Logan answered. “If it was an accident or not.”
Brice raised a brow. “Just by these two photos?” Logan nodded. “I love a challenge. Okay. This a wine cellar, and it doesn’t look like the fire actually hit the barrels of wine or the racks. However, you do see some fire damage along this side wall.”
“Yes, I saw that too,” Cori stated, trying to keep in the conversation.
“But the bottles are on the ground. What do you suspect, Cordelia?”
She wasn’t going to give the truth. Instead, she was going to play dumb and repeat what the police report said. “I think the heat from the fire caused the bottles to explode.”
It didn’t take long for Brice to disagree. “That’s impossible.”
“Why?” Cori asked.Give me something I can work with.
“If it were the heat, the corks would’ve popped. Look at the bottles. First, the corks are intact. Second, the bottles are on the ground, which tells me they were removed from the racks and either stomped or crushed on purpose. Third, if you look at the floor, it’s covered in wine. Then look at the wall where the fire was. See how the wine covers some of where the fire was, even on the floor. That meant the fire took place first and was extinguished. Then the bottles were destroyed to make it appear that it happened during the fire.”
Cori hadn’t noticed that. She was just going on gut instinct, but it was nice to know someone else viewed this as intentional. But that raised other questions. When did the fire in the cellar take place? It couldn’t have been at the same time as the fire in the vineyard fields or whoever set it would’ve been killed just like her grandpa. But the police report states it was the same time.
She always knew there had been a major cover-up. Now she had proof. Of course, she didn’t have anything that linked James to the fire. One step at a time.
Cori smiled at Brice and said, “I’m glad you’re not playing with us, because I’m sure we would lose.”
“I’m not into games, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t like to get to know you a bit better. Logan, why don’t you bring Cori to Sunday brunch at my house?”
She saw Logan smile but knew he wasn’t keen on the idea. That’s too bad. You started it. Cori reached out, covered his hand with hers, and gave him a beaming smile.
He didn’t agree. Instead, he said, “I think Bennett wants to meet me then.”
Brice asked, “Here or in Ta—”
“Off-site,” Logan said quickly.
Cori wanted to know what Brice was about to say when Logan cut him off. Whatever it was, Logan didn’t want her to know. That only made her more inquisitive. Haven’t figured that out about me yet have you, Logan?
Brice finished his beer and got up. “Cordelia, I hope to see you again.” Then he turned to Logan. “We’ll talk later tonight.”
She knew it had to do with whatever Logan was hiding. She should be happy Brice confirmed her suspicions, but now her mind was on overload, telling her the biggest story of her life was hidden in something that started with Ta. And I’ll find out. I don’t give up.
Once alone, Logan said, “Looks like you were right. That fire wasn’t an accident.”
“Now I just need to find out why the police made it look like it was.”
“I have the resources to help with that if you’ll allow me to.”
“Would that be Bennett? Because I thought you said he was... off-site.”
Logan shot her a look then turned away. If she had any doubt before that Bennett’s whereabouts was confidential, he just confirmed it. “He’s always accessible.”
“Then let’s see what he can come up with.” And I’ll be doing the same on him.
She did find some comfort in knowing no matter what was going on in Logan’s life he was still there trying to help her. It wasn’t something she was accustomed to. But having someone care is something that could grow on me.
Cori needed to remind herself that once it came out who’d had Joe killed, whatever this was between them would end. They would be standing on opposite sides, and forgiveness was a wall too thick to break through.