Murder with a Twist (26 page)

“It's not your fault, Mack. I brought you into this knowing that it was a bit dicey. But there's something else.”

I braced myself, wondering how things could possibly get any worse.

“I just learned that the press knows about your involvement. I'm not sure how, but they do. And you need to prepare yourself, because you're going to be on the evening news.”

“Oh, no.”

“I know. I'm sorry. They're probably going to show up there any moment. Your best bet is to just not say anything to them.”

“Okay.”

“And given everything that's going on, I think it would be best if I stayed away from you and the bar for a while, at least until all the hubbub dies down.”

“Okay, if you think that's best.”

“I do. I'll keep in touch by phone, but for now, a little distance will help us both out.”

I wasn't sure I agreed with him on this point, but I said nothing.

“Take care of yourself, Mack. I'll talk to you soon.”

“Okay.” He disconnected the call and I held the phone out and stared at it for a moment, still trying to comprehend everything he'd said. I took a few minutes to gather myself together and then headed out to the main bar area.

The reporters were there already and as soon as I came out of my office, a woman reporter saw me and said, “There she is!” She and a cameraman rushed over to me and the reporter started badgering me with questions.

“You're Mackenzie Dalton, right? Is it true that you helped the police solve the Cooper murder and kidnapping by using ESP? Are you the Milwaukee Police Department's secret weapon? How did it feel when you were involved in the shoot-out?”

“I have nothing to say to you,” I grumbled. The man she was with shoved his camera at my face. “I have nothing to say,” I repeated more vehemently. “And I would appreciate it if you would leave.”

“Come on, Mack,” the reporter cajoled. “Give us something. Is it true that you and Detective Duncan Albright are a couple? Is that how he discovered this disease you have?”

“I don't have a disease,” I snapped, immediately wishing I could take the words back. I realized the reporter was trying to goad me into a response and I'd played right into her hands. To avoid any further inquiries, I turned and stormed back into my office, slamming the door behind me.

I fell onto my couch and closed my eyes. After several minutes of sitting there trying not to cry, the door to the office opened. I surged upward, thinking it was going to be the pushy reporter. But it was just Cora, Frank, and Joe.

Joe and Frank settled in on either side of me and Frank draped an arm over my shoulders. Cora grabbed a nearby chair and set it down in front of me. Then she sat in it and put her hands on my knees.

“Are you okay?” Cora asked.

“No, I'm not okay,” I hiccupped, the tears I'd been fighting coming on full force. “Everything is all screwed up. Duncan got into trouble for using me. He's been suspended and might lose his job. And with the press knowing all about it, I'm now the laughingstock of the city.”

“It's not that bad,” Cora said, and I shot her a look that told her what I thought of her comment.

“Duncan can't even come by the bar now,” I told them. “He said he needs to keep his distance until they decide what to do with him.”

“I'm sorry, Mack,” Cora said.

Frank massaged my shoulders, and Joe said, “It will be okay. Just give it some time until all the interest dies down. You know how the news is. Something else will be the top story in a day or two.”

“I don't know,” I said. Cora reached over to my desk and grabbed a box of tissues, handing them to me. I took one out and swiped at my face. Then I blew my nose. “How did they even find out about all this?”

“It was Tiny,” Cora said, looking guilty. “I'm sorry. If I'd known . . .”

“Tiny? Why?”

“He didn't know that Duncan was trying to keep your—and our—involvement under the radar. And when we told him that we might be able to help him solve his sister's murder, he went to the press and told them about you, Duncan, the Capone Club . . . all of it. He didn't mean any harm by it. He just wanted to generate some renewed interest in his sister's case.”

“Well, I can't blame him for that,” I said, knowing what it was like to feel as if your loved one's murder had been forgotten. “I might have done the same thing before my dad's murder was solved if given the chance.”

“This will pass,” Cora said. “You'll see. And, in the meantime, we'll do our best to keep the reporters at bay.”

I nodded and sniffed, my eyes nearly dry now.

“Come on back out and join us,” Joe said. “The reporter is gone. And if she or any others come back, we'll chase them away.”

“Yeah, our cousin Guido has a way of being very convincing,” Frank added.

I smiled at that. “You don't really have a cousin Guido, do you?”

Joe shrugged. “Who knows? Maybe we do and maybe we don't. It doesn't matter. What matters is whether or not anyone believes we do.”

I turned and gave Joe a big hug, then I did the same for Frank. “Thanks, guys.”

“Anything for our Mack,” Joe said.

I looked at Cora then and said, “And you, too. Lord knows this case might never have been solved if it wasn't for you.”

“Hey, I do what I can,” Cora said with a dismissive shrug.

I slapped my hands on my knees and said, “You know, there's something that's been bothering me and I keep forgetting to ask.”

“What's that?” Cora asked.

“That puzzle yesterday, the one about the guard and the castle and the secret password?”

Cora nodded.

“I never heard the answer to it.”

“Oh, it was easy,” Joe said. “The answer to the guard's question was the number of letters in the number he stated.”

“The letters, of course!” I said, shaking my head. “The correct response to twelve was six because twelve has six letters, and the answer to six was three for the same reason. So the correct response to ten should have been three, not five.”

“You got it,” Frank said.

“And for that, I'm going to buy you a drink,” Joe said with a wink. “Let's see, it's Assault and Battery Thursday, right? So that means you need a Sledgehammer.”

“How appropriate,” I said. “Because I feel as if I've been hit with one.”

“Come on, then,” Cora said, getting to her feet and returning her chair to its original position. “We'll all have a Sledgehammer and then you can hear the case I cooked up for everyone today. Trust me, it's a doozy!”

With my Italian uncles at my side and Cora leading the way, I headed out to the bar, back to my customers, back to my business, back to my old life, wondering what the future held in store for me.

SIMPLE SYRUP

 

Simple syrup is a sugar-based mixer that is used in a lot of drinks to add sweetness, volume, or both. It's sold premade in most stores that sell liquors, but it's easy to make at home. Simply put 3 cups of sugar and 2 cups of water in a saucepan and bring it to a boil. Turn the heat to low and simmer the mixture for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. (Spices, juice, or fruit can be added during this stage if you want to make a flavored version—strain as needed.) Remove from the heat and let the syrup cool. The syrup can be kept in the refrigerator in an airtight container for several weeks. If you prefer it a little less sweet, use 2½ cups of water.

SNEAKY PETE

 

(I've seen several different drinks that were called a Sneaky Pete, but this is by far my favorite.)

 

1 shot coffee-based liqueur (such as Kahlua)
1 shot whisky or bourbon
4 ounces milk or cream

 

Stir ingredients together and pour over ice.

 

For a nonalcoholic version, use one shot of chilled espresso, one shot of simple syrup, a teaspoon of vanilla flavoring, a few drops of maple flavoring, and 4 ounces of milk or cream. Stir and serve over ice.

BAD ATTITUDE

 

1 shot coconut rum
1 shot spiced rum
2 ounces pineapple juice

 

In a cocktail shaker, combine rums and juice, shake, and strain into a glass over ice.

 

For the virgin version, use one ounce of coconut-flavored coffee syrup, one ounce of chilled black tea, 3 ounces of pineapple juice, 1/2 teaspoon of rum flavoring, and a pinch each of ground ginger and cloves. Shake very well and serve as above.

GINGER SNAP

 

2 ounces apple juice
2 ounces ginger ale
2 ounces bourbon

 

Pour everything over ice, stir, and serve with a slice of apple for a garnish.

 

For a nonalcoholic version, use an ounce of chilled black tea with a teaspoon of vanilla extract in place of the bourbon.

THE SLEDGEHAMMER

 

2 ounces vodka
2 ounces rum
3 ounces Galliano
1 ounce apricot brandy
2 ounces pineapple juice

 

Stir ingredients together and serve over ice.

 

For a nonalcoholic version, use ½ teaspoon of rum flavoring, 1 teaspoon of vanilla flavoring, and ½ teaspoon of anise flavoring mixed well into 2 ounces of simple syrup. Add 2½ ounces of pineapple juice and one ounce of heavy or light syrup from canned peaches (or apricot nectar, if you can find it). Top off with a splash of club soda. Stir and serve over ice. If you prefer, you can substitute 2 to 3 ounces of Italian anise soda in place of the flavored simple syrup.

THE ALIBI

 

1 ounce ginger simple syrup (
see below
)
2 ounces vodka
1 tablespoon of fresh squeezed or bottled lime juice
Splash of club soda

 

Shake the first three ingredients with ice, pour into a highball glass, and top off with a splash of club soda.

 

For a virgin Alibi, eliminate the vodka and add three ounces of club soda.

 

The ginger simple syrup can easily be made by peeling two inches of fresh ginger (or one teaspoon of ground ginger) and adding it to ¾ cup of sugar and ½ cup of water. Simmer over a low flame for five minutes, remove the ginger, and chill.

DUNCAN'S GRANNY'S HOT BUTTERED RUM

 

 

HOT BUTTERED RUM BATTER:

 

1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
¾ teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
2 cups softened vanilla ice cream

Melt butter in a saucepan, add sugars and spices, and stir over low heat until well blended. Remove from heat and stir in the ice cream. Mix at medium speed with an electric mixer until well blended. Pour into container. The batter will keep for three weeks in the refrigerator or for two months in the freezer; the batter can be used straight from the freezer.

 

To make the drink, place three heaping tablespoons of batter into a mug and add 6 ounces of hot water. Add one shot of the rum of your choice (dark or light). For a nonalcoholic version, add one teaspoon of rum flavoring. Stir well and serve with a cinnamon stick.

 

This recipe is so good I make it in huge batches during the holidays and give it away as gifts in containers that are decorated with mini bottles of rum and some cinnamon sticks tied together with holiday ribbon. Guaranteed to warm you on a cold winter's night!

KENSINGTON BOOKS are published by

 

Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40
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Street
New York, NY 10018

Copyright © 2014 by Beth Amos

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

 

If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the Publisher and neither the Author nor the Publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”

 

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ISBN: 978-0-7582-8017-6

ISBN-10: 0-7582-8017-3
First Kensington Mass Market Edition: August 2014

 

eISBN-13: 978-0-7582-8018-3
eISBN-10: 0-7582-8018-1
First Kensington Electronic Edition: August 2014