The Hitwoman and the Poisoned Apple (Confessions of a Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman Book 8)

by JB Lynn

  “What power you yield, Maggie,” Clyde mocked.

  “Right time, right place,” I replied, meeting his mocking gaze. I wasn’t sure I liked Stacy’s fiancé.

  “You’re probably here to visit Katie,” Stacy said, oblivious to the tension that hung in the air. “We won’t keep you.”

  Forcing myself to smile, I said to Clyde, “It was nice meeting you.” Then, surprising us both, I pulled Stacy into a tight hug. “Call me. Anytime.”

  “Sure will,” Stacy chirped.

  The moment Vinnie saw me moving in his direction, he spun away and disappeared around a corner. I followed the scent of his overwhelming aftershave all the way to the cafeteria. I told myself that my stomach churned nervously because of the smell, but really it was because meetings with Delveccio always make me nervous.

  For one thing, I never know which of the identical twin mobsters I’m talking to, and for another, I never know what I’m going to be asked to do. I hoped whatever it was this time, it was something cut-and-dry. I already felt off-balance and didn’t relish the idea of the tightrope I might have to walk between keeping him happy (he is a mobster after all) and living by my principles. I know it probably sounds strange that someone who kills people for money, even though I use the money to pay for Katie’s care, would have principles, but I do. I only kill bad people, people who deserve it. In a way, you could say I’m a well-compensated public servant. I make the world a better place.

  Stepping into the cafeteria, I spotted Delveccio sitting at his usual table in the farthest corner. He only had one bowl of chocolate pudding in front of him, which I took to mean I was supposed to get my own.

  I got in line beside a harried mother and a rambunctious young boy. The boy was demanding cherry-flavored gelatin. The mom was insisting he eat something healthy first.

  “The eternal struggle between good and evil,” a deep voice rumbled behind me.

  Turning, I had to tilt my head back to get a good look at the man speaking. Dark haired, he had one of those “intentionally messy” haircuts that went perfectly with the mischievous look in his dark eyes. He wore black from head-to-toe. The scent, not an unpleasant one, of his leather jacket tickled my nose.

  “I’m guessing the bad will win out,” he said, flashing a smile of perfect white teeth. “What do you think?”

  I glanced at the mother and child, taking in the exhausted slope of her shoulders and found myself nodding in agreement with his assessment.

  “I don’t suppose you know what’s good here?” he asked.

  “Unfortunately,” I confessed, “I’ve eaten just about everything on this menu and there’s nothing that I’d recommend except, maybe, dessert.”

  “You work here?”

  “No. A family member is a patient.”

  “I’m sorry,” he murmured with such sincerity I found myself looking back up at him. Sympathy shimmered in his gaze. “It’s a terrible place to spend a lot of time.”

  I got the impression he was speaking from experience, though I was unsure if he’d been the patient or the loved one who’d done the waiting.

  Wanting to chase away some the sadness in his eyes, I assured him, “She’s improving.”

  “That’s great,” his tone was correct, but the smile that went with it missed its mark, like he thought I was patronizing him. He jerked is chin forward. “Your turn, which will it be, light or dark?”

  I blinked. “Excuse me?”

  “How do you take your pudding? You said that it’s the only thing you’d recommend.” He pitched his voice lower. “There’s no telling what your choice will reveal.”

  I looked away, pretending to focus on the bowls of dairy goodness. What I was really thinking was that all my choices lately seemed to be revealing a lot about me. And I wasn’t too happy about what I saw.

  “You first,” I said, stepping aside and waving him forward.

  He smirked as though he saw right through my ploy. “Ladies first.”

  Sighing, I grabbed a banana, suddenly too self-conscious to choose a pudding.

  If my choice revealed anything to him, he didn’t comment on it. Instead, he put one chocolate and one tapioca pudding on his plastic tray.

  I paid for the fruit and a cup of coffee before turning toward Delveccio’s table, only to find that he, along with Vinnie, had disappeared. Unsure of what I should do next, I slipped into the nearest seat and blew over the top of my coffee, trying to cool it.

  “Mind if I join you?”

  I didn’t have to look up to know that it was Mr. Good and Evil. I shrugged.

  He took that as an invitation and sat in the chair opposite me. “Thanks. I hate to eat alone.” He tentatively tasted the tapioca pudding. “Not bad.”

  “Told ya.” I sipped my coffee.

  “So who are you visiting?”

  “My niece.”

  He frowned, deep grooves settling into the corners of his mouth and between his eyes. “I’m sorry.”

  “I told you, she’s improving.”

  He arched a skeptical eyebrow. “Really?”

  “Well she was in a coma and now she’s out of it and she should be ready to come home soon, so I consider that to be a major improvement.”

  His frown disappeared. “What happened to her?”

  A painful lump rose in my throat and tears came to my eyes. Even though so much had happened over the past few months, the pain and grief still felt fresh.

  He leaned over the table, grabbing my coffee before I dropped it. Setting the cardboard cup down, he pried my fingers off it and squeezed my hand. “I apologize. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  I nodded wordlessly.

  Shaking his head, he muttered in a voice dripping with self-recrimination, “Me and my stupid questions.”

  “It’s okay,” I told him.

  “It’s not.”

  “It was a car accident,” I began haltingly.

  “You don’t have to tell me. It’s none of my business.”

  “The car accident killed my sister Teresa and her husband and left Katie in a coma. I was the only one who escaped unscathed.” That, of course, isn’t completely true. Because of the bump on the head I’d sustained, I’d developed the ability to talk to animals, but that wasn’t anything I was willing to share with anyone with two legs.

  “Survivor’s guilt,” he murmured sympathetically and again I got the impression he was speaking from personal experience.

  I looked down at where he’d intertwined his fingers with mine. Part of me knew I shouldn’t be holding hands with a stranger I’d just met, but another part of me relished the connection. It made me feel grounded. It made me feel like I was actually participating in my life, not just observing how crazy my life can be.

  I swallowed hard, leaving my hand in his. “So now I’m Katie’s legal guardian.”

  He let out a low whistle. “That’s a lot to take on.”

  I nodded. He had no idea.

  “I have a lot of family support.” Again it wasn’t completely true. While my aunts wanted to be helpful, they often prove to be more of a hindrance.

  “I mean, they’re a crazy bunch, but they mean well.”

  He chuckled and let go of my hand.

  “So now you know my life story,” I teased. “And I don’t even know your name.”

  “Jack. Jack Stern.”

  “I’m Maggie Lee.”

  He smiled warmly. “It’s been a pleasure to meet you, Maggie.”

  “What are you doing?” a shrill voice shrieked from across the cafeteria.

  I flinched. Even though my back was to her, I’d recognize Aunt Leslie’s voice anywhere.

  “Did I mention my crazy family bit?” I whispered to Jack before turning to face her. “I’m having a cup of coffee, Aunt Leslie. Care to join me?”

  “Katie’s waiting for you.”

  “Was I supposed to have somehow known that?” I countered, doing my best to keep my voice level.

  Leslie considered
that for a moment. “I guess not.” She glared at poor Jack Stern as though everything was his fault. “Who are you?”

  He stood and flashed her a smile so charming that a mortal woman’s heart would have melted. “Jack Stern.”

  “What are you doing with my niece?”

  To his credit, Jack’s smile didn’t waver. “Just passing the time.”

  “Well you shouldn’t be. She has places to be. No need to get distracted by some tall, good-looking stranger.”

  Jack looked down at me. “Is that true?”

  “What?” I teased. “That I have places to be or that you’re a tall, good-looking stranger?”

  “But we’re not strangers,” he countered flirtatiously.

  Thinking of the way his hand had felt holding mine, I had to agree with him. “No,” I conceded, “we’re not. But I do have places to be.” Grudgingly, I stood, picked up my coffee and banana, and grinned at him. “It was nice meeting you, Jack.”

  “The pleasure was truly all mine.” He bowed slightly.

  “Oh enough already.” Leslie grabbed my elbow and began dragging me away. “You have other things to worry about.”

  I flashed Jack a last apologetic smile over my shoulder, as shaking his head, he sat back down.

  “What’s so urgent?” I asked as Leslie hustled me out of the cafeteria.

  “I told you, Katie’s waiting.”

  “And I was coming back.” I shook her grip off me, more annoyed than I cared to admit that she’d broken up my pleasant interlude with Jack Stern. Not that I was particularly interested him. With his dentist-enhanced smile and a black leather jacket that probably cost what I make in a week, he was way out of my league. Besides, I was smitten with Patrick. A guy who, like me, kills people for money. A guy who was married. A guy who, in his own way, was even more unattainable than Jack might be.

  I frowned as I shuffled through the hallways toward Katie’s room, once again considering the very real possibility that I was destined to spend my life alone. My mother had loved the wrong guy (my dad) and look where she’d ended up: the loony bin. Maybe the apple didn’t fall from the tree.

  “You’ll talk to Susan?” Leslie asked, interrupting my stream of depressing thoughts.

  Not that thinking about another lovelorn member of the family offered much in the way of solace or hope. “I’ll talk to her,” I said carefully. “But I’m not going to tell her what to do.”

  “Good,” Leslie declared. “I’ll talk to Griswald and Loretta will give Bob a piece of her mind.”

  I didn’t know which of the men I felt more sorry for.

  “Between the three of us, we should get this settled soon so life can get back to normal.” Leslie patted me on the shoulder like I was doing something admirable.

  Considering I considered our family to be anything but “normal,” I wondered what she was envisioning. “And then what?”

  “Susan will see that neither is right for her,” Leslie declared matter-of-factly.

  That thought made me sad. Susan deserved to have someone special in her life. “I like them both.”

  “What do you know about love?” Leslie scoffed.

  “What do you?” I retaliated.

  “I know my sister,” she said stubbornly. “This is what’s best for her.”

  Thankfully, we’d reached Katie’s room and I didn’t have to respond. I swept inside with a big grin. “How are you doing, baby girl?”

  “Aunt Maggie!” She bounced on her bed. “You came!”

  I scooped her up in a big hug. “Of course I did. Did you think I wouldn’t?”

  I shot an accusing look at Leslie. What kind of nonsense had she planted in Katie’s head?

  Leslie feigned innocence, batting her eyelashes.

  Turning away from her, I focused on my niece, thrilled to see the sparkle in her eyes and the pink in her cheeks. “How’d it go at physical therapy?”

  “It was okay. Will you play Sorry with me?”

  I nodded. Aunt Susan had brought the old board game that had occupied my sisters and I for many hours over the years, and taught Katie to play.

  Katie jumped out of bed, recovered the game box from on top of the rooms’ air conditioning unit, and tossed it on the bed. “What color do you want to be?”

  “Green,” I murmured, knowing that she liked to be yellow.

  While she and I played the game, Leslie slipped away.

  After a lot of giggling, Katie finally won the game. “Sorry!” she crowed, making it clear she wasn’t in the slightest.

  A male chuckle, coming from the direction of the door, got my attention. I turned to find one of the Delveccios standing there, watching us.

  “How’s Dominic?” I asked.

  “Doctors say he’s improving,” the mobster replied, casting a tender smile in the direction of the little boy lying silent on the other bed in the room.

  “That’s great.” I’d once gone to considerable trouble to keep the kid alive, so I felt a surge of pride that he was recovering.

  “Can we play another game, Aunt Maggie?” Katie asked.

  I swung my attention back to her and wrinkled my nose. “Only if you promise you won’t beat me.”

  She giggled and teased, “Sorrrrry. I can’t do that.”

  “Well fine,” I huffed with false indignation.

  “Do you want to play, Mr. D.?” she asked the friendly mobster.

  “I’m sure Mr. Delveccio doesn’t know how to play Sorry.” I offered Delveccio an apologetic smile.

  “Actually, I do.” He lumbered across the room. “And I’ve been known to win, young lady.” He winked at Katie who dissolved into another set of giggles.

  “Do you want to be red or blue?” she asked.

  “I’ll take red.” Pulling a chair close, he settled in to play a round of the rousing board game.

  While she set up his pieces, he glanced over the board at me and said a tad too casually, “What were you talking about with the reporter?”

  “Oh Stacy’s not a reporter,” I assured him. Then I realized that her fiancé’s brother, Walter, might be. “He’s a reporter? I didn’t know.”

  “I go first!” Katie called.

  “Why’d you think I left the cafeteria?” Delveccio asked.

  I blinked, mentally racing to catch up with the conversation. He wasn’t saying that Walter was a reporter. He’d meant Jack.

  “Uhhh…” I stalled, trying not to say anything stupid. “I thought maybe you had urgent business to attend to.”

  Delveccio’s gaze narrowed, but instead of replying, he moved one of his game pieces. The ruby in his pinky ring caught the light and its reflection swept over the board like a laser beam.

  “Your turn, Aunt Maggie,” Katie prompted.

  Complying, I picked a card.

  “So I need a favor,” Delveccio said, staring intently at the board like it was the most fascinating thing he’d ever seen.

  I tensed. I’d known he wanted something. I hoped I’d be able to deliver. “Does ‘favor’ mean no payment’s involved?”

  He chuckled and I’m pretty sure I heard him whisper, “Ballsy broad” under his breath.

  Katie clapped enthusiastically, pleased by her card.

  “Payment can be negotiated,” Delveccio conceded. “I need a package delivered.”

  That caught me off guard. I looked at him closely, trying to determine if this was some kind of code language. Usually our conversations centered on him needing someone whacked. He didn’t usually need me to do my best pony express impression.

  He moved his piece, not giving me any indication of what he was thinking.

  “A package delivered, not disposed of?” I asked, needing clarification.

  “Delivered,” he confirmed.

  “I won’t be some kind of—” I searched for a term to substitute for drug mule. “A pharmaceutical donkey.”

  He shot me a look that made it clear he thought I was the world’s biggest ass. “No donkey duties.�
��

  “That should be doable,” I said slowly. “Assuming it doesn’t violate—”

  He held up a hand to silence me. “I just need it done quietly. It’s not the kind of job I can entrust to just anyone. I know the parameters you operate within.”

  I might drive the mobster a little crazy sometimes, but he respected my principles.

  “Aunt Maggie…” Katie tugged on the sleeve of my shirt. “Pay attention. It’s your turn.”

  “Bossy,” I teased back, reaching out and ruffling her hair affectionately.

  When she grinned back at me, I realized that all the work I’d done for the Delveccio family was worth it. I may have sold my soul, but I’d bought the health and happiness of the person who was most important to me.

  Principled or not, that seemed like a fair deal.

  ~#~

  I returned to the Bed and Breakfast in a good mood. I’d enjoyed my visit with Katie, gotten to see Patrick, and felt like Delveccio’s favor, whatever it was, was doable. Not to mention that the extra day off from my day job meant I could catch up on the important things in life, like laundry, watching TV, and maybe even taking a nap. I dare say I practically skipped through the kitchen.

  Bob, Aunt Susan’s ex-boyfriend, was there, his back to me, repairing the kitchen window. A window he’d broken by chucking a rock through it like a lovesick twelve-year-old, inadvertently striking Loretta’s fiancé, Templeton, in the head.

  I stopped in my tracks, suddenly aware I had no idea where Templeton was. The last I knew, he’d had a bad reaction to one of the medications they’d administered at the hospital and almost died. Was he still there? Or had he been released?

  A knot of guilt formed in my gut. Even though I had so much going on, I couldn’t believe I’d forgotten about the man who’d once saved my life when my crazy ex tried to kill me. My mind raced, trying to figure out how I could determine his condition without upsetting one or all of my aunts. Who could I ask?

  “You okay, Maggie?” Bob asked, turning around.

  “I was thinking about Templeton.”

  Bob grimaced, looking as guilty as I felt. “I really do feel rotten about that. I never meant for anyone to get hurt.”

  “I know.”

  “He accepted my apology.” Bob leaned back against the counter. “I mean he’s a little odd, but overall he’s a decent guy.”