Sniffing Out Murder (Mina's Adventures Book 7)

by Maria Grazia Swan

  Something was definitely wrong, since when was Margo concerned about others? Especially the ones not returning her phone calls pronto?

  “I’m sorry. We—l—had problems with one of our rescues and—well, don’t want to bore you with shelter’s stories. Anything new with Gino? Is he back yet?”

  Long pause. Mina didn’t like it at all, and De Fiore’s remarks about the dozens of nefarious consequences the wrong use of Diego’s phone may have unleashed sent shivers up her spine. Could something bad have happened to Gino? Was that why Margo acted so unlike herself?

  “He may not be coming back.” Did she really say that?

  “What are you saying? What happened?”

  “I don’t know. Was hoping you did. What’s your boyfriend saying?”

  “Margo, I haven’t spoken to Diego since he flew out with Gino. I don’t know, and that’s the truth. You probably know more than I do. And no, I can’t call Diego. I guess we are on our own. What about the business? Will it close down?”

  “This week all the paychecks were direct deposits, so I assume we are staying open. What would you do if you were me?” Margo’s voice—a devastatingly sad whisper.

  “When did you last spoke to Gino? What did he say? More important, what did you think about the general conversation?”

  “Just before I left you those mean messages. He sounded very concerned, mumbled something about bad things happening, having to get answers. He wasn’t mad at least not at me, but he didn’t say he was on his way back either.”

  “Margo, okay, he didn’t say he was on his way back, but did he say he wasn’t coming back at all?”

  “Huh, no, he didn’t say that. You think that’s a good thing?” The old Margo was coming alive.

  “Listen to yourself. He never said he isn’t coming back, and bills and salaries are getting paid. Seems to me he’s keeping the boat afloat while he takes care of some business problems. Seriously, Gino isn’t the type to mislead you. He’s as straight talking as possible. Agree?” She crossed her fingers waiting for a reply.

  “You’re right. Of course. I knew you’d have the answers. I better keep this restaurant running smooth, so he’ll be proud of me when he gets back. Yes, you make sense. Let’s make a deal—the first one of us who hears something tells the other one. Okay?”

  “Absolutely, deal. Now go and do your things. Don’t worry. Gino will be back soon.”

  Mina wished there was someone who could tell her such sweet made-up, feel good lies, so her heart didn’t hurt so bad.

  One down, one to go. Maybe De Fiore could wait until after lunch. She kept replaying in her mind Leo Cordero’s description of why he broke into Kalinda’s house. Did he walk all the way there? What had the neighbor’s boyfriend done to him to make him cry? Maybe the boyfriend was the reason the woman was so upset the last time Mina paid her a visit.

  Leo sure wasn’t your typical ten-year-old. He didn’t use slang words and didn’t appear to be too much into computers or Internet, then again, neither did she. She fought the urge to call Tom and ask how everything was. Better lay low like De Fiore suggested, see if the phone mishap blew away on its own. Apparently the detective was now the only one in contact with Diego, or was he? She had to keep on moving, sitting and thinking only made her even more aware of her loneliness and how badly she wanted to talk to Diego.

  Always wanting what we can’t have.

  Sky arrived with Chinese carry out for everyone and with a new volunteer she had recruited at Saddleback Community College where she studied to become a medical assistant.

  Before eating, Sky made sure to capture the happy smiles of Clyde’s new family. She would then post it on Facebook on the shelter’s page. Good publicity. It was about one o’clock when they locked the front door and posted the Be Back Soon sign. Then they all sat in the same room where the adoption took place, and they ate and started writing down their bets on the soon to be born litter. The majority was for Lab-Chihuahua mix, only because Chihuahua had been showing up in more and more mixed litters. Those little dogs had a way to charm the larger breeds.

  “That’s right. Never judge by size,” Mina said. She was the shortest one there.

  And now it was time to call De Fiore.

  THIRTEEN

  SO MUCH FOR self-assertiveness.

  De Fiore managed to convince her to meet him at that French bistro in Newport Beach where they used to get together back when Brian Starr was her one and only—a lifetime away.

  But if the detective was telling the truth, the circumstances surrounding Isabel Cordero’s death were about to get revisited. With a little help from Mina. How could she refuse? First step—provide a copy of the dog’s adoption papers to De Fiore. How that mattered she didn’t know. However she would do anything in her power to help because she just knew something was amiss. And the feeling had been there all along. Leo’s touching testimonial about the lunch and the mother’s devotion were equal to what Americans liked to call icing on the cake.

  She drove home to feed the cats, change clothes and perhaps bring Millie up to date. She also hoped in spite of everything that maybe, just maybe, it was all a trick to give her some news about Diego. He had said that someone was going to pick up the now useless phone at his office. She sighed and clicked open the gate.

  Hope never dies.

  The day didn’t feel like a Saturday at all, not that it mattered much. And everything would change starting Tuesday when the Ritzy Cats B&B would officially reopen for business, with new paint, and a bit of a new and improved look. And that included Millie, dark shades or not. Just then Millie walked up to Mina’s open garage door. She wore a nice dress, black with very small white polka dots. It felt sort of out of place seeing Millie in a silk dress and heels. Only two inches, but still heels. Something was up.

  “Hi Millie, you’ll be proud of me. I got the collar with the bell. Can’t wait to see how easy it’s going to be to get it on Houdini.”

  Millie smiled. “He’s right behind you. Want to give it a try while I’m here to offer help?”

  “No way, not with that lovely dress you’re wearing.”

  “Thanks.” She avoided Mina’s eyes, and she wasn’t wearing any dark glasses. Okay, it was five o’clock, and the sun was on its last hurrah. “I’m actually headed North… to Lake Forrest.”

  “Oh, I love Lake Forrest, was so tempted to buy a home there but couldn’t. Adams, my lawyer, explained about the zoning and all that legal mumble jumble.” She waited; somehow she knew there would be more to Millie’s evening.

  “Tom… security guard and painter… he… lives in Lake Forrest.”

  “No kidding, had no idea.”

  “Yes, well, you see, Leo and Buddy are there at his house. He called to tell me they had located the big brother. Simon will be back in town tomorrow, and Monday is a regular school day for both children. Tom will have to drive them all the way to San Clemente and then pick them up. Anyhow Tom asked me if I could drop by and perhaps give him some pointers on how to set up the bedroom the brothers will be sharing. I happen to have some extra bedding, and I figured I’d bring it over. I find myself bored waiting for our precious furry boarders.”

  How about that? Tom and Millie? Good story and even better for the orphans.

  Not again, always jumping to conclusions. “Guess what? I’ll be driving up to Newport Beach to deliver some paperwork to Detective De Fiore. He agreed to take a new look at Isabel Cordero’s accidental death. Why don’t you bring Zeus over so he doesn’t get lonely while we are both out? I need to wash up, change into real clothes. Anyway, your call.”

  “It’s a splendid idea. I’ll be right back with Zeus.”

  Millie was right. Houdini sat on the step of the door opening to the kitchen. Now, how did he manage to get from inside the house to the garage?

  Mina shook her finger at him. “You’re going to get yourself in trouble if you keep roaming around. Some hungry big monster is going to get you.” He quietly follo
wed her into the house and didn’t put up too much of a fight when she put his new collar on.

  * * *

  SHE LET THE valet take care of her car and walked slowly toward the main entrance. Since her last visit, the enclosed patio sported what appeared to be new awnings and several large potted plants dotted the few steps. Nice.

  De Fiore waived at her from his table. He sure didn’t look like a homicide detective. Like she was an expert on the subject. He wore a dark silk tie. Midnight blue? With lighter blue and grey paisleys. Very, very nice. He caught her looking at it and smiled, that shadow of a smile that told her he was somewhat relaxed but still working some angle she didn’t quite understand.

  “What happened to the small dance floor?” She sat across from him.

  “The dance floor? Ancient history. You haven’t been here lately I guess. Somehow I thought you liked this place.”

  “You’re correct, liked, in the past. Anyway, here is the file with all the papers pertinent to the dog’s adoption. That day I was working the media circus and didn’t really have anything to do with the adoption. I’m glad you’re doing this. From the moment I heard of the boys’ mother’s death I felt like something wasn’t right, and—”

  “I’m hungry.” De Fiore pushed the adoption file to the side. “Mind if we order some dinner? I haven’t had a chance to eat at all.”

  What? “Huh, I guess. Thought you wanted me to drive here because you were in a hurry to go somewhere?”

  He paused for a nanosecond too long. What was he really up to? She was dying to ask if Diego’s phone had been picked up and by whom. Instead she reached for the menu and opened it.

  “Yeah. That was cancelled. How about some Prosecco?” He studied her with those slanted eyes of his that gave him a sense of mystery even when he chewed a pomme frite. He motioned the waitress over and ordered the wine.

  “How come you don’t have any grey hair?” she asked him, and he looked at her like she had asked to see certain parts of his anatomy.

  “I have Asian genes. Besides, what do you care?”

  “Diego’s temples are grey. I’m sure he’s younger than you are.”

  “Oh, that’s easy. Diego happens to have you in his life, and that alone explains the grey hair.” Her kick under the table was pure reaction. “Hey.” He winced.

  Mina let him order some chicken cordon bleu and a salad for her while he had a ten-minute consultation with the manager regarding some fancy cut of meat he wished prepared for himself. She wanted to eat and get home but without appearing rude. Of course when she had agreed to bring the file this wasn’t what she had anticipated.

  She thanked De Fiore for a wonderful meal, and that part was true, so much so that she asked for a doggie bag for the leftovers. But then she had to pace around while waiting for the valet to fetch her car. Apparently the bistro didn’t have adequate parking space, therefore the parking attendant was driving patrons’ cars to a different lot. Her LTD got cornered between two other vehicles, and the valet was working as fast as possible to get it out.

  De Fiore snickered a lot, but always the gentleman he waited until she got her car before taking off in his black sedan.

  It was after nine by the time she hit the 405 South. She couldn’t shake the feeling that the whole evening had been a set up, but for what? She had known De Fiore for over six years. Over time they forged a close rapport, maybe not a full-fledged friendship, but certainly mutual respect.

  De Fiore hadn’t mentioned Kalinda or Diego either.

  The better she got to know De Fiore, the more convinced she was that he didn’t like to share much about his personal life and nothing about his profession. Strange man but always true to his word.

  The late evening was pleasant. She drove with her car window down, thinking about Houdini, who hadn’t seemed too pleased with the black collar and the silver bell. When she left he’d been busy trying to rid himself of it. She was cruising down Old Ranch Road when she first noticed it. The smell of fire. Faint, off and on. She slowed down and looked around. She couldn’t see any fire, and yet it was a clear night, stars in the sky, zooming cars on the road. A sense of urgency crept up her spine. The smell now more distinct. Something was burning somewhere. What? Where? She couldn’t hear any fire engine or ambulance. No, only the constant buzzing of the cars on the freeway below.

  Wait. She turned up her familiar road and noticed cars parked on the side of the street. In the dark she couldn’t tell if the vehicles looked familiar or not, and now the urgency was real. Just then a fire engine came rolling down the road, away from the dead end and from where her home was. The cats… Millie… Mina stepped on the gas. Her hands shook; her fingers gripped the steering wheel. But she couldn’t see any sign of fire, no flames, no smoke plume. Just overwhelming smoky smell.

  Her headlights bounced off a small group of people walking toward her car. Probably the owners of the vehicles parked below. Gawkers??? When she cleared the last turn she found her answers. The neighbors’ homes had all the lights on, and she recognized familiar faces. People lingering in small clusters. At the sight of her home looking as it did when she left hours ago she finally let go of her fear. She drove right up to the gate, clicked it open, and inched her car in but didn’t proceed to the garage. Instead she killed the engine and walked out into the clear night to talk to the neighbors about the yellow tape and the makeshift blockade preventing cars from entering the end of the cul de sac and the driveway to Kalinda’s house.

  “What happened?” she asked her neighbor from down the street.

  “I’m not sure, but I overheard something about electrical fire? There were two fire engines originally. They are both gone, and they left a few men behind to board up the place. I suppose to keep looters away until morning when the real fence will go up. I’ve seen similar cases before. This one isn’t so bad, at least from up here, and it seems like the fire department got everything under control pretty quick.” She looked at Mina, “You missed the whole exciting show. And the house is vacant, right?” Mina nodded.

  The only dark place in the whole neighborhood was hers. Apparently Millie had also missed the whole exciting show as the neighbor put it. Pounding came from down by Kalinda’s main entrance, possibly more boarding up of the premises. Had anyone alerted De Fiore? Probably not.

  “Better head on home to make sure the cats are not frightened out of their minds. Luckily our B&B is still closed for vacation. That’s a lucky break.”

  Most people headed home, show over.

  Just then Millie arrived, probably as stunned and anxious as Mina had been minutes ago.

  Mina followed Millie’s car inside the gate. The motion light outside her front door came on just as Millie slipped out of her car.

  “What happened?” she asked.

  Mina shrugged. “I beat you by maybe ten minutes, crossed paths with the last fire engine leaving the scene. Have no clue about any of this. Let’s go inside and make sure our babies are okay. They must be so frightened. Can you imagine? With the roaring of the engines and the sirens…”

  Mina unlocked her door and turned on her lights as she walked by. All was quiet for about thirty seconds, and then a rush of little paws came from upstairs. Aria zipped down first. Next came Zeus. He sounded like a bowling ball, very unusual for him. Millie grabbed him on the last step. “Where is Houdini?” she asked.

  “No clue. Let me get them some food in the kitchen. I want to know how your evening in Lake Forrest went. I’m baffled that no one called De Fiore about the fire. Then again, it’s not his house. Strange.”

  Her foot hit something and sent it rolling, she bent to see what it was, a tiny silver bell.

  She looked up and saw Millie smiling. ”Looks like someone isn’t very fond of your collar.”

  Mina stared at the bell. “Looks like he chewed through the leather lace.” She sighed. “Where is he? Dear God, I hope he didn’t get himself in the mess out there.”

  “I wouldn’t be too conc
erned, dear. Cats are not attracted to fire. The older boy called while I was at Tom’s. They were to set up a meeting place that won’t be too inconvenient for the people he works for. They’ll be the ones dropping him off. I’m going back home—not much we can do about Kalinda’s place now.”

  “Millie?”

  “Yes, dear, what is it? You look—troubled—you know Houdini. He’ll be back.”

  “It’s not Houdini. It’s… don’t you find it strange that we both got invited away from here and didn’t get back until after the fire was out? How many times has it happened since we have been working together that we’re both gone and…”

  “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” Millie stepped back, her arms still holding Zeus. “For what purpose? Tom hardly knows De Fiore, and he has never met Kalinda that I know.”

  “I don’t know, Millie, I have a bad feeling, had it since this afternoon, like I’m being set up. But by whom? For what?”

  “Do you want me to sleep in your spare bedroom?”

  “No, no. Of course not. Go on, go home, I’ll see if I can find Houdini, that vagabond.”

  She walked Millie out through the garage, so she could get directly home without going around the outside of the house, and just as she was locking the side door, Houdini made his grand entrance—tail up straight. He reeked of smoke.

  She quickened her pace to keep up with him. He paused in the kitchen where Aria had just finished her dry food. Mina could see he still had the collar on, so he’d just chewed off the leather holding the bell. She had to hand it to him; he was a bright cat.

  And she was exhausted, mentally more than physically. She couldn’t shake the eerie feeling of being watched… in her own house? In the dark of the night? She walked upstairs and glanced from the window. She could barely make out the roofline of Kalinda’s place. That was good. Maybe the damage was minimal. The neighbor had said the firefighters were there quickly.

  Houdini hopped on the bed and rubbed his head against her shoulder. “You bad boy. I can smell the smoke on your coat. You’ve been snooping around the fire, haven’t you?”