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

his throat and managed to contain his laughter. “No, of course not, Mrs. Conti, but thank you for stopping by to wish us well.”
    The older woman reached for her cane, struggled to her feet, and spoke as if she hadn’t heard them. “On second thought, perhaps it would be better if I were to spend a few weeks keeping a little diary of when he comes and goes, you know? Yes, that will give you more to go on.” She waved away the cash Sophia held out. “No dear, keep that as a retainer. You can mail a receipt.”
    Sophia waited impatiently for Angelo to return from helping Mrs. Conti down the brownstone steps. She was grateful for the outpouring of support from their neighbors, even if it came in the guise of bogus cases. But when the charade ended, as it had to, she and Angelo needed a legitimate business with real clients, not well-meaning friends with empowered imaginations.
    “So where exactly are we, sis?” Angelo asked as he sat on the edge of the desk they’d hauled down from the attic early that morning.
    “Eight clients and thirty-seven dollars.”
    “Not too shabby for our first day.”
    “Twenty-nine days, Angelo, that’s the real number to focus on here.” Sophia threw down her pen and paced the length of the living room, or office. Whatever they called it, it was starting to feel like a cage. “You remembered to invite Mrs. Conti to our grand opening tomorrow?”
    He nodded. “She said they’d love to come.”
    Sophia raised one eyebrow. “They? She’s going to bring her cheating husband?”
    “Much easier to keep an eye on him that way, I’m sure.”
    Sophia couldn’t help but laugh. If nothing else, the day had proven how many friends and how much support they had. And Angelo had smiled several times and laughed too. That was worth gold.
    Now all they needed was a crime. Or a criminal. Both, preferably.
    “Sophia, am I supposed to be somewhere right now?”
    She didn’t miss a beat. “Yes, and I’ve written it down for you. You’re supposed to meet Grandpa at the bocce court in a half an hour.” She handed him a piece of paper with the details written down. “You promised to take Luciano to the pond so he could feed the ducks.”
    Angelo looked down at the paper for a long moment before he raised his worried eyes and met her gaze.
    “If I can’t remember to pick up my son or where I promised to take him, how in God’s name are we going to solve a crime? Do you really believe we can pull this off?”
    “I absolutely do,” Sophia lied without hesitation or guilt. “Now go so Grandpa and Luciano don’t worry about you.”
    Angelo brushed a kiss on the top of her head. “You’re the best, sis.”
    “I know.” She grinned.
    Angelo paused in the doorway. “Do you want to come with us?”
    “No. You go and enjoy your time with Luciano.” She waved him out of the room good-naturedly. “I have plans.”
    Which was true. She did. Growing up, their grandfather had told them many times that if they went looking for trouble it was sure to find them. Trouble was what she needed now, and she couldn’t wait for it to find her. She was going looking for it.
    ***
    Three blocks from home, she literally ran into someone who looked as much like trouble as anyone had the right to.
    “Excuse me,” Sophia apologized and waited for the man in front of her to step aside.
    He didn’t. Instead, he stood, blocking out the sun, and scowling down at her.
    “Are you Sophia Mancini?” His voice was deep and thick.
    “I am.” Who on earth was this? “Do I know you?” She was sure she didn’t. If she’d met a man this angry-looking before, she’d certainly have remembered it.
    “You and your brother are detectives?”
    It took a few seconds for it to register that they were indeed. She needed to get used to that. Looking surprised at the question wasn’t going to be good for business.
    “We are. How can I help you?” He certainly didn’t appear to be a man in distress.
    “I’ve got a