Black Mallard

The Case of '92 Mallard

Warning: The events related below are particularly troubling and involve a bit of nastiness not suited for young readers. The full particulars of the events may be obtained via FOIA requests with the relevent government agencies. For legal purposes, we cannot directly name them and will refer to them simply as "The Bureau".

 

In August 2022, Kathy's Wine Shoppe received a shipment of rare '92 Petite Sirah (red wine) from the Black Mallard Orchard. Fortunately, none of the bottles were sold or distributed. It was during the initial tasting that the full horror was discovered and subsequently turned over to the authorities.

About the Orchard

The orchard is located off State Highway 47, 10 miles southeast of Okaso. There are a series of bluffs making ideal growing conditions for grapes. And they pride themselves on a hardy variety, too. Their Petite grape was a cross-breed of Durif and Burgundy, similar to what is harvested in the Russian River Valley.

 

1992 was very special, as the summer sun and rain produced grapes of high tannins and the right mix of acidity for long-life wines. Indeed, that year the orchard won several awards including the Mid-Atlantic Choice Award. It also was the front page article in Special Tastings magazine.

The Discovery

While it is possible to purchase wine during tours, what you see at stores is from a commodities and distribution network. Kathy's Wine Shoppe has to tap into these as well as autions for their stock. One of the three ladies is always on tour, hunting for flavors to wow the local market.

 

The three cases were purchased sight-unseen due to reputation. The Bureau has since established a chain of custody but so far it has appeared these bottles didn't change hands and were kept in storage 30 years until this purchase. Close inspections showed no tampering or altering of corks. The wine came in prestine shape.

 

As tradition with the three ladies, they reserve the first bottle to themselves. It wasn't until they poured their glasses did they noticed a tink-tink sound in the bottle. Getting more curious, they emptied more and from the very bottom they found the disgusting source of the sound.

Fish Hooks

In each bottle they found a fish hook attached to what appeared to be a bit of bait. 36 bottles (12 to a case), 36 fish hooks. The ladies immediately reported it to the police and because this involved interstate commerce, The Bureau got involved.

 

Worse, the investigation fast became one of Missing Persons and possible Homicide.

 

That small, fleshy substance attached in the fish hooks wasn't a worm or any  other kind of bait. Lab tests confirmed it was human. Further DNA analysis link it to a man not seen since 1992, a seasonal worker at Black Mallard Orchard and a member of the Sunset Beach Club.

Drinking Group

The Sunset Beach Club was nothing more than an excuse for a bunch of young men to meet at the beach and drink. There isn't much else to do in Herrington.

 

Keyon Schmidt was one such man. He worked at the orchard and in the off season delivered groceries. If there was a Help Wanted sign, you could be sure he'd apply.

 

The summer of 1992, Keyon disappeared after a falling-out with his group. Apparently there was a fist fight on Olgeby Beach. Both he and another man were charged with disorderly conduct and let off with a warning. Keyon reportedly told the police office he was moving out of town asap to get away from "this cult" (his words).

 

He was never seen again. It was assumed Keyon did leave town. The rest of this glorified gang slowly vanished into the woodwork as well, only not so sudden. Whatever secret Keyon had, he took it with him.

Unanswered Questions

There are a lot of unanswered questions.

 

The Bureau's investigation with Black Mallard Orchard didn't turn up anything. Nobody currently working there remembers Keyon. The personnel records were kept on paper back then and those are lost to time.

 

Keyon's one-room apartment was emptied with help from his former friends when he went away. His landlord (an elderly woman) has since passed.

 

In short, it's all a dead end, sadly. The wine bottles, the hooks and whatever was stuck in them are locked away.

 

There are other bottles from that year out in the wild. So far, nobody has reported anything odd about them.