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.
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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.”
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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.
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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.”
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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!
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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!
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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
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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
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MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES, Inc.
PO Box 191 _ Cedarburg, WI 53012-0191
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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
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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!