Carole Fowkes [Fowkes - Murder and Mozzarella

Murder and Mozzarella

The Terrified Detective: Book Six

Carole Fowkes

Table Of Contents

Copyright

Copyright 2019 by Carole Fowkes

eBook conversion by Ink Lion Books

Cover by Kathleen Baldwin

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Chapter One

E d stood beside the shabby sofa in my office reception area and, addressing my father Frank, my Aunt Lena and me, hoisted his glass of champagne, revealing the dancing girl tattoo on his forearm. Heres to DeNardo and Son. May it have many well-paying clients.

I grinned widely and took a sip of my drink. Then I stood and raised my glass. To a great friend and assistant, not to mention my new uncle, Ed Horwath.

My fifty-something Aunt Lena, who had recently become Eds bride, lifted her flute. May you both stay safe and make sure you still come over to Cannolis and help. Angie and me cant do it alone. Cannolis was her bakery and Angie was her best friend and employee. Until opening my own private investigation agency, I worked at Cannolis part-time as well as working full-time as an assistant at Francini Private Investigation Agency, which was owned by my fathers second cousin, Gino.

Ed chucked her under the chin. Aw, Lena. Well both be okay and as far as the second part of your toast, he gave her a mischievous smile, How could I stay away from a babe like you?

Aunt Lena glanced down at her generous torso and harrumphed, but I could see she was melting like whipped cream on a hot day.

I picked up Charlie, my half-boxer, half-something else. Actually, he was wiggling so much I only managed to pick his front paws up. Heres to the Son in DeNardo and Son, Charlie.

My dear father, although allergic to dogs, sniffled and tried to tough it out for this opening celebration of my new agency. For the sake of my dad and his reddened, Roman nose and watery eyes, I escorted Charlie back to his crate in the office kitchen. Not that my dog didnt whimper. But with the toss of a new rawhide toy, I stepped back into the reception area.

Hey, didnt Brian promise to stop by? My father asked. He was talking about Cleveland Police Detective Brian Corrigan, my fianc.

He said if he could swing it, he would. I doubted hed show since hed made no bones about his worry that Id be putting myself in continual danger with the opening of my own private investigation agency. Maybe he was right, but I couldnt dwell on that possibility. Sure it terrified me, even though Id solved some major crimes by this time.

Speaking of missing persons, how come your wifes not here? Aunt Lena crossed her arms.

My fathers voice stayed neutral. Suzy had to work. Shes by herself at the salon.

I headed my aunt off at the pass. Its a shame Suzy doesnt have someone like you do, Aunt Lena. I mean Angie can run Cannolis single-handed for a while. Anyway, Suzy called me this morning to congratulate me.

Aunt Lena sniffed, but didnt respond. My father sent me a look of thanks. No matter how hard everyone, including Suzy, tried to smooth the Aunt Lena-Suzy relationship, it continued to be more like rocky road than silky chocolate. My aunt still hadnt completely gotten over the fact my father had remarried four years after his wife, my mom and Aunt Lenas sister, had died.

Ed put his sinewy arm around my aunts ample waist. Speaking of work, I should get you back to Cannolis . Its probably mobbed by now.

I oughtta leave too. Let my daughter get her business started. My dad kissed my cheek. Im proud of you, Claire. But please, no more murder cases. I couldnt take it. I was downing so many antacids with that last one I probably paid for some pharmaceutical executives vacation.

I chuckled. Its highly doubtful therell be more cases like that last one. Or the ones before.

At least I hoped there wouldnt be. Bravery didnt come naturally to me. In fact, if I had been able to get a job with my college major, mass communications, I never would have gone down this path. But, having recently turned 32 and just opening my own agency, it seemed a bit late for that. Now I worried about keeping the doors here open and feeding Charlie and me.

With farewells and thanks to all, I closed the door behind the family. I was putting the leash on Charlie to walk him before taking him home when I heard the door open.

Thinking it was Ed I came back out to the front office with Charlie. But instead of Ed, it was a fashionably-dressed woman in her early fifties. Her hair was well cut and her makeup was carefully applied to make the most of her good looks.

Can I help you?

She shifted her Louis Vuitton purse to her other shoulder. Id like to speak with either Mr. DeNardo or his son. Her voice was low as if she were afraid some invisible being was listening in.

I didnt point out that the son was Charlie, but I did correct her assumption about the Mister. Im Claire DeNardo, the agencys owner. Since she didnt appear to have any obvious objection to working with a woman, I asked, Would you like to have a seat in my office? We both looked down at my dog. Ill be right back.

Thank you. She sat on the edge of the chair, back straight and legs crossed at the ankles.

Protesting all the way, Charlie was once again relegated to his crate in the kitchen.

That done, I stepped into my office, and spotted the open pizza box on the credenza. We were having a celebration The woman smiled weakly.

I didnt want to put the pizza in the kitchen. The scent would drive Charlie crazy. When I grabbed the box to dispose of it in the reception areas trash can, a string of mozzarella cheese that was hanging over the edge stuck to my finger. Now, first could I have your name? I dropped my hands, pulled the cheese off, and stuck it on the bottom of the desk. Id clean it off later.

Marlene Vanderson. Mrs.

Address and phone number please?

She stiffened. Do you really need that information?

If you dont want to be contacted at your home or by phone, we can work out another way of doing so.

She pursed her lips. Youll keep everything confidential?

Thats my policy.

Very well. She rattled off a phone number, explaining it was her private line. When she gave me her address, I tried to keep a poker face, but was surprised that shed come to the west side of Cleveland. She was from the east side. It may not seem like much of a deal to outsiders, but here, east and west dont mix on a regular basis. She came from Pepper Pike, one of the ritziest suburbs in the area. I couldnt imagine why shed come to my less-than-posh agency. Unless she really wanted to stay anonymous.

Keeping my voice neutral, I asked, What brings you here?

My daughter, Trish, has been missing for four days. Ive checked with her friends and her co-workers. Nobody has seen or heard from her.

Maybe she took some time away, you know, to decompress?

She raised her chin. Of course not! Trish was happy. She has everything, including her parents love. Her voice momentarily broke, but she recovered herself quickly.

Okay. If you do believe somethings happened to her, have you spoken to the police yet? Not that I dont want to help you, but they have greater resources for this sort of thing.

Her nostrils flared reminding me of a thoroughbred horse whod sensed a snake underfoot. She cleared her throat. No. II cant.

Whats she afraid of? Why is that?