Elote Suspects: A Luna Lacross Cozy Mystery Series Book 3 by Millie Magnolia

Author:Millie Magnolia [Magnolia, Millie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Independent
Published: 2022-05-31T16:00:00+00:00

8

Chapter Eight

Trust Funds and Tortellini

Before Pepper and I could brainstorm ideas on Gertrude’s whereabouts, a voice from the patio of the manor beckoned me.

“Luna!” Alice called, waving me over. Anna was at her side, staring anxiously at the front gates. “Finally. We need to discuss the menu.”

I’d totally forgotten about our meeting. That was the whole reason I’d shown up to the manor, or at least, that was my excuse.

“I’m going to find Gertrude. Meanwhile, you see what information you can gather from the other Tortellinis.”

Like what? I thought as I climbed the front stairs. Alice and Anna hadn’t arrived at the manor until after Alec had passed.

“What’s taking Mr. Goldstein so long?” Anna huffed as she peered wistfully down the winding driveway. “He should’ve been here ages ago.”

Mr. Goldstein. Efrem said he was the executor.

“He said he’d arrive at twelve-thirty,” Alice said, smoothing invisible wrinkles from her formfitting dress. If I didn’t know any better, I’d assume she was heading out for a romantic dinner date.

I watched as she eyed her reflection in the foyer’s massive windowpane, checking her blindingly white teeth for red lipstick.

“And it’s twelve-thirty-three. How can you be so calm? Our lives literally rest in his hands, in whatever version of Father’s will he has in his briefcase. You said yourself that he wouldn’t discuss anything major over the phone.”

So, the big question was, what was inside of Alec’s will? Had he changed it, or hadn’t he?

Pepper was right. Maybe I would find out some new information from the women.

Alice was barely listening as Anna and I followed her into the foyer. She grabbed a champagne flute from a butler who seemed to appear from nowhere. In fact, there was new staff all over the manor.

Had Alice just hired them? Besides Tildon, they certainly weren’t around yesterday.

They were removing priceless portraits with white gloves and antique vases that framed the grand staircase. Was Alice having them appraised and sold before the will had even been read? Was it because she thought Tomas had won the manor and she wanted to strip it while she could?

“Calm your nerves, girl,” Alice said, pushing a champagne flute into Anna’s hands. “Everything will work out just fine. Luna, what will you have?”

I peered at the tray and accepted a glass of sparkling water.

“Now,” Alice said, leading the way into the parlor. “I was thinking that we should have Italian food. It matches the theme quite well, you know.”

In that the Tortellinis were Italian, I supposed. The problem was, Comida Mexicana was a Mexican restaurant. I wasn’t sure if Chewy, the restaurant’s chef, knew how to make Italian dishes. But I didn’t protest. I could practically hear Uncle Urbano buzzing in my ear, “Just smile and nod! We need that contract!”

If he wasn’t so busy trying to prove Aunt Aurora’s innocence, he’d be bending over backward to accommodate Alice’s demands himself.

So, with Uncle Urbano’s purple face in mind, I smiled and nodded, scribbling down all the requests Alice riddled off.

“And tortellini pasta of course,” she said between sips of champagne as we reached the parlor at last.

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