Toasting Up Trouble

by Linda Wiken

  “Hmm. Good thinking. Good luck.” Skye answered the phone, and J.J. went back to staring at the photo.

  “The thing is,” she continued when Skye had hung up, “right now, I’m much more interested in figuring out who killed Marcotti and getting Rocco off the hook.”

  “Not your job. How about a choir made up of his coworkers singing lyrics you write that are set to a popular song?”

  “Too ordinary, in an unusual kind of way.” She closed her eyes. When she opened them, the door was flung open and Connor walked in.

  “Hi, gorgeous. I’ve just finished taping an interview for tomorrow’s show and I’m ravenous. Join me for an early dinner? Hi, Skye.”

  Skye waved at him, then turned to her computer.

  “I’d like to, Connor, but I have to finish off this proposal I’m working on. I’m running out of time.”

  “We’ll make it a quick meal. I just heard about Rocco Gates being in jail, and I thought you might want to talk some more about it all. I’ve been thinking about the murder ever since you first got involved. Do you think they’ve finally got their man, or is there something they’re missing?”

  He looked so concerned and sincere and delectable in his beige chinos, black plaid shirt, and black leather jacket. Of course, Connor always looked his best. He ran his hand across his chin. He seemed to do it unconsciously, although she often wondered if he was checking the thickness of his facial growth.

  J.J. sighed. She could always work on the project later that night. She did want to talk more about the murder and try to figure it out. Going over it in her head was leading nowhere. And Devine was her only real sounding board these days, not that he was encouraging. She turned off the blank screen on her computer and grabbed her purse.

  “They’re missing a lot, in my book. Okay, let’s do a quick dinner, if you don’t mind. See you later, Skye.”

  They walked a couple of blocks toward the lake and easily found a table at that hour at the popular O’Casey’s. She realized that in just a couple of short months they’d be able to sit out on the wraparound porch with a wonderful view of the water, if they were lucky enough to get the right table. Summer. She was looking forward to it.

  Connor ordered them each a glass of Shiraz and then asked, “So, what’s the latest, and don’t tell me you haven’t been poking your nose into things. I saw how your eyes lit up when I suggested discussing the murder. Not the having dinner with me but the murder, I might add.” He was smiling, but J.J. wondered if there might be a message there. The last thing she wanted to do was hurt his feelings.

  “I can’t help it, Connor. First, being a suspect, and now, having someone I like and admire being arrested. It’s just too much.”

  “Okay, so who are the other suspects, according to Josephine June Tanner?”

  J.J. cringed, regretting her moment of weakness in telling him her full name. She leaned forward and said in a low voice, “I asked you never to call me that.”

  Connor grinned. “Sorry, couldn’t resist. J.J. it is. Now, what’s the answer?”

  A voice behind J.J. answered, “Answer? To what? Are you proposing?”

  J.J. whipped around. “Evan!” She glared at him, hoping he got the “don’t go there” message. “What are you doing here?”

  “Waiting for Michael. We’re eating early, then heading to the cinema. It’s movie night and we’ve run out of DVDs, so we’re splurging by going out.”

  “Why don’t you join us?” Connor asked.

  Evan looked at J.J., who gave a small nod. “Sure thing. This is really the time to be eating here, isn’t it?” He looked around him. “Maybe we could ask for a bigger table?”

  Michael arrived as they were settling at the new spot. After they’d placed their orders, Evan leaned forward with both arms on the table and asked Connor, “You know all the players in town. Surely you’ve heard talk about a motive for the murder. Or maybe even some names that are being thrown around as possible suspects?”

  Connor cocked an eyebrow. “As flattering as that is, I’m not really that much in the know. I can dish all sorts of info about the celebs and media, but I don’t necessarily have an in when it comes to the business world.”

  “I beg to differ,” Michael stated and everyone looked at him. “You did that interview a couple of years ago that turned into a bit of an expose on the lack of regulations for the new food trucks. That got a lot of people talking and even brought into being a new bylaw. Don’t sell yourself short.”

  Connor looked like he was blushing, which surprised J.J. This really was another side of him that she hadn’t encountered before.

  “That’s impressive, Connor. Are you sure you haven’t dabbled in the restaurant world?”

  He grinned. “Okay, maybe a little. I guess I should confess to having been part owner of Harry’s Haven several years ago.”

  “I remember hearing something about that,” Evan ventured.

  “Seriously?” J.J. was surprised. “That’s so cool. But you’re talking past tense. What happened?”

  Connor shrugged. “We had a falling out, and I removed myself from the business. It happens. I still get a discount when I eat there.” He grinned somewhat sheepishly.

  “So that’s why we go there a lot?” J.J. asked and burst out laughing.

  “Guilty.”

  “What if Mr. Marcotti had a business partner at one point,” Michael suggested, “and it ended on a much worse note?”

  J.J. looked from one to the other. “Wouldn’t we have heard about that? Connor, do you know if that’s possible?”

  “I don’t. You know, when I dove in it was at the beginning of the fusion phase, and we didn’t have much to do with the others in the more mainstream restaurant business. I could ask around, though.”

  “That would be great.” J.J. thought she could do the same, but the more questions being asked the better. Someone had to know something.

  CHAPTER 18

  Get with the program, Tanner. J.J. kept the mantra going in her head throughout the morning’s workout with Candy. After what she’d eaten the night before, she had to make amends. Calories galore needed to be defeated.

  She’d just finished her thirty minutes on the treadmill and stopped for a water break. It was now or never. She didn’t think she’d make it through the week and get another shot at talking to Candy. “Candy, do you mind if I ask you something?”

  “Is this a way to grab more of a break?”

  J.J. laughed. “Not really. I’d heard some of the women in the locker room talking, and I wondered how you were holding up?”

  Candy cocked her head and looked confused. “What do you mean?”

  J.J. tried to look apologetic and uncomfortable. She didn’t want to throw Candy off by sounding too nosy. “You know, the murder and all. I heard you were very close to Antonio Marcotti.”

  Candy almost choked on the piece of gum she’d popped into her mouth. Her face ran through a series of emotional changes, from shock to embarrassment followed by something closer to horror. “Who told you that? No one is supposed to know. Is that really what they’re talking about? OMG, I’m so mortified.” She glanced all around her.

  J.J. felt immediately abashed. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable. Me and my big mouth. I may be way off base. You know how you sometimes hear bits and pieces and make an entirely different story appear? Forget I said anything.”

  Candy stared at her a few more seconds without saying anything, and J.J. feared she’d lost this round and seriously doubted she’d get another chance.

  “You seem nice enough, not like some of the more catty shrews we get around here.” Cathy sighed. “You know, I’m not really in the mood to continue the session right now. Do you mind if I make up the time to you next time? Can you stay a bit longer then?”

  “I can. But I feel bad
that I’ve obviously upset you. Do you want to go for a coffee? Can you get away for a short while?”

  Candy nodded. “You’re right. I probably should get out of here, until after the memorial service anyway. He owned part of this fitness club, you know? I try not to let my feelings show when I’m in here. But it’s really hard, you know?”

  J.J. nodded her head but was afraid if she spoke, it might stop Candy from continuing.

  “Yeah, he hired me a couple of years ago, and then . . . Let’s go next door to the Java Joint. I could use some caffeine.”

  Grateful for being rescued from the agony of doing weights, J.J. quickly changed and found Candy waiting at the front desk. She’d thrown a light cotton sweater over her workout clothes. She led the way next door.

  They grabbed coffees at the counter and found a spot at the bar set up to overlook the parking lot. J.J. waited for Candy to make the first move. She hoped it would be to continue with her story.

  “It didn’t take long for Big T and me to get it on. That’s what he wanted me to call him, Big T.” She pulled a tissue out of her pocket and blew her nose. “He was such a generous guy, always bringing me gifts. I love jewelry, you know, and he really knew how to make a girl feel special. He couldn’t take me out anywhere, so he found me a condo with a gorgeous view and a romantic balcony, so we could eat out. Get it? He was a really sweet guy.”

  J.J. wasn’t quite sure how to respond. She’d heard a lot more than she’d expected, and she tried not to be judgmental.

  Candy continued after taking a long drink. “I know what people are thinking and probably saying. Here’s this old guy and this young chick, young enough to be his granddaughter. And I’ll admit, I was sort of turned off by the age difference at the start, but he was so kind and so gentle. You know, a lot of guys just take me for a dumb blonde. But not Big T. He listened to me like what I said really counted. And then the romancing started, and all the rest just didn’t seem to matter. Can you understand that?”

  J.J. nodded, although she couldn’t relate. “This must all be very hard on you.”

  She nodded. “It is. You know, I was really blown away by him. We had so much in common, you know? I thought what would make it perfect was if he left his wife, but I knew right from the get-go that he’d never do that. He told me so, and after a while it didn’t really matter so much. I knew I was special to him. And besides, they weren’t together anymore, if you know what I mean.” She sniffed and pulled another tissue out of her pocket.

  “I’m sorry for your pain,” J.J. said softly. She felt bad for Candy but knew she had to persist if she wanted answers. “Do you mind my asking, had you ever thought of ending it?”

  For a moment she worried she may have pushed the boundaries, but Candy’s eyes widened and she whispered, “Oh, I could never leave him.”

  Time for another approach. “I hope the police haven’t been hassling you too much. I know they look really closely at the people closest to a victim.”

  Candy shrugged. “They did ask if I’d killed him, but I said I could never do such a horrible thing to him. I think I might have loved him even, you know?”

  And they believed you? Funny, though: J.J. did believe her.

  “Did he ever talk to you about either of his businesses?” What if they’d been focusing on the wrong one? Maybe it was the fitness center that needed probing.

  “No. Not really. Well, maybe once or twice. Everything was going great guns with High Time. It was making money hand over fist, he said. But a few weeks ago, he looked really upset one night and I made him tell me. He was worried about his restaurant. He thought that his head chef might be leaving him and stealing some of his recipes, too.”

  Wow. Was that a great motive or what? “That would have been hard on him.”

  Candy tried to smile but it fell flat. “It was good to talk to you about all this, J.J. I don’t know if you believe me or not, but I needed to get it all out. I think now I’ll go and grab my stuff and take the rest of the week off. Friday is the memorial service and I plan to be there, wanted or not. After that, I guess I’d better start planning the rest of my life.”

  She gave J.J. a quick hug and walked out, head held high.

  CHAPTER 19

  J.J. hadn’t been at her desk for more than five minutes the next morning when Tansy came rushing in. “I have some news for you. And for this, you’d better have good news for me soon.”

  J.J. nodded, although she hadn’t even approached Evan about the paint job as yet. “What is it?”

  “The police have charged Rocco Gates with murder. It seems they found the murder weapon. It’s a knife, part of a set from the Rocco G’s kitchen.”

  J.J. felt a sinking sensation but wouldn’t give in to it. “You’re sure?”

  “That’s what reliable contacts are all about. Of course, I’m sure.”

  “How bad does that make it?”

  “Well, it may also depend on whose prints were found on the knife. I couldn’t find anything out about that, but I’ll bet his were on it for sure. It is his kitchen, after all. It doesn’t look good for him, I’m sorry to say.” Tansy did look sorry, and J.J. felt momentarily abashed that she hadn’t yet done her part of the deal.

  “Thanks, Tansy.”

  Tansy lifted her eyebrows and tapped her foot.

  “I haven’t had a chance to talk to Evan but I will, I promise.” Tansy still didn’t move. “Before the weekend.”

  “Okay. I’m trusting you on this.” She left as quickly as she’d entered.

  J.J. sighed.

  “That doesn’t sound good,” Skye said. “Look, what if he is the murderer? You don’t really know him all that well. You may be overly convinced he’s innocent because he’s like an Italian cooking mentor to you.”

  “I’m grateful and all that, but it goes beyond. I’m pretty sure he didn’t do it. Call it instinct or a gut feeling. You know, he sounded entirely shocked about the news, and he readily admitted to the feud they’d been having over all these years. Would a murderer admit to a motive?”

  “Maybe if he were super smart and trying to throw you off the trail.”

  J.J. gave that some thought. “I really don’t think he’d do that. But if he is guilty, I’ll be totally devastated and never rely on my own judgment again.”

  “I’m glad you’re taking this in a calm, understated way.”

  J.J. made a face at her. “But how could someone get at one of his knives?” J.J. sat thinking for a few minutes and then flipped off her computer. “I’ll be back shortly.”

  “I hope you’re doing some brainstorming while doing whatever it is you’re doing.”

  J.J. wiggled her fingers over her shoulder and added another idea to the whiteboard as she left.

  It took just under ten minutes to walk to Rocco G’s. She was pleased to see it was open and wondered who she’d find behind the counter as she opened the door.

  To her delight, Rocco’s cook stood there. It looked like he was wearing the same clothes as last time she’d been in.

  “Hi, Hank, remember me? J.J. Tanner?” The person you tried to avoid the other day?

  He gave her the same look of disinterest as the last time she’d talked to him. No guilt. No evasive glance. Maybe it hadn’t been him later that day after all. Then who? Should she ask if there’d been a robbery?

  Looking around the room, she walked closer and leaned against the counter. It looked just the same as the last time she’d been in, except this time it was empty. Where was Zoe? Where was the noon-hour rush? Did bad news travel that fast?

  “I hope you don’t mind if I ask you a few questions. I can see you’re not busy right now.”

  “I have a takeout I have to prepare.”

  “Okay. How about if I go out back with you while you do it?”

  Ransom shrugged. “Suit yourself.”


  “Where’s Zoe?”

  “Look around. Does it look like we need anyone else working here? I promised Rocco I’d keep the noon-hour business going. We’re closed the rest of the day. For now.”

  J.J. followed him through the swinging door and immediately eyeballed the countertops, searching for the knives. A couple of knife blocks sat on the counter next to the fridge. She wandered over.

  “I understand that the police have found the murder weapon and it’s one of Rocco’s knives.” She noticed one empty slot in one of the blocks.

  “He didn’t do it.”

  “I agree, but how could one of his knives be used? Who has access back here?”

  Ransom’s face turned dark. “I do, of course. Are you accusing me?”

  “No, no, of course not. There must be others who come back here.”

  “Zoe does. The delivery guys. Rocco, of course.” He shrugged.

  “Would it be possible for someone else to just wander in and, say, grab a knife?” She looked over at the door leading outside.

  “Possible but not probable.” He was still glaring at her.

  “Hm. Do you have any theories?”

  “No. But I do know Rocco wouldn’t kill somebody. Him and Marcotti were always arguing, but it was like a good type of arguing. You know? When you’ve been doing it so long, it wouldn’t be right not to? Do you know what I mean?”

  “Maybe. That’s interesting. How well did you know Marcotti?”

  “Well enough to know he was a bastard.” He stood up straight and folded his arms in front of him. “But not enough to have a reason to kill him.”

  J.J. tried to stand her ground. She didn’t like feeling intimidated. “How long have you worked here?”

  “That’s none of your business.”

  “I don’t mean any offense. I was just curious. Are you from the village?”

  “Again, none of your business.”

  “Okay, one more question and then I’ll leave. Why didn’t you answer the door the other afternoon? I know you saw me.”