Tastes Like Murder (Cookies & Chance Mysteries Book 1)

by Catherine Bruns

  I was hungrier than I thought. As I plowed through the meal, Grandma Rosa sat down next to me and appeared pleased with herself. She placed her hand gently over the egg on the back of my head. "It still hurts?"

  "A little." I hated to worry her.

  She clenched her fists in her lap. "When I think of what I would like to do with those two crazies—"

  I patted her hand. "It's okay. Josie and I are fine now."

  She grunted. "Josie, maybe. You—no, you are not fine. You tossed and turned all night. I watched you like a hawk. I know why you are upset. It is time for you to choose."

  "How do you know that?" Her comprehension skills never ceased to amaze me.

  She tapped her bony finger against the side of her head. "Old people like me, we have good noggins."

  "Dad too?" I asked.

  She waggled her hand back and forth. "Him, not so much."

  I blew out a long breath. "Grandma, it's not the end of the world, so why am I acting like it? They both want to take me to dinner tonight. That's all. I just have to tell someone no."

  "Who did you decide on?"

  Before I could respond, someone pounded on the kitchen door. Grandma got up to open it, and in walked Mrs. Gavelli.

  "Hello, Mrs. G." I braced myself for an insult.

  "You no hello me." She gave me her best irritated look. "Why you here, sittin' like lazy person?"

  Grandma Rosa mumbled something under her breath. "Crazy old bat. She got hurt last night. How stupid are you?"

  Mrs. Gavelli huffed at me. "You gotta get over to your shop."

  "Gianna's there."

  "Yah, well, you got people looking in windows. They ask if you open. Gianna, she not know what to tell them. And you got no fortune cookies." She glared at me with impatience. "What I gonna do with you?"

  I held up my hand. "Hang on one second." I walked back into the living room and grabbed my purse from the coffee table. With all the excitement last night, I'd forgotten to give my father the fortune cookies he'd requested. I picked up the paper bag, and it slipped out of my hand, cookies spilling onto the table. I hastily shoved them back into the bag and returned to the kitchen.

  I gave the bag to my grandmother. "These are for dad. Remember? He asked for them last night."

  Grandma Rosa grunted. "Your father needs more than fortune cookies. He needs a swift kick to the seat of his pants."

  I handed one cookie to Mrs. Gavelli. "We'll make some fresh this afternoon for you." I prayed she'd take it home to read so that I wouldn't get yelled at again.

  "Let me see." Nope, no such luck. Mrs. Gavelli snapped the cookie in two while I held my breath. She gasped.

  Uh-oh. I flinched as I waited.

  My grandmother leaned over her shoulder. "What does it say?"

  Mrs. Gavelli stared at both of us, her eyes full of wonder. "It say, Your love life will soon be happy and harmonious."

  Darn, maybe I should have kept that one for myself.

  She shook the cookie at me. "How you know about Mr. Feathers?"

  I held back a smile. Ronald Feathers was almost eighty years old and hard of hearing. Like Mrs. Gavelli's husband, his wife had died many years ago. I didn't realize the two of them were an item.

  My grandmother's face confirmed my suspicion. I decided to have a little fun and tapped the side of my head with my index finger. "The spirits must have told me."

  Mrs. Gavelli snorted and pointed her finger in my face. "Psychic powers. But you no scare me. I still tell you what you do."

  I leaned down to give her a kiss on the forehead.

  She looked at me and smiled. Then she pinched my cheek. Hard. "You—you better be good girl. And stay away from my grandson when he home. You no go in the garage with him again."

  "Mrs. G, that was over twenty years ago."

  She waved her hand dismissively. "That what they all say."

  "Go home, pazza." My grandmother spoke with affection.

  Mrs. Gavelli started out the door then turned around. "You no forget, poker tonight. Eight o'clock."

  "I will bring the booze." Grandma Rosa watched her leave then nodded toward me. "She is a flip."

  "I think you mean trip," I said.

  "Yes, that too." She cleared my plate away from the table and put it in the sink. "So we were talking about Mike and the young officer. Who are you going to say no to?"

  I sighed with frustration. "I don't know."

  "You still love Mike. Do not lie to your grandmother."

  "It's not that simple."

  She grunted and opened the dishwasher. "Nothing in this life is simple. You should know that by now. You pushed Mike away many years ago, and you married that clown instead. That is why you are so scared now. You are afraid to make a big mistake again. Remember what happened last time?"

  "I thought Mike had cheated on me. I was devastated."

  "Si, and you spent days crying in your room. Then Colin asked you to go out with him, and you accepted."

  I deftly raised one eyebrow. "So?"

  "So you are afraid the same thing will happen. And you will make a mistake now like you did before." She reached over and patted my hand.

  "Yes." She'd hit the nail right on the head. "You're right. What should I do?"

  She shook her head and smiled sadly. "Sally, my love, I cannot tell you what to do. There is only one way to choose, and you did not do it last time with Colin. You need to do it now."

  "What way?"

  "You have to choose with your heart. Last time, you chose with your gut. Do not make that same mistake again."

  I started to mull this over when chimes from the doorbell sounded in the living room. Grandma Rosa made a face. "It is like the Grand Central Station around here."

  I placed my hand on her arm. "Don't worry. I'll see who it is."

  She pursed her lips and turned away to stack the dishwasher. "No one stays home anymore."

  I glanced through the peephole and was shocked to see Kate standing there with a basket of flowers in her hands.

  She smiled at me with slight hesitation. "Sally, I wanted to see you. I was down at your shop, and Gianna told me you were here. I'm sorry it's so early. Would you mind if I came in for a minute?"

  "Of course not." She swept past me gracefully, sweet lilac perfume pinching my nostrils. Kate was dressed to the nines in a beige, Anne Klein suit with a matching Gucci pocketbook. I might as well have been a homeless person next to her in my worn jeans and T-shirt.

  Kate handed me the flowers. "I hope you're doing better. Officer Jenkins called last night and told me what had happened. He also said you suffered a concussion and Josie dislocated her shoulder." She clucked her tongue as she surveyed my face. "Oh, your poor eye. I'm so sorry I involved you in this."

  I sat on the couch and beckoned her to sit beside me. "It's not your fault. I wanted to be involved."

  She gazed down at the brown shag carpeting, and her lower lip trembled. "It's a very bitter pill to swallow when you find out your own niece is responsible for your daughter's death."

  And I thought I had problems. I couldn't imagine what she was going through. "Have you seen Charlotte?"

  Kate shook her head. "No, and I don't intend to. She's the one who's dead to me now." She stared at me in earnest. "I wanted to thank you for everything you did to help, and once again, I'm sorry for my accusations. I wasn't thinking straight and was too busy listening to the real murderer. It's so hard when you don't know who to trust."

  I leaned back against a throw pillow. "What will you do with the spa?"

  "I'm going to keep the place open." Kate dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. "It will be a good investment. Besides, I hate to think of all those people unemployed. Perhaps my new daughter will want to run it someday."

  "New daughter?" I was puzzled.

  Kate's face lit up. "I've started proceedings to adopt a teenager from China. My attorney doesn't think it will take long to push the paperwork through. I know this seems terribly soon aft
er Amanda, but I need someone to share my life with. I'm not brave enough to be by myself. I'm hoping to fly out next week to meet her."

  "I think that's wonderful. She's a very lucky girl."

  Kate smiled. "Thank you. I know there's a certain amount of risk involved. I mean, she's not a baby or even a toddler like Amanda was. We all have to take chances in this life sometimes. They're necessary to our well-being."

  Interesting how Kate's philosophy applied to me.

  She rose. "Well, I wanted to say thank you and bring you a token of my appreciation. I've arranged for flowers to be delivered to Josie's home as well."

  "That was very kind, but you didn't have to do anything." I got to my feet as well.

  She paused. "I would like to ask you a favor."

  "Of course, anything."

  "I'm planning a memorial service for Amanda this coming weekend at the house. The affair after the funeral was so dry and formal. I want to honor her memory in a special way, by gathering my relatives and a few close friends. Perhaps have a slideshow dedicated to her. I'd love for you and Josie to be there. Please extend the invitation to your entire family as well."

  I touched her hand and smiled. "Of course. We wouldn't miss it."

  "I'd also like you to cater the desserts. I'll need about three hundred cookies. All assorted varieties."

  My eyes popped. "Are you serious?"

  Kate nodded. "Absolutely. Will you have enough time?"

  "We'll make the time." I couldn't wait to run down to the shop and get started.

  "Wonderful." She reached over to give me a hug then opened the door. "Thank you again. I'll be in touch later this week about the order."

  I shut the door quietly behind her. I sank down onto the couch, crossing my legs underneath me and buried my head in my hands. I wanted to call Josie and see what time I should pick her up. She was going to need all of my help this week with the state her arm was in. It looked like my little cookie shop was going to be saved after all. A huge wave of relief washed over me, and I said a silent prayer of thanks. My first worry was over.

  My second problem still remained. I decided to wait and call Josie after I'd made the dreaded phone call. Grandma Rosa was right. I was afraid—so afraid to make another mistake. I'd wasted the last ten years of my life in a mistake. Things would be different from now on. Time to live life to its fullest potential.

  I finally admitted to myself what everyone else already knew. I still loved Mike and probably always would. He'd put my safety first last night when he'd called Brian to rescue me, not able to be there himself. This spoke volumes about him. He was not the same person who once hit a guy for helping me clean soda out of my lap. Maybe if I'd given him a chance to explain the Brenda situation way back when, we'd still be together. I'd never know the answer now.

  However, I wasn't sure love was enough to overcome all of the obstacles still standing in our way. Mike had matured, but there would still be jealousies and insecurities to deal with if we gave it another try. My relationship with Colin had made me gun-shy, and trust no longer came easy. Mike's painful childhood had affected his life in ways I might never fully understand. Could we make it work the second time around? Would love conquer all?

  Then there was Brian. Sweet, sensitive, considerate. He was good at his job, and it was hard not to admire him and his profession. I looked forward to getting to know him on a more personal level. His world appeared orderly and uncomplicated. That in itself was something I longed for—and needed—in my life. He was everything a girl dreamed of. Sparks flew when we were together. I wasn't in love with him yet, but I could envision it happening.

  When I first dated Colin, I'd been on the rebound and anxious to forget Mike. Years later, when he asked me to marry him, I thought I loved him. I'd invested five years in the relationship by then and didn't want to walk away. Had I been responsible for the divorce since I'd brought baggage into my marriage? No, I knew that was Colin's fault. I hadn't been unfaithful like him, but perhaps he always sensed my heart was somewhere else.

  As I leaned over my purse to find my phone, I noticed a single fortune cookie sitting there. It must have rolled over the side of the table when I had spilled the bag earlier. I settled back onto the couch with both the phone and cookie in my lap.

  As I rubbed the cookie between my hands, I marveled at how customers always made such a big deal out of the ridiculous fortunes. Some seemed to consider the words a personal horoscope for them. I'd never been a believer in the little strips of paper or any other type of magic, for that matter. Yet something niggled my brain to read the message inside. Why not? What have I got to lose?

  Holding my breath, I snapped the cookie open. A chill drifted down my spine as I read the words.

  The answer you seek is in your question already.

  Yes, I had known the answer all along. There would be no mistake this time.

  Choose with your heart.

  I ran my hand over the face of my iPhone and scrolled through the contact numbers until I located the desired one. I touched the screen and with bated breath, waited to hear his voice come on the line.

  He answered on the second ring. "Hey, beautiful."

  "Hi. Look, I'm sorry, but I can't make it tonight."

  * * *

  RECIPES

  Fortune Cookies

  2 large egg whites

  ½ teaspoon vanilla

  ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon

  ½ cup sugar

  ⅓ cup flour

  Typed or handwritten fortunes (Make at least two inches long so that you can see where they are when the cookie is folded)

  Approximately 4 ounces chocolate chips for dipping (Toll House, Reese's, or Heath-flavored, whichever you prefer)

  Sprinkles (optional)

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and grease a metal cookie sheet. In a medium sized bowl, stir together egg whites, vanilla, cinnamon, flour, and sugar. The batter should be very loose. If not, feel free to add a few drops of water.

  Scoop about a tablespoon of batter and pour onto the cookie sheet in a circle. Use the back of a spoon to smooth the circle out and make a thin layer to form a medium sized cookie. Only bake a couple of cookies at a time since they harden quickly upon removal from the oven. Bake cookies for about 6-8 minutes, only until the edges begin to brown.

  Remove the cookies from the oven. Then use a thin spatula to remove them from the tray. Immediately place the fortunes in the center and fold the cookie in half. Pinch the open edges inward and together to create the fortune cookie shape. Cookies harden instantly after they are formed, so you want to try to get this right the first time.

  After all cookies have been baked and shaped, melt the entire amount of chips in the microwave for about 30 seconds on medium heat. Afterward, dunk the rounded edge of the cooled cookies into the chocolate. Immediately roll in sprinkles, and let harden. Place on parchment paper. Makes about one dozen cookies.

  Josie's Genettis

  6 eggs

  1 cup vegetable oil

  ¾ cup sugar

  1 teaspoon baking powder

  1½ teaspoon anise extract

  4 cups flour

  Confectioner's sugar and nonpareils

  Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Whisk together eggs, and then add vegetable oil, sugar, baking powder, and anise extract to the mixture. Stir together, then add the flour by small amounts until mixture is no longer sticky.

  Roll out into a rope and then break out into six-inch long sections that should be about the thickness of a pinky finger. Wrap in coils upward like a beehive, and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake for 12 minutes or until the bottom is brown. Cool. Cookies can be frozen in an airtight container to be frosted at a later time or can be dipped in a glaze consisting of ½ cup confectioner's sugar with a few drops of water. Keep adding a few drops at a time until it's at the desired consistency. If the glaze is runny, just add more sugar. After topping, sprinkle with nonpareils before the glaze sets
. Makes approximately three-dozen cookies.

  Grandma Rosa's Braciole

  For the rolled meat:

  1 pound flank steak

  2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped

  ½ cup roughly chopped Italian parsley

  3 ounces pesto

  ¼ cup grated Romano cheese

  Salt and pepper

  Pound meat to desired thinness. Spread pesto on top of meat. Sprinkle salt, pepper, parsley, and grated cheese over pesto. Roll the meat and secure with butcher's twine.

  Pan fry the braciole in olive oil until browned on each side. After meat is thoroughly cooked, submerge the braciole in tomato sauce. Serve over pasta.

  Grandma Rosa's Ricotta Cheesecake

  1 box of yellow cake mix

  2 pounds ricotta cheese, drained (the whole milk kind works best)

  4 eggs

  ¾ cup granulated sugar

  ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare the cake mix according to directions on the box, and pour into a 13x9 inch greased pan. Mix together all the other ingredients. Pour ricotta mixture over the cake mix, leaving the outside edge open. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar and cut into cubes.

  * * * * *

  FREE BOOK OFFER

  Want to get an email alert when the next Cookies & Chance Mystery is available?

  Sign up for our newsletter today

  and as a bonus receive a FREE ebook!

  * * * * *

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Catherine lives in Upstate New York with a male dominated household that consists of her very patient husband, three sons, two cats and dogs. She has wanted to be a writer since the age of eight when she wrote her own version of Cinderella (and fortunately Disney never sued). Catherine holds a B.A. and dual major in English and Performing Arts. She has worn several different hats over the years, including that of secretary, press release writer, newspaper reporter, real estate agent, and most recently auditor. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, shopping, and of course, a good book.