1 Written and developed by Jack Pachuta Management Strategies, Inc. (MSI Internet Sales) PO Box 191 Cedarburg, WI 53012 262/377-7230 jack@pachuta.com www.mysteries-on-the-net.com Copyright, 2005. All rights reserved. 2 How to Organize “Death is a Cabernet, Ol’ Chum” Thanks for purchasing this unique murder mystery. You and your guests will enjoy the challenge of solving a crime that will test everyone’s powers of deduction. Here is what you should do to coordinate your murder mystery evening: STEP 1: Review the materials in this mystery packet. But ... please do it in a very specific way. Remember - you have ALL of the information, including the solution to the mystery. If you decide to participate in the mystery as a role player or an investigator, you’ll want to keep yourself in the dark about WHO DONE IT. All page numbers in this packet are in the upper left-hand corner of the pages as you look at them vertically. That way you can run off the material without having the page numbers interfere with the format. The entire packet includes: Instructions on how to organize the event. They’re on pages 2 through 5. (You’re reading them right now.) Instructions for the person who will facilitate the event. Information for the person who will take charge of the murder investigation is on page 6. If only eight people are invited to the event, you may want to assign this duty to Renee Melee, Malcolm’s daughter. Role Player Information. These pages serve as a “cover letter” for the information you’ll send to the eight individuals who will be in character as the suspects. Run off eight copies of pages 7 and 8 back to back. You may want to use better quality stationery for this letter. Role Player Information. Pages 9 through 24 contain the information you’ll send with the cover letters. Each role is designed as a two-sided two-fold document. Again, run off this information back to back. Each role player gets only the information that applies to the role that he or she is playing. Your role players should know ONLY what’s in their individual packets. The Invitation to the Mystery Event. The invitation on page 25 will be sent to each guest. It is designed to be run off as a two-fold. Or, if you decide to use heavier stock, the left side of the page can be run off back-to-back with the right side of the page. Police Chief’s Letter. The letter on page 26 will be given to each guest by the facilitator upon arrival. Run off enough copies so that each person receives one. Clues about the Crime. You’ll find 24 clues about the mystery on pages 27 through 29. Cut them out. Since each guest receives a clue, you can invite up to24 investigators. Should you want to invite more guests, simply double and triple the clues. Today’s Edition of The Nippy Valley Grapevine. Everyone will receive a copy of The Nippy Valley Grapevine on pages 30 and 31. Run the pages off back to back. Melee Cabernet Labels. The labels of a recent vintage of Melee Cabernet Sauvignon are on page 32. Follow the instructions of the page about how to display the labels. Investigative Report. Run off one report on page 33 for each investigative team. The Answer Sheet. Run off one answer sheet on page 34 for each investigative team. The Denouement. This is the solution to the crime. Run off pages 35 through 39. The facilitator will read these pages at the end of the evening. STEP 2: Plan your event. Pick a date on which to conduct the murder mystery event. Death is a Cabernet, Ol’ Chum is designed to be an evening’s entertainment. Remember: our mysteries are for serious sleuths. It will take two to two-and-a-half hours to solve the case using the 3 recommended format. Because of this, a buffet meal is suggested for the mystery evening. If you have a sit-down meal, add the amount of time the meal will take to your planning time. STEP 3: Select your role players. Review the scenario and the brief descriptions of the suspects on page 7. Select guests who would fit into these roles. Send the role players their information and a copy of The Nippy Valley Grapevine (pages 30 and 31) approximately 10 to 12 days before the mystery event. The role players should bring the information with them and use it as a reference when they are questioned by the investigators. If you have only eight guests, the role players will also be the investigators. This means you will send the invitations with the roles so that all of the information arrives at the same time. STEP 4: Invite your guests. Approximately three to four weeks in advance of the event, send invitations to the guests who will not be role players . STEP 5: Select a person to facilitate the investigation. The facilitator should read the Instructions on page 6, and review the information in the packet to keep the event moving so that the investigation is conducted effectively. Here’s what to do on the night of the mystery event. STEP 6: The person portraying Renee Melee greets the guests. Since Renee is Malcolm’s only child, she greets people as they arrive. Renee (or the person who is the facilitator) gives each guest who is investigating the crime a Police Chief Letter with a Clue attached and The Nippy Valley Grapevine. (You may want to put them in envelopes marked “Official Information from the Chief of Police.”) If you have only eight people at the event, and the role players are also investigating the crime, everyone receives a letter. If your event separates the role players from the investigators, then role players DO NOT receive letters. Tell the investigators they can share clues with each other at any time during the evening. STEP 7: The role players speak. The facilitator (in a small group, this could be the role player portraying Renee Melee) asks everyone to sit down as the suspects give their recollections of what happened the previous night. Ensure that it is staged in this way: The facilitator (or Renee) reminds everyone that Malcolm Melee died last night after the reception that was being held in honor of the winery’s 10th anniversary. The eight people who are gathered here were at the event. They’ve been asked to give their recollections about what happened last night along with their feelings about Malcolm Melee. The facilitator (or Renee) asks the eight role players to speak in this order: (1) Renee Melee, (2) Pierre LaPaine, (3) Sue Veneer, (4) Carter Cabot, (5) Nina Grigio, (6) Ben Breakfast, (7) Stan Milton, (8) Leelah Eagle. They stand and read the sections headlined, “Here’s what you’ll say when you’re asked to speak.” 4 STEP 8: The investigation starts. The facilitator (or Renee) briefly reviews what happened, including such facts as: Malcolm Melee has owned the winery for 10 years and has made enemies along the way. Only one of the people who attended the reception committed the murder. MOTIVE, MEANS and OPPORTUNITY must be considered to solve the case. STEP 9: Form investigative teams. Have the guests who are investigating the murder form three-to-five-person investigative teams. Team members will work together to solve the case. If only eight people are at the event, you may (at your discretion) form two-person teams who will work together to solve the case. STEP 10: Break for dinner or refreshments. The teams may trade clues to obtain as much information as possible while they are eating, but they cannot question the suspects yet. If only eight people are involved, distribute the remainder of the 24 clues at regular intervals during the meal until all clues have been used. STEP 11: Continue the investigation. At the end of the meal, tell the teams that it is time to start the investigation again. Each team should find an area to use as an interrogation room. If only eight people are present, everyone stays together and one role player at a time is questioned. STEP 12: Coordinate the questioning. Have one role player rotate to each interrogation room at six-minute intervals. If you have fewer than eight teams, work out a rotation that gives role players breaks between some of the rounds of questioning. The investigators may ask the suspects ANYTHING. The suspects should use the information provided in the Role Player Information to answer the questions. Suspects should not withhold any bits of information, but they should not offer information unless the investigators specifically ask for it. Good investigators must ask the right questions to get the correct facts. STEP 13: Distribute copies of the Investigative Report. After the 4th round of questioning, The facilitator should loudly announce that police have prepared a report about the case. Distribute a copy of the report to each team. STEP 14: Conduct open questioning. Place the suspects in different parts of the facility. For a six-minute period, investigators from any team may go to the suspects and ask final questions. WARNING: Some investigators will try to pull the suspects back to their teams. Don’t permit this. Several different teams may question a suspect at the same time. With only eight people, anyone can ask any other role player anything. 5 STEP 15: Distribute Answer Sheets. Give teams 10 to 12 minutes to write out their solutions by answering the questions on the Answer Sheet. STEP 16: Teams give their solutions. The facilitator asks the questions on the answer sheet to each team, one at a time. The teams read the answers exactly as they were written on the answer sheet. NOTE: Often, a team will want to change its mind after hearing the answers from another team. Don’t let this happen. If you have only eight people, each role player (or two-person team of role players) gives an individual solution to the case. STEP 17: Read “The Denouement.” The facilitator opens the envelope in which the solution was placed. The facilitator reads it aloud to the guests. This will take 6 to 8 minutes. STEP 18: Award prizes. You may want to award prizes to the investigative team that did the best job of solving the crime. Let your creativity run wild in selecting the prizes. Special role player information … (The facilitator may want to review these with the suspects prior to the start of the mystery.) Because this mystery is crafted with intertwining facts, the role players are provided with an abundance of information that may or may not be used during the investigation. Since the suspects will undergo interrogation by the investigative teams, the extensive number of personal facts will enable them to answer most questions that are asked. Role players MUST read recollections exactly as they are written. THIS IS IMPORTANT. It enables the investigation to begin with the correct preliminary data. If role players are asked questions not specifically addressed in this information, the role players should answer in character based upon the other facts available to them. The only relationships that the suspects know about are those written into the roles. If asked by investigators about relationships that are not mentioned in the roles, the suspects should say, “No, we’re not related.” All of the suspects are telling the truth with the exception of the murderer whose recollections and responses will contain lies – this is intentional and part of the murder investigation. Since a good investigator must ask good questions, suspects must only offer information that is asked for by the investigators. They should NOT offer information that has not been directly requested. The murderer DOES NOT know he or she committed the crime. This means the suspects don’t have to be good liars. The solution is contained in “The Denouement.” 6 Instructions for the person who will facilitate the event If you are a role player, then you already have a formal part in the investigation. Your role as facilitator means you will have to stay in character while ensuring that the investigation is conducted effectively. If you are not one of the eight role players, you may want to create your own character and come in costume. You could be, for example, Lawrence Law, the police chief who signed the letter on page 26. To facilitate the mystery event, do the following: 1. Review all of the information in this packet so that you are familiar with the mystery. REMEMBER: If you are attempting to solve the crime, do NOT read “The Denouement” in advance. It contains the solution to the case. 2. As the guests arrive, hand them a copy of the Police Chief letter, along with a clue and a copy of The Nippy Valley Grapevine. Tell them to talk with as many people as they can to acquire information about Malcolm. 3. The suspects have been told to arrive 15 minutes early. When they do, take them aside and review the Special role player information on page 5. Answer any questions they may have. Even though you are “facilitating” this event, the person playing Renee Melee will be hosting the event. It will be up to Renee to get people seated so that the investigation can start. 4. Keep the event moving by following the instructions on pages 2 through 5. Make sure all information is given at the right time. 5. If you are not one of the role players, after you read “The Denouement,” lead the guilty party away to jail. If you want to, you can use toy handcuffs to make the arrest. If you want to stage the arrest in this way, let the suspects know you will do this. 6. Take a bow for a job well done! 7 You are portraying one of these suspects ... Pierre LaPaine Winemaster. His proven process for making the perfect cabernet was under scrutiny by the penny-pinching Malcolm. Renee Melee Malcolm's only child. She returned to the Valley last year to help her father run the winery. Everyone knew that Malcolm and Renee didn't see vine to vine. Stan Milton Owner of the Milt-Mart Stores. The land on which the winery is located would be a perfect spot for his next mega-sized discount establishment. Nina Grigio Writer for Wine Line magazine. Her discriminating palate can make or break a new vintage. Carter Cabot Owner of Cabot Vineyards. He suspected that Malcolm was using unfair tactics to capture the lion's share of the cabernet marketplace. Sue Veneer Gift shop manager. She sells bottles of Melee Cabernet and assorted trinkets to winery visitors. Ben Breakfast Innkeeper. His B&B, the Nippy Victorian House, is the most popular inn in the Valley. And, a bottle of cabernet is a welcoming gift for all guests. Leelah Eagle Attorney at law. She hates to lose and lately, for some unknown reason, she's been spending a lot of time researching information about the winery. It was an evening of wine and cheese at the Melee Vineyards in the Nippy Valley, celebrating the winery's tenth anniversary. Owner Malcolm Melee took great pride in pouring his world-famous Melee Cabernet, the wine that tickles the palates of wine connoisseurs around the globe. Over the past decade, his small operation has built a record of supplying a quality product, even though Melee's surly personality has produced more adversaries than advocates. The celebration was open to the public and the assemblage included both his supporters and detractors, some of whom openly expressed their opinions about his business practices. Melee simply laughed off all negative words, even dismissing the notion that someone was determined to end his reign as cabernet king. As the gathering broke up about midnight, Melee bade "farewell" to everyone and said he would stay around to turn out the lights. But this morning, it became deadly obvious that someone had planned lights out for Malcolm Melee, for his body was found at the bottom of the staircase that leads to the oak casks in the wine cellar. Someone had put the cork on Melee and taken action that would squeeze the winery's reputation. MSI Internet Sales PO Box 191 _ Cedarburg, WI 53012, (262)377-7230 _ jack@pachuta.com _ www.mysteries-on-thenet.com 8 1. Each of the suspects will be asked to say a few words about Malcolm Melee and the night of the crime. When you are called upon, read the material on page 6 of your role player information. It is important to include all information that has been given to you. This is vital for setting the stage for the investigation. Feel free to “ham it up.” 2. During the event, people will have the opportunity to question you and the other suspects. Expect to be asked about a variety of things. Keep this in mind when answering their questions: Stick to the facts as presented in the role. Be truthful. Give correct information about your character. Don't embellish your role to mislead the others. If you must ad-lib to answer a question, keep it within the context of your character. You must reveal any of the facts about your character if you are asked to do so by the investigators. Do not offer any additional facts that the investigators do not directly request. Be consistent. If two different investigators ask you the same question, answer the same way each time. If your role does not have the information requested, then it is not true to the best of your knowledge. All significant facts are included in your information. During the course of the investigation, you may find out facts about the other suspects. Do not pass this information on to others. Your recollections may disagree with those of the other suspects. Stick to your story as being truthful. 3. Any of the suspects (including you) could be the murderer. This means that one of you will be lying. Please come in character and arrive 15 minutes early so that any remaining questions can be answered. Drink a toast and have a tasty time! 9 Death is a Cabernet, Ol’ Chum Your Role: Renee Melee You, Renee Melee, are the only child of Cabernet king Malcolm Melee. Born 35 years ago on the East Coast, you had a comfortable life during your formative years. At that time, your father was an up-and-coming force in the publishing world who provided you with all of the creature comforts, but who worked long hours and had little time for his family. He put all of his energy into founding and running Melee Magazine, a definitive source for business information. Your mother, Chantee, was French by birth. Your parents had met when Malcolm was backpacking through Europe one summer while still in college. Chantee’s father was Roland LaPaine, the owner of a small winery in the Bordeaux region of France. He vinted quality Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc wines. Malcolm and Chantee kept in touch when Malcolm returned to the States. They were married one month after your father graduated from Ivy University 43 years ago. You’ve been told that the two of them were deeply in love when they were first married, but your recollections of their relationship was of two people who were distant from each other. You were close to your mother and, as you entered your teen years, you grew to dislike your father because he immersed himself in his magazine. When you were 16, your mother unexpectedly died in an auto accident. Your father was out of town on business at the time and he didn’t return home immediately. Instead, he finalized the contract he had been negotiating, then caught a flight. You’ve never forgiven him for the callous way he handled your mother’s death. Two years later, you left for college. You earned a liberal arts degree at Western College and decided to stay in the West - and to have very little contact with your father. Sure, the two of you had an occasional telephone conversation and sometimes you even saw each other during the holiday season, but the relationship certainly would not have been described as “warm.” 51 Copyright, 2005 MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES, Inc. PO Box 191 _ Cedarburg, WI 53012-0191 262/377-7230 _ jack@pachuta.com www.mysteries-on-the-net.com 6 Here’s what you’ll say when you’re asked to speak. I still can’t believe my father is dead. The police are saying it could be homicide, but I’m sure it was just a tragic accident. He must have slipped on the steps as he was going down into the wine cellar to turn out the lights. It was only during the last year that I really got to know my father. He was tough, showed very little emotion, and did whatever he needed to do to get what he wanted. Yes, he was difficult to live with, but I think he was beginning to mellow. Only four of us - my father, Pierre, Sue and I - run the entire operation with some part-time help when its time to harvest the grapes. Because we were preparing for last night’s wine and cheese reception, the tours that I usually lead were cancelled yesterday. Sue and I cleaned the main building while Pierre was away buying supplies. I was surprised at how many people showed up. The event was scheduled from 7 to 10, but some people were around much later. I left about 11:45. I was so tired that my father told me to go to bed. He said he’d stay around to turn out the lights. I don’t know why the lights in the wine cellar were on. No one was supposed to have been down there last night. I fell asleep very quickly. This morning, Pierre woke me up and said he’d found my father on the floor of the wine cellar - dead. Who knows what will happen to the winery now? If I inherit it, I just might sell it. told you that she’d been there for about a year. Sue is a tea drinker and always has a kettle boiling. A few days later Ben showed up at the winery. The Nippy Victorian Inn had become the most popular inn in the Valley. Ben purchased Melee Cabernets as welcome gifts for his guests. Ben and Pierre see each other regularly because Pierre also has an interest in archery. Both are members of the Nippy Valley Bowmen who meet bi-monthly to target shoot. You and Ben are again close friends - who knows what the future might bring? A bone of contention between Malcolm and Pierre is the hides that are always hanging in the wine cellar. Since the hides cannot be permitted to dry out before Pierre uses them, he’d found that the damp environment of the wine cellar is just right for storing them. He uses a small room in the back of the cellar as a workroom. The cellar is located in a natural cave under the main building and extends back into the adjacent hillside. It has two entrances, one from the wine tasting area and an outside entrance directly under Malcolm’s office. Only you, Malcolm and Pierre have the key to that entrance. Lately, the relationship between the two of them has become very strained. Your father wants to shortcut Pierre’s vinting process to save money. And, he even confronts Pierre about leaving the lights on. Your father always checks to make sure they’re turned off at night. Pierre is convinced that any change in the vinting process would mean that Cabot Cabernets, owned by Carter Cabot, would gain market share. That sends Pierre into a fury. And, the local newspaper, The Nippy Valley Grapevine, has been saying that Stan Milton, the owner of the Milt-Marts wants to purchase the winery and build a new mega-store on the site. Maybe that’s why that snoopy attorney, Leelah Eagle, always seems to be around. Ben says she’s a frequent guest at his inn. Last night, though, your father organized a wine and cheese party to celebrate his tenth anniversary in business. It was open to the public and a lot of people showed up. Who could have predicted the outcome? 1 10 You were intrigued by the ambiance of the wine country. It was 13 years ago that you found a job at a local winery, Veneer Vintages, a small operation in the Nippy Valley specializing in cabernet wines. The Veneer family had owned the winery for over a century. The current owner, Hugh Veneer, was the grandson of the founder. His wife, Lu, handled the business office, and his daughter, Sue Veneer, ran the gift shop. Sue and you became good friends. Ten years ago, Hugh announced that the winery was almost bankrupt and he had decided to sell it. You were shocked to discover that the new owner would be none other than Malcolm Melee. Your father had decided to give up Melee Magazine and vint cabernet wines. You couldn’t imagine why he would decide to give up the magazine and start a new venture. At the time, newspapers speculated he was forced out. You’ve never learned the complete story. Every so often, though, you meet someone who knows some of the story and you believe that he was involved in some underhanded dealings that put the magazine in jeopardy of being sued. As soon as the deal was sealed, the Veneers packed up and moved away. You decided to stay around after all, he was still your father. Perhaps you could do something to mend fences. You emailed him and told him that you would like to work with him. And, amazingly, he agreed. Could it be that he had mellowed ? You waited with anticipation as he arrived at the winery. If joy was in his heart, it didn’t show. He greeted you curtly and went about his business. True to form, he began making changes the very first day. The 35-acre winery grows its own grapes. Your father liked to be in charge of everything, so it didn’t surprise you that he appointed himself “winemaster.” For the first time in his life, he was failing. He became more temperamental and difficult to be around. He took it out on everyone. You had flashbacks to your childhood. About six months after your father purchased the winery, you decided to leave. When you said “good-bye” to him a little over nine years ago, you thought you saw a tear in his eye - but you could have been mistaken. You had to support yourself, so you took seasonal jobs to make ends meet. Finally, about four years ago, you found a job at a small hotel in the mountains. That’s how you met Ben Breakfast. Ben was a co-worker of yours at the Copper Hotel. He told you that he was saving up money and finding a way to buy his own place. Ben had a hobby that intrigued you. He was an archer with a passion for designing and fabricating his own bows and arrows. He had studied Native American crafts and used local woods and rawhide to make authentic archery equipment. You’d watch him as he soaked the hides he’d bought to soften them. Then, he’d stretch thin strands of rawhide to make bowstrings that would dry and shrink, becoming strong and tout. He’d even mastered the technique of “barebow,” shooting without a bowsight, stabilizers, or release aides. The two of you became close friends and you even talked of running an inn together. So, you were at first excited when, three years ago, Ben told you he’d found a property to purchase. Your mood changed, though, when he said he was buying a B&B in the Nippy Valley. You realized it was near the Melee Vineyard and Winery. You’d had no contact with your father since the day you’d left the winery. You didn’t want Ben to exit your life, but how could you see your father again? Yet, maybe things had changed because. You’d been reading articles about the Melee Winery in magazines such as Wine Line. Critics began to give his vintages rave reviews. One Wine Line writer, Nina Grigio, regularly mentioned Melee Cabernets in her articles. It was almost as if your father had something on her. Ben left to take ownership of the B&B, calling it the Nippy Victorian Inn. He asked you to follow him. You refused - at least for the time being. But, last year, that changed. After a lot of soul searching, you returned to the Valley and contacted your father. He was still grouchy, but not as much as he once was. He asked you to work for him again, helping with the vinting and giving tours. You could live with him in the house on the winery’s property. You agreed. It was time to try to make the relationship better - and to see Ben again. And, you discovered what turned the winery around. You’d never met your mother’s family because your father didn’t get along with it. But, he’d contacted the LaPaine family eight years before and hired Pierre LaPaine to be his winemaster. Pierre’s father, Jacque, was your mother’s brother, making Pierre your first cousin. Pierre is temperamental. Everything must be done his way or he goes into a rage. He and your father constantly butted heads. Pierre had his own process for vinting excellent wines. He proudly tells everyone that it dates back to the Middle Ages. Pierre is quite a historian and was the impetus behind an event that has become a huge promotional success for the winery. Every year during the fall, Melee Vineyard and Winery sponsors and hosts a French Wine Fest. Many winemaking events are featured, including grape stomping. While many people think that grapes were crushed by bare-footed workers, Pierre reported that they actually wore rawhide boots. He had been a student of the Middle Ages for many years and became proficient at making his own garb from cloth and animal hides. To add to the authenticity of the fest, every year Pierre makes rawhide boots for attendees to wear as they participate in grape-stomping competitions. The grape-stained boots are then sold in the gift shop. And, speaking of the gift shop, you were reunited with another old friend. Sue Veneer had been hired as the winery’s gift shop manager. She 234 11 Death is a Cabernet, Ol’ Chum Your Role: Pierre LaPaine You, Pierre LaPaine, are the winemaster at the Melee Vineyard and Winery. Born 40 years ago in the Bordeaux region of France, your father was Jacque LaPaine, the brother of Chantee LaPaine, Malcolm Melee’s deceased wife. That’s right, you are Malcolm’s nephew. You have an older brother, Paul. Your grandfather was Roland LaPaine, the owner of a small winery. He vinted quality Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc wines. Your Aunt Chantee met Malcolm when he was backpacking through Europe one summer while still in college. Malcolm and Chantee kept in touch when Malcolm returned to the States. They were married one month after Malcolm graduated from Ivy University 43 years ago. Your family has been vintners for more generations than they can count. In fact, the vinting tradition dates back to the Middle Ages. That’s why you are a student of Medieval life and skills. You are an inveterate archer and even fabricate your own equipment from wood, feathers, rawhide and iron. The clothing and archery equipment made of rawhide require a unique skill. Rawhide must kept moist prior to working with it. Then, when stretching it to make such items as bowstrings, it must be heated. The shrinkage that occurs afterward creates taut bowstrings and form-fitted clothing. If the rawhide is overheated, it shrinks too quickly and becomes brittle, breaking and tearing easily. Once Chantee moved to the States with her new husband, she lost contact with the rest of the family, save for an occasional letter or phone call. The family kept track of the Melees via articles in French publications. That’s how the LaPaines knew that Malcolm had founded and headed Melee Magazine, a definitive sources for business information. Your family felt that Malcolm was a bit of a tyrant. It was Chantee who informed the family of the birth of Renee 51 Copyright, 2005 MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES, Inc. PO Box 191 _ Cedarburg, WI 53012-0191 262/377-7230 _ jack@pachuta.com www.mysteries-on-the-net.com 6 Here’s what you’ll say when you’re asked to speak. Bonjour, everyone. What a sad thing to happen on such a happy night. Malcolm had been planning the celebration for a long time. I thought he would want to offer more than just cheese, but - no matter - he knows how much we can spend. I, of course, am the winemaster. The wonderful reputation of Melee Cabernets is the result of my vinting process which dates from the Middle Ages. I brought it here from Bordeaux eight years ago. I’m sure you’ve read the articles in all of the wine magazines. We produce wines that have such wonderful bouquets. C’est manifique! I am in the wine cellar almost everyday. Yesterday morning, I checked to make certain that all was well, then, about 8:00, I left to purchase supplies - yeasts, molds, bacteria - the ingredients that produce such quality wines. I returned about an hour before the reception was to start, so I went to my cottage to clean up and prepare to greet our visitors. Our wines are so popular that many people showed up to sample our new vintages - even Monsieur Cabot, who mistakenly thinks that his wines are superior to ours. Sacre bleu, non! Yes, it was I who found Malcolm’s body this morning. He was at the bottom of the stairs. I could see that he had fallen because his head was bleeding and he wasn’t breathing. I notified Renee, then called the gendarme. Farewell, Malcolm, we all drink to you! previous owners. You weren’t certain why She would want to return to the winery, but she was very good at handling the customers, even providing them with hot tea. The kettle in the gift shop seemed to always be boiling. About a year ago, someone else appeared on the scene. Renee Melee, Malcolm’s only child, returned to the Valley to help her father run things. You’d heard that Malcolm and Renee didn’t get along. Maybe this meant their relationship had improved. You wondered why Renee had come back, then part of the answer became clear. It was obvious that Ben and Renee already knew each other. Lately, the relationship between Malcolm and you has become very strained. Malcolm wants to shortcut your vinting process to save money. And, he even confronts you about leaving the lights on. Malcolm always checks to make sure they’re turned off at night. You are convinced that any change in the vinting process would mean that Cabot Cabernets, owned by Carter Cabot, would gain market share. You’ve tasted his wines and realize they are very good. Although it’s hard to admit, some people might even prefer his wines. And, the local newspaper, The Nippy Valley Grapevine, has been saying that Stan Milton, the owner of the MiltMarts wants to purchase the winery and build a new mega-store on the site. Maybe that’s why that snoopy attorney, Leelah Eagle, always seems to be around. Ben says she’s a frequent guest at his inn. Last night, though, Malcolm organized a wine and cheese party to celebrate his tenth anniversary in business. It was open to the public and a lot of people showed up. You were away from the winery all day purchasing supplies and you showed up just in time for the party. You were tired, so you left early. Who could have predicted what you would find in the wine cellar this morning? 2 12 Melee 35 years ago. Your father told you that Chantee had a brief telephone conversation with Roland before Malcolm got on the phone and curtly said “good-bye.” Sixteen years later, though, Malcolm was even crueler. Chantee had been killed in an automobile accident and Malcolm didn’t bother to notify the family until after the funeral. Thank God, your grandfather had died by then - he would never have forgiven Malcolm. Your father was now running the winery and you expected Paul to inherit the operation someday. The LaPaine family has its own process for vinting excellent wines that it dates back to the time when bowmen fought to control the countryside and damsels in distress required rescuing. You’ve never married, instead immersing yourself in the vinting of quality wines. And every year you had a chance to use the Medieval skills you’d learned. The small village near the winery held an annual wine fest that focused on Medieval life. You enjoyed the costumes and the archery contest featuring gear that was personally fabricated by the competitors. You were content to work the winery and practice your wine-making skills, but that changed eight years ago when a more-amiable Malcolm contacted the family. He told your father that he had divested himself of his interest in the magazine and had purchased a small 35-acre winery in the Nippy Valley. He wanted to employ a member of the LaPaine family to serve as his winemaster. After all, who could vint better cabernets than the LaPaines? Malcolm wanted to bring that skill to the States. You decided that you would be the LaPaine to make the move. You looked forward to taking over as the person in charge of vinting quality cabernets on another continent. When you arrived, you realized that Malcolm was inept at producing a memorable wine. You realized that you had to adapt your techniques to the climate of the Nippy Valley. The red cabernet grapes are crushed and fermented on the skin and seeds to extract color, flavor and tannins. The grapes are then kept in a cool environment to prevent the onset of alcoholic fermentation. They are cold soaked before warming the grapes and adding yeast. An inoculation of bacteria reduces acidity before the future vintage is put into oaken casks and aged. You have a reputation for being very temperamental. Everything must be done your way. You and Malcolm constantly butted heads. However, he did agree to let you design new labels for the wines. The labels feature representations of Medieval French archers, a tribute to your heritage and to the tradition that you are continuing in the States. Because of the soil and weather conditions in the Valley, the Melee cabernets have some very distinctive aromas including blueberries, leather and pepper. You were pleased with the progress of the operation when, the year after you arrived, Malcolm told you that he’d arranged for a wine critic, Nina Grigio of Wine Line magazine to review the current vintage. You balked. “The wine must be aged,” you told Malcolm. He only smiled and said not to worry. It made you feel that something had been “arranged.” Sure enough, the article extolled the virtues of Melee Cabernets. Subsequent articles by Grigio have done the same thing and Melee Vineyard and Winery now have an international reputation for fine wines. A year later, you approached Malcolm with the idea of sponsoring and hosting a French Wine Fest at the winery during the fall each year. The fest includes Medieval costumes and an archery competition. Many winemaking events are featured, including grape stomping. While many people think that grapes were crushed by bare-footed workers, Pierre reported that they actually wore rawhide boots. To add to the authenticity of the fest, you make rawhide boots for attendees to wear as they participate in grape-stomping competitions. The grape-stained boots are then sold in the gift shop. The wine cellar at Melee Winery is located in a natural cave beneath the main building and extends into the adjacent hill. It has two entrances, one from the wine tasting area and an outside entrance directly under Malcolm’s office. Only you, Malcolm and Renee have the key to that entrance. You cleaned out a small room in the cellar located behind the staircase that leads to the wine tasting area. You use it as a workroom when you are finishing off your Medieval costumes and archery gear. You live in a small cottage on the grounds of the winery and are normally the first one in the wine cellar each morning, checking the temperature and making sure everything is okay. A bone of contention between Malcolm and you is the hides that are always hanging in the wine cellar. Since the hides cannot be permitted to dry out before you use them, you’ve found that the damp environment of the wine cellar is just right for storing them. Three years ago, someone moved into the Valley who shared your love of archery and authentic gear. Ben Breakfast had purchased the Nippy Victorian Inn and, within a year, had turned it into the most successful B&B in the Valley. Ben purchased Melee Cabernets as welcoming gifts for his guests. Ben and you see each other regularly. Both of you are members of the Nippy Valley Bowmen who meet bi-monthly. Ben is the president-elect of the organization. Ben also makes much of his own gear and, occasionally, you supply him with rawhide. The next meeting of the group is this Saturday. Two years ago, Malcolm hired a new gift shop manager, Sue Veneer. You found out that she is the daughter of Lu and Hugh Veneer, the winery’s 234 13 Death is a Cabernet, Ol’ Chum Your Role: Sue Veneer You, Sue Veneer, are the only child of Lu and Hugh Veneer. Born 36 years ago on the West Coast, your father’s family had been vintners in the Nippy Valley for over 100 years before selling its winery 10 years ago. You finished grade school and high school in the Valley, then went to work at the vineyard, Veneer Vintages, helping out wherever you were needed. Your father is the grandson of the winery’s founder and you thought that the Veneers would always be in the business of producing Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc wines on the 35acre property. The winery had a good reputation with a following among a group of wine drinkers. However, it was never very profitable. Your family always struggled to make ends meet, but you were confident that the family business would continue forever. You didn’t go to college. Instead, you stayed at home to help your family run the wine-making operation. The winery had a small gift shop and your father put you in charge of it on your 21st birthday. A lot of what you sold was kitsch, but you managed to build the shop’s wine sales to a level at which they contributed to the winery’s bottom line. Your mother ran the business side. Two years later, your father hired another employee to fill in wherever she was needed. That’s how you met Renee Melee. The two you became close friends. She told you her father was Malcolm Melee, the publisher of the wellknown business publication, Melee Magazine. She also revealed to you that she and her father had been at odds with each other since her mother died in an auto accident when Renee was 16. Her father had reacted with indifference. Renee had earned her bachelor’s degree from Western College, but was intrigued by the wine country. That’s why she found a job in the Valley. It seemed as if everything was going well at the winery, but that changed without warning. Ten years ago, your 1 5 Copyright, 2005 MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES, Inc. PO Box 191 _ Cedarburg, WI 53012-0191 262/377-7230 _ jack@pachuta.com www.mysteries-on-the-net.com 6 Here’s what you’ll say when you’re asked to speak. So much goes on at a winery. Who really knows what happened? I’ve been around wine all of my life and I know that just one slip, one wrong step, and everything can change. In the two years that I’ve worked here, even the gift shop has changed a lot. I’ve added more things that our visitors can buy. I always invite them in for a cup of tea and to chat. They like that. Since the gift shop is next to Malcolm’s office, I know how hard he worked to build our reputation. He was always on the phone, writing letters or sending emails to someone. He knew so many people from his days with the magazine that it seemed like he could do whatever he wanted to. Yesterday, Renee and I worked most of the day to clean the main building - scrubbing, dusting and sweeping. I swept and washed the stairs, too. The light switch by the door at the top of the stairs only turns on the light at the top of the stairway. The main switches for the celler lights are all down there. I don’t go to the wine cellar much because I’m very busy in the gift shop, but I could swear all of the lights were off when I finished cleaning. I left early last night - about 10:00. I live down the road in a small apartment. I know what Renee must be going through right now. It’s difficult to lose a parent, especially when it seems so senseless. Things at this winery always seem to be changing. Melee Cabernets as welcome gifts for his guests. Ben and Pierre see each other regularly because Pierre also has an interest in archery. Both are members of the Nippy Valley Bowmen who meet bi-monthly. In the meantime, you’ve made the gift shop very profitable. You’ve even added a line of books about hobbies and crafts - everything from kite flying to knot tying. A nice touch is the tea that you offer to customers. You always keep a kettle boiling in case anyone would like free hot tea. You keep a variety of tea bags on hand. Frequently, you’re the only one in the main building to greet visitors because the others are tied up with the vinting process. You’ve been in regular contact with Eagle over the past two years. And, you’ve managed to sneak into Malcolm’s office, making copies of some of his files both paper and computer - to pass on to Eagle. A few months ago, Eagle told you that her client would be willing to pay you a large bonus if your efforts result in deposing Malcolm as owner of the winery. Now, the local newspaper, The Nippy Valley Grapevine, has been saying that Stan Milton, the owner of the MiltMarts wants to purchase the winery and build a new mega-store on the site. You wonder if Milton is Eagle’s clandestine client. Lately, the relationship between Malcolm and Pierre has become very strained. Malcolm wants to shortcut Pierre’s vinting process to save money. And, he even confronts Pierre about leaving the lights on. The pennypinching Malcolm always checks to make sure they’re turned off at night. Pierre is convinced that any change in the vinting process would mean that Cabot Cabernets, owned by Carter Cabot, would gain market share. Cabot often is in the wine tasting area next to your gift shop. He’s probably checking out the competition. Last night, Malcolm organized a wine and cheese party to celebrate his tenth anniversary in business. It was open to the public and a lot of people showed up. You mingled with the crowd, made some tea and left early. You knew Malcolm would make sure the lights were turned off. 3 14 father announced that the winery was almost bankrupt and that he had decided to sell it. The new owner would be none other than Malcolm Melee. Renee couldn’t understand why her father had decided to give up Melee Magazine. As soon as the deal was sealed, your family packed up and moved away. Renee decided to stay around after all, Malcolm was still her father. Perhaps she could do something to mend fences. The two of you said your “good-byes” before Malcolm arrived. Your parents used the money from the sale of the winery to pay their bills and to buy a condo. You stayed with them for a few months before attempting to find a job. That’s why you ended up at the offices of Wine Line magazine. The publication was expanding and hiring additional staff. Because of your experience with the winery, you were hired to be the executive assistant for managing editor Charlene Blanc. The magazine had become one of the definitive sources of information for wine aficionados and its offices were a few miles away from the Valley. Wine Line could make or break a wine’s reputation. One of the most popular writers was Nina Grigio who focused on reviewing and rating cabernets. She’d never written about Veneer Vintages. You were told that Grigio had written articles for the magazine for about two years when you were hired. She’d been a professional writer for a long time, working for other publications before joining Wine Line’s staff. You visited your parents regularly and realized that their health was deteriorating. The winery had been so much a part of their lives that they felt lost without it. During one visit, your father told you that he’d had to sell the winery to Melee below market value. When he’d first put the property on the market, he’d been contacted by several potential buyers. One by one, all of them had disappeared with the exception of Melee. Your father couldn’t help but think that Melee had used his connections in the business world to discourage anyone else from purchasing the winery. Two years after selling the winery, both of your parents died within a month of each other - of natural causes. You were certain that they’d simply lost interest in living without having the winery to run. About a year later, Nina began to rave about the quality of Melee Cabernets in her articles. She pointed out that the cabernet sauvignons had a blueberry aroma mixed with leather and pepper. Blanc frequently quizzed Grigio about the amount of copy devoted to the Melee wines. Grigio assured her that it was warranted. You continued working for the magazine until, a little over two years ago, Leelah Eagle stepped into you life. You were at a small cafe near the magazine’s offices when she sat down next to you. Identifying herself as a high-powered attorney who hated to lose, she wanted to enlist your help to do some “research” about Malcolm Melee. You’d be the perfect person, she said, because you could find a job with the Melee Winery and report back to Eagle about what was going one. Plus, Eagle told you that she might have some special assignments for you. You would be well compensated for your efforts, she said. You had mixed emotions. You would love to return to the winery, but it wouldn’t be the same without your parents being in charge. However, you wanted to see for yourself what Malcolm Melee was really like. So, two years ago, you were hired to manage the gift shop in the main building of Melee’s winery. He’d made quite a few changes, but it was still the land that had been in the Veneer family for over a century. Melee had renovated the house on the property and resided there. The first day on the job, you met Pierre LaPaine, the winemaster. Pierre’s father, Jacque, was the brother of Malcolm’s deceased wife. Pierre had been hired by Malcolm seven years before and was temperamental. Everything must had to be done his way or he went into a rage. He and Malcolm constantly butted heads. Pierre has his own process for vinting excellent wines. He proudly tells everyone that it dates back to the Middle Ages. Pierre is quite a historian and was the impetus behind an event that has become a huge promotional success for the winery. Every year during the fall, Melee Vineyard and Winery sponsors and hosts a French Wine Fest. Many winemaking events are featured, including grape stomping. While many people think that grapes were crushed by barefooted workers, Pierre reported that they actually wore rawhide boots. He had been a student of the Middle Ages for many years and became proficient at making his own garb from cloth and animal hides. To add to the authenticity of the fest, Pierre makes rawhide boots for attendees to wear as they participate in grapestomping competitions. The grape-stained boots are then sold in the gift shop. You’ve also added a line of books for sale covering many skills and hobbies. A bone of contention between Malcolm and Pierre is the hides that are always hanging in the wine cellar. Since the hides cannot be permitted to dry out before Pierre uses them, he’s found that the damp environment of the wine cellar is just right for storing them. He uses a small room in the back of the cellar as a workroom. The cellar is located in a natural cave under the main building and extends back into the hillside behind the building. It has two entrances, one from the wine tasting area and an outside entrance directly under Malcolm’s office. Only Renee, Malcolm and Pierre have the key to that entrance. About a year ago, an old friend of yours appeared on the scene. Renee had returned to the Valley to help her father run things. You’d hoped it meant their relationship had improved. All indications were that it still wasn’t good. You wondered why Renee had come back, then part of the answer became clear. Ben Breakfast had purchased the Nippy Victorian Inn two years before and had turned it into the most successful B&B in the Valley. It was obvious that Ben and Renee knew each other. Ben purchased 234 15 Death is a Cabernet, Ol’ Chum Your Role: Carter Cabot You, Carter Cabot, are the owner of Carter Cabernets, a vineyard and winery that produces Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc wines in the Nippy Valley. The Cabots have been vinting wine in the Valley for over a century and the cabernets your family produces have a small, but intense, clientele who enjoy your wines. Born 55 years ago in the Valley, your parents Cara and Terry, were the latest in a line of Cabots who ran the family business. Your winery, along with the one formerly owned by the Veneer family, were among he original vineyards in the Valley. You have never married, and have three younger brothers, all of whom are involved in the wine business. Over the years, you’ve seen a lot of changes in the Valley. Many of the smaller wineries have been sold to outsiders and more and more money is being spent on advertising and promoting individual wines. Vinting cabernet is an art. The red cabernet grapes are crushed and fermented on the skin and seeds to extract color, flavor and tannins. The grapes are then kept in a cool environment to prevent the onset of alcoholic fermentation. They are cold soaked before warming the grapes and adding yeast. An inoculation of bacteria reduces acidity before the future vintage is put into casks and aged. By tweaking the timing and the temperatures, the flavor of the wine is affected. Your Cabernet Sauvignon has been described as tasting like wild cherries with the aroma of asparagus and olives. You know it is a quality product, but it has never received much attention from authoritative voices such as Wine Line magazine. Which leads back to the story of Veneer Vintages. For as long as you could remember, Veneer Vintages had been one of your friendly competitors in the Valley. That 51 Copyright, 2005 MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES, Inc. PO Box 191 _ Cedarburg, WI 53012-0191 262/377-7230 _ jack@pachuta.com www.mysteries-on-the-net.com 6 Here’s what you’ll say when you’re asked to speak. I can’t say I’ll miss Malcolm Melee. The previous owners of this winery were friendly competitors. By comparison, I’d describe Malcolm as being “cutthroat.” I know he was using unfair tactics to build his wines’ reputation in the marketplace something I’d never do. The playing field just wasn’t level. Maybe now it will be. Yes, I was there last night. I stop by a lot to keep track of the competition. And, I can say without hesitation that Cabot Cabernets are superior to Melee Cabernets - no matter what Pierre says. I got there about 8:00 and talked to some of the people I know here in the Valley. I didn’t know that Stan Milton would be there, but I’ve wanted to meet him for a long time, so I admit I cornered him and picked his brain about his plans for his Milt-Marts. Malcolm Melee may have been successful, but he didn’t provide much to eat last night. The cheese was good, but with his money, he could have done a lot better. I left about 10:30 and went straight home. And, one more thing. Although I can’t tell you all of the details right now, you’ll soon see Cabot Cabernets in stores all across the nation. That’s right, we’ll finally be getting the recognition we deserve. throat and said “hello” to her. Shortly after that, Leelah Eagle walked in. About a year ago, Malcolm’sdaughter, Renee Melee, joined her father and began helping to run the operation. They are such different kinds of people that it’s hard to believe they’re father and daughter. When you’ve been around Renee, she’s be very nice and personable. You can’t help but notice that there’s some tension between the two of them. You don’t know exactly what happened, but you’ve heard that it had something to do with Malcolm’s deceased wife and Renee’s mother, Chantee. Recently, Cramer told you that he feels the deal is nearly done with Milton. It wouldn’t take much, he feels, for Cabot Cabernets to be the featured wines in Milt-Mart stores across the nation. Both of you, he said, need to keep your eyes open for an opportunity to seal the deal. Now, the local newspaper, The Nippy Valley Grapevine, has been saying that Stan Milton wants to purchase the Melee winery and build a new mega-store on the site. What a great idea! Not only would it eliminate a competitor, but it would also grease the skids for the private-label deal with Milton. You’ve heard rumors that the relationship between Malcolm and Pierre has become very strained. Malcolm, you’re told, wants to shortcut Pierre’s vinting process to save money. Last night, Malcolm organized a wine and cheese party to celebrate his tenth anniversary in business. It was open to the public and a lot of people, including you and Milton showed up. You’d never met Milton in person, so you introduced yourself and talked about how Cabot Cabernets could fit into Milton’s plans for the future. He seemed very interested. What could you do to make it a reality? 4 16 changed 10 years ago when the winery was purchased by former magazine publisher Malcolm Melee. Melee had founded and headed Melee Magazine, the definitive source for business information in the nation. It was anyone’s guess why’d he’d sell the publication, whose offices were on the East Coast, and move to the West Coast to get into the wine business. You’d heard that Lu and Hugh Veneer were in a financial squeeze, but didn’t realize how razor-thin their situation was. You knew they had a daughter named Sue who helped at the winery. Within a couple of years, Melee’s wines began getting rave reviews. First, it was a writer in Wine Line named Nina Grigot. She specialized in writing about cabernets and began extolling the quality of Melee Cabernets. Other publications and critics soon picked up the mantra and you found your sales declining while Melee began to carve out a bigger place in the cabernet marketplace. This came as a big surprise to you. You’d sampled Melees products and felt your wines were superior. His Cabernet Sauvignon was described as having the aroma of blueberries, leather and pepper. You see Melee’s winemaster, Pierre LaPaine, regularly - the Valley isn’t all that big. He’s a Frenchman who has brought a flavor of France to the Nippy Valley. Pierre has his own process for vinting excellent wines. He proudly tells everyone that it dates back to the Middle Ages. Pierre is quite a historian and was the impetus behind an event that has become a huge promotional success. Every year during the fall, Melee Vineyard and Winery sponsors and hosts a French Wine Fest. Many winemaking events are featured, including grape stomping. The fest attracts many tourists to the Melee Winery and your business is noticeably down when the fest is going strong. Three years ago, Ben Breakfast moved to the Valley. He bought an old B&B and renovated it. Now the Nippy Victorian Inn is the most popular place to stay in the Valley. Ben is an avid archer and even fabricates his own equipment - something that he has in common with Pierre. Both are members of the Nippy Valley Bowmen who meet bi-monthly. Ben is the president-elect. He’s even hung one of his homemade bows above the desk in the reception area of the inn. You like Ben, but he continues to have Melee Cabernets in all of his rooms as welcoming gifts. When you approach him about switching loyalties and using your wines. Ben says, privately, that he prefers your wines to Melee’s, but due to the reputation that Melee is acquiring, he feels it’s better to stick with Melee Cabernets. You’ve told him that you’re certain Melee is using unfair tactics to get so much publicity for his wines. You don’t know how he’s doing this, but what else could it be? In fact, even Nina Grigio agreed that your wines are better than Melee’s. She inadvertently let this slip out one day when the two of you were talking, then immediately tried to change the subject. You could tell that she was uncomfortable with the topic. She’s in the Valley frequently to review new vintages and always makes a point of staying at Ben’s inn. A little over two years ago, one of your brothers, Cramer, said he was working on a way to get more exposure for Cabot Cabernets. Cramer had become a wine merchant and had made a sales call on Stan Milton, the entrepreneur who owns the Milt-Mart mega-stores. Milton planned to begin selling wines in the delicatessen sections of his stores and was looking for a quality wine that could be privately branded with the Milt-Mart logo. Cramer thought this could be a bonanza for you if the proper deal could be negotiated. Of course, Milton said his concern was how his customers would perceive his alliance with Cabot rather than with the betterknown Melee Cabernets. Milton had let slip that he was planning on opening a Milt-Mart in the Valley. He’d even identified the perfect spot for the store - and that the concern about Melee could be a moot point. Cramer told you that much of his contact with Milton came through Milton’s legal representative, Leelah Eagle. She was involved in all of the meetings and Cramer could tell by her disposition that she liked to win. Cramer also said that he’d heard from his associates in the wine merchandising industry that Melee had paid kickbacks to certain distributors to get his wines prime spots in stores. He further learned that some of the wine critics had been “forced” to give Melee’s cabernets excellent reviews. About six months later, you were talking with Ben and a guest was checking in to the inn. You glanced at the registration card and saw that it was Leelah Eagle. What could she be doing in the Valley? Since then, she’s become a regular visitor to the Valley. Also about two years ago, Sue Veneer returned to the Valley to run Melee’s gift shop. This surprised you. It had to be very difficult to work for the person who had purchased the family business, but Sue seemed to handle it well. Every so often, you stop by the Melee wine tasting area in the winery’s main building - just to keep up with the competition. Sue is always there making people feel at home. She offers free tea to all of the visitors. Once when you walked in, you noticed that she was coming out of Malcolm Melee’s office, located adjacent to the gift shop. You don’t think she knew you were there. She sneaked back into the gift shop, and rustled a few papers before you cleared your 234 17 Death is a Cabernet, Ol’ Chum Your Role: Nina Grigio You, Nina Grigio, are a writer for Wine Line magazine, focusing on wineries that produce cabernets. Wine Line has become one of the definitive sources for information about wines and vintages, so your articles can make or break a wine’s reputation. Born 48 years ago in Wisconsin, your parents were Rita and Rollo Grigio. Your family was cranberry growers in the central part of the state. You have three brothers. The oldest one, Peter, is now running the family business. You earned a degree in journalism at a nearby state university before moving to the East Coast to begin your writing career 25 years ago. You started off writing for small publications and built a solid record as a writer with a unique style. That’s how, 19 years ago, you were hired by Melee Magazine, the definitive source for business information. The founder and publisher, Malcolm Melee, was a powerful figure in the publishing world, and you viewed the job as a breakthrough opportunity. For the first few years, all went well. You were given plum assignments and interviewed some of the most prominent business leaders in the nation. You especially enjoyed talking with businesspeople whom you knew were on the path to total success. That’s how you categorized Stan Milton when you met him 15 years ago. He was building an empire of megasized retail stores that would be built in rural areas across the United States. When you interviewed him, his chain of stores was in the process of becoming a real force in the marketplace. Even then, though, he retained competent attorneys to help him get what he wanted. During your interview, one of them was present to ensure that the right words were said. It was a woman about your age named Leelah Eagle. You could tell by her bearing and demeanor that she was hard as nails and hated to lose. Milton liked your 1 5 Copyright, 2005 MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES, Inc. PO Box 191 _ Cedarburg, WI 53012-0191 262/377-7230 _ jack@pachuta.com www.mysteries-on-the-net.com 6 Here’s what you’ll say when you’re asked to speak. Before all of you leave, check with me to make sure I spell your names correctly. After all, as a writer, I like to make sure I get everything right even though some of you might disagree with that. I knew Malcolm Melee for a lot longer than most of you realize. If any of you want to know what the real Malcolm was like, just check with me. I can tell you. If you’ve been reading my articles in Wine Line, you know that I’ve said a lot of good things about Melee Cabernets. Malcolm owed me a lot. If it wasn’t for me, his wines would never have gotten everyone’s attention. People around the world have contacted me to find out more about his wines. That’s the power the printed word has. I arrived at the winery at about 7:30 last night and circulated in order to get everyone’s opinion about Malcolm’s wines. I saw many people that I’d known for years. It just shows how much publicity Malcolm was able to get. I left about the same time Sue did. Each vintage is unique and just because a wine is good one year doesn’t mean the quality will stay the same. That’s why I want all of you to read my article in next month’s Wine Line. You may be surprised at what I have to say. And, I promise to spell your names correctly. asked if Milton was still a client. She said, “no comment.” Lately, though, the local newspaper, The Nippy Valley Grapevine, has been reporting that Milton is in the Valley looking for land on which to build his next megasized retail store. Ben and Pierre see each other regularly because of their interest in archery. Both are members of the Nippy Valley Bowmen who meet bi-monthly. Plus, they both fabricate much of their own gear from wood, feathers, flint and rawhide. You visit the Melee Winery several times a year. Ostensibly, it’s to review its wines. In reality, you’re getting your “marching orders” from Malcolm about your next article. You normally meet in his office, but he’s taken you to the wine cellar a few times. The cellar is in a natural cave beneath the main building and extends back into the adjacent hillside. Animal hides hang from the ceiling and walls of the wine cellar and remnants of leather are on the floor. Pierre has a small workroom located behind the stairs in the cellar. You’ve heard rumors that, lately, the relationship between Malcolm and Pierre has become very strained. Malcolm wants to shortcut Pierre’s vinting process to save money. What would it matter anyway? So long as Malcolm holds your past over your head, his wines will continue to get great reviews. Last night, Malcolm organized a wine and cheese party to celebrate his tenth anniversary in business. It was open to the public and a lot of people showed up. You were there along with a crowd that could be only be called a motley crew. Even Carter Cabot made an appearance. So many things were happening that who could predict what Malcolm Melee’s future would hold? 5 18 article. His pace for opening new stores accelerated and no one ever knew when he’d show up and try to acquire land - no matter what was currently on it. Your fame as a writer continued to increase and you felt as if you needed to come up with stories that would make the business world stand up and take note. That’s when you began to do the unthinkable you began to fabricate facts. You were given several awards for articles that were mostly made up. This continued until, 12 years ago, several lawsuits were filed against Melee Magazine by companies who were victimized by your so-called reporting. When Malcolm Melee found out about this, he was furious. He managed to keep the mainstream press from finding out about the “problem,” but you were let go by the magazine. He told you that he wouldn’t reveal your indiscretion to his publishing associates so long as you left town and pursued your career elsewhere. He said he would settle the lawsuits privately. On your resume, you say you resigned for “personal reasons.” Having worked with Melee for seven years, you knew that he’d eventually “call in his marker” and ask you for a favor. You decided to have a complete change of scenery and moved to the West Coast. In a trade journal, you saw that Wine Line magazine was looking or writers. You quickly did your research and became a wine connoisseur, impressing editor Charlene Blanc with your knowledge of wines. You were hired and became the magazine’s cabernet expert. The magazine had become one of the definitive sources of information for wine aficionados and its offices were a few miles from the Valley. The writers who worked for Wine Line could make or break a wine’s reputation. About two years later, Charlene hired a new administrative assistant, Sue Veneer. You knew the name because Veneer Vintages had been in the wine business for over 100 years. You’d never featured its wine in articles because you felt they weren’t very good. Talking with Sue, you learned that her parents, Lu and Hugh Veneer, had recently sold the winery to none other than Malcolm Melee. You had tried to put distance between the two of you, but now you would, once again, be in contact with each other - especially since he was specializing in vinting Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc wines. And, you were right about Malcolm calling in “his marker.” Three years after acquiring the winery, he called you and said that he had a new winemaster, Pierre LaPaine. He wanted you to write a glowing review of his operation and his new vintage. He reminded you of the “problem” you’d caused with Melee Magazine and “was certain” that you wouldn’t want your current employer to find out about it. You got the message - a subtle threat. That’s why you began to rave about the quality of Melee cabernets in your articles. You pointed out that the Cabernet Sauvignons had a blueberry aroma mixed with leather and pepper. Charlene frequently quizzed you about the amount of copy devoted to the Melee wines. You lied and assured her that it was warranted. In reality, the wines are good, but not great. However, your endorsement has made Melee’s wines a hot product in the wine marketplace. When you met LaPaine, you realized that he was very temperamental and had to do things his own way. He proudly tells everyone that his process dates back to the Middle Ages. Pierre is quite a historian and was the impetus behind an event that has become a huge promotional success for the winery. Every year during the fall, Melee Vineyard and Winery sponsors and hosts a French Wine Fest. Many winemaking events are featured, including grape stomping. While many people think that grapes were crushed by bare-footed workers, Pierre reported that they actually wore rawhide boots. He had been a student of the Middle Ages for many years and became proficient at making his own garb from cloth and animal hides. To add to the authenticity of the fest, every year Pierre makes rawhide boots for attendees to wear as they participate in grape-stomping competitions. The grape-stained boots are then sold in the gift shop. If you were perfectly honest about the Nippy Valley cabernets, you’d be writing that Cabot Cabernets, owned by Carter Cabot, were superior to the wines produced by Melee. You inadvertently let this slip out one day when you were talking with Cabot. You tried to change the subject, but Cabot became certain that Melee was using unfair tactics to corner the cabernet market. Two years ago, Sue resigned from Wine Line, not telling anyone about her new position. That’s why you were surprised to see her managing the gift shop at the Melee Winery. What could have prompted her to make such a change? Sue even offers visitors free tea. It seems like a kettle is always boiling in the gift shop. A year later, Renee Melee, Malcolm’s only child returned to the Valley to help her father run things. When you worked for Malcolm, he’d had little time for his wife and daughter. He was so involved in the magazine that everything else took a backseat to it. Based upon what you’ve observed, the relationship between Malcolm and Renee is very strained. Frequently, when you are reviewing wineries and vintages in the Valley, you stay the the Nippy Victorian Inn. The innkeeper, Ben Breakfast had purchased the inn three years before and had turned it into the most successful B&B in the Valley. Ben purchases Melee Cabernets as welcoming gifts for his guests. During one of your stays at the inn, another guest looked very familiar to you. You realized it was Leelah Eagle. At first, she didn’t recognize you, but when you told her who you were, she remembered the article you’d written about Stan Milton. You 234 19 Death is a Cabernet, Ol’ Chum Your Role: Ben Breakfast You, Ben Breakfast, are the owner of the Nippy Victorian Inn, the most popular B&B in the Nippy Valley. Born 39 years ago in a small town in the Rocky Mountains, your parents were Pam Kate and E. Benedict Breakfast who owned and operated a small eatery in a skiing town. During your teen years, you waited on tables and helped out in the kitchen of your parents’ establishment. You went to college on the West Coast and earned a degree in computer science. You were intrigued by the potential of new technologies and found a job in the Silicon Valley, explaining and selling advanced equipment to major clients across the nation. You were very successful at what you did, but “burn out” hit and you decided to change your lifestyle. You had a substantial nest egg built up and thought that running an inn in an attractive region would appeal to you. But, to make sure, you decided to work at inns and small hotels at different locations in the West, both to learn the trade and to see how appealing the life was to you. One of the places you worked at was owned by a family with ties to Native Americans. That’s how you acquired your interest in archery. You developed a passion for designing and fabricating your own bows and arrows. You had studied Native American crafts and used local woods, feathers, flint and rawhide to make authentic archery equipment. To do this, you’d soak the hides to soften them. Then, you’d stretch thin strands of rawhide to make bowstrings that would dry and shrink, becoming strong and taut. You’ve even mastered the technique of “barebow,” shooting without a bowsight, stabilizers, or release aides. About five years ago, you found a job at a small hotel in the mountains, the Copper Hotel. You worked hard and learned more about the trade of an innkeeper. That’s when you decided that you wanted to find you own place, 51 Copyright, 2005 MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES, Inc. PO Box 191 _ Cedarburg, WI 53012-0191 262/377-7230 _ jack@pachuta.com www.mysteries-on-the-net.com 6 Here’s what you’ll say when you’re asked to speak. So, the Cabernet King is dead. Things in the Valley will definitely change. You can’t go anywhere around here without hearing the name Malcolm Melee. I just hope that the French Wine Fest keeps going. Pierre has put a lot of work into it and my friends just love the gear he makes from those hides. He’s a real expert at fabricating all sorts of equipment. Ten years in business is quite an accomplishment. I’ve only owned my inn for three years and I know how much work it takes to get recognized as being the best. I wonder what will happen now. Malcolm controlled everything, so I want to let Renee know that I’m here to help her if she needs me. It was quite a gathering last night. I got there about 8:30. A lot of people were mingling with each other. Carter Cabot was talking with Stan Milton over in the corner. It looked as if they didn’t want anyone else to hear what they were saying. The door to the staircase leading to the wine cellar was closed. It can be a dangerous place down there unless you know where you’re walking. Sometimes, you even scrape your head on one of the hides that are hanging from the ceiling. I talked to a lot of people before leaving at about 11:00. The cheese was gone by that time and everything was breaking up. I was shocked when I heard the news this morning. using unfair tactics to capture the cabernet marketplace. You can’t understand why Grigio doesn’t write more about Cabot. When you asked her about this, she hesitated and wouldn’t answer you.Could it be that she realizes the Cabot wines should be getting more positive press? Now, the local newspaper, The Nippy Valley Grapevine, has been saying that Stan Milton, the owner of the MiltMarts wants to purchase the winery and build a new mega-store on the site. You wonder what Milton really knows about the winery. Lately, according to Pierre, the relationship between Malcolm and Pierre has become very strained. Malcolm wants to shortcut Pierre’s vinting process to save money. And, he even confronts Pierre about leaving the lights on. The penny-pinching Malcolm always checks to make sure they’re turned off at night. Pierre is convinced that any change in the vinting process would be disastrous. It sends him into a fury. Last night, Malcolm organized a wine and cheese party to celebrate his tenth anniversary in business. It was open to the public and a lot of people showed up. You made a point of talking with Renee to find the status of her relationship with her father. She wouldn’t open up to you. You felt that was a bad sign. What would happen next? 6 20 so you began contacting real estate companies around the nation. The following year (four years ago), Renee Melee was hired by the hotel. You found out that she was the daughter of Malcolm Melee, the founder and former publisher of Melee Magazine, a definitive source for business information. Renee only spoke in cryptic terms about her father. You could tell they weren’t close, but you didn’t press the issue. The two of you became close friends and you even talked of running an inn together. Three years ago, you told Renee you’d found a property to purchase. She was excited, but her mood changed when you said you were buying a B&B in the Nippy Valley. If was then that Renee told you her father now owned a winery in the Valley near the inn. The property was perfect for you and the sale was too far along to back out, so you bought the inn. Renee told you she’d had no contact with her father since the day she’d left the winery. You didn’t want Renee to exit your life, but she didn’t want to see her father again. You left to take ownership of the B&B, calling it the Nippy Victorian Inn. You asked Renee to follow you. She refused - at least for the time being. When you got to the Nippy Valley, you began reading articles about the Melee Winery in magazines such as Wine Line. Critics began to give Malcolm Melee’s vintages rave reviews. One Wine Line writer, Nina Grigio, regularly mentioned Melee Cabernets in her articles. Because of this, you decided to feature Melee Cabernets as welcoming gifts for your guests. The Cabernet Sauvignon has the aroma of blueberries, leather and pepper. That’s how you met Pierre LaPaine, the winemaster at the Melee Winery. Pierre is the son of the brother of Chantee Melee, Renee’s mother and Malcolm’s deceased wife. Pierre told you that his family had been vintners for more generations than they can count. In fact, the vinting tradition dates back to the Middle Ages. That’s why he was a student of Medieval life and skills. He was also an inveterate archer and even fabricated his own equipment. Clothing and archery equipment made of rawhide requires a unique skill. Rawhide must kept moist prior to working with it. Then, when stretching it to make such items as bowstrings, it must be heated. The shrinkage that occurs afterward creates taut bowstrings and form-fitted clothing. If the rawhide is overheated, it shrinks too quickly and becomes brittle, breaking and tearing easily. Pierre and you see each other regularly. Both of you are members of the Nippy Valley Bowmen who meet bimonthly. You are the president-elect of the organization. The next meeting of the group is this coming Saturday. It was Pierre who gave Malcolm the idea of sponsoring and hosting a French Wine Fest at the winery during the fall of each year. The fest includes Medieval costumes and an archery competition. Many winemaking events are featured, including grape stomping. While many people think that grapes were crushed by bare-footed workers, Pierre reported that they actually wore rawhide boots. To add to the authenticity of the fest, Pierre makes rawhide boots for attendees to wear as they participate in grape-stomping competitions. The grapestained boots are then sold in the gift shop. The wine cellar at Melee Winery is located in a natural cave beneath the main building and extends into the adjacent hill. Pierre cleaned out a small room in the cellar located behind the staircase that leads to the wine tasting area. He uses it as a workroom. Pierre has told you that a bone of contention between Malcolm and him is the hides that are always hanging in the wine cellar. Since the hides cannot be permitted to dry out before being used, the damp environment of the wine cellar is just right for storing them. Pierre often supplies you with rawhide for fabricating your gear. Within a year after you went into business, you’d made the Nippy Victorian Inn the most popular B&B in the Valley. You have hung one of your handmade bows behind the reception desk. Many people ask about it. About that time, a new employee was hired by Malcolm. Sue Veneer became the gift shop manager. You found out that she is the daughter of the previous owner of the winery. Malcolm had purchased it 10 years before and, for her own reasons, Sue had decided to return and work there. She always offers you a cup of tea when you see her. You missed Renee, but, last year, that changed. After a lot of soul searching, she returned to the Valley and contacted her father. She worked for him at the winery and lived with him in the house on the winery’s property. You were happy to see her again. Who could know where it could lead? You only hope that Renee won’t, once again, run from her father. This time, she would be running from you, too. For the past year and a half, a high-powered attorney, Leelah Eagle has been a frequent guest at your inn. You have the feeling that she’s working on some sort of assignment, but you don’t know what it could possibly be. Several times, you’ve seen her in the gift shop at the Melee Winery. Another regular guest is Nina Grigio, the writer for Wine Line. She spends a lot of time in the Valley gathering information for her articles. She continues to extol the quality of Malcolm Melee’s cabernets. The Melee Winery has a number of competitors in the Valley. One of them, Cabot Cabernets owned by Carter Cabot, vints wines that, in your opinion, are as good or even better than Melee’s wines. Cabot has approached you several times about switching your loyalties and using his wines as a welcoming gift. He let slip that he is certain Melee is 234 21 Death is a Cabernet, Ol’ Chum Your Role: Stan Milton You, Stan Milton, are the owner of the Milt-Marts, an empire of mega-sized discount department stores that are mostly located in rural areas across the nation. You were born 52 years ago in Bennotburg, a medium-sized city near the Ozarks. Your parents, Sam and Ann Milton ran a corner store and you were intrigued by the business of retailing. When you graduated from high school, you decided to forego college and open a small store. That led to bigger and bigger stores, and soon you had a vision of saturating the nation with Milt-Marts from your offices located right there in Bennotburg. You have a creative side, too. Even as a small child, you loved to work with oil paints. When you’re not putting together your business deals, you complete works of art. You even stretch your own canvasses. Frequently you paint on hides, heating them so that they are pliable and fit over the wooden framing. Very few people know about your hobby. By the time you were in your mid-20s, you had opened several more stores and your dream was becoming a reality. But, part of business involves the legalities of going to court and filing lawsuits to exert your rights. That’s how you met Leelah Eagle 20 years ago. She was on the other side of a lawsuit that you had filed and she had won impressively. Afterward, you pulled her aside and asked if she’d like to work for you. She said the offer was tempting, but told you she was in the process of moving out on her own. However, she said she’d be happy to accept you as one of her clients. The following year, she did just that. Since then, she’s taken on a variety of assignments for you, many of them have required her to a lot of behindthescenes work. The Milt-Marts began to take off - so much so that, 15 years ago, Melee Magazine, the definitive source for business information in the nation, 51 shopping, you noticed that Sue had a kettle boiling and was offering everyone free hot tea. The visit peaked your interest in acquiring the location - it was perfect. You told Leelah that you would be willing to pay her a substantial bonus if her efforts resulted in deposing Malcolm as owner of the winery and acquiring the land for your Milt-Mart. As you were checking out of the inn, Renee walked in and began talking with Ben. They seemed to know each other extremely well. Shortly afterwards, the local newspaper, The Nippy Valley Grapevine, began running stories saying that you want to purchase the winery and build a new store on the site. You don’t know how this information leaked out. Could someone have seen through your disguise and put two and two together? To your delight, the latest information that Leelah provided to you shows that the winery is in poor financial shape. Melee had paid off so many people that his personal finances have taken a hit. You’re sure he’s too bullheaded to sell the property to you, but perhaps a personal conversation with Renee would work. Malcolm organized a wine and cheese party to celebrate his tenth anniversary in business. It was open to the public and a lot of people would probably show up. You decided to attend the event. It took place last night. One thing was certain, Malcolm attracted a lot of attention. The people who were there either loved him or disliked him. You couldn’t help but think that Malcolm was the only stumbling block in finalizing the plans for the nation’s newest Milt-Mart. Copyright, 2005 MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES, Inc. PO Box 191 _ Cedarburg, WI 53012-0191 262/377-7230 _ jack@pachuta.com www.mysteries-on-the-net.com 6 Here’s what you’ll say when you’re asked to speak. You’ve probably all read the newspaper this morning, so it won’t surprise you that I’m here. The Nippy Valley has been growing so quickly that it’s the perfect place for a new Milt-Mart. Based upon recent occurrences, I believe the property I have my eye on will soon be available. That’s right, it won’t be long before you’ll be able to get the same great merchandise here in the Valley that other people have been able to buy for years. I know you’re as excited about that as I am. One thing you can be certain of - Stan Milton always operates in an ethical manner. Not every businessperson can say that. It bothers me that some people think they’re allowed to do anything they want to do just because they can do it. Well, what goes around comes around. I was interested in meeting Malcolm Melee in person, so I got to the reception about 7:45. The two of us had talked on the phone a long time ago, but we’d never met face to face. The things I’d heard about him were all true. After about 15 minutes, Carter Cabot introduced himself and wanted to talk business. I tried to move on, but he just kept on talking. He should know by now that some things just take a little time. I left about 9:30 and went to my room at the Nippy Victorian Inn, Ben’s place. I’m the kind of person who likes to take matters into my own hands. That’s why I’m here in the Valley. 7 22 contacted you and wanted to feature you in an article. Publisher Malcolm Melee personally telephoned you. He assigned his best writer, Nina Grigio, to the story. You asked Leelah to be present during the interview to ensure that the right words were said. You liked the article and your pace for opening new stores accelerated. No one ever knew when you’d show up and try to acquire land - no matter what was currently on it. Leelah was always involved in helping you close your many deals. You had really liked working with Grigio. And, you were surprised when, three years later, she was fired by the magazine. You wondered what was happening behind the scenes and asked Leelah to investigate. That’s how you began to find out how Malcolm Melee operates. Grigio had been let go because she’d fabricated facts in some of her award-winning articles. Leelah discovered that this wasn’t unusual. Melee had overlooked similar indiscretions by his writers because of the profits they had produced for the magazine. It was only because Melee was in danger of losing a large lawsuit that he’d released Grigio. The more you learned about Melee, the less you liked him. He used contacts throughout the world to his advantage in getting what he wanted. This infuriated you. You sometimes stretch the rules, but you’d never break them. You don’t like people who can’t live by the same standards, and you asked Leelah to start keeping a file on Melee. You were very surprised when Melee gave up publishing 10 years ago to purchase a small winery in the Nippy Valley, Veneer Vintages. Leelah researched the sale and found that Melee had acquired the winery below market value when he pulled some strings behind the scenes to “encourage” other buyers to withdraw. The owners, Lu and Hugh Veneer, had to settle for what Melee had offered. Your empire of mega-marts continued to expand and, because the Nippy Valley was growing by leaps and bounds, about two and a half years ago, you decided it would be the perfect place for your next Milt-Mart. You contacted Leelah and asked her to start looking for land in the Valley on which to build a new store. You wanted her to take a hard look at the Melee Vineyard and Winery. You were pleased when she told you that the location was perfect. Since Melee’s Cabernets had been receiving rave reviews for their quality, you were certain that Melee would be reluctant to sell. One of Melee’s biggest advocates in print was none other than Nina Grigio who now worked for Wine Line magazine. What could the real story be? Another Nippy Valley vintner entered the picture a little over two years ago. Cramer Cabot, a wine merchant who identified himself as the younger brother of Carter Cabot, the owner of Cabot Cabernets, paid a sales call on you. Since you had planned to begin selling wines in the delicatessen sections of your stores, you were looking for a quality wine that could be privately branded with the Milt-Mart logo. You again asked Leelah to handle things for you. One of your concerns was how your customers would perceive the alliance with Cabot rather than with the better-known Melee Cabernets. You’ve paid Leelah a substantial amount of money to find out more about Malcolm Melee’s operation. And, for the past 18 months, Leelah has been feeding you a lot of information. She made regular visits to the Valley. The excellent reviews Melee’s wines receive are because he has paid kickbacks to certain distributors. And, some of the wine critics had been “forced” to give Melee’s wines excellent reviews. A few months ago, you decided to personally scope out the Valley. Leelah recommended that you stay at her favorite spot, the Nippy Victorian Inn, owned by Ben Breakfast. It’s the most-popular B&B in the Valley. You put on a disguise, registered under the name “Milt Stanley” and looked around the Valley. A handmade large bow hangs in the reception area. You took a tour of the Melee Vineyard and Winery. It was lead by Renee Melee, Malcolm’s daughter. You knew she and Malcolm were trying to work out a shaky relationship that dated back to when Chantee, Renee’s mother and Malcolm’s wife, had died. Renee was very personable. You could tell it would be much easier doing business with her than it would be with Malcolm. During the tour, you noticed that hides were hanging from the ceiling of the wine cellar. Renee explained that the winemaster, Pierre LaPaine, was a student of the Middle Ages and had become proficient at making his own garb from cloth and animal hides. He was the impetus for the French Wine Fest that the winery sponsors and hosts each fall. To add to the authenticity of the fest, Pierre makes rawhide boots for attendees to wear as they participate in grapestomping competitions. The grape-stained boots are then sold in the gift shop. Since hides cannot be permitted to dry out before Pierre uses them, he’d found the damp environment of the wine cellar to be just right for storing them. You know how difficult it is to work with the hides because of your art hobby. He uses a small room in the back of the cellar as a workroom. The cellar is located in a natural cave under the main building and extends back into the adjacent hillside. When the tour was over, you were led to the tasting area where you sampled wines, then went through the gift shop, managed by Sue Veneer. Probably nobody on the tour but you knew that Sue was the daughter of the winery’s previous owners. In addition to wines, the gift shop had other items for sale including books on crafts and hobbies. You found one on art and bought it. While you were 234 23 Death is a Cabernet, Ol’ Chum Your Role: Leelah Eagle You, Leelah Eagle, are an attorney-at-law who can figure out a way to make just about anything happen for your clients. You’ve been described as a smart, hard-nosed lawyer who hates to lose. You like that description and do everything you can to live up to it. Born 47 years ago in the Ozarks, you come from a poor, but hard-working family. Your parents were Lila and Lee Eagle, farmers who sold their produce at a nearby farmers’ market in Bennotburg. You have six siblings, all of whom still live close to your parents’ farm. You went to the local community college before finishing off a bachelor’s degree at State College. You’ve always been someone who likes to compete, and the legal profession seemed a perfect career for you. So, you earned your law degree at night from Bennotburg Legal Institute, then passed the bar exam and began practicing law at a local law firm, specializing in business law. That’s how you attracted the attention of Stan Milton, the man who would have a dramatic impact on your life. When you first came in contact with Milton 20 years ago, he was a young entrepreneur with a dream of building a national string of discount mega-retail stores that would be built in rural areas across the nation. He was calling his stores Milt-Marts, and was on the other side of a lawsuit that you litigated. You won impressively. Afterward, Milton pulled you aside and asked if you’d work for him. The offer was tempting, but you told him you were in the process of moving out on your own. However, you told him you’d be happy to accept him as one of your clients. The following year, you did just that. With each case, your reputation grew until you had businesspeople beating down your door. Since then, you’ve taken on a variety of assignments for Milton, many of them have required you to do a lot of behind-the-scenes work. 1 Many winemaking events are featured, including grape stomping. Ben and Pierre see each other regularly because of their interest in archery. Both are members of the Nippy Valley Bowmen who meet bi-monthly. Plus, they both fabricate much of their own gear from wood, feathers, flint and rawhide. A year ago, Melee’s only child, Renee Melee, joined him to help him run the operation. You’ve found out that the two had a history of not getting along because of the way Malcolm had handled Chantee’s death. Renee and Ben seem quite close. The information that Sue has provided to you shows that Melee does a lot of underhanded dealings. The excellent reviews his wines receive are because Melee has paid kickbacks to certain distributors to get his wines prime spots in stores. You also found out that some of the wine critics had been “forced” to give Melee’s wines excellent reviews. A few months ago, Milton decided to personally scope out the Valley. He stayed at the Nippy Victorian Inn under the name Milt Stanley. He didn’t think anyone recognized him. Shortly afterwards, though, the local newspaper, The Nippy Valley Grapevine, began running stories saying that Stan Milton wants to purchase the winery and build a new mega-store on the site. You don’t know how this information leaked out. The latest information that Sue provided to you shows that the winery is in poor financial shape. Melee had paid off so many people that his personal finances took a hit. You’re sure he’s too bullheaded to sell the property to Milton. Last night, Malcolm organized a wine and cheese party to celebrate his tenth anniversary in business. It was open to the public and a lot of people showed up - even Stan Milton. You wondered what would be on the land a year from now. 5 Copyright, 2005 MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES, Inc. PO Box 191 _ Cedarburg, WI 53012-0191 262/377-7230 _ jack@pachuta.com www.mysteries-on-the-net.com 6 Here’s what you’ll say when you’re asked to speak. No comment. That’s right - I can’t reveal privileged information. Any good attorney will tell you that. And I’m not just a good attorney I’m a great attorney. Ask my clients. Who are they? No comment. That’s privileged information. I will tell you this, though, Malcolm Melee wasn’t exactly who you thought he was. He had baggage, if you know what I mean. And if anyone is good at finding out where those bags are located, I am. How do I do it? No comment. Privileged information. Some of you have seen me in the Valley a lot over the past year and a half. What have I been doing? No comment. Privileged information. I arrived at the event last night about 7:45. I didn’t talk to anyone. I find that’s it’s better to listen than to speak - you learn more that way. What did I listen to? No comment. Privileged information. Let’s just say that Malcolm didn’t have too many friends out there. If he was still around, he’d have a tough time keeping that reputation for quality wine. Critics are fickle people. One day they say one thing, the next day they say just the opposite. What did I do last night and when did I leave? No comment. No, it’s not privileged information. It’s just none of your business. 8 24 Milton’s venture began to take off - so much so that, 15 years ago, Melee Magazine, the definitive source for business information in the nation, contacted him and wanted to feature him in an article. Publisher Malcolm Melee had personally contacted Milton. He assigned his best writer, Nina Grigio, to the story. Milton had retained several competent attorneys to help him get what he wanted. You were his favorite, though. You were present during the interview to ensure that the right words were said. Milton liked the article. His pace for opening new stores accelerated and no one ever knew when he’d show up and try to acquire land - no matter what was currently on it. You were always involved in helping him close the deals. Milton had really liked working with Grigio. He was surprised when, three years later, she was fired by the magazine. He wondered what was happening behind the scenes and asked you to investigate. That’s how you began to find out how Malcolm Melee operates. Grigio had been let go because she fabricated facts in some of her award-winning articles. You discovered that this wasn’t unusual. Melee had overlooked similar indiscretions by his writers because of the profits they had produced for the magazine. It was only because he was in danger of losing a large lawsuit that he’d released Grigio. The more you investigated Melee, the less you liked him. He used contacts throughout the world to his advantage in getting what he wanted. When you reported this to the straight-shooting Milton, you could tell he was infuriated. Milton would sometimes stretch the rules, but he’d never break them. He didn’t like people who couldn’t live by the same standards. He asked you to start a file on Melee. He was very surprised when Melee gave up publishing 10 years ago to purchase a small winery in the Nippy Valley, Veneer Vintages. You’d done some research and found Melee was able to acquire the winery below market value because he pulled some strings behind the scenes to “encourage” other buyers to withdraw. The owners, Lu and Hugh Veneer, had to settle for what Melee offered. Milton’s empire of mega-marts continued to expand and, because the Nippy Valley was growing by leaps and bounds, about two and a half years ago, Milton contacted you and asked you to start looking for land in the Valley on which to build a new Milt-Mart. He wanted you to take a hard look at the Melee Vineyard and Winery. He was pleased when you told him that the location was perfect. Since Melee’s Cabernets had been receiving rave reviews for their quality, Milton was certain that Melee would be reluctant to sell. One of Melee’s biggest advocates in print was none other than Nina Grigio who now worked for Wine Line magazine. Could something be going on behind the scenes? He retained you to compile an extensive file on Melee and his operation. Another Nippy Valley vintner entered the picture a little over two years ago. Cramer Cabot, a wine merchant who identified himself as the younger brother of Carter Cabot, the owner of Cabot Cabernets, paid a sales call on Milton. Since Milton had planned to begin selling wines in the delicatessen sections of his stores, he was looking for a quality wine that could be privately branded with the Milt-Mart logo. Milton asked you to handle things for him. One of Milton’s concerns was how his customers would perceive his alliance with Cabot rather than with the better-known Melee Cabernets. You decided that you needed to find out more information about Melee - the kind that only an insider could provide. By monitoring The Nippy Valley Grapevine, you found out that Melee was looking to hire a manager for his gift shop. A idea quickly hatched. You knew that the Veneers had a daughter, Sue Veneer, who might be interested in being your eyes and ears at the winery. Her parents were deceased and, you thought, she might welcome the chance to help. Sue worked as an administrative assistant at Wine Line. You spotted her at a small cafe near the magazine’s offices and sat down next to her. Identifying yourself as a high-powered attorney who hated to lose, you enlisted her help. You told her she would be well compensated for her efforts. Sue got the job and has been feeding you information ever since. About six months later (18 months ago), you paid the first of many visits to the Nippy Valley, and have been a regular visitor ever since. When you are there, you stay at the Nippy Victorian Inn, owned by Ben Breakfast. It’s the most-popular B&B in the Valley. A handmade large bow hangs in the reception area. During one of your stays at the inn, another guest approached you. It was Nina Grigio. You told her you remembered her, but said “no comment” when asked if you still did business with Milton. Sue is frequently alone in the main building of the winery and manages to sneak into Malcolm’s office, making copies of some of his files - both paper and computer - to pass on to you. A few months ago, you told Sue that you would be willing to pay her a bonus if her efforts result in deposing Malcolm as owner of the winery. (Your bonus would be ever larger.) The winemaster at the winery, Pierre LaPaine, is temperamental. Everything must be done his way or he goes into a rage. He and Malcolm constantly butted heads. You found out that Pierre is Malcolm’s nephew, the son of Jacque LaPaine, the brother of Malcolm’s deceased wife, Chantee. Pierre had his own process for vinting excellent wines. He proudly tells everyone that it dates back to the Middle Ages. Pierre is quite a historian and was the impetus behind an event that has become a huge promotional success for the winery. Every year during the fall, Melee Vineyard and Winery sponsors and hosts a French Wine Fest. 234 25 Join us to honor Malcolm Melee The owner of Melee Vineyards whose Melee Cabernet is acclaimed by wine connoisseurs around the world. Here are the details! Place: Date: Time: RSVP: Mysteries on the Net PO Box 191 _ Cedarburg, WI 53012-0191 (262)377-7230 _ www.mysteries-on-the-net.com Murder Mystery Party Be sure to meet and talk with: Pierre LaPaine, winemaster Rene Melee, Malcolm’s only child Carter Cabot, rival vintner Nina Grigio, writer for Wine Line magazine Ben Breakfast, innkeeper Sue Veneer, gift shop manager Stan Milton, owner of the Milt-Mart stores Leelah Eagle, attorney-at-law 26 Dear Colleague: You were invited here to help investigate the death of Malcolm Melee, owner of the Melee Vineyard and Winery. His body was found this morning at the foot of the stairs leading to the wine cellar. At first, his death appeared to be an unfortunate accident, but now we believe it was premeditated murder. Last night, Melee hosted a celebration in honor of the winery’s tenth anniversary. Over the past decade, his small operation has built a record of supplying a quality product, although his surly personality appears to have produced more adversaries than advocates. While here, I need your assistance with the murder investigation. Help me out by meeting and observing the activities of the following individuals: Pierre LaPaine Winemaster. His proven process for making the perfect cabernet was under scrutiny by the penny-pinching Malcolm. Renee Melee Malcolm's only child. She returned to the Valley last year to help her father run the winery. Everyone knew that Malcolm and Renee didn't see vine to vine. Stan Milton Owner of the Milt-Mart Stores. The land on which the winery is located would be a perfect spot for his next mega-sized discount establishment. Nina Grigio Writer for Wine Line magazine. Her discriminating palate can make or break a new vintage. Carter Cabot Owner of Cabot Vineyards. He suspected that Malcolm was using unfair tactics to capture the lion's share of the cabernet marketplace. Sue Veneer Gift shop manager. She sells bottles of Melee Cabernet and assorted trinkets to winery visitors. Ben Breakfast Innkeeper. His B&B, the Nippy Victorian House, is the most popular inn in the Valley. And, a bottle of cabernet is a welcoming gift for all guests. Leelah Eagle Attorney at law. She hates to lose and lately, for some unknown reason, she's been spending a lot of time researching information about the winery. To assist you, I've attached a clue that may be useful. You and the other investigators may want to share what you know to be better prepared for anything that happens. Happy Sleuthing, Lawrence Law Chief of Police LAWRENCE LAW Chief of Police, Nippy Valley 27 Your Clue #1 A confidential source told you that mega-mart entrepreneur Stan Milton is intent on acquiring the 35 acres on which Melee Vineyard and Winery is situated. Milton is convinced that it’s the perfect spot for his next huge discount store. Your Clue #2 Ben Breakfast, owner of the Nippy Victorian Inn, is an avid archer. He even makes his own bows and arrows from wood, flint, feathers and rawhide. Your Clue #3 It’s no secret that Renee Melee had been estranged from her father for many years before returning to Nippy Valley last year. Many local residents are puzzled about her decision to reunite with her father and help him out at the winery. Your Clue #4 Sue Veneer, the gift shop manager at Melee Vineyard and Winery, is the daughter of Hugh Veneer, the former owner of the winery. The property had been in the Veneer family for over 100 years before Malcolm Melee purchased it 10 years ago. Your Clue #5 Rumor has it that Stan Milton is planning on beginning to sell wines in the delicatessens of his Milt-Marts. Carter Cabot’s younger brother, Cramer, is attempting to negotiate a contract that would make Cabot Cabernets the exclusive provider of Milton’s private-label wines. Your Clue #6 The French Wine Fest, sponsored and hosted by Melee Vineyard and Winery each fall was the brainchild of winemaster Pierre LaPaine. It features a variety of wine-related events, including stomping grapes in the traditional Medieval way. Your Clue #7 You’ve noticed that attorney Leelah Eagle spends a lot of time in the Nippy Valley. She always stays at the Nippy Victorian Inn, owned by Ben Breakfast. Your Clue #8 In private, Nina Grigio has admitted to several people that she prefers Cabot Cabernets to those produced by the Melee Vineyard and Winery. If that’s the case, you wonder why she spends so much time extolling the quality of Melee’s wines. 28 Your Clue #9 Several years ago, you stayed at a mountain inn named the Copper Hotel. You are certain that both Renee Melee and Ben Breakfast were employees of the hotel when you were there. Your Clue #10 Malcolm Melee is known to be a real penny pincher. Several people have heard him complain to winemaster Pierre LaPaine that LaPaine keeps leaving the lights on and costing Melee money. Your Clue #11 Because Malcolm and Renee Melee, and Pierre LaPaine are busy with the process of vinting wine, gift shop manager Sue Veneer is frequently the only one present in the winery’s main building to greet visitors and answer questions. Your Clue #12 A few months ago, a friend of yours was taking a tour of the Melee Vineyard and Winery led by Rene Melee. Your friend swore that mega-mart entrepreneur Stan Milton was also on the tour but he was wearing a disguise. Your Clue #13 The label on bottles of Melee Cabernet Sauvignon was designed by winemaster Pierre LaPaine. Because he is a student of the Middle Ages and an expert archer, he chose to put a French bowman on the label. Your Clue #14 You’ve discovered that Leelah Eagle, the attorney who hates to lose, is on retainer from Stan Milton, the mega-mart entrepreneur. Milton wants to open a new huge discount store in Nippy Valley. Your Clue #15 Pierre LaPaine and Ben Breakfast share an interest in archery and in fabricating their own equipment. Both are members of the Nippy Valley Bowmen who meet bi-monthly. Ben, in fact, is the president-elect of the group. Your Clue #16 Carter Cabot, the owner of Cabot Cabernets, has strong evidence that Malcolm Melee has paid kickbacks to distributors and “forced” wine critics to extol the quality of Melee’s Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc wines. 29 Your Clue #17 While on a tour of Melee Vineyard and Winery, you saw Pierre LaPaine enter a small room behind the stairs of the wine cellar. When you asked about the room, you were told that Pierre uses the room as a workshop to make some of the authentic gear for the French Wine Fest. Your Clue #18 Many people who know her think that Renee Melee has never gotten over the death of her mother, Chantee, and the way in which her father reacted to it. Your Clue #19 A local catering service reports that, when Malcolm Melee first began planning the 10th anniversary celebration several months ago, his intent was to serve a complete buffet-style meal to his guests. However, he scaled it back and served only wine and cheese. Your Clue #20 Very few people know this, but Stan Milton is an amateur artist. He even stretches his own canvasses and sometimes creates works of art on animal hides. Your Clue #21 Rumors abound that attorney Leelah Eagle would earn a large bonus from her client if she could find a way to remove Malcolm Melee as owner of Melee Vineyard and Winery. Your Clue #22 Records that you’ve found indicate that the maiden name of Malcolm Melee’s deceased wife, Chantee, was LaPaine. Could it be that Pierre LaPaine, Malcolm’s winemaster, is related to him by marriage? Your Clue #23 Business in the gift shop at Melee Vineyard and Winery has picked up since Sue Veneer took over as manager. One reason she’s a hit with visitors is that she offers them free hot tea. Your Clue #24 When Nina Grigio applied for her job with Wine Line magazine, her resume indicated that she had previously worked as a writer for Melee Magazine. The resume said she had resigned for “personal reasons.” 30 Nippy Valley - Malcolm Melee, the owner of Melee Vineyard and Winery whose Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc wines have become famous around the world, was found dead this morning. His lifeless body was discovered at the foot of the staircase that connects the winery’s wine cellar to its wine tasting area. When Pierre LaPaine, the winery’s winemaster, arrived in the cellar at 6:00AM, he noticed that lights were on and doors were unlocked. Melee, the founder and former publisher of Melee Magazine, purchased the 35-acre property 10 years ago after divesting himself of his interest in the publication. Melee Magazine continues to be recognized as one of the world’s leading business magazines. The death marked a tragic ending to an evening that started as a celebration of Melee’s decade-long ownership of the small winery. At a wine and cheese evening open to the public, Melee talked with the people who packed the winery’s main building. In recent years, his vintages have received critical acclaim, most notably from Nina Grigio, writer for Wine Line magazine. She was present at last night’s event and had only a terse comment this morning. “Of course his death is a shock to me. We’ve known each other longer than most people realize,” explained Grigio, “Tell everyone to read what I have to say in next month’s issue of the magazine. They’ll be surprised at what they see.” Melee’s only child, Renee Melee, who returned to the Valley a year ago to assist her father in running things, would only say that the winery’s future is uncertain. “My fa- Plans for mega-mart move ahead Nippy Valley - Mega-retail store entrepreneur Stan Milton said this morning that his plans to build a new Milt-Mart in the Valley are “full speed ahead.” As previously speculated in this newspaper, Milton has been attempting to acquire property and begin construction of another one of his huge discount stores. “My legal representative has been taking care of the details,” explained Milton, “and she believes that the process now can be expedited.” Although Milton wouldn’t confirm it, sources say that Malcolm Melee, whose body was found this morning, was the final roadblock to Milton’s move. The land on which the Melee Vineyard and Winery sits has long been considered the perfect spot for a large retail store. The wine cellar at Melee Vineyard & Winery. The body of owner Malcolm Melee was found at the bottom of the staircase early this morning. Continued on back page. 31 East Coast - A civil lawsuit against Melee Magazine was filed today on the East Coast, stating that certain stories appearing in the publication were fabrications. The suit further charges that the practice of making up facts to increase circulation has been going on for at least 15 years. Confidential sources state that former owner and magazine founder Malcolm Melee resigned 10 years ago to avoid prosecution about similar assertions. Employment records indicate that many of Melee Magazine’s writers have left its staff in recent years for “personal reasons.” ther was the soul of the operation. I don’t have the tenacity that he had in making us famous. He’d do anything to get the word out about our cabernets. And I do mean anything.” Gift shop manager Sue Veneer reported that, in recent years, the winery has attracted more and more visitors. “The gift shop is doing a booming business,” she said, “And we’ve expanded the selection of items that people can buy. In addition to souvenirs from our annual French Wine Fest, I’ve added a line of books that has something for everyone, from kite flying to knot tying. A lot of our customers just stop by to have a cup of tea and to talk.” LaPaine brushed aside any suggestion that he and Melee were having professional disagreements. “Sacre bleu, non!” he emphatically stated, “He knew that without me the winery would be as it was 10 years ago, vinting mediocre wine that attracted the attention of no one.” Rival cabernet vintner Carter Cabot, owner of Cabot’s Cabernets, sees Melee’s death as a chance for cabernet aficionados to step back and reevaluate the mark etplace. “People should decide for themselves about what makes a quality wine and not take the word of so-called experts,” said Cabot. While Melee’s death appears to have been an accident, authorities aren’t ruling out the homicide. “Many people didn’t like him,” reported Police Chief Lawrence Law, “An investigative report is being prepared.” Magazine sued for fictitious stories get shooting without bowsights or additional guides to help the trajectories of the arrows. The group’s members are all Valley residents, including Melee Vineyard and Winery winemaster Pierre LaPaine who is an avid student of Medieval garb and processes. Many Nippy Valley Bowmen participate in the annual French Wine Fest that is sponsored and hosted by Melee. Because of Malcolm Melee’s death, the fest’s future is in doubt. Nippy Valley - The next meeting of the Nippy Valley Bowmen will be Saturday at 9a.m. at the Valley Target Center reported the group’s president-elect Ben Breakfast. Members of the local group of archery fans meet bi-monthly to hone their marksmanship skills and to share information on how to make their own equipment out of such materials are wood, feathers, rawhide, flint and iron. Many Nippy Valley Bowmen are skilled at barebow, tar- Melee corked Continued from front page. Bowmen meeting set for Saturday Report says penny pinching obsessive Washington, D.C. - A report issued by the government’s Office of Human Behavioral Traits released yesterday states that people who are in financial difficulty start to obsess about the little things that could save them money. “For instance,” said OHBT Director Penny Pinch, “someone who sees his finances start to turn bad for whatever reason might actually stop to pick up a penny on the sidewalk. Or, that person could begin to cut back on such items as heat and electricity to try to squeeze as much out of his money as he can.” Frequently, according to the report, the penny-pinching person will ignore big items that could improve the financial picture and over-react to minor situations that will have no long-term impact on improving cash flow. The report was paid for by a federal grant of $3 million to seven colleges and universities and took five years to complete. Pinch stated the OHBT will continue to coordinate projects that will have profound effects on the nation. 32 Melee Cabernet Labels The front and back labels of the latest vintage of Melee Cabernet Sauvignon must be available to the investigators. Here are three ways that you can do this: 1.) Paste the labels over the labels on bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon wine that you serve during the murder mystery event. Make sure everyone has a chance to examine the labels. 2.) Compile a scapbook of wine labels from your “favorite wines.” Include the Melee Cabernet Sauvignon labels with labels from real wines. Put the scapbook on a coffee table or at a central location in your facility. Make sure all of the investigators have a chance to look at it. 3.) Frame the labels and hang them on the wall. Or, stand the frame up on your bar or on a coffee table in the room. Make sure everyone has an opportunity to look at the labels. You may have another idea. Feel free to do what you think will work for you so long as all investigators have access to the labels. Of course, Cabernet wines should be aged three to five years before they are served. Should any of your guests remind you of this, simply say that this vintage is so good that it “deserves a preview.” This 10th anniversary vintage of Melee Cabernet Sauvignon is certain to tickle discriminating palates and make wine connoisseurs swoon with delight. Continuing a traditional Bordeaux process of wine making, owner Malcolm Melee takes great pride in the quality of his awardwinning products. The soil and weather conditions in the Nippy Valley, complemented by the skill of winemaster Pierre LaPaine, have resulted in a wine that exudes the magnificent aroma of blueberries, leather and pepper. Its medium body with upfront briar fruits and soft tannins make this wine dusty dry leading to a lingering diplomatic aftertaste. The perfect wine to serve with lamb and game, this red wine takes one to a time when ruby-red grapes were crushed into juice by vineyard workers wearing rawhide boots, then aged to perfection in large oaken casks before being served at feasts throughout the French countryside. MELEE VINEYARD & WINERY Nippy Valley Malcolm Melee, owner Pierre LaPaine, winemaster 2008 33 Investigative Report The following facts have been discovered as part of our on-going investigation into the death of Malcolm Melee: Malcolm Melee died of internal cranial bleeding caused by a fractured skull. Melee’s body also had a fractured right hip. Both injuries are consistent with a fall down a staircase. The coroner estimates the time of death to be midnight. The bottom eight stairs of the staircase have marks, gouges and traces of blood and tissue. This is likewise consistent with a body having fallen down the staircase. Horizontal linear bruises were found on Melee’s right ankle and on the talus bone located on the top of Melee’s left foot. Scraps of leather and rawhide were on the floor of the wine cellar scattered from the middle of the staircase to the small room at the rear of the cellar. The lights in the wine cellar were on when the body was found. 34 To solve the case called Death is a Cabernet, Ol’ Chum, answer the following questions: Who killed Malcolm Melee? (Mark the box next to the name of the murderer.) _ Ben Breakfast _ Carter Cabot _ Leelah Eagle _ Nina Grigio _ Pierre LaPaine _ Renee Melee _ Stan Milton _ Sue Veneer Why was the murder committed? How was the murder committed? Which facts led you to this conclusion? What clues did you find on the Melee Cabernet label? Copyright, 2005 MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES, Inc., PO Box 191, Cedarburg, WI 53012, 262/377-7230, www.mysteries-on-the-net.com 35 WARNING! This is “The Denouement.” The following pages contain the solution to the murder. After running off the pages, place them in a sealed envelope. 36 The Denouement To solve this case, three things must be considered: MOTIVE, MEANS and OPPORTUNITY. First, let’s deal with MOTIVE. RENEE MELEE, Malcolm’s only child. Father and daughter have had a difficult time through the years because Malcolm callously handled his wife’s death when Renee was a teenager. Chantee Melee died in an auto accident while Malcolm was negotiating a contract. Rather than return immediately, Malcolm sealed the deal before catching a flight home. Renee was very close to her mother - and very distant from her father. Her latest attempt to mend fences started a year ago when she returned to the Valley to help Malcolm run the winery. Renee also had an ulterior motive for the move. More about that later. Malcolm had mellowed, but could Renee truly forget the past? PIERRE LaPAINE, the winemaster at the Melee Winery. Pierre is the son of Chantee’s brother and is, therefore, Malcolm’s nephew. After marrying Chantee, Malcolm cut off contact with the LaPaine family, who had vinted wines for generations. Pierre brought that expertise to the Valley, along with an interest in fabricating Medieval clothing and gear. He would hang hides in the wine cellar to keep them moist, then heat them and shrink them in his workroom. They were featured at the French Wine Fest, Pierre’s brainchild. Lately Malcolm had begun pinching pennies. He encouraged Pierre to shortcut the vinting process and complained about any little thing that might cost extra money. He constantly reminded Pierre to turn off the lights in the wine cellar. The thought of changing his proven process of winemaking frustrated Pierre. He would not do it! But what would happen if Malcolm persisted? SUE VENEER, gift shop manager at the Melee Winery. Sue is the daughter of Lu and Hugh Veneer, the winery’s previous owners. The property had been in Sue’s family for over 100 years until Malcolm acquired it 10 years ago below market value. Sue now knows that Malcolm worked behind the scenes to discourage other potential buyers. She can’t help but feel that Malcolm had cheated her parents out of a substantial amount of money. Sue took the job at the winery two years ago to serve as someone else’s eyes and ears. The plot thickens. CARTER CABOT, owner of Cabot Cabernets and Melee’s competitor. Carter couldn’t understand why Melee’s wines were being extolled while his wines received no critical acclaim. Then, via his brother Cramer, a wine merchant, he discovered that Melee had used payoffs and pressure to get his rave reviews and market share. Now, though, 37 redemption is at hand. Cramer is in the process of negotiating a contract with Stan Milton’s organization to private-label Cabot Cabernets with the Milt-Mart logo. It would provide exposure and, of course, revenue. NINA GRIGIO, writer for Wine Line magazine. Nina’s association with Malcolm dates back 19 years. That’s when Malcolm hired her to write for Melee Magazine. After interviewing such entrepreneurs as Stan Milton, she was recognized for her writing style, winning awards and gaining notoriety. That’s when she did what many other writers at Melee Magazine were doing - she made up facts in order to make a splash. But, her actions resulted in a massive lawsuit. Rather than fight it, Malcolm settled out of court, fired Nina, and said that he’d tell no one why she was sacked so long as Nina would help him when he asked for a favor. Nina eventually found a job with Wine Line and, when Malcolm bought the winery, he called in his marker. He insisted that Nina give his cabernets excellent reviews. At the risk that her past indiscretion would be revealed, she complied. In reality, Nina feels that Carter Cabot’s wines are better than Melee’s. BEN BREAKFAST, owner of the Nippy Victorian Inn. Ben and Renee are old friends. They worked together several years ago in the mountains at the Copper Hotel. Ben always talked about owning his own inn and when he excitedly told Renee that he had purchased one, she was less than excited to find out that it was near her father’s winery. Yet, last year she moved to the Valley to be with her father - and near Ben. Ben was glad to see her and was anxious to find out where the relationship might lead. And, Ben shares an interest with Pierre. Both are archers, making their own equipment out of wood, rawhide, feathers and flint or iron. They are members of the Nippy Valley Bowmen and Ben is the president-elect. Both are very proficient at working with leather. STAN MILTON, owner of the Milt-Mart mega-stores. Stan feels that the perfect spot for his next Milt-Mart is the land on which the Melee Winery is located. He’s done his research about Malcolm and was thoroughly disgusted with Malcolm’s business practices, so putting him out of business would be a pleasure. He retained someone to keep a file on Malcolm and to find out more about the winery. That’s how he found out that Malcolm’s payoffs and bribes had put Melee Winery in financial peril. Yet, the bullheaded Malcolm would never sell. However, perhaps his only heir, Renee, would. LEELAH EAGLE, attorney-at-law. Leelah met Stan Milton 20 years ago and has been retained by him for special projects ever since. The latest - to get the dirt on Malcolm and grease the skids for the new Milt-Mart. In turn, Leelah recruited Sue Veneer to spy on Malcolm. The gift shop is next to Malcolm’s office and, when Malcolm was gone, 38 Sue would rummage through the office, finding information that was fed to Leelah and, in turn to Stan Milton. Leelah has been promised a huge bonus by Stan if she can find a way to take Malcolm out of the picture. Leelah offered part of that bonus to Sue. So, we have eight suspects and eight motives. Now for MEANS. What at first might look like a tragic accident becomes a homicide when the facts are totally investigated. The injuries to Malcolm’s head and hip were consistent with a fall down the stairs. Malcolm indeed was killed by the fall. But, what caused the fall? The bruises on his legs provide the critical evidence. The investigative report describes horizontal linear bruises on Malcolm’s right ankle and left talus bone. Malcolm was walking down the stairs when something tripped him. The report says that the bottom eight stairs reflected the marks of a fall. Looking at the photo that appeared on the front page of today’s Nippy Valley Grapevine, it’s apparent that the bottom eight steps are in the shadows and a perfect spot for a trip wire that would cause the bruises to Malcolm’s legs. Yet, no mention is made of a trip wire being found. How could that be? How could a trip wire have disappeared? The report mentions scraps of leather and rawhide on the floor to the wine cellar, remnants of Pierre’s work in making his gear and equipment. The photo in the paper confirms their existence. Could they be the means for murder? Talking with either Pierre or Ben, who both are proficient in working with rawhide, it can be determined that rawhide, when placed in boiling water, shrinks quickly and becomes brittle. Yes, the rawhide indeed was the murder weapon. But who would have the OPPORTUNITY to set the trap? Pierre is in the wine cellar often, but he was away from the winery all day purchasing supplies. Ben has no keys to the cellar. He couldn’t have set the trap. Someone else did it - someone who had mastered one additional skill. The rawhide trip wire had to have been tied to the boards of the staircase with slipknots that would release quickly when pressure was exerted on them. The brittle rawhide would then break into little pieces - pieces that blended in nicely with the rest of the rawhide remnants in the wine cellar. But how would Malcolm be encouraged to go down the stairs after last night’s event. 39 That was the easy part. Lately, Malcolm has become very frugal - making sure that all of the lights were turned off at night. If the lights were left on in the wine cellar, he’d have to go down the stairs to turn them off. The photo in the newspaper shows that the light switches are in the cellar. And, Malcolm would never detect the smell of wet rawhide. The label on the bottle of Melee’s new Cabernet Sauvignon says that the wine has the aroma of blueberries, pepper and leather. Yes - leather. The leather smell was well-known to Malcolm and not uncommon in the wine cellar. That’s how, yesterday afternoon someone set a trap. Someone who regularly boiled water and sold books on knot tying cleaned the steps, turned on the lights in the wine cellar, then tied the shrinking rawhide across a shadowy step on the staircase. That same person closed the door to the wine cellar, then left the reception early to be in bed when the trap was sprung, realizing that Malcolm would be the last one to leave so that he could turn out the lights. You did it, SUE VENEER, and you are under arrest!