Jalapeno Pizza Murder Read online

  Chapter Three

  Russell had managed to get Liam and Bethany, his two deputies, to cover his shifts on Tuesday and Wednesday, and after talking with Bea, they decided to hold the dinner party on Tuesday night. After promising to take Jacob’s shift later that week, Ellie cleared her schedule for Tuesday, which would give her the day to spend time with Russell and Bea and to prepare for the meal that evening.

  Monday, Bea was left mostly to her own devices, and the pizzeria owner was pleasantly surprised when she stopped in at Papa Pacelli’s for lunch, with a couple of friends in tow. Bea introduced her to Georgie and Daphne, two women who she went to high school with, and the only local friends she had kept in touch with over the years. Ellie was happy to offer them pizza on the house, and when the three women sat down in a corner booth, they invited her to join them.

  “I’d love to,” Ellie said. “But I can’t. I’ve got a pizza in the oven, and another one that needs to be made, and Rose and I are the only ones here. She’s out on a delivery, so it would be tough for me to take even a few minutes. But I can swing by the table to chat every once and a while.”

  Unfortunately for her, it was a busy day, and she was kept on her toes while the other women ate and laughed. She loved her job, but at the moment she wanted nothing more than to drop what she was doing and go socialize. Her best friend and sister-in-law, Shannon, had been busier than ever since she had her baby, and Joanna was out of town on a cruise with her husband until the end of the month. It would be nice to make more friends, but she never seemed to find the time to do so.

  It wasn’t until the women were almost done with their lunch that Ellie got the chance to stop by the table. She smiled when all three women thanked her voraciously for the food.

  “I don’t usually eat pizza,” said Georgie, a woman with short, spiky hair. “But this is great. I pass it all the time, I can’t believe I haven’t stopped in before.”

  “I’m so glad you liked the food. We’re open seven days a week, and we deliver,” Ellie said. “I can grab you a coupon if you want. We’ve got weekly specials, and also have a lunch bundle that includes two slices and a drink.”

  “I told them you’ll be cooking for the dinner party, and they both promised to clear their evening tomorrow,” Bea said, grinning. “I think it will just be them, Daphne’s husband, Paul, and of course Shannon and James. Was there anyone else you wanted to invite?”

  “I don’t think so,” Ellie said. “That sounds like plenty of people. Have you spoken to Shannon already? I’m hoping she and James can find a babysitter on such short notice.”

  “Already done. Everyone’s all set. They’ll be arriving at six, and I convinced Georgie here to bring her famous creme brulee, and Daphne’s husband’s parents own a vineyard, so they’re in charge of the wine.”

  “Wow. You should have been a party planner. I hardly have to do anything but cook.”

  “We should each focus on what we’re best at,” Bea said, gazing off into the distance. “This is going to be a night to remember.”

  Ellie got her shopping done after work Monday evening, and woke up to Bea cheerfully cleaning the house, which meant that she really didn’t have anything to do that day except to cook. Russell just chuckled and shook his head when she mentioned that it was a bit strange to have their house guest mopping the kitchen floor.

  “Bea has always had a one-track mind. She dives into things wholeheartedly, and does whatever needs to be done to see things through. It’s one of the reasons she’s so successful. Growing up, she always got her homework done within an hour of getting home from school, and usually had other projects to work on as well. I can’t tell you how many times I got roped into helping her build models for extra credit, or help rake up the neighbor’s leaves. She wants this to be the perfect dinner party, and she’s willing to work to make that happen. She’s doing this so you can put your all into cooking.”

  “No pressure,” Ellie muttered. “I hope I don’t burn anything.”

  “You’ll do fine,” he said, kissing her. “And if you want me to help, I will. The only things she’s put on my list are shoveling and salting the walk.”

  “Why do you get off so easy?”

  “Because she remembers the cookie incident when I was a kid,” Russel said with a chuckle. “She’s never trusted me in the kitchen since.”

  Ellie spent the morning relaxing, after being chased away by Bea whenever she tried to help clean. She took a leisurely walk with the dogs and Russell in the state forest behind their house, thinking, not for the first time, about just how lucky she was. She lived in a truly beautiful area, with thousands of acres of forest and dramatic cliffs that fell into the northern Atlantic. Nature was everywhere she looked, and after spending most of her life in Chicago, it was a welcome change.

  By the time she was ready to start cooking, the house was sparkling and she was feeling calm and happy, all thanks to Bea, who had retired to the living room with a glass of champagne and an intimidating number of items that she intended to turn into party favors. Ellie had donated some coupons for the pizzeria, but she didn’t know what else the woman had in store. She was beginning to see that Bea never did anything halfway.

  The menu they had come up with for the meal was simple, yet delicious. Locally caught lobster tails, creamy mashed potatoes, and green beans fried with almonds and garlic would make up the main course, with a light zucchini noodle soup, chips, and homemade crab cakes for appetizers. Ellie didn’t mind doing the cooking on her own, but when Russell joined her in the kitchen and offered his help, she was happy to set him to washing and snapping the ends off of the green beans.

  It had been a while since she had made a big meal like this, and once she got into the flow of things, she realized how much she had missed it. Cooking a multi-course meal for a large number of people was almost like performing a very complicated dance to music that no one but she could hear. She flitted between cutting boards and sauce pans, occasionally pausing to check a recipe or wash her hands. Russell followed along behind her, cleaning up and occasionally helping to stir a dish.

  Before Ellie knew it, the lobster was in the oven, everything else was done, and the first of their guests had arrived.

  Chapter Four

  I’m so glad you invited us,” Shannon said, stepping forward to greet Ellie with a hug. She and James were the last of the guests to arrive, and just on time, too. “It’s nice to spend an evening being adults. I’m not sure I could stand singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star for the hundredth time today. That’s on the babysitter tonight.”

  “Do you have to get back early?” Ellie asked. “I know Bea has a whole evening planned out. You know how she is better than I do.”

  “The babysitter can stay as late as we want.” Shannon grinned. “I knew there would be no leaving early with Bea in charge of things.”

  Laughing, Ellie hung up James and Shannon’s coats, then urged them to go join the others in the dining room. She found Bea in the kitchen, doing last minute fixes to each dish’s presentation. Though Ellie prided herself on being a good cook, her realm of expertise lay with a pizza pan. She had never paid much attention to garnishes, and had to admit that the dishes looked almost like they had come from a five-star restaurant with Bea’s additions.

  “Everything looks great,” she said to the other woman. “Is there anything else you can think of before we take the food out?”

  Bea considered, then shook her head. “I don’t think so. Is everyone sitting down?”

  “Yes, or at least, they were a couple of minutes ago. I just sent Shannon and James to the dining room.”

  “Then let’s start bringing the appetizers out.” Bea grinned. “This may not be my usual kind of party, but it’s turning out to be just as fun to plan.”

  The appetizers were a hit and they settled into easy conversation, first about the holidays, then about what their plans were for the coming year.

  “I’ve got a business trip to Tha
iland in March,” Bea said, swiping up the rest of the crab dip with a cracker. “I’ve been to Japan before, but never Thailand. That should be interesting. Are you going to travel at all, Ellie? I know Russell is a homebody, but from what I’ve heard, your pizzeria has grown quite a bit these past couple of years.”

  “There’s a branch in Florida now,” Ellie said agreeably. “I go there a couple of times a year. I don’t have any other trips planned, but I suppose I might head out to Chicago to visit my mom if I have the time. Running the pizzeria keeps me pretty busy, though. I hope you’ll email us photos of Thailand. I bet it’s gorgeous there.”

  “I will, I promise.” Smiling, Bea turned to Georgie. “Do you have any fun plans for the year?”

  The other woman gave a dry laugh. “Do I ever? I’m going to be stuck in Kittiport for the rest of my life. We don’t all have it as easy as you do, Bea.”

  Bea’s face fell. “I’m sorry, dear. If you ever want to come visit with me, just say the word. I have more frequent flier miles than I will ever use.” She looked around and her face brightened. “Oh, it looks like we’re all done with the appetizers. I’ll start bringing in the rest of the food.”

  She got up and bustled out of the room. As soon as she was gone, it was as though the brightness had dimmed several notches. The rest of them sat in silence for a moment, then Paul rose to his feet.

  “I’ll go help her.”

  Ellie was opening her mouth to tell him to sit back down, and that she would handle it, when his wife tugged roughly at his arm.

  “No, you won’t,” she snapped. “Sit back down.”

  He did so, a sour look on his face. Ellie traded a glance with her husband, raising an eyebrow. The mood at the table suddenly seemed tense. She noticed that Georgie and Daphne glanced at each other, and Georgie pursed her lips.

  Partially because it was her duty as hostess, partially to keep herself from asking nosy questions — curiosity had always been her weakness — and partially to escape the awkward atmosphere, Ellie rose. “I’ll go,” she said. “I hope everyone’s still hungry, we’ve got plenty of food in the kitchen.”

  She nearly bumped in to Bea, who was carrying the mashed potatoes and green beans. The older woman smiled at her, readjusting her grip on one of the dishes.

  “I turned on the burner to melt the butter, so it should be just about ready by now. Could you grab another bottle of champagne too? I noticed we’re almost out.”

  “Sure.” Ellie hesitated, wanting to ask about the strange moment between Paul, Daphne, and Georgie, but knowing it wasn’t the time. Instead, she just smiled in return and made a beeline for the stove to check on the butter. She could always ask Bea about it later.

  Once the butter had melted, Ellie spooned it into individual dishes for dipping, and placed them on a tray, which Bea picked up on her return trip. Then, tucking the bottle of champagne under one arm, she grabbed the still sizzling pan with the lobster tails and headed back into the dining room. Lobster was one of her favorite dishes, and she was eager to dig in.

  As soon as she and Bea sat down, the conversation picked back up, this time with Bea asking question after question about Adrian, James and Shannon’s son and Russell and Ellie’s nephew. It was a topic all four of them could talk about for hours, but didn’t leave much for the other guests to add to. Busy enjoying her food and the talk about her little nephew, Ellie hardly paid attention to the dark looks Georgie and Daphne were exchanging.

  The party lasted until well past the time Ellie and Russell normally went to bed. After dinner, they moved to the living room, where they split into teams and played an increasingly ridiculous game of charades. By the time she and Bea started handing out party favors and saying goodbye, Ellie was exhausted. As soon as the door shut behind the last guest, she gave Bea a tired smile and then staggered upstairs, deciding to put off the dishes until the morning. Sleep was the only thing on her mind.

  Chapter Five

  When Ellie woke up the next morning, Russell was still snoring softly beside her. She got out of bed quietly, so as not to wake him up early on his day off, and padded to their shared bathroom. Once the door was shut, she reached for the glass they kept next to her sink, too thirsty to wait until she got downstairs to get a drink. When she caught sight of her reflection in the mirror, she winced. She had been so tired she hadn’t taken her makeup off the night before, and now her face was a mess. She definitely needed a shower before venturing downstairs.

  The shower refreshed her, and by the time her feet were on the stairs, she was almost ready to tackle the pile of dishes she knew was waiting for her in the kitchen. With Bunny at her heels and Sawyer running eagerly in front of her, she made her way downstairs and went directly to the back door, where she let the dogs outside so they could take care of their own business. After they came back in, she fed them and changed their water, trying not to focus too much on the huge task that was in front of her. Even with Russell’s help cleaning up while she was cooking, there was still a lot to do. Coffee first, she thought. Nothing’s so urgent it can’t wait for coffee.

  She was somewhat surprised that Bea wasn’t up yet — from what Russell had told her, his cousin was used to staying up late and getting up early. She was one of those rare people who could thrive on next to no sleep, something that Ellie was envious of. For her, sleep was a precious resource that she had rarely gotten enough of before moving to Kittiport and away from the high stress life she had had before. Still, she couldn’t blame Bea for sleeping in. If Ellie hadn’t had to go to work in a couple of hours, she would have gone back to sleep herself.

  As she sipped her coffee, she made her way through the house toward Marlowe’s cage to say good morning to the parrot. She heard the sound of water running in the guest bathroom and smiled as she slipped a nut through the bars. It sounded like Bea was up after all. So far, her house guest had proven more than willing to help with chores. If she was lucky, she might get some help with the dishes this morning. Normally she wouldn’t let a guest help, but the party had been Bea’s idea, so Ellie wouldn’t complain if she offered to pitch in.

  The water continued to run as she finished up her good mornings to Marlowe, and eventually Ellie sighed. It seemed that Bea was taking her time, and she really couldn’t put off doing the dishes any longer. She made her way back to the kitchen, drained the last of her coffee in one gulp, and set the mug down on top of a stack of plates. Going over to the sink, she pushed up her sleeves and turned the hot water on, testing the temperature every few seconds as she waited for it to heat up.

  It didn’t heat up. Frowning, she ran her hand under it, then shut off the sink with a sigh. She could guess what had happened; Bea had used all of the hot water. Her own shower had been quite short, and their water heater was a new model and more than large enough to last for more than one person’s morning routine, so Bea must have been in there for quite a while. She felt a spike of annoyance, more because she wanted to get the dishes done and couldn’t than out of any real anger toward the other woman.

  Drying her hands off, she left the kitchen and walked down the hall that led to the guest bedroom and full bath. When she realized she could still hear the sound of running water, she frowned. It sounded like the sink, not the shower. What on earth was she doing?

  Knocking on the bathroom door, she called out, “Bea? Are you almost done in there?”

  She waited for a moment, but didn’t get a reply. For the first time that morning, she started to get worried.

  “Bea?”

  She tried the door handle, but it was locked. Her stomach twisting, she began pounding on the door.

  “Bea, open up! Bea!”

  “Ellie? What’s going on?”

  She whirled around at the sound of her husband’s voice. Russell was standing in the hallway, a crease still on his cheek from the pillow. Despite the fact that he had obviously just woken up, he looked alert.

  “The water’s been running since I woke up, and Bea i
sn’t answering when I knock on the door.” She could hear the panic in her voice, and knew Russell must have picked up on it too. He didn’t ask anything else, just stepped up to the door and knocked on it himself.

  “Bea, can you hear me? I need you to open the door right now.” He paused, waiting for a reply that didn’t come. “On the count of three, I’m going to kick open the door. If you can hear me, I need you to make sure you’re clear of it. Ready?” Another pause. More silence. He shot Ellie a look, and she could see that he was just as worried as she was. “One… two… three!”

  He stepped back and kicked the bathroom door open, splintering the wood of the frame. He didn’t hesitate before walking into the room. Ellie was close behind him, and she saw Bea almost at the same time he did.

  The other woman was lying on the bathroom floor. The shower curtain had been half pulled down, as if Bea had caught it when she fell. The sink was running, and there was a bottle of contact solution on the floor. Bea wasn’t moving.