Death in the Vineyard

“In this next field we have some of our best ‘old’ vines,” said Alexander as Jennifer drove the cart across a wide path between fields. “The Shiraz is a very old grape. Actually it is ancient to the time of the Romans. It is gaining new popularity here as well as in Australia, France, and South Africa. We were the first ones in the valley to return to the ‘old’ grape. Just look down this row at the quality of the plants as they are developing.”

“Jennifer, is that one of your workers lying against the post in the third row over?” asked Aaron pointing to her left.

“It sure looks like someone. Our workers were through in here yesterday. I am not sure who that might be.”

Jennifer stopped the cart as they all peered through the developing vines to their left. All four looked at each other. Jennifer and Alexander had the most puzzled looks on their faces.

“Alexander, do we have anyone in the field at all today?” asked Jennifer.

“Shouldn’t be,” replied Alexander. “Hello.”

There was silence. No movement.

“Hello there.”

“Are you all right?” called Jennifer.

Silence. Still no movement. Again they all four looked at each other. With that Alexander and Jennifer climbed out of the cart and headed under the wires supporting the growing vines. Aaron and Jeff quickly followed.

“Can we help you?” asked Alexander as he leaned over the prone body lying half under the wire with one leg curled half way around a post.

Still no response.

With that Aaron and Jeff leaned in closer. Aaron crawled under the support wire to look at the face visible from the other side.

“Alexander, Jeff, Jennifer, there is no movement of the eyelids,” exclaimed Aaron. “There is no apparent breathing. I think this man may be dead!”

“What!” yelled Alexander as he reached to turn the body over.

“Don’t touch him,” barked Aaron. “Jeff, what to you think?”

“No eye movement, no apparent breathing, the body looks like it has been here over night. There is some sign of dew which dried on some of his clothes. I agree. He is dead!”

Jennifer was already moving back to the cart to grab the cell phone. “I am calling the sheriff’s office.”

While Alexander stood near the body waiting for the sheriff to arrive, Jennifer had returned in the cart to meet the sheriff and  bring him out to the field location. Meanwhile, Aaron and Jeff with only a quick knowing glance to each other, had instinctively begun walking very carefully in wide circles around the scene.

Jeff and Aaron were not new to ‘finding dead bodies.’ They had been involved in several murder cases in Australia where they had been instrumental in helping the police solve the local case.

They moved up one row and down the next. They were extremely careful where they placed their feet so as not to damage anything which might be considered evidence.   Aaron carefully lifted a tuft of grass which seemed to protrude. She found nothing and replaced the grass. Jeff found a plastic drink bottle. He motioned to Aaron who nodded and continued. Jeff made a mental note to be sure the sheriff observed the empty bottle lying about three rows away. They arrived from opposite directions at the mid point of a row which was five rows away from the body.

“See anything?” asked Aaron.

“Nothing,” replied Jeff. “Just that plastic bottle. I want to be certain the sheriff notices. But, I doubt that it will contribute anything. It looks old.”

“Jeff, what is that crumbly substance along the row of plants?” Aaron pointed to the ground just under three plants in the row half way over to where the body lay wrapped around a post.

“It looks like maybe the crumbles that have been excavated by ants working in the ground along here. You know how the worker ants bring those particles up and deposit them in a cone shaped mound around the colony entrance?”

“No. I don’t think that it is from an ant hill. It appears a bit moist. Like it might be a bit oily. Let’s work our way over and check that out.”

As Aaron and Jeff quickly walked to the end of the row they were in, then over two rows, and half way down the row they heard Jennifer’s cart approaching with the sheriff. As they were bending over studying the substance the cart arrived. Jennifer and three people jumped down from the cart. Aaron and Jeff quickly worked their way around to where everyone was gathered near the body still lying on the ground partially draped around a post.