by Julie Ramson
“Oh, ‘tis such a pleasure to bake for you all!” she said. “And now I will bake for Patrick’s kids, too, so I will!” She went upstairs to get her bag packed.
Sean turned to me. “What’s this about John? What do you mean about Whip? Or Louie?”
“Both made visits to John!” I answered. Digs nodded. “What? When?” Sean was shocked.
I nodded. “We need to talk. Stop over later after you take Fee to her son’s.” Sean nodded. “Where’s Jimmy? I asked.
“He went to check on Emily. He’s really involved with her.” Sean looked worried. I was too.
Just then, Fee came down the stairs and Sean went to help her with her bag. We all walked out. I gave Fee a hug and thanked her again for the cookies. “They are the best - and so are you!” She beamed.
Digs also gave her a hug and told her to enjoy her days at her son’s. She and Sean left in his squad.
I walked over to Lily’s house. “I wish I could figure out what is hiding in there. And where.” Digs came up and put his arm around me.
“Me, too. I can’t help but think that the money or something is in that house. We just don’t know where.” We stood silently looking at it. Killer nudged my hand. I looked down and groaned. He had sugar crystals all over his snout. “Good thing you are cute, Killer. Because if you weren’t......” I bent and cleaned his face while Digs watched, smirking.
“Don’t give me that look! You’re no better than Killer!”
“Me?” He gave me the innocent look. “I don’t get my face all messy when I eat!”
“No, but you’re just as much trouble.”
We all climbed in the car and headed home. If Vito - or his man, Whip, or someone else in the mob - was responsible for the killings, the case would be closed. Then how much longer would Digs stay?
We got home and Killer raced around in the cold air, chasing imaginary squirrels. It was starting to get dark. Digs came up and slid his arms around me. “Hungry, Toots?” He nuzzled my neck. “I can cook again, if you want......but there’s a price this time.” He kissed the back of my neck.
“Yes, I’m hungry. And you can put it on my tab,” I smiled.
“Ah, but when is the pay date?” He continued kissing me. There in the parking lot, in front of everyone! Although, truthfully, no one was watching. He turned me around and settled in for some serious kissing. Killer sat at our feet, for once not in motion.
A car pulled in, the motor gunning and lights flashing. Startled, we jumped apart. Jimmy and Sean got out grinning.
“You two are as adolescent as two fourteen year olds,” I grumbled. “Really, have you ever considered growing up?”
Jimmy looked at Sean. “I haven’t, have you Sean?”
“Me? Nope. Don’t think I have. Don’t think I will.”
Digs shook his head. “Am I cooking for all of you?” he asked.
“Probably. I have never known either one of these two morons to turn down food.” I started toward the building.
“Guess I’d better go to the store, then,” Digs ambled off to the car. “Don’t forget to check the apartment, Sean,” he called.
Sean got to my door and stopped. He put his hand on his gun and pulled out his key. He walked in with Jimmy and Killer right behind him. I could hear them moving. Sean returned and said, “All clear.”
We walked in and I went for the wine. This had definitely been a wine kind of day. I poured. “Sean, Digs and I will tell you about our visit to John over dinner. ” He nodded.
“So, Jimmy, how’s Emily?” I asked.
He frowned. “I’m not sure. She told me today that she just wanted an evening alone. She had some thinking to do. Whatever that means.” Sean and I exchanged glances.
“Jimmy, are you two getting involved? I mean, is this serious?” I was really getting concerned. I didn’t want Jimmy to get hurt.
“Yes, maybe. I don’t know.” He sounded unhappy. I took him a glass of wine.
“Don’t rush this, Jimmy. I mean, Emily is great and all, but take your time. She’s been through a lot lately.” I tried to be gentle but I wasn’t sure at all that Emily was as interested in Jimmy - or interested in the same way - as he was in her.
“I know,” he said. But he still looked unhappy. “But,” he said , brightening, “I did stop at the hospital and Chris McCann is doing great! They expect her to go home tomorrow and she says she’ll be as good as new!”
“That’s terrific!” We all raised our glasses and toasted Chris’ recovery. Digs walked in at that moment and I said, “Chris McCann is going home tomorrow!”
He smiled. “Oh, great!”
I walked over and peered in the grocery bags. Some kind of steak, peppers, potatoes, onions, rolls....... “What? No dessert?” I gave him a mock glare.
He smiled innocently. “We have cookies, don’t you remember?”
“Oh no, we don’t have cookies! I have cookies and if you think I am using up and wasting all my good homemade cookies on you three idiots, you can think again!” I put my hands on my hips and glared at him. “Don’t even think it!”
He grinned. And pulled out a chocolate pie from the other shopping bag. “I’ve known you long enough to know I had to bring dessert or any hope of bed rights would be nil,” he said softly into my ear.
“Damn right.” I said. We walked through the dining area and into the kitchen. I handed him his glass of wine. He put it down again and reached for me. He had that focused look in those laser blues and leaned in. He kissed softly, then pulled in for a harder, better kiss. I broke away. He was addictive.
“You get started and I’ll make Jimmy and Sean help set the table.” I said. He just grinned.
“I’m expecting big pay and a really big tip for making another dinner,” he warned. “And feeding Sean and Jimmy to boot!”
I patted his cheek. “You just expect anything that makes you happy. And that makes you cook dinner.” I laughed.
We go the table set and Jimmy helped Digs peel potatoes and cut the steak. They cut peppers and Sean and I sat in the dining area.
“I’ve started a time line, Sean, of all the events. I’m trying to put everyone in so that we have a clear picture of where everyone was and what they were doing when each of the murders and attacks took place.”
“Great idea, Mag. That should be very helpful - and interesting.” He put his head back. “Where do you think this John Reilly fits in?” He eyed me. “What did you mean that both Whip and Louie went to see him? That’s suspicious.”
“Yes it is. More than you know. We’ll explain.” Digs and Jimmy joined us while the meat cooked.
Digs told them both about Whip’s visit to John in August. He said that John had known his uncle worked for the mob and decided he didn’t want to be part of that. “Says he’s a coward,” Digs grinned. “But I doubt that.” Then he went on to say that Whip - a huge man with a large scar on his forehead - asked John if he thought Lily had known about her husband’s activities. John had told him he didn’t think so.
John had thought that his uncle and Tony Corelli had stolen the money from Lefty and when Tony disappeared, suspected his uncle may have killed him. When no body was ever found, though, he decided that Tony had taken his half and run. In August, the skeleton was found and John then believed that his uncle had done it. Especially after Whip told him the skeleton had one of the specially made serpent rings.
“Why didn’t he call the police?” Sean was suspicious.
“I asked him that,” I said. “He said with what? He didn’t know anything - his information had come from the newspapers. He and his uncle never discussed any of this.”
Jimmy nodded. “I can see this, actually. In his shoes, I would not have wanted to bring the mob’s attention to me, either.”
“I don't. I mean, yeah, I understand he didn't have a lot of information, but still. He could have called someone.” Sean argued grudgingly.
“Plus,” I added with a straight face. “He’s drop dead go
rgeous.” I wiggled my eyebrows at Sean. “How could he be a killer?” I got just the reaction I expected.
All three rolled their eyes. “So, a good looking guy can’t be a killer? “Are you nuts?” “Ever see a picture of Ted Bundy?” They laughed, made faces and shook their heads.
“Okay, okay,” I laughed too. “But seriously, I don’t know whether I believe him or not. He and Emily obviously don’t seem to care for each other much and I still don't think he is being totally honest with us.”
I stopped and slapped the table. “I forgot the most important part!” I told them about the conversation John overheard between Herbert and Tony Corelli. And that they had both known Louie Bacci.
“But,” Digs said, “we don't know how much John was doing for his uncle at that point.”
“Or if he himself was involved in the theft of Lefty's money or the murder of Corelli.” Sean finished.
Digs then added that John initially thought that maybe Louie had killed Lily, but then his body was found. He really had no idea of who killed his aunt - or why.
“A cover?” Jimmy asked.
Digs and I looked at each other and shrugged.
“We didn’t say anything about Whip’s attack on Maggie last night either.” Digs said. “No reason to.” Both Sean and Jimmy nodded in agreement.
Jimmy said, “I keep coming back to Vito. If he believes that the body was Tony’s - like we do - then he would want that money back. He could have threatened Lily, or more likely, sent one of his men to do it. He could have murdered Louie, thinking Louie knew more than he was admitting.”
Sean agreed. “After Lily’s murder, he could have had someone keep an eye on Lily’s house. That doesn’t explain the murder of Castelletti or the torching of his house, though. Castelletti didn’t have any connections with the mob that we can find. How would he fit in?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know, except that it may simply have been that he saw Vito come to Lily’s house. Castelletti would have known who Vito was. If Vito thought that Castelletti saw him or one of his men at Lily’s and then Lily is found murdered, then he could have gotten rid of Castelletti for that alone.”
Digs disagreed. “Then why leave him in the basement of the house? Why torch it? The mob has much more efficient ways of getting rid of those people they no longer want around. They don’t usually leave the bodies around to be discovered.” He went into the kitchen and started bringing in the food.
Whoa. Pepper steak over mashed potatoes, peas, rolls and wine. This man was amazing.
“Where did you learn to cook like this?” I asked, scooping up mashed potatoes and steak gravy.
“I travel, Toots. If I wanted to eat something besides fast food and restaurant cooking, I had to learn to cook. So I did.”
“I’m impressed!” Sean rolled his eyes in ecstasy. “This is delicious, Digs. I had no idea you could do this!”
“And if you tell, I will have to kill you.” Digs grinned at me. “Or at least make you pay.”
I rolled my eyes. “I think of this as just a very nice gift.”
“Think whatever you like, Honey, if it makes you happy.” Digs mimicked my earlier remarks. I had to laugh.
“Sean, has the ballistics results come back on the bullet found with the skeleton yet?” I asked.
“Hopefully within the next day or two.” he said. “We think that it’s going to match Herbert’s gun, though. We’re investigating based on that assumption.
We finished eating and Digs brought in the pie. Jimmy’s eyes lit up. He’s as big a chocolaholic as I am. I got the coffee and mugs and we dug in.
Finally, I sat back. “Wow, Digs. Thank you! It was fabulous. I hope there are leftovers?”
Digs laughed. “Some. Not as many as I think you are hoping for though.”
I gave an elaborate sigh. “Figures. We fed Sean and Jimmy, two of the biggest vacuum cleaners in the western world.” I mock glared at Sean who just grinned at me. I got up and refilled the coffee cups.
Digs wrapped his hands around the cup. “I think we need to really focus on Whip. I take it he didn’t surface today?”
Sean and Jimmy nodded. “Nope. And we can charge him with assault, but without a threat of injury he’d be out of custody in an hour.” Jimmy sounded disgusted. “I think we need to put more protection on Emily,” Jimmy said. “If the mob - Whip - did kill Lily it’s because he thinks that the money Herbert stole is in her house.”
Digs watched Jimmy a minute, then looked at Sean. “I agree. I also think,” he rolled his eyes, “that we should let Brice know about this.”
Sean and Jimmy exchanged glances then nodded. Sean pulled out his phone and dialed. “Brice, Sean here. There’s been some interesting information I think you should know.” Sean explained about my visit with John and his startling disclosure about Whip’s - and Louie’s - visits to him. Brice called for a meeting the following morning at the police station. Nine am. He wanted all of us there.
Shortly after that, Jimmy left. I turned to the kitchen, dishes in my hand. “Digs! Did you give Killer pepper steak?” I couldn’t believe it!
“Of course. He’s family, aren’t you big guy?” Killer looked up at him with unconditional love on his face. Digs grinned and got his leash. He winked at me and petted Killer’s head as they strolled out together. Killer was doing the-Happy-I-Love-Digs-and-Pepper-Steak dance. Feed that dog and he was yours for life, I thought.
Sean and I cleaned up and put everything away or in the dishwasher. “He’s a good guy, Maggie,” Sean said quietly.
“I know, Sean. But he’s also like the wind. Here today and gone tomorrow.” Sean nodded again.
“True. But still a good guy.”
When Digs and Killer returned, Sean sat again at the kitchen table. He had his coat on. “I can pick you up at 8:30 or meet you at the station. Which?”
Digs looked at me. “We’ll meet you there.” Sean nodded.
“I want to work on the timeline tomorrow, too.” I added. Both Digs and Sean headed out the door. We closed the door and Digs locked all the locks. Killer circled the mat in the kitchen and settled down. He always started the night in my kitchen and ended up somehow in my bedroom. He was a goof but he was my goof.
I got up and went into the kitchen. One last cookie before bed. Everyone knows that homemade cookies don’t have any calories. Not like store bought cookies.
Digs came up behind me and slid one arm around my waist and the other reached out and grabbed the cookie out of my hand.
“Hey, watch it Buster or you’ll lose that hand!” I tried to grab it back. He held it over my head, then stuffed it into his mouth. I could feel him grinning as he kissed my neck.
“Cookies before bed aren’t good for you,” he laughed. “And we need to change that dressing.” I sighed and walked toward the bathroom. “I can probably do it tonight.”
“And deprive me? I’ve been looking forward to seeing that leg again all day.” He followed me into the bathroom and pulled down the supplies. I turned my back and took off my jeans. He started to unwind the bandage. “Looking better,” he said as he lifted the bandage. I looked too. Didn’t look any better to me. Still ugly with black edges and puckered skin. Yick.
“Better is definitely in the eye of the beholder,” I groused as he re-bandaged the area. He finished and, still kneeling next to me, leaned in for a kiss. “Ah, Maggie.” He got up and held out his hand. I rose but didn’t take it.
Digs studied me for a minute. “You still mad at me for something?” he asked.
“No. I’m not mad. I just don’t need any more complications right now.” I sighed and went toward the bedroom. Digs followed.
“Maggie, I can’t make promises. But stop for a minute. What is it you want?”
I didn’t turn around. “I don’t know, Digs.” But I did know. I didn’t want anything permanent right now. I wanted to not have to worry if someone was going to try and kill me today. I wanted this case to be over. And not. I did
n’t want Digs to leave. Beyond not getting hit on the head or shot at, who the hell knew what I wanted?
Digs came up and rested his chin lightly on the top of my head. “When you figure it out, Mag, let me know.” He kissed my head then hugged me. And left.
I pulled on my nightshirt and turned the bedcovers down. And felt guilty. Digs shouldn’t have to sleep on the couch. It was too short. He was only here to protect me, after all. I walked out to the living room where he was spreading a sheet on the sofa. I put my hands on my hips and scowled. “You can have bed rights....but you have to give me another cookie first.” He stopped, then turned around slowly with a wicked grin. “What kind of cookie, Little Girl?” He leered.
“Not that kind! One of Fiona’s.” I marched over to the dining room table and waited. Digs walked into the kitchen and came back with both a sugar and chocolate chip cookie on a plate for me - and three on another plate for him!
“I didn’t want to take any chances on bringing the wrong kind,” he explained. He went back and got two glasses of milk. “And the milk is for good measure. A man can’t be too careful.” He wiggled his eyebrows at me.
I had to laugh. Damn. I liked him and his goofy sense of humor. That was the problem.
“I’m going to work on that timeline tomorrow, Digs, after the meeting. Maybe that will help put some of this into perspective.” He nodded.
“Sean and Jimmy and I talked about going out to Cicero and talking to the police there. Plus, we want to get a copy of that photo Louie had with the three men. The one that Lily had in her house. They might be more willing to talk to us if we are alone.”
I nodded. “As long as you give me a full report!”
He eyed me warily. “Are you going to get mad again if I suggest that you have Sam over to help you? I really don’t like to think of you all alone here. We can pick her up after the meeting.”
“Yeah, I can ask her.” Frankly, I wasn’t thrilled with that prospect either. “But you have to cook dinner then.” I wasn’t about to give in easily. “And I’d like fish, please. Fresh fish. With a sauce. And wine. And a big chocolate something for dessert.” I licked cookies crumbs off my fingers,