As waves of moist air from the Pacific ocean press inland over California’s coastal range, the climate becomes ideally suited for growing wine grapes. It is hot in the summer, foggy and cool in the winter, and beautiful year-round.

An ever changing veil of grape leaves that slowly turn from green to golden yellow with the coming of the harvest cover the valleys and their flanks. Pine trees and oaks blanket the upper reaches of the low mountains that cradle world renowned merlots, chardonnays, and zinfandels.

It is in this setting that David Johnnson has decided to put down roots, and use a significant portion of his vast wealth to recreate a noted French architectural landmark in the heart of California’s wine country as a home for his burgeoning art collection.

When an obstacle presents itself that must be removed, he finds an architect to help get back on track. Neither man can know the ways in which their lives will be changed because of the construction of Chateau du Mont-Merat.

“Répondez s’il vous plaît” for your journey into a murky nexus of wealth, architecture and fine art that culminates in a grisly murder.

Someone is going to die and it won’t be an accident.