The Case of Italian Indigestion by B R Snow

Author:B R Snow [Snow, B R]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: cozy mystery
ISBN: 9781942691532
Published: 2018-09-09T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Josie sat quietly waiting for the next question. She checked her watch, realized it was almost eleven and draped a leg over her knee in the hope it would keep her from nodding off. Probably not a good idea to fall asleep during questioning. She pulled a chocolate bar from her pocket and held it out to Commissario Bruno who was sitting across from her reviewing his notes.

“Oh, no, thank you,” he said, waving off her offer.

“It’s good,” Josie said, taking a bite. “It’s Italian.”

“Now, there’s a surprise.”

“Everybody’s a comedian.”

“Sorry. I couldn’t resist,” he said, sitting back in his chair and studying her closely. “I must say, Ms. Court, you’re remarkably calm. Most people show all kinds of stress and nervousness when they’re being interviewed by the police. But I haven’t picked up a trace from you. Your friend, Chef Claire, reacted exactly the same way. It seems odd.”

“How so?” Josie said, taking another bite of chocolate.

“You being so calm when I’m asking questions about a murder.”

“Well, it’s sort of old hat to us by now,” Josie said with a shrug.

“I beg your pardon?” Commissario Bruno said, immediately on point.

“Let’s just say we’ve been around our share of murders,” Josie said, polishing off the last of the candy bar and stuffing the wrapper into her pocket.

“Really? Do tell.”

“How long have you got?”

Commissario Bruno stared at her then set his pen and pad down on the coffee table in front of him.

“How long do you need?”

“Geez, I don’t know,” Josie said. “A couple of hours at least. But I don’t think any of it is relevant, Commissario.”

“Why don’t you let me be the judge of that?”

Josie gave it some thought then nodded and launched into several of what she considered the more colorful examples of her exploits. The detective’s eyes widened as she continued. Eventually, he held up a hand to stop her.

“Hang on,” he said, frowning. “You kidnapped a bunch of roosters?”

“Yes. From an illegal cockfight,” Josie said. “At first, it looked like we might get deported, but it ended up all right in the end.”

“Good for the roosters,” Commissario Bruno. “How many times has something like this happened?”

“Are you talking about the number of people who have died while we were around?”

“I am,” he said, still frowning.

“Well, let’s see,” she said, staring off for a moment. “It has to be coming up on a couple dozen.”

“Two dozen?”

“Give or take,” Josie said. “Now you see why I’m not nervous talking with you.”

“And you solved all of the murders?” he said, baffled.

“Actually, Suzy does most of the work,” Josie said. “She has a gift for this sort of stuff.”

“Suzy?”

“She’s our best friend and business partner. Normally, she’d be here with us, but she’s pregnant and still recovering from her husband’s death.”

“Was he one of the two dozen?”

“No,” Josie whispered as she blinked back tears. “He got hit by a bus. On their honeymoon.”

“I’m so sorry to hear that,” Commissario Bruno said, then fell silent. Eventually, he picked up his pen and pad.

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