Read Online Cheddar Off Dead by Julia Buckley - Free Book Online Page B

questions at me, some in Italian, some in English. The gist of it was that they wanted to know what I had witnessed.
    Serafina seemed to realize for herself that she had saidtoo much. She called the women to her and spoke in soft Italian, apparently trying to downplay her comment. Enrico Donato, the very man that Parker had told me to avoid, was looking at me with shrewd eyes. Moments earlier I had seen him as a cuddly grandfather. Now all I saw was the intelligence in his face, the largeness of his hands.
    He spoke to me, so low that no one else could hear. “You are from Pine Haven, and Serafina says you saw something. I think I can guess what you witnessed. I have seen the local news. Something that happened yesterday, right in the open, right in that town. A shooting, was it not?”
    I was trapped; my only defense was offense. “What would you know about it?”
    He shrugged. “Nothing, I am afraid.”
    â€œI just realized who you are. So I may as well say this: from what I understand, the dead man owed you money. Perhaps a great deal.”
    He sat up straighter in his seat, his face weirdly interested—almost pleased. “I am sorry? Did you not just meet me? I am curious to hear how you would know this.”
    â€œI didn’t know you until Balbina said your name. I was told that you were a gambler and that Brad Whitefield owed you money.” I looked into his gray eyes and saw significant surprise, with a tinge of respect.
    â€œAnd who might have told you that? And why would they have told you, a pretty young lady who was, what—in the wrong place at the wrong time?”
    â€œNever mind. How did you happen to think about the shooting just now? Is it because you were there?”
    Now he looked extremely amused. “My dear, calm yourself. Your little hands are shaking.”
    I slid my hands under my legs. “Answer my question.”
    He feigned seriousness. “I’m not sure what you heard about me, but I assure you that I was not near young Brad yesterday. I was most sorry to hear of his death. Certainly it had nothing to do with me.”
    â€œDid he owe you money?”
    â€œI suppose that is between him and me.”
    I nodded. “Well, just so you know, I didn’t see anything yesterday. Only the aftermath.”
    Now he really was serious. “You are so convinced that I was in this place, doing this terrible thing. Why? Who has convinced you?”
    Now it was my turn to shrug. “I suppose that is between him and me.”
    Enrico Donato laughed. “You are a spirited woman, like my granddaughter there. But perhaps you will pass on a message to your informant—I do not involve myself in these things, not anymore. I am an old man now, no? I live in quiet retirement. I leave gambling and quibbling over debts to the young.” A brief shadow passed across his face.
    â€œDo you have a son, Mr. Donato?”
    He stood up and put out his hand. I shook it, mainly out of politeness. “This has been a most interesting conversation, Miss Drake.”
    â€œYes, it has.”
    Giovanna appeared in front of us, her hair a glorious red halo around her curious face. “I’m finished, Nonno. What are you guys talking about? Are you boring her with your war stories?”
    â€œI am not boring her, no.”
    His face was placid as he took out his wallet, apparentlyin preparation for paying at the front counter. “Miss Drake, I assure you that you have nothing to fear from me, nor do I know what happened to our friend. I hope that you have a lovely Christmas.”
    I nodded, and he moved away with Giovanna, who was whispering something in his ear. I kept my eye on him until he was gone, then whipped out my phone and texted Parker: I just met Enrico Donato.
    About thirty seconds later I got one back that said, What? There in half an hour.
    Then Serafina was standing and fluffing her even-more-gorgeous hair, and the two of us