His gaze shifts to the evergreen branches weighed down with snow.
“They both worked down at that distillery together all those years ago.” He sucks in a quick breath. “Never saw two women bicker like that. I guess some grudges die hard. Holly brought Carol on board, and when she left she wanted Carol to leave, but Carol wouldn’t have it.”
Well, there’s that. I already knew as much, and I’ve got an antipasto to get back to.
Shep nods to the man. “What was the deal with that? Why take Carol away from her job if Holly was the one who was unhappy?”
Ford ticks his head to the side. “Holly thought she owned people. Apparently, she didn’t own her uncle. He gave her the boot from the distillery.”
“Holly’s uncle worked there?” I ask.
Ford nods. “He owns the place. Holly was taking advantage of the fact, too, bullying people around, trying to control people, making changes that weren’t approved by the board simply because she was family. Carol wouldn’t leave, though. She was good at her job. Still is. Holly saw it as a personal slight that Carol was staying put. Holly told me, if she couldn’t make her leave, she’d make the woman’s life miserable. When Carol chose gainful employment over their friendship, she locked herself in a war with Holly she couldn’t get out of.”
“And what about you?” I ask with a slight shrug. “You mentioned she liked to control people. Did she ever try that with you?”
A dull chuckle emits from him. “Darlin’, you really are new around here, aren’t you? She controlled my every move right into the bedroom. Cost me just about everyone in my family. I let Holly work for me at the mill. She was stealing from me, too. Just found out last week.”
Shep tips his ear toward the man. “You didn’t mention that when I questioned you.”
Ford’s lips twist as he glares at the ground a moment. “Let’s just say it slipped my mind a moment.”
He nods to the two of us as his co-workers pile back into the truck.
“Enjoy the rest of your weekend. Nice meeting you, Bowie.”
They take off, and Shep and I stare at one another for a moment too long.
“I bet he was confronting her about the money she stole the night of the tree lighting ceremony,” I say.
“Maybe.” Shep nods. “That’s a motive for sure.”
“And we got a little more detail on why Holly worked at the distillery and left it. I’d imagine it would be pretty embarrassing to be fired by your own family.”
“Judging by how hard she was to get along with, they just might have done the right thing.”
We head back inside my warm and toasty cabin, and the tangy scent of the meat sauce hits us as soon as we walk through the door.
At precisely three o’clock, Tilly shows up with a couple bottles of red wine, Opal shows up with a tinsel wig on her head and an appetite for great Italian food, and Dom Canelli and Enzo Lazzari show up with an appetite for my sister.
Pixie, being the smart pink kitty that she is, has decided to observe the entire event from under the Christmas tree in the corner of the room. We’ve yet to decorate it, and I’ve gathered a few odds and ends, some lights, and purchased a couple of boxes of ornaments in hopes we can get to it tonight.
The entire lot of us gathers around the table like an unholy family.
Shep says grace, and soon enough we’re breaking bread with the devils themselves.
Enzo, the one with the light eyes and goatee, nods to Shep.
“So you’re really a cop, huh?”
“Homicide division,” Shep says, cutting into his braciole, which turned out scrumptious by the way.
Opal holds up her glass toward Shep as if she were toasting him.
“Shep isn’t just a homicide detective”—she raises her wine a few inches more— “he writes best-selling novels about the mob.” She all but whispers that last word, but judging by the look Enzo and Dom just gave one another, my guess is that they’re more than a little intrigued.
Dom, the one with the hazel eyes, shoots Shep a look.
“So, uh, where do you get your information? You know, about the mob?”
“The internet.” Tilly scoffs as she passes him a slice of garlic bread. “It’s not like Starry Falls is crawling with mobsters.”
Stephanie giggles as she winks over at the two hunky wise guys in our presence.
“Nope. Not a one.” She points to Enzo’s plate. “Another meatball?”
“Don’t mind if I do.” He dishes himself out two more of the meaty delights, each the size of a fist. “You two ladies sure know how to whip up Sunday dinner.”
“I have to agree.” Dom nods as he studies me pensively. “This is the real deal. Authentic. If I closed my eyes, I’d think I was at Grandma Canelli’s right about now.” He squints over at us. “So which one of you has ties to the family?”
Tilly raises her hand without hesitation. “I can tie you up in front of whoever you like—my family is no exception.”
“Oh!” Opal hikes her glass again. “We can use garland. Bowie has a box by the door. I take it the tree trimming is just about ready to commence.”
Stephanie shakes her head. “Not until we’ve had cannolis.” She pulls a platter of those creamy sweet treats out of the fridge, and soon we’re all noshing on the sugared up ricotta confection as a round of moans circles the table.
Shep lifts a brow my way. “These are amazing.”
“Thank you,” I say. “I added the chocolate chips.”
“Hear that, boys?” Stephanie straightens. “Your friend Lola here is responsible for all this yummy goodness. Aren’t you lucky we crossed paths?”
Enzo moans as he looks her way. “I’m going to make sure you’re pretty lucky we crossed paths, too, sweetheart.”
Tilly clamps her hand over Dom’s. “I’ve got ways we can cross paths
