Killer Cannoli (A Terrified Detective Mystery Book 2) Read online

  I couldn’t believe he wanted to help me, but I was running out of time and I didn’t think his uncle wanted me sliced and diced and deep fried. Not yet, anyway.

  I hesitated for just a moment. “Okay. I’m at Cannoli’s. Be here in fifteen minutes. You’re coming alone, aren’t you?”

  “Who else would I—Yes, I’ll be alone.”

  After the call, Corrigan’s eyes lit up like he was about to make the bust of the century. “I’ll be in the kitchen with the door partway opened when he gets here. That way I can hear everything he says.”

  I wrung my hands. Unless Alex’s information included Aunt Lena’s location, my search to free her was going nowhere at breakneck speed.

  Corrigan made himself comfortable in the kitchen while I paced in the dining room until I thought I’d made a permanent path around the tables. About five minutes before Alex was due, Corrigan’s phone went off. When his call ended, he swung the kitchen door open. His face was ashen with bad news.

  I heard my heart beating in my ears. “Is it Aunt Lena?”

  His eyes opened wide. “Didn’t mean to alarm you. They found the guy matching the description of the car thief. His name’s Bill Machino. We go back a ways. Anyway, he resisted arrest and got himself shot. Good news is he’s still alive and willing to talk. Bad news is wound is serious and he’ll only talk to me.”

  I felt like I’d run the Boston Marathon. “Maybe he knows where Aunt Lena is.”

  His face clouded. “Could be. Anyway, you’re coming with me. I’m not going to leave you here alone with Carpenter. God knows what he might do.”

  “It’ll be all right. I can take care of myself.” After all, Alex hadn’t done anything but annoy me and nobody ever died from being irritated. But I could see I hadn’t convinced Corrigan. “Can’t you send someone here to, you know, keep the peace?”

  He huffed, rubbed his chin and relented. “Okay. But don’t let Carpenter in until a uniformed cop is with you.”

  “Promise.” I said it, thinking to myself that promises were made to be broken.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Time was slipping by too quickly and I couldn’t waste it waiting until a cop came to babysit me. So when Alex pulled up a few minutes after Corrigan left, I opened the door for him. It crossed my mind he’d been watching to make sure I was alone. At first, I’d laid my gun on the counter but picked it up and slipped it into my waistband. I wasn’t planning on using it unless Alex took one false step. Then I’d spring it on him.

  When I let Alex in, his tie was askew and his hair was out of place. He sure didn’t look like the got-it-together guy I’d first met. I fingered my gun in plain view as a reassurance to me and a warning to him.

  “Thanks for seeing me, especially since you think I’m involved with my uncle’s business. I hope this will help change your mind.” He reached inside his jacket and pulled out a pink office form, which he then unfolded. “Take a look at this invoice.” He pointed to my gun. “And I promise you don’t need that with me.”

  “Look, I don’t trust anyone, except my father and maybe Corrigan. Now what’s this paper for?” “Top sheet doesn’t matter.” He flipped the top page to reveal a beige carbon copy. “But this does. Take a look.”

  The letters and numbers were faint, but I could make them out. Written at a slant across the page were the words, “2580 Rosecrest Lane.” I took in a sharp breath. “That’s Aunt Lena’s address.” Lower down on the page was the license plate number my father had taken down.

  I took a moment to calm myself then asked, “What’s this supposed to tell me?”

  He slapped the paper across his palm. “It was an inside job. Like I said, I do the accounting for Luxury Autos so this came across my desk. Ordinarily, I take the top sheet, and the bottom one gets filed away. Whoever wrote this must’ve forgotten that there’s carbon between the sheets and a scribbled down the address and license number. It copied onto the bottom page. I think that note was telling someone which car to take. I don’t know whose address this is, though.”

  I was on my last nerve and my voice reflected that. “You just happened to see this today?” I waved my hands around like I was conducting the Cleveland Orchestra. “If this is for real, why didn’t you take it to the police?”

  Alex grasped my arm while it was mid-air. “I wanted you to know first that—”

  The unlocked dining room door burst open. Corrigan. I can’t fathom how this man became a detective when he had the worst timing I’d ever encountered.

  Corrigan took in the scene: Alex’s hand on my arm, my reddened face. Before I had a chance to explain, Corrigan yanked him away from me and drew Alex’s face up to his. Through gritted teeth he said, “Touch her again and you’ll be too dead to file a police brutality report.”

  I pulled on Corrigan’s arm. “Let him go. He didn’t do anything.”

  But Alex already pushed Corrigan off him and spat out, “Jesus! I’m trying to help and you bust in and go Attila the Cop on me.”

  Corrigan rubbed a corner of his mouth with his thumb. “Help? How? By breaking her arm?”

  “Stop it, both of you.” My head jerked in Corrigan’s direction and my questions tumbled out. “Did the guy talk? Did he say where my aunt is? Is she safe?”

  Corrigan responded through clenched teeth. “We don’t have any of that information yet. But we will. Soon.”

  My body felt heavy with disappointment and I slumped into a nearby chair. I mumbled, “He’s dead, isn’t he?”

  Corrigan nodded. “We’ll get a break.”

  Despite feeling like all my blood had been drained from me I had to move on. Tick tock. Clutching the back of the chair, I stood. Taking hold of the invoice, I began to tell Alex’s story, with Alex finishing it.

  To Corrigan’s credit, he didn’t interrupt, just stood there with his arms folded across his chest. When Alex was done, he said, “Interesting how it just happened to cross your desk.”

  Alex’s fists clenched. “I told you—”

  Corrigan interrupted. “We already have the stolen car and the guy who took it.” Nevertheless, he reached for the invoice. “But this may come in handy.”

  Alex’s lip curled with sarcasm. “So now you have everything sewn up.” He dusted his hands off. “I guess you don’t need any help from me.”

  My fuse was growing shorter and I yelled, “Both of you, my aunt is still missing. Stop wasting time.”

  They looked at me with surprise. Alex recovered first. “You’re right. What can I do to help?”

  Corrigan stepped in. “This is police business, Carpenter.”

  Alex’s brows furrowed like he was adding a column of fractions. “Did someone kidnap your aunt, Detective?”

  Corrigan’s voice deepened. “Like I said, Carpenter, this is police business. Now why don’t you leave? Nothing for you here.”

  “You just have leads.” Alex held his hands out in front of him, palms up. “What about it, Claire? My uncle has caused a lot of pain in my family. If he’s involved in this, I’d like to help stop him from hurting yours, too.”

  Both men watched me, like I was Solomon making a decision. I was terrified I’d do the wrong thing. But I steeled myself and concluded that, with this case stalled, I needed all the help I could get. The truth was I still didn’t know if I should trust Alex. I wasn’t sure that he wouldn’t grab Joey’s evidence for his uncle and I’d lose Aunt Lena for good. On the other hand, he had more connections than I did and he did go out of his way to help.

  “Okay.”

  Corrigan growled. “Terrific. But I’m warning you, Carpenter, if you get in the way, I promise, it won’t be pretty.” He strode toward the door. “I’m taking the invoice in as evidence.” He glanced at Alex and at me, shook his head and walked out.

  I folded my hands together and put them up to my lips. I’d agreed to Alex’s help, but in what way?

  He must have read my thoughts or my expression because he pulled out his phone and said, “I’m
calling Nick Cicarelli. He hears what’s out on the street.”

  I waited as he punched in his friend’s number, but I missed the conversation because my phone rang. I’d have let it go into voicemail, but it was from a blocked number. I swallowed my heart as I answered.

  Chapter Nineteen

  “I told you, no cops.” That harsh voice again.

  “He just—”

  “Too bad. Now I’m gonna have to cut your time short. Now you got 13 hours.”

  “Please, don’t. How will I know—”

  He ended the call without letting me finish.

  I let the phone slide down my cheek. I checked the time. In only half a day there was a good chance I was going to lose my aunt, my dear, loving aunt. A squeak escaped from me as I tried to hold back my tears.

  Alex watched me out of the corner of his eye. He whispered into the phone and hurried over to me. With a jerky, hesitant motion he wrapped one arm around my shoulder. I stiffened. This was my battle. I had no right to lean on others for comfort. Where was my aunt’s solace?

  Alex pulled his arm back like my shoulder had thorns and completed his call. He hung up and tapped his phone against the palm of his hand. “Nick says nobody’s shown up there since Valcone was found dead. Word is, Dom Santore isn’t crying over his former boss’s murder, which can mean anything. Nothing about your aunt, though. Sorry.” He hesitated, looking unsure. “Hey, I didn’t mean to cross your boundaries. Again.” But his tone lacked any sarcasm.

  I wanted to reply, but was incapable of doing so. I collapsed into a chair, wrapped my arms around myself and rocked back and forth. Time was running out for Aunt Lena and I’d gotten nowhere. I was failing her. It was already 11:00 in the morning. Nine hours left. Wiping away a tear, I reached for my purse and dragged it toward me. Struggling to say something, I pulled out a tissue. A key turned in the lock and Angie entered, looking as surprised as I was.

  “Hi Claire. You here to work?” She nodded toward Alex and her smile reminded me of a hungry shark approaching a swimmer. “Who’s your friend?”

  “I’m Alex.” He extended his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

  “Likewise.” She glanced around. “Hey, where’s Lena? I was supposed to be here ten minutes ago. Usually she screams bloody murder if I’m even five minutes late.” She finally caught on to my tense, stretched-thin look. “What’s wrong?” The existing lines in her forehead deepened.

  I couldn’t tell Angie the truth. Too many people knew already. “Lena’s at the police station. It may take all day so Cannoli’s is closed. I’m sorry we forgot to call you.”

  Angie waved my apology aside. “It’s all good. But do me a favor? Don’t tell her I was late, okay?”

  “I won’t.”

  “I’ll just go into the kitchen, make sure everything’s ready for tomorrow and then be on my way.” She cocked one of her penciled-in eyebrows. “You sure nothing’s wrong?”

  “Positive.” She couldn’t have missed the edge to my voice.

  Alex piped up. “We had a late night and Claire overslept. She’s upset she missed Lena.”

  I shot curare-dipped arrows at him, but Angie chortled, “No grass under your feet, Claire. That handsome detective be damned.”

  I bit my lip and forced myself to smile and look somewhat embarrassed. “Don’t tell my aunt or father, though.”

  Angie put her fingers to her mouth and turned her thumb and first finger. “My lips are locked.”

  I glanced at the clock, my nerves pinging with each tick. “I don’t mean to hurry you, Angie, but I, or we, have to go meet someone.” I didn’t want Corrigan bounding back here, raising Angie’s suspicions even further.

  “Got it. I’ll just check the pantry. I think we’re low on a couple of things. Then I’ll be going too.” She hurried into the kitchen, but returned just as fast. “I forgot. Claire, do you still have the keys?”

  “Yeah.” I pulled them out of my purse and slapped the heavy ring into her hand.

  “Thanks.” She jiggled the keys. “God, this is heavy. I keep telling Lena to get rid of the keys we don’t use anymore, but she doesn’t listen. Be back in a minute.” She eyed Alex and smirked. “Don’t go anywhere until I get another look at you.”

  Alex actually blushed.

  Alone again with Alex, I said, “Soon as she gets back, I’m out of here. Corrigan can find me later.”

  My phone rang and I groaned, realizing I’d forgotten about stopping at my father’s house. I answered the phone, forcing some cheer into my voice. “Hi, Dad. I know, I forgot to call you.” I rushed ahead with the only good news I had. “Police caught the man who stole that black sedan. They’re questioning him now.” I hated to build up his hope, but the poor guy needed to hear some good news.

  My dad sounded amazed. “All that’s happened since we talked this morning? And here I been worried I didn’t hear from you.”

  I hung my head. “Sorry again.”

  He sighed. “I hate you’re involved in this. I know, I know. It’s your job, too. But I don’t have to like it.”

  Another call was coming in. Corrigan. I looked up to the ceiling, trying to keep my cool. “I understand. But Dad, Corrigan’s calling.”

  “Okay, just be careful. Claire? I love you.” He hung up before I could respond in kind.

  Corrigan was still on the line and before I could say anything, he started, “Don’t say anything, Claire. Just listen. If Carpenter’s still there, go into another room so he can’t hear.”

  I avoided Alex’s eyes and headed toward the kitchen. I nearly collided with Angie who was coming out of the pantry.

  “Whoa, girlie.” She laughed, extending her arms to block me.

  To Corrigan I said, “Just a minute.” Then I covered the phone with my hand and whispered, “Angie, could you keep Alex occupied until I’m off this call?”

  She rested her hands on her hips, “With pleasure.” She sauntered off into the dining room. For a second I had a flash of Alex holding Angie off with a chair.

  I uncovered the phone. “Okay, what is it?”

  Corrigan exhaled. “Machino died. I’ve got no confession, nothing. Alex’s invoice and your note are the only solid clues we have. And your phone. We still—”

  I stared at the black and white clock in the kitchen, its ticking louder than I ever remembered it. “I see. Okay.” The phone suddenly felt like it weighed twenty pounds. I dropped my hand from my ear and the phone hung by my side. I felt dead inside, but I had to snap out of it. Not only for Aunt Lena’s sake, but for my dad’s and mine.

  I lifted the phone back up and heard Corrigan calling my name. “I’m still here. Thank you for telling me. I’ve got to go now.” Deaf to his protests, I ended the call and forced my numb legs to carry me back into Cannoli’s dining room.

  I caught the end of the conversation between Alex and Angie. She was in the middle of a hearty laugh. She wiped her eyes. “Claire, this guy is hilarious.”

  Yeah, nothing like a kidnapping to bring out the best jokes.

  Angie put her hand on one side of her mouth and murmured, “Not to mention he looks scrumptious enough to eat.”

  Alex bowed slightly. “Thank you, I think.” He straightened up and once he looked my way, his smile drifted into a frown.

  But I put on a jocular mask. I couldn’t let Angie think anything was wrong. “Lena’s delayed at the police station.”

  Alex cocked his head like he didn’t understand. Before he questioned my statement I added, “But everything is all right.”

  Angie smiled uncertainly. “That’s good. So I suppose we’ll open tomorrow. I’ll be relieved when they catch whoever killed Larry, or whatever his name was. Poor Lena’s been through so much.”

  She had no idea. I dreaded thinking of Aunt Lena, tied up, maybe even beaten, all because of her interest in Joey. “Yeah, me too. If you’re done, I’ll just take the keys back, lock up and we’ll be out the door a little after you.” As I walked back into the dining room, I dec
ided to somehow get into Joey’s apartment. The odds were against it, but maybe something got missed.

  Angie picked the key ring off one of the tables and started to hand it to me, but stopped. “When Lena comes back, I’m gonna insist she gets rid of these keys we don’t use.” She handed the ring back to me and said her goodbyes.

  My stomach dropped upon seeing the time. I’d wasted an hour with nothing to show. “Alex, I appreciate your wanting to help, but I think I better handle this next thing alone.”

  His eyebrows shot up. “I’ll leave if you want, but whatever it is, two can probably do it in half the time.”

  Every cowardly fiber of me screamed to have someone along when I broke into Joey’s place, but I didn’t want Alex to stand as my lookout while I jimmied the lock. “I appreciate it, but the best thing you can do for me is to call your Aunt Carmella. Maybe she’s heard something.” I doubted it, but it’d keep him busy.

  “I can call her right now.” He pulled his phone out, but I reached out and covered his hand with mine. “No. Do it from your office. She’ll be more comfortable talking to you there.” That explanation was so poor it could qualify for welfare.

  He knew it too but didn’t argue. “I’ll call you right away if she knows anything.”

  I nodded. If I said more, I probably would have ended up asking him to come with me.

  We each got into our cars. He left and I tore my purse apart looking for Joey’s address. I’d written it down when the case first began. When I found it, I hit the gas pedal so hard the car jerked. It was amazing I could steer.

  “Damn, damn, double-damn.” I muttered as I hit one red light after another, finally reaching Joey’s duplex about ten minutes later than I’d planned. The police tape was gone as were any cars in the driveway. I began having second thoughts about breaking in for a look. I had Gino’s lock picking tools, but what if I couldn’t get inside? Or worse, I got caught? The acid in my stomach bubbled up and I had a sour taste in my mouth. I said a prayer to St. Anthony, the patron saint of lost items, to find the evidence. I didn’t know if he covered this sort of thing, but it was worth a try.