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

thoughts.  “He had motive and he had opportunity.”  She couldn’t wait to get home and log onto her computer to find out what was up with this guy.
    The house was dark when Gloria pulled into the driveway.  She stuck her leftovers from dinner in the fridge before letting Mally out.  She followed her out onto the porch.  The night air was cool and a breeze made it even chillier.  She glanced out at the outline of her big red barn and shivered as she remembered the man that was hiding out in there a few months back.   
    “C’mon, girl.  Time to go in.”
    She fed Mally and Puddles while she waited for her computer to boot up.  Even if this Joe guy was a killer, how could she ever prove it?  So far, no one had seen anything or anyone suspicious out back that day. 
    She settled into the desk chair.  She logged in to check her mail before starting her search.  Her fingers fumbled clumsily on the keys.  It took three tries to type in the correct spelling.  “ Joseph Toscani, Chicago, Illinois.”
    She held her breath as the computer searched.  It was worth the wait.  The first thing that popped up on her screen was that he was the owner of Amici Trattoria.  She clicked on the link.  The news article was from three months ago.   Joseph Toscani, the owner of Amici Trattoria, is being investigated by the Chicago Police Department in the suspicious death of his business partner, Giuseppe Serafino. 
    The two men were co-owners of the Amici Trattoria.  Prior to Mr. Serafino’s death, an undercover investigation into their business had been ongoing for several months.
    Mr. Serafino’s body was found under a bridge near the Chicago River on the morning of January first.  An autopsy revealed Mr. Serafino was strangled to death.  Police believe he was killed prior to his body being placed near the river. 
    Mr. Serafino’s partner, Joseph Toscani, is the prime suspect.  Police have uncovered mob connections to both Mr. Serafino and Mr. Toscani. 
    The article ended by saying Joseph Toscani was out of jail on $100,000 bond.  Gloria leaned in to have a closer look at the mugshot of Toscani.  It was the same man they saw in the restaurant earlier. 
    Joseph Toscani was a killer!  But would he risk killing again, just to eliminate his competition in a town as small as Lakeville?
    Gloria thought of something else.  Was his niece, Amy Martola, in on it? 
    Or was it Judith?  She was in town that morning, too.  Maybe she tried to poison Dot. 
    If only there was some way she could get her hands on the poison! 
    And then Gloria had a thought.  Today was Sunday.  The incident happened four days ago. 
    Gloria shoved back the chair and made a beeline for the phone in the kitchen. 
    “Hello?”  Dot answered on the first ring.
    “Hey Dot.  It’s me – Gloria.”
    “Oh. Hi, Gloria.  What’s up?”
    “I was just wondering…what day is trash pick-up at the restaurant?” Gloria asked.
    “It’s Monday,” Dot said.  “Monday morning.  Early,” she added.
    Gloria glanced out the window.  It was already dark out - but she needed to search the trash before it got picked up the next morning!
    “Why?” Dot asked.
    “I want to take a look inside the garbage cans out back,” Gloria confessed.
    “Y-you think there might be some kind of evidence inside?” Dot asked.
    “It’s worth a shot,” Gloria replied.  “Look, if it’s okay with you, I’m going to run down to the restaurant.” She glanced at Mally.  “I’ll take Mally with me.”
    “Sure Gloria,” Dot agreed.  “You want me to meet you down there?”
    “That’s up to you,” she answered.  “All I know is I need to sift through the cans before they get picked up.”
    Dot tightened her grip on the phone.  “I can help!  I’ll meet you there in ten minutes!”
    Gloria grabbed her purse from the chair and her car keys from the hook.  “C’mon Mally.”  She started out the door and then turned back around.  She