Read From Mangia to Murder (A Sophia Mancini ~ Little Italy Mystery) for Free Online Page B

saying that you look a little green every time you look at the body. Is this your first murder case?”
    He shook his head. “No, Miss, it’s not. But I’d rather give chase to a dangerous criminal than stand here guarding someone who will never move again, and I’m not too proud to admit that. Dead bodies fair give me the creeps, they do.”
    “Why don’t you step outside in the alley for a breath of fresh air,” she waved toward the kitchen’s back door. “I’ll wait here and I know my brother won’t let anyone in through the other door.”
    “I couldn’t do that, Miss Mancini. The captain would have my head if I did.”
    “Nonsense. I don’t think Captain McIntyre would mind at all if you stepped out for just a moment.”
    “Captain McIntyre would definitely mind.” The voice was deep and rich, the accent a thick Irish brogue.
    Sophia whirled around.
    A figure every bit as imposing as the voice it belonged to stood framed in the doorway. This man was too young to be Captain McIntyre. About thirty would be her guess. Tall enough that she had to crane her neck to look up at him, whoever he was he obviously was an athlete by his build, although the grass-stained baseball uniform he wore was her second clue.
    He ran a large hand through his chestnut brown hair and frowned down at her. The look of annoyance in his hazel eyes spurred Sophia into action.
    She stepped in front of Vincenzo’s body and pointed over his shoulder to the door that he’d come through.
    “This is a private party,” she told him. “I’m not sure how you got in here but you need to leave. It’s not a good time.”
    The stranger stepped closer and peered over her shoulder at Vincenzo’s body. “I can see that.”
    His condescending tone irritated Sophia.
    “Sir, I--” began the young policeman but Sophia cut him off.
    “I’ll handle this, Officer O’Brian. Now, you, whoever you are, need to leave right now. This is a police matter.”
    “I am the police.”
    “Are you absolutely certain?”
    “Quite.”
    She let her eyes roam over the man in front of her. He was all muscle and built as solidly as an oak door.
    “When you’re finished with your examination, Miss Mancini, perhaps you’ll allow me to begin mine,” he said.
    The kitchen door swung open again. This time it was Angelo. Sophia breathed a sigh of relief.
    “I see you’ve met Captain McIntyre.” Angelo came to stand beside her and put an arm around her shoulders. He bit his lip and thought for a moment. “I can’t remember your first name. I know it, but I can’t bring it to mind. I apologize.”
    “It doesn’t matter,” Sophia reassured him quickly.
    “It did to my parents.” Captain McIntyre gave Sophia one long last measured look before he turned his attention to her brother. “The name’s Tiernan.”
    Sophia shot an annoyed frown at him. He didn’t have to rub it in like that just because his memory actually worked.
    “Now I’ve going to ask you both to step out to the dining room and wait there.” His voice was back to sounding brusque. “O’Brian, you go with Mancini out to the dining room. I’ll need a complete list of everyone at the party with contact information. Be sure to find out who, if anyone, left before I got here.”
    He moved past them--rather deftly for someone of his size, Sophia couldn’t but notice--and knelt beside Vincenzo. Without touching the body, he leaned in close and examined the knife wound. After several long moments he straightened and surveyed the room.
    Sophia stood quietly by the door, thankful he appeared to have forgotten her presence. She wished she knew what he was thinking. What was he looking at? Looking for? He was obviously making mental notes. She just wished she could read them.
    “Still here, Miss Mancini?”
    The kitchen door swung open and once more saved her from having to come up with an explanation for her continued presence.
    “The medical examiner is here, Captain. He’d like a quick