“Oh, you’re back. Are you hungry?”
She cooked?
Walking towards the kitchen, I tried not to moan at the wonderful aroma coming from whatever she was making. It really did smell delicious. Sitting on one of the comfortable stools, I watched her move around the kitchen as if she were born to it. Maybe she was. She was a country girl after all. Didn’t they raise their offspring to be homemakers?
I still couldn’t believe how different Donatella was from Penny. They were like night and day. In the time I knew Penny, I never saw her cook one damn thing. In fact, the only thing I ever saw her do was efficiently order takeout.
Watching Donatella move about the kitchen, she seemed comfortable, almost happy to be cooking. She was like my mother in that regard. My mom loved being in the kitchen. I would sit for hours watching her create the most delicious meals. We would talk and talk.
“So, what did your brother say?” she asked, turning down a burner, before placing a lid on the pot.
“How do you know I went to talk to him?”
“Process of elimination. You weren’t happy when he left and with the amount of time you were gone, I knew you couldn’t have gone far. So that left your brother or you have a secret smoking addiction. Since you don’t smell of smoke, I concluded you went to talk with your brother. So, what’s wrong now? Bedsheets don’t have the right thread count?”
“No. Nothing is wrong,” I replied, removing my suit jacket.
“You do know you are horrible at lying, right?”
Looking at her, I sighed. “My mom used to say the same thing.”
She leaned across the counter and added. “Then why don’t you tell me what’s bothering you? Maybe I can help.”
“Doubt it.”
“Won’t know until you try.”
“Fine,” I sighed. “I went to talk to Gio about going to a birthday party in Fort Lauderdale.”
“Gonna need more information than that Lorenzo.”
“Okay. Gio found out that your father was some kind of broker for the Costa Family. I happen to be on semi-cordial terms with Luca Costa, the son of Miguel Costa. He’s a total tool but I tolerate him. Luca’s family has been trying to get Gio to work with them. Anyway, Luca is having a big birthday bash on a yacht tomorrow. I thought I could help find out what his family had to do with yours.”
“By going to this party?”
“Yes. I would schmooze him, be nice and all that crap and see what information I can get out of him but Gio said no.”
“And my father worked for this Costa dude?”
“Yep.”
“Well, that is interesting.”
“That’s what I thought. I mean, I could go to this party and find out what your dad did for them.”
“Does Gio think this Costa had something to do with Penny’s death? My roommate?”
“I don’t know. Probably. But it doesn’t matter what I think. Gio said no.”
“What exactly did Gio say?”
“He said and I quote… ‘you are not going to some birthday party of the very family that is at the heart of Donatella’s problems.”
Donatella grinned, stood up and then said. “So, he said you couldn’t go to the party but nothing about Fort Lauderdale.”
“It was implied.”
“No, it wasn’t. I deal in facts. He said no to the party. He should have clarified if he wanted you to stay away from Fort Lauderdale. But he didn’t. So, when do we leave?”