Free Something's Cooking by Joanne Pence Page B

Serefina cast her gaze, full force, on him.
    Paavo loosened his tie. Poor man, Angie thought. He had to face Serefina when he could be out chasing a simple murderer.
    â€œSomething’s strange here,” Serefina said, “but he’s got good eyes. He’s quiet. I like that in a man.”
    Paavo raised his eyebrows.
    â€œI know more is going on than you’re telling me, Angelina. What can I do? Right, young man?” She finally addressed Paavo.
    Angie chuckled inwardly as she realized he had no idea how to respond.
    â€œThere, now I’ve embarrassed him! Mi dispiace! ” She reached up and grabbed his cheek between her thumb and forefinger and gave it a little squeeze.
    â€œIt’s all right,” Serefina continued. “You take Angie to her cousin’s wedding tomorrow, and you watch her good, you hear? Meet the family, too, except Salvatore, he couldn’t come. His heart, you know. But Gina’s father is only his second cousin, so it’s okay.”
    â€œGod, Mamma,” Angie lay her palms against her forehead. “I forgot about the wedding.”
    â€œ Dio! How could you forget your own cousin?” Serefina raised her hands upward with desperation.
    Paavo stepped back.
    â€œShe’s only my third cousin, Mamma.”
    â€œShe’s family.” Serefina turned to Paavo. “You come to my house at three tomorrow. It’s formal. Angelina, give him the address.”
    â€œI’m sorry…” His voice had a slight quiver toit. Angie recognized the symptom shared by many who ran headlong into Serefina. She hadn’t realized even hard-nosed police detectives were susceptible. She feared Paavo would find himself at a wedding tomorrow with no idea how he got there.
    â€œMamma, he’s a detective. He’s got to work.”
    Serefina shrugged. “So? Watching you isn’t important work? I’ll call Commissioner Barcelli.”
    Paavo cleared his throat. “I have tomorrow off.”
    â€œMaybe Rico should take me,” Angie quickly suggested.
    â€œRico?”
    â€œHe was the man who was just here who ran out the door.”
    Serefina’s eyes drilled her daughter.
    Angie sighed and looked beseechingly at Paavo. “It’s all right for you to come with me, isn’t it? I’m not a suspect or anything.”
    â€œIt’s not against procedure, but—”
    â€œ Va bene .” Serefina interrupted. “Enough talk. You know how to keep my Angelina safe. I know it’s hard. She makes my hair gray the way she won’t listen. And she never phones her mother.”
    Serefina turned Angie toward her bedroom. “Get your things for tomorrow, Angelina. You come home with me now. We have a lot to do. I have a taxi waiting. I came here straight from the airport.”
    â€œWalk us to the cab?” Angie looked back over her shoulder at Paavo.
    â€œSure.” His eye caught hers as if to tell her not to worry, she’d be watched.
    Serefina looked from one to the other, then nodded.

9
    Angie felt like a bird released from its cage as she waited for Paavo in the library of her parents’ Hillsborough mansion. Her apartment had become a prison cell. Now, for a little while at least, she could forget about all that madness.
    She had summoned her hairdresser to her parents’ home that morning, saying she was too busy to get to his shop, but paid him well enough to cover any lost business. The back of her hair was pinned up, while the front and sides were softly curled, framing her face and making her eyes seem even larger, darker, and more dramatically almond shaped than usual.
    The late afternoon wedding was to have a formal reception. Angie wanted to wear something particularly beautiful and had chosen an ice-blue silk Celine that skimmed her waist and hips to a short, sexy puff of a skirt. With it she wore matching pumps and a simply mounted diamond necklace, earrings, and