From Mangia to Murder (A Sophia Mancini ~ Little Italy Mystery)

by Mickelson, Caroline

  “No one, Zio Nunzio.” Sophia forced herself to smile, her nerves stretched about as far as they could. “Are you enjoying yourself?”

  “I was until I heard that someone was threatening you.”

  “No, no, Zio Nunzio, no one is threatening me,” Sophia hastened to assure him. She had to raise her voice so he could hear her. A few people began to quietly converse again but the majority of the room was still watching and listening to them, not even trying to hide their curious stares. “You misunderstood me.”

  “No I didn’t, young lady.” Her uncle drew himself up and puffed out his chest indignantly. “I clearly heard you and Angelo making plans to--”

  “Hey, Sophia,” her cousin Andrea called from the back of the room, “Tell us who’s harassing you and we’ll put a stop to it. Just say the word.”

  Sophia groaned. Sometimes a large, loving family was a heavy burden to bear. But Andrea and several of her other cousins were just home from the war so they deserved their fun, even if it was at her expense.

  “Give us a name, Sophia,” another cousin shouted out.

  “Vincenzo.” It was Zia Mirella again. “She said she wants to get rid of Vincenzo. I heard her.”

  Her aunt sounded entirely too proud of herself.

  “Do something,” Sophia whispered to her brother.

  Angelo grabbed a spoon from the nearest table and tapped it against his wine glass until the room grew quiet again.

  “Sophia and I want to thank each of you for coming today to help us celebrate the opening of our new business venture.” Angelo waited until the applause quieted. With all eyes on him, he continued. “Everyone here knows that I’m dealing with memory issues. While it’s a struggle, I know it’s a small price to pay when so many of our loved ones gave their life for the Allied cause.”

  His words were followed by an unorchestrated moment of silence. Several of the women in the room made the sign of the cross.

  “I fight to hold onto details and it feels like a losing battle some days, but the one thing I have never forgotten for a single moment was the love and support of the people in this room. You were there for my late wife Charlotte when I couldn’t be.” He paused for a moment and took a deep breath. “And you were always there for Luciano and Sophia too. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”

  “Papa, don’t cry. It’s okay. I’m here.” Luciano called out. He squirmed off of his great-grandfather’s lap and ran to his father, arms extended. Angelo handed his wine glass to Sophia, reached down and hoisted his son up into his arms. She could see his eyes were moist. So were hers.

  Sophia leaned over and kissed her brother’s cheek and then her nephew’s sweet little face.

  Seeing little Luciano so happy in his father’s arms filled her with joy. No matter what happened, no matter what she had to do, she couldn’t ever let the two be separated again.

  He took the glass Sophia handed back to him and lifted it. “Buona fortuna e cent’anni di felicita,” he toasted.

  “Alla salute,” their family, friends, and neighbors echoed his wish for good fortune and one hundred years of happiness.

  A deafening crash came from the kitchen, followed by utter silence. All eyes turned to Sophia and Angelo.

  “I’ll go,” Sophia said. It was high time she gave Vincenzo a piece of her mind. He’d been a monster all afternoon, shouting and cursing and doing everything he could to ruin their party.

  “You give him what’s what, Sophia,” her cousin Andrea called out. His words egged on the gang of cousins at his table and soon the room was clapping, whistling and cheering her on as she threaded her way through the tables toward the kitchen.

  Anger and pent-up frustration drove each step. It felt as if everything else in her life was out of control, but there was no reason she had to put up with Vincenzo’s obnoxious behavior for one moment longer. Vincenzo was a brute. He was a bully. He’d done everything he could to disturb their party and for two cents she’d gladly wring his neck just to rid the world of a mean, miserable human being.

  She pushed open the swinging kitchen door and stopped short. A wave of horror swept over her, so strong her knees went weak. She grabbed onto the nearest counter for support, as the room spun around her.

  Vincenzo lay sprawled on the floor, a kitchen knife sticking out of his back, and a pool of blood staining his otherwise pristine white chef’s jacket.

  She’d come into the kitchen with murder on her mind.

  Someone had beaten her to it.

  Chapter Five

  “This is your last warning, Miss Mancini. Step away from the body or I’ll have you escorted outside.”

  Sophia tore her eyes away from Vincenzo’s body and focused her attention instead on the young police sergeant who stood by the kitchen door. Could he even be twenty years old? She doubted it. There was no mistaking the look of unease on his face when he glanced at Vincenzo. Vincenzo’s body, she corrected herself. Dead body. She took several steps back.

  God, this couldn’t be happening. Except that it was.

  “I’m sorry. I was just, that is, I wondered....” she let her voice trail off. She didn’t want to say or do anything that would get her thrown out of the kitchen.

  She glanced back at the body. The knife was plunged so deeply in Vincenzo’s back it couldn’t have been an accident.

  “I’m sorry, I don’t remember your name?” She smiled at the young officer. Perhaps engaging him in conversation would yield some answers. Or at least better questions than she could come up with herself.

  “Sergeant O’Brian, Miss.”

  “I take it you know my brother?” She’d witnessed the way the lad had smiled when he’d first entered the kitchen, and apparently recognized Angelo.

  “Yes, Miss. Officer Mancini was one of the reasons I joined the police force.” His face flushed. “Your brother was the officer who found my friend and I trying to break... well, um ... he found us up to no good. He let us off with a stern warning.”

  “It must have been quite a lecture if you ended up becoming a policeman yourself.”

  “There’s a bit more to it than that, actually, Miss. The next morning he turned up at my Mum’s house and had a bit of a word with her, and another word with me.”

  “Tried to scare you, did he?” Sophia couldn’t help but smile.

  “Tried and succeeded, you might say. I was sorry when I heard he wouldn’t be rejoining us at the station now that he’s home.”

  Several quiet moments passed. Angelo certainly was taking his sweet time explaining to everyone why the party was over. She hoped he remembered to send Luciano and Grandpa home. The idea of having their sweet boy in the same building where a murder had just been committed caused her to shiver.

  “There’s no reason for you to remain here with the body, Miss Mancini.” Sergeant O’Brian carefully avoided looking down as he gestured at Vincenzo’s body.

  “I’ll wait for my brother to come back, if you don’t mind.” Sophia wasn’t even sure what she was still doing in the kitchen, but she was afraid if she left, she’d miss something important. That and she wasn’t up to having to shout the news about Vincenzo’s death to Zio Nunzio. It’s was Angelo’s turn for relative control anyway.

  “It’s all the same to me, Miss, if you stay or go, as long as you stay back from the body.” His tone indicated quite clearly that he couldn’t fathom why she’d want to be anywhere near a dead body. “Of course, the captain may well want you to leave when he arrives.”

  “When do you think that will be?”

  He shrugged. “Today was Captain McIntyre’s day off, so I can’t say, but I know they’ve sent word for him.”

  McIntyre? A fuzzy memory of a silver-haired older policeman came to mind. Yes, she did remember meeting Captain McIntyre before Angelo had gone off to war. He’d seemed a good-natured, grandfatherly sort, if she remembered correctly.

  “Sergeant O’Brian, I hope you don’t mind my saying that you look a little green eve
ry time you look at the body. Is this your first murder case?”

  He shook his head. “No, Miss, it’s not. But I’d rather give chase to a dangerous criminal than stand here guarding someone who will never move again, and I’m not too proud to admit that. Dead bodies fair give me the creeps, they do.”

  “Why don’t you step outside in the alley for a breath of fresh air,” she waved toward the kitchen’s back door. “I’ll wait here and I know my brother won’t let anyone in through the other door.”

  “I couldn’t do that, Miss Mancini. The captain would have my head if I did.”

  “Nonsense. I don’t think Captain McIntyre would mind at all if you stepped out for just a moment.”

  “Captain McIntyre would definitely mind.” The voice was deep and rich, the accent a thick Irish brogue.

  Sophia whirled around.

  A figure every bit as imposing as the voice it belonged to stood framed in the doorway. This man was too young to be Captain McIntyre. About thirty would be her guess. Tall enough that she had to crane her neck to look up at him, whoever he was he obviously was an athlete by his build, although the grass-stained baseball uniform he wore was her second clue.

  He ran a large hand through his chestnut brown hair and frowned down at her. The look of annoyance in his hazel eyes spurred Sophia into action.

  She stepped in front of Vincenzo’s body and pointed over his shoulder to the door that he’d come through.

  “This is a private party,” she told him. “I’m not sure how you got in here but you need to leave. It’s not a good time.”

  The stranger stepped closer and peered over her shoulder at Vincenzo’s body. “I can see that.”

  His condescending tone irritated Sophia.

  “Sir, I--” began the young policeman but Sophia cut him off.

  “I’ll handle this, Officer O’Brian. Now, you, whoever you are, need to leave right now. This is a police matter.”

  “I am the police.”

  “Are you absolutely certain?”

  “Quite.”

  She let her eyes roam over the man in front of her. He was all muscle and built as solidly as an oak door.

  “When you’re finished with your examination, Miss Mancini, perhaps you’ll allow me to begin mine,” he said.

  The kitchen door swung open again. This time it was Angelo. Sophia breathed a sigh of relief.

  “I see you’ve met Captain McIntyre.” Angelo came to stand beside her and put an arm around her shoulders. He bit his lip and thought for a moment. “I can’t remember your first name. I know it, but I can’t bring it to mind. I apologize.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Sophia reassured him quickly.

  “It did to my parents.” Captain McIntyre gave Sophia one long last measured look before he turned his attention to her brother. “The name’s Tiernan.”

  Sophia shot an annoyed frown at him. He didn’t have to rub it in like that just because his memory actually worked.

  “Now I’ve going to ask you both to step out to the dining room and wait there.” His voice was back to sounding brusque. “O’Brian, you go with Mancini out to the dining room. I’ll need a complete list of everyone at the party with contact information. Be sure to find out who, if anyone, left before I got here.”

  He moved past them--rather deftly for someone of his size, Sophia couldn’t but notice--and knelt beside Vincenzo. Without touching the body, he leaned in close and examined the knife wound. After several long moments he straightened and surveyed the room.

  Sophia stood quietly by the door, thankful he appeared to have forgotten her presence. She wished she knew what he was thinking. What was he looking at? Looking for? He was obviously making mental notes. She just wished she could read them.

  “Still here, Miss Mancini?”

  The kitchen door swung open and once more saved her from having to come up with an explanation for her continued presence.

  “The medical examiner is here, Captain. He’d like a quick word.” Sergeant O’Brian held open the door for him.

  Sophia glanced down at Vincenzo’s body.Granted, Vincenzo was almost universally disliked, hated even, but an act this violent was pure evil. Nothing else could explain the lifeless man sprawled only a few feet from where she stood. A quick glance toward the door reassured her that Captain McIntyre was engrossed in conversation. The proverbial coast was clear.

  Ever so quietly, she inched closer to Vincenzo’s corpse. Corpse. Such a nasty word. The whole business made her sick. Focus, Sophia, she reminded herself. Maybe there was a clue she could see if she got closer.

  “Not one more move, Miss Mancini.” Without missing a beat, Captain McIntyre continued his conversation with the medical examiner.

  Sophia groaned. This was the type of man nightmares were made of. Confound him. She straightened with as much dignity as she could muster and slowly took a few steps backward.

  “A word, Miss Mancini.”

  “Captain?” She might as well play clueless. It’s what she’d end being if he had his way about it.

  In answer, he put a hand under her elbow and propelled her through the door and into the dining room. The silent dining room. All earlier gaiety had vanished. The party guests now sat wordlessly around the tables. All eyes were on them, the glare stronger than a Broadway spotlight.

  Sophia glanced up at the Captain. If he was uncomfortable it didn’t show, although his grip on her elbow loosened somewhat.

  He led her through the maze of tables toward the front of the restaurant. Once outside, he released his hold on her.

  She rubbed her arm. “What on earth is the matter with you, Captain McIntyre? There is a dead body in the kitchen that needs your attention. What do you mean hauling me out here?”

  “I’m well aware what my duties are, Miss Mancini.” He lowered his voice. “I wanted you to know that I’m on to you and I’ll be watching you carefully.” Watching her? Her eyes widened. Good God, did he think she had something to do with Vincenzo’s untimely death? He must be mad.

  “Captain McIntyre, I assure you I had nothing to do with ...whatever happened in the kitchen. I found Vincenzo, but I would never...I could never... why, it’s insane for you to think that I could possibly commit a violent act.”

  Not a single muscle on his impassive face moved, and his gaze didn’t wander from hers. The man didn’t even blink, for heaven’s sake.

  “I haven’t known you long enough to know how much violence you are capable of, Miss Mancini. However, my instinct tells me to not let you out of my sight.”

  “Am I under suspicion?” Her knees felt weak.

  “Not for murder, no.” One side of his lips rose in a cynical smile. “For interfering with police business I’ve already tried and convicted you.” He opened the restaurant door. “One more thing. You’re to stay right by my side until I tell you that you can go.” He motioned for her to enter ahead of him.

  Sophia’s feet wouldn’t move. “And if I do leave your sight, Captain McIntyre?”

  “I’ll have you arrested. Is that clear?”

  A discreet cough startled both Sophia and the police captain. They turned together to face the woman who stood beside them on the sidewalk, clipboard in hand, a startled expression on her face.

  Sophia’s heart sank. She closed her eyes for a brief moment and opened them again. Her wish wasn’t granted. The court appointed social worker, Mrs. Featherstone, was still there.

  “Did I just overhear you threaten to arrest this woman?” Mrs. Featherstone asked, her voice incredulous.

  Captain McIntyre scowled. “No comment for the press at this time.”

  “I’m not a member of the press.” Mrs. Featherstone looked down her nose and over her glasses at Sophia. “I came here looking for Miss Mancini and her brother.”

  “Somehow that doesn’t surprise me. However, I’m going to have to ask you to leave for the moment. You can speak with Miss Mancini tomorrow.”

  The social worker knit her brows
in a rather less formidable version of the police captain’s expression. If Sophia had thought her stomach was tangled up in nerves before, it was nothing compared to how she felt now.

  “It’s not what it looks like, Mrs. Featherstone.” Sophia glanced over her shoulder, wishing she could see into the restaurant. Who had Luciano? Why, oh why, did the social worker have to come looking for them now? The timing couldn’t be more cruel.

  “I should certainly hope not, for your sake. Perhaps you could explain to me what I just overheard here?”

  “She cannot.” Tiernan stepped in front of Sophia and she gratefully took a step backward. “I’ll now be asking you to leave for the last time.”

  Mrs. Featherstone reached into her handbag and dug out a business card. She handed it to him.

  Captain McIntyre’s eyebrows rose. He turned his surprised expression to Sophia. Please, she silently willed him, please make this woman go away. The last thing she needed was a report going to court stating that Luciano had been in the same building where a murder took place.

  “Mrs. Featherstone, with all respect due an officer of the court, I would ask that you please contact Miss Mancini at a later date.” He handed the card back to its startled-looking owner. “I am the acting captain of the Harrison Heights Police Department. Miss Mancini’s professional services are quite urgently needed at the moment. Critically so, in fact, and I can’t spare her just now.”

  Sophia exhaled, relief flooding though her. She didn’t know to what she owed Captain McIntyre’s sudden generosity but it saved her, for the moment.

  Mrs. Featherstone nodded. “Very well, Captain. I have no wish to interfere with police business.” She turned to Sophia. “I do plan to see your nephew very soon, as well as your brother and yourself, so that I may submit a report to the court. I needn’t remind you that the clock is ticking until your next court date.”

  Sophia merely nodded. She didn’t need a reminder. Vincenzo might well be the one with the knife sticking out of his back, but she felt as if a noose was tightening around her neck.

  Chapter Six