by J R Pearson
Heated and Spiced with Murder
A Josie Rizzo Cozy Mystery
J R Pearson
Copyright © 2016 J R Pearson
All Rights Reserved.
No part of this publication nor any of the information herein may be quoted from, nor reproduced, in any form, including but not limited to: printing, scanning, photocopying or any other printed, digital, or audio formats, without prior express written consent of the copyright holder.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction.
Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Dedicated
to Otis Pearson
CHAPTER ONE
Shadows creeped in the corners of the room. The pleasant sound of guitar strings intermingled with the steady hum of murmurs—making Josie aware she wasn’t alone.
Tantalizing spices tickled her senses.
She was in love.
"It’s beautiful here, Tony." Josie gazed around the restaurant, though she preferred gazing at him. It was date night with her longtime friend and now boyfriend Tony Santino.
He was just a smidgen over six feet tall. Muscle on top of muscle. Tattoos wrapped around his large bicep—concealed under the sleeves of his dark suit. A head of thick, luscious dark hair, a wicked grin, and eyes that gleamed mischief. It was Thursday night and Tony insisted they spend it at Tortillas and Beans, where his friend, Manny Epstein, owner and chef, dished out mean fajitas.
Tony hit the mark with the cozy, romantic setting for their date. He also got brownie points for choosing a restaurant in the city of West Emily. It was pleasantly far away from Greenville's nosy residents. They'd been keeping their new relationship status quiet from Josie's stir-fried crazy family. The thought of Aunt Kendra catching them munching on tamales and then telling Josie's grandbaby-craving mother nearly made Josie break out into hives.
"You’re beautiful," Tony said, interrupting her inner turmoil. He reached across the table and lightly held her hand. He enjoyed watching her. Of course, in a non-creepy way. The candle brightened her green eyes. Her long hair, curlier tonight, touched her sun-kissed shoulders that were exposed from the deep red dress she wore. And when she smiled shyly, as she was doing now, the left side of her mouth quirked up, revealing a dimple, and lifting a beauty mark.
Josie's insides melted. She still couldn't believe she and Tony were a couple. Just a while ago, he had breezed back into her life and turned it upside down. Make no mistake—this was what she wanted. She was very happy and didn’t mind when life got crazy. Just as long as Tony was by her side.
"Tony! My boy!" A large bald man with a thick mustache came up to their table. Tony stood up, and the two men hugged, the large man clapping Tony's back. "How are you?"
"I'm good, Manny." Tony beamed at the older man.
Josie smiled at the display. Tony didn’t seem to mind the large man calling him boy. This was like a father and son relationship, a relationship Tony was robbed of.
"Ah, and who is this lovely lotus blossom?" Manny smiled at her.
"Manny, this is Josie." Tony introduced them. Instead of a bear hug, Manny gently kissed her hand. His mustache tickled her skin.
"It's nice to meet you, Manny."
"Ahhh, so pretty. Don’t let her get away, now," Manny advised. Across the table, Tony met Josie's eyes.
"I won’t."
"Good! Now we eat!"
* * *
Josie took out a small notepad from her purse, ready to jot down her impressions of tonight's delicious meal. She was pumped to give those first impressions to the readers of her food blog, Good Eatin’ For The Curvy Soul. Manny started them with lime tortilla chips, chunky salsa (not the watery kind), and guacamole. Next, she and Tony split a dish of small soft-shell tacos filled with cilantro, avocado, and shredded beef.
"Hold on a sec," she said. Tony waited while she squeezed a few drops of lime on the tacos, and then he preceded to take a bite.
"Amazing," he nodded.
A handsome man with caramel skin and cocoa-colored eyes stepped up to their table. Sleek black hair plastered to his skull, he wore a blinding smile, red apron, and nametag: Jacob Ramirez. Ramirez set down two bowls of white rice, black beans, and green peppers.
"Compliments from the chef," he purred, eyes on Josie. To her surprise, Ramirez boldly lifted her hand.
"Miss, you are absolutely breathtaking," he said. "The warm glow of a mid-summer eclipse frosts underneath the beauty you bestow upon it."
Oookkay. Josie removed her hand from his grasp. "Thank you.... I think."
Looking murderous, Tony openly glared at the waiter. "Walk away," he growled. "Now.”
"Of course." Ramirez bowed, then sauntered back into the kitchen.
"I wonder how many women he used that line on tonight." Tony shook his head angrily. “I hope you didn’t fall for that crap."
"Seriously, Tony?" Josie pierced a bean with her fork. "You should know you're the only one that makes me feel like a chili pepper.” She winked.
After they spent moments in spicy ecstasy, the chef himself returned to refill their drinks.
"How is everything?" Manny asked.
"Duh-licious," Josie said around a mouthful of rice. Another visit to Tortillas and Beans was in order in the very near future.
"Good, good. Now tell me, is Tony here treating you well?" Manny playfully nudged him. Josie laughed.
"He does."
"If he starts to get out of line, you come get me, okay?" the large man said. Josie stifled another giggle as Tony started to turn red.
"I will."
“You’re a lot different than the other women Tony used to bring in." Manny smiled big. Josie cocked an eyebrow.
"Oh, really?" She turned to Tony. Manny wrinkled his forehead in thought.
"Let me think. Who was that one crazy woman who dumped a plate of nachos on your head after you dumped her for her sister?”
“Don’t you have to be in the kitchen?" Tony asked between clenched teeth. “I think I smell something burning." His face was now beet-red. Josie wasn't at all jealous hearing about Tony's past girlfriends. Seeing him sweat was actually pretty funny.
"Uh-oh. I’ve said too much." Manny let out a loud laugh. "I’ll go see if the fajitas are done."
***
Sizzling chopped chicken breast mixed with red, yellow, and green peppers on a black skillet was placed in front of the couple.
Josie didn't hesitate to dive in. After a few swallows, she knew her readers weren't going to be disappointed when eating Manny's food.
She ate, and listened to Tony and Manny reminisce about wild times when Tony used to live in West Emily.
"So there Tony was, stranded in the parking lot of the old button factory. Wearing nothing but his birthday suit and holding a bucket of popcorn covering his—"
"Manny Epstein?" a man in a dark suit interrupted, approaching their table. Beside him stood a shorter man in a lighter suit.
“Good evening, gentlemen! Table for two?" Manny greeted. The shorter man smirked up at his taller companion.
"How about three?" the tall man said, pulling out a badge. "Down at the station." Josie and Tony glanced at each other, confused.
"Manny Epstein, you are under arrest for the murder of Marco Gonzales."
Instantly, Tony was up and standing between the cops and Manny, his fists in tight balls.
"Stand down, Santino. We w
ouldn’t want to take you in, too." This came from the shorter man. Despite his words, he looked like he wanted to do just that.
The familiarity of the cops with Tony was evident to Josie. Tony had spent the rest of his teen years and early adult life in West Emily. Josie wondered what kind of trouble he had gotten into for the local police to know him by name.
"Marco is dead?" Manny asked, not fully convinced.
"You should know." The tall cop narrowed his eyes. "You can either come with us peacefully or we will remove you with force."
Josie was speechless. Was this really happening? And who was Marco Gonzales?
"I didn’t kill anybody!” Manny shouted. “This is ridiculous! Get out of my restaurant!" People at nearby tables were watching, wide-eyed at the scene unfolding before them. Tony noticed, too.
"Just go with them," he said quietly to his friend.
"But—"
"I'll be right behind you," Tony assured him. "We'll straighten out this whole mess."
***
"You can't take me home," Josie protested.
"I can and I will," Tony said defiantly. The evening that started out wonderfully turned sour once the police escorted Manny away in handcuffs. Tony, angrier than a raging bull, told Josie that he was bringing her back to Greenville and would then return to help Manny.
"I want to help him, too," she said.
"You don't even know him."
"Not like you do, you're right about that." She lightly touched his knee. "But if you believe Manny didn't kill this Gonzales guy, then so do I. Let me help." She watched Tony clench and unclench his jaw in the car's dark interior. Tony was quite aware the woman beside him wasn't going to back down. If he continued to push, she would do the same. Her stubbornness had only gotten stronger since when they were kids.
And for that he was grateful. From past situations, he knew it was a good thing to have Josie on his side.
"Fine. But do as I say, got it? West Emily is nothing like cozy little Greenville."
Josie understood clearly. She had been in the presence of the dark-suited cops for just a few minutes, and immediately felt something was off with those men.
***
They sat for an hour in the waiting area of the large city’s police station. Well, at least Josie sat. Tony practically created a trench with all his pacing. The perky, dark-haired receptionist came back for what felt like the hundredth time, asking if she could provide something to drink.
The question was always directed at Tony.
He ignored her, and Josie shot the attention-seeking woman a withering glare. She scurried away.
"I figured you two had left by now." The tall and short officers appeared. "I'm Lieutenant Gibson." Lieutenant? Josie felt her brows rise. Gibson gestured to the man beside him. "My partner Detective Perkins."
Tony wasn't impressed. "Where's Manny?" He rounded on Gibson.
"Settle down, Santino." Perkins stepped forward. Gibson laid a hand on his partner's shoulder.
"We're holding Mr. Epstein overnight."
"Have you charged him?" Josie asked. Gibson regarded her, while Perkins just sneered.
"Like I said, we're holding him," Gibson said, before stepping toe to toe with Tony. "Care to join him?" the lieutenant smirked. Josie gripped Tony's arm.
"Come on. There's nothing we can do—"
"Listen to the little lady, Santino." Perkins said. Little? Odd he would say that when he was just an inch over her five-foot height. She managed to drag Tony away before he got himself into serious trouble. They needed to stick together (and away from jail cells) in order to help Manny.
And she knew just where to start.
"Turn right at the next intersection," she instructed Tony, once they were back on the road.
"Where are we going?" he asked.
"To see Russell and Reese."
CHAPTER TWO
She called ahead to let her twin younger brothers know that she and Tony were on their way. Fortunately, the twins were in residence at their lavish penthouse. Russell greeted them at the door.
"Hey, Sis." He hugged his sister, then shook Tony’s hand. Her younger and older brothers had inherited their father's tall frame, straight hair—which they all cropped short—and handsome good looks. It was still crazy to Josie that she, the only girl out of five kids, had emerged height-deficient, and with unruly curly hair.
Thanks, Mom.
"What brings you to our humble abode?" Russell led them to a large living room. As computer-whiz geniuses, the city's best hackers, and highly paid cyber-crime agents, they had laptops, monitors, small devices, and other beeping illuminated electronics covering every surface in the room. Expect for the couch, where she took a seat.
"We need your help," she started. Russell glanced from her to Tony, who stood a few feet away.
"Okay. Hang on a sec. REESE! GET IN HERE!"
Reese came into the room and smiled at his older sister. His smile dimmed a bit when he saw Tony.
Then the whole smile completely dropped when he took in Tony and Josie’s date-night attire.
She ignored her brother's questioning expression and launched right into Manny's arrest.
"You’re positive he didn’t kill Gonzales?” Reese asked her. She noticed he avoided Tony's presence. The inexplicable dislike Reese had for Tony wasn’t lost on Josie. Nor did it sit well with her. Before she answered, Tony cut in.
"I've known Manny for years. He'd never hurt anyone," he said.
"People can change. You know that more than anyone." Reese lifted an eyebrow. Josie frowned at her brother. Reese was referring to Tony's dad, who was serving a life sentence for murdering his wife, Rose, ten years ago. It shocked and puzzled many people who had known the happily married couple.
Tony's face darkened. Russell looked uncomfortable and began tapping away on a computer.
"I pulled up Marco Gonzales's background. He's sixty years old, married to a Betty Higgins half his age, and he owns a restaurant called Pico de Gonzales," Russell informed them. "It’s located a few blocks from Tortillas and Beans.”
"What's his connection to Manny?" Josie asked. Russell's fingers flew over the keyboard.
"Let’s see...they both went to the same high school and culinary school." He turned the screen to show Josie old newspaper articles of cooking competitions. Manny and Marco had competed against one another in every comp.
"Rivals," Reese concluded. Josie glanced at Tony.
"Has Manny ever mentioned Marco to you?"
"A little. Just that Marco is a swelling bug bite on his ass. Nothing more."
"Lovely,” she snorted. "I'm pretty sure you're not the only one Manny expressed his feelings to." Russell agreed.
"You said the police are holding him overnight. In West Emily, suspects can be held for twenty-four hours without being charged. But if Manny isn’t released before tomorrow night, he'll have to wait to be processed on Monday morning. So let's hope the police don't find any incriminating evidence—"
"Yet," Reese interrupted. Josie glared at him. Russell continued.
"I'm sorry to say he's a good candidate for being a prime suspect in this case." Russell looked grim. "The classic unfriendly restaurant rivals. And now one of them is murdered."
Josie pursed her lips. If Manny was guilty—she dared not say this aloud in front of Tony—what was his motive? Had Marco stolen Manny's guacamole recipe?
"Who are the officers in charge of the case?" Reese asked.
"Lieutenant Gibson and Detective Perkins," Josie said. Reese and Russell exchanged a look.
"That’s not good."
"Why?" Josie asked, eyes jumping from brother to brother.
"Gibson and Perkins are known for closing cases at a very high and fast rate," Reese said.
"What's wrong with that?"
"Some might say they've done so...unconventionally." Josie still looked confused as Tony chimed in.
"They're dirty." His tone was flat and unsurprised. It was u
nfortunate that his last run-in with the law had involved Gibson and Perkins. He was twenty-two when he was suspected of stealing and totaling a local politician’s car.
Like he'd ever do that. Gibson and Perkins thought bruising his ribs was the right way to get a confession.
"I have a feeling," Russell started again, “that those two are going to do whatever they can to charge Manny before they have to release him." Josie’s frown deepened. This was not looking good. They were up against a couple of corrupt cops, and had only a day to free Manny.
She wondered if her brothers had any tequila.
***
Clock ticking, Josie and Tony decided it would be best to stay in the city and try to locate Marco's wife, Betty, early the next day. Josie called her cousin Jennie, who had a spare key to her apartment, and asked Jennie to care for her corgi, Petey.
Tony contacted a buddy of his to look after his Great Dane, Jade. He then called Greta, longtime employee of his gourmet hot-dog restaurant, In The Box bistro, and informed her of the situation. Greta assured him that everything would run smoothly, and asked Tony to keep her up to date on the all the juicy details. Josie next called her best friend, Brad, who also worked at Tony's bistro.
At the moment, Brad was on a date with his boyfriend, Mark. Josie listened to Brad gush about managing to snag a side job modeling nude at an art class for seniors—then she cut in to explain why she wouldn’t be back anytime soon. This led to her telling Brad that this wasn't some ploy she and Tony had made up in order to have an extended romantic weekend getaway. Once he believed her—hearing the grave edge in her tone—Josie had to talk him out of dropping everything and barreling into West Emily.
Best friends with Josie since their freshman year of high school, Brad wanted nothing more than to be by her side. Though he might scream on sight when spotting someone wearing polyester, Brad was built like a lumberjack, almost giving Tony a run for his money, and would not hesitate to tear down anyone who caused Josie distress or harm.
"Please call if you need me, sweetie," he insisted for the tenth time.
"Don't worry. I will," she assured him. Reese handed her a glass of tropical-fruit-flavored iced tea, and flopped onto the couch beside her.