Tastes Like Murder (Cookies & Chance Mysteries Book 1) (8 page)

"You need to be careful. Someone might be trying to make trouble for you." He frowned.

"Do you think my shop will get back to normal now?" I asked.

"I can't answer that. I'll call Kate and let her know the results, but it's important you don't say anything about this."

"Could I at least tell Josie?" I drained my cup.

"On two conditions." Brian reached across the table to take my hand in his strong, cool one, and a delicious shiver wafted up my spine.

"The first is, she can't tell anyone. Like I said, we're not making this public knowledge yet. I shouldn't have even told you. If more people know the situation, it might be tougher to catch the perpetrator."

I hadn't thought of that. "I'll make sure Josie understands. I want to help too."

Brian shook his head. "Absolutely not. This may be dangerous. I can't stand the thought of you getting hurt."

"My business and reputation are on the line until I find out who did this. Kate came to the shop to ask for my help, you know."

"Yes, you told me on the phone." Brian's voice was gentle as he kept a firm grip on my hand. "Let the police handle this. It's what we're here for."

"Will you be at the wake Sunday afternoon?"

He nodded. "I hope to. If not, another officer will be there. I have to drive to Boston tomorrow, and I'm staying over. It's my parent's fortieth anniversary."

"Oh, that's lovely." What a wonderful son to drive all that way to be with his parents on their special day. "Will someone else be working on the case while you're away?"

"Of course. I'm not the only one investigating. Like I said, I'll be back on Sunday. I need to notify Kate of the findings as well. I'll call her when I get home tonight." He finished his coffee as the waitress approached us with the check. He waited for her to depart. "I really want to be at the wake. Sometimes the killer shows up there, so they can get an idea of what everyone else knows."

I raised my eyebrows. I'd definitely be there then.

"In the meantime, I want you to be good while I'm away. Which brings me to the other condition."

I was afraid my hand was getting sweaty. If so, he didn't appear to notice. Or care. "Okay, I can't tell anyone beside Josie. So what's the other?"

He gazed into my eyes and smiled. "I want you to promise you'll have dinner with me sometime next week, after I get back."

The butterflies in my stomach were back full force. I knew I should refuse, but my head started swinging back and forth like a bobblehead before I could stop it. "I'd like that."

"Good." Brian spoke in a low, smooth voice. "I can't wait."

When a man stopped beside the table and cleared his throat loudly, I looked up and froze.

Mike returned my gaze with one of surprise. He stared at Brian's hand on top of mine, and his face reddened. Embarrassed, I slowly released my hand and took a hasty sip of water. I opened my mouth to say something, but the words stuck in my throat.

"How's it going, Mike?" Brian asked.

Mike tore his eyes away from me to give Brian a surly look. "Fine, thanks. And you, officer?"

"Never better." Brian gestured at the takeout container in Mike's hand. "Dinner on the run?"

"I'm installing a main beam in a two-family. Looks like I'll be tied up pretty late tonight."

Heat rose through my face like a sauna as both men watched me. I took another sip of water in a vain attempt to cool myself and stall.

"Do you know Sally?" Brian asked.

Mike's eyes locked on mine, and his sour look turned into a smirk. "Oh, yeah. We've met a few times." His face took on a strange expression similar to one I'd seen before when he'd tried to mask his true feelings. Pain? No. More likely anger this time. "Glad to see you're feeling better."

"Um," I began, "about the shoes—"

Mike nodded at Brian. "Nice seeing you, officer. Take care." After one more lingering glance at me, he opened the glass door and disappeared into the night.

Brian drummed his fingers on the table. "Let me guess. You guys dated once?"

My mouth fell open. "How'd you know?"

"It wasn't hard to surmise from the way he was staring at you. He also seemed pretty pissed off I was holding your hand."

"It was a long time ago. We've gone our separate ways."

Brian appeared doubtful. "It didn't seem so from his expression."

"He has no designs on me. Only another guy who did me wrong." I clapped a hand over my mouth.
Great.
I sounded like a bad country song.

"We're not all like that, you know." He watched me soberly.

My heart softened as I stared into those enormous, green eyes. "I believe you."

Brian was silent for a few seconds. "I have no right to tell you what to do, but it might be best for you to stay away from him."

I laughed. "I told you, there's nothing between us anymore."

"That's not what I meant. He could be dangerous." Brian lowered his voice. "Mike Donovan is on my list of people to question."

"That's ridiculous. Mike's harmless. I mean, he's had some family issues in the past. When we dated, he was jealous every time I even talked to a member of the opposite sex. Other than that, he's a decent guy."
Why do I insist on defending a man who broke my heart?

"What sort of family issues?"

"His mom was an alcoholic. She died a couple years ago. His father took off when he was five, and his stepfather used him like a punching bag. He's been through a lot," I said quietly.

"You act like you still have feelings for the guy." It sounded more like an accusation than a statement.

I shook my head vehemently. "Why would you be questioning him? He and Amanda weren't friendly."

Brian's eyes darkened. "Don't be too sure."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

He hesitated. "A neighbor spotted him going into Amanda's apartment the same day she died. No matter what you say, he's a suspect, Sally."

Josie cast a sideways glance at me from the passenger seat of my car. "Okay, since you wouldn't tell me anything on the phone, can you please enlighten me now as to where we're going?"

When the light turned green, I plowed ahead in my old, reliable Corolla. "You and I are going to visit Mrs. Gregorio, I mean Kate. I want to ask her if she has any idea who might have been in Amanda's apartment lately. It's okay—she knows we're coming."

Josie leaned over and turned the radio on. "I thought Brian told you to stay out of this. Speaking of which, you never did tell me how the rest of your date went with him tonight."

Carrie Underwood's voice resonated through my speakers with the opening lyrics of "Before He Cheats." I winced and pushed the off button. "It wasn't a date. We were only together for forty-five minutes. We had coffee. That's all."

"And?" My best friend prompted.

I concentrated on the winding road ahead of me. "He's leaving early tomorrow morning for Boston, so we wrapped things up pretty quick. He'll be back sometime on Sunday." I paused for a moment. "He wants me to have dinner with him next week."

"I knew it!" Josie clapped her hands. "And he's so hot. But he's not going to like you coming out here to question Kate."

"He doesn't have to know. And she did ask for our help, remember. We need to get our sales back up. We can't afford to have many more days like today."

"Don't I know it," Josie groaned. "Did he tell you if they have any potential suspects?"

Might as well get it over with.
"He said Mike was seen at Amanda's apartment the same day she died."

She gasped. "I don't believe it. He'd never hook up with the likes of her."

"Who knows?" I remembered the displeasure on his face when he spotted me with Brian earlier. I was certain Mike would never harm Amanda, but the thought of him possibly sleeping with her was enough to make the bile start to rise in my throat. "By the way, he was there."

"Who was where?"

"Brian and I saw Mike at the diner."

"Get out! What happened? Were you two making out?"

I snorted in disbelief. "Give me a break. In the diner? When are you going to stop reading those silly romance novels?"

"Hey, don't knock 'em till you've tried 'em." Josie chuckled in the darkness. "I can't believe this. You've only been divorced a couple of weeks, and two gorgeous guys are already fighting over you. You're my idol."

"Oh, please. It isn't like that at all."

I took a left onto secluded Firetower Road where Kate's mansion was located. I'd been there once before, but never inside. One time after school, Mike had stopped to pick up a check from Kate for work his stepfather had done on the property while I'd waited in the car. I still remembered how his blue eyes had flashed with excitement afterward. "Sal, it's like freaking Buckingham Palace in there!"

A wrought iron gate was stretched across the bottom of the driveway. Stationed to my left was a portable security booth occupied by an elderly man who watched my car approach with interest. He slid the window open and nodded, a displeased expression upon his well-weathered face. Maybe we'd interrupted his nap. "May I help you, ladies?"

"Hi." I smiled. "Sally Muccio and Josie Sullivan to see Mrs. Gregorio, please. She's expecting us."

The guard frowned as he shut the window. He picked up a phone, and we could see his mouth moving at a rapid pace through the glass. After a few seconds, he replaced the receiver. I waited for further instructions from him, but he only stared back at me.

"Sal," Josie said. "We can go now."

I turned my head and noticed the gate had opened, beckoning our arrival. I gave the man a little finger wave of thanks, which he answered with a sour expression.

Josie's mouth fell open. "Holy cow."

Even at night, the Victorian mansion with its ivy façade was quite a glorious affair to behold. There was enough outside lighting to blind onlookers and reminded me of Yankee Stadium on game night. The lawn was manicured to perfection with rose and azalea bushes everywhere. A large, bronze statue of Anthony Gregorio, Kate's husband and Amanda's father, stared down at us from beside a stone water fountain.

Josie stared at the statue as if it were alive. "Kind of creepy to put it in front of the house, don't you think?"

Several cars were parked around us. "Shoot. I forgot Kate has family here. I shouldn't have bothered her."

"If she hadn't wanted you to come, she would have said so."

I stepped onto the front porch and rapped the brass knocker on the heavy mahogany door. A man I assumed was her butler answered.

"Hi. Sally Muccio and Josie Sullivan to see Mrs. Gregorio, please."

The man nodded and ushered us in. "May I take your wraps?"

"I'm a bit chilly. I think I'll keep mine." Josie pulled her sweater tightly around her shoulders.

He pursed his lips. "Very well. Please accompany me to the library. Mrs. Gregorio requested you wait for her there."

We silently followed the man down a long, sterile hallway, past a winding mahogany staircase, a studio, and a conservatory. He stopped in front of a room with a stone fireplace the size of an entire wall. Across from it were several wingback chairs and a Tommy Bahama coffee table that held a silver tea service and gooey pastries. The other walls contained built-in bookshelves with a vast range of leather-bound novels. By glancing at them, I could tell several were antiques.

"Mrs. Gregorio will be in shortly." The butler bowed slightly then left us to our own devices.

"I'm surprised he didn't tell us not to touch anything." Josie's eyes darted around the room. "My God. I knew they were wealthy but had no idea the house was this ritzy. Did you?"

"Yes. Mike used to come here to collect payments for his stepdad's business." I smiled to myself, remembering the tender look in Mike's eyes when he'd kissed me in his car and said he wanted to build me a mansion like Kate's someday. We'd been so happy then.
Ugh, I'm doing it again.

High heels clicked on the terrazzo flooring in the hall seconds before Kate appeared, wearing a navy, silk dress and a diamond necklace with enough bling to light the room by itself. She gestured for us to sit and started to pour from the silver teapot.

"Mrs. Gregorio," I said.

"Kate," she reminded me.

"Kate, I apologize. I'd forgotten you were having company this evening. And it's so late." I glanced at the grandfather clock, which read 9:05. "We don't want to take up any more of your time than necessary."

"Nonsense. I'm pleased you called." She poured tea for each of us and then a cup for herself. "Help yourself to the cream and sugar and pastries. Now, what can I do for you? You said it was regarding Amanda's possible—" she hesitated, "murder."

I nodded. "Yes. Did Officer Jenkins call you?"

"He told me about the bee venom in the smoothie." She stared at us, tears glistening in her eyes. "Who would do such a thing?"

Josie reached for a cheese-filled pastry. "That's what we want to know, too."

"Can you give us any idea of who might have been in her apartment the last few days? Did she have a security camera?" I leaned forward, hopeful.

Kate shook her head. "I'm afraid not. I suggested it once, but she thought the idea was ridiculous. Of course, it was a very safe neighborhood, so I didn't press. I wish I had now."

"Officer Jenkins said Mike Donovan was spotted at her apartment the other day. Do you know why he might have been there?" I held my breath, afraid for the answer.

"You mean Ray's stepson? No, I don't know why he'd be there." Recognition dawned on her face. "Isn't he the boy you used to date?"

Embarrassed, I plodded on. "That's not why I'm asking. I guess he's now being considered a suspect."

To my amazement, Kate didn't act surprised. "Well, why wouldn't he be? Ray was a great carpenter, but I'd heard rumors he and his wife were abusive. Those things do tend to run in a family, you know."

"Well, I don't believe Mike would ever intentionally hurt anyone." She could say what she wanted, but I knew in my heart he wasn't at fault. Even during our worst blowouts, he'd never laid a finger on me.

"I'm sorry, Sally." Kate sighed. "Since these new findings, I wonder if there's anyone I can trust."

Uh-oh.
Josie and I exchanged glances. Perhaps Kate was starting to suspect us as well.

"It's okay." I fought the urge to chew on my fingernails. "You're going through a terrible ordeal. I was wondering if you might know of anyone else who'd been in Amanda's home recently."

Kate shook her head and reached for a phone on the table. "Let me ask Charlotte to come in here. She might have answers. Those two were always together." She pressed a number and then waited. "Yes, Harper, please ask Charlotte to come into the library. Thank you." She replaced the receiver and took a sip of her tea. "So you believe whoever was in her apartment the last day might have slipped the venom in her smoothie?"

I looked at Josie. "Well, it would make sense."

"And her EpiPen? The police never found it. Do you think whoever killed her took that as well?"

"Yes, if they didn't want her to survive." The words sounded harsh to my own ears.

"If only Amanda had checked her bag before she left the house." Kate sighed and put her head in her hands.

Charlotte stood in the doorway. She was wearing a black, shapeless dress that came down to her ankles, way too long for her short stature. Her dark, straggly hair was held back from her face in an outdated banana clip. She glanced from me to Josie, bewildered.

"Hi, Charlotte." I smiled.

She frowned behind her glasses. "Sally, Josie. What are you guys doing here?"

"Charlotte, sit down please." Kate patted the chair next to hers, and Charlotte immediately went to her aunt's side. "Sally and Josie are trying to help us find the killer."

Charlotte's already pale face became a more pasty shade. "Then it wasn't an accident. Amanda was murdered?"

Kate nodded soberly. "Yes, it appears that way."

"Oh my God." Charlotte let out a whimper and clutched at Kate's arm. Kate reached her other arm around to hug her tightly.

Josie cleared her throat. "Kate, I don't think the police want too many people to know about this yet."

"Nonsense." Kate waved her hand in an impatient gesture. "Charlotte's like a daughter to me. I'm not going to hide the truth from her."

This was becoming a mess. "Charlotte, you spent a lot of time with Amanda. Do you have any idea who was at her house the day she—she died?"

Charlotte wiped her eyes and met my gaze but remained silent.

"Dear, this is important," Kate said. "You were over there almost every day. Did you notice anyone?"

Charlotte glared at me and Josie. "Why should I tell you anything? You both were threatening her the other day when we came to your shop."

Oh, no
.

Kate watched us, horrified. "I don't understand. You threatened my daughter?"

Josie's cheeks turned the color of her hair. "Kate, it wasn't like that. Amanda said some things to Sally about Colin, and we made a joke back. We didn't mean anything by it. Honest."

"I see." Kate's tone was stiff as she watched her niece. "Charlotte, if you saw anyone at Amanda's, we need to know."

Charlotte's eyes never left my face. My palms were getting moist as I waited for her answer.

"Please." Kate's voice trembled.

Charlotte turned to face her aunt. "A lot of people would come by, me included. The girls from the spa would stop over to get their checks sometimes, if Amanda didn't come in on payday." She let out a long sigh. "She could be selfish that way."

Kate frowned. "Anyone else?"

Charlotte hesitated while she wiped at her eyes. "There was usually a guy or two over every night." She bit her lip as she watched Kate lower her eyes. "I'm sorry, Auntie Kate. I didn't want to tell you."

"Did you know them?" I asked eagerly.

Charlotte's face twisted into an ugly expression. "Well, one was your ex-boyfriend Mike. He was there at least twice this past week."

Josie wrinkled her nose as if she smelled something repulsive. "Mike would never sink that low."

Kate shot her a death stare as I winced. Good grief. My best friend had a mouth larger than her minivan.

Red-faced, Josie continued on. "I mean, er, Mike was kind of slow. Um, anyone else you can think of?"

Charlotte started weeping. "I promised I wouldn't tell anyone about him."

"Oh, dear Lord." Kate's voice quivered as tears gushed over her cheeks. "Amanda is gone, Charlotte. She's dead. Don't you want to help catch the killer?"

"Of course I do, but he—" Charlotte cried.

Kate was losing patience. "Then out with it. Who was she seeing?"

"He was there every night. I think she really liked him. I've no idea what the attraction was when she could have had any guy she wanted. And clearly did." Charlotte spoke with triumph in her voice as she lifted her eyes to meet mine.