On the Wings of Murder

by Patti Benning

  She was expecting a cool burst of air when she walked through the door, and was surprised when the air inside proved to be even hotter than it was outside. The restaurant was empty, and so quiet that she wondered if it was closed for the day and someone had just forgotten to lock the door. She might have left then and there, but she was curious to see what the little shop offered and how its menu compared to Papa Pacelli’s.

  She wasn’t sure what she expected, but she was disappointed. The menu was very basic, with only a handful of toppings and no choice of different crusts. The only thing this pizza place had that Papa Pacelli’s did not was a selection of wings to choose from. Ellie began to turn back around, but at that moment the door behind the counter opened and a woman came out. She looked surprised to see a customer, but the look was quickly replaced by a bright smile.

  “Welcome to Oceanside Pizza and Wings,” she said. “What can I get you? The lunch special is a personal pizza with a drink and three wings.”

  Ellie knew that it was too late to leave. The woman looked so excited to have a customer that she just didn’t have the heart to duck out. Maybe their food is better than the atmosphere, she thought.

  “That sounds good to me. I’ll have the personal pepperoni pizza with your sweet barbecue wings. Just water to drink, please.”

  “Coming right up. We also have soda and iced tea. Are you sure you just want a water?”

  “Just the water,” Ellie said. “I'm trying to stay hydrated. I’m from out of town, and this heat is killing me.”

  “Oh, where are you from?” the woman asked.

  “I’m from northern Maine,” Ellie said.

  “Wow, Florida must be quite different than what you’re used to. I’m sorry that our air conditioning is out. I bet it never gets this hot where you’re from,” the woman said.

  “It’s rare for it to get out of the eighties, even in the middle of summer,” Ellie said. “Sorry, I don’t mean to sound like I’m complaining. I am enjoying myself down here so far.”

  “Are you here for work, or just for fun?”

  “For fun. My grandmother and I decided to take a last-minute vacation. If we’d planned it better, we probably would have come in the fall when it’s not so hot.”

  “It’s always hot here,” the woman said, giving her a quick grin. “I’ll go pop your order in. Feel free to take a seat anywhere. As you can see, we aren’t very busy right now. I’ll be right back out with your water.”

  Ellie took a seat at a booth near the counter. Despite the heat of the restaurant, she was glad that she had stopped in. The woman seemed quite nice, and with luck she might get a chance to talk with her more about her pizzeria. She was always looking for ways to expand the menu at Papa Pacelli’s, and wings sounded like a very tasty idea.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  * * *

  Ellie looked around while she waited, comparing Oceanside to Papa Pacelli’s. The first thing that struck her was how run-down it looked. The tile on the floor was chipped and cracked. One of the ceiling lights was out. The view was nice—the beach was visible through the front window—but a convenient location couldn’t solve all the problems that the restaurant had. If it was up to Ellie, she would completely redo the interior and put a patio out front to make the most of the good location and the nice weather. However, this wasn’t Papa Pacelli’s. She had gone on this vacation to take a break from work, not to adopt a pet project.

  The woman brought her water out a moment later. She put it on the table, then paused. “If you need any advice about places to go while you’re down here, I’d be happy to help. I’ve lived here for ten years, and my daughter is attending the University of Miami.”

  “We really don’t have any plans; we thought we would just do whatever seemed interesting when we got down here. What would you recommend for two women who want to be complete tourists?”

  “Oh, there’s the Everglades, of course. They’re definitely worth a visit. The Miami zoo is also very nice. If you’re up to a boat trip, you could go and see the Keys. You said your grandmother is with you?” She looked around, as if expecting to see the older woman lurking somewhere in the pizzeria.

  “Yes. She’s visiting some friends who live in a retirement community a little way up the coast. Tomorrow we plan to do some things together.”

  “That’s so nice for the two of you, to be able to take a vacation together. Is she from Maine as well?”

  “She is. In fact, she’s the reason I moved back to Maine. I grew up in Chicago, but needed a change of scenery and a change of career.”

  “What do you do for a living? Sorry if I’m asking too many questions. It’s just nice to have someone to talk to other than myself.”

  “This is going to sound like a huge coincidence, but I actually own my own pizzeria. It’s called Papa Pacelli’s.” Ellie found herself liking the woman. She had the look of someone who worked a bit too much, but she seemed friendly and open. She was easy to talk to.

  “Really? That’s wonderful. This place was my husband's. He passed away last year. I've been trying to keep it open, but business has been failing no matter what I do.” She sighed. “To be honest with you, I don't think I can make it through the year. I'd love to keep it open, but paying for my daughter’s college has to come first.”

  “I'm so sorry to hear that,” Ellie said. She couldn’t imagine having to face the decision of whether to close Papa Pacelli's.

  “I—oh, there’s the oven. I’ll go get your food.”

  The woman vanished into the kitchen. I wonder how their food is? Ellie thought. Food could make or break a restaurant, but atmosphere was important as well. This place just didn't have it. She wondered if woman would welcome suggestions, or if she might be insulted. Ellie didn’t like the thought of the place closing down. She knew restaurants failed all the time, but that didn’t make it any less sad.

  The woman returned with a tray of food. She placed it on the table, then extended her hand. “I’m Linda, by the way,” she said.

  “I’m Ellie. It's nice to meet you. Would you like to join me? I’d love to talk more while I eat.”

  “If you’re sure you don't mind,” the woman said.

  “Of course. Come on, sit down,” Ellie said. “I want to hear more about this place. It’s wonderful to meet another woman who owns a pizzeria.”

  Ellie pulled a piece off the small pizza and lifted it to her lips. She was pleasantly surprised by her first bite. It was good, she wouldn’t have to fake that. The crust wasn’t quite as flavorful as her grandfather’s recipe was, but that was to be expected. She had never come across any pizza dough that could compare to her grandfather’s secret recipe.

  “What do you want to know?” Linda asked. “This was my husband’s baby. I was a stay-at-home mom for most of my life. After he opened this place, I helped out a couple of days every week.” She blushed. “I had never really had a job like this before in my life. I probably could have helped him more, but I wasn’t very used to working. We got married just out of college, and I had Alice a year later. Adam was a good man, and we both miss him terribly.”

  “How did he pass?” Ellie asked. “If you don’t mind me asking.”

  “Cancer,” the woman said shortly. “It was very quick. He got the diagnosis just two months before he died. I suppose it was better that it was so quick. He didn’t have to suffer for very long. It was hard on our daughter of course, but she had already moved out for college. I’m thankful that she got to grow up with him around. When Adam first found out, he wanted to sell this place, but I wouldn’t let him. I knew how proud he was of it. I just wish that I would be able to keep it up. I can make the food and I can take people’s money, but I really don’t have any idea what I’m doing when it comes to creating an interesting menu or advertising, and I just can’t afford to hire someone to do all of that for me.”

  “I feel for you,” Ellie said. “I’m very sorry. Papa Pacelli’s was my grandfather’s, and he passed away last y
ear as well. I know what it’s like to be responsible for the family restaurant and to have no idea what you’re doing.”

  “It’s hard. I loved my husband, and I would love to keep making his dreams a reality, but I’m starting to think that the best thing for me and my daughter will be to sell this place before I sink even more money into trying to keep it running.”

  Ellie frowned, considering the woman’s dilemma as she ate her pizza. She wanted to help, but she didn’t know what she could do besides hope that everything would turn out all right in the end.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  * * *

  Another customer came in, so Linda had to get up. Ellie finished the rest of her lunch in silence. She was just getting up to leave when a call came through on her cellphone. It was Nonna.

  “I know you’re planning to pick me up soon, dear, but Gerry’s friend Anthony has a car and offered to drop me off at the hotel later this evening. We’re going to go a play that their activity center is putting on. You’re welcome to join us if you would like. I’m looking forward to seeing the sights with you tomorrow.”

  “Thanks for letting me know. I’ll keep my phone on me just in case you end up needing a ride. I’m going to go back to the hotel and relax, and maybe head to the beach later. I hope you have a wonderful time.”

  She stopped at a bookstore on her way to the hotel, and picked up a couple of novels in a new series that looked promising. At the last minute, she stopped by a convenience store and grabbed a bottle of wine as well. It was a vacation, after all. There was nothing wrong with spending the evening relaxing.

  Their suite was cool and comfortable after the Florida heat and humidity. She pulled the curtains across to make the room dark, and drew herself a bath. With a glass of wine and her book, she thought that the day couldn’t get any better.

  Ellie spoiled herself that evening by ordering dinner up to the room. Steak, lobster, mashed red-skinned potatoes with chunks of garlic, and a chocolate lava cake for dessert. It was far from a healthy meal, but it was delicious. After that, she began to feel drowsy, and, knowing that she had no commitments to anyone other than her grandmother, who was out with her friends, she decided to take a nap. Figuring that her grandmother would wake her up when she got in, she decided to forgo the couch in favor of the more comfortable bed in the other room.

  She was disoriented when she woke up. It was dark, and not just because the curtains were drawn. After going over to the little balcony and opening the curtains, she realized that it was well into the evening. The sun had vanished, and the sky was a dark grey. The streetlights were glowing in the street below, and the ocean was a pitch black expanse.

  Rubbing her eyes and still feeling slightly out of place—she didn’t usually take such long naps during the day—Ellie went out into the main room of the suite, being quiet in case her grandmother had gotten in and fallen asleep on the couch. She felt bad; she hadn’t meant to steal the older woman’s bed. After her nap, she doubted that she would sleep well that night, but at least she had the rest of the book that she had started earlier.

  She kept the lights off as she walked through the room, fully expecting to find her grandmother sleeping on the couch. However, the pull out was empty. Frowning, she turned on the lights. There was no sign that Nonna had been in. Where had her grandmother gone? It was slightly past nine in the evening; far too late for the woman to still be out. She normally went to bed before eight at home.

  Starting to feel worried, Ellie went back into the bedroom to grab her cellphone in case her grandmother had left a message for her while she was sleeping. She was relieved when she saw that she had a voicemail.

  Ellie, dear, I was just calling to see where you are. I’m in the lobby, just about to head up to the room. If you wanted, I thought we could stop in the hotel’s restaurant for dinner. I hope that I’m not waking you up. I’ll see you soon.

  Ellie replayed it, paying more attention to the time at the beginning of the message. Nonna had called just before 7 o’clock; over two hours ago. Something wasn’t right.

  Concerned, Ellie tried calling her back. It went straight to voice mail. She felt the beginning of true fear for the older woman’s well-being. She slipped the phone in her pocket, put her flip-flops on, and grabbed the room key. It was time to go and find her grandmother.

  Ellie took one last look at the room before shutting the door behind her, trying to see any sign that her grandmother had indeed stopped in. She knew there was likely a rational explanation for her missing, but that didn’t stop the twisting sensation in her stomach. Not only was Nonna gone, but she had vanished in one of the busiest cities in the country. Ellie didn’t know who she could turn to. If her grandmother didn’t show up, she didn’t know what she would do.

  CHAPTER SIX

  * * *

  Ellie checked the hotel restaurant first, in case her grandmother had decided to get some food without her. It was open until eleven that night, and was quite busy, but there wasn’t any sign of a single older woman sitting by herself. Ellie bit her lip as she walked past the tables, trying not to let her worry overcome her. She would find her grandmother, and all of this would turn out to be just a silly mistake.

  It wasn’t until after Ellie searched the pool area, the sauna, and even the exercise room, with no luck that she began to give up hope. Somehow, between being dropped off at the hotel lobby and finding her way to their suite, Nonna had disappeared.

  At last, Ellie decided that it was time to seek official help. She approached the man at the hotel’s front desk. He was talking on the phone, and as she drew near, he looked up and motioned for her to wait as he completed the conversation. When he hung up at last, he looked up at her. She started talking before he could even open his mouth.

  “The person I’m sharing a room with is missing. She’s my grandmother, and she was supposed to be here two hours ago.”

  “Have you tried calling her?”

  “Yes,” Ellie said, her tone sharp with annoyance.

  “Was she with anyone else? You could try calling them.”

  “I don’t have their numbers. I know that she was in the lobby at seven, because she called from here and left a message for me.”

  “You’re certain she was in the hotel?” He asked, shooting a reluctant glance down the magazine on the desk next to him. It was obvious that he didn’t want to deal with this at all.

  “Can you please just check the security footage, or ask some of the other employees if they’ve seen her?” Ellie asked, trying to keep from panicking. “I need to figure out where she went. If she left the hotel, I need to go and find her. She’s not used to such a large, busy city.”

  The man sighed. “Security is down the hall, first door on your left. Tell Billy I said to help you.”

  Ellie thanked him even though he had seemed reluctant to help her. She followed his directions and found the door marked Security. She knocked, and at the mumbled response, let herself in.

  “Are you Billy?” she asked the man she found inside.

  “That’s me,” the man said. He was squat, with short hair, thinning in the middle. There was an energy drink on his desk, and a chocolate muffin, half eaten, beside his keyboard. “How can I help you?”

  “I’m looking for my grandmother. The man at the front desk sent me here. I was hoping that you could show me security footage from about two hours ago. She was in the lobby when she called me, but she never made it up to our room. I’m worried about her.”

  “You’re missing your grandmother?” he asked. “That’s a new one. I’m used to doing this for missing kids. I’m happy to help. What does she look like? What time did she call you?”

  “She left me a voice mail about ten minutes before seven saying that she was in the hotel lobby.” She described her grandmother. The man spun his chair around and faced the computer. He clicked a few times and brought some footage up. He began rewinding it.

  “There!” Ellie exclaimed. They both watched as th
e white-haired woman walked across the hotel lobby and got into the elevator.

  “Well, she was definitely here,” the security man said. “Do you know anyone else staying in the hotel? Could she have gone to visit them instead of going straight to your room?”

  “No, we don’t know anyone else. It’s just me and her down here. She does have some friends at the retirement community, but she doesn’t know anyone staying in the hotel.” Ellie bit her lip. It was good to know that her grandmother was in the building, but if anything, it just deepened the mystery even more. Where had she gone? How could she have completely vanished after getting into the elevator on her own? “Are there any security cameras in the hallways?”

  “Yeah, we can check the floor your room is on. What’s the room number?”

  “We’re in room three-oh-seven,” she told him.

  He clicked a few more times and a new view came up on the screen. “This camera looks out over the elevator,” he explained. He rewound the footage to the correct time, then let it play. They both leaned forward, watching. When a few minutes passed and no one appeared, Ellie gave a disappointed sigh.

  “Quite the mystery,” Billy said. “Does your grandmother happen to be a ghost? Maybe she can become invisible.”

  “Maybe she went to another floor by mistake,” Ellie said, in no mood for jokes. “Can you check to footage for the other floors?”

  The man obliged. It was on the second floor that they found her. The security footage showed her getting off the elevator and walking down the hall. Then she rounded the corner and disappeared from view.