Bacon Cheddar Murder: Book 2 in Papa Pacelli's Pizzeria Series Read online

  I do wonder what she was doing, though, meeting that man out in the woods in the middle of the night, she mused as she shut the engine off. It seemed out of character for her friend. Shannon had mentioned something about a story, and Ellie was bursting with curiosity to find out just what could have been important enough to lure the journalist into the state park at night, but she was determined not to press her friend for answers until the other woman was ready.

  “Time to focus on work,” she said to herself. “I’ve got pizzas to sell.”

  Clara and Rose, the two other female employees at the pizzeria, were both working that day.

  “So sorry I’m late,” Ellie told them, feeling a stab of guilt for keeping the young women waiting so long. Thank goodness it wasn’t a weekend when the pizzeria was busier—there would have been no way that Clara and Rose could have handled it themselves then. “I had the craziest night…”

  She told her employees her story as they worked alongside each other, chopping ingredients and grating cheese. By the time she was finished talking, Clara was wearing an amazed look on her face and Rose had stopped all preparations.

  “Wow, I can’t believe all of that really happened. And they still haven’t found the body?”

  “Not that I’m aware of,” Ellie said. “From what Sheriff Ward said, they were out looking all night.”

  “That’s so weird.”

  Rose added, “And they have no idea who the killer is, either?”

  “None at all, as far as I know.” She was not going to mention the fact that Sheriff Ward seemed to be considering that Shannon herself could be a suspect.

  “Creepy,” the young woman said with a shudder. “It could be anyone at all, couldn’t it? In a town this small, it’s bound to be someone we know.”

  They’re right, Ellie thought, watching her employee begin to spin out a lump of dough. Unless the killing was completely random, and done by some stranger passing through town, then chances are the murderer is someone I’ve at least seen before.

  The day wore on slowly. Ellie couldn’t focus on her work; she kept thinking over last night instead of paying attention to the pizzas. When she accidentally burnt one of the orders, she finally asked Clara to take over in the kitchen and went out front to sit behind the register. It felt good to be out of the swelteringly warm room. The ovens made the kitchen miserable during the summer, even with the fans running, and though it was the tail end of the season, today was an unseasonably warm day. The dining area, by contrast, was pleasantly cool thanks to the air conditioning, and Ellie breathed a sigh of relief as she tilted her face up towards the vent. She would switch with Clara again in a bit, but she was going to enjoy this while she could.

  She straightened up when the bell above the pizzeria’s door jingled. The woman walking into the restaurant was none other than Shannon. Ellie blinked in surprise, then offered her friend a wide smile.

  “I wasn’t expecting to see you for a while,” she said, waving her friend over. A family was sitting at one of the booths in the far corner, but if they spoke quietly, Ellie doubted that they would be overheard.

  “Technically I’m supposed to be at home today, recuperating, but James was driving me crazy,” Shannon sighed, leaning on the counter. Her left arm was held up in a sling.

  “I thought you weren’t seriously hurt, Shannon,” Ellie said, her brows drawing together in concern for her friend. “If whoever attacked your friend got you, too, then you should listen to your doctor and stay home. I wouldn’t have let you go out in the woods again if I had known.”

  “Oh, this?” The woman lifted her arm with a wince. “It’s a sprain, that’s all. From when I was trying to find my way out of the woods.”

  Ellie bit her lip. Her friend wasn’t meeting her eyes, but she didn’t see why she would lie about something like this. She must be in pain, she thought. People act differently when they’re hurting.

  “I’m sorry. I hope it heals quickly,” she said at last. “I never should have left you alone out there.”

  “It’s not your fault—I told you to, remember? Anyway, let’s talk about something else. I’ve been talking about last night all day, first to James, then to the sheriff. Russell kept trying to get me to remember more and more. I finally had to tell him that no matter how many times he asks me, I’m not going to suddenly remember that the guy who attacked us had a mole under his left eyebrow. It was dark, and he was wearing a hood. That’s all I know.”

  “He’s just trying to be thorough,” Ellie said. “He made me repeat stuff a bunch of times when he questioned me, too. He’s very detail-oriented; he must be good at his job.”

  Her friend opened her mouth to reply, but was interrupted when Clara stepped through the door to the kitchen.

  “Oh—sorry, Ms. Pacelli. I didn’t mean to interrupt, but Clayton is here and he needs you to sign for the delivery. He’s got to make a fish delivery soon, and can’t wait much longer.”

  “Clayton… can you remind me what he does again, Clara? Is he the guy that delivers the boxes?”

  “Cheese,” Clara said. “Lisa does the boxes. She comes all the way from Portland, remember?”

  “I’m getting there,” Ellie said with a chuckle. “Clayton delivers cheese, Lisa does boxes. I’ll have it down eventually. Go ahead and send him through.”

  Clara disappeared back into the kitchen, and her spot was taken a moment later by a young man with messy blond hair and a crooked smile.

  “My uncle added a free sample of his new bacon-flavored cheddar,” he told Ellie as he handed her his clipboard to sign. “It’s half-off all this month if you want to order more.”

  “Thanks, Clayton,” she said, scribbling her signature on the line he indicated. “I’ll try some later today. It sounds pretty good, but I’m not sure how well it would go on a pizza.”

  “Probably pretty well,” he said with a grin as he took the clipboard back from her. “Who doesn’t like bacon? Anyway, thanks for signing and I’m sorry for the interruption. I’ve gotta run. We lost one of our employees recently, and everyone’s working double.”

  She told him goodbye and wished him luck. Once he went back into the kitchen, she turned back to Shannon. She was surprised to see her friend’s brows drawn together in a frown. Ellie looked around behind herself to make sure that Clayton had gone, then asked, “What is it?”

  “I just feel like I know that guy from somewhere,” her friend said. “Is he a local?”

  “I think he lives in the next town over. At least, that’s where his uncle’s business is,” Ellie said.

  “I must be going crazy,” Shannon said with a laugh. She shook her head. “Anyway, before I forget… I wanted to invite you to dinner at my house this weekend. James is having a few of his friends over to watch a game, and I could use some female company. Aaand… two of them are single.”

  Ellie chuckled. “Well, I’m not really looking to date right now—it hasn’t exactly gone very well for me in the past. But I’d be happy to come over and spend some girl time together. Should I bring anything for the meal?”

  “James is cooking, and I’m not sure what exactly he has planned, but chips and dip are always popular with that crew. Don’t worry about it if you don’t have time, though.”

  “I’ll see if my grandmother has any good dip recipes for game day,” Ellie told her friend. “Thanks for the invite. I’m looking forward to it.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  “It’s such a beautiful day, isn’t it, dear?” Ann Pacelli asked, fluffing her curls with one hand as she gazed out across the bay. “I only wish I didn’t get so dreadfully sick on boats. It’s a pity to keep the Eleanora docked on a day like this.”

  “Have you tried any medicine for seasickness?” Ellie asked her grandmother. “I’m sure there’s something that would work for you.”

  “Oh, I’ve tried everything.” The elderly woman sighed. “The sea just isn’t for me. I do love walking out here, though. Thanks for joining me, El
lie.”

  “Of course. It’s a great morning for a walk, and it’s nice to be able to see more of the town. I spend most of my time cooped up at the pizzeria or at home. I’m sure Bunny appreciates getting out, too.”

  The little dog was prancing a few steps ahead of them, her thin leather leash looped loosely around her owner’s wrist. The papillon couldn’t have been happier—it was a busy morning at the marina, and there was no shortage of fascinating smells to investigate.

  “I never liked little dogs much,” her grandmother mused as she watched the little black-and-white dog poke her nose at an inquisitive seagull. “But Bunny has me wrapped around her paw.”

  Ellie smiled. “She knows how to get what she wants, that’s for sure. How could anyone say no to that little face?”

  The paused by the Eleanora for a few minutes, admiring the boat’s flawless white paint and reminiscing about Ellie’s grandfather. Arthur Pacelli had been a man of hobbies: boating, fishing, cooking pizza, and building wooden models had been some of his favorite pastimes. The pizzeria had started out as a retirement hobby, but it had taken on a life of its own and within a year of its opening, it had become a full-time job for him.

  It must have been hard for him to step back from managing the pizzeria after all those years, Ellie thought as she gazed at the boat that had been named after her. For seventeen years her grandfather had tended to his restaurant day in and day out. He had only begun taking more time away from it two years before his death. I really wish I had come back here to visit before he died. She would always regret that, but took some solace in the knowledge that she was doing just what he would have wanted her to do—managing the pizzeria and taking care of her grandmother.

  Bunny tugged on the leash, distracting her from her thoughts. Ellie looked down, and saw that the dog was focused intently on a young seagull that was perched on the edge of the Eleanora. The brown and white speckled bird either didn’t fear dogs or knew that the papillon was restricted by her leash, because it sat still and unruffled on the boat’s bow even as the dog began to yip.

  “Bunny, come on… stop that,” Ellie said. “It’s just a bird.”

  The dog ignored her and jumped forward again, only to be stopped at the edge of the dock by the leash. Ellie was just about to reach down and scoop her up when Bunny twisted around and with a shake of her head, backed out of her collar. In a blink, the dog had leapt off the dock towards the boat. The distance was too far for her little legs, and she landed with a splash in the water. The bird took off, startled by the sound, and Ellie fell to her knees, looking into the water with terror.

  “Bunny?” she called out. Her grandmother peered over the edge next to her.

  “There she is!” she said a moment later when the little dog surfaced. Ellie reached for her, but the dock was too high above the water. The papillon swam towards the boat, even farther out of her grasp, and began pawing at the side in a desperate attempt to get up and out of the water.

  “Oh my goodness,” Ellie said, looking around frantically for something she could use to get the dog back onto the dock. Almost everyone who docked their boat at the marina was a fisher—weren’t there any nets? “Bunny, just keep swimming. I’ll get you out, I promise.”

  She was about to step over to the boat, thinking that she might be able to reach her dog better there, when a strong hand gripped her shoulder.

  “Let me.”

  Ellie turned to see none other than Russell Ward standing behind her. He was wearing a fishing vest and had a pole on the dock behind him. She had forgotten that his boat was docked near the Eleanora. He must have decided to get some morning fishing in before heading to work.

  She stepped back and watched as he lowered himself into the water, keeping one hand firmly gripping the wooden supports of the dock, and extending the other towards the dog.

  “Come here,” he said. “Come here, pup.”

  “Her name’s Bunny,” Ellie said, watching breathlessly as a wave washed over the dog’s head.

  “Here, Bunny.”

  The bedraggled papillon turned away from the boat and began paddling toward the sheriff. She struggled through the water until Russell was finally able to grab her. He pulled her over and handed her up to Ellie before climbing back onto the dock himself.

  “Thank you so much,” she told him, hugging the cold and dripping-wet dog to her chest. “She slipped out of her collar, and she’s never been swimming before. I was so worried.”

  “Glad to help,” Russell said. “Is she okay?”

  “I think so. Just surprised and cold. I’m sorry you got all wet, too.”

  His jeans were sopping, and Ellie knew from experience that even after they dried they’d be encrusted in salt.

  “Don’t worry about it. I keep extra clothes on the boat.” He looked down at the puddle he was standing in and chuckled. “It’s not the first time I’ve had to jump in and save someone’s dog, and it was a lot easier hauling a Chihuahua out of the marina than it is hauling a lab out of the ocean.”

  “Papillon,” she corrected automatically. “But thanks again.”

  “Well, you two have a nice day, Ms. Pacelli… Ann.” He shook Ellie’s grandmother’s hand, and just nodded to Ellie since her arms were full of Bunny. “I’ll be seeing you around. You’re coming to dinner Saturday night, aren’t you?”

  She nodded, surprised. She hadn’t been expecting him to be there, but it made sense. He was James’s brother, after all.

  “Do you watch sports?”

  “No, not really,” she told him. “I just thought it would be nice to go, since Shannon invited me.”

  “I’m sure she’ll be glad to have another woman around to talk to. I’ll see you Saturday, Ms. Pacelli. Now go get that poor dog warmed up.” He nodded to her again, bent to pick up his fishing pole, and left.

  “Well wasn’t that just something?” her grandmother asked as they walked back up the dock together. “It was quite the rescue, wasn’t it?”

  “It was very nice of him,” Ellie agreed. “I feel so bad. I just froze. Poor Bunny.” She cuddled the dog, who was shivering in her arms.

  “She’ll be fine once she gets dried off and warmed up. We’ll go right home, and I’ll make her some warm chicken broth while you towel her off.”

  “Thanks, Nonna.” Ellie smiled over at her grandmother, glad that they were getting a chance to develop a real relationship after so many years of no communication but Christmas and birthday cards.

  “Watch out!”

  Both women jumped back at the shout. Just feet in front of them, a flood of silvery fish washed over the dock.

  “Crap,” the man said, jumping from his boat to the solid wood. “Devon, you did it again! Get out here and clean up this mess, and learn how to tie a good knot already.”

  He cleared his throat and turned to face them. Ellie realized what an odd trio they must look like, with a sopping wet dog carried in her arms.

  “Sorry about that,” he grunted. “I can’t find a good crew worth anything these days. Hold on, I’ll help you through.”

  He kicked fish aside until he had formed a sort of path through the mess, then stood aside and gestured for them to walk through. A teenager had appeared, and was trying to scoop the fish back into the net that they had fallen out of. Careful to avoid the slimy carcasses, Ellie and Ann walked by with wrinkled noses, the older woman gripping her granddaughter’s arm for support. As they passed by the boat, Ellie saw the words Green Mermaid on the side.

  “Thanks,” she said to the man when they were through. He looked slightly familiar, but she couldn’t figure out why. “Sorry about your fish.”

  “Eh, it’ll be fine. We lost a few, but the rest can still go to market… if Devon hurries up and gets them in the cart.” He said the last part more loudly, looking back over his shoulder at his young assistant before turning back to Ellie and her grandmother. “You two ladies have a nice day, now.”

  I’m beginning to think the marina
’s a dangerous place to be, Ellie thought as she, her grandmother, and the wet dog continued their perilous walk back to the car. That was two close calls within minutes of each other. Thank goodness we’re all okay.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Ellie loved Saturday mornings. During the week, her commitment was to the pizzeria. She scheduled herself to work every day, Monday through Friday, and most of the time was there from before the restaurant opened until after it closed. As the boss, she had the freedom to pick and choose her hours, but she rarely took advantage of it. What else would she do, if she wasn’t at work? Besides, she enjoyed being a part of the pulse of the restaurant and having a hand in the day to day business of it.

  Still, she loved weekends. Saturday mornings came with a feeling of freedom—she had a whole two days to do whatever she wanted. She might stop by the pizzeria, and usually did, but she didn’t have to.

  That feeling of freedom usually faded as the day wore on and she turned her attention to the long list of chores waiting for her attention. Grocery shopping, cleaning the bathroom, mopping the floor under Marlowe’s cage—the bird loved throwing her food between the bars when she got bored—the little jobs were endless. She usually spent all day Saturday putting off the worst of the chores, then spent Sunday doing her best to catch up on the list before the work week started again. It was a cycle that she couldn’t seem to break free of, no matter how hard she tried.

  This Saturday was different. She woke up in a good mood, and that mood stayed with her as she worked her way down the list. Scrubbing the bars of Marlowe’s cage? No problem. The macaw hung out on the banister, watching her closely while she cleaned. Laundry? No complaints from her. She needed something clean to wear to dinner that night, anyway. Grocery shopping? Well, she needed to buy the ingredients for the dip, after all.

  She was still in a good mood when she got back from the store and started a pot of water boiling on the stove for chicken breasts. Humming to herself, she began to dice onions on the cutting board while she waited for the water to heat up.