Killer Cannoli (A Terrified Detective Mystery Book 2) Read Online Free

“After I catch this killer, we’ll—”
    I pulled my hand away. “Let’s just see what happens.” For one of the very few times in my life, I sounded aloof. Feeling so proud of myself, I couldn’t wait to repeat my words in front of my mirror.
    Despite being disappointed and hurt, I also experienced a teensy bit of relief he hadn’t called. I chalked that feeling to my past devastating romance with my former fiancé, Justin. Nothing like infidelity to sour a girl on relationships. That emotional scar should have healed by now, since it was almost ten years ago. I thought it had, but it didn’t seem so. Not that it mattered now.
    Corrigan scowled and when I said nothing more, he stomped off. Trying to maintain my newfound coolness, I sauntered back into the kitchen. Ed had scooted his chair next to Aunt Lena and held her hand. I coughed, not knowing what else to do.
    Aunt Lena looked at me and slid her hand free. “The police are gone.”
    Now that we could finally leave, I released a heavy sigh. “Aunt Lena, I don’t think you should be alone tonight. I’d have you sleep at my place, but there’s only one bedroom and I wouldn’t wish my couch on my worst enemy. We need to go over to my dad’s and talk to him. He’s been worried about you.” I regretted my words as soon as they shot from my mouth. I wished my brain had intervened.
    She put her hands on her hips. “Why?”
    I decided to play it dumb. “Well...better he hears about this from us than on the news.”
    Her eyes narrowed. “Good try. I know he didn’t like Larry. But Larry was the first guy who paid attention to me…” She put her clenched fist up to her mouth.
    I scrambled over and wrapped my arms around her shoulders. “I’m sorry. I feel so bad.” I was set to murmur more inane words, but she gently pushed me away and sniffed.
    “I know. You and Frank were just looking out for me.” She wiped her eye-shadowed, eye-linered eyes with the back of her index finger. She grabbed her sweater and shoved her feet back into those tortuous red heels. “I’m ready.”
    Ed piped up. “I’ll drive you.” When Aunt Lena protested that she could drive her own car, Ed shook his head. His voice dropped low. “You’ve had a big shock tonight. Better leave the operating heavy machinery stuff to me.”
    I plopped down in the backseat of Ed’s car and brushed aside a few crumpled up cigarette packs. “Ugh.” I muttered, trying to find a non-sticky spot to place my feet. “Don’t you ever clean back here, Ed?”
    “I’ll do that just as soon as I can look at those old packs of smokes without getting nostalgic.”
    I took in a sharp breath. “OhMyGod. You haven’t had a cigarette all night.”
    With his right hand on the wheel, he rolled up his sleeve with his left and showed a patch. “Gave it up a couple days ago. Third time I quit.”
    Aunt Lena, who’d been silent since she got in the car, spoke up. “My husband, Tommy, quit. Of course that was before they had the gum, the patch, all that stuff.” She paused for a moment and added, “He was a bear for the first month.”
    Ed nodded. “Know what you mean. First time I quit, I went cold turkey. Cursed everyone from JR Reynolds to my own grandma. This patch makes it easier.”
    I joined in. “I’m glad, Ed. Smoking is so unhealthy.”
    He nodded. “Yeah, and I’m way more attractive this way.” He grinned at Aunt Lena. To my amazement, she grinned back.
    We arrived at my dad’s house. Ed turned off the car and scurried to open my aunt’s car door. I was left to open my own.
    My father came to the front door holding a newspaper in one hand and the TV remote in the other. Upon catching a glimpse of Aunt Lena’s smeared makeup and disheveled hair, he dropped both. “What did he do? I’ll kill him.”
    “Someone beat you to it, Dad.”
    My aunt put her hands on his arm. “Frank, I’m okay. It’s Larry who’s not.” Her chin quivered like not-yet-set pudding.
    I cut in.