We swerved into Cannoli’s back lot and rushed into the kitchen. Aunt Lena was still on the phone with the 911 operator. Mascara streaked down her cheeks and her wiry hair stuck out in every direction. She looked like the end of an all-night party.
Resting the phone against her shoulder, my aunt clutched my arm. “Police will be here soon.” She chewed a knuckle. “Who’d do this?” Her voice turned thick and tears filled her eyes. “Yes, operator, I’m still here. My niece just arrived.”
I put my arm around her and whispered, “You didn’t touch him, did you?” That was about as comforting as alcohol on a burn.
Ed walked over. “I’m Ed. Sorry for your loss.”
Aunt Lena waved her hand in which she clutched a used tissue. “Thank you.”
Ed stared at Aunt Lena then looked away, suddenly awkward.
I stepped in. “Ed works with me.”
He stood straight. Sounding like a Canadian Mountie, he added, “I’m here to help, Ma’am.” I thought he was going to salute her.
Aunt Lena wiped her eyes. “Appreciate it.”
The sound of sirens grew louder and when Aunt Lena explained that the police had arrived, the 911 operator let her go.
Aunt Lena, Ed and I walked into the dining room to meet up with the police. My aunt shivered and then wailed as soon as she spied Larry’s body. If Ed hadn’t been right there, she might’ve collapsed. “Don’t look, Lena,” he murmured in her ear.
Like a nerd to a computer game, my eyes went straight to where Larry sat, his body slumped over. His head rested on the table, his hands limp by his sides. A bullet hole in the middle of his back. I closed my eyes, willing myself not to keep that image in my mind. I only opened them when four uniformed police announced their presence.
Ed muttered, “Let the games begin.”
Chapter Three
My aunt started crying again when she explained to the police how Larry came to be at Cannoli’s. She’d just finished when another siren sounded and stopped.
My heart stopped too, as I realized Detective Brian Corrigan had been given this case. He strode in, ready to take charge when he spotted me. But his face belonged on Mount Rushmore. Pure stone.
I, on the other hand, felt my face flush and my palms sweat.
Ed had been hovering over Aunt Lena like he was a hen and she was his first egg, but he tore his attention away when Corrigan entered the kitchen. He stuck out his hand. “Hey, glad to see you.”
Corrigan shook hands with him. “Good to see you out of the hospital, Ed.” He looked past me and introduced himself to my aunt. “I’m Detective Corrigan. I’m going to see the victim first, but I’ll be back to ask you some questions. Okay?”
She glanced at me and my throat constricted. My poor aunt, who never asked anyone permission to do anything, looked now like a lost child on the first day of school. “Okay.”
Corrigan glanced at me. His startling blue eyes twinkled. “So it’s the famous PI, Claire DeNardo. Is this guy another victim you’ve been hired to protect?”
I wanted to poke my fingers in his eyes. “Lena Antonucci is my aunt. Remember, from the Adler case?”
One of the uniformed cops came in, tapped Corrigan’s shoulder before he could respond to me, and they both exited.
I was relieved he hadn’t had time to make some snarky comment since I’d have no comeback. Even if I had the rest of the day, I’d have no witty, so-theres. I wondered if there was an app for snappy, one-size-fits-all zingers.
After fifteen minutes, Corrigan re-entered the kitchen, his eyebrows knitted. “Are you ready to answer some questions, Mrs. Antonucci?”
She wiped her forehead and blew out a breath. “I’ll do the best I can.”
He pulled out a notepad and a pen from his suit pocket. “Tell me what happened. From the beginning, please. How did you know the victim?”
Aunt Lena hugged herself and looked up at the ceiling. “He was a regular customer. I’ve known him maybe three weeks. This was supposed to be our first date. That’s all.”
Corrigan stopped writing. “Why don’t you have a seat, Mrs. Antonucci?”
Aunt Lena nodded. “Everyone sit down.”
Corrigan pulled up two chairs. I thought one was for me, but he slid one toward Aunt Lena and he sat in the other. Ed shrugged and slipped into the dining room to get two more.
The detective leaned in. “Okay, tell me about tonight.”
She wiped her hands on her dress and then rested them both on her knees. “He, Larry, I mean, we were supposed to have dinner tonight. At 7:00.” She blew out a breath and bit her lower lip. “Cannoli’s closes at 6:00. Told him I’d meet him here. Didn’t want him coming to my place.” She held up her hand. “Not that there was anything wrong with him. You just have to be careful nowadays.”
She cleared her throat and Ed asked, “How about some water?” Before Aunt Lena answered, Ed jumped up like his seat had a spring in it and got her a glass.
She took a sip and thanked him, then sighed. “I got here about 6:45. Unlocked the door to the dining area so Larry could come in. I went back into the kitchen. Into the pantry. Anyway, I heard the restaurant door in front open and figured it was Larry. I called out that I’d be ready to go in a minute.” She drank more water. “The kitchen door opened then and I think he said something like ‘take your time.’ He must have gone back out to the dining room because when I stepped out of the pantry nobody was there. But I heard the restaurant door open again.” She bit back a sob. “So I thought maybe he went back outside for something. I went into the dining room and there he was…” She looked over at me, tears streaming down her face. “Could you get me another Kleenex?”
Before I could move, Ed grabbed the box and passed it to my aunt. She took one and blew her nose hard. “Larry was dead. I called 911 and my niece.” She whimpered into the wet tissue.
I squeezed her hand and checked Corrigan’s expression out of the corner of my eye. He looked down at his notepad so I couldn’t read his expression. He had to believe her. When he looked up, his face was all business. “Did you see anyone else? A car? Anything?”
She closed her eyes for a moment. “No. I’m sorry.”
He glanced at his notes. “Did you hear a gun go off?”
Aunt Lena shook her head.
“You said you heard the door open twice. But the victim was alone. Could it have opened once more without you hearing it?”
She thought for a moment. “Maybe. I was running the water.”
“Ok, did the victim say anything prior to tonight to make you think someone had it in for him? Or did he mention anything about his past?”
She wiped her face with both hands, smearing what was left of her makeup even more. “No.” She looked down at her hands, then up again. “Wait. He told me he’d lived somewhere in the East.”
Corrigan closed his notepad. “Thank you.”
Aunt Lena touched Corrigan’s jacket sleeve and quietly asked, “What will they do with him?”
His eyes softened. “They’re taking pictures and gathering evidence right now. Once the coroner gets here, he’ll do a quick assessment. Then the body goes to the morgue.”
The coroner finally arrived and came into the kitchen to speak with Corrigan. He excused himself and both men exited to the dining room.
Aunt Lena seemed to shrink into herself for a moment and I scanned my brain for a way to rally her. But it wasn’t necessary since she soon heaved herself from the chair and went to the refrigerator. “Anybody want a piece of chocolate chiffon pie?”
“I don’t think the cops allow anyone to eat at a crime scene and even though he died in the other room, this is still part of the scene.”
My aunt looked crushed. “Sure. You’re right. I wasn’t thinking…” She put the pie away and slunk back to her chair like a kid who’d missed a three-letter word in a spelling bee. She put her face in her hands. We sat in a heavy silence.
The coroner eventually removed the body and the cop
s put up police tape. Corrigan returned to the kitchen. “I’m sorry to say you may not be able to open Cannoli’s for business tomorrow. Crime scene.”
Aunt Lena nodded. “Tuesday?”
Corrigan smiled. “Someone will let you know.”
I added, “Come back here only if you’re up to it, Aunt Lena.” She shrugged. It hurt to see her so cowed, this woman I’d always thought of as being sturdy outside, but polenta inside.
Corrigan handed my aunt his business card. “If you think of anything else, even if it seems small, please call me. If not, I’ll still be in touch.” He shook Ed’s hand. “Good to see you healthy, Ed.”
He waved to me to follow him outside and he closed the door quietly behind us. I didn’t know what he had to say in private, but I knew it wouldn’t be anything I’d want to hear. I was right.
“Claire, I don’t want you playing PI here. Let us handle this case.” Then he looked up at the sky and rested his finger against his cheek. “Funny, this conversation sounds so familiar. Oh, I remember. That’s because we had it with the Adler case.”
I harrumphed. “She’s my aunt. I’ll do whatever she asks. Anything else?”
“That’s it.” He turned to leave then spun around. “Yeah. Sorry I’ve waited so long to call you.”
“Obviously it wasn’t important or you would have done it.” So much for playing it cool. Why didn’t I just show him a photo of a broken heart?
“I was going to do it first chance I got. I’m busy fighting crime, remember? I’d think a woman in the business of private investigation would understand.”
A private investigator without much business, so no, I wouldn’t understand. Instead of saying that out loud, I just shrugged. “Well, your chance has come and gone.”
He picked up my hand and held it. “Give me another one then.” He paused. “After I catch this killer, we’ll—”
I pulled my hand away. “Let’s just see what happens.” For one of the very few times in my life, I sounded aloof. Feeling so proud of myself, I couldn’t wait to repeat my words in front of my mirror.
Despite being disappointed and hurt, I also experienced a teensy bit of relief he hadn’t called. I chalked that feeling to my past devastating romance with my former fiancé, Justin. Nothing like infidelity to sour a girl on relationships. That emotional scar should have healed by now, since it was almost ten years ago. I thought it had, but it didn’t seem so. Not that it mattered now.
Corrigan scowled and when I said nothing more, he stomped off. Trying to maintain my newfound coolness, I sauntered back into the kitchen. Ed had scooted his chair next to Aunt Lena and held her hand. I coughed, not knowing what else to do.
Aunt Lena looked at me and slid her hand free. “The police are gone.”
Now that we could finally leave, I released a heavy sigh. “Aunt Lena, I don’t think you should be alone tonight. I’d have you sleep at my place, but there’s only one bedroom and I wouldn’t wish my couch on my worst enemy. We need to go over to my dad’s and talk to him. He’s been worried about you.” I regretted my words as soon as they shot from my mouth. I wished my brain had intervened.
She put her hands on her hips. “Why?”
I decided to play it dumb. “Well...better he hears about this from us than on the news.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Good try. I know he didn’t like Larry. But Larry was the first guy who paid attention to me…” She put her clenched fist up to her mouth.
I scrambled over and wrapped my arms around her shoulders. “I’m sorry. I feel so bad.” I was set to murmur more inane words, but she gently pushed me away and sniffed.
“I know. You and Frank were just looking out for me.” She wiped her eye-shadowed, eye-linered eyes with the back of her index finger. She grabbed her sweater and shoved her feet back into those tortuous red heels. “I’m ready.”
Ed piped up. “I’ll drive you.” When Aunt Lena protested that she could drive her own car, Ed shook his head. His voice dropped low. “You’ve had a big shock tonight. Better leave the operating heavy machinery stuff to me.”
I plopped down in the backseat of Ed’s car and brushed aside a few crumpled up cigarette packs. “Ugh.” I muttered, trying to find a non-sticky spot to place my feet. “Don’t you ever clean back here, Ed?”
“I’ll do that just as soon as I can look at those old packs of smokes without getting nostalgic.”
I took in a sharp breath. “OhMyGod. You haven’t had a cigarette all night.”
With his right hand on the wheel, he rolled up his sleeve with his left and showed a patch. “Gave it up a couple days ago. Third time I quit.”
Aunt Lena, who’d been silent since she got in the car, spoke up. “My husband, Tommy, quit. Of course that was before they had the gum, the patch, all that stuff.” She paused for a moment and added, “He was a bear for the first month.”
Ed nodded. “Know what you mean. First time I quit, I went cold turkey. Cursed everyone from JR Reynolds to my own grandma. This patch makes it easier.”
I joined in. “I’m glad, Ed. Smoking is so unhealthy.”
He nodded. “Yeah, and I’m way more attractive this way.” He grinned at Aunt Lena. To my amazement, she grinned back.
We arrived at my dad’s house. Ed turned off the car and scurried to open my aunt’s car door. I was left to open my own.
My father came to the front door holding a newspaper in one hand and the TV remote in the other. Upon catching a glimpse of Aunt Lena’s smeared makeup and disheveled hair, he dropped both. “What did he do? I’ll kill him.”
“Someone beat you to it, Dad.”
My aunt put her hands on his arm. “Frank, I’m okay. It’s Larry who’s not.” Her chin quivered like not-yet-set pudding.
I cut in. “Larry’s dead. Murdered.”
Dad hugged Aunt Lena. “But you’re safe.” He pulled away. “You didn’t see who did it, did you?”
“I’ll fill you in, Dad. Aunt Lena, why don’t you go in the house and sit down?” Ed put his hand in the small of my aunt’s back and escorted her into my dad’s home like it was his.
It was April, but in Cleveland, winter can hold on way past its expiration date. Despite my jacket, I wrapped my arms around myself to hold in the warmth. My dad started. “Someone knew Larry and didn’t like him much. I bet there were a lot of people like that.”
“I don’t think his name was Larry. When I investigated, there was nothing on Larry Walters. I think you were right. Had to be an alias.” Then I gave him a brief rundown of what happened.
My father put his arm around me. “Thank God Lena wasn’t with him when he got killed. Well, it’s a job for the police now.”
“Let’s hope they find the killer soon.” I exhaled hard and could see my breath in the cold air. It disappeared just as quickly, as did my belief that tonight’s events wouldn’t give me nightmares even while I was awake.
As soon as my father and I walked back into his house, he poured Aunt Lena some whiskey. “Drink this. It’ll calm you like nothing else.”
She sniffed it and turned her head. But instead of declining it, she took the glass and swallowed most of it down, coughing and fanning herself after it went down. The four of us talked until Aunt Lena yawned three times in a row and her eyelids drooped. My father touched her hand. “Hey, you’re about to fall asleep. Why don’t you go to bed? The guest room’s all fixed up for you.”
I thought she’d argue, but instead, she grabbed the whiskey bottle. “In case I wake up and think about poor Larry…” She sniffed and clutched the bottle to her bosom.
It was late so Ed and I said quick goodnights and started back to my office. “Ed, thank you. You were great with my aunt.”
He rolled the toothpick he had in his mouth to one side. “Are you kidding? I’d do a lot more for a woman like her.”
My eyebrows shot up. “She’s a little old for you, Ed. You’re what?”
“Forty-eight.”
I held my cold hands up
to the car’s heater. “She’s fifty-four.”
He held the steering wheel with one hand and pulled the toothpick out of his mouth, using it to make a point. “I know, but she’s got it all in the right places, and I figure the older the piano, the sweeter the music.”
I shivered. “Never mind. I don’t want to hear this.”
“No disrespect intended. I didn’t mean it in any biblical sense. She’s a fine woman.”
I wanted to cover my ears. Instead I turned on his radio, instantly regretting it. Old timey country music blasted forth with somebody yodeling their heartbreak. I thought we’d never get to my office. Then I remembered there’d been two deaths this evening; Larry and my car, Bob. I hoped one of them could be brought back to life.
It was almost midnight by the time Ed pulled up to my car. He took out a flashlight and fiddled around under the hood. To my gratitude and amazement, Bob coughed a bit and started. Ed wiped his hands on a rag from his back seat and said, “Just don’t shut her off until you get home.”
I clasped his hands in mine. “Thank you, Ed. I owe you.” I wanted to stuff that dirty rag in my mouth for that comment. I already owed him more than I could ever pay him, especially with the no-business business I ran. Too bad I couldn’t pay him in meatballs.
Ed waved off my thanks. “No problemo. Just remember me to Lena.”
I still couldn’t bring myself to think of him and my aunt as a couple. I smiled weakly and got into my car. I could see him in my rearview mirror, waiting. Then I turned a corner and he disappeared, as I wished the events of tonight would. I hoped I’d be able to sleep tonight, but we don’t always get what we want.
Chapter Four
It felt like I’d just laid my head down when an irritating noise broke through my dream. First I thought it was a headache. Then I realized the headache was Detective Corrigan pounding on my door.
“DeNardo, if you’re in there, open up.”
I threw on a robe and brushed my hair away from my face. I pulled it back over my right cheek when I glanced in the mirror and spotted the sleep crease running from my eye to my ear. I cracked the door open but left the chain lock in place. “What do you want?”
Killer Cannoli (A Terrified Detective Mystery Book 2) Page 2
