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

back in his burgundy leather chair and rested his elbows on its arms. His fingers created a steeple and his gaze was direct. “I was expecting your brother to accompany you.”
    “Angelo was needed elsewhere. Please rest assured that anything you wish to discuss with Angelo, you can discuss with me.”
    “So you are not solely functioning as Mr. Mancini’s secretary then?”
    “No. My brother and I have always worked as a team.”
    “I see. And you two believe that you have what it takes to handle private matters for a client with speed and discretion?”
    “Of course.” Sophia wasn’t enjoying the back and forth, cat and mouse nature of the conversation. She glanced around the luxuriously appointed room. It looked like a banker’s office--a well-appointed banker’s office, at that. As she had been shown in, Sophia had been surprised by how elegantly the Vidoni home appeared to be decorated. She had expected something more garish--some place that Maria Acino would fit right in.
    She turned her attention back to Frankie. ”Let’s talk business. What can we do for you?”
    Frankie smiled, a not altogether pleasant expression. He leaned forward.
    “Find Vincenzo’s killer.”
    “Why?”
    The question appeared to throw him. “What?”
    “Why do you care who killed Vincenzo?”
    His eyebrows rose. Polite and ladylike was fine for off-duty hours, but frank and direct was the new professional demeanor she’d decided to adopt on the long walk up to the house.
    “I’d like to know what your interest in the matter is.”
    He drummed his fingers against the desk for several moments. Finally he spoke. “The community we live in is my--how to phrase this--area of interest.”
    Translation: Little Italy was his territory.
    “Anything that happens there is of great interest to me.”
    Translation: I don’t want to look foolish having a murder happen under my nose unless I ordered it.
    “I want to hire you and your brother to find the killer before the police do.”
    Sophia hesitated. Last night, after she and Angelo had returned home, they’d stayed up late talking--about the party, about the murder, and about their appointment with Frankie and the possibility of working for him. With the looming court date, and the need to be gainfully employed, they both agreed taking the case, if asked, was the only reasonable choice.
    She snapped open her pocketbook and removed an envelope. She slid it across the desk.
    “I’ve taken the liberty of typing up a contract and a fee agreement. Angelo and I have already signed both copies. If you agree to our terms, please sign them both and the second copy is yours.”
    Frankie opened the envelope and drew out the typed pages. His eyes skimmed over the contract. “I can see you are prepared and quite thorough.”
    “Necessary qualities in a detective, don’t you think?”
    “I do.” He took a ballpoint pen from his suit jacket pocket and signed both copies. He slipped his copy into his top desk drawer. From the right drawer he took an envelope and handed it to her along with her copy of the contract. “More than half of your fee up front, plus money for any expenses you incur. I want you to know that I expect complete discretion and honesty from you and your brother.”
    “We expect nothing less in return.”
    “Siamo d’accordo allora.” He stood and offered his hand to seal the deal. She shook it, praying she hadn’t made the wrong decision by taking on Frankie as their first client.
    “Mooch here will give you a lift home,” Frankie said.
    As Sophia followed Mooch down the hallway, she wondered about the Vidoni family secrets that he invariably was privy to. When he pulled open the front door for her, she lobbied her first question at him.
    “Did you go with Mr. Vidoni to the party at Vincenzo’s yesterday afternoon?”
    She wasn’t surprised to see him scowl.
    “You want a ride home or not?”
    “No, thank you. I’ll walk.” She stepped over the threshold