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

  Adrenalin surging, I tore through the rope tied around her hands. “Think you can stand?” She nodded and I continued. “We’re going to make a break through the back door.” I could only hope I didn’t lead her or me right into a bullet.

  A shaky step forward and my aunt would have toppled over if I hadn’t caught her. “Lean on me.” I wrapped my arm around her waist.

  She tried to pull away. “I’ll slow you down. Go.”

  “No! Both of us, together.”

  Our arguing stopped when the back door squeaked open.

  “Quick, hide behind that pile over there.” I pointed to some flour sacks in the corner of the room.

  A full and heavy can of olive oil wasn’t my weapon of choice, but it was the only thing available. I got ready to swing it like a golf pro at Santore.

  Santore opened the door with one hand, his gun in the other and stepped onto the greasy floor. He slid to the left, corrected himself and in a flash slid in the other direction, finally crashing to the cement floor. His gun fired and the shot echoed.

  Like a Roman warrior, I ran at Santore as he tried to stand. I pivoted and with both hands swung the metal can like a shot-put. It hit him square in the shoulder and knocked him flat. He lay moaning, looking helpless. I dropped the can and picked up his gun. Aunt Lena limped over and I threw her arm over my shoulder to help her walk. We were on our way to freedom. Until the other door opened.

  Freddie didn’t hesitate. A bullet whizzed by us and plowed into the wall. When I pushed my aunt away the greasy gun slipped from my hand.

  “Aw, too bad.” Freddie snarled. “Don’t move or my next bullet won’t miss.” Still aiming at us, he kicked my gun away and crept to Santore. “You okay, Boss?” He stuck out his arm to help his employer stand. His boss needed more assistance than Freddie could provide. “Hey Marco. Get your ass in here and help me.”

  Marco strolled in, gun in hand. “I’ll help all right.” Without blinking, he shot Freddie. Then he shot him again. Santore dropped to the ground, making himself as small a target as possible. Freddie’s huge body fell across his boss’s legs.

  My mouth dropped open and Aunt Lena gasped. My mind racing, I picked up the gun and used my blouse to wipe off the oil. Was Marco working for Bucanetti now? Even if he was, I couldn’t take any chances. I spun around to face Marco like a gunslinger in a Western.

  At the same time, Santore yanked Freddie’s gun from Freddie’s hand and scrambled to his feet, slipping a bit in the oil. He wiped his hands on his pants and got a better grip on his gun. With labored breath he said, “Marco, how could you do it? How could you double-cross me? I’m gonna have to kill you.”

  Now all three of us were armed but, with my hand’s awful trembling, I’d be the worst shot by far. I stepped in front of Aunt Lena even though her girth prevented me from shielding all of her.

  “Aunt Lena, get behind those barrels back there!” Joining her was tempting, but I had to see this through.

  Marco tilted his head toward me but addressed Santore. “They’re already waiting for us to kill each other so they can have the flash drive.”

  For a moment Santore shifted his eyes in my direction. “So, a truce until you and me have the goods?”

  Marco shrugged. “Sure.”

  This is how Bucanetti planned to help me? Aunt Lena and I were on our own. So while Marco and Santore were trucing, my aunt and I had to escape. The barrels Aunt Lena stood behind were close to the back door, but Santore stood in the way. I couldn’t hold my gun on both men with equal effectiveness, but I had to try. Clearing my throat, I shifted my aim from Santore to Marco and back again. “Both of you lay down your weapons and put your hands up.” I swallowed hard and hoped they wouldn’t open fire on me.

  They didn’t, but then neither man dropped his gun. Santore laughed. “You think we’re stupid enough to let you get away? I want to know where that other flash drive is or your aunt gets a bullet right now. Lena, get back here.”

  “Stay where you are, Aunt Lena.”

  This was not a win-win situation. I might have been able to wound Santore, but Marco was sure to get me and probably Aunt Lena too.

  Marco spoke, “I’ll make you a deal. You give me this flash drive and the copy and you live.

  Santore added, “Your aunt stays. Insurance so you’ll keep your mouth zipped until we get everything.”

  I thought of my father. It was my fault Aunt Lena was in this dangerous mess. I couldn’t win. They’d kill Lena and me once they got all they wanted. Tie up loose ends.

  Stalemate. I grasped at straws. “How about I take Aunt Lena with me and mail the flash drive copy to you?”

  Santore’s face turned red. “Think you’re funny, bitch? See how funny a bullet is.” He hunched down and fired his gun at my aunt and me.

  I must have pulled the trigger on my gun at the same time. Santore tumbled to the ground. His shot missed my aunt and hit a bag of cannelloni beans resting against the side wall.

  All of a sudden, my gun felt heavy and I dropped my hand. I didn’t know if Santore was alive or dead and was afraid to find out.

  Marco lowered his gun and raised his hands. “Don’t shoot.” His voice turned soft, almost soothing. “I’m going over to see if he’s alive.”

  I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. Instead, I nodded and Marco made his way to Santore’s body. He nudged him with the toe of his shoe. “He’s dead.” He rifled through the man’s clothing, found the flash drive and dropped it into his own pocket.

  I couldn’t move, but my aunt returned to my side and whispered, “It’s over. He’s dead.”

  I needed to get her out of there before Marco switched sides again. I slipped away from Aunt Lena, whose tears showed her relief, to retrieve my gun.

  Marco had the same idea though and turned, holding Santore’s gun. He pointed it at me.“Claire, you don’t want to shoot me. In fact, you want to get me the other flash drive. The copy.”

  “Why would I give it to you?”

  He gave me a crooked smile. “I saved you and your aunt. Why do you think I made up that story that I heard something? And, even more important, you’ll do it because you promised Mr. Bucanetti. He won’t like it if you go back on your word.”

  My eyes popped open wide. “So you are the help he promised me. How long have you been working for him?”

  His brow furrowed, like he was thinking hard. “Since I found out Santore killed Mr. Bucanetti’s second cousin, Mr. Valcone. Mr. Valcone was a standup guy. Mr. Bucanetti’s real mad about that.” His face turned menacing. “Now drop your gun.”

  Aunt Lena chose that time to speak. “Why did Larry have to die? Who killed him?”

  Marco looked confused.

  I explained. “Joey called himself Larry.”

  “Oh, yeah.” Marco twisted his mouth from side to side. “You been treated real bad, Lena. To make it up to you, I’ll fill you in. He died because he skipped out with half a million bucks that belonged to Mr. Bucanetti. Then that albino bastard tried to sell the drive he made of Mr. Bucanetti’s business ventures to the highest bidder.” He crinkled his face like he smelled spoiled fish. “Mr. Valcone eliminated Joey as a favor to Mr. Bucanetti. Which was what Joey deserved. Santore always wanted Mr. Valcone’s piece of the action so he offed Mr. Valcone.” He made a spitting sound. “That pig, Santore, was too stupid to understand Mr. Bucanetti wouldn’t take Mr. Valcone’s murder lying down. Santore, though, figured if he held the flash drive nobody would touch him. You know, like it would protect him. That’s where you came in, Lena.”

  He waved the gun at me. “Well? We ain’t got all day. Did you mail the copy to the cops like you said?”

  “No. I swear. It was a lie. But I’m telling you the truth now. I didn’t have time to make copies.”

  His eyebrows knitted and I knew he didn’t believe me. “Since I’m a nice guy, I’m still gonna let you and Lena go. If there’s another flash drive, though, and it finds its way to the cops, Mr. Bucanetti w
ants you to know he’ll personally see to it that your father has an untimely death. Capisci?”

  I felt sick to my stomach. My father killed by that monster? “Yeah, I understand. Aunt Lena does too.”

  My aunt, her eyes opened wide, nodded.

  “Now we got that straight, I’m taking off. You two will have to find your own way home.”

  He gathered the guns together and warned us not to follow him as he exited through the door leading to the office. Ignoring what he said, I went after him, but was too late. He left the building via an outside door and locked it behind him. I pounded on that door and yelled, “Let us out.” All I heard in response were tires squealing and the motor of a car growing fainter.

  I rushed back through the door to the warehouse to collect Aunt Lena. She shouldn’t have to stay in that room of horrible memories any longer than necessary. I found her standing over Santore’s dead body. She didn’t look up or move at all.

  “Aunt Lena?” I whispered. “I’m calling the police. Let’s wait for them in the office.”

  “Okay.” Still she stared at Santore’s body. “Maybe I’ll go to hell for it, but I’m glad he’s dead. Glad the bastard is dead.” She looked up and gave me an uncertain smile. “Let’s get out of here.”

  A lump formed in my throat so large I hoped I’d be able to talk to the police.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  From a phone on the office desk, I called Corrigan. It took me three tries to get the right number. He answered on the first ring.

  “It’s me, Claire.”

  “Where are you?” He sounded frantic, his words toppling each other. He took a breath and added, “Are you all right?”

  “Aunt Lena and I aren’t hurt, but we’re in some warehouse. Santore and his henchman, Freddie are dead.” My words ran together so fast, it was like they were in a race with each other. I rifled through the desk drawers for letterhead paper, anything that gave the place’s name and address, but found nothing. “I don’t know the address.”

  “It’s fine. We got an anonymous tip. Just a second, Claire.” That second seemed an hour. “Okay, I think we got your location. Sit tight and we’ll be there fast as we can.”

  He thought he knew where we were. Right now, I needed certainty. Aunt Lena had been sitting in the desk chair, a far-away look on her face, hands folded in her lap.

  “Aunt Lena, I’m going to see if that other door is unlocked and where it leads. Maybe it’ll give us a clue as to our whereabouts.” We had to leave now. What if Marco got a change in orders and came back to kill us?

  I trudged to where Freddie’s body lay. I had no choice in the matter since he was almost against the rear door, but still grimaced stepping one foot over him to try to open it. Like people do at a car accident I couldn’t help but stare at all the blood around Freddie’s head. I shivered.

  Straddling Freddie’s body I reached for the door knob. Freddie’s hand shot up, clutched my ankle and pulled me down to the floor on top of him.

  I swung my arms and pummeled his chest, but his strength was three times mine and his hands tightened around my throat. Gasping for breath, I smashed my fist into the gunshot wound in his shoulder. His grip loosened enough for me to slip out of his grasp. I scrambled to my feet and latched on to one of the gallon cans of olive oil and swung it with all my might. At last, Freddie was still. I bent over, my hands on my knees hoping not to pass out.

  Aunt Lena appeared, glanced down at Freddie and put her hand on my back. “Claire, honey. Come on. The police are here.”

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Corrigan’s face lit up when he found Aunt Lena and me. I rushed to him and threw my arms around his neck.

  He pulled me close and I breathed in his scent, feeling safe at last.

  A moment later he coughed and his embrace loosened. He took a small step back.

  I took the hint and followed suit. “Thank you for finding us so soon.”

  He blew out a breath and glanced around the room before he answered, “Glad we could do it.” His voice, so soft I barely heard him.

  “The anonymous tip? Alex?”

  “Yeah, him.” He threw up his hands. “Said he knew this place. I guess he and Nick Cicarelli used to come here when they were young. We’re questioning the older Cicarelli now.”

  Was Corrigan jealous? He needn’t be. At that moment both men held warm spots in my heart.

  A uniformed cop called Corrigan from the warehouse where Freddie and Santore lay. Aunt Lena and I started to follow, but Corrigan stopped us. “Stay here. We’ll call you if we need you.”

  Aunt Lena wrung her hands and whispered, “We’ll tell them I killed those two. I’ve had my life with your uncle.” She touched my cheek. “I love you like you’re my daughter and no daughter of mine will go to prison. Now hush. My mind is made up.”

  “No!” I couldn’t let her do that. I’d already hurt her enough. “I did it and I’ll take whatever blame there is for it.”

  My aunt wasn’t about to let it go, but before she continued her argument, Corrigan returned. “Did I miss something?” I shook my head and glared at my aunt. In response she folded her arms and looked away.

  “I want both of you to come with me.” Corrigan led us back to the scene of my crimes. He frowned and tilted his head toward Freddie and then Santore. “Did you do all this, Claire?” He had his notepad out.

  My aunt threw me a pleading look, but I stood tall, ready to tell the truth. “It was self-defense. Santore kidnapped Aunt Lena and then me to get the flash drive. He was going to kill us both. Freddie was helping him.” I gave him a blow-by-blow account of everything else I knew, except for me finding the real flash drive and making a copy. That required a special explanation. I also left out Marco’s role in this. I hated doing it this way, but my father’s life was worth any lies and omissions.

  Corrigan took notes but didn’t say anything. When I stopped he tapped his pen against his cheek. “Okay, as long as you understand you’ll have to stick around for a little while in case I have more questions. You can wait in the office. Soon as the medical examiner is done we can all get out of here.”

  Aunt Lena and I sat next to each other and watched as they carried the covered bodies of Freddie and Santore into the ambulance. Exhaustion weighed me down and no emotions could rise to the surface. I knew they’d hit me full force soon, though and I dreaded it.

  A ruckus began outside and voices rose. Corrigan dashed from the warehouse, gun drawn, and went to investigate. I stepped to the window to watch. Two uniformed cops were restraining Alex, who yelled for me.

  Corrigan holstered his gun and told the cops to stand down while he and Alex talked. I couldn’t hear the subject, but I don’t think it was the cost of alfalfa. They must have come to an agreement because Alex headed to his car while Corrigan returned to the warehouse office.

  Corrigan’s expression was unreadable. “I told Carpenter you were all right. Now everyone’s happy except Santore and one of his guys.” He riveted his eyes on me. “What happened to the other one, Marco?”

  I glanced at Aunt Lena, willing her not to contradict me. “He wasn’t with them.”

  I’m not a great liar, especially when the stakes are high, but Aunt Lena backed me up. “I was blindfolded most of the time, but there was another guy named Alfonse. He killed Santore, then took off. I never even got a good look at him.”

  Corrigan’s eyebrow rose like he knew we were bluffing, but he held his tongue. “All right. Maybe Marco wasn’t in on this, but the guy’s hands are definitely dirty. We’ll pick him up for questioning.” He scratched his chin. “Joey had to have been killed over the flash drive Bucanetti wanted returned. What I don’t get is why Santore wanted it so bad. Was he trying to get in Bucanetti’s good graces or was it to hurt him?” He looked at me through hooded eyes, but I didn’t say a word.

  While the police and medical examiner finished up at the warehouse, Corrigan grilled Aunt Lena a bit more. Either satisfied or frustra
ted with her answers, he said, “All right for now, Mrs. Antonucci, but Claire, a few more questions for you.”

  Not in the clear yet. I tried to sound casual. “What is it?”

  Corrigan scratched his head. “You ever find Joey’s flash drive?”

  I was glad he couldn’t hear my heart thumping hard. “I’m sure it’ll turn up someday. Don’t you think?”

  His eyes narrowed. “Yeah, maybe.”

  I’d been running on fear and guilt. Now that my aunt was safe I felt like a wet rag. “Is it all right if I go?”

  “Do either of you want to go to the ER? Get checked out?”

  I gave a weary shake of my head. “No thanks. I’m fine.”

  My aunt declined with even more vigor. “I just need a hot bath, a dish of pasta and a glass of prosecco.”

  “That sounds good to me, followed by a good night’s sleep.”

  “Just be available for further questions.” Corrigan accompanied us out of the warehouse office.

  Alex hurried from his car and gave me a one-arm hug. He slipped something into my pocket with his free hand. The envelope I’d given him. The one with the note for Corrigan. Alex whispered in my ear, “Nobody knows about it.” He released me. “I got worried and called Nick Cicarelli. When he said he hadn’t seen you for a while, I called the police. It was a lucky guess where you were.”

  “Thank you.” I thought about Marco, Bucanetti, and the flash drive copy. “For so much.”

  When Alex offered to drive my aunt and me home, Corrigan insisted on being our driver in case he had more questions. Before we left Alex promised to check on me soon.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Aunt Lena sat in the back seat, but Corrigan asked me to ride in the front. Neither Aunt Lena nor I talked. We were each lost in our own thoughts. Mine involved the killing I’d committed. I shivered, despising what I’d done. But it was to save someone I loved. I admitted to myself that I’d do it again if it was necessary.

  Besides that, I was a private investigator, terrified though I often felt. I planned to keep my job and do what I had to do to survive as Claire DeNardo, Private investigator.