Chicken Caccia-Killer (A Jordan McAllister Mystery) (23 page)

“Who wants to say it? I want to eat it. But you might have a point. I still say you would’ve gotten more satisfaction out of her not knowing she’d been had until the boss lowered the boom,” he said.

“My satisfaction will be keeping my job.” Jordan picked up speed and entered the freeway. “Enough about that. How was your day, Lola?”

“Busy. Seems like everyone wanted their tarot cards read today. Even did a reading for the guy we met the other night when the Italian dude took a dive off the balcony.”

“What guy?” Both Jordan and Victor asked in unison.

“You know—that well-dressed man who couldn’t keep his eyes off Alex’s mother. The one whose daughter was supposed to marry the dead guy.”

Jordan nearly swerved off the road. “Emilio Calabrese came by your shop today?”

Lola nodded. “Yes. Said he was checking out downtown Ranchero and remembered that I had mentioned owning the psychic shop. And I gotta say, he seemed wound up tighter than...” She paused. “Suffice it so say he was so wired he couldn’t stop his hands from shaking and nearly fell twice getting to the table.”

“Do you know why?” Jordan asked.

“He never said, although it was obvious he wanted reassurance that his daughter wouldn’t end up in a bad way.”

“Those were his words? In a bad way?”

Lola nodded again.

“Wonder what he meant by that?” Victor asked.

“No clue,” Jordan said. “Although I do know that Tina was questioned by the Plainville police the other day after Ginny Bruno said she’d seen her go up to the bedroom suite with another man that night, even though Marco was already up there.”

“Sheesh!” Lola exclaimed. “Wish I had known that when the guy was in the shop. I could’ve gotten more specific with my questions to him and maybe discovered if his daughter was the one who offed her fiancé.”

“Do you think Calabrese thinks Tina pushed Marco off the balcony?” Victor asked from the back.

“I don’t know, but he did say he’d do anything for her. He loves her very much.”

“Yeah, so much so that he was forcing her to marry a man she didn’t love when she was actually in a relationship with his brother.”

“What?” Victor rubbed his hands together. “This is getting good—like our own little soap opera. How’d you find out that little tidbit, anyway? Surely, Tina didn’t admit it.”

“I talked to Bernardo Petrone a few nights ago when I was at the fairgrounds looking for stories. He didn’t actually say he and Tina were having a thing, but I got the distinct impression that number one, he didn’t really like his brother, and two, he was in love with Tina Calabrese.”

“Jeez. This keeps getting better and better.” Victor leaned so far forward Jordan could feel his hot breath on the back of her head.

“Is your seatbelt on, Victor?” she asked, shivering involuntarily as the hair on her neck stood at attention. “’Cause you always say I drive like a maniac.”

“You do,” he replied. “But I’ll take my chances. I don’t want to miss any of this. Do you have any other juicy gossip you haven’t told us?”

“Yes, but I want to hold off until Alex gets here so I only have to tell it once.” She giggled. “Wait till you find out what I heard last night.”

He groaned. “You’re such a tease, Jordan. At least give me a hint.”

“Oh, can it, Victor. You’re like a little kid who expects everything the second he wants it. She’ll tell us in due time,” Lola said, before turning to Jordan. “Okay, now that I’ve gotten back at him for calling my dress a mu mu, you can give us one little hint, can’t you?”

Jordan laughed. “Let’s just say someone may have confessed to killing Marco last night.” She turned and made a big deal of zipping her lips. “That’s all you’ll get until I feast my eyes on Alex.”

She exited the freeway and drove toward the Plainville Fairgrounds, glad to be so close. Knowing how persistent Victor could be, she knew she wouldn’t last much longer before he would somehow wiggle the story out of her, and she wanted Alex to hear it first.

“Just so you know, there probably won’t be any spaghetti bread tonight,” she said, changing the subject.

“Damn! I was really looking forward to tasting that again. I guess that means Ginny hasn’t shown her face at the hotel yet.”

Jordan shook her head. “No, and I’m getting really worried, although her sister says it wouldn’t be the first time Ginny has disappeared for a few days.”

“Let’s hope that’s all there is to it,” Lola said.

After pulling into the parking lot, she spotted Ray’s Suburban at the other end. She drove down the row of cars and slid her Camry into the vacant spot beside his vehicle. The minute she was out of the car, Rosie ran up and hugged her.

“Girl, it seems like ages since I last saw you. I’ve missed you.”

“Me too,” Jordan said when Rosie finally released her. “But I’ve been really busy trying to get stories and recipes that will help me keep my job.” She failed to mention how much snooping she’d been doing.

“Tell her about the spaghetti bread recipe,” Victor said, visibly excited. “It was all my idea.”

“I will, but let’s get in line first. It’s already snaking around the perimeter.”

The five of them made their way to the end of the line while Jordan retold the recipe story.

“The old bat finally got a taste of her own medicine,” Victor said, obviously proud of himself for thinking of it in the first place.

“It’s a good thing Michael’s not here,” Ray said, thumping the top of his head. “The last time you called her that, he was all over you about it.”

Victor ignored him and moved closer to Jordan. “She may know who killed Marco, but she’s making us wait until Alex gets here.” He stomped his foot. “Come on, kiddo. I’m dying here.”

Ray nailed her with a stare. “Tell me you haven’t been poking around the murder investigation, little girl. If I’m remembering correctly, every time you start playing detective, you end up in big trouble.”

She shook her head. No way she’d fess up to her meddling. “I overheard something that should help Kate’s lawyer get her off. That’s all.”

“Good.” Ray turned to the group. “So, who besides me is going to gorge themselves on homemade Italian food?”

“Me, me,” Victor said, raising his hand. “And Jordan may be able to get it for us free.”

“Oh no, you don’t,” she said. “I like free food as much as the next guy, but now that I’ve met a few of the vendors, I know how much they’re counting on making a profit.” She punched him playfully. “And weren’t you just bragging about how much money you made off that antique bedroom set you sold this week?”

“Shh,” he whispered with a laugh. “I don’t want to spring for everyone tonight.”

“Like that would ever happen,” Lola said, unable to keep the mischief out of her eyes. “You, my friend, are the biggest cheapskate I know.”

“Have you met Michael? He hoards every penny we make and socks it back into the apartment building. He even has me packing a lunch everyday because he said I was spending too much on fast food.” Victor frowned. “At least that’s what he says, but it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to know what he’s really up to. He thinks I need to lose a few pounds and makes sure I take the carrot sticks he bags for me every day.” He chuckled. “Wouldn’t he die if he knew I feed them to the two big rabbits behind Myrtle’s Diner in exchange for a greasy cheeseburger?”

“What’s up with this line? We’ve barely moved an inch in ten minutes,” Rosie complained.

“It’s a different world we live in, my friend,” Ray said. “Security is much tighter everywhere you go.”

“I know that, but I don’t have to like it,” she said as the line finally began to move. “Alright!”

Even so, it took them fifteen minutes to make it inside the gate and another fifteen to purchase food and ride tickets. Then they started down the fairway for a night of fun. Jordan had already decided the next few hours would be strictly all play and no work, and from the looks of it, everyone from Plainville and the neighboring cities had the same idea. There were lines at every food booth, and the Ferris wheel was going nonstop with a full load every time and a line that wrapped around two food booths.

At the end of the fairway, they turned around to walk down the other side to check everything else out. Several booths down, the area had been cleared, and there was a Bocce ball tournament in progress.

When they stopped to watch, Victor asked, “So what’s the object of this game, Jordan? Two old guys at one end try to get their big balls close to the smaller one at the other end where another two old guys are waiting their turns?”

She laughed. “It’s more complicated than that. The smaller ball is called a pallino, and they score points by—”

“Hey, Jordan, do you want to be my partner and play?”

Everyone turned to the young boy who was now looking up at Jordan with adoring eyes.

“Can’t tonight. Sorry.”

Victor tsked. “A little young even for you, Jordan. Don’t you think?”

“Should I be worried?”

Jordan felt Alex’s soft lips on the back of her neck before she even realized he was behind her. She squealed and turned into his body, planting a soft kiss on his lips. “I’ve missed you so much.”

“Ditto,” he said. “Now back to your young admirer.”

She turned to the boy and gave him a peck on the cheek, which brought out the cutest pink flush across his face. “I call this sweet young man Sure Hands because he’s better at catching a touchdown pass than a lot of NFL wide receivers.” Playfully, she messed up the kid’s hair, causing the blush across his cheeks to deepen. “But his friends know him as Gio. He’s Bernardo Petrone’s son.”

Rosie was the first one to react and extended her hand. “Nice to meet you, Gio. Now tell us why our friend already has a nickname for you.”

He smiled up at Jordan. “The other night she threw five touchdown passes to me. We kicked major butt.”

“All this time I’ve been feeling guilty about not being around much. Here I thought my girl was pining away for me, and now I find out she’s been carrying on with a bunch of guys.”

“Boys,” Jordan corrected, before turning back to Gio. “Where’s your dad tonight?”

“He’s around here somewhere looking for Mrs. Calabrese.”

“Georgette Calabrese?”

“Yeah. My dad’s been trying to get a hold of her since this afternoon, but no one knows where she is.”

“I’m sure he’ll find her. After all, she is running the whole show here,” she said. “Hey, do you want to have dinner with us?”

He shook his head. “Already ate. I need to find Vince to talk him into getting in on the Bocce ball action with me. They’re playing for real money,” he announced.

“Then, by all means, go find your friend. I’ll catch up with you later.” She gave him a gentle shove along with an air kiss.

“That boy’s in love,” Lola said with a grin.

“Yeah, I seem to attract all the young ones,” Jordan said before adding, “Or the screwed-up older ones.”

“Hey, wait a minute,” Alex protested. “I’m not messed up.”

She grinned. “So you’re admitting you’re attracted to me?”

He did a slow scan of her entire body, making her wish she was wearing something a little sexier than jeans and a T-shirt.

“I think you know the answer to that one, but just in case you’ve forgotten, I fully intend to show you how much later on.”

“Oh no. You’re not going to talk about that stuff with me standing right here.” Rosie threw her hands in the air. “Single, horny as hell, remember?”

They all laughed and continued down the fairway to the area designated as the food court. Tables covered with red and white checked tablecloths were filling up fast as customers stopped to try the food.

“Grab that big table over there,” Victor said, pointing to a vacant one. “That way we can all sit together. We’ll take turns getting our food.”

Lola and Ray walked over to the table while the rest of them wandered around the food booths trying to decide what to sample. By the time Jordan made her way back there, her plate was piled high with baked ziti, asparagus risotto, sausage and peppers, and three cannolis.”

“Don’t say a word,” she cautioned when Ray glanced down at her plate and frowned.

“How you manage to stay so skinny is beyond me.” He shook his head. “And you don’t even work out.”

“Oh, leave her alone,” Lola said. “And go get yourself a plate as big as hers. I’ll help you work it off later tonight.”

“Criminy!” Rosie said as she joined them. “Did you not get the memo about keeping your bedroom adventures to yourself?”

“Hey, guys.” Michael waved as he walked over with his own plate. “I have thirty minutes to kill before I have to get back to the broadcast. We’re having a blast. Come by later, and I might even put you on the radio.” He turned to greet Victor when he appeared with a plate piled even higher than Jordan’s. “You know pasta has a lot of carbs, right?”

“I do know that,” Victor said, before shoving a huge bite of baked ziti into his mouth. “But thanks for reminding me. Now sit down so Jordan can tell us about the guy who killed Marco.”

Alex turned to her. “You know who killed Marco?”