by Cindy Bell
“You know where to find me if you think of anything or need anything.”
“Thanks.” Karen closed the door.
Ally walked back towards her car. Now that she knew Karen’s brothers were at the movie screening, she was pretty sure they had something to do with Shane’s death. If only there was a way to prove it. Back in the car, she drove straight to the cottage.
After Ally fed the pets, she took some time to think through what Karen told her. She did a search on any videos uploaded of the screening. Some people with cell phones recorded everything. Although it took some time to sift through the time stamps to narrow down the possibilities, she finally found several videos that took place during the screening. She noticed that Karen’s brothers were in a few of them. The videos were posted by a friend of theirs.
As she pieced together the time on the videos she realized that the two brothers had very limited opportunity to kill Shane between the start of the film and the finish of the first half. They were accounted for the entire time, as their friend filmed the first half of the movie from about ten minutes in. Although that didn’t entirely eliminate them as suspects, it did make them less likely. She noticed someone else in the films, too. Professor Shumer was seated not far from the brothers. He was caught in the pan of the camera a few times, but not enough to eliminate him as a suspect, only to prove that he was at the screening. When Charlotte arrived Ally filled her in about her visit with Karen and the videos she’d found.
“So if it wasn’t Keith and Ken, it could have been Karen. She was home alone right? Maybe she decided to show up and surprise Shane? Then the confrontation went sour?” Charlotte suggested.
“I don’t know. She’s a rather petite girl and I’m not sure that she would be able to pull off strangling him. From what Luke told me it wasn’t as if he was knocked out first or anything.”
“Still, the power of love.” Charlotte shrugged.
“It’s something to consider, that’s for sure.”
“I’m exhausted, I’m heading to bed. We have to be at the church by eleven tomorrow.”
“My mind is still racing so I’m going to try and relax before I go to bed,” Ally said. “How did your date go?”
“Eh. It was a date.” Charlotte forced a smile.
“Uh oh, what’s that about?”
“I might have taken my own advice about being honest, and he was not too pleased to hear about the man in the mask at the shop. I told him I picked up more bug spray, but he was not amused.”
“I think that we need to try to stick together as much as possible. I would prefer if you weren’t alone.”
“Between you and him, I don’t think I’m going to have to worry about that. But I’m not going to let anyone intimidate me into being scared.”
Once Charlotte disappeared into her bedroom, Ally lay on the couch. She turned on the television to watch a show and try to relax. Peaches jumped right up onto her stomach. Ally stroked her soft fur and tried to slow down her thoughts. If the brothers were no longer suspects, and she didn’t believe that Karen could kill Shane on her own, then who was left?
The professor, who owned the cabin, and Mario Mazzalli, who owned the storage business. Then there was the man in the mask. She brushed Peaches off her stomach and went to check the locks on the front door and the windows. Once she was satisfied that everything was locked up tight she returned to the couch. Peaches returned to her stomach, and Arnold tucked himself in right beside the couch. She laughed to herself as she remembered that she had a Watch Pig, and a protective cat. It was not likely that anyone could get past them.
Chapter 16
The next morning when Ally woke up, her back was a little sore. She realized that she had fallen asleep on the couch and tried to ease herself up into a sitting position, but there was so much weight on top of her she couldn’t do it. As her sleepy mind cleared she realized that Arnold had decided he was no longer a pig. He thought he was a cat, and had snuggled right up next to Peaches with part of his body on Ally’s stomach. The more she tried to push Arnold off, the more he nestled in.
“Arnold, I love you, but this is very uncomfortable.” She finally gave him a firm shove that toppled him off her stomach. He snorted as he landed on his feet on the ground. “Ha maybe you’re right, maybe you are a cat.” Ally grinned. Once she was on her feet the pain in her back eased. She glanced at her phone and noticed that it was later than she expected. It seemed odd that her grandmother wasn’t already up and in the kitchen. She walked back to her grandmother’s bedroom and listened at the door. When she didn’t hear anything inside she started to get frightened.
“Mee-Maw?” She knocked lightly. “We have to get ready for the funeral.” After a few minutes with no answer, Ally tried the knob. When the door opened she saw that there was no one inside. Her heart began to race as panic flooded her.
“Mee-Maw?” She rushed around the rest of the small cottage in search of her grandmother. When she didn’t find her, she grabbed her phone to call Luke and ran right out into the driveway still in her pajamas. That’s when she saw that her car was gone. Instead of calling Luke she dialed her grandmother’s number. Just as it started to ring, Charlotte pulled into the driveway. Ally rushed over to her as she opened the door.
“Where were you? You scared me!”
Charlotte looked at her with wide eyes. “I went to pick us up some doughnuts. I figured we did so much baking yesterday neither of us would want to cook anything this morning.”
“I said that we have to stay together!” She frowned. “I couldn’t find you, I was so worried.”
“I left a note on the refrigerator.” Charlotte stepped out of the car and hugged her granddaughter. “I’m sorry that I frightened you.”
“Oh. I didn’t even look there.” Ally shook her head. “I’m sorry, all of this has me a little shaken up.”
“It’s okay. I should have just waited for you to get up, but you don’t have to worry about me, I’m going to be fine and I’m not going to live in fear. Want a doughnut?”
“Yes, thank you.” Ally sighed. “I really do.”
“Me too.” Charlotte handed her the box and they headed back inside the cottage.
“I can’t believe I didn’t hear you moving around the cottage at all. It just goes to show that someone could easily break in and I wouldn’t even notice it.”
“I wouldn’t say that. I was quiet, and Arnold and Peaches know me.”
“Did you see Arnold asleep on my belly?” Ally laughed.
“Yes, I did, and I got a picture.” Charlotte grinned and passed her a doughnut. It was nice to have a moment of levity, but it faded as Ally recalled it was the day of Shane’s funeral.
“I wish we had some idea of who did this to Shane. I think that Mario Mazzalli, and Professor Shumer are the best suspects, but I have no idea who the masked man was. It could be someone else entirely. Do you remember anything about him?”
“Only that he seemed young. I mean, I couldn’t see his face, but just the way he moved, he gave me the impression of a younger man.”
“Well, neither of our main suspects are young. But Mario is the type that hires people to do his dirty work. It might be one of the men we saw at Professor Shumer’s cabin. Maybe he was working for Professor Shumer or it could have been one of Mario’s thugs.”
“Maybe.” Charlotte cringed. “I hate to think of that.”
“Let’s not, Let’s just focus on Shane today. Maybe a break from the investigation will give us some new insight.”
“Good thinking.” Charlotte finished her doughnut. “I’m going to go get dressed. I picked up something to wear last night. Do you know what you’re wearing?”
“Yes, I have a black pants suit I can use.” She finished her doughnut as well.
After they changed they left for the funeral in a somber silence. Ally broke it when they parked at the church.
“Look how many people are already here. We might not be able to get in.”
>
“That’s a beautiful testament to a person’s life, don’t you think?”
“Yes, it is.”
Ally and Charlotte managed to find a seat near the back of the church. Once everyone was seated Ally noticed that Karen and her brothers were there, as was Professor Shumer, and at the very front of the church Clara Davis sat, surrounded by her security guards. Ally’s gaze lingered on the woman for a moment. With all of the activity going on she’d forgotten about her dinner with her, and her sympathy for her. Yet again she was surrounded by people, but isolated from them at the same time.
Not long after the funeral started Professor Shumer walked to the podium to deliver the eulogy. Although his words were poetic and kind enough, Ally couldn’t help but pick apart his facial expressions and demeanor. Was he lying? Could a murderer really stand up at his victim’s funeral and deliver such a poignant speech? As he finished Charlotte patted Ally’s hand. Only then did she realize how tight she gripped her purse in her lap. She relaxed her grasp and joined the rest of the crowd for the graveside service. After the casket was lowered, Shane’s parents walked over to Ally and Charlotte.
“I’m so very sorry for your loss.” Charlotte hugged them both.
“I can’t thank you enough for all you’re doing for us.” Shane’s mother looked into each of their eyes in turn. “You’ve been so kind. I thought we would never be able to afford any of this, but between your generosity with providing some of the food, and Mario Mazzalli’s generosity of paying for the funeral, we haven’t had to spend much at all. It breaks my heart to think what kind of funeral Shane might have had if it wasn’t for the kind support of our wider community.”
“Mario Mazzalli paid for the funeral?” Ally’s eyes widened.
“Ally.” Charlotte elbowed her behind her purse.
“Oh, I mean, how lovely. What a generous man.”
“Yes. He is.” Shane’s father forced a smile. “We’ll see you both at the restaurant.”
As they walked away Ally released a heavy breath.
“Can you believe that? Why would Mario Mazzalli pay for Shane’s funeral?”
“Maybe a guilty conscience.” Charlotte walked with her back to the car.
“Maybe because he felt guilty about the bad review he left on Shane’s website for his daughter’s wedding video. I mean, as far as I know he didn’t have any other connection with Mario.”
“But Mario did have a connection with the cabin in the woods, because a key card from his business was there.”
“But so does Professor Shumer, since he’s the one who owns it.”
“So who or what connects Shumer and Mario?” Charlotte narrowed her eyes. “There must be a connection there somewhere, don’t you think?”
“If there is I can’t think of it.”
“We were supposed to take a break from trying to solve the murder, remember?” Charlotte asked.
“That was before we found out that this entire funeral was financed by Mario.”
After the funeral Ally and Charlotte drove back towards the shop to pick up the chocolates, cupcakes and cakes.
Once they were loaded up they drove to the small restaurant. Mario had his hands in so many businesses in the two towns that it didn’t surprise her that he took care of the cost of renting it. Ally parked close to the building and she and her grandmother carried the chocolates and cakes inside. Once everything was set up, Ally caught sight of Clara at one of the tables. Two men sat with her.
“Mee-Maw, I want to say hello to Clara, would you like to join me?”
“I would love an introduction.” Charlotte smiled. Ally led her over to the table. She noticed the two men stared at her hard as she approached.
“Hi Clara, it’s good to see you again.” Ally rested a hand on her shoulder.
“Ally, it’s so good to see you.” Clara grasped her hand and pressed it against her shoulder. “And this must be your lovely grandmother.”
“Yes, it is, Charlotte,” Charlotte said.
“Oh, but I already know your name.” Clara smiled. “Charlotte’s Chocolate Heaven, right?”
“Right.” Charlotte smiled in return. “I am a big fan of yours, Clara.”
“Oh, thank you.”
As Clara and her grandmother talked Ally caught sight of Mario Mazzalli. He walked through the restaurant as if he owned it and headed straight for the cupcakes. Once he snatched one up he gobbled it down. Ally had to look away as crumbs flew in all directions. When he finished he pointed at one of the waiters.
“You, I need to talk to you.”
The waiter scurried away. Ally walked towards Mario, her eyes locked on him.
“Where do you think you’re going, Ally?” Charlotte caught her elbow when she was only a few steps away. “Luke told you to be careful of that man.”
“And I will be. He happens to be here, I happen to be here, I’m just going to strike up a conversation.”
“Ally, I think you need to be very careful.” She frowned as a group of seedy looking men gathered around Mario.
“Yes, I know you do, and I will be. I want to see if he can help me get in that storage box. Are you going to join me?”
Charlotte heaved a sigh and shook her head. “Well, yes of course I am.” She linked her arm through her granddaughter’s and they began to walk towards the group of men. As the men separated Ally noticed the intensity on the one remaining man’s face. It was Mario. She would recognize that hard stare anywhere.
“Mr. Mazzalli.” She smiled as she held out her hand. “You came into Charlotte’s Chocolate Heaven, but we’ve never had the chance to actually meet properly. I’m Ally Sweet, and this is my grandmother, Charlotte Sweet.”
“Grandmother?” He laughed and bypassed Ally’s hand to take Charlotte’s instead. “That’s not possible. You don’t look a day over thirty.” He drew her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it.
“Oh my, that’s very kind of you, Mr. Mazzalli, but I can assure you I am far older than that.” She tugged her hand away. Ally noticed her wipe it on the side of her pants when Mario looked back at her.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you both. However, I’m not sure why we’re meeting. Did you need something from me?”
“Actually, I might. I spoke with one of your employees at the Mazzalli’s Box Storage on the Geraltin Pier, and he wasn’t very helpful to me,” Ally said.
“No? That sounds like a matter for the customer service department. Here let me get you a card.”
“Actually, Mr. Mazzalli, I don’t need a card, or a department. I just need to get into a storage box. You see, my boyfriend is the one who rented the box because he wanted to pay the fee for me. I had the key card but I couldn’t get in, because my name is not the one on the rental agreement. My boyfriend is away on a trip. There are a few things I want to get out to surprise him when he gets back. The man kept my card and I really want to access the box. I noticed you here, and I know you own the business, and I don’t mean to bother you, but I just hoped that you might be able to help me with this one small thing. Do you think that might be possible?”
“Absolutely. Don’t you worry about it. I’d do anything for two women as beautiful as you. Here.” He jotted his name and a few notes on the back of the card. “Just give him this card, and if he gives you any trouble call the number I wrote on the back.”
“Oh, thank you so much. You have no idea how much of a relief this is.”
“Always happy to help. And maybe you can put a rush on that cupcake order, hmm?” He winked at her.
“I’ll do my best.” Ally winked back. As she and her grandmother walked away Charlotte tightened her grip on her elbow.
“You did a very good job there. He really didn’t seem like that bad of a fellow.”
“According to what I’ve learned about him on the internet, he puts on a good show to hide his malice.”
“Maybe. But the internet isn’t always the truth. It’s easy to slander someone anonymously.”
/> “That’s true. He was very helpful. But I think that’s because he has a crush on you, Mee-Maw.”
“Well.” She fluffed her hair. “Who can blame him?”
Ally grinned, then caught sight of Mario near the door of the restaurant. He had a waiter by the arm and shoved him ahead of him, out into the parking lot.
“Then again, sometimes the internet is right on. I wonder what he’s doing to that poor guy?”
“I suppose we’re going to find out?”
“I think I should. You stay here, in case he comes back in.”
“Stay out of sight, Ally.”
“I will,” Ally said as she walked towards the side exit. She hoped that she wasn’t heading straight towards trouble.
Chapter 17
Ally slipped out of the restaurant through the side exit as she went to find Mario and the waiter. She made her way towards the front of the restaurant. Mario had the waiter pinned against a car. Then he stepped back and two of his men took over.
“Yes, you hold him right there, I want to see his traitorous face.”
“Please, I didn’t do anything wrong. Whatever you’ve heard, it’s not true.”
“Is that so? Because what I’ve heard is that you have been spreading my business around town. I don’t understand why you would do that, when you and I had a private agreement.”
“I didn’t, Sir!”
“Don’t lie to me. I don’t enjoy liars. In fact, they don’t last long around me.”
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.” The waiter’s voice trembled. “I might have gotten a little drunk. I might have said more than I should have. I’m so sorry.”
“Ah, and that’s the other thing I can’t tolerate, a drunk.” He reached beneath his suit jacket.
“Oh Mr. Mazzalli! I forgot to mention something!” Ally rushed towards him without a thought to her own safety. All she knew was that she couldn’t allow the waiter to be hurt in the middle of the parking lot.
Mario’s hand appeared outside of his suit jacket, with a cell phone in it. He turned towards Ally with a deep scowl. “Pardon me, but I am in the middle of something.”