It Cannoli Be Murder (Bread and Batter Cozy Mysteries Book 3)

by Karoline Barrett

  “Hey, Sean. I’ve got you on speaker. Molly’s here, too.”

  “Hi, babe. Everything okay?”

  “Yeah, sweetie. Everything’s fine.” I told him all about my conversation with Rocco as Alex patiently waited.

  “Good thinking on your part talking to Rocco. Don’t take this as sexist, but you probably got more out of him than either Alex or I would have. Unfortunately, I don’t have much to offer. Lucas is lawyering up. We talked to DiGiovanni. He voluntarily let us take his computer. One of the guys the New York City Police Department uses to do computer forensics is taking a look at it. It’s going to take a while, though. I’m going to have to get back to Destiny soon, and tend to other business.”

  “I guess it’s a good sign that he voluntarily gave the computer up,” commented Alex.

  “Could be. Anything else going on?” Sean asked.

  “We’re talking to the Rydells in a few minutes.”

  “Good luck. Listen, I’ve got to run. Alex, call me anytime. Babe, we’ll talk later.”

  “Okay,” Alex and I both said at the same time.

  “I have a feeling this isn’t going to be an easy case.” Alex leaned back in his chair. “Want a drink? The Rydells should be here any minute.”

  I got up and stretched. “Sure. I just hope the investigations don’t drag on forever.”

  Alex handed me a bottled water from the mini-refrigerator beside his desk “Patience is the name of the game.

  “I feel a little useless.”

  “Tell you what. After we talk to the Rydells, do you mind making notes on what we have so far? I want to keep everything straight.”

  I think he was just trying to give me something to do, but I appreciated it anyway. I’m sure he was keeping everything straight. “Shoot. I didn’t bring my laptop. I started keeping suspect notes on that. You wouldn’t happen to have a plain old-fashioned notebook I can have, would you?”

  He reached in one of his desk drawers and handed me a stenographer’s notebook. “Will this work? It’s brand new. It can be your very own crime journal, Nancy Drew.”

  He was humoring me, but I liked that idea anyway, and smiled with glee as I took the notebook. Yes, I’m easily pleased. “Perfect!”

  A few seconds later, Alex’s phone buzzed. “I bet that’s them. I’ll just run up front.”

  He was back a few minutes later with an attractive couple I assumed to be the Rydells. “Mr. and Mrs. Rydell, Molly Tyler.”

  “I’m sorry we’re meeting over such sad circumstances,” I said as I stood and held out my hand.

  Mrs. Rydell smiled weakly, and Mr. Rydell ignored me. I didn’t like him already--sometimes you just get a feeling- but I was determined to remain neutral as we heard what he had to say.

  Alex pushed two chairs up to his desk. “Sorry about the cramped quarters. Thank you for coming in.”

  “I guess you’re in charge,” Graeme spoke first. “Where are you in the investigation? We haven’t heard anything.”

  I was going to let Alex answer. Partly because I was busy observing them, but mostly because I thought he should take the lead, seeing that he was the real law enforcement and knew more than I did, obviously.

  They sat facing slightly away from each other. Zoe was a cool, tall, thin blonde with ice-blue eyes. In contrast, Graeme was short and stocky with a full head of red hair. Pardon me for rushing to judgment, but he didn’t seem her type. It seemed that the twins had inherited their looks from their mother’s side of the family.

  Despite my initial reaction to him, Graeme seemed to be more relaxed and would maybe be more approachable. Neither of them seemed very engaged with each other.

  “Naturally, we want to solve your daughters’ murders,” Alex assured him.

  Graeme didn’t seem convinced. “That tells me nothing. We have funerals to plan. When can we have the bodies?”

  The way he asked was a little off-putting to me. He didn’t seem overly distraught over losing not just one daughter, never mind two.

  “I understand from Mr. Jardine that he will be taking care of Rachael’s funeral,” replied Alex.

  “Yes,” Zoe answered softly. “He got in touch with us and told us that. We aren’t going to argue with him. This isn’t the time.”

  “You can have Melanie anytime,” said Alex. “The funeral home you choose can pick her up at the morgue.”

  “Good,” said Graeme. “We want to put this behind us.”

  “Chief Carly told us a little about how … how they were killed, but I can’t believe Melanie would commit suicide. It’s not something I could ever imagine.” Zoe’s voice was so soft I could barely hear her. “I’m confused about the details of her murder.” She glanced at Graeme. “There was so much Chief Carly was saying, I barely caught all of it. Was she really poisoned with some kind of flower in tea?”

  “Datura tea,” explained Alex.

  Zoe inhaled sharply. Even Graeme’s face seemed to sag, and his composure slipped a little. “I can’t fathom someone poisoning her with tea. That seems farfetched. Aren’t there easier ways to kill someone?”

  I was frankly shocked at the chill behind his words. He reminded me of Lucas Jardine. Maybe that had been the attraction for Rachael. But I’m not a psychiatrist, so I won’t ruminate on that.

  “We aren’t sure if someone poisoned her, and tried to stage it as a suicide, or if she actually poisoned herself. There was a suicide note,” Alex replied. “Did Chief Carly show it to you?”

  “No, he didn’t,” Zoe replied right away. “My friends have been calling about the news stories that keep speculating on my daughters’ deaths, but I can’t listen. I just can’t.” Her eyes filled with tears.

  Graeme let out a large guffaw, startling all of us. “Suicide? She wouldn’t kill herself. She was too self-absorbed.”

  “Graeme!” Zoe hissed. “She was not. How dare you say that about her?”

  He glowered at his wife. “Come now. I’m upset she’s dead. It’s awful and I’m as devastated as you are, but the fact is the woman cared about no one but herself.”

  “How do you know? You weren’t involved in her life. You have no idea what she felt, or who she was,” she all but spat at him.

  “Maybe because I was busy making money for you. Who do you think paid for everything?”

  “I’m not having this discussion here,” she retorted. She turned her attention back to Alex and me. “I’m so sorry. Please, forgive us. We’re under a lot of strain.”

  “Apology not necessary, Mrs. Rydell. I know this isn’t easy.”

  “Thank you, detective. I’d like to see it. The note, I mean.”

  Alex went to his file cabinet, and pulled it out of the drawer. He left it in the plastic bag it was in.

  “Here you are.” He sat down and slid the note toward the Rydells.

  She let out a small moan as she read. Her eyes were brimming with tears when she looked up. “Why didn’t she reach out to me?” she whispered.

  “Let me see it,” said Graeme.

  Alex slid the note toward him. “Didn’t Chief Carly show you this?”

  “No, he didn’t,” answered Graeme. “Getting anything out of him was like pulling teeth.” He bent his head to read. He looked up at us when he’d finished. “I’m not exactly buying it. Who would go to the trouble of killing her and making it look like a suicide?

  Zoe turned even paler than she already was. “And Rachael was shot to death?” she whispered to herself.

  “I can’t stand the thought of my daughters going through such hell. But there’s something strange about this note,” Zoe said.

  “What’s strange about it?” Alex asked.

  “This isn’t her handwriting. I’ve never seen her write like this. Have you Graeme?”

  He glanced at the note. “I’m not sure. I don’t remember ever seeing her print. It could be.”

  “Thanks for that information, Mrs. Rydell.” Alex leaned back and laced his hands behind his head. He impaled G
raeme with his eyes. “Do you have anything to add?”

  “No. Find whoever killed Rachael. If someone killed Melanie, find them, too.”

  “Yes, just find the killer,” Zoe implored. “Please. I know Melanie didn’t kill herself.” Tears pooled in her eyes again and somehow managed not to track down her face.

  “Do you know of anyone who either of your daughters had problems with? Or felt threatened by?” asked Alex.

  “No!” cried Zoe a little too quickly. “No one.”

  “We wouldn’t know that, detective. Our daughters have had little use for us for a few years now. We rarely speak to them.”

  I heard Zoe’s sharp intake of breath, but she didn’t refute her husband.

  “Had you seen them while they were here?”

  “We…we planned to,” said Zoe. “But they were…were…killed before we could. I was hoping we could be close again; rebuild our relationship. My twins. My babies. I wanted it to be like it was when they were little.” The tears tracked down her cheeks now.

  “You’re living in fantasyland, Zoe,” Graeme scoffed at her. “They weren’t interested in being close to either one of us.”

  “Graeme, please just shut up! They wanted to talk to me. Just like we used to. I was going to have a sleepover with them. Make cookies and watch movies all night.”

  “If you think that would have happened you need to see a psychiatrist. They aren’t ten anymore. Get over it.”

  This guy was brutal. I felt sorry for his wife. “Mr. Rydell. This isn’t helping,” Alex interjected. “Our common goal is to find the killer.”

  He snorted, but didn’t reply. I handed Zoe a tissue.

  “What about Rachael’s relationship with Lucas?” I looked at Zoe. “Do you think he could have killed her?”

  She dried her tears and glanced at Graeme. She seemed pleased with the idea. “Maybe. They had their problems. Significant problems. You probably know all that. He went to jail because of Rachael. I…I don’t want to think he would kill her, but I wouldn’t be surprised. Have you talked to him?”

  “We have,” said Alex.

  “You obviously don’t think he’s the killer,” sneered Graeme.

  “We haven’t ruled out anyone. Is there anything about either of the women you care to add?” Alex asked.

  “How would I know?” barked out Graeme. “They’re adults, detective. We aren’t privy to everything that goes on in their lives. We barely see or hear from them. I just told you that. I don’t know Jardine that well. I know he’s been in jail, but a murderer? I guess he could have killed Rachael. Please, I’ve had enough of this. Call when you have someone behind bars.”

  “We’d like to talk to your household staff, if you have one,” Alex addressed Zoe.

  She jerked her head up. “Why would you need to do that?”

  “It’s possible they may know something.”

  “What on earth could they know?” She looked scared. “They wouldn’t know anything.”

  “Oh, for pity’s sake. Let them talk to Edward and Dena. Who cares?” said Graeme.

  “Who are Edward and Dena?” I asked.

  Graeme looked at me as if I was an idiot. I didn’t care. “Edward is the chauffeur and Dena’s his wife. Our maid. She did whatever Zoe needed her to do. Clean, run errands. She helped take care of the girls when they were small.”

  “Chauffeur?” Alex asked. “Did he drive you both here?”

  “No,” answered Graeme. “He drives her.” He inclined his head toward Zoe. “I’m capable of driving myself.”

  “Where do they live?” I looked at Zoe.

  She looked down at her lap. “They have their own cottage on our property. Are you sure you need to talk to them?”

  “It may help. Should we call first?” I asked her.

  “Maybe you should.”

  Alex stood. “I appreciate you both coming in. As I said, you can have Melanie whenever you want. I’m sorry you have to deal with this.”

  “Thank you,” Zoe answered, her voice weak again. “We’ll arrange to have her…her body picked up by a funeral home.”

  “Come on, Zoe,” grumbled Graeme, not looking at either Alex or me. “Let’s get out of here.”

  “What do you think?” Alex asked once they’d left.

  I watched out the window until they had driven away. “We didn’t get far with them. We’ll talk to their staff.”

  “Mrs. Rydell seemed shocked that we wanted to do that,” Alex mused.

  “She certainly wasn’t jumping up and down with joy,” I agreed. “And it very well may not get us anywhere, but they might be privy to something that we could never find on our own. Maybe they overheard something. You never know.”

  “Excellent point, partner.”

  “We’re a good team, Alex. I’m going to head out. Anything you need?”

  “No, thanks. I appreciate all your help. Molly. Thanks for being here.”

  “You’re welcome. I feel like we’re spinning our wheels. It’s so frustrating. I’m going to stop at Bubby’s before I go to Bread and Batter and write down what we have so far, like you asked me to.”

  “Great! We’ll get there. Don’t worry.”

  CHAPTER 22

  * * *

  I was emotionally worn out after I left Alex. A stop at Bubby’s Diner would indeed relax me. I didn’t have to be at Bread and Batter until one. I was in the mood for one of their delicious chef’s salads (sans the meat), and a vanilla milkshake. Sean thinks that combination is gross, but it works for me.

  Bubby’s was on the county highway that ran between Destiny and Rigby. It’s a diner that hasn’t changed since the 1960s. But that was part of its charm, and what drew people to it from all over the upstate area and beyond. It was early yet, so a crowd hadn’t settled in.

  “Hi there, girl. Haven’t seen you in a while.” A paper placemat with ads from all around Destiny and Rigby, including Bread and Batter, was placed in front of me along with silverware wrapped up in a napkin, and a small glass of water. Elvis was singing Don’t Be Cruel.

  I smiled up at my waitress. “Hi, Ava. No menu. I know exactly what I want.”

  She pulled a pencil out of her apron pocket and squeezed her eyes shut. “Chef’s salad and a vanilla milkshake. No meat, of course. Cheese and eggs can stay.”

  How great is having a waitress that knows exactly what you want? Another small town plus. “You have a gift.”

  “Nah, I just know my customers.” She tucked the pencil away and placed her right hand on her hip and her other hand on the table. She looked around then back at me. “I thought you and that handsome Detective Corsino were a match made in heaven.”

  I lost all interest in my salad and milkshake. “What makes you think we aren’t?”

  She cleared her throat. “Oh. I thought…he was…never mind.”

  “Ava…” I grabbed her wrist then let go. “Talk to me. You aren’t going anywhere.”

  She stuck her pad and pencil into her apron pocket. “Okay. He came in a few days ago, with a redheaded woman. I’ll go put your order in. Be right back.” She practically ran back to the kitchen.

  And that’s a minus of living in a small town. Everyone knows everything about you, and things that involve you that you may not even know about. I stared out the window and played with my napkin. Who was this redheaded woman? And why hadn’t Sean said anything about her? And why was I worrying about it so much? And why hadn’t I seen her?

  A few minutes later, Ava was back with my food. “Sorry, hon. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

  “It’s okay. You aren’t the only one who’s seen this woman. It’s not a big deal, you know.”

  She leaned toward me and whispered. “I know that. It wasn’t like they were sitting on the same side of the booth and smooching, or anything. It looked like it was on the up and up. Very businesslike.”

  “That’s good to know. I’m not worried,” I lied a little.

  “They were deep in discussion
about something, though. I wasn’t their server, so I didn’t want to stare. I’m sure it’s nothing.”

  “Me too, Ava. It’s probably police business.”

  “Yeah. I thought the same thing. I’m glad to hear everything is okay with you two. Enjoy!”

  “Thanks.” I picked at my salad while I entered our suspects in my notebook, along with some notes about them.

  Lucas – killed his wife because she turned him in to the FBI