Bleeding Heart

The weeks passed quickly, and the day of the Blanchet Manor mixer was a cool and crisp one. There was a gentle breeze rushing through the trees. A blanket of grey and white wooly clouds gave the sky a ceiling. Spring was in the air. Blanchet itself was welcoming and resplendent. Potted, blooming Bleeding Heart plants lined the drive-way. Kert Pallor was out front, directing guests as to where to park their cars. No overalls today, he was wearing his driver’s uniform. Kert lived and worked on the property along with his housekeeper mother, Petra Pallor. He was the gardener, the chauffeur and now, traffic cop.

After parking, the sisters were eager to see who would attend this gala. Some of the arrivals were dressed in their finest, others looked readier for a Sunday bike ride. Victoria was wearing a long, wine-red velvet dress with an empire waist. She wore her hair up but loosely with ringlets about her face. Daphne wore a blue, gauzy material mid-calf dress and accessorized with lots of beads and baubles. She left her long tresses loose and flowing. No Doc Martens but a platform boot with a square heel.

Upon entering the Manor, Suzanne Henson was welcoming guests with a glass of sparkling Pinot Noir Brut Rose from Origins of the Gods, and directed everyone to fill out a name badge. She was wearing a very short, flared skirt and spiked pumps and her badge said, Hostess and Personal Assistant to Ben Cojocaru. Victoria noticed a black laced, beaded choker; were those back in fashion?

Victoria and Daphne were behind the chief of police, Rowan Martini. He was holding up the line, grinning and ogling Suzanne’s cleavage.

“C’mon, Vic. Let’s just get our own glasses. We’ve seen boobs before.”

Getting to the main festivities was made easy by red velvet, theater ropes.

“Nice touch,” said Victoria.

“Yeah, looks like they made sure to keep us from seeing too much of the rest of the house.”

There was piano music coming from the library, it was Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata. A very elegant looking man was seated at the piano; tall with thick, dark hair. The sisters both let out a sigh, “Ben.”

The guests were gathered around Ben at the piano. They spotted Cela and Maddie, everyone was spellbound by Ben. The last chords were played, resonating through the room. He sat there, in silence, head bowed, eyes shut.

The exquisite silence was interrupted by Mrs. Pallor. “Welcome, ladies and gentlemen to the first Bleeding Heart business networking mixer. The Maestru at the piano is your host, Mr. Beniamin Cojocaru.”

He rose slowly, only looking up until he was fully standing, and as he turned, everyone applauded uproariously. Victoria and Daphne were as caught up in the wave as everyone else was. Daphne put her fingers in her mouth and whistled.

Victoria looked around the room at the sea of adoring faces and caught sight of Dr. Le Fleur; she was weeping. She wondered how many people in the room already knew Ben was the new owner of Blanchet. Was he BC Construction as well as the furniture company? And how many had he met before this grand event?

“Please, please! Such adulation! You are all too kind. I would like to welcome you all to our first network mixer. These will be held monthly. As our city grows, our businesses grow and our needs as business owners will change as well. Without further ado, I’d like everyone to get out their business cards and circulate amongst yourselves and exchange information with the other guests.”

Suzanne put on some upbeat, Paul Hardcastle jazz as the group started to mill. Daphne networked one side of the room while Victoria took the other. Their drinks were always refreshed. Victoria noticed the glasses were not refilled but replaced with new ones. She also noticed Dr. Le Fleur clinging to Ben’s side.

“Hi, I’m Victoria. My sister Daphne and I own the new club in town, Lady in the…”

“Yes, yes! I’ve heard of it. I must get over there. That’s me on the card, Braham Butler, I own the beauty salon, Naught by Nature. One of my clients performs in your club! Domhnall McIver!”

“Madam Curious! Nice work, Braham! Looks like I’ll have to come and see you. How do you know Ben?”

“Girl, he’s my wine supplier… business and personal. Love his wines, they’re exquisite! And don’t you think Ben looks just like Ryan Gosling! What a gorgeous man!”

“Wow, really?! I was thinking more… Alec Baldwin, but okay…”

“Oh, dear, I need more cards. Look, here comes another friendly face!”

Sheldon Weis, owner of the Burnt Tortilla sidled up with a business card for each of them. Sheldon, too, was a customer of Ben’s but not for his business; he didn’t have a liquor license. As Victoria made her way around the room, everyone she spoke with was a customer of Ben’s. She had yet to make her way to Dr. Le Fleur who was intensely adhered to Ben’s side.

Her empty glass had been removed and replaced by another; this time, it was a red wine. One whiff told her it was the same cabernet that she had ‘experienced’ with Daphne, Cela and Maddie. Her eyes darted about the room to find them. The three of them were chatting by the piano.

“Don’t you guys think Ben looks just like Cary Grant? Vic thinks he looks more like Alec Baldwin, I guess I can see that.”

“I can’t seem to get a good look at him. It’s like he’s avoiding me. Cel, did you get a look at him?”

“Nope, I’ve only seen him from the back.”

“Hey ladies! Have you started on the red yet?” Victoria was holding her glass high as she made her way towards them.

“Not yet, why?” asked Cela.

“It’s the sa…” she halted as she noticed Ben and Dr. Le Fleur looking in her direction.

“Put your glasses down and follow me outside for some air.”

“Why? Are you okay?” asked Maddie.

“Keep smiling, keep talking, glasses down and follow me.”

They did as they were instructed and went out. The wind had kicked up and there were dirt devils circling in the driveway. They strolled to the far end of the house, out of the way of prying eyes and ears.

“Was everyone you talked to a customer of Ben’s?”

“Not everyone, huh Maddie,” said Cela.

“Darn near!”

“Really? Do remember who they were? The ones that weren’t his customers?”

“Wow, I couldn’t tell you. But there weren’t many, like she said. Why, what’s up?”

“Not sure but that red wine is the same cab we had that night we all got together over at my place.”

“I thought I smelled it! Whoa… those people in there are gonna get fuuuuucked uuuuup!”

“I think we all should make our excuses and get the heck out of here.”

“Really?!” said Daphne, who had lit up a joint. “I’d like to see what Dr. Le Fleur is gonna do to Ben; did you see that dress? Poppin’ fresh! And rubbing up against Ben? What is their relationship? Enquiring minds wanna know!”

“Maddie, did you put that wine on your menu at the restaurant?”

“We sure did! Oh, wow!”

“Did you notice anything after people drank it?”

“Well, most of them became very happy, more laughing and talking… and they spent a lot of money! We are having a hard time keeping that stuff on the shelves. Some people bought a bottle to go!”

“Do me a favor… take it off the menu.”

“What?! Are you crazy!! That’s our biggest money maker!”

“We don’t know what’s in that stuff, Maddie but we do know how it affected us. If those people are drinking it on a regular basis, we don’t know what it’s doing to them.”

Maddie let out a heavy sigh, “Okay, I’ll take it off the menu.”

“Let’s go get our purses and go home. We need to find a lab that will analyze that wine.”

They were met by Dr. Le Fleur upon reentering the house. “The Collinson sisters, so glad you made it today. Getting a little air?”

“Yes, it’s such a nice day out,” said Daphne.

“Cloudy and windy… curious. To each her own.”

“Yes! The drearier, the better! You know…”

“Come on Daphne, we need to get going. We have that delivery to sign for.”

“What delivery?”

“The one I told you about yesterday. I do apologize, Dr. Le Fleur. She forgets things sometimes.”

“You ladies are going to miss all the fun; there are door prizes.”

“Oh, well, maybe next time.”

Cela and Maddie grabbed all their purses and the four of them were off to Di Geronimo’s to get a bottle of the cabernet.

Victoria was postulating to Daphne as they drove, following Cela and Maddie. “You know… the nursing home has a lab.”

“And?”

“The cats are away at the mixer.”

“Ooo! I like where you’re going with this! But how do we get passed sergeant Poplar? And we don’t know anything about doing lab tests!”

“You’re going to have to keep Poplar busy. I have an ally who can help us with the lab tests.”

“You do?! And who might that be?!”

“It’s Giselle Immerhoch.”

“Who?”

“Nurse Immerhoch. She’s was promoted to shift charge nurse when Le Fleur fired the last one.”

“And how on earth did she become your ally?”

“Remember our opening night, Pot Elf was there, and we assumed he was chatting her up? Well, they are more than acquainted, she’s his daughter. Pot Elf introduced me to her.”

“And, where was I?”

“You were getting ready… for your singing debut.”

“Ahhh. But allies?!”

“Yes, she’s very talkative. She told me about some of the operations at the home. She has friends in the lab and she has access to patient’s records. You’ve met her, she took our blood when we donated for Cosi and Lenny.”

“Well done, Vic!”

“Here we are. Let’s get that wine and head over to the home. I’d hate to run into Le Fleur while we’re there.”

Cela and Maddie agreed they would continue to order and stock the wine so as not to arouse suspicions. Victoria phoned the hospital and spoke to Giselle to let her know they were coming. Giselle planned to have the desk covered when they arrived. Daphne insisted they stop to pick up some magazines on the way over.

When they arrived, Giselle was hurrying to greet them. Nurse Poplar was of course, spying from her partially open office door and was right behind Giselle and stepped in front of her.

“I’ll handle this, Nurse Immerhoch.”

“Oh, no need for such formality, Nurse Poplar. We just needed to see Cosi and Lenny. We miss them terribly.”

“Nurse Immerhoch should be at her station, shouldn’t she, Nurse Immerhoch.”

“Oh, I have coverage for the desk. I’d be happy to take them back to see their husbands.”

“Oh, let Nurse Poplar take us back. Mary, isn’t it? I brought some magazines; I know he probably won’t get much out of them, but I know Leonard likes to look at the pictures.” Daphne produced the magazines she picked up at Plaid Pantry; Domina-Trixey and Huckabuck. Nurse Poplar’s eyes grew to saucer size.

Daphne gave Giselle a wink as Nurse Poplar walked them back. Poplar left Victoria to be alone with her husband and was more than happy to engage in casual conversation with Daphne. Giselle slipped passed, unnoticed, to take Victoria back to the lab.

In the lab, Victoria pulled out the bottle of wine and a cork screw from her oversized bag. “How long will it take to analyze the wine?”

“That depends on what we’re looking for.”

“I don’t really know, something that doesn’t belong in wine, I imagine.”

“We can start with the labs on the samples from you and your sister and do a comparison.”

“That sounds like a good place to start.”

“I’ll get my buddy, Larry to work on this right away and contact you as soon as we have something.”

“Great! We can meet at the bar to discuss.”