Free From Mangia to Murder (A Sophia Mancini ~ Little Italy Mystery) by Caroline Mickelson

only known Maria a couple of days, and not well at that, but this didn’t seem like the cocky, assured woman she thought Maria to be.
    “What are you afraid of?” Sophia surprised herself with the question, but it appeared to hit home.
    “Afraid? Oh, God, it shows?” Maria dug in her pocketbook for a cigarette and lighter. Her hands shook as she lit one and took a long drag. “I just wanted to talk to you about that day we met at Vincenzo’s. Remember, it was just you and me and Vincenzo?”
    “And Eugene.”
    Maria waved her hand dismissively. “Eugene doesn’t count.”
    In the interest of time, Sophia decided not to argue the point. “What about that day?”
    “We need to get our stories straight.” She eyed Sophia. “You know, for when the police question us again.”
    “I don’t have anything to tell them. I didn’t hear what you and Vincenzo were talking about. I was inside with Eugene, remember?”
    Maria nodded. “But you saw us talking and Vincenzo looked upset.”
    “Vincenzo always looked upset about something.” She was about to add that this had been part of his charm, but she had enough respect for the dead to leave it unsaid. “Don’t worry, Maria. I have nothing to tell the police about that day, so you can calm down.”
    Maria chewed her lip. “I just don’t know what to do.”
    “Why not ask Frankie for advice?”
    Maria’s eyes widened. “No, I don’t want to cause any trouble for Frankie. My job is to make his life easier.”
    Her job? Is that how a mistress described a love affair? She knew she shouldn’t ask.
    “Your job?” She couldn’t help herself.
    Maria took another long drag on her cigarette. “Yeah, you know, as Frankie’s fiancée.”
    Sophia eyed the other woman warily. “You do know that Frankie’s wife is still alive, don’t you?”
    Maria shrugged. “No one lives forever.”
    There was nowhere productive this conversation could go.
    “Just tell the police whatever it was that you were talking about. There’s no need to hide anything. Is there?”
    In answer, Maria threw her cigarette down and ground it out. She exhaled a long stream of smoke, tugged at her blouse, straightened her skirt, and flashed Sophia a rather pasted-on smile.
    “There’s always a little something to hide when talking to the police, don’t you think?”
    ***
    Sophia made it to the Vidoni front gate with half a minute to spare. Frankie’s home was high atop a hill that overlooked Little Italy without actually being a part of it. Fortunately for her, the local bus line provided service halfway up the hill. The other half she’d walked.
    White iron gates with an enormous letter V on each side stood closed before her. She looked around for a gatehouse, but didn’t see one. Frustration welled within her, but she quickly realized the futility of it. As private detectives, she and Angelo were doubtless going to run into more than a few locked doors. She might as well get used to it. But there was no way she was turning back without a contract in hand, even if it meant she had to go over the wall to get it.
    She smiled. There was an idea.
    She walked along the sidewalk, assessing the wall. Red brick pillars anchored the gate but, fortunately for her, they tapered off to a modest four feet at the lowest point. Four feet she could handle. She dropped her pocketbook and shoes over the wall. With a quick glance around to make sure the street was deserted, Sophia took a leap and, bracing her arms, swung one leg so that she was straddling the wall. She swung the other leg over and jumped down, her earlier frustration having given way to a sense of satisfaction. Reading all those Nancy Drew mysteries might actually pay off.
    And, after all, no one had seen her.
    ***
    “Your creative entrance was most impressive, Miss Mancini.”
    Sophia tried not to look surprised. “Thank you, Mr. Vidoni.”
    “I must confess, it was a bit of a test, to see how you handled a road block.” Frankie sat