Read Deep in Death: A Shelby Nichols Adventure for Free Online Page B

tomorrow.”
    “Sure. No problem. See you later.” I opened the door, eager to leave, and nearly collided with a man entering Uncle Joey’s office. “Oh…excuse me.” I stopped short, but we were so close I could smell his aftershave. Our gazes caught and I couldn’t help the shiver of danger that passed over me. He had the classic Italian features of olive skin, a straight nose, and black wavy hair. His keen, dark eyes glanced over me in appreciation, and his nostrils flared.
    “Please, excuse me,” he answered, with a slight accent. “I didn’t know such a lovely woman was here or I would have waited before I barged in.”
    “Oh…it’s all right,” I said, my voice breathless. My pulse raced and it was hard to keep from fanning my face. I ended up putting a hand over my heart instead. “I was just leaving.”
    “Yes…I see that,” he answered. An amused smile lit his face. “I am Giovanni Passini, at your service.” He held out his hand for me to shake, but as soon as I placed my hand in his, he lifted it to his lips and placed a kiss on my knuckles.
    If I was rattled before, now I was speechless. I couldn’t even remember my name. “Uh…nice to meet you. I’m…uh…Shelby Nichols.” I pulled my hand out of his grasp and took a step back. “I guess I’ll be going now.” I glanced around Giovanni and waved. “Bye Uncle Joey, Ramos.”
    I hurried out the door, pulling it behind me, but on impulse, left it slightly ajar so I could eavesdrop. That guy was something else, and I wanted to know what he was up to. Giovanni spoke without even a hint of an accent. “What a charming niece you have, Manetto. Where did you get her?”
    “That’s none of your concern,” Uncle Joey said, his voice hard. “And I suggest you walk carefully. You’re in my domain and I’m not happy you’re here.”
    “Of course… I apologize,” he answered. He was thinking that he enjoyed hitting a nerve with Manetto, even though it was probably a stupid thing to do. “As you know, my father has died. I want to work out a better arrangement for both of us now that he’s gone.”
    I stayed by the door until I heard the squeak of Jackie’s chair. Knowing she was probably coming to see what was keeping me, I quickly pulled away and walked down the hall, grateful for the carpet that kept my passage quiet.
    She rounded the corner and stopped. “Oh…there you are,” she said. Her shoulders relaxed and she smiled, wondering what had kept me so long. Knowing how Joe felt about Jon Passini, she didn’t think it was a good idea for me to be involved. If he was anything like his father, he was going to make trouble for them and Joe wouldn’t like it one bit. “Did you get everything taken care of?”
    “Yes. I’m all set. See you later.” I smiled at Jackie with a confidence I didn’t feel and hurried to the elevators. My heart was still pounding as I rode down to the parking level, but by the time I got in my car, I could finally breathe normally again.
    This Giovanni or Jon person was bad news. No matter how charming he was, he definitely wasn’t a friend of the family like he tried to portray. More than that, I picked up deep resentment and anger. He had an agenda to fulfill…and the person he had the biggest plans for was Uncle Joey.
     

 
    Chapter 3
    I drove home determined to get started on my missing person case, and not worry so much about Uncle Joey, but I still couldn’t stop thinking about the mess he was in. I pulled into my garage and hurried inside. It was almost three in the afternoon and I was hungry, so I rummaged through my refrigerator for something to eat. Nothing looked good, but it was mostly due to my anxiety about Uncle Joey. In desperation, I whipped out my phone and pushed number seven on my speed dial. He answered on the third ring.
    “Shelby? I didn’t think I’d be hearing from you until tomorrow. Is something wrong?”
    “Yes. Is that Giovanni person still there?” I