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

department’?”
    â€œPlease.” She waved her hand. “Your brother’s a pain in my ass.”
    â€œBut you love him, right?”
    â€œSomethin’ awful.” she said with a sigh. “Hey, does he know I’m renting you the cottage?”
    â€œI haven’t mentioned it, but I know he wouldn’t care. He knows we’re close.”
    At this, Sofia broke into a passable imitation of my brother and jabbed her finger at me for emphasis. “‘You two, you’re thick as thieves.’” She broke off abruptly, her grin fading. “God, I miss him.”
    â€œHe misses you.”
    She pressed her hand against her chest. “It feels like my heart is bruised.”
    â€œBecause it is. And it’s the same for him,” I said quietly. “Don’t you want to work things out?”
    â€œYou know I do!” She shook her head. “He’s so stubborn. He won’t give an inch.”
    â€œIs it so important to you to enter the police academy? To give up the dance studio and everything you’ve worked for? To put this kind of a strain on your marriage?”
    Her lips tightened. “I guess it’s natural that you’d be on his side.”
    â€œC’mon, Sofia, be fair. Yes, he’s my brother, but I love both of you. And I want the best for both of you.” I shook my head. “It’s hard for me to understand.”
    â€œWhat’s so hard? I want a career in law enforcement, and your brother won’t accept my choice.”
    â€œYou know why. It’s not just Danny being macho—”
    â€œOf course it is.”
    â€œHe’s worried about you. He knows the risks that cops take, even in small towns. He doesn’t want anything to happen to you.”
    â€œDon’t you think I worry about
him
on the job? But I’ve been training on my own, going to karate class every week. And I’m smart; I can take care of myself.”
    â€œI’m not diminishing that. But there’s more to it. You’ve got a nice little business in town. Do you really want to risk that for this dream of being a cop?”
    Sophia’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve got a nice little mystery series going that sells lots of books. But you’re taking a risk for a dream. Why shouldn’t I?”
    â€œGot me there, SIL,” I said. “We’re probably both crazy.” I drained the rest of my coffee and strained to listen. Above the chatter outside, I could hear a lone female voice speaking into a microphone. “Crap, I think they started filming.”
    Sofia frowned. “What is there to film? Your empty front yard?”
    â€œI don’t know. Background stuff, maybe?” I craned my neck to peer into the living room. “I wish I knew what was going on out there.”
    She stood up. “Let’s find out.”
    â€œAre you crazy? I’m not going out there now.”
    â€œWho said anything about going out?” Sofia crept out to the living room, and dropping to her hands and knees as quietly as a cat, she slinked her way along the floor. If she had a tail, it would be twitching. She looked back at me over her shoulder. “Well, what are you waiting for? C’mon.”
    Knees creaking, I bent down to join her on the floor, my canine posture a sharp contrast to her feline grace. I wrinkled my nose. “Eww. This rug needs shampooing.”
    â€œTell it to the landlord.” Sofia had reached one of the two front windows; she poked her nose through the slats, her chin resting on the sill.
    â€œWanna tell me again why I’m crawling on a stinky rug with my butt up in the air?”
    â€œQuit complaining. It’s probably the most fun you’ve had in weeks.”
    While I pondered the truth of this statement, I reached for the sill to pull myself up. From my vantage point, I could make out only the van and a couple of guys moving some big cords. “What