Hope Callaghan - Garden Girls 04 - Death by Dumplings by Hope Callaghan

darted around the room in search of the dark-haired woman.  “What was her name?” she whispered to Margaret.
    “Amy something…”
    Dot grabbed Andrea’s arm.  “She’s over there!”
    They didn’t want to chance having the hostess seat them somewhere else so they hurried over to the open table next to the young woman’s.  Gloria picked the chair directly behind Amy. 
    Dot plopped down in a chair across from her so she could watch her.  Or more like shoot daggers at the side of her head.  “Dot!”
    Dot’s head snapped towards Margaret.  “What?”
    “You’re glaring,” she pointed out.
    “Okay, Okay.  I’ll stop.”
    The waitress appeared at their table with a tray of ice waters and menus.  “Welcome to Pasta Amore,” she said. “Have you dined with us before?”
    “Yes.”
    “No.”
    “Some of us have and some of us haven’t,” Gloria explained.
    “Well, we’re happy you’re here.  Our special today is Spaghetti and Meatballs.”
    Gloria’s eyes darted to Dot.  One of Dot’s dinner specials was Spaghetti and Meatballs.
    Dot’s face turned beet red.  Her fist clenched in her lap.
    Gloria stuck her head behind the menu and leaned in Dot’s direction.  “Remember, it’s an Italian restaurant,” she mumbled under her breath.
    The waitress took their orders and headed to the kitchen.  She passed a man coming from the opposite direction.  It was the same guy that Dot and Gloria ran into in the alley the other day. 
    He walked over to the table behind theirs.
    “Hello, Amy,” the man said.
    “Hi Uncle Joe,” she replied.
    “Uncle Joe.” Gloria mouthed the words.  The food critic was related to this man? No wonder he got such a raving restaurant review!
    They talked for several minutes before he headed back to the kitchen.
    The waitress returned with their drinks.  “Say, the man that just walked out here – he’s the owner of Pasta Amore?” Gloria asked.
    The woman set an iced tea in front of Gloria.  “Yes, that’s the owner. Joe Toscani.”
    Bingo!  Gloria had a name now!  She repeated the name to herself three times.  It was a trick she used to memorize important information. 
    There was no need to worry about that.  Ruth was scribbling furiously on her drink napkin.  She shoved the napkin in her purse and winked at Gloria. 
    Dinner arrived a short time later.  Gloria had to admit the food was good. 
    “The food’s good,” Dot announced.
    “But not as good as yours,” Andrea argued.
    The others agreed.
    Dot swirled the spaghetti around her fork.  “You’re just trying to make me feel better.”
    The owner didn’t make a second appearance and the food critic behind them ate alone so there was nothing to eavesdrop on.  They divvied up the bill and paid before making their way back to the van.
    The girls buckled in as Ruth backed out of the spot.  “We got some valuable information.”
    Gloria agreed.  “We know the owner’s name!”
    “And we know one more thing,” Andrea announced.
    “What’s that?” Margaret wondered.
    “Joe Toscani was in your restaurant the morning of the poisoning.  I remember seeing him in there.”
     
     

Chapter Five
     
    The color drained from Dot’s face.  “You’re kidding?”
    Andrea shook her head.  “No.  I’m positive he was in there eating breakfast.  The reason I remember,” she explained, “was because he was complaining rather loudly about how his eggs were overcooked.”
    She went on.  “Jennifer took care of it.  She tried to get him to wait while she brought out a new order but the man didn’t want that.  The more she tried to help, the more irate he became.”
    “It was almost as if he was trying to make a scene,” Andrea added.  “He left not long afterwards.  Stormed out the door.”
    “And that was before the man was poisoned,” Ruth said.
    Andrea nodded.  “Yeah.  Wasn’t long after that Dot came back and served the dumplings to the couple.”
    Gloria spoke her