Cappuccinos, Cupcakes, and a Corpse (A Cape Bay Cafe Mystery Book 1) Read Free Page B

took a couple of steps closer. “Mr. Cardosi?”
    There was no movement from the lawn chair. Mike reached out a hand toward Mr. Cardosi’s neck and held it there for a moment, checking his pulse. He withdrew his hand and pushed the button on the walkie-talkie on his shoulder.
    He spoke quietly, but I could just hear, “You can let the ambulance know there’s no rush. He’s gone.”
    Hearing that, I realized I’d been holding out some hope that Mr. Cardosi really was just sleeping very soundly, or maybe even had passed out. Not something I’d normally wish for, but given the options, I would have preferred it.
    Mike walked a wide circle around Mr. Cardosi’s chair, leaning down to look from all angles. I wondered if that was standard procedure or if he’d seen something suspicious. I hadn’t noticed anything, but I also hadn’t lingered once I’d realized the situation. Mike walked back toward me with a grim expression. I felt tears unexpectedly fill my eyes. So much had happened in my life recently, and this was just one more thing on top of it all.
    Mike must have noticed my expression because he put his hand awkwardly on my shoulder. “I’m sorry, Francesca. I know you knew him well growing up.”
    I sniffled. “It’s not just that. Everything has changed so much lately…” I covered my face with my hands. “Sammy made me leave early today because she thought I needed a break and now—” I waved toward Mr. Cardosi.
    Mike patted my shoulder. “It’s a lot.” He seemed very uncomfortable.
    I took a couple of deep breaths then shook my shoulders. It was what I always did when I was trying to cheer myself up—literally shake the bad feelings off me. I wiped my eyes and forced a smile. “Whew—sorry about that. Just got a little overwhelmed there for a minute.”
    “That’s all right.” He seemed happier now that I had regained my composure. “Now, uh, I know you told me you were taking a shortcut home. Is this a way you come often?”
    I shrugged. “Kind of. I mean, it’s the way I always walked to and from the café growing up, but I think I’ve only done it once or twice since I got back in town.”
    “Uh-huh.” Mike reached in his breast pocket and pulled out a small notebook with a pencil through the spiral at the top. “And is this the time of day you usually come home?”
    “No,” I said. He must not have heard me say that Sammy had sent me home early. “Usually I stay until close at eight, but today—” I thought about telling him about Mrs. D’Angelo’s visit but decided against it. “Today, Sammy thought I should leave early and get some rest.” I paused while he scribbled, then I thought of something. “Wait, why? Did you see something? You don’t think someone—” Crime was virtually nonexistent in Cape Bay, and murder was practically unheard of. Surely he didn’t think someone had killed Mr. Cardosi!
    Mike looked up from his notebook and smiled at me. “Just trying to make sure I have all the details right for my report.” He resumed writing, looking at me again when he was finished. “Now did you see anybody nearby? Anybody coming or going? Anything suspicious?”
    I shook my head. “There were a couple of tourists out on the street when I left the café, but once I got on the side streets, I didn’t see anyone.”
    Mike grunted and wrote something else. “Sammy can confirm what time you left the café?”
    “Yes, and Becky had just gotten there. Mike, you’re not telling me something. You don’t think I did something to him, do you?”
    Mike smiled at me again. It wasn’t the friendly smile from when he first recognized me. It was more of a cop-placating-a-citizen smile. “No, I don’t. I’m just establishing a timeline so they know what they’re working with when they do the autopsy.” He waved toward Mr. Cardosi. “Case like this—no one around, no obvious cause of death—they always do an autopsy, just to figure out what happened.”
    I nodded.