Read Online Murder and Marinara by Rosie Genova - Free Book Online

allow herself exactly one, having already eaten her high-protein, high-fiber breakfast. As a dance teacher, she took great care of herself, and it showed. She took a sip of her unsweetened black coffee and raised her eyes expectantly. “Tell me.”
    â€œI assume you’re talking about the dead guy in the tomato garden?” I tried to sound flip but didn’t quite carry it off.
    â€œHe’s not just any dead guy—he’s Gio Parisi.” She paused. “Well, he
was
, anyway.” She pointed to the front door of the cottage. “He’s the reason that van’s out there.”
    I dropped my head in my hand. “Don’t remind me.”
    Sofia leaned forward in her chair. “Is it true you found him?”
    â€œUnfortunately.” I described the scene as though it came from a book, and not my recent memory, but I couldn’t help a little shudder as I remembered wrapping my fingers around his cold wrist.
    â€œThat sounds awful,” Sofia said. “So what’s next?”
    â€œThey’re doing an autopsy and probably a tox screen. They took a whole bunch of food and trash from the kitchen. It looks like a heart attack. And that’s the result we’re all praying for.”
    â€œYou don’t think—” Sofia began.
    â€œI don’t know what to think. All I know is that he had lunch at the restaurant and died about an hour later.”
    She shook her head. “Not good.”
    â€œThat’s putting it mildly. Especially since there’s a well-documented protest that happened outside the Casa Lido this afternoon.”
    â€œI forgot about that.” Her face brightened. “Guess that solves the problem of them filming here.”
    â€œDon’t even say it!” I gestured toward the windows. “They’d have a field day with that. And at some point, I’m gonna have to deal with them.” I looked around the cozy cottage, with its musty seashore smell and mismatching furniture, and sighed. “This was such a perfect place for me to work, too.”
    â€œWhat do you mean ‘was’? You’re here for a year. I’ve got your name on a lease.” She squeezed my hand. “Don’t worry. This will all blow over and you’ll write your book. What’s it about, anyway?”
    As I told her, I watched her bright eyes grow dim. “That sounds really . . . interesting.”
    â€œAh, the adjective every writer wants to hear. Thanks, Sofe.”
    â€œI’m sorry, but I think you should write a romance. A really hot one, like Nora Roberts.”
    I couldn’t help laughing. “I’m no Nora Roberts.”
    â€œAt least give Bernardo a girlfriend.” She paused. “Or a boyfriend, I don’t care. Give him somethin’, will ya?”
    â€œIt’s hard for me to imagine Bernardo with a sex life.” I wrinkled my nose. “Come to think of it, I don’t
want
to imagine Bernardo with a sex life.”
    She looked at me sideways and lifted one eyebrow. “Speaking of romance—how’s Not So Tiny Tim?”
    â€œFunny. Did you think that one up yourself?” I wiped the sugar from my fingers and contemplated another doughnut.
    â€œActually, you came up with it.”
    â€œI guess I did. It all feels like a million years ago now. And yesterday.” I pushed the plate of doughnuts away and concentrated on the coffee instead. I would need lots of caffeine to get through today.
    â€œI know what you mean. Was it hard to see him again?”
    â€œI’m over Tim, Sofia.”
    She pointed to my neck. “Right. And that’s why you’re still wearing the necklace he had made for you.”
    â€œI like it, okay?” I looked into her dark eyes. “Yes, it’s hard to be around him. But I don’t have to tell you. When
is
the last time you talked to your ‘highly placed contact in the police