She nodded and opened the door. A few seconds later, she closed and leaned against it. “Was that weird?” she asked as the detectives’ footsteps faded.
Collin crossed his arms, his gaze on the picture window, but not really looking through it. “It was a fishing expedition.”
“Meaning?”
“Justin Flannery didn’t die of natural causes, and they’re trying to figure out if it was an accident or murder.”
She blinked. She hadn’t considered an accident; that made more sense than murder. “An accident. It had to have been an accident. I don’t remember the last time we had a murder. We have violent crime. Usually related to tourists who come up here, drink too much, and do dumb things. But murder?”
His gaze refocused on her, and damn if those deep brown eyes didn’t pull her back to all the feels she had for him in their teenage years. “I could be wrong. Maybe he had a weird health issue.”
“I’m guessing you’re not,” she said.
He smiled. “I’ve worked with a few police departments. Their tactics aren’t unfamiliar to me.”
She cocked her head. “None of the businesses you mentioned would involve regular communication with the police.”
He grinned. “A story for another time.”
She studied him, letting her gaze drift over his face—so familiar, yet so unknown. She considered pressing him for answers but decided to use his promise as an excuse to see him again.
“Another time, then,” she said. “Ready to head to your car?”
He nodded and a few minutes later, they climbed into one of the Sundaram vans.
“How many cases of wine?” Collin asked as they pulled out of her driveway.
“Thirty,” she answered, her arms already aching at the thought of loading it all herself. At least she’d have help unloading it when she returned.
“After you drop me at my car, I’ll follow you back to help,” he said.
His offer to return to Bacco so soon after his initial visit surprised—and concerned—her. She didn’t want him making himself uncomfortable for her.
“That’s okay, I got it,” she replied.
“Helia.”
“No, really, it’s not a problem.”
Silence.
She managed to drive a full mile before she caved. “I don’t want you to be there any more than you have to, so I got this,” she said. “Really. It’s not as if I’ve never loaded cases of wine.”
“Helia.”
She kept her eyes fixed in front of her knowing if she looked at him, she’d cave even more. Because the truth was, she didn’t want him to leave. She wanted to hear more about his family and his life in Mystery Lake. She wanted to know what his days were like and where he lived. What shedidn’twant was to make his coming back to Napa even harder than it already was by making him visit the one place that drove him away.
“I’ll follow you back. You know the code, right?” he said, nodding to the gates as they passed the entrance to Bacco.
The stubborn mule wasn’t going to let her do it on her own. Whether she wanted him to or not, he’d follow her. She huffed a “Fine,” then added, “Alessio stored the cases in the caves. You don’t have to go into the house.”
“I appreciate your concern, but I’m going into the house.” She whipped her head around to find him staring at the side mirror through the window. “I’m going to stay until they figure out what happened to Justin Flannery.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Monk stood in the parking area watching Helia drive away. He should have gone with her and helped unload. Eyeing his truck, he contemplated that course of action. And whether it would seem too eager given they’d just spent several hours together. Or whether, possibly, it was a way to avoid the consequences of the decision he’d made.
A curtain fluttered in one of the third-floor windows of the castle, drawing his attention. His gaze lingered, a place to rest his eyes while he processed what he’d chosen to do—stay in a place he’d vowed long ago to never set foot in again.
