The Chicken Burger Murder by Rosie A Point

Author:Rosie A Point [Point, Rosie A]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-08-15T04:00:00+00:00

12

“Just splashing some water on my face,” I said, and gestured to the sink. “Didn’t want to walk all the way through to the bathroom, and I wasn’t sure where it was.”

“Just down the hall.”

“Sorry.” I flashed a smile and made to walk past him. It would give me the opportunity to take a look at the rest of the house, maybe spy hard evidence, if there was any. Likely, Detective’s Cotton and Balle had already gotten their hands on it by now.

“Don’t be sorry, be careful.”

“I’m usually both,” I said. “The band out there drove the sense out of my head.”

Mario frowned and shifted on the spot. Good heavens, I’d made it worse somehow. He looked like a Shar Pei puppy. “You don’t like the band?” he asked, and pressed a hand to his chest. It was small for a man of his size.

“I’m not into…” I searched for the right word for the music, but I couldn’t find anything other than ‘garbage’ or ‘trash.’ Cacophony, maybe? It was a combination of electric guitar, cymbal crashes and inarticulate screeching.

Now, I’d been subjected to my fair share of heavy metal, there were all types of music tastes back in Boston and even in the Department, but this wasn’t even good rock music.

“The Heavy Hitters were Sal’s favorite band,” Mario said. “We grew up listening to them. They’re local.”

“You’re originally from Sleepy Creek?” I asked.

“Boston born and raised, but I used to come down to visit Sal after he moved here.”

“Oh yeah?” I leaned my hands back against the counter, affecting a casual stance. “You guys hung out often?”

Mario shrugged. “As often as cousins do,” he said. “Nah, that’s not true. Sal and I were pretty close. It’s the reason he left me the pizzeria in his will. He trusted me to do the right thing. It’s our family’s way.”

“That makes sense. I’m very sorry for your loss. Sal was…” Another troublesome word search. ‘Full of it.’ ‘Mean.’ “He was something else,” I finished, hoping it would suffice.

“He sure was. Good as they come.”

An awkward silence started up, and I took it as my cue. I doubted I’d get much more out of him without being obvious. No doubt, Mario was worried I’d overheard his conversation with Bella.

He was on my suspect list, and if he realized I was interested, my investigation would be over before it began. Your investigation. Oh man, you’re already in too deep.

“I’d better get back to the party,” I said, and withheld a grimace at calling it that.

“Wait,” Mario said. “Wait a second, you didn’t even tell me your name.” He came over, swaying his arms and puffing his chest out. “You know who I am, of course.”

“Mario.”

He grabbed my hand, lifted it and brushed his gloved fingers over its back.

Another grimace threatened. I barely kept it at bay.

“And you, lovely lady? What’s your name?”

I tugged my hand back, but he clamped down tighter, bent over and pressed his thick lips against my skin. “Your name must be as beautiful as you are.

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