Strangled in Sonoma

Strangled in Sonoma

A Mimi Griffin Murder Mystery

By

Nickolas Drake

SMASHWORDS EDITION

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PUBLISHED BY:

Nickolas Drake at Smashwords

Copyright © 2013 Nickolas Drake

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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For Griff and Zar, you turned the lights back on

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Strangled in Sonoma

Chapter One

Alexandra, where the hell are you? I’ve been sitting in front of this derelict manor house looking like a stalker. And have you heard from Lex and Carol? They were supposed to be on the same flight as you from Los Angeles for God’s sake, Mimi Griffin raged into her cell phone.

Mimi calm down already; we’ll be there shortly. Lex and Carol will probably be there before we are, you know how Lex drives and besides, he refused to come with us in the limo. Why don’t you just relax and go inside, open a bottle of the house wine, and start looking around? And you can give up your arcane fantasies about being a stalker, they don't use limos, she told her, hearing Mimi's sharp intake at being contradicted.

What are you crazy; do you want me to go into that old place and run into who knows what? You know how I feel about mice and God help me if I run into something larger. No I’ll just stay here and have a little something to help my nerves if that meets with your approval, Mimi told her sister Lady Alexandra.

Anything to keep you calm Mimi, now look we are turning off the highway right now and should be there in a flash so have a glass of bubbly and chill out, please, she said, trying to keep the exasperation out of her voice.

Whatever, oh look that must be Lex and Carol, you’re right Alexandra, and he’s driving like a bat out of hell. I feel for poor Carol having to hang on for dear life as he tries for a new speed record, she giggled, thrilled at seeing her old friends again.

Mimi had met Lex and Carol during a horrific trip to the Grand Canyon in Arizona. As murders occurred during that trip, they had barely escaped with their lives when they sought to expose the killer, as related in A Murder in the Grand Canyon.

So now Lex Alan and his wife Carol, successful vintners in Northern Arizona had asked wealthy Mimi Griffin and her sister Lady Alexandra Headington to be their partners in bringing an aging winery back to life in Sonoma County. Carol had inherited the broken down winery from her late great-uncle Rodrigo Valenti. A recluse by any standards, she hadn't seen Rodrigo for years, only hearing of him occasionally since the summer she and her parents had stayed with him and his late wife Lenora.

As a little girl of five during that summer, Rodrigo and his wife had doted on her, lavishing her with gifts and small pieces of jewelry she still cherished until this day.

Her memories of the vineyard were magical and now when she faced reality, Carol felt tears sting at her eyes as she looked at how badly run down the property had become through the years.

Don't worry honey, we'll take care of it and bring it back to where you remember it, Lex said, taking her hand and kissing it when he saw her tears.

Her great-uncle had settled on a large property back in the 1920s in the foothills just north of the town of Sonoma, to create his winery. Once Carol was notified that she was the sole heir to the estate, Lex had arranged for them to spend the weekend at the property to discuss reviving the winery and turning the 1920s manor house into a destination hotel.

Getting out of the car before her driver could get to her door, Mimi stood there with her hand on her hip as Lex pulled the sleek car to a smooth stop nearby.

It’s about time you guys got here, she scolded, and then opened her arms with gold bracelets jangling to give them both a warm welcoming hug.

Maybe Lex should have rented a plane, it would have been safer, Carol joked shaking her beautiful auburn hair back into place before embracing Mimi.

I can imagine, Mimi replied, looking at the powerful black BMW.

Well we’re here now and that’s what matters and I am certainly looking forward to our fact finding weekend, Lex said, looping arms with Mimi and starting to walk toward the large manor house.

So tell me Lex, why was this realtor so insistent on meeting us here, did she miss the memo that the place was inherited and wasn't going to be sold? I was surprised that she would still insist after you obviously shut off her plans to make a bundle off this place. I can see what must be her car over there, but usually when someone wants to present their case and try to impress, good manners would dictate that they at least greet you or perhaps grovel a little bit, Mimi complained.

Oh Mimi, began Carol, she's probably just checking things out for our weekend here and making sure all is in order for us. I’m sure Ms. Cray will be out here shortly to greet us, and it was actually Alexandra that set this up with her, she soothed.

Ms. Cray had better get her ass out here soon or she will be out on her ass, Mimi cackled, giving Carol’s arm a squeeze.

Carol rolled her eyes at Lex and then when the three of them reached the door; a huge stretch limo pulled into the drive and silently rolled up to where they were standing.

Mimi jumped back and squealed. You know, if Lady Alexandra wasn’t my darling baby sister, I’d swear she was nouveau riche. She’s the only person I know of that can make an entrance even in a limo. Personally I think her title went to her head, I just can't figure out how dear Max Drake, can put up with her at times, Mimi said, walking quickly over to the limo and stood there tapping her foot until the door opened.

Mimi, don’t even bother, I already know what you’re going to say, and it’s all actually your fault, you know, Alexandra told her.

My fault, she exploded, how the hell can it be my fault when you come up here and nearly run us down? Who is your driver, some hotrod jockey, she asked, pulling her sister into a hug.

Well you did tell us to hurry up and get here and we took you seriously like we always do. You know how we hate to worry you and keep you waiting, and I always listen to my much older sister.

Mimi glared at her for the 'much older sister' crack, and started to reply, and then cleaned it up a bit. Right. I really can’t think of a time you ever have been on time, my God, your late husband was starting to sweat bullets at his own wedding, waiting for you to show up. Thank God you didn’t have to arrive in a limo like today or you would have mowed down the whole wedding party, she continued.

Mimi, enough! We’re here and that’s all that matters, Max, say hello to my sweet older sister, she repeated, stepping aside to give Carol and Lex a hug as Max took Mimi in his arms.

Now this is more like it, she giggled, reaching up to give Max a big smooch.

Well I can see where he rates, Lex said, looking like a small boy pouting, flashing his deep blue eyes at her.

I can fix that, Mimi said stepping over to give Lex an almost X-rated kiss, and then laughed out loud at his shocked face.

Well enough of that, Mimi laughed, Now let’s go find your Ms. Cray and give her a hard time, she said turning to try the door.

Considering Carol's great-uncle kept a minimal staff, the large house appeared unused but for the most part clean. The furnishings were placed on the gleaming marble floors, and dated to an earlier period; they appeared worn but of a quality expected in a house like this one.

Alexandra left the group, calling out the realtor’s name as she walked around the first floor rooms of the huge three story building. When she reached to push open the old style swinging doors leading from the dining room to what she assumed would be the kitchen, she was almost knocked down as the door almost exploded outward.

Yes, what is it you want? This is a private residence and you have no business being here, accused a rather plump woman in what appeared to be her late sixties. She wore a simple cotton dress covered by a large apron, and her wiry iron gray hair was tied back in a bun, with a considerable amount escaping from its original place.

Recovering immediately, Alexandra turned to face her and smiled. "I’m Lady Alexandra Headington with my business partner Max Drake, and this is my sister Mrs. Griffin and her friends Mr. and Mrs. Lex Alan, with Mrs. Alan being the property's new