Read The Pizza Mystery for Free Online Page B

Nick.
    â€œWell, they asked me to come back, so I’m . . . .” Nick stopped talking when he saw all four Aldens staring at him.
    Jessie went over to Nick first. “Hi, Nick. Remember us? We’re visiting the Piccolos and helping them out for a while.”
    The children were disappointed when they didn’t get one of Nick’s big smiles or even a friendly greeting. He mumbled a hello and that was it. Violet felt especially hurt that he was so unfriendly.
    â€œBoy, she gets everybody mad, even Nick,” Benny whispered when the children slipped out to the dining room.
    For the rest of the morning, the Aldens heard cross words between Nick and Laurie. Nick had his way of doing things, and Laurie had hers. But Violet couldn’t help wondering if there was something else bothering Nick.
    After lunch, the Piccolos went home to rest. The Aldens were busy with the only job Laurie let them do in the kitchen, washing dishes. Right in front of the children, Nick and Laurie started fighting again.
    â€œIt would be easier to box up the take-out pizzas in the kitchen,” Nick argued. “They lose heat when you pack them up in the pantry.”
    â€œI can’t have everyone underfoot when I’m working in the kitchen,” Laurie told Nick. “It’s bad enough with Mr. and Mrs. Piccolo.”
    Nick’s eyes flashed with anger. “Maybe you don’t realize that you’re their employee, Ms. Baker. They were running this restaurant before you were born.”
    â€œAnd they were losing money until I showed up to straighten out their business,” Laurie said. “Now I don’t need you to tell me what to do!”
    The Aldens wanted to disappear. Nick Marra actually did disappear! He went right out the front door with a loud bang! Jessie, Violet, and Benny finished up their work silently then headed towards the stairs.
    â€œIs the dining room set up for tonight?” Laurie asked before they got away.
    The children nodded then shut the door behind them. They didn’t come downstairs again until they heard the Piccolos return right before the dinner hour.
    â€œI hope you children aren’t coming down with something,” Mrs. Piccolo said when she came into the dining room. “I’ll make you some spaghetti before we get busy. You all look pale and hungry. My special tomato sauce will fix you right up.”
    Jessie shook her head. “No thanks, Mrs. Piccolo. We already had something to eat upstairs.”
    Mrs. Piccolo looked worried. “Something’s not right today. I can tell. Nick wasn’t himself. Laurie, well, she works too hard. But it’s you children I’m worried about. You’re too quiet.”
    â€œWe’re okay, Mrs. Piccolo,” Jessie told her.
    Luckily for the Aldens, some dinner customers came in right then. In a short time, there were so many customers to serve that no one noticed things were not going smoothly at Piccolos’ Pizza.
    Not once did Laurie look up at any of the Aldens, except when Henry stayed too long in the kitchen waiting for pizzas to deliver.
    â€œWait in the pantry,” Laurie said. “It’s too busy in here.”
    Henry did as he was told. He waited for Laurie to bring the pizzas out to the pantry area. Like Nick, Henry couldn’t figure out why they had to box up the take-out pizzas away from the kitchen. But Laurie Baker’s mind was made up. The kitchen was pretty much off-limits to Nick and the Aldens.
    By six-thirty, every table at Piccolos’ Pizza was filled. Mr. Piccolo was just coming out of the kitchen with a large sausage pizza when the lights flickered, then went completely dark. The customers let out an “Ah” at the same time. Only the battery-powered exit lights and the candles on the tables lit the dining room. They cast a soft glow over the nervous diners.
    The Aldens heard Mr. Piccolo call out in a calm, sure voice: “Relax, everyone. No