Susan Gillard - Neapolitan Delight Murder

Table of Contents

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Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the authors imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Copyright 2017 by Guardian Publishing Group - All rights reserved.

All rights Reserved. No part of this publication or the information in it may be quoted from or reproduced in any form by means such as printing, scanning, photocopying or otherwise without prior written permission of the copyright holder.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

A reverent hush filtered through the interior of the cinema. All eyes focused on the screen. The gentle creak of blood red, cinema chairs, and the occasional cough from one of the guests were the only noises which disturbed the pre-movie quiet.

Heathers fingertips brushed the leather armrest and crept over to her neighbors spot. She ran them down the back of his hand.

Ryan Shepherd turned his hand over and caught her fingers with his. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

The opening night of the Keleman Cinematic Theater had arrived at last, and the dcor made the dormant butterflies in Heathers stomach dance with excitement. Itd been a long time since shed been this excited.

The light from the pearlescent, shell wall sconces dimmed and the white sheet, not a wall, but an actual sheet draped in front of a broad, brown stage, lit up.

Letters flickered across it. An old-timey countdown to the start of the movie.

A thrill ran through the room. People shifted to get a better view, even though the seating was tiered.

Heather glanced back at the balcony behind them, where the projectionists box sat, its single window lit with bright white light.

Orchestra music thrummed through the room, and Heather snapped her gaze back to the screen.

The title, The Woman in Shadows, glared from the screen in white font on a background of gray.

Ironic, that the first movie played in the Keleman Cinematic Theater would be a detective mystery.

Ryan squeezed her hand as if hed read her thoughts.

She settled back into the cushy leather seat and focused on the screen.

A bang rang out, but not from the credits which still rolled in bold font.

Ryan flinched and let go of her. He shifted and craned his neck toward the front of the theater.

A shocked cry sliced through the music.

What the ? Ryan rose in his seat.

Sit down. I cant see the screen, a man said, from the row behind them/

Heather hopped to her high-heeled feet, too, and glanced back. Herman Schulz met her gaze, and they both jerked back for a second.

The woman at his side touched his arm. What is it, dear? What is the matter?

Nein. Nothing, nothing, Herman said, in his thick German accent.

Heather turned her back on them and focused on the source of the disturbance instead. Something had upset the viewing, and she got the feeling it wasnt a planned first-night opening surprise. Whats going on?

Slowly, the folks rose from their seats and confused whispers susurrated through the air, a choir of voices to accompany that invisible orchestra.

Heather bobbed on her heels and caught a glimpse of an open side door which led out into the parking lot. She frowned. Why isnt that locked?

Ryan pointed to the screen.

A man stumbled up the wooden stairs of the stage and gripped the left side of his shirt. He halted in front of the screen, and the images of the movie, black and white people, their voices unaware, warped across his front.

You, he shouted. You!

He stumbled forward a step.

Several of the movie goers screamed, and Heather clenched her fists. Hed fall off the end of the stage. Was he mad?

The man halted, and a thin stream of red ran down the front of his white polo shirt. Youll pay, he said. For it all. He collapsed to his knees, then keeled over onto his side.

His head bonked against the wooden screen.

The movie continued, but none of the moviegoers noticed. They screamed and rushed out of their seats, toward the open door.

No, Ryan said. He hopped up onto his leather seat.

A man pushed Heather back into hers. Hey, she yelled, but hed already fumbled by, grabbing at the tops of the chairs either side of him.

Dont go out that way! Ryan roared, above the screams and confusion.

But the crowd had a mind of its own. They rushed out of the open side door, the same door through which the man had entered, and pushed into the parking lot.

The white flashes from the projector caught slips of white shirts, and dresses, or a flash of red or pink. Panicked movements in the dark, and freeze frames of each one.

Shoot, Ryan growled and dropped down from the seat.

Already, most of the theater had cleared out, and only the stragglers pushed at the back of the crowd, casting horrified glanced over their shoulders at the man on the stage.

The dead man on the stage.

His eyes stared at the balcony, unseeing.

Finally, the movie shut off, and the lights came back on.

What just happened? Heather asked, though, shed already guessed.

Ryan offered her his hand, and she took it. Ive got to call this in, he said. It looks like weve got another murder case on our hands.

Heathers gaze flickered to the open side door. If this was a murder case, then most of Hillside had just trampled through part of the evidence. And every witness to the crime had just performed a mass exodus.

Well never catch them all in time, she said and started toward the door.

Leave it. Ryan caught her arm. Ill get the attendance list from Keleman. Ill call Hoskins and get him down here to cordon it off. You stay here. Right here. Okay?

Yeah, okay, Heather said and averted her eyes from the body.

Honey, are you all right? I can leave you here? Ryan asked.

Heather plonked down in her seat and crossed her ankles. Im fine, Shepherd. Its not the first time Ive witnessed a murder. And it probably wouldnt be the last.

Ryan pressed his lips to her forehead, a hasty brush of the lips. He rushed down their aisle toward the scarlet steps at its end.

Heather worried her bottom lip with her teeth. Here we go again, she whispered.

Chapter 2

The black and white poster sat behind a pane of glass, rimmed by a golden frame. The man and woman within gazed into each others eyes. His black hat tilted to one side, her lips parted slightly.

Old Hollywood.

It reminded Heather of the case from last week.

Honestly, theyd just rung in the New Year, and already another murder had ripped through the peace in Hillside.

Heathers high heels clicked on the swirled beige and white marble. She turned and walked toward the grand staircase which led to the second floor. Red carpet traveled up the marble stairs and to the landing above.

She grasped the golden balustrade and glared at the pinnacle. Why tonight?

Usually, shed be focused on the murder, but tonight was special. Or it had been. She hadnt had time alone with Ryan, just the two of them, without a case or a holiday celebration or some other stressful topic to broach in months.

For one night, shed wanted a bit of selfish couple time.

The theater door creaked behind her. Footsteps thumped across the carpet. Ryans coming in a second, Hoskins said. You okay, there, donuts? The show scare ya?

Heather spun toward the overweight officer, who gripped a half-eaten piece of pie in one hand. Not as much as your manners scare me, Hoskins.

Oh ho, somebodys touchy tonight.

Heather opened her mouth to reply, but thought better of it. She snapped it closed again.