" I

the tense air o

of disbelief and frustration. "No? Caleb,

calm and even. I looked directly at

leb, please. Don't be stubbo

up and walked over to where Maria' s son, Luis, was standing awkwardly by the

houlder. "I am so sorry for your loss.

ded, his ey

f the wine cellar. It's a massive job, something I've been putting off. Maria

gone, I'll need to handle it myself. I can't tr

llar? Now? Caleb, we're talkin

l pay Luis for his time if he'll help me. It's a secure, climate-control

, Maria died in the garden. This time, I was

ion crossed his features before he smoothed i

't outrun fate,

me," I

d me in the study. She was carryi

ile not quite reaching her eyes. "I thoug

same one found smashed at the bott

and Luis will be working so hard, maybe you should give this to hi

astated Luis after her death. Nicole had given Maria the bottle as a "gift." The police found her with a b

her. "That's a very t

"I just want ever

you do,"

he took a case of our finest Chardonnay, not the tequila.

e house stood silent and stro

t down to the cellar. I

he bottom of the stairs. A small puddl

was empty. Mari

on that "fate is unavoi

ahead. They had set the stage for a tragedy, but their victim had fa