CHRISTMAS PIZZA MURDER

by Patti Benning

Ellie took a deep breath, forcing herself to focus on her image in the mirror instead of her conflicting thoughts. She had changed her outfit for the third time that day, this time in preparation for her dinner date with Russell. She still hadn’t heard back from her grandmother, and wondered once again whether she had made a mistake when she had given her number out. She would ask her fiancé about it that evening. As the sheriff, he was sure to have some insights.

  I wish Darlene hadn’t dragged all this trouble up to Kittiport with her, she thought. It was one thing to have her cousin stay with her unexpectedly for a couple of weeks; it was another issue entirely if Darlene really was on the run from the police after committing a murder.

  She immediately felt guilty for considering it, but the truth was that she didn’t know what to believe. She just hoped the whole mess got straightened out quickly, and without too many issues. Either way, she was worried about Nonna. This was a lot for her to deal with, and she was so far away that Ellie didn’t know how she could help her.

  “Enough of this,” she said to her reflection. Noticing the lines on her face, she forced herself to relax. Too much frowning wasn’t good for anyone. This was out of her hands now, and obsessing over it wouldn’t help. “It’s time to go.”

  Those were the magic words. Bunny, who had been lying on the bathmat behind her, jumped up and began to whine. Ellie was glad that the dog was coming with her. With Nonna in Florida, the animals were spending a lot more time alone, and although it was unavoidable, it wasn’t fair to them.

  Even though it was early in the evening, it was already pitch-black outside. It was so cold that each breath Ellie took felt as if it was freezing her throat. Bunny was bundled up in her winter coat, which she usually hated wearing. Tonight, she seemed content to huddle inside it while her owner carried her to the car. She put the dog on the passenger seat, then walked around to the other side and got in, starting the engine and letting it warm up while she texted Russell that she was on her way.

  Even with the cold, it was a beautiful night. Her Christmas lights glowed softly, illuminating the snow, and when she pulled out of the driveway and started down the road, she got to see all the other decorations that her neighbors had set up. Christmas decorations always warmed her heart, and she was glad that she lived in a town that loved to outdo itself every year.

  Russell lived in an old subdivision across town, in a small house that he had rented for the past few years, ever since his wife had passed away and he had sold their house. Ellie pulled into his driveway, leaving her car running while she got her purse and dog ready. She wasn’t looking forward to going out in the cold again, although it was only a short distance to Russell’s front door. He didn’t have any Christmas lights up outside, but through the window she could see the glow of the Christmas tree that they had decorated together the week after Thanksgiving. She wondered if he would miss his house when they moved in together. Their living situation wouldn’t be ideal; she knew that, and she had already talked to him about it a couple of times. They would have the house to themselves until April, when her grandmother returned for six months before leaving for Florida again.

  Russell told her that he wouldn’t mind being there with her while her grandmother was there, but even if he didn’t have an issue with it, she wasn’t completely sure that she was comfortable with it herself. She loved them both, but did she really want to be a newlywed while living with her grandmother?

  Settling the strap of her purse over her shoulder and hoisting Bunny up under her arm, she shut off the car and got out of it, hurrying up the walkway to his front door. He answered just moments after she knocked, and she went inside out of the cold with relief. Something warm brushed against her ankles, and she looked down to see his cat rubbing against her legs. Sookie looked up at her, then froze when she saw the dog in her arms. The cat hissed, then darted into the living room. Bunny squirmed, but was unable to work her way out of Ellie’s grip.

  “Mortal enemies,” Russell said chuckling. “At least they’re evenly matched.”

  “I’m pretty sure Sookie could beat Bunny up if she wanted to. My dog might put on a brave face, but my money is still on the cat.”

  She put the dog on the floor, keeping a firm grip on her leash, and followed her fiancé into the kitchen. The aromas in the house smelled delicious, and she heard her stomach growl. Russell was a good cook, when he wanted to be. She enjoyed their homemade meals together even more than their dates at the White Pine Kitchen. She thought that Russell seemed a bit more comfortable in his own home than he did when they were out in public. As the sheriff, he always had to be aware of the image that he was presenting, and could never just relax and be himself.

  “So, what are we eating tonight?” she asked as she hung her coat up on the back of the chair and put her purse down.

  “I made salmon steaks stuffed with cream cheese and spinach, with sautéed squash and wild rice.”

  “That sounds amazing,” she said with feeling. “Hey, if you ever get bored with your career, there is always a place open for you in the pizzeria’s kitchen.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” he said with a smile. She knew that he loved his job, and it would be many years before he was ready to retire. He was up for election later next year, but she didn’t think that there was any doubt about whether he would be reelected as the town’s sheriff. Everyone loved him – she most of all.

  Russell assured her that there wasn’t anything that she could do to help him, so she took Bunny into the living room and sat on the couch. The cat was sitting on the armchair, glaring at them both.

  “Hey, don’t look at me like that,” Ellie said. “If the two of you would just get along, I know you would be great friends. You’re about the same size, you’re going to be living together before long. This is ridiculous.”

  The cat flicked her tail, ignoring her. Bunny was sitting by Ellie’s feet, quivering with excitement, her eyes glued to the feline. With a sigh, Ellie turned her attention to the television, on which a football game was playing. She didn’t follow sports, and had no idea what was going on.

  “Your phone is ringing,” Russell said, coming into the room and putting the device on her lap. “It’s your grandmother. I’m about to take the food out, but I’ll wait until you’re done talking so it stays warm.”

  She scrambled for the cell phone, eager to hear what her grandmother had to say. She wondered if that man had called her yet, and if her grandmother had managed to verify that he really was who he said he was.

  “Hello?”

  “Ellie, I’m glad you answered,” Nonna said. “I know you said you have a date tonight, but this is important. Do you have time?”

  “Of course. What’s going on?”

  “The police sergeant called, and a few hours later, a couple of officers showed up at the house. They took Darlene down to the station, so the sergeant could speak to her over a secure webcam.”

  “Oh, no. Is she okay?”

  “She’s back now,” Nonna said. “She won’t talk to me, and hasn’t said a word to Emily either. She’s hiding in the guest bedroom. I feel terrible. I should have handled this better. I should have said something…

  “It’s not your fault. She just found out that her husband was killed. Even though they had their issues, I’m sure it’s tough for her. So, she hasn’t said anything about what the police wanted to talk to her about?”

  “No.”

  “Well, so she’s back with you now, I’m guessing they didn’t find any reason to charge her with her husband’s death.”

  It was a relief. No matter how much she liked her cousin, she hadn’t been able to keep from wondering if Darlene might have had something to do with Paul’s passing. Strong emotions could make people act strangely, and there wasn’t anything much more emotional than finding out that your husband was cheating on you. Ellie had gone through something similar with her ex-fiancé.

  “I’m sure she had nothing to do with it. They proba
bly just wanted to ask her if she knew who he had been with, or if he had any enemies or debts. We shouldn’t have jumped to the conclusion that she was involved.”

  “I know. I hate that I’m so cynical sometimes. Poor Darlene. Do you think I should call her?”

  “Maybe tomorrow,” Nonna said. “I think she needs to be on her own for a bit.”

  Knowing that Russell was waiting for her in the other room, Ellie kept the conversation short. She promised to call the next day, then said her goodbyes and ended the call. Even though she felt terrible for Darlene, she was glad that the police had managed to reach her. Now she and her grandmother could both rest easy knowing that Darlene’s part in the case was over. Paul was dead, and even though he had been disloyal to her cousin, it was a terrible thing. Her own worries might have been soothed, but Darlene’s troubles would have just begun.

  Chapter Six

  * * *

  “Happy Holidays!”

  Ellie beamed as she passed the pizza through the pickup window. The snow was flying outside, but her customers were still hungry. Their special of the week, instead of their usual unique topping combination, was a pizza with each individual slice decorated as if it was a Christmas tree. With white sauce, a generous amount of mozzarella cheese, spinach for the green pine boughs, red cherry tomatoes as decorations, and a slab of yellow pepper in the center which became the tree’s topping when the triangular slices were cut.

  They were fun pizzas to make, and Ellie enjoyed seeing the thrilled look on people’s faces when they saw the fancy slices. It reminded her of why she loved the job so much.

  She had heard nothing from Darlene for the past few days. Her cousin had spoken to her once on the phone, but hadn’t said anything of significance. Nonna said that Darlene was still keeping to herself, but at least she was joining the others for dinner now.

  Ellie couldn’t imagine the conflicting feelings the other woman must be having. Just weeks after she found out about her husband’s affair, she then found out that he had been killed. It was enough to drive anyone into solitude, and she was just glad that Darlene was with family and her best friend. At least she had people to support her through this time, even if she wasn’t quite ready to talk about it yet.

  “Hey, Ms. P.,” someone called out from behind her. She slipped out of the little booth in front of the drive-through window to find Jacob standing by the employee exit, an insulated bag with pizza boxes in his hand.

  “I’m about to go out and make this delivery. I might be a while; the roads are getting pretty bad.”

  “If it’s dangerous, don’t go out,” Ellie said. “I’ll do it, and then we can cancel the deliveries for the rest of the day.”

  “I don’t mind. I’ll just drive slowly and be careful. We have delivered in worse weather before. I just thought I’d let you know, in case there are any last-minute orders you want me to take with me.”

  “I will ask Mariah if anything has come in.”

  She hurried up front, where the temporary employee was taking an order at the register. She waited until Mariah was done, then asked, “Any new deliveries?”

  The younger woman shook her head. “Not yet. Why?”

  “Jacob wanted to know. The roads are getting pretty bad, and he’d rather kill two birds with one stone if possible.”

  She returned to the kitchen, where she told Jacob that he was good to go. As he walked out the door, she got a glimpse of the snowy parking lot outside. It really was getting nasty out there. No matter what her employee said, she would cancel deliveries if the roads didn’t start looking better by the time he got back. It wasn’t supposed to snow all evening, but she knew as well as anyone that the weatherman wasn’t always right.

  She put the newest order in the oven, then turned up the Christmas music on the radio in the corner and began doing the dishes. The only thing marring her holiday spirit was the thought of her cousin, and what she must be experiencing.

  She also couldn’t help but feel a tug of curiosity. Why had Paul been killed? Who had done it? She knew that it wasn’t her business, but as with all mysteries, something inside of her wanted to solve it.

  Once the pizza was out of the oven, she plated it and took it out to the guest. “If you want to switch for a bit, I can work the register,” she said to Mariah on her way back from the table.

  “Are you sure?”

  Ellie smiled. Their newest employee was great in the kitchen, but didn’t like working out front very much. She never complained when it was her turn to manage the register, however, which was one reason that Ellie liked her so much.

  “I’m sure. You are great at making pizzas, and I love talking to my customers. We should both do what we are best at.”

  Mariah shot her a grateful smile, and slipped through the swinging door into the kitchen. Ellie took her spot behind the register, surveying the dining area for any sign that a guest might want for something. She prided herself on great service, and so far, very few people had had a reason to complain. She had learned that in the restaurant business, there would always be a couple of people who were simply determined to make a big deal out of the smallest things, and she was getting better at brushing their negativity off. Overall, she enjoyed working with people. The positives outweighed the negatives, and she supposed that was all that she could really ask for.

  As she waited at the register, she watched the snow fall outside. It was beautiful, but the longer she watched it, the more concerned for Jacob she became. She knew how slippery those roads could get, and didn’t want anything to happen to him, especially not under her watch.

  Maybe I shouldn’t have let him go, she thought. I should have taken those pizzas myself. She resolved to tell anyone who called in for a delivery pizza that their deliveries were canceled until the roads were clear. Losing a little bit of money would be worth it, if it would keep her employees safe.

  As she watched, someone came down the sidewalk and pushed the pizzeria’s door open, letting a blast of cold air inside. The person took off his hat as he approached the register.

  “Welcome to Papa Pacelli’s,” she said. “How can I help you?”

  “I’ll just have whatever is hot right now,” he said. “Two slices, and a soda from the fridge.”

  “Okay, we’ve got pepperoni and cheese. Which would you like?”

  “Can I do one of each?”

  “You bet.” She rung up his order, then slid his card. “I’ll be right back with your slices.”

  She went into the kitchen and walked back out a moment later with two slices of pizza on a plate. The man had already grabbed his soda out of the fridge, and was sitting at a booth.

  “Here you go,” she said, carrying his plate to the table.

  “Thank you,” he said. “Are you the owner?”

  “Yes, I am,” she said, unable to help the feeling of pride when she said it. “I’m Eleanora Pacelli.”

  “Glenn Farbanks,” he said. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  “You too,” she said.

  “You must see a lot of people come through here. Would you help me find someone?”

  Surprised at his request, she raised her eyebrows. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to help you. I wouldn’t be comfortable giving out anyone’s personal information without their consent.”

  “Can I just show you a picture, and you can tell me if you know her?”

  Getting a bad feeling, Ellie agreed. The man reached into his wallet and pulled out a small rectangular photo. She took it, and was unsurprised to see Darlene. This must be the private investigator that Russell had mentioned a couple of days beforehand.

  “I’m sorry, I can’t help you,” she said, handing the photo back to him.

  “Can’t, or won’t?” the man said. “She’s related you, isn’t she? I did some digging, and I know she is related to the man who opened this pizzeria.”

  “Won’t,” Ellie said firmly. “She’s my cousin, but she doesn’t need to deal with you right no
w. You won’t get any help here.”

  “Would it help if I told you why?” he asked.

  Ellie hesitated. She was almost certain that nothing the man had to say would convince her to betray her cousin, but there was still that unwelcome curiosity nagging her.

  “Sit down,” he said, sensing her indecision. “You can just listen to me talk, and if you don’t like what I have to say, I will leave.”

  Sighing, Ellie took a seat across from him. Whatever he had to say must be important. He had stuck around town for a couple of days already, and she doubted that he would simply give up if she told him to go away.

  “Start talking,” she said.

  “As you may know, your cousin’s husband passed away under mysterious circumstances nearly a month ago. His body was only found a couple of days ago, however. By that time, your cousin was far away, and no one knew where she was. The police have nothing to connect her to the crime, but my client believes that she does. However, she is worried that if she goes directly to the police with her evidence, it won’t be enough to get Darlene convicted. I need your help to find her. I know that she is your relative, but are you really willing to shelter a killer?”