From Mangia to Murder (A Sophia Mancini ~ Little Italy Mystery) (27 page)

“Why was Vincenzo so angry if he had nothing to fear? You were the one who faced jail time, not him.”

“I told him I’d do whatever I had to do to ruin him, to publically humiliate him,” Maria snarled. “I told him he’d lose his stupid restaurant. That’s when he lost his temper.”

Over the sound of her thundering heartbeat, Sophia heard Lily stir.

“Frankie?” Lily’s voice was weak, only half lucid. “Sweetheart?”

Sophia’s response was drowned out by the sound of Mooch bursting into the room.

“Mooch, be careful, she’s got a syringe filled with--” Sophia didn’t have time to finish her warning.

In fascinated horror she watched as Mooch crossed the room, grabbed Maria’s arm and twisted it behind her back before bringing the gun down on her head. With an anguished cry, Maria slumped and would have fallen to the floor, but Mooch held her up with one hand, her limp body dangling like a rag doll.

“Oh my God, Mooch, what did you do?” Sophia shrieked. “Did you kill her?”

He shook his head. “Nope.”

“How do you know that?”

“I’ve done this before and never killed no one yet.”

Sophia covered her face with her hands. This had to be a hallucination. She had to be back in the hospital. It had to be the painkillers.

“Go call the police. The phone’s on the table at the end of the hall.” Mooch frowned when she hesitated. “Move.”

With only a backwards glance at a still-groggy Lily and an unconscious Maria, Sophia stepped carefully over the syringe and ran to the phone.

If this was a nightmare, she wanted to make the call for help before she woke up.

The custody hearing wasn’t until the next day, but Sophia awoke in the morning to face a jury of her peers gathered around her hospital bed. Their dour expressions left her no doubt she’d been tried and convicted while she’d slept.

“I can explain.” She looked from Angelo, to her grandfather, to Andrea, and finally to Francesca. Only Luciano smiled at her.

She patted the empty space next to her, and he climbed up onto the bed and snuggled beside her. There. Now she could face the world.

“You can explain how you snuck out of the hospital without a word to anyone and then went alone to confront an insane woman who has already killed at least one man?” Her grandfather’s voice was level and calm--not a good sign under the circumstances. “Impressive.”

“I wasn’t exactly alone,” she corrected him. “I had Mooch with me.”

“Ah, yes, Mr. DiMuccio. How could I forget? So, you had the brains to take along one of Vidoni’s thugs. Help an old man understand this. How is it a good thing that your ally for the evening’s escapade was the same man who warned me I would never see you alive again if I didn’t do what he demanded?”

“Wow. It sounds like you had fun, Zia Sophia.” Luciano’s eyes were wide with admiration. “Next time can I go?”

Sophia looked around for help fielding the question, but no one said a word. Her eyes settled on Francesca. “Can you please take Luciano downstairs for a lemonade?” She turned to her brother. “Give her a quarter, Ang.”

Francesca took the coin and nodded. “Come on, cugino. Let’s leave the grownups to talk.”

Luciano scooted off of the bed and took Francesca’s hand. He looked up at her. “How come I get a treat every time Zia Sophia gets in trouble?”

“I’ll tell you when you’re older,” Francesca answered him.

“I really can explain,” Sophia protested after her nephew was out of hearing. “And you can’t argue that it wasn’t worth the risk because Maria Acino was arrested. We solved our first murder case.”

“Which part of we are you referring to?” Angelo asked. “Because while you were solving the case, as you put it, I was frantically searching for you over at Frankie’s warehouse.”

“I’m sorry Angelo, but it just hit me all at once that it was Maria I’d recognized masquerading as Mrs. Vidoni’s nurse. And I knew if I told you that you’d--”

“Be reasonable and insist you stay in the hospital while I called the police?” he finished her sentence. “You know me so well.”

She looked to Andrea for help, but he shook his head. “I’m not helping you out of this one.” He took her hand in his and gave it a squeeze. “But I am sorry for my part in Eugene’s attempt to poison you. I had no idea there was anything wrong with the sandwich, or I never would have sent it with Angelo.”

“I know that,” Sophia reassured him. “But you finding Vincenzo’s blackmail ledger is the nail in Eugene’s coffin we needed. Mooch identified the book as the same one he took from the restaurant, right?”

Andrea nodded. “Yep, and Eugene stole it back from Mooch’s apartment. Apparently the money Vincenzo was making from blackmailing people was too appealing for Eugene to pass up. It would be more than enough for him to buy the restaurant from Stella. I doubt he had the guts to even think of killing Vincenzo, but when it happened, he must have been delighted.”

“Not so fast,” Angelo said. “Eugene had the guts to try to poison Mooch and Sophia, and McIntyre says he’s found a witness who saw Eugene try to run down Stella.”

Oh, God. She’d forgotten all about Stella.

“How is she?”

“Doctor Casterinni says she’s conscious now. A broken leg and sore ribs might be the worst of it. She’s lucky to be alive,” Angelo told her.

“I want to go see her--”

“No.” All three men shouted in unison.

“Fine, I’ll wait.”

She could imagine Stella’s joy when she learned she’d never been legally married to Vincenzo. The church would surely forgive Stella living in sin all those years if she’d been duped, wouldn’t they? They should. Now Stella could put the past behind her, and marry her true love. Sophia smiled. At least something positive would come out of this whole mess.

“I think we’re getting way off subject here,” her grandfather said. He leaned over the bed rail and kissed her forehead. “Cara, I love you more than my own life. You, your brother, your cousins, and Luciano are all I have in this world. You’re my treasures.” He looked down at her, so much love and tenderness in his gaze that Sophia’s eyes filled with tears.

“I’m sorry I worried you so much, Grandpa.”

“I know, love. Now we’re going to leave you.” He motioned for Andrea to follow him. “Your brother has something to tell you.”

As soon as they were gone, Sophia demanded an explanation. “Does it concern Luciano? Is something wrong with him?”

Angelo shook his head. “No. But I’ve made an important decision.”

“I’m listening.” She bit her lip.

“I’ve decided to close the detective agency.”

Sophia stared at him. She struggled to find the right words to voice her many objections. “Why? That’s crazy. You can’t, Ang. We’re going back to court tomorrow. To what, tell the judge we don’t have an income? That we’ve failed already?” This was the last thing she’d ever expected him to say. “I understand you’re angry with me, and I don’t blame you--”

“Stop.” He went to sit on the window sill. “My decision wasn’t made out of anger.”

“Then why?”

“Because it’s the right thing to do. You were almost killed twice this week. Twice. That’s two times too many. We didn’t start this business so that you would be in danger.” He held up a hand to forestall her protest. “I don’t care how much you enjoyed yourself, and I know you did, so don’t deny it. This isn’t good for the family. We’re done.”

“But, Ang--”

“We’re done.”

“What are we going to do? What are you going to tell the judge?”

“That I have a new business plan. I’m going to start a security company. We can do background checks, and we can train and provide security guards to businesses. I’m going to need a top-notch secretary who’s good with details, so you’ve got the job. But it’s paperwork only for you, and most of it you can do from home.” He gave her a quick kiss and tucked Luciano’s toy airplane into the crook of his arm. “I know this isn’t what you want, but it’s for the best. You’re going to have to trust me.”

“I do. But--”

“But nothing. You do or you don’t. Which is it?”

“I do.” She did. But that didn’t stop her from feeling miserable.

“I’m leaving now so you can get some rest. Be warned. Everyone at the nurses’ station knows you’re not allowed to leave your room. For any reason.”

She nodded her agreement. This time she’d have to play it his way. And honestly, more sleep sounded heavenly. Satisfied with her compliance, Angelo turned to go, and collided with Mooch.

“I want to see Sophia.”

“Not a good time.” Angelo, completely outmatched in size, nonetheless stood his ground and blocked the doorway.

“When can I come back?”

“I should say never. Not after the stunt you pulled last night, letting my sister leave the hospital.”

“We had to save Frankie’s wife.”

Angelo looked from Mooch to Sophia and back again. “You two have never heard of the Harrison Heights Police Department? You could’ve made a telephone call and let the police handle it.”

Mooch grunted in answer. Sophia felt the same way. She was growing tired of being chided as if she and Mooch were small children.

“Let Mooch in, please. He’ll only stay a few minutes.”

Angelo did as she asked, but she could tell he was not happy about it. “I guess I’m going to have to get used to this. You two deserve each other.”

“What are you talking about?” Sophia asked.

“Let Mooch explain. And leave the door open,” were his parting words.

She pointed to a chair. Mooch sat and folded his hands in his lap.

“I told Frankie I’m done with him.”

This was a surprise. “You’re going to work for someone else?”

He nodded.

“Anyone I know?”

He nodded again. “Angelo.”

Oh God. “What are you talking about?”

“Frankie don’t need me. You do. So your brother is going to pay me to watch you.”

So this is what speechless felt like. She’d always wondered. She struggled to find words to convey her shock, confusion, and alarm at the thought of Mooch DiMuccio as her self-appointed bodyguard.

“What does Frankie have to say about this?” she finally managed to ask.

“He says someone has to keep an eye on you.”

Exasperated, Sophia flopped back against her pillows and closed her eyes.

“I knew you’d be happy,” Mooch said. “You go ahead and rest. I won’t let no one near you.”

Precisely what she was afraid of.

By the time the judge entered the courtroom, Sophia sat quietly beside Angelo. Her brother appeared outwardly calm, but he was as anxious as she was. She could sense it.

She also sensed that Luciano’s maternal grandfather thought he had them right where he wanted them. She glanced across the room. Charles Burkwaite smiled at her, like a wolf at a lamb. She looked away, fixing her eyes on the court seal above the judge’s bench.

Mooch, her new constant companion, sat behind them with the family. She had no doubt he was glowering at the Burkewaites. He’d offered more than once to take Mr. Burkwaite outside for a ‘talk.’ If only it were that easy.

Angelo’s doctor gave his testimony first. “Answer me this,” Judge Hellerman addressed him. “You are saying that Mr. Mancini complied with every request you made of him, and he appeared at the appointments you and he had scheduled, save one. Is that correct?”

The psychologist agreed that it was.

“In clear and plain English, give me your impression of Mr. Mancini’s character.”

“I have found Mr. Mancini to be an intelligent and rational man who is completely devoted to his family.”

“And his medical prognosis?”

“Truthfully, we’ve seen little improvement. Certainly not as much as I’d like. Admittedly, it has been a relatively short period of time.”

“Thank you.” Judge Hellerman consulted his notes before calling the social worker to the witness box. “Mrs. Featherstone, please briefly summarize your findings on the minor’s welfare for me.”

She did so, unemotionally and succinctly running through a litany of her visits to the Mancini’s home.

The judge sat back and rubbed his eyes. When she finished speaking he returned his spectacles to the bridge of his nose. “Your conclusion?”

Mrs. Featherstone hesitated. “It’s a complicated situation, Your Honor.”

“Simplify it for me then.”

She sighed. “My overall impression of the Mancini family is that they do not present a danger to little Luciano. I’d even go out on a limb and say they probably love him.”

Probably? Sophia bit the inside of her cheek. Angelo had made her swear six ways to Sunday that she’d stay silent unless asked a question. She’d have to be content with imagining someone sawing off the limb Mrs. Featherstone had climbed out on.

“I can say that the elder Mr. Mancini is a positive influence and a devoted grandparent. Luciano’s father, I believe, is doing his best to provide for his son both emotionally and financially.”

“What about the boy?”

“Luciano is a polite child who appears to do well in school. His health is excellent. He’s given to slight exaggeration and wild ideas, but I have no doubt where that influence comes from.”

Sophia ignored the social worker’s pointed stare.

“He’s healthy, safe, and happy?” the judge asked.

“It would appear so, yes.”

The judge nodded thoughtfully. His gaze settled on Angelo. “Mr. Mancini, I’ve reviewed the information you submitted pertaining to the changes you’ve made to your original business plan.”

“Your Honor, we’ve not had an opportunity to review the amended documents.” The Burkwaites lawyer shuffled the papers in front of him. “We respectfully ask that--”

“Request denied, Counselor.” Judge Hellerman sighed deeply. “Mr. Mancini is only required to submit this documentation to myself, not to your clients. Let me warn you that I am not feeling particularly charitable at the moment. I had to cut short a fishing vacation with my grandson to hear this case, and I cannot see where there is an immediate threat to this child’s welfare.”

“You don’t call consorting with murderers a threat?” Charles Burkwaite was on his feet, hands clenched by his side, his face red.