Empty Promises and Crowded Caskets

by Ana Bisset

  The door opened, and a young maid came in pushing a tea trolley. Bradford, the butler, was right behind her. She stopped and addressed me, “How do you take your tea, Miss?”

  “One sugar please,” I said.

  She fixed my tea, handed me my cup and placed a napkin and the saucer on a coffee table in front of a leather couch. She set a platter of assorted sweets, scones, and macaroons on the table as well.

  “I hope this isn’t all for me?” I asked Bradford.

  He smiled, “No, Miss. The mistress Bianca said she would be right in. Mr. Romano will be in shortly as well. Just let Amelia, indicating the maid, know if you require anything else.”

  He left straight away. I took my teacup and began exploring more of the collections in the room. I stopped again at the closed cabinet, looking up at its treasures. I saw there was another children’s book displayed, The Adventures of Mickey Mouse. I know old first edition Disney books could be valuable, especially if they are signed. I wonder if it is?

  I put my tea on a nearby table, opened the cabinet and tried to reach the book. It was just a bit too far out of reach. I looked around and saw a step stool a few feet away in front of what looked like a cabinet of encyclopedias. I pulled it over, took a step up. I took the book off the shelf, stepped off the stool, and opened it. There was the author’s signature, Walt Disney, above the picture of Mickey Mouse.

  “I'd be careful with that if I were you,” a deep male voice behind me said. I turned to see it was Lorenzo Romano, Jr. “You're supposed to wear those white gloves to handle that.” He indicated a pair of gloves on the adjacent shelf.

  “Oh, I'm so sorry. I should have known,” I said, a little flustered. I am not one to gawk, but this was a specimen of pure male perfection in front of me. When the universe created this man, it used an extra pinch of everything that made women go weak at the knees. I took a deep breath to calm my hormones down, which backfired because he smelled good too.

  As if he knew what was going on in my head and other regions of my body, he smiled. All rational thought left, and I smiled back.

  “Didn’t mean to startle you,” he said.

  “You didn’t, I mean, well, you did. But, it’s okay.” Really, Libby? I thought. Get a hold of yourself! You are swearing off Italian men. Remember Tony? I pulled myself together.

  “It’s only that I was expecting your sister,” I said, with more of a chill in my tone.

  He looked confused for a moment at the change in my reaction to him.

  “Oh, yeah. She’s coming,” he said. Turning to the cabinet, he continued, “Most of the old stuff in here belongs to her and her husband. The things in this cabinet are special, according to Sal. He spends most of his days in the office with his nose in the account books using the adding machine. Then, he goes to the antique store on the weekends with Bianca. Last weekend he brought in a bunch of transistor radios, said they were straight from an estate sale. He was all kinds of happy he got them for bottom dollar. A bunch of junk if you asked me. The backs rusted shut, so it was hard to get the old batteries out.”

  He shook his head like he could not understand the thrill of a collector’s treasure hunt, “He gets really weird when people touch his stuff. I think that's why he had this cabinet made. Who can say? I think he is weird all of the time,” he chuckled.

  “If you're not into collecting, what is it you do like to do?” I knew I was walking a fine line asking a loaded question, but he was standing so close, how could I not? Nikki would be proud of me.

  Tucking my hair behind my ear, he said, “Maybe we should go out sometime, and I'll let you in on my favorite activities.”

  Smiling while trying not to melt at his touch, I took a step back and said, “I'll just put this away before I get caught touching it without the gloves on.” I took a step up on the stool but didn’t remember I was in heels, and my foot slipped. So much for pulling myself together. Down I went, right into Lorenzo’s arms, dropping the book. He looked as surprised as I felt - so very close. He smiled, and I got lost in his eyes.

  “Well, I see you’ve met my brother,” Bianca said as she chose that moment to walk into the room. “Like most men, Lorenzo can never seem to keep his hands off things that do not belong to him.” She picked up the book, placed it on the shelf, and closed the cabinet.

  “Hi, Bianca. So sorry about that, it was my fault. I’ll pay for any damage to the book if there is any,” I said as I stood up and straightened my outfit.

  “Forget about it, no big deal. The book is old, and it is signed. I’m sure it has been knocked to the floor more than once in its life. That isn’t going to hurt the value, especially if we don’t tell Sal,” she laughed.

  “You sound like my grandmother. She loves collecting things, enjoys that they have value but would never collect anything she couldn’t use or play with just to have it on a shelf.”

  “You are lucky to be able to share hobbies with your grandparents. My family does not enjoy collecting. My father feels it is a waste of space to store old things. He doesn’t appreciate the value of collectibles. Sal and I keep most of ours in our private rooms, but are here for display to those who visit,” Bianca continued, “My father says you’ll be staying for dinner?”

  “Yes. I’ve decided to start up The Cove Post again, I thought an interview with the newest family in Black Ridge Cove would be a popular article,” I said.

  “And he agreed? Mm, I wonder why that is? Normally he runs from any type of press,” she said looking at Lorenzo.

  “Maybe he thinks the more people know, the less they will try to implicate him in Diego’s murder,” he said.

  “Yeah, like that is going to happen,” she said.

  “It could. I’ve always felt as long as you have nothing to hide, there is no reason not to be open with the press,” I said.

  “That is the crux of the problem, isn’t it? Daddy is not as pure white as the snow around here.” She rolled her eyes and continued, “People would be stupid not to think he did it. I’m not saying he did. I’m just saying he has a habit of stepping into trouble.”

  “A habit my children have picked up, unfortunately. Along with the bad manners of airing family issues to guests,” Mr. Romano said taking my hand in his and kissing it. His appearance had me wondering if there was a secret door into the room as I had not heard him come in.

  “Good of you to accept my invitation,” he said.

  “Thank you for extending it. Your children and I have been discussing the current wave of murders in Black Ridge Cove. It was my understanding you were trying to get away from that kind of crime happening around you,” I said. “Do you think it has followed you here or just a mere coincidence?”

  He laughed, “You are a good reporter. A question that gets right to the heart of the matter. And that is what it is all about, isn’t it? Heart and family, everything a man wants in life can be taken away,” he snapped his fingers, “just like that.”

  “Is it what Diego wanted? To have a family?” I asked him, not backing down even though his children had gotten very quiet.

  “I am not sure what Diego Esposito wanted. He did good work, did what he was told. But, sometimes he went too far. And he lacked real ambition. Look at my Bianca and her husband, Salvatore. They know what it is to work hard towards goals. It makes me happy. If I could get a grandchild or two out of them, I would be in heaven.”

  “Daddy, I’m not ready to have kids yet,” Bianca said.

  “Ready, ready,” he brushed away the comment with his hand in the air, “Used to be you just had them, no one got ready.”

  “Maybe Lorenzo or Mario should get married and have kids,” Bianca said.

  “On that, we agree. Lorenzo, you should take out Libby,” he said.

  I almost drop my teacup, Lorenzo smiled. “I’ll work on that,” he said to his dad and winked at me.

  “I’ve sworn off dating for the time being, but I will let you know when I am ready,” I said.

  Mr. Ro
mano laughed, “See! She is perfect for you.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  “In walked the butler, I heard him before I saw him which only cemented my thoughts that the Mr. Romano born with the ability to sneak up on people. “Dinner is ready, sir. Would you like me to have it served now in the dining room?”

  “Yes,” he stood. “Shall we dine?” He bowed before me, took my hand and placed it in the crook of his arm as I rose. Turning to his son Lorenzo and he said, “You snooze, you lose,” he laughed at his own joke and walked me to the dining room.

  Ornately beautiful in golds and reds, the dining room was obviously for formal occasions. I was seated to the right of the head of the table, with Mr. Romano at the head and Lorenzo next to me. Across from me was Bianca.

  Mr. Romano was pointing with two fingers at the empty chair, “Where are they?” he asked Bianca. She shrugged her shoulders. At that moment in walked Salvatore Mancini, in a Ralph Lauren suit, and Mario Romano, dress like he just got out of the kitchen at his restaurant. Salvatore looked directly at Mr. Romano, nodded and took his seat next to his wife. Mario simply ignored everyone.

  Curious, Mr. Romano asked, “Did you find out something?”

  “I’m sure our guest would rather not be bored with family business. Perhaps we can speak after dinner?” Sal said.

  “Yeah, sure,” he said. A servant ladled bisque into a soup bowl in front of each person. “Please eat, enjoy.”

  “I hope your visit means you will be reconsidering the sale of your paper?” Sal asked Libby.

  Bianca choked on her soup, coughing she asked looking from her husband to her father, “What do you want with a newspaper?”

  Sal answered his wife, “It would be a legitimate business for someone who wanted to become established in a community. Your father and I made Ms. Foster an offer.” She didn’t look happy just to be finding out about now, in front of their guest.

  “Whatever the reason,” Lorenzo started, “Libby isn’t selling. She is here to interview us because she was starting the paper up again herself.”

  “Interview us?” Mr. Romano chuckled, “Okay then, let’s have it. What is it the community of Black Ridge Cove could possibly want to know about us? Except maybe, which one of us killed Diego.”

  The silence was palpable as the servant cleared the soup bowls and out came the main course: Fettuccine Alfredo with shrimp and scallops, a tossed green salad and a delicious looking spinach dish.

  No one seemed to want to speak up when it came to Diego. I could follow suit. But instead of ignoring the topic, I decided to go all in.

  “Did one of you kill Diego?” I asked, trying to sound innocent. That got me a round of laughter from everyone at the table.

  “I’m not sure what happened, but Diego was not known to make a lot of friends unless they were young women,” Mr. Romano said. Bianca let out an exasperated breath. “Although here, we treated him like family. I think something followed him here.” Mr. Romano shrugged one shoulder, looking at his daughter, “It is unfortunate we have to deal with this type of problem.”

  “That’s right, he used to be engaged to Bianca,” I said.

  “Then Salvatore came along, and I had to let him go,” Bianca said, staring back at her father.

  “So, there was nothing more between the two of you? That must have been hard to have him here, after ending a close relationship.” I tried to sound like I understood how hard it was for Bianca, but Sal took offense.

  “My wife didn’t need that sleaze-bag hanging around all the time, but she wouldn’t kill him for it.” He looked at Mr. Romano, “She was well over him.”

  “Of course. And your wife, Mr. Romano? Is she out of town?” I asked.

  “My Sophia is with her family in Philadelphia. She visits with her mother often, now that she is getting older and has ill health.”

  “And you Mario?” He looked at me as if he just realized he was at the table with other people. He smiled and turned on his charm. “No, I don’t kill people. Diego was a friend. Like you are friends with the beautiful Nikki.”

  “She’ll be glad to know she is being admired from afar,” I said, knowing the opposite was true.

  “Yes, afar. I cannot help it. She keeps me at arm's length,” he said. Interesting, I thought. I am going to have to ask Nikki about this during our next girl’s night.

  The conversation started to lull, and I wanted to hear more from Bianca’s husband. If the ladies in the grocery store were to be believed, he might have a motive, although he seemed too passive. Definitely the bookish type.

  “I saw parts of your collection of books in the library, Sal. A valuable eclectic set,” I said.

  “Thank you. I feel owning pieces of our history has tremendous value, beyond the dollar amount,” he said smoothly. It was almost as if he wanted me, or others, to think he didn’t care that he owned a small fortune. I was going to prod this further, but there was a disturbance in the hallway.

  The double doors to the dining room opened, and there stood Sheriff Kyle, with the butler looking insulted behind him. “You need to explain to your butler, Romano, the law doesn’t have to wait to be announced.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  “I am here to serve this search warrant for your entire propriety including the pool house,” Kyle said walking around the table and handing the paper to a now standing Mr. Romano.

  “Did you know that Diego Esposito was embezzling money from you? He must have taken at least one hundred thousand just from these accounts. I’m sure we will find more when we begin to look at all of your accounts, even the less than legal ones,” Kyle said.

  “Sal, how can this be?” Mr. Romano asked his son-in-law.

  “I wasn’t sure until tonight. That is what I wanted to talk to you about after dinner,” Sal said. “When the police asked, I simply said it was a possibility.”

  “Your books are also listed under the search warrant. We’ll be taking a good look at those.”

  Mr. Romano didn’t seem fazed. “Look all you want. I’ve done nothing wrong,” he said.

  “That’s just it, you have, you killed him. We already know everything we need to know to make it stick. You didn’t scrape the numbers off of your gun enough, and we traced it back to you, we have your cuff link at the Smith house, and your glasses were in the casket,” Kyle said, and he began to arrest him. He read him his rights, letting him know he was being arrested for the murder of Diego Esposito and Leah Miller.

  “Lorenzo, call my lawyer!” Mr. Romano said.

  I was too shocked to do or say anything but take in the surrounding scene. Two of the town’s deputies were with the Sheriff, both were there to keep the others at bay it seemed.

  “This is ridiculous. He had no reason to kill a man who he trusted with his work and why would he kill Leah?” Salvatore said to Kyle.

  “Tell it to the judge.” With that, Kyle walked Mr. Romano out the door and to his squad car.

  “Why would the police thinks Pop did it?” Lorenzo asked Bianca.

  She got an indignant look on her face, “How should I know?”

  “Because you and Diego talked. So, what do you know?” Lorenzo’s voice actually went down in volume, which made it sound much more lethal. But Bianca wasn’t swayed.

  “As I said, I don’t know nothing,” she said.

  “How is it the cops have that account information?” Lorenzo asked Sal. “Maybe the same way I found out about it, the bank called.”

  “You two are less than useless,” Lorenzo said.

  “Libby, I am so sorry for this evening. I’ll walk you to your car,” Lorenzo said.

  I left wondering three things: if Lorenzo was going to end up killing one of his siblings, why would Mr. Romano kill Leah, and did Kyle arrest the right Romano?

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  Could it be Romano Senior didn't do it? I wasn't sure when it came to Diego. He could have killed him, he did have means and motive. But, was he the one having an a
ffair with Leah? Maybe I’m naive, but I just didn’t see that happening no matter how charming he is.

  He could have gotten someone to do it for him, but again I don’t think it was him in the car with Leah arguing. If he isn't guilty of the murders, I'm sure he's guilty of something. I went to walk in the back door when I saw a light on at the carriage house. With the murderer in jail, I had to wonder what Diego could possibly want to show me now. Maybe he knows why?

  The snow and ice on the walkway crunched under my feet, and I got a chill as I turned the handle and walked in. I turned to the right, down the hall towards the offices where the lights were on. After walking in two steps an arm came around my throat, a gloved hand clamped over my mouth, and the one thing that could keep me from trying any of my self-defense techniques was the gun he placed at my temple. Was there a way out of the hold he had on me? Probably, but I forgot it and everything else the second I felt that cold steel.

  “Let’s go into your grandfather’s office quietly. We don’t want to wake Grammie up do we?” he whispered. “I’m going to let you go, and you are going to walk there, very slowly. Remember that I have the gun on you.”

  I knew his voice. At that moment, I understood why he had come.

  “I don’t have the book. I gave it to the sheriff a week ago. I don’t think he has done anything with it. I haven’t seen you. So, you could get away with this if you just leave now.” I said, making my case. I knew I had to try because this man wasn’t going to let me live.

  He laughed, “Nice try. It’s a shame a smart girl like you got mixed up in this, but there you have it. I need to clean up the mess, and you are a loose end. So chatty at dinner, asking so many questions. Go on in and have a seat at the desk.”