Muffins and Mobsters

by Leena Clover

  “How are you holding up, Jenny?” he asked kindly.

  Jenny shrugged, swallowing a lump in her throat. She had plodded through the day somehow but it was all coming back to her.

  “I’ll have the usual, please,” she told Chris.

  Chris packed a pound of shrimp and three fillets of the catch of the day.

  “The catch just came in,” he assured her.

  Jenny took the package without a word and started walking back home.

  A stream of big black SUVs suddenly passed her, stirring up a cloud of dust. Jenny stopped in her tracks, thrown aback by the onslaught. The car windows were so dark it was impossible to see inside. The lead car screeched to a stop with a spin of its tires. The other cars followed suit.

  A man jumped out of the car at the front and summoned Jenny.

  He was tall and wide and his gigantic belly wobbled every time he moved. He wore a dark shirt and trousers and a black leather jacket. He held out a small piece of paper and asked Jenny for directions.

  “What’s the holdup, Six Pac?” a high pitched voice demanded from inside.

  “Just a minute, Boss!” the man yelled, snatching the paper from Jenny’s hands.

  “Thanks, doll,” he crooned as he climbed back into the car and slammed the door.

  The tires spun again and the cars sped off, leaving Jenny standing in the middle of the road, her mouth hanging open.

  Chapter 4

  Jenny began her day at the Boardwalk Café the next morning.

  She chopped sweet peppers for her crab omelet. It was the most popular breakfast special at the Boardwalk Café. She tore off some fresh dill from a bunch and ran her knife through it.

  She heard someone come into the café and went outside to take their order. Adam Hopkins stood in his uniform, his hands behind his back.

  “Morning, Jenny,” he greeted her. “How about a spot of breakfast?”

  “Why not?” Jenny said sweetly. “This is a café, after all.”

  She pulled out a pad and pencil from her apron pocket and asked Adam for his order.

  “I’ll have whatever you are cooking,” he grinned.

  Jenny refused to smile back.

  She went in and started cooking the omelets. She toasted some whole grain bread while the eggs cooked and put everything on a tray. She added small pots of butter and preserves. She placed the tray before Adam with a bang.

  “Thank you,” Adam said, picking up his knife and fork.

  Heavy footsteps sounded outside. A group of men came in with much fanfare. Jenny assumed they were tourists.

  A brown haired man of medium height strode into the café. He wore a three piece suit the color of butter cream. A fedora sat on his head and a cigar dangled from his lips. He was flanked by three men, all wearing neatly pressed shirts and trousers and leather jackets. Jenny recognized the man who had asked her for directions.

  “There’s no smoking in here,” she said.

  “Relax, sweetheart,” the guy wearing the hat said. “It’s not lit.”

  His high pitched voice grated on Jenny’s nerves.

  “Can I get you a table?” she asked.

  The man in the hat held out his hand.

  “Vincenzo Bellini,” he offered. “Call me Vinny.”

  “Hello,” Jenny nodded.

  She was feeling mystified.

  “I’m here to talk about my Ma.”

  “I’m sorry, but I don’t know your mother.”

  “Sure you do,” Vinny said. “She owned this café, didn’t she?”

  “What nonsense!” Jenny exclaimed.

  The three men flanking Vinny sprung into action. Jenny found herself surrounded by them all of a sudden.

  “Hey, hey, take it easy, boys,” Vinny drawled. “We’re just talking here.”

  “My Ma ran this café for twenty five years,” Vinny spoke up. “I’m here to take her home.”

  Jenny sat down with a thud.

  “Are you talking about Petunia?”

  Vinny nodded.

  “That’s the name she went by here. But her real name was Leona.”

  “I didn’t know Petunia had a son,” Jenny explained. “She, err, didn’t mention she had any kids.”

  “She had two boys,” Vinny said in a matter of fact voice. “The other one lives in California.”

  Adam stood up and cleared his throat. Jenny had forgotten all about him.

  “See you later, Jenny,” he said meaningfully and walked out of the café.

  Jenny turned back to the man called Vinny.

  “How can I help you?”

  “I don’t need your help, sweetheart. I’m just here to take my Ma home.”

  “How about some breakfast, doll?” one of Vinny’s posse spoke up.

  Jenny finally looked at him and tried not to wince. He had a scar on his face, extending from his mouth in a line parallel to his eyes. It looked like a sneer.

  Vinny let out a string of expletives.

  “Smiley here’s been hungry all morning. You think you can feed him something?”

  “Sure,” Jenny stammered. “How about a blueberry muffin?”

  Jenny brought out a basket of muffins and poured fresh coffee. She made omelets for the lot. She had spotted a gun poking out from Smiley’s jacket when she poured the coffee. Her hands shook when she placed the platters of food before them.

  “Relax, doll,” the man called Six Pac said. “We are not here to hurt you.”

  “Unless you whacked my Ma,” Vinny laughed.

  “Of course I didn’t,” Jenny bristled.

  The men finished their food and stood up to leave. Vinny put a 100 dollar bill on the table.

  “We’ll be in touch,” he nodded.

  Jenny heard tires squealing outside and guessed the men had left in their big black cars. She pulled her apron off and almost jogged to the police station.

  Adam was standing in the lobby, reading a file.

  “Let’s go in,” he said, ushering her into his office.

  “What’s going on?” Jenny asked him, her hands on her hips. “Who were those men?”

  Adam leaned back in his chair and put his arms behind his head.

  “The mob has arrived in Pelican Cove, Jenny.”

  “What are you talking about?” Jenny asked, puzzled.

  “Vinny ‘Twix’ Bellini is the scion of the infamous Bellini family.”

  “Infamous for what?”

  “They are a mob family from New Jersey,” Adam said coolly. “Enzo Bellini is the head of the family. They call him the Hawk. He’s over 85 but he still calls the shots.”

  “What are they doing here?”

  “Didn’t you hear what Vinny said?” Adam asked her. “Petunia was his mother.”

  “You really believe that?”

  “I have been reading up on them since last night,” Adam sighed. “State authorities notified us as soon as the Bellinis entered Virginia. Petunia Clark was actually Leona Bellini, Enzo’s daughter and Vinny’s mother.”

  “Are you saying Petunia was a criminal?”

  Adam shook his head.

  “There is no record of that. Petunia just came from a crime family. I am guessing she wanted to escape from it.”

  “You’re saying she came to Pelican Cove to get away?”

  “Looks like it.”

  “Why are they here? What am I supposed to do?”

  “They are her next of kin,” Adam said reluctantly. “I suppose they are really here to take her back.”

  “How can they roam around freely if they are criminals?”

  “The Bellinis went legit long ago,” Adam explained. “They have a string of different businesses – laundries, pizzerias, meat shops – you name it.”

  “They are carrying guns, Adam,” Jenny burst out. “I saw a gun poking out from one guy’s jacket.”

  “He probably has a permit for it.”

  “Is that all you are going to say?”

  “Look. I don’t think they
are here to make trouble. They will be gone before you know it.”

  “I hope you’re right, Sheriff,” Jenny muttered and walked out.

  She crossed the road and knocked on Jason’s door.

  “Jenny!” Jason greeted her with a smile. “I was just about to call you.”

  “Do you know what’s going on in town?” Jenny asked, her chest heaving.

  “The Bellinis are here,” Jason said calmly.

  “You knew?” Jenny exclaimed. “It’s all true, then.”

  “I’m afraid so,” Jason said with pursed lips.

  “Did we know Petunia at all?” Jenny wailed. “Wait, that wasn’t even her real name.”

  “You need to calm down, Jenny,” Jason soothed. “Whatever her name, she was your friend.”

  “Was she?”

  Jason opened a file in front of him.

  “The Magnolias meant a lot to her. She left specific instructions for you regarding her last wishes.”

  “I don’t think Vinny’s going to like that.”

  “He doesn’t have a choice in the matter,” Jason said.

  “How long have you been her lawyer, Jason?” Jenny asked.

  “For a while. Why?”

  “Who else did she hang out with other than us?”

  “Honestly, the only people I have seen Petunia talking to were your aunt and Betty Sue. And the people who came into the café, of course.”

  Jenny told him about the man Petunia had supposedly met every month.

  “That’s news to me,” Jason admitted. “Sounds a bit hush-hush, meeting someone at five in the morning.”

  “Looks like she was a pro at hiding stuff,” Jenny said bitterly.

  Petunia had deceived them all and Jenny wasn’t happy about it.

  “Don’t be too hard on her, Jenny,” Jason sighed. “Maybe she didn’t have a choice.”

  Jenny returned to the café with a heavy heart. There was a mad rush at the café for lunch and Jenny barely had a minute to spare. Vinny and his posse came back for lunch. Jenny knew they had very few choices to eat out in Pelican Cove. That meant they were living somewhere in town.

  Jenny talked to Captain Charlie later that day.

  “I’m trying to make a list of Petunia’s friends. Did you see her talking to someone in particular?”

  “Your aunt and Betty Sue were about the only friends she had,” Captain Charlie said. “And you young girls, of course.”

  “She must have had other friends in town?” Jenny persisted.

  “I don’t think so,” Captain Charlie said. “Say. What’s this I hear about some thugs claiming they knew our Petunia?”

  “It’s true.”

  Jenny gave Captain Charlie the short version. He whistled in amazement.

  Jenny went to the café early the next morning. She made coffee and put a batch of muffins into the oven. Then she took a photo of Petunia and went out on the beach.

  A few runners appeared at one end. Jenny stopped them and showed them the photo.

  “Did you see this woman talking to anyone on this beach?”

  Her first few attempts were futile. A woman walking a golden retriever seemed eager to chat.

  “Everyone knew Petunia. It’s a shame what happened to her.”

  “Do you come here often?” Jenny asked.

  “Every morning, come rain or shine,” the woman boasted. “This guy won’t let me sleep,” she said, ruffling her dog’s coat. “We usually hit the beach by 5:30. Sometimes even before that.”

  “Have you ever seen Petunia walking around?”

  “Sometimes,” the woman nodded. “She used to sit on a bench, watching the sun come up.”

  “Did you see her talking to anyone?”

  “We chatted sometimes,” the woman nodded. “That is, when she wasn’t hanging out with that friend.”

  Jenny tried to curb her excitement.

  “Is he local?”

  “I guess,” the woman shrugged. “Must be, right? I’ve seen him here plenty of times.”

  Jenny thanked the woman and hurried back to her café. She was sure the mysterious ‘P/W’ did exist. Now she just needed to find out who he was.

  Jenny served a few people and put a fresh batch of muffins in the oven. She stepped out on the beach again, armed with Petunia’s photo.

  Her queries yielded some more information this time. She could barely wait for the Magnolias.

  The women were seated on the deck, sipping their mid-morning coffee.

  “Guess what I found,” Jenny said, her eyes shining. “I’m sure ‘P/W’ is a guy. Tall, dark, probably a local.”

  “That doesn’t tell us much,” Molly complained. “Could you be more specific?”

  “That’s all I found out,” Jenny said glumly.

  “Who’s that?” Heather said suddenly.

  She had spotted Vinny and his posse on the beach. Vinny was walking a beagle, dressed in a suit and his signature hat. The leather jackets tagged along behind him.

  “Aren’t they staying at the Bayview Inn?” Jenny asked.

  Vinny looked up just then and waved. He came up the steps to talk to the women. Six Pac took the leash from him and scooped up the beagle in his arms.

  “Howdy ladies,” he greeted them. “That lawyer fella told me what my Ma wanted. I’m cool with it.”

  Star looked at him with interest. Betty Sue had dropped her knitting and was muttering something under her breath.

  “Do you know someone called ‘P/W’?” Jenny asked suddenly.

  “What kinda name is that?” Vinny asked. “Never heard of him.”

  “Looks like your mother knew him or her.”

  “My Ma walked out on me when I was 17. I never saw her after that. She might have known Spiderman for all I know.”

  “I’m sorry,” Jenny said.

  “It’s not your fault, sweetheart.”

  Vinny turned around and walked down the steps. Jenny saw him take the beagle in his arms and hug it as he walked away.

  Why had Petunia deserted her family? Did it have any bearing on why someone shot her?

  Chapter 5

  The rays of the setting sun bathed the garden at Seaview in a golden glow. In her newly renovated kitchen, Jenny tore basil leaves and added them to the pasta salad. The fish had been pan fried in a lemon butter sauce. Star’s favorite shrimp had been tossed in the same butter and sprinkled with Old Bay seasoning. It was the signature spice of the island. No meal was complete without it.

  “Dinner’s ready,” she called out.

  Star and Jimmy Parsons walked into the dining room, hand in hand. Jimmy had been better known as the town drunk for several years. His family owned the Pelican Cove light house and a small piece of land attached to it. Jenny had discovered Jimmy’s feelings for her aunt. He had cleaned up his act and had been sober for a while. Star reciprocated his feelings and the two had become inseparable.

  “This salad is delicious, Jenny,” Jimmy complimented her.

  They were halfway through the meal when Jimmy asked Jenny about Petunia.

  “Any luck?”

  Jenny shook her head.

  “Did you know Petunia had family in New Jersey? Apparently, they are a different kind of family.”

  “They are living in one of my cottages,” Jimmy disclosed.

  Star looked at him in surprise.

  “You never told me that.”

  “I didn’t know myself,” Jimmy admitted. “Some girl called me claiming to be assistant to the head of a company. Said he wanted to spend some time on the Shore. I had no idea who was going to turn up.”

  “So that’s where Vinny is staying,” Jenny muttered.

  “Him and his posse,” Jimmy nodded. “They paid up for two months in advance.”

  “Two months? What are they going to do here for that long?”

  “No idea.”

  “Do you think this man Petunia met secretly might have been Vinny?” Jenny asked her aunt.

  “What man?” Ji
mmy asked, cutting a big chunk of his fish.

  Jenny told him about the entries in Petunia’s diary.

  “Someone on the beach must have seen them.”

  “I asked a lot of people,” Jenny explained. “All I know is he’s some tall, dark guy. That could be anyone.”

  “Don’t forget ‘P/W’,” her aunt reminded her.

  “What’s that?”

  “That’s how Petunia referred to the meeting in her diary,” Jenny told Jimmy. “We have no idea what they mean.”

  “They could be initials of the person,” Jimmy said.

  “I never thought of that!” Jenny exclaimed. “Where’s the phone book? Maybe this person is listed in it.”

  “Shouldn’t take long,” Star said. “How many people have a name starting with W anyway?”

  Jimmy had cleaned his plate. He pushed it away and sipped his lemonade.

  “Wait a minute. I know a ‘P/W’.”

  “What?” Star and Jenny cried together.

  “Peter Wilson,” he said flatly. “You know him well, Star.”

  “The auto shop guy?” Star scoffed. “Why would Petunia go and meet him at 5 in the morning?”

  “The initials match,” Jimmy reminded her.

  “Who is this guy?” Jenny asked.

  “Car mechanic,” Jimmy said, draining his lemonade. “Has an auto shop in town – Wilson Auto Shop? You must have seen it, Jenny. It’s about a quarter mile on your left when you drive off the bridge and enter Pelican Cove.”

  Jenny had never noticed the auto shop.

  “Petunia hid a lot from us,” Jenny reminded her aunt. “Who knows what business she had with this Wilson guy?”

  “Only one way to find out,” Jimmy said.

  Jenny was at the Boardwalk Café at 5 AM the next morning. Star arrived a couple of hours later to help her.

  Jason Stone walked in after the breakfast rush had abated.

  “Just the man I wanted to see,” Jenny squealed.

  Jason gave her a dubious smile. “What’s going on, Jenny?”

  “Do you know a Peter Wilson?”

  “The car mechanic? Sure. Almost everyone in town knows him.”

  “Can you go with me to meet him?”

  “Your car acting up? Why don’t I take a look at it?”

  Jenny shook her head.

  “My car’s fine. I’ll bring you up to speed on the way.”