Garlic Artichoke Murder (Papa Pacelli's Pizzeria Series Book 11)

by Patti Benning

  “I’m completely free that day,” she said. “I’d be happy to go with. What time does it start?”

  “Two. The reception is after, and it’ll be pretty laid back.”

  “I’ll look forward to it,” she said. “And I’ll tell Shannon that Saturday is a go. It’s shaping up to be a busy weekend.”

  “Busy,” he said, “but fun. It will be nice to see more of each other, for a change. Our schedules just haven’t seemed to align lately.”

  She felt a stab of guilt. Looking back on the week, she realized just how many times he had tried to invite her somewhere just for her to refuse. She really was looking forward to the weekend, ring or no ring. Russell was one of the best parts of her life, and she promised herself that she would stop trying to push him away.

  CHAPTER THREE

  * * *

  Ellie woke up early on Saturday morning; something that she normally avoided doing if she could. The evening before, Russell had called to ask if it was all right with her if his friend John, the man who was getting married the next day, and John’s fiancée Rayleigh accompanied them on the Eleanora. Of course, she had said yes, but it had turned what would have otherwise been a relaxing outing with people she considered practically family into a more formal event.

  Wanting to make a good impression on the soon-to-be newlyweds, Ellie decided to go all out with food preparation that day. Normally she would have just picked up a pizza at Papa Pacelli’s before heading to the marina. Instead, she decided to make a variety of finger sandwiches at home beforehand, and also pack some of her grandmother’s famous chocolate chip cookies.

  Before moving home to Kittiport, Ellie had never spent much time cooking. She had been kept so busy by her accounting job that she usually just had time for microwavable meals and an occasional splurge on takeout or delivery. She had been surprised to discover that she actually enjoyed working in the kitchen. She was still amazed at the way a handful of raw ingredients could come together to form a tasty dish. From barely edible to mouthwatering was nothing short of magic. Once she had learned the basics, she had begun to experiment with adding her own twist to different recipes, and more often than not, the results were quite good.

  She spent the morning preparing crust-less cucumber sandwiches, spreading homemade chicken salad, and arranging thin slices of deli meat and cheese on whole wheat bread. The cookies, which she and her grandmother had made the evening before, she packed into plastic containers, separating the layers with wax paper. Shannon would be bringing drinks, and the men had promised to supply the paper plates, napkins, and cups. Ellie knew that once she got on the boat, she would be able to relax, but for now all she could do was worry that one of them might forget something important. When they were a quarter of a mile away from the coast, it wouldn’t exactly be a simple matter to pop back in and grab whatever it was they had forgotten from a store.

  She had become something of a stickler for presentation; working at the pizzeria had taught her that the way food looked was almost as important as how it tasted. So, by the time the food was prepared to her satisfaction, the sun was well up into the beautiful, cloudless blue sky, promising another hot, clear day. She had gone out on the Eleanora enough to know that it could get chilly out on the water even if it was sweltering on land; the wind tended to really pick up out on the ocean, and the occasional salty spray of water also cooled things down.

  She put on a pair of capris and a loose, short-sleeved top, then grabbed a light windbreaker from her closet. Bunny, who had been following her ever since she packed the food up, gave an excited yip when she saw Ellie add her tiny bright orange life vest to the pile of things going into the car.

  “You didn’t think I’d leave you behind, did you?” the pizzeria owner said. “You’re coming along, as long as you promise to be good. Just because you’re wearing a life vest doesn’t mean it’s safe for you to go overboard. Think of the sharks, Bunny. I hate to break it to you, but you’re a bite-sized dog.”

  The papillon spun in an excited circle, unfazed by her owner’s mention of sharks. Ellie grinned at the little dog’s enthusiasm. She had no idea how such a small body managed to hold so much boundless energy, but Bunny was one companion who was always ready to go.

  She met Shannon and James at the marina. The other woman had gone to the farmers market earlier in the day, to get photos while the stands and vendors were still fresh. Ellie felt a surge of admiration for her friend. Since they were children, Shannon had always wanted to be a journalist. She was living her dream, even if the paper she worked for served only a couple of the tiny towns that dotted their section of the coast.

  “Did you get everything you needed for the article?” Ellie asked her friend as the two of them waited for Russell and their other two guests to arrive.

  “I did. I think this is going to be a great year for the local hobby farms. It was busy, even though this early in the season there isn’t much produce to choose from. Buying local goods seems to be getting more and more popular every year. I think part of that has to do with how affordable advertising has become. Vendors can create pages for free on social media and interact directly with their customers. It creates a feeling of community, which the big supermarkets are lacking.”

  “It sounds like you’ve been giving this some thought,” Ellie said.

  “I know a lot of my articles are about small, local things that aren’t really important, but I still like to do research for them. One day I would love to work for a major paper, but I know that’s probably a reach.”

  “Not at all. I think you’re a great writer, and it’s obvious that you care about what you do. I’m sure James would support you, even if you had to move for the job.”

  “Oh, I wouldn’t want to leave Kittiport. This is my home.”

  Ellie smiled. She understood what her friend meant. The small town had a way of clinging to its residents. Even though she had spent most of her life out of the state, now that she was back she could hardly imagine relocating again. She would miss everything about the little town nestled on the Maine coast. For someone who had lived there her entire life, someone like Shannon, the thought of leaving must seem nearly impossible.

  An old pickup truck pulled into the parking spot next to Ellie’s car. She grinned and waved at the sheriff, who handed her a paper grocery bag filled with paper plates and plastic utensils before shutting off the engine and getting out.

  “Where’s your friend?” she asked. “I thought he would be meeting us here.”

  “I told John and Rayleigh to meet us at the boat. He helped your grandfather repaint it when Art first bought the thing; he’ll be able to find it. They’ll be here in about half an hour, but we can go ahead and get set up while we wait.”

  Ellie was surprised to hear that John had known her grandfather. She often forgot that Arthur Pacelli had been well-known around town. He had managed the paper mill that had employed a good percentage of the locals until it closed two decades ago. Even after the mill shut down, he had stayed in the public eye by opening the pizzeria. The knowledge that John had known her grandfather suddenly made her weirdly uncomfortable. For some reason, she always got a little nervous about meeting people who’d known her grandfather, as if she had to live up to his good example. It was silly, but she couldn’t shake the feeling.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  * * *

  The four of them made their way to the Eleanora, Bunny bopping along beside them. Russell helped Shannon onto the boat, then turned to take the cooler from Ellie. He handed the cooler to Shannon, then stepped onto the boat before offering Ellie his hand. James came last, tossing a couple of folding camp chairs onto the deck before jumping the gap himself.

  The Eleanora was a beautiful white boat with a cabin and an expansive deck. Right now, it was bobbing gently in the waves like a patient dog. Ellie wasn’t comfortable taking the boat out herself, but she enjoyed sunning herself on the deck while it was tied securely to the dock. One day she thought s
he might ask Russell or James teach her how to sail it, but for now she was happy going out with her friends.

  Before Bunny had a chance to bounce overboard, Ellie strapped the life jacket to the dog, then unhooked her leash. Bunny went into the cabin and hopped up on one of the padded benches. She had been on the boat many times before, and knew all of the most comfortable places. Even falling into the ocean hadn’t dampened her enthusiasm for adventure. Seeing her owner watching her, the little dog sat up and gave a yip of excitement. She was ready for whatever was to come.

  Ellie had just begun taking the picnic supplies out of the cooler when two people approached the boat: a man with chestnut brown hair and matching eyes, with a broad smile on his face, and a woman in dark sunglasses a few inches shorter than Ellie. She pulled her auburn hair back into a ponytail as they approached, then flashed them a bright grin. The man took her hand, entwining his fingers with hers. They looked like the perfect, happy couple, and Ellie guessed that they were the soon-to-be newlyweds.

  Russell went up to the man and shook his hand, then helped the woman onto the boat. Turning to Ellie, he said, “This is John and Rayleigh, his fiancée.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Rayleigh said. “You can just call me Leigh. Everyone does.”

  “Thanks for inviting us out today,” said John. “It’ll be nice to take a breather before the wedding. I never expected how busy it would be, trying to plan everything.”

  “You should have kept it small. From what I’ve been hearing, half the town is planning on showing up,” Shannon said, walking forward to give him a quick hug.

  “It’s too late to uninvite people,” he said with a laugh. “We’re both happy with a nice, big wedding. I’m just glad the planning stages are finally over. All that’s left to do is get dressed in the morning, walk down the aisle, and then have a good time at the reception. How are you doing, by the way? It’s been a while since I’ve seen you and James.”

  “I'm doing pretty well,” she said. “I'm just glad to hear that you're finally getting married. It’ll be great to see the two of you walk down the aisle together tomorrow.”

  The newcomers helped them finish setting up the food while Russell started the boat and eased them out of the marina, James acting as spotter. The large harbor was dotted with other boats; it seemed that they weren’t the only ones with the idea to enjoy the day out on the water. They didn't start eating until they reached the open ocean, with a beautiful view of the Maine coast off the starboard side.

  It was a perfect day. The sun was out, the skies were clear, and the waves lapped gently against the side of the boat in the gentle wind. Ellie smiled to see her friends enjoying the food that she had spent the morning making. Occasionally Bunny managed to beg tidbits from people, doing tricks for the attention as much as the food.

  After they were finished eating, the men went out on the deck and set up the chairs before cracking open the cooler of drinks that Russell had brought. Ellie, Shannon, and Leigh stayed in the cabin to talk. Leigh seemed interested in the pizzeria, and Ellie learned that she used to enjoy eating there back when she lived in town.

  “When did you move?" she asked as the three of them sipped their glasses of ice-cold raspberry lemonade.

  “I moved away about six or seven years ago," she said. "I knew John for a while before I left, and we started talking over the internet and phone a few years ago after he went through a breakup. Eventually we met up and, well, things just went from there. I’ll be moving back after we get married; I left for a job down in Portland—I’m a pharmacist—but I’m not super happy there. I'm glad I’ll be able to have my wedding here. I always loved this town.”

  "Did you grow up here?” Ellie asked.

  "I grew up in the area, but I was homeschooled,” she explained. "I met Shannon through her church group back when we were teens. That's how I met John, in fact, through her. He was friends with the Ward brothers even back then, and often hung around with her, James, and a couple of other people our age. I always liked him, but it wasn’t until we reconnected a couple of years ago that we realized the feelings were mutual.”

  “That’s such a sweet story,” Ellie said.

  “It’s the sort of thing that can only happen in a small town,” Leigh said. “I actually used to date his best man, Damien. It’s kind of funny to think back to how we were all those years ago. Who would have guessed how we would end up? At least we’re all happy now. I’m glad that Russell has started dating again at last. It will be so nice to see the two of you at the wedding.”

  “I'm looking forward to it,” Ellie said. “Do you have any big plans tonight?”

  Leigh laughed. “No, not really. I know I should be having a bachelorette party, but I just don't feel like it. The last couple of weeks have been so busy, I just want one last relaxing evening before the big day.”

  “Are you nervous about the wedding?” Shannon asked.

  Leigh paused to think about that for a second. “Not really, I guess,” she answered. “Maybe I should be. I’m more worried about what comes after—moving, finding a new job I’m happy with, starting a whole new chapter of my life. It’s a big leap to make, moving back across the state.”

  After a while, Ellie wandered out onto the deck and joined the men. They were talking about fishing, though none of them had brought poles with them today. Russell smiled when he saw her and stood up to offer her his chair. She took it, and he stood behind her, his hand on her shoulder. She felt… happy. She realized she actually was looking forward to the wedding. It would be wonderful to see these two great people married. She wondered for a second if they might not be attending her own wedding in a year’s time, then shook her head, telling herself to stop it. She was still unsure about the idea of getting married, and didn't even know if Russell was going to propose, for heaven’s sake. She was getting ahead of herself. For now, it was enough to be happy for his friends. She didn't know if it was even possible for her life to get any better than it was right now, and she wasn't in any hurry to change anything.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  * * *

  Ellie twisted around, trying to see the back of her dress in the bathroom mirror. It was an old dress, one that she hadn't worn in a while. Frankly, she was surprised it still fit. It was a beautiful light blue; the color reminded her of clear skies. The dress looked nice, but she wasn't sure about the rest of herself.

  Her hair was difficult, as always. Straight, dark, and tough to style in anything other than a ponytail. She debated on leaving it down, but knew that she would regret it if it was humid out. She was envious of Leigh's beautiful hair, which looked like it would be easy to style however she wanted. She had exchanged phone numbers with the woman the day before, and planned on asking her who her hairstylist was when Leigh’s life got a little less crazy.

  It had been a while since she had gone to a wedding, so she wasn't quite sure what to expect from this one. She had only ever attended the weddings of close friends, and those had all been small events, but from what John had said, he and Leigh had invited quite a few people. She knew that she was bound to run into some familiar faces; it would almost be impossible to go to an event in town without seeing someone she recognized. She just hoped that her dress held up, that her hair stayed where it was supposed to, and that she didn’t spill anything on herself.

  Russell pulled into the driveway at one o’clock, wearing the nicest suit he owned. He cleaned up well. It wasn’t her first time seeing him in fancy dress, but she was always surprised. Normally, when he wasn’t in his sheriff’s uniform, he was wearing something casual and comfortable. Today he had even shaved, and it was a pleasant shock to see his face so smooth.

  He brushed a kiss across her lips when he saw her, telling her how beautiful she looked. She smiled at the compliment. She knew that she was average looking, but it was nice of him to say otherwise.

  “If I had known about the wedding sooner, I would have bought something new,” she told him. “I’m
sure what I’m wearing is completely outdated.”

  “I’ve had this suit for eight years,” he said with a chuckle. “Your dress is fine. And you look amazing.”

  “Maybe, if you squint and look at me sideways,” she said, laughing. “At least all eyes will be on Leigh, not on me.”

  “Not all eyes,” he said, and touched her nose. Before she could respond, he closed the passenger door and started around the front to the driver’s side.

  They managed to find a parking spot at the community center, even though the lot was filling up fast. Ellie realized with a jolt that the last time she had been inside the community center had been not long after a woman that she had known had been killed. Then, the building had been full of people taking refuge from a nasty winter storm. Now, it was almost unrecognizable.

  It looked like John and Leigh had rented out the entire building. Every inch of the interior was decorated with white and gold. Soft white lights were draped across the rafters and wrapped around the columns at the entrance. Signs directed them to the room in which the wedding would take place and another set of signs pointed toward the basement room, where the reception would happen later. Russell paused to say hello to someone he knew, and Ellie waved to one of the regulars from the pizzeria. She had gotten to know some of the townsfolk quite well, just from seeing them a couple of times a week and serving them pizza and lemonade. It was surprising how talkative people could be when they began to recognize her week after week. It was one of the things that she loved about her job; it helped her feel like she really was part of the town, even though she had spent most of her life away.