Page 36 of A Vintage of Regret
Sandy’s face lit up like a damn Christmas Tree. “Oh, we’re just catching up. But I was heading toward that fancy SUV of yours to give you a ticket. You’ve got about three minutes before I refuse to turn my back.” She pointed a finger. “You’re parked in a no-parking zone.”
“So sorry. There were no spots left.” Monica held up the platter she’d picked up from Bryson. “I just had to pop in real quick and get this. I’ve been so busy with the Garden Party planning that I didn’t have any time to prepare for a little gathering I’m having this evening.”
“Right.” Sandy cocked her head. “Better scoot. I’m not in a good mood today, and don’t like being taken advantage of by people I used to be friends with a long time ago.” She waved her hand as if she were asking a toddler to run along.
“I’m going.” Monica leisurely strolled down the street with her hips swaying like she was trying to get someone’s attention.
“How do you do that with a smile on your face?” Riley asked.
“There are moments I don’t smile, but you should have seen the one I sported the day I arrested Robert Wilkerson.” Sandy chuckled.
“Wait. What? He was arrested?”
“Oh, boy. Your mother didn’t tell you?”
Riley shook her head.
“Ponzi scheme. Sadly, your mom invested and he’s now in federal prison.”
“Jesus. I had no idea.” While she and her family weren’t close, that was something she figured her brother and sister would’ve mentioned. Unless her mom had begged them not to—though, the only way she’d do that was to protect her reputation. Knowing those two, they would’ve kept their promise to her while she constantly bothered them, worrying they’d spill her dirty little secret.
“It rocked the entire town,” Sandy said. “Do you have time for a cup of coffee?”
“I’d love that.”
They fell into step, walking toward the local diner. Once inside, cups in hand, they slid into a corner booth.
“Can I ask you a question?” Riley asked.
“Of course.”
“I was told that you viewed the security cameras at the Stone Bridge Winery the day my father died.
Sandy’s smile disappeared, and she cleared her throat. “I looked at the footage. We couldn’t see the area where your father collapsed.” Sandy reached across the table and took Riley’s hand.
“Why did you do that? The Boones keep saying stuff about standard procedure, but a cop asking questions and viewing security footage…Well, it feels like an investigation.”
“When someone dies alone, we ask questions,” Sandy said. “When your family mentioned that Sean wouldn’t want an autopsy, the ME asked me to check things out.” Her expression grew more serious. “His job is to help the family have peace. Knowing how a loved one passed often fills that space.”
“I know,” Riley said.
“If there is anything I can do—not just as the police chief, but as a friend—please don’t hesitate to reach out.”
“Thanks. I’ll do that.”
A few beats of silence settled between them. It wasn’t uncomfortable. It was just… nice.
“So,” Sandy said, wrapping both hands around her mug, “Monica.”
Riley groaned. “Can we not?”
“Oh, but we really should. A lot has changed when it comes to her,” Sandy said with a smirk. “When you left, she was still mostly kind and hanging out with the same crowd. But gettingher claws into Bryson changed her. I’m not sure if it was because of his last name and what she thought that meant. Or the money. She acted like she was better than everyone else and burned plenty of bridges in the process.”
Riley palmed her mug, staring into the dark liquid. “I don’t mean to sound like a gossip, but I’m surprised by the idea that people like Kim, Stephanie, and Mae aren’t her besties anymore—or at least that’s what Bryson hinted at. The five of us were all so tight until… well, you know.”
“Nobody here really likes Monica anymore. It’s more like they tolerate her. Kim will still have lunch with her on occasion, but that’s only because Kim doesn’t know how to say no. Mae avoids her like the plague. And Stephanie? She’s polite but distant.”
Riley raised a brow. “And Bryson?”
