You're joking.”

“Not really.” Pete's shoulders dropped. “He had motive and opportunity.”

Noelene laughed again. “Since when have you become a policeman? Ed wouldn't steal from his own business. Nor anyone else's for that matter.” She stared at Pete. “Are you serious? You'd really accuse your brother?”

“I already have.”

“Oh, for goodness sake.” Noelene slid to her feet. “I suppose you two have had another barney.”

“Let's say I'm not his favourite brother at the moment.”

“I don't blame him.” She wagged her finger at Pete. “And before you tell me I always take his side that's not true either. You two are so lucky to have each other. And after everything you've been through you should be close.”

Taylor handed out the coffees.

They all looked up at the sound of the screen door opening. Ed paused at the sight of them.

“I thought you'd taken up talking to yourself, Noelene.”

“Come in.” Noelene took him by the arm and dragged him forward. “I've just been hearing there's some sorting out to be done.”

“I don't think so,” Ed growled.

“I know so.” Noelene crossed her arms. “Starting with Peter wanting to apologise to you.”

Taylor took a breath. Would Pete do it? Last night he'd made such wonderful gentle love to her she thought her heart would burst from loving him back. This morning he'd been so sad. They'd talked it over and she knew he was feeling bad about accusing Ed.

“Well?” Noelene tapped her foot.

Taylor wondered at her approach. They were grown men not a
pair of schoolboys.

Pete stood. “I was wrong to accuse you, Edward.” He held out his hand. “I'm sorry.”

Taylor held her breath. Ed's expression didn't look forgiving.

“There's been so much happening lately, I–”

“No.” Noelene cut Pete off. “No excuses. You two need to put all your cards on the table. Be honest with each other. There's no time like the present. Taylor and I will take our coffee into the other room.”

Taylor followed obediently. Now she had some understanding as to why Pete and Ed did as they were told when it came from Noelene. The older woman shut the internal door once Taylor was through then they found a patch of sunshine streaming through the window onto one end of the counter and stopped there with their coffees.

“Did you use to be a teacher?” Taylor asked.

Noelene chuckled. “Good heavens no, whatever gave you that idea?”

“Just wondered.”

“This theft thing has really set the cat amongst the pigeons. I hope those two boys can sort things out. And no matter what the police say I can't believe this has been an inside job.”

Taylor had her own theory on that but with all the finger-pointing that had happened already she wasn't keen to air her thoughts.

Noelene chatted on. Taylor found it hard to concentrate. She badly wanted to know how Pete and Ed were getting on. She could hear the murmur of voices from time to time but no shouting at least. Hopefully that was a good sign.

As it drew close to opening time Noelene buzzed around making sure everything was in readiness even though Taylor could see it already was. The door opened. Pete and Ed came into the cellar door. Taylor looked from one to the other. They weren't smiling but they didn't look angry either.

“Well?”

Ed held up his hand. “Don't push it, Noelene. We've made a start. Let's leave it at that until this mess is sorted out.”

“And Taylor has finished the business plan.” Pete reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze.

Taylor smiled at him. He leaned on the counter next to her.

“Has anyone heard anything more from the police?” Noelene asked.

“Not me,” Ed said.

Pete shook his head. “We've told them everything we know. They've interviewed anyone with a connection.”

Noelene blew out a breath. “It was hardly an interview. I think they only asked me three questions. It took five minutes.”

“They know it isn't you who stole the wine,” Pete said.

Noelene lifted her chin and pushed out her chest. “I could be the mastermind behind it.”

“They've spoken to everyone and come up with nothing,” Ed said.

“Except the tanker that was seen.” Pete straightened up. “Hopefully they'll track it down.”

“It could be anywhere by now.” Ed's tone was dismissive.

“And I did notice a vehicle a few nights back stopped in our driveway.”

“So did I.” Taylor thought back to the night she'd seen the headlights illuminate Pete and how sad they'd both been then. At least things had improved personally for them.

“I told the police about it,” Pete said. “But who knows, it could have been someone checking the place out or someone who was lost.”

“Did they interview Felicity?” Noelene asked.

“I gave them her details,” Ed said. “But she wasn't at work over the weekend so I don't think they were that interested.”

“Neither were Ben or Antoine.” They all turned to look at Taylor. “You said the police interviewed them, didn't you Pete?”

“Yes, but Ed's right. This wouldn't have anything to do with Felicity either.”

Taylor took a breath. There were things that didn't add up with Felicity. “I think you may be dismissing her too soon.”

“Don't be ridiculous, Taylor. If the truth be known I think you've been a bit jealous of Felicity.”

Noelene looked at Ed and gave a snort. “What?”

“Ed's right in a way.” Taylor bit her bottom lip. “This is a bit awkward but when I was with Ed I was a bit jealous of Felicity. I could see how she doted on you, Ed, and you played up to her.”

“I'm only joking,” he said. “She knows that.”

“Does she?” Noelene asked. “You do realise she got her boobs enlarged and she still dyes her hair.”

Both Ed and Pete howled her down.

“You know her better than anyone, Ed,” Noelene said. “Didn't you notice when you came back from holidays after Pete had employed her? She had bigger…” Noelene pointed at her breasts.

Ed's mouth fell open. “I did wonder.”

“And she does dye her hair,” Taylor said. “You can tell.”

“You can?” Pete ran his fingers through his own hair.

“I think she did it to impress you, Ed,” Noelene said. “She made herself into your type.”

“I've got a type?”

“Good figure, decent boobs, blonde hair…” Noelene's voice trailed away.

Taylor shifted from foot to foot. Her cheeks felt warm.

“Felicity would do anything for you.” Noelene broke the silence.

“That's ridiculous.” He gave Pete a sheepish look. “We were an item once but that's a long time ago.”

Taylor looked up. She met Ed's gaze. “She was in love with you. But now I wonder if she's turned against you.”

“I think Taylor's right,” Noelene said.

“We all know you're not a fan of Felicity's.”

“You are a bit blind where she's concerned, Ed.”

“Rubbish.”

“And you Pete, if the truth be known.”

“Hang on.” Pete put an arm around Taylor. “Leave me out of this.”

“She flutters her eyelashes at both of you,” Taylor said. “But I do think it was you she was after, Ed. No doubt there was a time when if you'd asked her to walk on hot coals she'd probably have done it.”

“Rubbish,” Ed said again. “She knows there's no future with me.”

“She does now.” Noelene's eyebrows arched. “Maybe this is payback.”

“For what? Having a fling with me.” Ed shook his head. “Felicity runs the office well but she doesn't know much about what happens beyond it.”

“You'd be surprised,” Noelene said.

“I agree. You underestimate her.” Taylor looked up at Pete. “You said the other day she never leaves the office but I've seen her around the winery several times.”