"I'm sure it was nothing personal," I said gently.
Zach drew a handkerchief out of his breast pocket and dabbed at his forehead with it. "I could never understand why Eddie hired him. Why, that guy would sell his own mother for a buck. It was all he cared about. Eddie was usually a smart guy, but Wally managed to dupe him. Too bad he couldn't see that guy for what he was until it was too late. A low-down, dirty skinflint."
I decided to change the subject. "Did you know that the funeral home was having trouble financially?"
Zach's eyes widened in amazement. "What do you mean? The place is doing well. I mean, we have a wake scheduled almost every day this week. That's how we make the cold hard cash, you know."
"True," I agreed, "but I heard that there were money problems. You weren't aware of any?"
"No, ma'am." He gave me an accusing look, as if I was lying. "Eddie was a good businessman. I don't believe that for a second. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a door to attend to."
I watched Zach fight his way through the crowd and even force a few people back onto the porch with an umbrella from the umbrella stand. For an elderly man, he still had a great amount of stamina. Was he lying when he said he didn't know about the financial problems? It was possible that Eddie had never told him. Zach resented Eddie giving his job to someone else, but was that enough reason to kill him? Or did he have another reason he hadn't divulged?
Josie was approaching with Gianna. I had no idea where she'd come from. My sister wasn't smiling and came right to the point. "This was Dad's idea, wasn't it?"
"How did you guess?" I gave a wry smile.
Gianna shook her head in disgust, her chestnut-colored hair whipping back and forth with the movement. My baby sister was my pride and joy. She was beautiful and intelligent, a successful lawyer and a wonderful mother, but I knew she wrestled with self-doubt on a regular basis.
She lowered her voice. "Sal, this is crazy. Dad has you looking into Eddie's murder, doesn't he?"
"I couldn't tell him no, Gi. It means so much to him."
"But he's being selfish," she protested. "You have a business to run and a baby who isn't sleeping through the night yet."
"It's only for one evening." I tried to make light of the situation. "Cookie has to sleep at some point, right?"
Gianna sighed. "Well, I'm still waiting for Alex to sleep through the night, and he was a year old last month."
She wasn't cheering me up any. "I'm only asking a few questions. Linda said the place was having financial problems, but I'm hearing conflicted reports. Zach, the doorman, acted like he didn't know anything about it."
Josie glanced over at the line of people waiting to sign the guest book on the podium by the front door. "What's a funeral going for these days, anyway?"
"It depends," Gianna said. "Ronald Feathers told Nicoletta that he's already pre-booked his here. It's costing him about ten grand. But I do believe he's asked for the best they have. Bronze casket and organ music with a full Catholic service. Oh, and the reception gig. The works."
I wrinkled my brow. "That's the works?"
"What about Nicoletta?" Josie asked with interest.
Gianna narrowed her eyes. "She's already told Johnny and me that she's never going to die."
"They say only the good die young," Josie said thoughtfully. "She might outlive all of us."
Gianna threw up her hands in pantomime. "That woman is driving me nuts. She called and asked if I could bring her home. Apparently, Ronald dropped her off for the service but couldn't stay because of some poker game, and she's fit to be tied. But does she call him up to come back and get her? Nope. Gianna's on her way home, so she can do it. No problem, right?"
My poor sister. If Nicoletta was in my family, I'd be tempted to throw myself from the nearest bridge. "Where is she now?"
Gianna exhaled sharply. "Talking to Mr. Peacock. They're both griping about the cost of funerals. I wish I'd asked Grandma to come and get her, but she shouldn't be driving at night. Plus, she's helping Mom with Cookie."
"Sorry about that," I murmured.
She waved a hand in dismissal. "Don't be. Is Dad here?"
"He was earlier," I explained. "He's got blogging to catch up on but told me he expects a full report later tonight."
"Good. It's better if he doesn't hear this yet." Gianna hesitated for a moment. "When Dad told me about Eddie, I decided to do a little digging myself. Sorry about the pun. Anyhow, I didn't like what I found."
"Oh boy," Josie muttered.
"What I'm about to tell you is extremely sensitive," Gianna went on. "I'm not comfortable revealing that information, but my friend Ben Chilson, partner at Chilson & Quincy Law Firm, is getting in touch with the police as I speak."
"Don't keep us in suspense," I urged. "What's going on?"
"I figured Brian would tell you anyway." She frowned as she said his name, and I knew why. Despite his new marital status, Gianna thought Brian was still hung up on me. It was a ridiculous notion. "A local family was in to see Ben last week. They're considering filing a lawsuit against Phibbins Mortuary for theft."
"Theft of what? Dead bodies?" Josie asked excitedly.
Gianna shook her head. "They believe Phibbins Mortuary stole jewelry that belonged to a family member. More specifically, that they snatched jewelry off a loved one's dead body."
CHAPTER SEVEN
"Eddie was a thief?" Somehow, I couldn't picture it, and didn't want to. Never mind what the truth would do to my father. Dad was old-school Italian, and the one thing he couldn't stomach was dishonesty. A few years back, he'd briefly worked as a hearse driver for Phibbins Mortuary, but Eddie let him go when Dad wouldn't stop talking to the mourners. My father had respected Eddie's decision and taken it in stride. He had great admiration for the man, so if this was true, his feelings would undoubtedly change forever.
Josie grimaced. "I've heard about stuff like that happening before. But wouldn't the deceased's loved ones know if an item, say a necklace, was missing before the person is cremated or buried? Do they just assume the jewelry goes with them?"
Gianna's high cheekbones became tinged with pink. "In some instances, yes, people want the jewelry buried with their loved ones. But with the increased chance of looting these days, many want the valuables returned. This particular family asked for the jewelry to be returned but then discovered it was an imitation. You'd be surprised how many people try to get away with something similar, and often it isn't found out until the owner goes for an appraisal or tries to sell the valuables themselves."
"Are there any more families involved? Could they have been so angry with Eddie that they decided to kill him?" Josie asked.
Gianna gave a small toss of her head. "I'm not directly involved and really can't tell you if there are other cases pending. Not until the suit or suits become public knowledge, of course. In this particular situation, the deceased had their wake and funeral with Phibbins Mortuary about three months ago. The woman's husband claimed that his wife owned a valuable diamond wedding ring worth about ten thousand dollars. The husband needed the money after she died to pay expenses, so he went to have it appraised. The jeweler told him the ring was worthless and its stone was cubic zirconia, so it obviously was replaced at some point."
"Does he have proof that the ring was valuable in the first place?" I hated to think the worst of Eddie.
"That's where this gets tricky," Gianna replied. "The husband didn't give her the ring. It belonged to his wife's grandmother. He's been trying to locate pictures of his wife wearing it, but many of their photos were lost in a recent basement flood. Several other family members are backing up his claim, though. Ben told him to ask relatives for photos before he goes through with the lawsuit."
Josie shook her head in disgust. "Poor guy. It's basically his word against Phibbins Mortuary's."
"Does Linda know?" I asked.
"I'm not sure," Gianna said. "The deceased's husband may have reached out to her. And yes, it's their word a
gainst Linda's right now, but if pictures are located and more people come forward, things are going to get ugly pretty fast."
Another headache Phibbins Mortuary didn't need right now. "If the funeral home was having financial problems, I guess Eddie could have done this. But I don't believe it. Heck, I don't want to believe it. Dad said that Eddie always prided himself on honesty."
"I'll let Dad know," Gianna said. "You have enough to deal with already, since he's got you checking into his death. In all fairness to Eddie, though, it may not have been him after all. We can't say for sure."
"Dead men tell no tales," Josie quipped.
That was for sure. "Eddie prepped the bodies for burial, but Linda told us yesterday that all the employees knew how to embalm, even Zach."
"Yikes." Josie frowned. "I wouldn't want that old guy working on me. He'd probably misplace my head."
"Never mind," I said. "Gianna's right. It could have been anyone who had access to the body. Linda, Eddie, Charlene Jones, who does the makeup—"
Gianna's eyebrows shot up. "Did you say Charlene Jones?"
"Yes, she's the cosmetologist here. Do you know her?"
"I represented a Chantal Jones in court last month. She mentioned that she had a twin sister named Charlene, but I've never met her. It's a common surname, so there's always a chance it isn't her."
I was intrigued. "Gi, I know that there's such a thing as attorney-client privilege and understand if you can't tell us what Chantal did, but is there any chance it had to do with stealing?"
"Are you thinking it runs in the family by chance?" Gianna asked as her phone beeped. She drew it out, typed a quick response, and then put it back in her purse. "Thank goodness Johnny's school is on break this week. I'm late getting home, thanks to having to stop and pick up Nicoletta."
"You get all the good jobs," Josie said dryly.
"You didn't answer my question," I said. "Can you give me a hint as to what Chantal did?"
Gianna's chocolate-colored eyes regarded me solemnly. "It's no secret. There was an article in the paper about her when it happened. Chantal is, or was, a server at Jerry's Juice Bar. She was accused of taking other employees' tips, prior to being fired and arrested."
"Wait a second," I interrupted. "Isn't that a topless bar?"
"Yes," Gianna said. "I got her off, but to be honest, I wasn't quite convinced myself that Chantal didn't do it. I don't like representing clients I don't believe in, but a fellow colleague, who is a relative of Chantal's, asked me to take the case since they couldn't. Personally, I'm not convinced that stealing runs in a family, but she and Charlene could have been in cahoots together."
I thought back to the conversation I'd had with Zach earlier. "If Chantal is Charlene's twin—well, something doesn't add up here. Charlene is in her midforties, and she's working in a juice bar? Topless?"
"Some women still have it going on at that age," Josie remarked. "Look at your mother. She could work in one of those places and make a fortune."
My sister and I both groaned simultaneously. "Please," Gianna said. "Mom likes to parade around in her skivvies, but even she'd draw the line at nudity. She and Dad are strange, but they happen to have morals."
Josie barked out a laugh. "I didn't mean Maria would do it, only that there's women older than Chantal who have great figures. Sal and I have some experience in the strip club department, remember."
"Bite your tongue." I didn't want to be reminded of the time Josie and I had chased a possible murderer into a topless club and he'd taken a shine to me. I'd been forced to entertain him while we waited for the police to arrive. It hadn't taken him long to discover that I had no dancing skills to speak of.
Josie's remark about my mother's great figure left me feeling a bit self-conscious, but that wasn't unusual. Josie was never tempted by the array of sweets she baked daily. She said being around them so much killed her appetite. It was just the opposite for me. Gianna herself had gained sixty pounds before Alex's birth but lost it all within three months afterwards.
I sighed and stared down at the black slacks I'd squeezed myself into for the wake. They'd fit fine before the baby but were now so snug that I had to undo the top button. I still had fifteen pounds of baby fat—or Cookie fat—to lose, and my little bundle of joy was already four months old. How did everyone else make it look so easy?
"Charlene's not here tonight, so that means I'll have to make a trip back tomorrow to talk to her," I said.
Gianna's expression was grim. "I knew this wouldn't be a one-time thing. You're in it for the long haul."
I shook my head. "No way. I'm sorry about what happened, but I don't have time to keep looking into Eddie's death. Dad just doesn't understand. The police can handle it without me. Besides, I promised Mike I'd stop all of this when Cookie was born."
"You can't stop. It's in your blood," Josie said. "Like baking is in mine. Like evil is in Mrs. Gavelli's. Like law is in Gianna's—"
"Okay, I get it," I interrupted sharply. "The fact remains that I'm somehow managing to dig myself in deeper."
"Six feet under," Josie laughed. "Sorry, Sal, I couldn't resist."
Gianna nodded in the direction of the viewing room. "Isn't that Eddie's wife headed our way?"
"About time," Josie grumbled. "She's kept us waiting long enough. Yeah, Linda's easy to pick out of a crowd. Can't you see those dollar signs shining in her eyes?"
Linda was wearing an emerald-colored dress with black flowers that hung off her bony frame and looked about two sizes too large. She gave a small wave when she saw us.
"Girls," she squealed. "People are already raving about the desserts! This is going to be such a boost to our cash flow. I'm going to make up a new funeral home package that includes coffin, music, service, and special treats by Sally's Samples. You'll have to come back again tomorrow night."
Not likely.
Gianna took this as an opportunity to make her departure. "Please excuse me. Time to find my psycho grandmother-in-law, Nicoletta, before she makes a scene."
"Too late," Linda said. "Nicoletta's in the viewing room telling anyone who will listen that even hell won't take Mrs. Peacock. The sad part is that Mr. Peacock is agreeing with her."
My sister's face went pale. "Gotta go." She blew me a kiss and rushed into the viewing room.
I turned my attention to Linda, who was straightening the window blind behind us. "Can we talk for a minute?"
"Oh, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. I'll get you a check right away."
"There's something else." I glanced around, but fortunately we were alone and not attracting a lot of attention, though Zach was eyeing us sharply from his station by the front door. "I've heard a rumor that there's a family considering filing suit against the funeral home for theft."
Linda's smile faded. "What family? That's ridiculous! Where did you hear such a thing?"
"I can't reveal my sources." Even if the police had already been informed, I didn't want to take a chance on getting Gianna involved.
"You had no idea?" Josie asked.
Linda shook her head. "None. I don't understand. What did they claim was stolen? I mean, there was the issue with Wally stealing urns, but Eddie knew all about that and had him arrested."
"A family of a deceased woman is claiming that Phibbins Mortuary replaced an authentic diamond ring of hers with a fake one," I said.
She frowned. "Impossible. Eddie would never do something like that."
A flicker of discomfort in her amber-colored eyes made me believe that yes, Eddie would have done something like that, or else Linda knew who had.
"If you want me to help, you have to trust me," I said.
Linda's jaw went slack, and she lowered her gaze to the floor. "You have to promise that you won't tell anyone."
"It depends on what you're going to say." I had to be honest with her. "Eddie may have been killed over this incident. If you have anything to share, please tell us now because it may help to find his killer."
&
nbsp; Josie nudged me in the ribs. "Don't forget the fact that she's been going around telling people why you're here, Sal—namely that old codger, Zach."
Linda thrust her shoulders back in defiance and glared at Josie. "Zach can be trusted. He's worked here for three years—the longest of any employee."
She clearly wasn't getting the message. "The point is there's someone who can't be trusted. You can't keep going around and telling everyone the real reason I'm here if you want me to find out anything."
Unshed tears glistened in Linda's eyes. "I'm sorry," she wailed. "I thought that Zach might be able to help. He was upset about being demoted, but he adored Eddie and—" Her shoulders sagged as if she had the weight of the world upon them.
A few people leaving the viewing room were watching us curiously. When I patted Linda on the shoulder, she only sobbed harder. "Is there some place we can talk privately?"
She nodded and wiped her eyes. "Of course. Eddie's office. I need to get your check from there anyway."
Josie gestured for me to go ahead. "I'll see if more coffee is needed. Hopefully, we can clear out soon."
My sentiments exactly. I placed a hand on the small of Linda's back and guided her toward the office, at the rear of the building. The cuckoo clock mounted on the wall sang out eight times as we passed. Great. Mike was going to be ticked. I couldn't blame him, and frankly, I was upset too.
We passed the viewing room on our way, and I stole a quick glance inside. Despite the crowd, I easily picked out Nicoletta standing near the casket talking with Mr. Peacock. My sister was trying unsuccessfully to pull her away. I had an eerie feeling that I was being watched and turned my head. Zach was staring after us. His eyes met mine, and he looked away. I didn't care what Linda said, and Zach's age didn't matter. In my mind, no one at Phibbins Mortuary could be trusted.
Eddie's office was a large room with dark paneled walls, an L-shaped mahogany desk, built-in bookcases, and an oak coffin taking up one entire wall. The lid was open, and someone had placed a pile of magazines on the headrest.
Icing on the Casket Page 6