Love Thy Sister (Mina's Adventures Book 1)

by Maria Grazia Swan

  “Michael first—no, wait. Jail, I mean De Fiore, you know. Si, si, start with De Fiore.” Mina took a big bite of her sandwich, felt the jelly sliding down her chin.

  “You’re dripping,” Paola said.

  Mina stopped short of wiping it with the back of her hand. She used a paper napkin, instead. “De Fiore,” she said, her mouth full.

  “You know,” Paola’s fingernail traced designs on the table, “in a way, I feel sorry for the man. I understand the kind of pressure he must be under.”

  “Paola, I don’t want to hear excuses. I want the story, all the details. Did he handcuff you? Did they take your fingerprints? A mug shot? Tell me!”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. I wasn’t even arrested. De Fiore asked me questions about the box of chocolates I bought the Saturday that Rachel—” Her sister stopped. Mina looked up and was surprised to see tears in Paola’s eyes. She waited.

  Finally Paola cleared her throat and continued, “The sales clerk from Hallmark was sitting in the front room of the police station. We had to walk right past her to get to De Fiore’s office. What a ringmaster that man is.”

  “What was the point? You already told him you bought the candies.”

  “De Fiore thought he could get me to confess.”

  “To what?” Mina said. “Being a chocoholic?”

  Slowly, as if handling a fragile figurine, Paola put down the glass of wine she’d been holding in her cupped hands. “De Fiore is trying to prove that the drugged chocolate came from the box I purchased that day.”

  Mina stopped in mid-chew. “Did it?”

  “Mina!” Paola’s violet eyes blazed.

  “I’m not suggesting that you murdered her. Someone could have taken one of your candies. Don’t look at me that way. I’m just trying to understand what’s going on.”

  Paola closed her eyes and her voice sounded pained. “Someone from the printing shop next to West Coast Software said they saw Paco talking to Rachel by the back door of the warehouse.”

  “I thought Paco said he hadn’t seen...oh.” Mina gulped. Maybe peanut butter hadn’t been such a good idea. The sandwich lodged in her throat like a lump of glue.

  After a long pause, Paola spoke again. “When I left Hallmark, the girl watched me walking back to my car. She saw Paco waiting for me.”

  “What in hell is going on?” It burst out of Mina’s lips before she could stop it. “I thought Paco was at West Coast Software when I left. Is there anything else I don’t know about?”

  Paola’s eyes looked almost liquid, darkened by some fear that Mina couldn’t decipher. Mina lowered her voice. “Paola, this is making me crazy. What were you doing in Santa Ana that day? I went to get your papers because you said your back hurt.”

  Paola picked up her wine again, stared at the garnet liquid in the stem glass for a moment, and then put it back on the table without drinking.

  “Once upon a time—” She gave Mina a tremulous smile, tears quivered in her eyes. “Once upon a time, there was a young Italian girl who came to America to search for...” She shook her head and suddenly she was the same old Paola: in control. “Forget about the young Italian girl. Let’s get back to Paco and the mess we’re in.”

  “Good.” Mina studied her sister’s face. “I don’t want fairy tales, Paola. I want the truth.”

  “Right.” Paola pushed her wine glass away. “After you left to run errands that day, Paco called me. As you said, he was taking inventory, and he had just confirmed my suspicion: Takawa’s disks and programs were missing.”

  Paola continued. “I got so angry that I decided to get out of bed and go see for myself. Paco said he was going to grab something to eat at the Mexican restaurant next to Hallmark, and I told him I would meet him there. He wasn’t finished when I arrived. I walked over to Hallmark and, on impulse, I bought a box of chocolates. You know how I am when I get depressed. Anyway, when I got out of the store, Paco was standing by the car. We talked about the missing disks and more important, the information. He said that Sarah had stopped by West Coast Software to pick up a smock that needed washing. He didn’t believe her story, and neither did I, but we decided the best thing at that point was to finish the inventory before we confronted anyone.

  “While we were talking, I opened the box and ate one of the candies. I offered Paco one, but he’s not much for chocolate. The way I felt, I knew that if the box stayed with me, I’d end up eating all the chocolates. So I gave it to Paco and asked him to leave it on my desk.”

  “Both Sarah and Rachel were at West Coast Software that Saturday?”

  “No, only Rachel. Paco didn’t know about the hair color change at the time. Rachel probably thought it was funny and didn’t bother to explain.”

  “So, the stuff De Fiore has against you and Paco is just circumstantial.”

  Paola smiled. “You’ve really got the terminology down. Is it too much television or too much Brian Starrs?” Mina blushed, covered it by taking a swig of milk and choked.

  “Anyway,” Paola said, “by the time De Fiore dropped all his little bombs, Adams arrived at the police station and I was out of there. Paco too.” She lifted her hand to caress Mina’s cheek. “If something ever happens to me, or you find yourself in trouble and need someone to trust, Adams is the one. Remember that.”

  Mina didn’t know what to say. She had never seen her sister so solemn.

  Paola got up and stretched. The mood was broken. “I think I’ll watch the six o’clock news,” she said.

  “You haven’t told me the best part, about throwing Michael out of the house.”

  “Oh, that. After the news.” She turned on the small black and white TV on the kitchen counter. Macy’s was advertising their End-of-Month sale.

  “That reminds me,” Paola said. “We need to go shopping before your trip to New York.”

  “If you’re planning to buy me some fancy lingerie, you can forget it. I don’t care for it, and neither does Patrick. He likes me au naturel.” She waited for Paola to be shocked, but her sister didn’t even flinch.

  “Relax. I was thinking more along the lines of a warm coat. It’s going to be cold there, believe me. How about one of those fake furs? Would you like that? Consider it an early Christmas present.”

  Mina started to protest, and then changed her mind. November in New York. “Thanks, Paola. That sounds like a good idea. As long as I don’t get red paint thrown at me.”

  “You won’t. Your plane is leaving awfully early in the morning, and the day before Thanksgiving, too. The freeways and the airport are going to be a disaster. It would be smart for you to get to L.A. the night before and stay in one of the hotels by the airport. You can park your car there and use their courtesy shuttle the next morning.”

  Mina watched the television screen. “Va bene, okay. I thought you wanted to see the news,” she said, stuffing the last of the sandwich in her mouth.

  The phone rang. Paola reached it first.

  “Good evening, Adams. Fine, thanks to you.” Paola put her back to Mina. “You were right, of course. I understand. Yes, I will. Thank you for calling and, Adams, thank you for caring. You too. Good night.” After returning the receiver to its cradle, Paola turned around, her eyes weary. She picked up her glass, walked over to the wet bar and uncorked a new bottle.

  “Paola.”

  “Yes?”

  “Why did Paco lie about seeing Rachel, I mean Sarah—well, you know what I mean.”

  “`Lie is not the word I’d choose,” Paola said, refilling her wine glass.

  “Isn’t that what it’s called? Paco never mentioned Rachel, and he certainly didn’t say a thing about meeting you. That didn’t keep De Fiore from finding out.”

  “Must you remind me of that terrible man?” She took a sip of wine. “I’m going upstairs.”

  “You promised to tell me about Michael.”

  “Well, since you’re done eating, you can come up to my bedroom. I’ll tell you while I get undressed.”

&n
bsp; “Turn off the kitchen light,” Paola ordered from the foyer. One of Michael’s ties lay in her path, and Mina saw her kick it aside.

  In Paola’s room, Mina sat quietly on the plush white carpet, her back against the bed, watching her sister undress. Under her clothes, Paola wore an old-fashioned slip made of soft white silk, with real lace around the edges and almost invisible spaghetti straps. Paola insisted manmade fabrics made her skin itch.

  From where Mina sat, her sister’s legs looked endless. How did she get stuck with short legs and a small, boyish body?

  “Something wrong?” Paola bent over to remove her stockings, which were held up by a silk garter belt. The movement caused her breasts to come together against the lace of the slip, and their dark nipples showed faintly underneath.

  “How come we don’t look alike?” Mina asked.

  The sheer stockings stopped at mid-leg. “Different fathers. Mina, I hope you aren’t feeling sorry for yourself. You are a beautiful young lady with a great personality and,” Paola’s eyes twinkled, “certainly no shortage of suitors.” She removed and folded the stockings, putting them in a lace-washing bag. “Well, I want to take a shower, so I’ll make the Michael story short. I told you that Adams was arranging for a loan against my house?”

  Mina nodded.

  “It seems someone beat me to it.”

  “What?”

  “The appraisal company contacted by the bank said that they’d done an appraisal of the house less than six months ago that was still valid, and didn’t I receive the copy that had been mailed to me two weeks ago?”

  “Do you have the copy?”

  “Mina, aren’t you listening? I didn’t know anything about it.”

  “Who ordered the appraisal?”

  “According to the papers, Michael and Paola Davies. The copy in question was mailed to the West Coast Software address. I wonder if Michael knows I’m going to divorce him, and that’s why he’s trying to cash in all he can.”

  “What a weasel!”

  “Well, the only thing he’s getting out of it is a quicker divorce. Now my conscience is clear.” Paola, wearing only her panties, crossed her arms to cover her breasts. “I’m going to take a shower.”

  “And I’m going to watch Ally McBeal.” Mina got up from the floor as Paola opened the shower door. “Do you think Michael’s going to get any of your money?”

  “Over my dead body,” Paola said, and turned on the water.

  CHAPTER 13

  “Here Mina, try this one.” Paola entered the fitting room and handed her sister a short, soft black Ultrasuede coat closed by a gold metal zipper “I hate doing things at the last minute,” she sighed.

  Mina took off what she was trying on and grabbed the coat Paola held. “Oh relax, I’m all packed. As soon as we decide on the coat, I’ll get on the freeway.”

  “We still have to drive back to West Coast Software to get your car,” Paola said.

  “It’s not a big deal.” The collar of the coat zipped up to her chin, Mina spun around, mimicking a model on the runway. “Hey, I really like this one, what do you think?”

  “Move your arms. How does it feel? Remember, you’ll wear it over sweaters and shirts, so you don’t want it too tight.”

  “Sweaters and shirts, huh?” Mina grinned.

  The salesgirl peeked inside the fitting room. “How are we doing, ladies? Everything all right?” Her eyes appraised Mina in the Ultrasuede coat. “That looks lovely.”

  “We’re trying to make up our minds,” Paola said. When the young woman left, she checked the price tag. “I guess we can swing it.”

  “Do you want to try Macy’s?”

  “Mina, if you like the coat, let’s buy it. It’s getting late and I don’t want you on the freeway at rush hour.”

  Mina unzipped the coat and ran her hands over the soft imitation suede, parading in front of the mirror again. “Yeah, I really like it. I can wear it on the plane with my jeans and black boots.”

  “And a top, I hope.”

  A mischievous smile was Mina’s only answer.

  “Would you like it on the hanger or do you prefer a bag?” The clerk asked.

  “No, no, just remove the price tag; I’ll wear it,” Mina said.

  The trees surrounding Nordstrom’s parking lot already wore their Christmas tiaras. Come evening, they would blink and shine, the great sparkling divider between ritzy Newport Beach and the Santa Ana barrios.

  They walked toward Paola’s Thunderbird.

  “Look what time it is. I told Margo I’d be back before three o’clock, and I didn’t even take my phone.” Paola started the engine. “You’re going to get caught in the downtown crunch, leaving this late.” A few cars away, a pretty blonde in a silver Jag waited for the parking space.

  “Have you heard anything from Michael?” Mina asked.

  Paola shrugged. “Sarah hasn’t shown up for work since he left.”

  Mina studied her sister’s profile, but the beautiful face was inscrutable.

  “I wonder if the weather is changing,” Paola said. “My back hurts. I’d better get my prescription refilled, just in case.”

  “Aren’t you angry at him?”

  “Not really. In a way, his actions just validate my decision about the divorce. I don’t feel so guilty now.”

  “Guilty? I don’t think I ever heard you use that word before.”

  “Yes, well, you know what they say about Catholics: they raise their children on bread and guilt.”

  * * * * *

  Twenty minutes later, they arrived at West Coast Software, parked in Paola’s marked stall and went inside.

  “Anything important going on?” Paola’s voice clearly startled Margo, who dropped whatever she was reading under the desk.

  “How’s your Spanish coming along?” Mina said.

  Margo was wearing a navy pantsuit; the most subdued outfit Mina had ever seen her in. She gave Mina a drop-dead look, and turned to Paola. “The police were here again. They’ve arrested Paco.”

  “What?” Mina gasped.

  Paola’s face turned pale. “Mina, I’ll handle this. You’d better get going.”

  “But what about Paco?”

  “There’s nothing you can do for him. I’ll call Adams; he’ll know exactly what to do.” She stared at Mina, her eyes wide. “Now, go.” She moved closer and gave her a big hug. “And remember, the room reservation is in my name.”

  An overwhelming urge to hold onto her sister and forget about New York and Patrick gushed through her soul. “I love you, Paola.”

  Her sister pushed her away. “Va, va, go on, get out of here. And have a good time.” She kissed her cheek. “Everything will still be here when you get back, ciao.”

  * * * * *

  Paola was right. It took Mina almost two hours to travel from Santa Ana to Los Angeles. On her way to The Hyatt, the hotel Paola had chosen for her, all she could do was think about Paco. Was De Fiore insane? Paco wouldn’t hurt anyone.

  It was the lies that got him in trouble. Poor Paco, he should have been raised by a mother like hers. “Le bugie hanno le gambe corte, Mina. Lies have short legs, no matter how fast they run, they always get caught.”

  Score one for Mamma. But why had he lied, anyway? What was the big deal about saying hello to Rachel?

  Obviously, Paola hadn’t told her everything. Her sister and Paco were keeping something secret. Maybe Paola was lying too.

  After checking in, Mina ignored Paola’s advice about room service, and ate in the coffee shop. She liked the noise and bustle, the crabby kids and tired travelers. When she was done, she arranged for her wake-up call and transportation to the airport in the morning. Finally, she settled down for the night.

  Sleep eluded her. After an hour of tossing and turning, she flipped on the television. She didn’t want to watch the news, and one of the independent channels was showing the movie Airport. Disgusted, she turned it off.

  She toyed with the idea of a shower, but she�
��d rather have one in the morning. If she didn’t get to sleep soon, she’d need it just to wake up.

  In desperation, she called Paola. The phone rang three times before her sister answered it.

  “Paola, it’s me,” she said. “I can’t sleep. I’m going to look all puffy when I land in New York.”

  “No you won’t. Youth is on your side. Is everything all right? Did you remember to ask for the wake-up call? You don’t want to miss your plane.”

  “Relax Paola, I took care of it. Besides, I can’t miss my plane. I wouldn’t know how to get in touch with Patrick. Maybe that’s why I can’t go to sleep.”

  “You’re just excited, as you should be.” Paola didn’t sound as lighthearted as her words.

  “What’s going on with Paco?”

  “Adams is working on it.”

  “You mean he’s still in jail? What have they charged him with?” She could feel Paola’s hesitation.

  “Oh Mina, these things can get very complicated. You shouldn’t concern yourself with it, at least not tonight. Enjoy your holiday with the Frenchman. Make the most of it.”

  “I happen to like Paco a lot.”

  “Lo so cara, I know.”

  Mina checked the luminous dial of the clock on the night table. “Do you realize I have to be up in less than five hours?”

  “It would be nice if you called me from New York,” Paola said. “I’m not keeping tabs on you. I’ll just feel better knowing that everything is fine. Cara, when you come back, we need to talk.” She paused. “There’s Michael. I just heard his car pull into the garage. I’d better say goodnight. Ciao, signorina, take care and remember, I love you.” Her voice was almost a whisper. Mina felt an incredible amount of emotion packed into the last few sentences. She tried to speak, but Paola hung up before she could slip in a single word.

  Michael, the bastard, had a lot of nerve, coming back home. What were they going to talk about? Mina wondered if he knew about Paco’s arrest.

  Thinking of Michael made Mina wish she had his throat in her hands, but after a few minutes she started to fade. She was more tired than she thought and slipped into bed with the covers tucked under her chin. Below, Century Boulevard’s traffic coursed like Mediterranean waves, and in a few minutes the shadows closed in and she was asleep.