It Cannoli Be Murder

by Catherine Bruns

  I glanced up front. The other policeman was still stationed by the front door, and the crowd outside seemed to have thickened behind him. “Uh, Gabs, I hate to say it, but I don’t think we’re going to be able to keep this under wraps.”

  Gino walked over to us. He was holding a plastic bag with two cannoli inside, the ones I’d spotted on the floor. He held the bag out to me. “It looks like Daphne was eating these when she died, or shortly before. You made them, right?”

  I shook my head. “Not these. Mine had vanilla filling, not chocolate. There were only six left, and Gabby took them home with her.”

  A muscle worked at his jawbone. “Are you sure?”

  “They’re still at my house, if you need them for evidence, detective,” Gabby said snidely.

  “Of course I’m sure.” He was making me nervous. “I’d know my own cannoli. You’re scaring me. Do you think that’s what killed her?”

  Gino watched his sister closely. “Possibly. From the looks of her she had an allergic reaction to something, and food is usually the culprit.”

  I swallowed hard. “She ate several of my cannoli during the night and was fine.”

  Gabby placed her hands on her hips. “What are you saying? Do you think someone deliberately killed Daphne by adding something to the cannoli?”

  He held up a hand. “Whoa. I don’t know anything yet. Toxicology tests will take a while to come back. In the meantime, we’ll have the cannoli analyzed to see what we might find inside. Look, Gabs, I know you guys didn’t get along in high school—”

  She shot him the evil eye. “Gino, that was twelve years ago. Give me a little credit. Sure, I couldn’t stand her, but for God’s sake! I don’t carry grudges around in my back pocket. Do you really think I could have harmed her?”

  “I never said that,” Gino replied, his eyes darting around the store, as if he was afraid someone had overheard. “What I want to know is, did she argue with anyone else last night? How did she get along with Preston’s fans?”

  Gabby groaned. “I need coffee. Anyone else?” We followed her back into the Employees Only room and she filled the pot with water.

  “Daphne herself didn’t have many fans,” I admitted. “I overheard Preston and his wife arguing about her. Sylvia implied that he was having an affair with Daphne.”

  Gino’s jaw dropped. “Are you sure about this?”

  “What?” Gabby shrieked as she spooned coffee into the machine. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Because I didn’t want to upset you during the signing,” I said. “I was going to tell you tonight.”

  She gritted her teeth in annoyance and pressed the “On” button for the coffeemaker. “I was already upset when I saw her manhandling Lou.”

  “That’s when you threw the wine at her,” Gino volunteered.

  “No!” she said angrily. “Stop trying to make me out to be the bad guy here. Preston immediately sprang to her defense and said my behavior was deplorable. Then he swore he’d never do another signing in my store. I couldn’t believe he stuck up for her. Tess is right. They must have been having an affair.”

  Gino cursed under his breath. “Do you have anything else to add, Tess?”

  I hesitated for a second too long. My face must have given me away because they both looked at me in alarm. Shoot. I hated to bring Lorenzo into this, but Gino needed to know what I’d heard. “During the signing I went back to my house to grab a tray of cannoli I’d forgotten. When I returned, I used the back door. Daphne was in the alley, talking with someone.”

  Gabby sucked in a sharp breath. “Lorenzo Garcia.”

  “How did you know?”

  “Carlita’s son?” Gino asked. “Why was he there? No offense, but he doesn’t strike me as the bookish type.”

  Gabby looked nervously from Gino to me. “I was waiting on a customer when I saw Lorenzo come in. I thought it was a little strange, because I’d never seen him in here before. When I finally got a chance to run into the back room and found Tess waiting in the alley, I remembered that I hadn’t seen him leave. So I kind of put two and two together when you said someone was with Daphne. I wasn’t aware they knew each other let alone that they might be—involved.”

  “Sounds like Daphne made a few enemies last night,” Gino remarked. “I don’t like to speak ill of the dead, but apparently not much has changed since high school. What happened after that?”

  Gabby looked at me. “Guess this is where you come in.”

  “They were arguing,” I said tersely. “She called him a loser, and he accused her of only being interested in Preston and his money. Daphne told him they’d had some fun, but it was over with now.”

  “They said this right in front of you?” Gino asked, amazed.

  My face heated. “Ah, no. They didn’t know I was there. I heard them talking so I—”

  “Wait, let me guess. You thought you’d eavesdrop.” Gino grunted and shook his head. “Why am I not surprised?”

  Gabby bit into her lower lip. “Do you think he did it? Maybe Lorenzo came back to meet Daphne.”

  “I don’t think he harmed her,” I said quickly. “Plus, we don’t even know yet if someone intentionally killed Daphne.”

  “Right.” Gabby poured coffee into three cups and handed one to Gino and me. “Maybe she had an accident.”

  Gino frowned as he sipped his drink. “Doubtful. If I have to wager a guess, I’d say that she had a reaction to the cannoli and died. What’s in cannoli that could have caused her to become ill?”

  “No idea. Maybe she was allergic to dairy?” I suggested. “But she was eating them all night, so that doesn’t make sense.”

  Gabby grabbed her brother’s arm. “You have to keep this quiet, Gino. If anyone finds out she died here, my store is ruined!”

  He looked at her sympathetically. “I’ll do what I can, Gabs, but there’s a crowd outside and they’re about to see a body go past them. It’s already out of my hands.” He took us each by an arm. “You’re going to have to come down to the station and give a full statement.”

  “But you already questioned us,” Gabby protested. “Isn’t that enough?”

  “You’re both related to me,” Gino explained. “Another officer will need to take it from here. And then my boss is going to pull me aside and tell me I’m off the case.”

  “No way!” Gabby narrowed her eyes. “Because you’re my brother.”

  He nodded. “Exactly. Warner is strictly by the book. There’s no chance he’ll let me work this.”

  “What about Lou?” Gabby asked.

  Gino pursed his lips. “Doubtful. Everyone at the station knows you two are dating. Let’s get the statements over with, but there’s something else I need to tell you.”

  A sick feeling swept through me. “We’re suspects in Daphne’s death, aren’t we?”

  “What?” Gabby exclaimed.

  “You were both here last night.” Gino pointed a finger at me. “You made cannoli, and even though the ones we found aren’t yours, we don’t know where they came from. Plus, it’s Gabby’s store and people saw her fighting with Daphne. You each have a history with her.”

  “I can’t believe this is happening,” Gabby moaned.

  Gino pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. “Look, I know it sounds crazy, but what I think doesn’t count. So, to answer your question, Tessa, yes. For now, you’re both suspects in Daphne’s murder.”

  Five

  This was new territory for me. I’d never been a murder suspect before, but had almost been the victim a few months back when someone had tried to kill me during my hunt for Dylan’s murderer. So far, neither role held much appeal.

  Gabby’s situation was far worse than mine. As Gino mentioned, people had witnessed the argument between her and Daphne. Preston had defended his publicist, and I was certain
that he wouldn’t lend Gabby any support. Unless the killer was found immediately, her business was sure to suffer.

  After Gabby was questioned, Gino led me into the interrogation room where a burly man was sitting cross-legged behind a small square table. With horror, I noticed that both the table and chairs were bolted to the floor. I turned back to look at Gino, who nodded and gave me an encouraging smile.

  The man stood when we came in. He was taller than Gino’s six-foot stature with broad shoulders like a football player, short, cropped auburn hair, and a well-trimmed beard that slimmed his face. But it was his eyes that caught my immediate attention. They were a piercing metallic blue that seemed to look right through me.

  “Tess, this is Detective Padraic McDermott,” Gino said. “He’s new to our town. Paddy, my cousin Tessa Esposito.”

  I extended a hand. “Nice to meet you.”

  He nodded curtly at me, and then his eyes shifted to Gino. “Mancusi, I’ll take it from here.”

  The detective’s tone was cool and abrupt. I turned to Gino, expecting him to say something, anything. Gino certainly was allowed to stay in the room with me. Or was he? Maybe the fact that we were related automatically forfeited that right.

  Gino patted me on the shoulder. “I’ll be right outside, Tess.”

  My stomach sank as I watched him leave. The detective eyed me sharply while he sat back down and thumbed through a file. A wave of anxiety passed over me. Sure, policemen weren’t supposed to be fuzzy and warm, but this guy’s demeanor was colder than a New York icicle in January.

  Paddy nodded to a chair. “Please sit down, Mrs. Esposito.” He gestured to a digital video recorder on a shelf next to him. “I’ll be recording this conversation, of course.”

  This guy was making me feel like a common criminal. “Where are you from, Mr. McDermott?” I asked, my attempt to make small talk.

  He looked up from the file he was studying and frowned. “It’s Detective, Mrs. Esposito. I worked at the Brooklyn PD before coming here.”

  “How do you like our town?” Harvest Park was a picturesque place, especially this time of year when everything was starting to come alive again after the winter. Buds were blooming, grass growing, and the park itself turning a lush green and smelling of honeysuckle.

  Paddy’s eyes met mine, and the expression in them unnerved me. “Sorry to say, I’m not really a fan. Too much gossip and everyone minding each other’s business in small towns like this. Guess there must be nothing else to do around here.” He grunted in exasperation.

  His words stung like a wasp. How could anyone dislike Harvest Park? Sure, people were inquisitive here, but mostly out of genuine concern for one another.

  I was about to reply when he cut me off. “You were the one who found Miss Daniels?”

  “That’s right.” I nodded.

  “Did you try to perform CPR on her?”

  “No, I called 911 right away. It was obvious to me that she was already dead.”

  He looked at the report. “And there were books and food scattered near her body?”

  “Yes,” I said. “Cannoli.”

  He made a face. “I hate those pastries. Too sugary for my taste.”

  You should try one. Maybe it would help sweeten you up.

  “So, what did you put in the cannoli?”

  My head shook from side to side. “I didn’t make them.”

  He examined my face closely. “Your cousin stated that you made cannoli for her book signing.”

  “Yes, but not the ones found next to Daphne’s body.”

  “I see.” The doubt was evident in his tone.

  I struggled to control my temper. “There’s no reason for me to lie about it. I made cannoli with vanilla filling, and the ones by Daphne were chocolate. You can ask anyone who was at the signing last night.”

  He clicked the ballpoint pen in his hand several times, as if trying to process a thought. “The background check on you says that you’re a trained chef. I’m sure it would be easy enough for you to make more than one batch.”

  I didn’t like what he was implying. “I already told you that I didn’t make the cannoli. Did Gabby tell you that she took the rest of mine home?”

  “She did,” Paddy agreed. “But since she’s your cousin she may be saying that to protect you.”

  If this man wanted to get under my skin, he was certainly doing a good job. “I had no reason to kill Daphne. Why, I haven’t even seen her in years.”

  A slight smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Daphne and Gabby had an argument that was witnessed by several people. Your cousin said that she hoped she never saw her again. No offense, but I’ve asked around and heard that the two of you are as close as sisters. I’m sure you’d both have each other’s back.”

  “You do know that Gabby is Gino’s sister, right?” This man’s arrogance amazed me.

  He continued to click the pen obnoxiously until I was tempted to shove it up his nose. “I do. And that doesn’t make one iota of difference.” He leaned forward on his arms, putting his face near mine. “Anyone is capable of murder, Mrs. Esposito. Your cousin disliked Miss Daniels so much that she threw a cup of wine on her and ruined her dress.”

  “It was an accident,” I snapped, then closed my eyes and counted to ten in my head. This wouldn’t do. I was letting this guy get to me, and that would solve nothing. One false move and he’d probably lock me up and throw away the key. Paddy was trying to get a rise out of me, and I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude.”

  He ignored my comment. “When was the last time you saw Miss Daniels?”

  “Right after the wine landed on her dress. She became angry and stormed out of the bookstore.”

  Paddy wrote something down. “And you didn’t see her again later last night?”

  “No, sir.”

  “Not even when you returned to the bookstore with your cousin?”

  Heat rose in my face. Was the detective trying to set me up? “No, because I never returned to the bookstore until this morning.”

  Paddy crossed his left foot over his right knee and sat back in the chair. “What were you doing there on a Sunday morning?”

  “I left my phone in the back room. Gabby gave me a spare key and I let myself in.”

  “Because she was too drunk to let you in herself? Is it possible your cousin went on a late-night drinking binge, drove to the store to meet Daphne, and doesn’t remember?”

  “No!” I exploded, forgetting my earlier resolve not to let him make me upset. “That’s ridiculous!”

  To my surprise, Paddy rose from the chair and indicated for me to do the same. “I think I have everything I need for now, Mrs. Esposito. I’ll be in touch if I want more information. Have a nice day.”

  “My cousin had nothing to do with her death. Someone met Daphne at the store last night—they brought cannoli and—”

  He waved a hand at me dismissively. “That’s all.”

  While I watched him, Paddy opened the door for me. In shock, I forced my feet to move forward. Maybe he had everything he needed, but I didn’t. I gritted my teeth in exasperation. Who the heck did this guy think he was? He’d practically accused both Gabby and me of murdering Daphne in cold blood. I almost let the door slam behind me but caught it in the nick of time.

  Gabby sat on the wooden bench near the front counter. Gino stood next to her, paper cup of coffee in hand. “How did it go?”

  I looked at him in astonishment. “How did it go? That guy is a first-class jerk!”

  “More like a lowdown snake,” Gabby said angrily. “He thinks I killed Daphne!”

  “Keep your voices down,” Gino muttered under his breath.

  Gabby stood and put her face next to her brother’s. “Are you going to let him abuse your family like that? He had no right! Why he
even—”

  Gino’s face turned a crimson color. He put the coffee cup in the trash, grabbed Gabby’s arm, and dragged her outside the station, with me following. Once we were in the lot, he turned on her, his eyes blazing.

  “You need to knock it off,” he said quietly. “I know Paddy seems a bit on the rough side, but that’s just the way he is.”

  She shot him a look of amazement. “A bit? Was he a criminal prosecutor in a previous life? Because he would have made a great one.”

  “He was a jerk to you, too,” I pointed out to Gino. “You’ve been a detective here for almost six years. You don’t need to take that kind of treatment from the likes of him.”

  “You two don’t know anything about my situation,” Gino said. “Paddy’s a former New York City detective. He’s seen it all. Major drug busts, prostitution rings, homicides on a daily basis. We’re lucky to have someone with his experience here.”

  Gabby’s eyebrows shot up. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

  Gino shook his head. “Smalls towns like Harvest Park are dying to have a detective like Paddy on their force, with his knowledge and contacts. It’s just a shame that he doesn’t want to be here.”

  I tried to hold back a snort but didn’t quite make it. “That was obvious. He basically said that we had nothing better to do but sit around and gossip all day.”

  Gino’s mouth twitched at the corners. “You have to understand. Sure, he’s a bit rude and abrasive. Most big-city cops are. But he’s been doing this for more than twenty years and has a heck of a lot more experience than me.”

  “So, why’s he here if he doesn’t want to be?” I asked.

  Gino glanced around the lot, as if worried someone might hear. “You can’t go repeating this, okay? Paddy was fired from the force. He has family in Albany, so when he heard about the opening in Harvest Park, he applied. We know he might decide to leave at any time, but Warner wants to keep him here as long as possible.”

  “What did he do?” Gabby asked. “Assault a suspect? Gee, what are the chances?”