Staged to Death (A Caprice De Luca Mystery) by Karen Rose Smith Page B

stroke—Caprice’s mom had found it more than difficult to sell that house. It had held so many memories, including the one where she’d found the love of her life. A few years back, they’d decided to put an addition on their house in Kismet so Nana Celia could move in with them, and that had helped. Bonds and connections were everything to Francesca De Luca, and Caprice found they were important to her too.
    “Maybe Dad could say something to the chief about Waxman.”
    “I imagine he could, but Mack never talks about ongoing investigations.”
    “Not even after a few glasses of Dad’s favorite wine or a shot of Rock and Rye?”
    “Mack is pretty tight-lipped, but maybe your dad can find out something. Maybe he can find out if Roz is a real suspect or not. Even if Mack won’t talk, your father can tell him about Bart Waxman.”
    It hadn’t taken many detective skills to figure out that Roz was a prime suspect. Changing the subject, because that thought caused chills to run up and down her spine, Caprice asked, “So do you know what everyone is bringing for dinner on Sunday? I wish you would just let Bella, Nikki, and me cook.”
    “Nonsense. You know your grandmother and I enjoy doing it. We’re making ravioli. Some cheese, some sausage. Bella is bringing a vegetable casserole. Nikki’s making antipasto salad and the cannoli shells. And you’re bringing the cream for the cannoli and baking bread.”
    “Don’t forget Vince’s wine.”
    Her mother laughed. “I could never forget Vince’s wine.”
    The back door opened, and Roz and Dylan came in.
    Caprice said to her mother, “Roz just came in with Dylan. We’re going to have lunch, then I think I’m going to give Bella a call. I might stop in for a visit.”
    “You’re stopping in for a visit? You’ll be seeing her Sunday. What’s up?”
    “Not a lot. I just wanted to talk to her about her beautician.”
     
     
    Later that afternoon Caprice picked up a basket from the stack just inside the door of Kismet’s Grocery Fresh Market. The small store, with its produce, fruits, and deli was her favorite place to shop for ingredients for home-cooked dinners. When she’d called Bella, her sister had invited her to come over anytime, and asked if she could pick up some vine-ripened tomatoes and peppers so Bella could use them for dinner. Her car was on the fritz again.
    The vehicle had been giving Bella problems for the past year. But her sister insisted she and Joe just didn’t have the funds to buy a new car or the monthly income to sustain higher payments. With two kids and one breadwinner, their budget was stretched to the limit. But just like all the De Luca women, and even their father on occasion, Bella preferred fresh ingredients for cooking. She clipped coupons, watched for sales, and skimped in other ways in order to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. Caprice knew her sister would insist on paying her for whatever she bought, but she didn’t have to tell her the real total of the bill. The vine-ripened tomatoes would just happen to be on special today.
    For some reason Caprice suddenly compared Bella’s scrimping to Roz and Ted Winslow’s ability to buy anything their hearts desired. She’d left Roz making phone calls and working on an obituary for her husband. How hard was that going to be, knowing the man had been unfaithful?
    For now, all Caprice could do for her friend was provide her with a place to stay, be available to listen, and cook food that would keep Roz healthy during this difficult time. Since it was a warm day, tonight she would whip up Nikki’s avocado, tomato, and pasta salad. Strolling past the produce counter, she picked up an avocado to use for that dish.
    With that in her basket, she proceeded to the ledge that held the tomatoes. Caprice couldn’t wait until the plants her mother raised from seedlings were growing in cages in her own garden and she could pick the tomatoes right off the vines.
    But she didn’t want to