Sprinkled in Malice

by Catherine Bruns

  A chill swept through me as I watched her pick up the gun and cross the room. She stood over me, pointing the gun at my head. "Now, Mikey, tell your wife you love her one last time before I pull the trigger."

  "Don't do this!" Mike yelled as he struggled with the rope. He stared at me helplessly, then back at her, and I had a sense of what was coming. "Hey, what's the rush there, beautiful? You're right—maybe we should get to know each other a little better. But let Sally go first. She's not involved in this."

  Erica whipped her head around in surprise and walked back in his direction. "Are you kidding me? Your nosy little wife came to my house with her bakery sidekick asking questions about Trevor. She also quizzed his brother and sister, not to mention that tramp he was shacked up with. The police have Benjamin in custody, don't they?"

  "How do you know?" Mike asked.

  "We were supposed to meet up earlier today, and he never showed. That's very unlike him without calling first. I want my money. I deserve it for putting up with Trevor, his lies, and the humiliation for eight long years."

  "Were you and David—I mean Benjamin—having an affair?" Mike asked.

  She ran a finger down his cheek. "Yeah, but there's no reason for you to worry, gorgeous. We started carrying on when Trevor and I lived in Virginia. He was only a casual roll in the hay. Stupid me—I thought he had money at first. Trevor brought Benjamin home for a beer one night, and it was obvious he wanted me. He was into me, I was into money, so we started to hook up. I knew Trevor was cheating on me, so this was my way of getting back at him."

  I couldn't keep track anymore. Tina was fooling around with Trevor's brother, Curtis. Trevor had been fooling around on Erica with Tina while Erica had been fooling around with David. My brain hurt, and I wasn't sure if it was from the blow of the gun or trying to figure this mess out. Did any of these people have morals?

  Erica sat down on Mike's lap. He looked over at me anxiously and then, having no choice, kissed her on the cheek. Nausea built in my stomach. I knew why he was doing this, but it still didn't make it any easier for me to watch.

  It seemed to be working, though. She grabbed Mike's face between her hands and kissed him long and hard on the mouth. To his credit, he didn't flinch, while bile rose in the back of my throat.

  "My, something tells me you're going to be more fun than both Benjamin and Trevor," she purred seductively.

  Mike kissed her again. "Let my wife go, and you can take me with you."

  She drew back and studied him. "Sorry, no can do. Still, that doesn't mean we can't have a good time while she watches."

  This might be worse than having a gun held to my head.

  Mike cleared his throat, his eyes fixed on me. "First, tell me what else happened. You and Benjamin followed Trevor to Colwestern?"

  Erica tapped Mike's chin and redirected his gaze back to her. "That lousy creep kept me in the dark about everything. He never even told me anything about his house-building racket. I had to learn it all from Benjamin. Then Trevor told me he'd met someone. Bull. He'd been wanting out of our marriage for a while, and Tina was the excuse he needed. Benjamin's the one who told me all about the embezzling. The only reason he even knew is because he caught Trevor stealing supplies. He had no choice but to cut Benjamin in."

  "Then you decided to move here to keep an eye on him?" Mike asked.

  "Trevor thought that I did it just to make his life miserable, but I wanted what was rightfully mine. Benjamin knew Trevor was lying about the money he was making from the start. They were supposed to go fifty-fifty on every deal. Trevor stole the materials from saps like you while Benjamin acted the part of house builder and real estate agent. When he went to Trevor demanding the rest of his money, Trevor gave him a small payment and then told him to get lost."

  She leaned over to kiss Mike's neck. "What did Trevor care if Benjamin went to the police, because Benjamin was guilty too. We knew it was only a matter of time before he moved on to another town and another schmuck like you. No offense, honey." Her lips traveled down Mike's chest. "When someone's as good-looking as you, they don't need a brain."

  Even from across the room, I spied the veins bulging in Mike's neck. If I ever got these ropes off, I was going to lunge for her throat.

  "By our calculations, he was holding on to close to a hundred grand, which he'd gotten from you and some other loser he worked for after he left Roberts Construction. Benjamin and I had both had enough of his deceit."

  "You killed him—over a lousy fifty grand apiece?" Mike's voice was incredulous.

  Erica tossed her head. "It wasn't just about the money. Revenge was important to me too." She moved his open shirt aside and ran both hands freely over his chest. "You almost ruined everything when you stepped forward, handsome. Benjamin wasn't planning on shooting anyone. He thought we were only going to scare Trevor into telling us where the money was. What a dope."

  "How did you expect to find the money if you killed him?" Mike asked. I had to admit he was doing a great job with his questioning. If we ever got out of this mess, Josie and I might have to expand our crime-stopping business.

  "I already told you," she said angrily. "It wasn't just about the money for me. It was more about making him pay—for the humiliation, for what he'd done to me. I figured I'd find the dough eventually. I thought he'd stashed it somewhere in his apartment. I used my set of picks to break in there the other day when that bimbo Tina wasn't home. I thought for sure he'd hidden it there, but nothing. The best part? She was fooling around on Trevor too. With his own brother! I was hoping someone had seen them together and reported it to the police." She glanced at me triumphantly then rubbed her body against Mike's. "Your wife took care of that."

  I didn't know how much more of the Erica show I could bear to watch.

  "When I saw your interview today," she continued, "I figured I was going in the wrong direction. I didn't know why the hell Trevor would confide in you, but hey, he wasn't as smart as he thought he was. Now hand over the dough."

  "I told you we don't have it." Mike said tersely.

  Erica pointed the gun in my direction. "Well, you'd better find it quick or Little Miss Baker dies."

  "Hey." Mike kissed her on the lips. "There's no need for that. We were just starting to have fun. But I can't do much while I'm tied to this chair."

  How I prayed that she'd take the bait. I'd never felt so useless before in my life as I stared at the clock on the wall. Only 15 minutes had passed since I'd come to. How was that even possible? And where was our police protection? The news hadn't finished airing yet, and Brian had not said for sure when the patrol car might arrive. We were doomed. This woman was going to kill me, have her way with my husband, and then most likely kill him too. We needed a miracle.

  Erica laughed like a hyena. "As much as I'd like to, I can't untie you, studly. Don't worry. We'll figure something out."

  Mike gave a low chuckle. "I'm not a magician, honey. One arm is tied, and I can't use the other. Let's take off in your car and leave Sally here. No one's going to find her until at least tomorrow, and you and I could be out of the country by then."

  She sighed audibly as he kissed her again. His charm was working. "Okay, I'm only untying your arm for now. I'll help you along. What shall we do first? Or would you like a lap dance?"

  "Sure," Mike said unconvincingly, and I thought I might throw up. Where was Erica yesterday? Maybe she could have given me some pointers.

  After she'd untied his arm, a flash of light flashed across our front living room window.

  Erica whipped her head around. "Did you see something?"

  Mike took that split second to knock the gun from her hand. Erica shrieked and scratched at his face with her long, jagged nails. He lifted her with his left arm and threw her onto the floor. She was reaching for the gun when the front door burst open and Brian and Adam appeared.

  "Drop the weapon," Brian ordered.

  Erica started to cry as she set the gun on the floor in front
of her. "I was only protecting myself. He tried to attack me."

  Without a word, Adam moved forward and grabbed the gun off the ground. He removed a pair of handcuffs from his belt and forced Erica onto her stomach, much in the same manner he'd cuffed her boyfriend yesterday. She cursed angrily under her breath as he started to read her rights.

  Brian hurried over to untie me then tore the tape gently from my mouth. "Are you okay?"

  I nodded weakly as he helped me to my feet. The room spun a couple of times, and I sat down on the couch. Brian crossed over to Mike and untied his legs from the chair. He was at my side in an instant, pulling me against his chest.

  "God, princess." His voice trembled. "I was so scared she was going to kill you."

  "We're safe now." I smiled up at Brian as Adam led Erica out the front door. "Thank goodness you guys showed up when you did."

  Brian pointed at the doorway, where my grandmother was standing. "Don't thank me. Thank your grandmother."

  Grandma Rosa came over to us. We both stood and wrapped our arms around her.

  "How did you know we were in trouble?" Was it that psychic ability of hers again? "I thought you'd gone to the hospital."

  She pointed toward the kitchen. "See that small white box on the table? I was halfway to the hospital when I remembered the sweater for Gianna's baby. I decided to turn around and come back because I knew your sister would ask for it right away and I did not want her to have a horse when she found out I had forgotten it."

  Mike grinned at her. "That's cow, Rosa."

  Grandma Rosa shrugged. "Whatever. I saw Sally's car in the driveway and did not know when she was planning on leaving for the hospital. Brian said to park my car further down the street and that is what I did. When I walked up the driveway, I saw the shadow of someone in the living room. A person with a gun in their hands. Then I knew that Trevor's killer was here, so I got back into my car and dialed Brian's number."

  I blew out a long breath and hugged her close. "Grandma, you saved our lives. She was going to kill us both."

  Mike closed his eyes for a moment. "Sorry you had to see that, baby. If I'd had to kiss Erica one more time, I was going to be sick for sure."

  Brian raised an eyebrow. "What exactly happened here?"

  "Nothing," I said. "Erica was attracted to Mike, so he played along in hopes it could work to our advantage. He got her to untie his arm and managed to knock the gun from her hand."

  "Nice going," Brian said and grinned at me. "Guess you can't take credit for apprehending the criminal this time, huh?"

  I put my hands on my hips. "Well, excuse me. It's a little hard to do when you're tied up and your mouth is taped shut."

  "Let her be." Grandma Rosa patted my cheek. "Sally is a good detective. She and Josie should have their own crime-stopping business."

  "You mean like Holmes and Watson?" Mike joked while I chuckled at the irony of her words.

  She shook her head. "No, I was thinking about that television show I like to watch with the two women detectives. You know, the old reruns—Cagney & Stacey."

  I laughed. "Lacey, Grandma."

  She nodded. "I like that too."

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  "Gianna and the baby are coming home tomorrow. Did I tell you that he weighs over nine pounds?" There was immense pride in my voice, as if the baby was my own. "He's absolutely gorgeous."

  Mike chuckled into the phone. "Yeah, only about fifty times already. Hey, I know it's not possible since Gianna was two weeks early, but she couldn't have planned this any better. She has a legitimate excuse for missing your father's book signing today."

  I had to laugh—Mike was right. Gianna had been dreading the book signing even more than childbirth. I peered out from the back room at the crowd in my storefront. The place was mobbed. Josie and Grandma Rosa were both at the counter serving up goodies to customers. Mickey, our driver, was going around to tables with a carafe of coffee in his hands. The line of people at the counter had been steady all day long—truly a blessed thing to see. Customers were buying other things besides the coffin cookies, which had already sold out. Although I hated to admit it, the book signing for How to Plan and Enjoy Your Funeral had been fantastic for my business.

  Mike had begged off from the event, claiming his arm hurt. "Are you feeling better now?" I teased as I removed more fortune cookies from the oven. "Or were you following Gianna's lead?"

  "Hey," he protested. "I'm still technically an invalid, remember?"

  "Poor baby," I crooned into the phone as I placed messages inside the cookies and rolled the sides of the dough up around them. We'll have to get you all better when I get home."

  His voice turned low and sexy. "I like the sound of that. When will you be home?"

  "The signing finishes in a little while." I glanced at the clock. It was almost three. "Then Josie and I will clean up and close the bakery. So, say about four? We can have an early dinner, but then I want to go back to the hospital to see the baby again. And you need to meet your nephew too."

  "Okay, but then the rest of the evening belongs to us. I'd say we deserve it after everything we've been through this week."

  "We definitely do. Tomorrow night we're going to celebrate with the rest of the family. Gianna is planning to come by for your dinner—at least for a little while."

  "So soon?" he asked in amazement. "It will be their first day home with the baby."

  I adjusted the phone between my ear and shoulder. "Gianna knows it means a lot to me. It was her decision, but she wants to come."

  "Does this kid have a name yet?" Mike wanted to know.

  "I guess we'll find out tomorrow night at your dinner. Mrs. Gavelli is coming too." I wasn't crazy about that part, but she'd offered to make her chocolate cheesecake, and I knew how much she was already in love with her great-grandson. "Last night when I stopped in Gianna's room after getting my head checked, she was there too. She kept insisting that they call the baby Alessandro after her husband."

  "Alessandro Gavelli. That's quite a mouthful for anyone, let alone a new baby. Well, I'll be in the garage when you get home, cleaning out my toolbox. I'm going crazy sitting in this house."

  I whisked another tray of cookies into the oven. "Don't overdo it, okay? I swear, you are the worst invalid in the world."

  "Well, when you get here, I can think of some other fun things for us to do," he teased.

  My heart overflowed with happiness. "I'm going to hold you to that. Love you."

  "Love you too, princess."

  My father stood in the doorway of the back room, jelly cookie in hand. "Hey, Sal, guess what? We're officially out of books. All five hundred of them sold."

  "That's amazing, Dad." Also kind of scary, but I didn't add that part out loud.

  "Hmm." He popped the cookie whole into his mouth. "Your mother wants me to start featuring some funeral fashions on the blog. She's getting a lot of interest from the crowd upstairs."

  Good grief. There was no end to my parents' madness. One of their farfetched ideas always led to something else. I glanced into the storefront again. Josie and Grandma Rosa were still waiting on customers, but the line was growing smaller. People were leaving with autographed copies of books under their arms.

  "Yep, real successful. Gonna have to do this again soon, Sal." He pointed a finger at Brian, who was approaching us with Ally at his side. "I sold the last one to your cop friend and his lady here a minute ago."

  Brian held up the book, which had an open coffin on the front cover and my father's lifelike picture on the back. In the photo, he was wearing a white New York Mets tank top and a full-fledged grin as he peered out from behind his laptop. Like him, it was original.

  "Can't wait to read this." Brian winked at me.

  My father patted him on the shoulder. "You're a good kid. Hey, Sal, did you happen to see who stopped by a few minutes ago?"

  "No, I've been in the kitchen making cookies. Who was it? A literary agent on the prowl for you this tim
e?"

  He shook his head. "Nope. It was Jerry Maroon, in the flesh. He was hoping to do a live interview during the signing and get all the details on that whack job who held you and Mike at gunpoint last night."

  I stared at my father in disbelief. "Dad, I told you what a jerk he was to me and Mike during our interview. He's nothing more than a dog sniffing for a bone. I can't believe you'd tell him yes. The man is a user."

  "Hey," my father protested. "Give your old man some credit here. I told him to get lost and not come back. No one treats my baby girl like that—or my son-in-law for that matter. Mike might not be Italian, but he's still all right in my book."

  Brian stared down at the floor, but I spotted a small smile creeping across his face. Ally glanced from my father to Brian, obviously not understanding the joke. She didn't know my family like Brian did.

  My father gave me a peck on the cheek. "I've got to talk to my publicist, and then your mom and I are taking off. The rental company will be here soon to collect the extra chairs and tables." He gave us all a wave and then crossed the room to my mother, who was chatting by the staircase with a woman about her age. She pirouetted around in a sequined, black halter minidress while clutching my father's book in her hand.

  Brian watched them with amusement. "They're quite the pair, aren't they?"

  "That's one way of putting it." I smiled at Ally. "It was nice of you guys to stop by and support my father's—ah, new venture."

  "We wouldn't have missed it," Brian said. "Everyone in town is talking about his book. I saw a photographer from the Colwestern Journal snapping pictures of him. Looks like he'll be in the paper tomorrow."

  More embarrassment for the family. Oh well, I should be used to it by now. Either my father or I always seemed to be the talk of the town. I addressed Ally. "Gianna had her baby late last night. A beautiful boy. He weighed nine pounds, three ounces."