by Molly Dox
Death with a Cherry on Top: A Beach Themed Cozy Mystery
Twisted Sisters Ice Cream Cozies, Book 1
Molly Dox
Copyright 2016 Molly Dox
Cozy Kiss Publishing
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New Jersey’s summer season is about to start. In Wildwind, that means vacationers, a busy boardwalk, crowded beaches, and overflowing hotels. Gina and Lottie, sisters and owners of the Twisted Sisters Ice Cream stand, are thrown for a loop when Gina’s daughter is arrested and charged with murder.
Carla was starring in a leading role of the town’s playhouse that was due to open on Memorial Day weekend. Before the curtain can rise, the director is found dead. With the weapon in her hand, all fingers point to Carla.
Can Gina and Lottie, along with their retired father, a former Philadelphia detective, find answers before it’s too late? Or is Carla a better actress than they thought and hiding her guilt?
Death with a Cherry on Top: A Beach Themed Cozy Mystery is a short story. It is book 1 in a new series of shorts (Twisted Sisters Ice Cream Cozies).
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 1
Lottie Carlucci sorted through last season's inventory. She’d tossed any food related items, but napkins, spoons, and ice cream dishes had been saved. The salty air and sunshine dotted the New Jersey shoreline. With warmer temperatures arriving once again, it was time to get things in order.
Lottie and her sister owned an ice cream stand on Wildwind’s boardwalk. The boardwalk was the biggest and busiest in New Jersey. Of course, there was plenty of competition on the two-mile wooden walkway, so she needed to be up and running as soon as possible.
The pre-defined Jersey beach season ran like clockwork. It came back to life in May, right about Memorial Day, while Labor Day ended the fun. School was back in session, and the bustling vacation spot slowed to a crawl. The summer’s overcrowded parking lots were empty, and the hotel rooms that were fully booked through warmer months sat vacant once again. Seasonal was a theme in Wildwind.
With Memorial Day fast approaching, the town bubbled with energy. Lottie enjoyed the non-stop crowds of summer, but loved the slower pace of September. She considered it the best month of the year. Locals sighed with relief when the crowds dwindled. They didn’t need reservations to get into their favorite places off-season, and the traffic was substantially quieter.
Every town had a heart, and in Wildwind the boardwalk was the center of everything. Most visitors hit the beach during the day, while nights were reserved for treats and amusements. For those not interested in walking, there was a tram that ran the length of the boards. It was a two-way trip on a slow moving pseudo-train. The yellow and blue tram had been a steady relic for dozens of years.
Opening the Twisted Sisters Ice Cream stand was a big moment each year. It meant summer had arrived. Lottie loved the hustle and bustle. It was a nice change of pace, but by the end of the season, she was good and ready to close! Lottie was usually on target to open two weeks prior to Memorial Day. Unfortunately, this year things weren’t going quite as planned.
As one of two girls, Lottie and Gina were not only sisters, but best friends. While Gina married one of the Ambrogi boys, Lottie preferred a single lifestyle. Whether a Carlucci or an Ambrogi, the girls stuck together. Family was everything. After they lost their mother, their father found his way down to Wildwind, retiring at the popular shore town. It didn’t take long for his kids to follow.
Pops Carlucci, a retired Philadelphia detective, spent his days helping at the small family businesses and his nights kicking around old memories at one of the local pubs. A spattering of single-ladies kept him happily fed, flirting, and looking for a date.
There were two Irish pubs across from one another, McNulty’s and Schmitty’s. One housed cops, firefighters, and other EMS workers. The other pulled in laborers. Construction workers, landscapers, and contractors parked their trucks along the sidewalk and made their way into the small bar. You could go in either place, but both found their own unique crowd. While they were two bars, at times it felt like one. There was friendly competition between them, and each spring an annual softball game teased bragging rights for the season.
***
Gina burst through the door, out of breath, as if she'd run three blocks between the family deli and the ice cream stand Lottie was setting up. "Lottie, I need your help! Carla's in trouble."
Carla was one of Gina's handful of kids. She was the actress of the family. After graduation, she made her way to New York where she starred in off-Broadway plays. Home for the summer, Carla agreed to play a role in the summer stock version of Macbeth. The local playhouse officially opened Memorial Day weekend.
Lottie waited for Gina to catch her breath, then answered. "Carla? What do you mean she's in trouble? Is she pregnant? This could get sticky. You never liked her ex-boyfriend."
"No, not that kind of trouble! She's been arrested. We need to find out more. I only heard fragments. They wouldn’t tell me anything on the phone. I need to get over there." Gina sighed. Giuseppe, her youngest son, was usually the one who stirred up trouble. Carla was the last person she expected the police to call her about. There had to be a mistake.
It’s not that Gina Ambrogi was unfamiliar with chaos. Not at all. She lived in chaos. A big family, businesses to run, and so much more. While Gina liked the craziness most days, Lottie preferred the quieter life of being single. Lottie was a fabulous aunt, but had no desire to be a mom. Besides, now that her mother had passed, she looked after her father.
Lottie stopped what she was doing and locked up the ice cream stand. Together, the women rushed to Lottie's car. Gina grabbed the keys. “I’ll drive.”
It wasn’t up for discussion; there was no stopping her.
Getting in the car, Lottie buckled up. Her sister had a lead foot on the gas pedal as it was, but with Carla in trouble…
Gina rambled, not sure what she’d learn when she got to the police station. Her husband worked in another town. "I called Rick, he's on the way. We need to figure this out."
Gina’s slammed the gas pedal down, pushing her car to move faster than it wanted to. With so many stop signs along the way, her aggravation percolated. Finally, they pulled up to the station. She threw the car into a parking spot and was out the door in seconds. Lottie tried to keep up as her sister scrambled through the entrance.
"It's not good," Tracy said. The stout woman sat behind the desk, noting Gina’s arrival. She recognized her from previous visits. "I can't say anything else. I'll get the Sergeant."
Gina's heart raced. What on earth could Carla have possibly been arrested for?
Sergeant Galloway made his way to the front of the station. “This way,” he said gesturing down a hallway.
Once seated at the Sgt. Galloway’s desk, they waited as he clear
ed his throat. He stopped to adjust his glasses, and then spoke. “Mrs. Ambrogi, your daughter Carla has been charged with murder.”
Both women gasped in unison.
The officer continued. “As you know, she’s an adult, but she’s made it clear we could share the information with both you and her father.”
Lottie repeated the words back to the Sergeant. "Murder? Our Carla was arrested for murder? How is that even possible?"
"There's more," he continued. His eyebrows sank lower, exaggerating his grim expression. "She was found with a weapon in her hands. Not just any weapon, but the murder weapon."
Gina's heart sank to her stomach. Her mouth gaped, but no words came out. It was a rare moment for the usually perky woman. She stared at the officer, as if he was speaking a foreign language.
Lottie reached out and patted her sister's hand. "We'll fix this. It's going to be okay. There's no way Carla killed somebody."
Gina nodded, feeling like a little girl. "We need to tell Pops. He can help. Right?"
"I'm sorry," the Sergeant finished. "It doesn't look good. She’s asked for a lawyer, so hopefully, you have somebody in mind. This is big, Mrs. Ambrogi. Serious business. Somebody was killed."
Gina stared, lost in a daze.
Sgt. Galloway stood. “I’ll show you to the door.”
“Wait. I need to see my daughter.”
Chapter 2
"I've spent plenty of time picking up Giuseppe at the police station, but Carla?" Gina was exasperated. "I just...it's not possible."
Lottie nodded in agreement. Giuseppe was more familiar with the wrong side of the law; that was true. He wasn't a bad kid, he just had a way of finding trouble. And if he wasn't looking for trouble, trouble was looking for him.
Gina had a handful of kids. Lola, the brains of the family, was wrapping up her undergraduate degree at MIT. She planned on spending one last summer at home, before running off to conquer the world.
And Carla, she’d made strides. Lottie couldn't see her throwing it all away. She'd be the lead of a Broadway show soon enough. It was all she'd wanted. After seeing "The Lion King" on stage, she was hooked. Sure, she'd always had a flare for dramatics, like her grandmother, but she was no killer. It didn't make sense. She had aspirations, and nobody would get in her way. Lottie hesitated on that last thought.
Gina had a lively crew, and out of all of them, Vinnie was probably the easiest kid to raise. He was happy most of the time, agreeable, and had a good heart. His biggest issue was getting along with his brother. Fighting was their favorite past time. Vinnie and Giuseppe were close in age. They’d be the best of friends one moment, then fatal enemies the next.
Lottie and Gina were led to a waiting area. After a few minutes, Gina was tapped to go visit her daughter. She was led to a small room with nothing more than a metal table that had been bolted to the floor and two chairs. A camera filmed any and all interactions from the top corner of the wall.
Carla was exasperated. She filled her mother in on what she knew. "Mom, I didn't do it. I wouldn’t hurt a soul. I was at the playhouse to rehearse and run a few lines. I picked up the prop knife. It all happened so fast. Next thing you know, somebody screamed. They found a dead body. People came running to see what happened. I was standing there with the knife in my hand. It was a coincidence. I had nothing to do with it. I don’t know…”
Gina followed her every word.
Carla broke down, unable to finish. “I didn’t… I wouldn’t…”
"Of course, you wouldn't. Don’t you worry; help is on the way. Don't say anything until the lawyer gets here. Your father made a call. Your uncle is sending Ernie Langusto down to represent you. He said he's the best. Now, try to remember as many details as you can. Think about who was there, what you saw, heard, and anything else that might help you."
Carla’s shoulders hunched forward. Her face dropped. The reality of the moment left her distraught. This wasn't one of her off-Broadway shows, this was real life.
"I’m here with your Aunt Lottie. She’s waiting for me. When we leave, we’ll head straight over to see Pops and see what he can do. Maybe he’s got a connection. As a detective, he dealt with these kinds of things. He can help. Don't worry, you'll be out of here in no time. Okay, so who was there when it happened?"
Carla listed off a few people. It was useless. She’d be pinned with a murder she didn’t commit. She was holding a weapon. "My life is over!"
"Don’t talk like that,” her mother answered. “It's not like you had a motive. They haven't even started an investigation yet. I mean, these things take time. It's going to be okay. Try to stay calm and focus."
“Thank you, Mom,” she said. “Give Aunt Lottie a hug for me.”
“I will. Your father will be here shortly. He’s driving in from work. He’ll fill you in on your lawyer’s information.”
***
Ernie and Sgt. Galloway’s discussion carried through the hallway, both bellowing louder than intended.
"They said she was yelling, fighting with the director, and then he turns up dead. She's holding a knife. You tell me what it looks like," the detective growled. "She claims she didn't know it was a weapon and it was just a prop. You want me to believe that. If you ask me, Mr. Langusto, it's an open and shut case. You're wasting your time. We have motive, witnesses that saw them arguing, and her fingerprints all over the weapon."
"I didn't ask you, Officer. I simply asked if my client was being charged." Ernie straightened his tie and glared at the man.
"We have enough to hold her," he answered snidely. Sergeant Galloway hated lawyers. They were always stirring things up, looking for loopholes, and stopping cops from doing their jobs efficiently.
"Are they trumped up charges? Or are they charges that you're certain of? There were other people there – have they been investigated? She's said she didn’t do it. The weapon as you call it, she believed to be a prop. Of course her fingerprints are on it, but not maliciously. It was a simple case of bad timing. You tell me why a real knife was in place of the prop? Who put it there? My client will be pleading innocent. Unless you want to drag this thing on, I'd suggest you release her until you've got enough evidence to convict. You’re making a mistake. You have the wrong suspect. I've dealt with a lot of criminals in my time, and that girl didn't just finish killing somebody. She’s not splattered in blood, and there are too many things that don’t add up. She might be an actress, but you can't hide certain mannerisms and body language. I can see the truth in her eyes. She’s not your girl.” Ernie knew that cops were a part of the game. You had to figure out which ones were speaking with their ego, and which ones were evidence driven. Some just had a grudge to grind; something to prove.
The cop shook his head. "Open and shut case. I'll be holding her for twenty-four hours at the least. I suggest you ask for an early appointment with the judge. I hear he's got a game of golf in the afternoon."
Ernie Langusto groaned. He stepped in to see his client again, telling her the news.
"What?" Carla's shrill pitch filled the small room. "You can't let me rot in jail!"
"It's one night. Consider it improv, sort of like research for a role. It's going to be okay, I'll have you out of here as soon as I can get in front of a judge." He stood, shuffled some notes and closed his briefcase. "I'll fill your mother in."
"What! You can’t let her rot in jail!" Gina Ambrogi yelled at Ernie.
Ernie sighed. It was déjà vu. He lowered his voice, trying to soothe the woman.
Lottie stepped up. "What can we do to help?"
"Honey, unless you can solve the crime yourself, you're looking at a big, brick wall. They have a motive, witnesses, and her fingerprints on the knife."
"Well, then I guess we’ll have to solve it now, won’t we," she answered with fierce determination.
Chapter 3
Pops settled into his favorite chair. Sitting in Gina's kitchen, he faced out so he had a view of everything around him. As a former detecti
ve, he didn't like his back to the action. He always knew were every entrance and exit was located. When he was promoted to a detective, he went back to wearing plain clothes, but the tricks he learned while walking the beat taught him more than anything. He knew to always expect the unexpected and not to overlook the smallest details. The tiny details usually solved a crime.
Lottie leaned against the counter, while Gina dished out cannoli and poured coffee. Important conversations always ended up in the kitchen, and always over food. It was the way her mother did things, and her grandmother. Gina was the spitting image of her mom. Lottie tended to be carefree, not one to stick to tradition, but Gina was always steering anyway.
"So, what do we know so far?" Pops started.
Gina reviewed the details with her father. "The director's dead body was found near the costume rack. We know that for certain. We know that they think the knife Carla picked up was the murder weapon. She thought it was a prop for the play. They’d been rehearsing, getting ready to open the playhouse for the summer. This year, it was Macbeth they’d chosen to lead with. Anyway, there was an argument that a couple of others overheard. Some sort of disagreement, but I’m not sure if it was personal or professional. She didn’t say. If she says she didn’t do it, I believe her. I don't need more than that. She’s my kid; I’d know if she was lying."
Lottie noodled over the information, while Pops nodded following along.
"We're going to need a list of the people who were there at the time. We’ll need to get statements. What did they hear? What did they see? The more stories that match the better, but somebody will have a detail somebody else doesn't. Everybody sees and hears things from their perspective. You'd be amazed how many details come out when they spill. The hard part is to get them talking. That's a little messy at times, because they may have been told not to talk to anybody until it goes to trial. Then again, some people won't want to get involved, and then others will make the circumstances suit their needs. Oh yeah, one more detail you should know. Everybody lies. Some lies will feel real, but just because it's a lie, it may be the truth in their eyes. Listen to me closely… Everybody lies at some point. Don't forget that. Let's round up a list of people, and we’ll go from there." Pops slid a piece of cannoli into his mouth, and savored the sweet dessert.
