“Billy, that’s enough. Put the firearm on the table and come over here with your hands up,” Russell said, his voice dangerous.
“Yeah, I’m not an idiot. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life in some cell. If I even see your finger twitch, your girlfriend is gone. Then where will you get your free pizzas, Sheriff? No, I’m just going to walk out of here nice and slow.”
Billy started inching towards the employee door. Ellie’s eyes darted around as she looked for something she could use to defend herself, but there was nothing. Why did she keep the kitchen so darn clean? Russell caught her gaze and shook his head slightly. He didn’t want her to try anything, so she wouldn’t, no matter how hard it was to make herself obey the young man who was pointing a gun at her.
“You, Ms. Pacelli, move so you’re standing between me and him. I don’t want him trying to get a shot off at me.”
Russell nodded, so she did as she was told, gritting her teeth the entire time.
“And face me, I don’t want the two of you communicating where I can’t see.”
She turned around. He was almost at the door now. She tensed. If she dropped to the floor, Russell might be able to get off a shot before Billy could aim at her.
“Did you kill them?” she asked. “I just don’t understand, Billy. Why?”
“I came to collect, and they didn’t have enough to pay up. One smart guy just threw his wallet at me from an upstairs window. I let him slide. I like it when people throw bank cards and cash at me,” he said simply. “You want to know the funny part? You paid me to kill them. I stopped at their houses after I delivered the pizzas. The murders were all on your dime.”
“I would never have —”
“No more talking, you’re just trying to stall. I know this tactic. Everyone always tries to stall. It didn’t help those men, why would it help you?”
The young man reached the door and nudged it open, never taking his eyes off of her. She had no doubt that he would shoot if she gave him reason, and the thought of possibly dying today in the pizzeria’s kitchen was enough to keep her from acting.
“Don’t worry, sheriff, I’m getting out of town and not coming back. You won’t hear from me again, though Iris might. I can’t believe that b—”
His final words were cut off. Ellie saw a strong arm wrap around his neck in a choke hold. Billy raised the gun and tried to aim it behind himself at his assailant, but before he could get off a shot, his body jolted and he fell to the ground, half in and half out of the door.
Ellie was still frozen in shock, gaping at the scene in front of her. A familiar red-haired face appeared in the doorway.
“Sorry,” Liam said. “I interrupted him, but he didn’t seem to have anything constructive to say, anyway. I was worried he might try to shoot Ellie as he left, to distract you. I couldn’t let that happen. Bethany here tazed him, but a young man like him won’t be down long. Ellie, you okay?”
She nodded. Liam crouched down to handcuff the limp man. Russell came up behind her and touched her shoulder.
“Are you really okay?” he asked in a low voice, his whiskers tickling her ear. She nodded again, not trusting herself to speak. She felt on the verge of hysteria, and didn’t know if she would laugh or cry if she opened her mouth. Not one, but three, murders had just been solved. The murderer had turned out to be one of her own employees. It was all too overwhelming.
She felt Russell take her hand. Without thinking, she said, “I love you.”
He was silent for a second. She didn’t dare look over. It had just slipped out. She felt heat rise to her face. What had she been thinking? Then his hand tightened on hers.
“I love you, too.”
Exotic Pizza Murder (Papa Pacelli's Pizzeria Series Book 9) Page 7