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

message for you.”
    “What do you wish to speak to us about, Mr.—ouch! Let go, that hurts!” In a flash, the stranger had one beefy hand wrapped around her elbow, and was moving her across the sidewalk, toward a waiting car. She hadn’t noticed the Buick parked next to the curb.
    “Ouch! Let go of me, or I’m going to scream murder.” Sophia struggled to free herself, but it was no use. His grip was tighter than tight. She tried to dig her heels into the ground but the cement was unyielding. What the hell was going on? “I mean it. I’ll start screaming and I won’t stop–-”
    “Fai silenzio,” he growled.
    Fear and anger battled within Sophia’s mind, but she heeded his command and stayed quiet. She looked up and down the street, but it was deserted. Her heart sank. Where was everyone?
    She landed in the back seat and, although her eyes needed time to adjust to the dark interior, she knew someone else was in the car by the strong smell of cologne that assailed her.
    “It’s kind of you to join me, Miss Mancini.”
    Sophia straightened with as much dignity as possible after being so rudely shoved into the back of a car. She crossed her legs at the ankle the way the nuns at St. Catherine’s had taught her, and she held her pocketbook primly on her lap. She could at least pretend to be in control of her runaway nerves.
    The car started to roll slowly forward.
    Her eyes adjusted to the lack of sunlight, and she peered into the opposite side of the car to try to see who the smooth voice belonged to. The front passenger-side door slammed shut and the enormous man who had grabbed her turned to look back at her.
    “When someone says hello to you, you should be polite and say hello back.”
    The hulk was giving etiquette lessons?
    “That’s okay, Mooch. I think we’ve just surprised our guest, is all.” The smooth voice paused. “Are you having a pleasant day, Miss Mancini?”
    “I was, right up until your friend man-handled me into your vehicle.”
    “I apologize if we startled you, but I wanted to speak with you for a moment.”
    Frankie Vidoni! Sophia felt a small, smug sense of satisfaction that she’d figured it out without being told. But what did Frankie, of all people, want to talk to her about?
    “What kind of business could you possibly have with me?”
    Grandpa had been right. When you looked for trouble, it really did meet you halfway. Because, if anyone in Little Italy was trouble, it was Frankie Vidoni. Which, Sophia realized, really should frighten her, but she couldn’t help but wonder if it might be good for business to hear him out. And since the car was still moving along at a snail’s pace, listening to Frankie seemed easier than trying to jump out.
    “It has come to my attention that you and your brother have opened a private investigation agency. I wanted to wish you much success in your endeavor.”
    “You could have sent flowers or a note, Mr. Vidoni.”
    He laughed. “True, true, I could have indeed.” He twisted a gold pinky ring around his finger as he spoke. “But then I wouldn’t have been able to make you a proposition.”
    “I’m listening.”
    “I’d like to retain your services.”
    Sophia waited for more, but Frankie was silent.
    “Can you give me an idea of what sort of case this is?”
    “No.”
    “Pardon me?” What was his game?
    “I would like to keep you and your brother on retainer for any, shall we say, future happenings.”
    Happenings? She had no idea what that translated to in the Vidoni world, but it didn’t sound good.
    “Could you perhaps call our home to discuss this?”
    “I assumed you shared a party line with neighbors?”
    Sophia nodded.
    “I thought so. I’m sure you can understand my reluctance to be overheard, can’t you Miss Mancini? Now, let’s get down to business. I happen to know that Angelo has recently had certain legal proceedings that would make employment definitely advantageous to him.”
    Ah, so Frankie knew. The