From Mangia to Murder (A Sophia Mancini ~ Little Italy Mystery) Read Free

Mancini?”
    “Wholeheartedly, Your Honor.”
    “Condition number two is that a court appointed social worker, a Miss Featherstone,” he motioned to a woman sitting in the back of the courtroom, “shall visit at a time suitable to her schedule to check in on the lad. Her reports will keep me apprised of Luciano’s welfare. Is that clear?”
    Angelo quickly agreed that it was.
    “My third condition is that Mr. Mancini continues to visit his physician every other day for psychological testing. I will want to have those test results submitted before we reconvene next. Do you agree to that condition, Mr. Mancini?”
    Angelo nodded again. “Yes, Your Honor.”
    “Fine. My last condition is that when we meet again in thirty days, Mr. Mancini, you and your sister need to provide tangible evidence that your business venture is well underway. Specifically, I want to see a daily log of activity, client list, and a set of your books, with one hundred dollars in billable hours a week.”
    Sophia’s heart dropped. They needed to earn a c-note a week? They only had thirty days to launch a private investigation agency? To build a client list? To solve a case? She bit her lip.
    “At that time I will better be able to determine your potential to earn a sustainable income.” He looked down at the sister and brother for a long moment. “You have the burden on your shoulders to prove that you can provide for Luciano. If I am not satisfied at that time, no matter how much I might feel for your personal heartache, I will need to order custody transferred to the Burkewaites. Are you completely clear on what I am saying?”
    Angelo said that he was. Sophia nodded.
    Thirty days. It wasn’t enough time.
    Except that it had to be.
     
     
     

Chapter Two
    The crime rate in Little Italy soared as word got out that the Mancini Detective Agency was open for business. First, Mrs. DiEsprio’s favorite pink crystal rosary was stolen from her bureau drawer. Sophia’s offer to come the next day to help Mrs. DiEsprio clean out her drawers apparently did the trick. Several hours after their client left the brownstone with a typed receipt for the consultation, she phoned Sophia to say that her rosary had miraculously reappeared. A miracle indeed.
    Their first case was an open and shut one, but hardly the challenge Sophia had hoped for.
    Following several more such transparent cases was a visit by Giuliana Conti. Mrs. Conti wanted to have her husband tailed on the suspicion that he was cheating on her.
    “I can’t believe it’s come to this,” she sniffed into her perfumed handkerchief. “All these years of marriage ... I’ve given that man six children and devoted my life to him, and now this. Can you help me, Angelo?” Her dry eyes went from brother to sister. “Sophia, what can you suggest?”
    Sophia glanced at her brother to get his take on the situation but she could see he would be no help. His eyes twinkled and he struggled to keep a smile off of his face.
    “Mrs. Conti, isn’t your husband still using his wheelchair to get around?” Sophia waited for the answer she already knew she’d hear. She wasn’t even going to pretend to take notes on this one.
    “Well, yes dear, he is. He is ninety-three after all.”
    “And how much time do you two spend together?”
    “Day and night.” Mrs. Conti lowered her handkerchief and leaned closer to Sophia, her voice conspiratorial. “You know how husbands are. I wait on that man, cook him three meals a day and it seems I don’t have a moment alone. He’s always right there! Why I was telling my daughter–-” She stopped speaking, eyes wide. A sheepish expression flashed across her face. She unsnapped her pocketbook, took out a crisp five dollar bill, and laid it on the table.
    Sophia picked it up and held it out to Mrs. Conti. “No, this is too much. While we appreciate you wanting to support our new business, we couldn’t possibly take your money. Could we, Angelo?”
    He cleared