Page 15 of Toxic Apple Turnovers
“That’s terrible,” Pastor Gaines says it with a grin, and I can’t stand that obnoxious smile for one more minute.
“It is terrible.” A thought comes to me. “Say, you said the two of you were friendly. Did she ever mention anything that would set off an alarm? Did she have any unsavory characters she hung out with?”
His brows hike into his forehead. “That she did—the Canelli girl.” He tsks as he shakes his head. “She came by frequently with her. Can’t say I cared too much for that one. Potty mouth.” His grin widens, and I shudder.
The sound of barking comes from the entry, and I turn to find Dutch bouncing in along with Cookie Monster—a great big black teddy bear of a dog, a Newfoundland—and they happen to be chasing that tiny herd of precious little Chihuahuas as they scuttle right past my ankles with a breeze. It’s been a known fact for months that the dead can now move things in the material world. The first one to do so was that enormous bear that cropped up right here in the B&B for the very first—
A horrific inhuman howl comes from the entry, and I cringe when I see that outrageously tall bear on its hind legs before he falls to all fours and comes bounding in. Soon enough, the animals are on the table, the dinnerware is unsettled, one of the chafing dishes goes flying, and there’s pasta primavera raining down on my mother’s guests. In an instant, the room is cleared out as everyone is sent screaming for the doors, and the paparazzi my mother invited over are able to document the entire unholy event.
I stay behind to help clean up the mess—and to scold a poltergeist or two, but they dissipate as soon as I start in on them.
All the way home I think about Connie Canelli.
No sooner do I meet with Noah and Everett in my driveway to say goodnight than I say her name.
“No,” they both spit out in unison.
“Nowhat?” There’s a slight protest in my voice because I know where this is headed.
Everett shakes his head. “No investigating Connie. I’ll do it. I’ll track her down and have a drink with her.”
Noah looks my way. “Lottie, her family is dangerous. We don’t want you getting involved with a mafia princess.”
“When you put it that way.” I give a little shrug. “I’ll stay out of it.” I give a quick wink to defuse the lie.
We say a brief goodnight, and I head back to my place. Everett kindly boarded up the window for me and contacted my landlord to help order a new one.
I cuddle up in bed with Pancake and Waffles, and all night I plot a way to get to Connie Canelli.
I’ll stay out of it, just like I told them.
Right after I have a few words with the mafia princess myself.
Chapter 6
“Two words,” Meg says as she stands before me at the counter of the Cutie Pie Bakery and Cakery.
I may have called in the reinforcements once I saw that both Noah and Everett were putting the kibosh on any leads that might help me gain access to Connie. But I knew I didn’t need either Noah or Everett in order to get to the underbelly of the mob. That’s what I have my trusty sister for. You don’t teach strippers their night moves for a living without learning a little something in return.
She nods as if she heard. “Underground bingo.”
I take an involuntary breath and hold it. “Underground bingo?”
Owlbert whirs softly as if he swallowed a whistle. “I wouldn’t do it, Lottie. The termundergroundclearly stipulates this is against the law.”
I glance his way. “Anyone ever tell you you’re a know-it-all?”
Meg squints over at me as if I had just challenged her to a dare—or she’s thinking of smacking me—either or.
Owlbert chortles out a laugh. “My love, my name does say it all.”
“Mmm,” Keelie moans from behind as she takes a bite out of one of my crispy apple turnovers. “Good move adding the caramel dipping sauce as an option. And by the way? Nobody goes to underground bingo without me.” She takes off for the Honey Pot just as Noah walks through the door with a dimpled grin blooming on his face.
“Quick,” I whisper to Meg. “When and where?”
“Thursday night. In the basement of the Trattoria. One street up from Red Satin.” She takes a step back and waves. Red Satin is the gentlemen’s club where Meg just so happens to teach those raunchy moves. “Tootles!” She slaps Noah on the arm and he grips it as if it hurt. I’m sure it did. Meg knows how to pack a punch when she wants to. “See you around, Fox. Catch a killer, would you?”
“I’m on it.” Noah’s smile broadens as he steps close to the counter. “You up for a quick bite?”