From Mangia to Murder (A Sophia Mancini ~ Little Italy Mystery) (17 page)

“If this is about what happened after Mass, please just forget I said anything.” Maria sat in the chair Sophia pulled out for her.

“Oh no, Maria, that’s forgotten.” Sophia leaned forward and lowered her voice to a whisper. “I mean, it’s natural enough that you’d be nervous the day after a murder. Anyone would be. No, what I really wanted was your advice about this,” she waved a hand over her dress. “I’m a fashion nightmare.”

A relieved and amused smile stretched across Maria’s face. “You want my advice about clothing?”

Sophia nodded.

“Well, then, I’m your gal.” Maria grinned.

Sophia smiled back. She was relieved to have thought of a reason to spend time with Maria, even though she feared she’d somehow end up with a shockingly pink frock in her wardrobe. And she’d have to dip into her savings to buy the eyesore too, but if she was able to gather any information about Maria’s marriage to Vincenzo, it would be worth the cost of three pink dresses, however hideous.

Maria slapped her hand on the table and her bangle bracelets clinked in unison. She eyed Sophia’s dress critically. “I’m seeing you in something much more colorful--something livelier. Let’s go shopping now.”

“I can’t, Maria. I’m meeting ... someone.”

Maria raised an eyebrow. “Someone, eh?” She nodded knowingly. “And this certain someone, would they be the reason you are interested in vamping up your wardrobe?”

Sophia froze. Oh God, her big mouth was going to be the death of her one day, or at least the cause of her total and utter humiliation. The last thing she needed was a rumor to start flying around that she had a romantic interest. Her aunts and cousins would stop at nothing--nothing--to find out who it was.

“Please don’t say anything to anyone, Maria. It’s too early. You know how families can be. Once mine hears of this ....” She shook her head, truly too horrified at the thought to finish her sentence.

“Oh, don’t you worry, honey. I’m the soul of discretion. But you’ve come to the right woman for help.” Maria practically beamed at her, apparently thrilled at the idea of a shopping trip.

The bells over the door chimed as Tiernan stepped into Carelli’s. He’d taken the time to change out of his uniform and into a pair of dark slacks and a white button down shirt with a green tie. He looked ... well, Maria’s appreciative expression said it all.

Captain McIntyre glanced around the room until he saw Sophia. As he wound his way through the tables, conversations in the room hushed, as if by some implicit agreement that a man joining Sophia at her table was more interesting than anything they could possibly be discussing.

“Miss Mancini, thank you for meeting me.” He turned to Maria. “Good day, Mrs. Acino.”

Maria stood and tugged at the hem of her dress, a move Sophia judged to be a well-practiced attempt at modesty.

“It’s Miss Acino, actually. I’ve been a widow for so long now the Mrs. doesn’t seem fitting, if you know what I mean.”

“Interesting. I didn’t know that there was a statute of limitations for widows.” Captain McIntyre stood, arms clasped behind his back, appearing for all the world as if he was at home in Carelli’s Bakery. “Am I interrupting you ladies?”

Maria took her cue and stepped back from the table. She winked at Sophia. “I’ll look forward to our meeting.” She turned her high-wattage smile on Tiernan. “Captain McIntyre, I’m sure it’s always a pleasure.” With a tinkling little wave, she was gone.

“What appointment would that be?” He settled himself in the chair across from her. “Are you setting up an interrogation?”

Sophia pulled a face at him. “If so, would I tell you? No. Actually that was about a shopping trip. Maria is going to help me pick out some new clothes.”

He laughed. “Oh, I can only imagine that little expedition.”

His grin annoyed Sophia, probably because he was right. It was bound to be a nightmare.

“You wanted coffee, then let’s have coffee.” She waved to a watchful Signor Carelli.

He was across the room in no time, a curious look on his face. “Buon giorno, cara.” He nodded to Tiernan before turning back to Sophia. “What can I get for you and your
friend
?”

It wasn’t lost on Sophia that he placed a special emphasis on the last two words.

“Two espressos, and I think something sweet, please.”

“Certamente, I have something new you can try. I’ll be right back with your espressos.”

“Plain coffee for me,” Tiernan said.

Signor Carelli frowned. “Eh? Why?” He turned to Sophia. “Why?”

She shrugged in answer and turned to Tiernan. “Afraid to try something new, Captain?”

“Touché, Miss Mancini.” He turned to Signor Carelli. “An espresso will be fine, thank you.”

While they waited for their drinks and pasticcino to arrive, Sophia tried to engage her companion in small talk, but he wouldn’t offer more than a one or two word answer to every other question.

“Tell me what you make of Eugene’s sudden changes to the restaurant,” she prompted him. “You’ve heard that he’s changing the name of his restaurant to Eugene’s haven’t you?”

“I have.”

He considered that a response? She tried again.

“What can you tell me about the suit jacket you found? Don’t forget you promised to show it to me today.”

He lifted an eyebrow. “That deal’s off. You promised to meet me and take me to the Iacobelli’s, and yet you were nowhere in sight when I showed up at your home this morning.”

“You found your way there eventually. Did you find out anything from little Jimmy that helped you?”

“Possibly.”

“You know, Captain, I’m getting the feeling that you didn’t want to share information with me as much as you wanted to tell me something. So, please do so.”

He sat back and eyed her thoughtfully.

Signor Carelli brought a tray over to their table. He made small talk with Sophia for a few moments, all the while casting curious glances at Tiernan. After he left, Sophia raised an eyebrow in question.

“You have sound instincts, Miss Mancini. I do want you to know something.” He leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table.

“I’m listening.”

“Right, here it is then. I will let no one interfere with my solving this case.”

“And you’re telling me this because I’m the no one?” She felt a stab of annoyance. He had nerve to think he could just dismiss her.

“That’s a bit blunt, but yes, that’s the heart of it.” He took a sip of his espresso and pulled a face. He pushed the cup and saucer away. “I will give you this, you appear to be doing a relatively good job of keeping up.”

“You’re too kind, Captain McIntyre.”

“Look, the fact of the matter, Miss Mancini, is that you might have misunderstood what my uncle said. I believe he simply was suggesting we act courteously to each other, should we run into each other while investigating this murder.”

How stupid did he think she was?

“Solving this case expeditiously is more important to me than you could possibly imagine. I don’t expect you to understand,” he said.

“Oh, but I do understand, Captain.” She stirred her coffee a little more vigorously than necessary. “My brother and I are fighting for custody of his son. We have only a matter of days before we’re due back in court with proof that we can make a success of our new venture. I love Luciano more than
you
could begin to imagine. Solving Vincenzo’s murder, expeditiously as you say, is my absolute top priority. So I won’t be warned off the case.”

“Be reasonable.”

Sophia felt her face flush. Anger always had that effect on her.

“I suppose I should be flattered, Captain, that you’re concerned enough about my solving the murder before you that you felt you needed to have a sit down with me.” She sipped her espresso and tried to act as nonchalant as he appeared to be.

Signor Carelli arrived with two small plates. He put one in front of Tiernan and held the other out proudly for Sophia’s approval.

“A napoleon with strawberry filling. Try it.”

Sophia waved her hand. “No, I can’t now.”“Try it, one bite. Solo un morso.”

Sophia offered an apologetic shrug.

Signor Carelli turned to the police captain and narrowed his eyes. “What have you done to her, eh?”

Sophia started to object but quickly stopped herself. She was not going to champion the captain. Not when he tried to warn her off of her own murder case. No, he was on his own.

Tiernan looked incredulous. “I haven’t done anything. She ate a full breakfast this morning.”

Sophia cringed at the stunned look on Signor Carelli’s face.

“You bought Sophia breakfast this morning?” he demanded.

Tiernan shook his head. “No, I didn’t buy her a meal. It was a home cooked meal--”

“You sit there and calmly talk to me about having breakfast with this nice girl?” Signor Carelli’s voice was now loud enough to command silence from the other patrons. “I’ve known this girl since she was a bambina. She’s a good girl.”

He tossed the tray onto a table behind him and began to roll his sleeves up.

A shadow loomed over the table. Startled, Sophia turned to see what--no,
who
it was. An enormous man stood behind Signor Carelli. He was looking right at her.

“Are you Sophia Mancini?”

She nodded.

“You need to come with me.”

“Let me guess. You work for Frankie Vidoni?”

The giant frowned. “How did you know?”

Sophia shrugged. “Let’s just say you meet the height requirement.”

The man snapped his fingers and pointed to the door. “Move. The car is outside.”

She glanced between the bewildered Captain McIntyre and the irate Signor Carelli.

She stood and reached out to squeeze Signor Carelli’s arm reassuringly. “Non e cio che pensi,” she assured him.
It’s not what you think
.
I’ll explain later
. “Lo spieghero dopo.”

“What did you just say to him?” Captain McIntyre frowned at her. “Where are you going?”

“That’s two questions, Captain. And in answer to the second, I’ve got a murder to solve.”

Frankie Vidoni was guilty beyond a shadow of a doubt.

The man should be tried and convicted for wasting her time. Sophia drummed her fingers on the metal table in the Harrison Heights police station visiting room. In all fairness, it probably wasn’t his fault he was keeping her waiting, but still. She had more important things to do than sit in a drab jail waiting room.

She glanced over her shoulder to see if Frankie’s henchman was still watching her. He was. She smiled at him, all the while cursing his presence. If she were alone, she’d feel free to leave and go find more information about the evidence the police had against Frankie. But with Mooch’s standin watching her as if he were an overzealous Alcatraz guard, she could do little but sit, wait, and stew.

“Would you please check with someone and see how much longer Mr. Vidoni might be?” she finally asked him.

His scowl was a definitive no.

Sophia glanced up at the clock and sighed. “I’ll give Mr. Vidoni five more minutes, and then I really have to leave,” she said to the room at large, because Tino certainly hadn’t seemed interested in anything she’d said on the ride from Carelli’s to the station. She waited for an objection, but none was forthcoming.

She was free to go--at least she thought she was--but she did want to speak to Frankie. She had several questions to ask him--questions she doubted he’d answer. More importantly, she needed to deliver Lily Vidoni’s message. His reaction to that would be worth waiting around to see.

“Tino, can I ask you a question?”

“No.” His reply was sullen.

“No?”

“No, thank you.”

Why had she even bothered to ask? Too bad for him. He was a captive audience.

“Tell me something about Mr. Vidoni,” she called over her shoulder. Perhaps eye contact was his problem. “Did you ever drive him to Vincenzo’s Ristorante?” His silence didn’t surprise her. She tried again, this time with an offer she didn’t think he’d refuse. “I’ll make you a deal. You tell me how many times you saw your boss and Vincenzo Moretti together and I’ll stop with the questions.”

“Please don’t stop on my account, Miss Mancini.”

Sophia cringed. She hadn’t heard the door open. Slowly she came to her feet and faced her client.

She just had to quit letting people sneak up on her. It was getting downright embarrassing.

Frankie looked much better this morning. He’d obviously slept and perhaps even had a shave. His HHPD issued shirt was at least clean. But it was the look in his eyes that most told her that Frankie Vidoni was back in business.

He sat across from her. “Did you see Lily?”

She nodded. His devotion to his wife was touching. Well, except for the fact that he had a mistress.

“I did. She sends her love.”

He glanced quickly at the police sergeant and then leaned forward. His voice was barely above a whisper. “You told her I didn’t kill Vincenzo.”

His eyes eagerly searched hers. She chose her words carefully.

“I told your wife that you wanted her to know you were innocent.”

Frankie sat back and exhaled, as if he’d been holding his breath since she’d left him yesterday. “Good, good.”

“She didn’t believe me.”

Frankie stared at her. “Say that again.”

“Wait, let me try to think of her exact words. She said she knows what you’ve done. She said to tell you that she forgives you, but it’s time to tell the truth.”

He looked stunned. But not panicked. Wouldn’t a guilty man panic if his wife told him she knew he’d committed a murder? Had Lily Vidoni even been talking about murder? Or something else altogether? Whatever Lily had been referring to, she’d said it was time to tell the police so it had to be something serious.

“How did my wife look?”

Sophia bit her lip. “I don’t know how to answer that question. Remember, it was the first time I’ve met her.” At his crestfallen expression, she hastened to add, “She seemed deeply touched by the carnation you sent. It’s obvious she’s a kind, loving woman.”

A sad smile crossed Frankie’s face. “My Lily is one of a kind.”