Chris Walker

He knew that if he could just get Robert to confess to murder, Robert's civil suit wouldn't matter and he'd have one less thing to worry about. So far, his recorded phone calls hadn't produced a confession. But what if he could catch Robert off guard in a place where he felt safe? So he asked Robert to meet him at the family ranch near Ripon to discuss their differences.

He knew that if he could just get Robert to confess to murder, Robert's civil suit wouldn't matter and he'd have one less thing to worry about. So far, his recorded phone calls hadn't produced a confession. But what if he could catch Robert off guard in a place where he felt safe? So he asked Robert to meet him at the family ranch near Ripon to discuss their differences.

Robert agreed, and what happened at that ranch has been debated ever since. I should note that Robert denies this story, and I only heard the details from Norma. But as she tells it,

Robert agreed, and what happened at that ranch has been debated ever since. I should note that Robert denies this story, and I only heard the details from Norma. But as she tells it,

Michael looked at the gun uneasily. He should have expected that Robert would have a weapon on him. But Robert handed the gun over to Michael and suggested they do some target shooting while they talked, just like they used to when they were boys. With the gun in his hands, Michael relaxed. He lined up his shot, slowly put pressure on the trigger, and... And it backfired.

Michael looked at the gun uneasily. He should have expected that Robert would have a weapon on him. But Robert handed the gun over to Michael and suggested they do some target shooting while they talked, just like they used to when they were boys. With the gun in his hands, Michael relaxed. He lined up his shot, slowly put pressure on the trigger, and... And it backfired.

And more than backfired, the gun practically exploded in Michael's hands.

And more than backfired, the gun practically exploded in Michael's hands.

Wow, the bullet actually came backwards and grazed him?

Wow, the bullet actually came backwards and grazed him?

So he nearly got shot.

So he nearly got shot.

Wide-eyed and shaken, Michael's hand went to his cheek. It was a minor wound that didn't need medical attention. So he turned his attention to the gun. That's when he noticed the barrel. And it was packed. Somehow, the barrel had been blocked. Michael wheeled on his brother, who stammered and claimed to have nothing to do with the gun jamming. But Michael didn't buy it.

Wide-eyed and shaken, Michael's hand went to his cheek. It was a minor wound that didn't need medical attention. So he turned his attention to the gun. That's when he noticed the barrel. And it was packed. Somehow, the barrel had been blocked. Michael wheeled on his brother, who stammered and claimed to have nothing to do with the gun jamming. But Michael didn't buy it.

As he got in his car and sped away from the ranch, he vowed to never go near his brother alone again. Not without witnesses. Because the episode had underscored something fundamental for Michael. By gavel or grave, one of them would take the fall. On the next episode of Blood Vines, a Cracker Jack agent with a background in white-collar crime joins the murder investigation.

As he got in his car and sped away from the ranch, he vowed to never go near his brother alone again. Not without witnesses. Because the episode had underscored something fundamental for Michael. By gavel or grave, one of them would take the fall. On the next episode of Blood Vines, a Cracker Jack agent with a background in white-collar crime joins the murder investigation.

But his discoveries only amplify the fear and uncertainty within the Luchardi clan.

But his discoveries only amplify the fear and uncertainty within the Luchardi clan.

And when brother faces brother, who will come out on top? That's coming up on Episode 6 of Blood Vines. Blood Vines is a production of Fox's Basink. Our executive producers are Laura Krantz and Scott Carney. Story editing is done by Alicia Lincoln and Laura Krantz. Blood Vines is scored and mixed by Louis Weeks. I'm your host and creator, Chris Walker.

And when brother faces brother, who will come out on top? That's coming up on Episode 6 of Blood Vines. Blood Vines is a production of Fox's Basink. Our executive producers are Laura Krantz and Scott Carney. Story editing is done by Alicia Lincoln and Laura Krantz. Blood Vines is scored and mixed by Louis Weeks. I'm your host and creator, Chris Walker.