Angie responded with a terse, “No. Come on, Norm.”
Out of the corner of his mouth, he said, “If you’re sure I’m not going to strangle you in the parking lot.”
“I am.”
The two left the table and headed to the exit.
Corrigan hesitated one moment and threw down some money. “This should cover it for Claire and me.” He headed after Angie and Norm only to be waylaid by a beyond tipsy woman from another table who grabbed his arm. Seconds passed and I don’t know what she said, but he responded by flashing his badge. She released his arm.
“I’ll settle up, Ed.” Aunt Lena said as Ed pushed back his chair. Even Gino wove his way toward the exit, leaving my aunt, Betty and me staring at each other. But I couldn’t sit there with the womenfolk. I grabbed my purse, which held my gun and out I went, ignoring Aunt Lena’s pleas to return to the table.
I caught up with Corrigan, Ed, and Gino, who had each ignored the valet’s offers. Instead we dashed across the street to the restaurant’s parking lot. Even though we were no more than five minutes behind them, we didn’t spot Angie or Norm.
My dinner curdled in my stomach. “He took her. We’ve got to find them before it’s too late!”
Corrigan went into cop mode. “Do you know the make or model of his car?”
“Dark, either blue or black, a Ford sedan.” I swallowed hard, my drink threatening to reappear. “This is my fault. I shouldn’t have gotten Angie involved.”
“We’ll get her back.”
Corrigan was already on his phone when Ed yelled, “There’s Angie now.”
“Thank God!” I hustled back across the street, dodging a speeding valet who was driving a Porsche into the lot. Since the men chose caution over quickness, I reached Angie first.
“Angie, where’d you go? Are you all right?” She nodded and without a word handed me a folded-up photograph. She seemed in a daze.
Opening the multi-creased thing, my jaw dropped. “Where’d you get this?” It was a picture of Joanna Whitechapel, aka Desiree Luscious.
“It fell out of his wallet when he pulled out his valet ticket. He was in such a hurry to leave, he didn’t even notice. I picked it up and saw who it was. I had to go lean against the side of the building until my legs stopped wobbling.”
Once the guys caught up with us, I showed Corrigan the photograph. “Norm dropped this.”
Corrigan studied it. “Looks like Norm is going to need an alibi.”
Chapter Seventeen
Angie, Corrigan, Gino, Ed and I headed back inside Palacio’s only to be stopped by Aunt Lena and Betty. They had been waiting for us at the maitre d stand.
My aunt practically shoved a white box with the restaurant’s logo at me. “Here. You hardly touched your cannelloni so I had them wrap it up for you.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but she interrupted, “You’re welcome. It’s not like you make so much money you can afford to leave food behind.” She switched subjects like a racecar driver switches gears. “So, Angie, what happened? Did you two make up?”
Ed stepped in. “Lena, I got an early shift tomorrow. Why don’t I fill you in on our way home?”
Betty hooked her arm through Gino’s. “That sounds like a good idea. Gino, why don’t we do the same?”
Both couples departed, leaving Angie and me with Corrigan, who was already on his phone about Norm. Meanwhile, Angie’s shoulders slumped and she fidgeted with the tassel on her purse. When I tried to make eye contact with her, she looked away.
Corrigan finished his call. “We have his plate number and address so it won’t be long before I’m talking to him again.”
“Great. If you don’t need us, Brian, I’m going to take Angie home.”
“Did you valet park?”
“Of course. Doesn’t every underemployed, barely squeaking-by woman toss her money on valet parking?”
He grinned. Then he offered to walk us to my car.
“It’s not necessary.” I pointed down the street. “We’re right there.”
“Okay then.” Barely bushing my lips with his, Corrigan bade us goodnight.
We were halfway to her home and Angie hadn’t said a word the whole way. “Are you okay?”
“Sure. Why wouldn’t I be? I just got off a date with a killer, not only put myself in danger, but my best friend’s niece.” She shook her head and tsk’d. “How could I have been so foolish? You tried to warn me, but—”
“But nothing. I doubt there’s anyone in the world that hasn’t done something foolish in the name of romance.”
She tugged on the bodice of her dress and muttered, “I’m old enough to know better. Who knows what would’ve happened to me if you hadn’t insisted on coming along? Of course, the rest of the crowd…” She shook her head.
“Hey, my apologies about everyone showing up.”
A deep sigh. “It’s okay. Nobody died and that’s a good thing.” As an afterthought she added, “At least nobody in our group.”
I waited until she locked her front door behind her. Thinking that, like Angie, there’d be nobody waiting at home for me, a wave of wistfulness took me by surprise. Would someone, namely Corrigan, ever be anticipating my return home? As soon as my brain got wind of that sentiment, it tried to drown it in logic. There was no time for that feeling now. Now there was a serial killer to find and women to keep safe. I kept myself busy thinking those thoughts until I made it back to my apartment. Besides, I had Charlie and it was enough that he was waiting with licks and a wagging tail. And he wouldn’t argue with me about my involvement in murder cases.
In fact, Charlie was probably happier to see me than most people. Or maybe he was just thrilled to see me take him for a walk. Reluctant as I was to go back outside, the poor pup had been cooped up for way too long. The leash went on Charlie and my gun on me. My phone came along, just in case.
We took our usual route, down to the cul-de-sac at the end of our street. There’s a heavily treed field there which Charlie loves. Once we reached his favorite place, he pulled me to a stop twice. After the second time, I felt a shift in my surroundings. As if someone beside Charlie and me was now present. Confirming my senses, Charlie’s ears pricked up and his tail lowered. He didn’t go so far as to growl, but there was no friendliness in his stance. A twig snapped nearby and made my heart beat double-time. Panic flooded my brain, making it harder to think. I spun around but saw nothing out of the ordinary.
Another footstep. This one sounding closer. I twisted my head from side to side. Nobody there. At least no one I could see. I clutched my gun with my clammy, free hand just as Charlie yanked on his leash. He took off running and barking, jerking me along. Just as suddenly he halted and began sniffing at the grass while I almost flew over him before skidding to a stop. Catching my breath, I no longer sensed someone watching me. I began to wonder if it hadn’t just been some animal. Still, I tugged on Charlie’s leash to hurry him to my apartment. I didn’t relax until I dead-bolted the door and then immediately double-checked it.
Corrigan was calling. I’d think about what happened during Charlie’s walk later.
“Hey. Just want to make sure you’re okay. You are, aren’t you?”
“I am now.” Should I tell him about what I’d just felt outside? I decided against it. He was tired and stretched to breaking. Plus, what would I say? That I felt somebody or something nearby? It could’ve been a raccoon. Or maybe it was Norm.
“Good.” He yawned into the phone and apologized for doing so. “Before we hang up, I meant to tell you how great you looked tonight.”
I was grinning like a simpleton, but nobody was there to see it but Charlie and he didn’t pass judgment. “Thank you. You did too.”
He chuckled softly. “Get some sleep. I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Love you.”
“Yeah, me too.”
My smile accompanied me all the way to the bedroom. But the minute my head touched the pillow, the memory of feeling spied upo
n hit me like a tsunami. I threw the covers aside and, after again checking all the windows and door, coaxed Charlie to join me in bed.
The next morning I woke up with Charlie’s head on my pillow. After I brushed his fur from my nose, I got up and turned on the television for the latest on the Red Bow Killer. But there was only a rehash of what was already known about the killer’s victims. Nothing about Norm as a person of interest, so after my morning Charlie-related duties, I took a shower. While eating an English muffin spread with Nutella, I decided since Sunday was my one day off, I’d spend it crime-solving.
I had just turned on my laptop when Gino called. With one action, the man could make my plans vaporize.
“Hi, Claire. Fine morning, isn’t it?”
“You’re in a good mood.”
“Ya know, I did get Norm the Worm—I just made that up—to break.” I could picture Gino puffing out his chest. “If he hadn’t bolted we wouldn’t have found the vic’s picture on him. That’s what a good PI does.”
Unbelievable! The man could spin even his buffoonery into an act of skill and cunning. “So the cops owe it all to you?”
“Nah, you did good dropping the hint that Norm would be at the restaurant with you. Great set-up.”
The only thing stopping me from hanging up on Gino was reminding myself he was my boss. I settled for shaking my head and bursting his bubble. “Don’t expect to collect the reward. Desiree was only one victim. Who knows? Maybe her death wasn’t even related to Eileen’s.”
“You’re thinking copycat? No way.” But he didn’t sound as confident.
We could have gone on like that all day, but I had research to do and Gino had…I didn’t know what he had to do. I soon found out.
He blew out a breath. “Anyway, I figured it’s time to get the word out about the agency.”
Glad to hear the end to his bragging, I said, “That’s a good idea. We could use more business.”
“Do you think it’s too early to advertise that I’m the one who took down the Red Bow Killer?”
In what reality did this guy live? “Yeah, much too early.” I didn’t add, ‘and much too fabricated.’
“Hey, getting another call. Gotta go.”
Giving my phone dirty looks as if it were the cause of my irritation, I returned to my laptop. Not for long. Gino called back.
“Claire! Just got off the phone with a friend of mine. Cops are questioning Norm Rockwell about all the murders. That fool hasn’t got one single alibi.” He chuckled, and I imagined him rubbing his hands together like the wicked witch in a fairy tale. “I smell reward money.”
“What makes you think you’ll get the reward money now?” Norm hadn’t even been charged yet. Sure, he didn’t have alibis for the nights of the murders, but they still needed motive and a way to tie him to the crimes.
“Don’t worry, Claire. I’ll split with you. A deal’s a deal. Gotta tell Betty.”
“Wait. Don’t get her hopes up. Not yet anyway.”
“You’re right. She’s a delicate flower, that woman.”
While that description was far from accurate, I wasn’t about to argue. Instead, I switched subjects. “Before it all shakes out, what about this advertising for new clients?”
The sound of him tapping his fingers against something hard accompanied his words. “You’re right. Strike while the strikin’s good. I’ll pick up some business cards. Expect a whole bunch of new clients tomorrow.”
Did I want to know how he was going to drum up this business? No. As soon as that conversation ended, I called Corrigan. Convinced I’d have to leave a message, I was surprised when he actually answered.
“Detective Corrigan here.”
“Hi Brian.” I used my sweetest voice. “I—”
He finished my sentence. “—wanted to know if we’ve arrested Rockwell. Not yet. After that fiasco with Gutkowski we want a solid case.”
“So Norm’s free?” Recalling last night’s scary episode in the field, my throat tightened. Maybe now was the time to tell Corrigan. “Uh, what time did you bring him in for questioning?” My attempt to sound casual was thwarted by the dog-whistle pitch of my voice.
Suspicious, he said, “Not until this morning. Why?”
The story poured out of me like water out of a fountain.
“Why didn’t you tell me this when I called last night?” I could almost feel his frustration through the phone.
I didn’t want to argue with him, but felt like I had to explain. “I can take care of myself. Besides, you’ve already got your hands full doing your job.”
He inhaled and blew out a deep breath. “Making sure you’re safe is part of my job. Far as I’m concerned, the most important.”
Those sweet words turned me cookie-batter soft. “I really appreciate that and you, Brian. But I don’t even know if there was someone there or not. Maybe it was a raccoon or a squirrel.” I didn’t really believe that, but there was no sense in Corrigan feeling frustrated with me for a past event.
“Yeah, okay. But don’t go out after dark by yourself.”
“Fine. I’ll tell Charlie to hold it until daylight.”
“Yeah. Good point. Okay. Just stay by the building when you take him out.”
This was getting us nowhere. “Do you really think Norm is the Red Bow Killer?”
“Doesn’t matter what I think. It’s whatever the evidence shows and so far it’s showing him as the guy.” In the background I heard a voice. Corrigan apologized to me and with a quick goodbye, he hung up.
After going to Sunday mass, I spent the rest of the morning and afternoon trying to fathom Norm’s motive for the murders. I couldn’t come up with anything that made sense. True, he played a musical instrument and he liked bingo. He didn’t seem to have any grudges against women who played bingo, though. Or did he just hide it well? I didn’t get a chance to ask Corrigan what explanation Norm gave about Desiree’s picture in his wallet. That certainly didn’t scream innocence.
Digging into Norm’s background, the only thing that stood out was that originally he was from Steubenville, Ohio. And Steubenville was only 45 minutes from Pittsburgh, where all those murders a decade ago took place. He looked to be in his mid-to-late fifties so he could have been killing women ten years ago. Maybe even ten years before that. But why wait ten years? What happened to make him stop and what triggered him to start again?
My phone interrupted my thoughts-that-led-nowhere. It was Suzy, Dad’s fiancé, soon to be my stepmother, although I doubted she’d want me to call her Mom.
“Hi Claire. Whatcha doing?”
“Trying to solve a murder.”
Suzy giggled as if I were joking. “If you’re not busy tonight stomping out crime, could you come for dinner?”
The invitation put a smile on my face. “I’m free. What time?” Not only would I get to see my father and Suzy, but I wouldn’t be scrounging for food. Even if Charlie couldn’t come with me since my dad was allergic to dogs, my pup could still perhaps enjoy a bit of leftovers.
After giving me what time dinner was, we chitchatted a little longer. Then we said our goodbyes.
The rest of the day passed without any calamity, which, given what had been happening lately, was a relief. A quiet afternoon. Just Charlie, my laptop, and me.
My stomach was growling by the time I pulled into my father’s driveway. I knocked on the door and let myself in. The delicious aroma of chicken, lemon, and oregano whispered loving thoughts to my stomach.
My father was standing over a wooden salad bowl. He was wearing a black and white striped chef’s apron that said, “Don’t complain to me, I’m just the sous chef.”
He gave me a hug and handed me a slice of cucumber. “Suzy’s freshening up. She says I don’t need to; I’m fresh enough.” He chuckled while I groaned.
Ever since he and Suzy became an item, Dad seemed ten years younger. A happy man. Nonna used to tell me that a loved man is a long-lived man. I hoped she was right. Of course, she als
o used to say marriage took five years off a woman’s life and fifteen years off her looks.
Suzy, fixing her non-existent stray hairs, entered the kitchen. Her apron said, “Any complaints will be handled by the sous chef.” While we hugged, my father disappeared and returned with a bottle of Prosecco. He poured each of us a glass and Suzy made the toast. “To Claire, who I hope will agree to be my maid of honor.”
My lips curved into a smile. “I would love to!”
She embraced me, careful not to spill the wine, and we giggled as if we were 17 and gabbing about the senior prom.
As my dad removed the fragrant browned chicken from the oven, we chatted about the wedding plans. Since it was going to be a simple ceremony, there would just be a best man to match the maid of honor. My father wasn’t sure yet who he would choose.
The next day they had appointments at three different venues. Then it’d be ordering the cake, the flowers, and choosing a caterer.
“Aren’t you going to ask Aunt Lena to cater?”
Dad and Suzy looked at each other. My dad cleared his throat. “We’re still discussing that.”
I probed no further.
Dinner and my companions were a delight. By the end of the evening my affection for them softened the edges of everything, practically giving the world a glow. I’ve adored my dad since the first time he lowered me onto a tricycle. Now I was sharing him with Suzy, but instead of that love being divided, it doubled.
After dinner we told stories about each other and laughed until Suzy grabbed her sides and begged us to stop. That’s when I checked the time and realized I’d stayed much later than I’d planned.
With a plate of leftovers in hand, I expressed my gratitude. My dad walked me to my car, opened the door for me, and said, “Thank you, Pumpkin.” When I gave him a questioning look, he explained. “You and Suzy are the most precious people in the world to me, and you’ve welcomed her into our family with open arms. Your mother raised you right.”
I hate to be a sentimental softy, but my eyes filled. “You both did. Suzy’s wonderful, Dad. Cherish each other.”
“Hey, that’s the kind of advice a father gives his daughter on her wedding day.”
Cupcakes and Corpses Page 13
