Cooking Spirits: An Angie Amalfi Mystery (Angie Amalfi Mysteries) Read online

  Angie blanched hearing that. She guessed what was coming.

  “I knew, then, he was lying to me. He tried to warn her—that if I’d killed once, I might do it again. He thought lying to me would placate me. That I might let them go! He was wrong. I couldn’t let them live—not either of them. If I did, they’d have me arrested. They’d take me away from Enid. I had to raise her. She needed her mother….

  “So I pulled the trigger. There was so much blood! It splashed in my eyes, blinding me. I saw Natalie running and I fired again and again. She fell. I carefully wiped the gun everywhere I could think of, then put it in Eric’s hand, pressing his fingers to it, and went home.”

  “But his car,” Angie said. “How did it end up at the Russian River?”

  “I wasn’t thinking. I went home and took a shower. Then I packed a bag for me and Enid, got into Eric’s car and headed north. I wanted to go to Canada. But then, just a couple of hours from home, I started to wonder. What if the Canadian border guards checked the car registration? What if word got out that Eric was dead? I realized that being caught with his car would be a confession of guilt. So I hid it as best I could. Then Enid and I hitch-hiked to a Greyhound bus station and took the bus back to San Francisco. It took three days before the police came knocking on my door. They were easily fooled. But you weren’t.” Carol’s attention focused on Angie. “You seemed a nice enough young woman. Too bad you don’t mind your own business. Now, back up a little more.”

  Carol walked towards her and Angie had no choice but to back away from the gun pointed at her, closer and closer to the cliff.

  Angie stopped, her heels on the edge of the land. Past her, it sloped rapidly downward. “Please,” she said. “There’s no reason for this.”

  Carol looked past Angie towards the ocean, her brow knitted. “Eric?”

  Then she shook her head, as if forcing away the vision. Her gaze fixed again on Angie. She raised her gun as if to take aim.

  A small white dog ran at her, barking and growling loudly. She turned her head as the dog lunged, its teeth clamping onto her ankle. “Stop it!” she shrieked, trying to shake the dog off, but it kept coming back. She turned the gun from Angie towards the dog, trying to get it in her sights, but it wriggled and jumped, still biting at her ankles and legs.

  Angie saw her chance and threw herself at Carol’s arm, knocking against it just as Carol pulled the trigger. The shot went wild. The force of Angie’s tackle caused Carol to fall over. Angie landed on top of her. Carol was much bigger, but also much older. Angie had one hand on Carol’s wrist with the gun, using her body weight to hold it down, and with the other hand she grabbed Carol’s hair, tugging on it to lift Carol’s head and then slam it down to the ground, hoping to somehow knock the woman out or at least stun her. Carol went from trying to push Angie away, to holding her wrist, and trying to pull Angie’s hand free of her hair. But Angie held it in a death grip, knowing if she let go, Carol might kill her.

  Suddenly, the gun was no longer in Carol’s hand, and strong arms reached around Angie, lifting her and telling her everything was all right, she could stop now.

  Paavo kept an arm around Angie, his 9mm automatic aimed at Carol, who was holding her head and woozily trying to sit up. Sirens, signaling the backup Paavo had called, shrieked towards them. Angie slumped against him, scarcely able to hold herself up another moment.

  o0o

  “Let’s go,” Paavo said, walking Angie towards her car after turning Carol Steed over to police custody. “Yosh is on his way. He’ll take over for me here. In the meantime, you can wait in your car, and then I’ll take you home.”

  “Not in the car,” she said, brushing dust, dirt, and leaves off of her clothes and hair. She knew she would have very sore muscles tomorrow, but for the moment, she felt fine. “I want to go into the house. I’ll be comfortable there, and safe.”

  He glanced at her with surprise. “Into the house? I thought you’d never want to have anything to do with that house or this area again.”

  Angie knew what had happened out on the cliff, how she had been saved, but she also knew she could never explain it to Paavo or to anyone else unless she wanted to share adjoining padded cells with Carol Steed.

  She walked with him through the garage into the house. An odd sense filled her of being welcomed and protected. The rational part of her said such good feelings were probably a mixture of adrenaline and pride over managing to wrestle a mad woman to the ground. After all, nobody had been shot or killed. The irrational part said much more was going on here.

  The sliding glass door in the living room had been left open and she shut it after a quick look outside at the back yard, and the view beyond. It was a lovely sight. She decided a little white lie would explain a lot, and do more good than harm. “Carol Steed kept coming into the house, doing things here that made it feel as if some occult presence was involved. But there wasn’t. It’s just a house, Paavo. A lovely house.”

  He put his arms around her and studied her. “Are you sure you’re all right? Do you want to see a doctor?”

  “I’m fine.” She looked up at him with love. They had a lot still to work out—minor, unimportant details about their wedding, and more important issues such as his ongoing relationship with Katie and Micky Kowalski. But she had faith that everything would turn out well in the end. “I’m glad we now know what happened to the two people who once lived here, and that they can finally have peace.”

  “They?” Paavo’s arms tightened around her. “Well, if there are such things as ghosts, I agree that they should be happy that the truth has finally come out. Maybe they’ll go off to wherever it is that ghosts go off to.”

  “I imagine they’ll do exactly that.” Angie put her arms around his neck. She was about to kiss him when from the corner of her eye she noticed something white in the back yard. She turned her head to see a little white Scottie dog sitting out there looking in at her.

  She smiled. Or, she thought, maybe not.

  From the Kitchen of Angelina Amalfi

  ANGIE’S BAKED CHICKEN KIEV

  Note that Chicken Kiev is usually deep-fried, but if you’re watching your weight, like Angie, you might prefer to use this recipe.

  6 Tbsp. butter, softened

  1 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

  ½ tsp. leaf tarragon, crumbled

  2 garlic cloves, finely minced

  ¼ tsp. salt

  1/8 tsp. pepper

  3 whole chicken breasts (6 halves—about 2 ½ lbs.)

  Coating:

  ½ cup unseasoned bread crumbs

  2 Tbsp. flour

  1 egg

  2 Tbsp. sesame seeds

  Salt & pepper to taste

  Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.

  Combine butter, parsley, tarragon, garlic, salt and pepper in a bowl. Roll into 6 individual pieces. Place in refrigerator to chill, about 15 minutes until butter is firm.

  If using whole chicken breasts, split in half; remove bones and skin. Place each piece between 2 pieces of waxed paper and flatten with wooden mallet or rolling pin. Remove parsley-butter from refrigerator. Place each roll of seasoned butter in center of each flattened chicken breast. Fold long side of chicken over butter, then fold ends over, being sure butter is completely covered. Fasten with wooden toothpicks.

  Place flour on a sheet of waxed paper. Beat egg in a small bowl. In another bowl, combine bread crumbs, sesame seeds and salt and pepper to taste. Roll and cover each piece of chicken with flour, then egg, then bread crumb mixture. Coat completely.

  Bake 5 minutes at 425 degrees, then lower heat to 400 degrees, and bake 25 minutes longer. Outside should be golden and crisp.

  (Angie often drizzles a bit of melted butter over the chicken before serving.)

  SPAGHETTI CARBONARA

  ¼ lb. pancetta diced (if not available, use 1/4 lb. bacon, diced)

  1 Tbsp. olive oil

  1 white onion, chopped

  1 clove garlic minced
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  ¼ cup dry white wine (optional)

  1 lb. spaghetti

  1 Tbsp. olive oil

  4 eggs

  ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

  2 Tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped

  1 large leaf basil, chopped fine

  Salt & pepper to taste

  In a large skillet, add oil, chopped pancetta (or bacon) and onion. Cook until pancetta is slightly crisp and onion translucent. Add garlic and wine and cook 1 minute more. Remove from heat.

  Cook spaghetti in boiling water with 1 Tbsp. olive oil until al dente (8-10 minutes).

  While spaghetti is cooking, in large bowl combine eggs, Parmesan cheese, parsley, basil, salt and pepper to taste. As soon as spaghetti is cooked, drain thoroughly, and toss hot spaghetti into bowl. Toss to coat spaghetti with mixture.

  Reheat pancetta and as soon as skillet is hot, add

  spaghetti. Toss to mix in pancetta and to cook the egg. Serve.

  (Angie sometimes sprinkles red pepper flakes on her carbonara at the table to add a little zest—but not too much or it’ll overwhelm the subtle flavor of the carbonara.)

  HARD, ROUND ICED ITALIAN COOKIES

  Like Angie’s Mamma makes…

  ½ lb. butter, softened

  1 cup sugar

  2 large eggs, beaten

  1 Tbsp. vanilla

  1 Tbsp. anise extract

  4 cups flour

  2 Tbsp. baking powder

  Icing:

  1 ¾ cup powdered sugar

  1 Tbsp. anise extract (or 1 Tbsp. vanilla or 1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice)

  2 Tbsp. milk

  Colored sugar for decoration

  Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

  Cream butter and sugar until soft. Add eggs, vanilla and anise flavorings. Mix well. Combine flour and baking powder, then blend into the butter mixture.

  Break off small, tablespoon size pieces of dough, roll and then twist into a circle, lightly pinching ends to stick together. (Can twist into any shape you like, bows, braids, “s” etc.) Bake 375 degrees until lightly browned, 15-20 minutes.

  Icing: Blend sugar and flavoring, slowly add milk to form soft, smooth icing. Ice cookies when they cool off a bit. Sprinkle with colored sugar before icing sets.

  About the Author

  Joanne Pence was born and raised in northern California. She has been an award-winning, USA Today best-selling author of mysteries for many years, but she has also written historical fiction, contemporary romance, romantic suspense, a fantasy, and a paranormal thriller. All of her books are now available as e-books, and most are also in print.

  Joanne hopes you'll enjoy her books, which present a variety of times, places, and reading experiences, from mysterious to thrilling, emotional to lightly humorous, as well as powerful tales of times long past.

  Visit her at www.joannepence.com.

  Ancient Echoes

  Over two hundred years ago, a covert expedition shadowing Lewis and Clark disappeared in the wilderness of Central Idaho. Now, seven anthropology students and their professor vanish in the same area. The key to finding them lies in an ancient secret, one that men throughout history have sought to unveil.

  Michael Rempart is a brilliant archeologist with a colorful and controversial career, but he is plagued by a sense of the supernatural and a spiritual intuitiveness. Joining Michael are a CIA consultant on paranormal phenomena, a washed-up local sheriff, and a former scholar of Egyptology. All must overcome their personal demons as they attempt to save the students and learn the expedition's terrible secret.

  Seems Like Old Times

  When Lee Reynolds, nationally known television news anchor, returns to the small town where she was born to sell her now-vacant childhood home, little does she expect to find that her first love has moved back to town. Nor does she expect that her feelings for him are still so strong.

  Tony Santos had been a major league baseball player, but now finds his days of glory gone. He's gone back home to raise his young son as a single dad.

  Both Tony and Lee have changed a lot. Yet, being with him, she finds that in her heart, it seems like old times...

  Dance With A Gunfighter

  Gabriella Devere wants vengeance. She grows up quickly when she witnesses the murder of her family by a gang of outlaws, and vows to make them pay for their crime. When the law won't help her, she takes matters into her own hands.

  Jess McLowry left his war-torn Southern home to head West, where he hired out his gun. When he learns what happened to Gabriella's family, and what she plans, he knows a young woman like her will have no chance against the outlaws, and vows to save her the way he couldn't save his own family.

  But the price of vengeance is high and Gabriella's willingness to sacrifice everything ultimately leads to the book's deadly and startling conclusion.

  This is a harsh and gritty tale of the old West, in the tradition of Charles Portis' True Grit and Nancy Turner's These is My Words.

  The Ghost of Squire House

  For decades, the home built by reclusive artist, Paul Squire, has stood empty on a windswept cliff overlooking the ocean. Those who attempted to live in the home soon fled in terror. Jennifer Barrett knows nothing of the history of the house she inherited. All she knows is she's glad for the chance to make a new life for herself.

  It's Paul Squire's duty to rid his home of intruders, but something about this latest newcomer's vulnerable status...and resemblance of someone from his past...dulls his resolve. Jennifer would like to find a real flesh-and-blood man to liven her days and nights—someone to share her life with—but living in the artist's house, studying his paintings, she is surprised at how close she feels to him.

  A compelling, prickly ghost with a tortured, guilt-ridden past, and a lonely heroine determined to start fresh, find themselves in a battle of wills and emotion in this ghostly fantasy of love, time, and chance.

  Gold Mountain

  Against the background of San Francisco at the time of the Great Earthquake and Fire of 1906 comes a tale of love and loss. Ruth Greer, wealthy daughter of a shipping magnate, finds a young boy who has run away from his home in Chinatown—an area of gambling parlors, opium dens, sing-song girls, as well as families trying to eke out a living. It is also home to a number of highbinder tongs, the infamous “hatchet men” of Chinese lore.

  There, Ruth meets the boy's father, Li Han-lin, the handsome, enigmatic leader of one such tong, and discovers he is neither as frightening, cruel, or wanton as reputation would have her believe. As Ruth's fascination with the area grows, she finds herself pulled deeper into the intrigue of the lawless area, and Han-lin's life. But the two are from completely different worlds, and when both worlds are shattered by the earthquake and fire that destroys San Francisco, they face their ultimate test.

  Dangerous Journey

  C.J. Perkins is trying to find her brother who went missing while on a Peace Corps assignment in Asia. All she knows is that the disappearance has something to do with a "White Dragon." Darius Kane, adventurer and bounty hunter, seems to be her only hope, and she practically shanghais him into helping her.

  With a touch of the romantic adventure film Romancing the Stone, C.J. and Darius follow a trail that takes them through the narrow streets of Hong Kong, the backrooms of San Francisco's Chinatown, and the wild jungles of Borneo as they pursue both her brother and the White Dragon. The closer C.J. gets to them, the more danger she finds herself in—and it's not just danger of losing her life, but also of losing her heart.

  [This is a completely revised author's edition of novel previously published as Armed and Dangerous.]

  The Angie Amalfi Mysteries

  Gourmet cook, sometime food columnist, sometime restaurant critic, and generally "underemployed" person Angelina Amalfi burst upon the mystery scene in SOMETHING'S COOKING, in which she met San Francisco Homicide Inspector Paavo Smith. Since that time—over the course of 14 books and a novella—she's wanted two things in life, a good job...and Paavo
.

  Here’s a brief outline of each book in the order written:

  SOMETHING'S COOKING

  For sassy and single food writer Angie Amalfi, life’s a banquet—until the man who’s been contributing unusual recipes for her food column is found dead. But Angie is hardly one to simper in fear—so instead she simmers over the delectable homicide detective assigned to the case.

  TOO MANY COOKS

  In TOO MANY COOKS, Angie’s talked her way into a job on a pompous, third-rate chef’s radio call-in show. But when a successful and much envied restaurateur is poisoned, Angie finds the case far more interesting than trying to make her pretentious boss sound good.

  COOKING UP TROUBLE

  Angie Amalfi’s latest job, developing the menu for a new inn, sounds enticing—especially since it means spending a week in scenic Northern California with her homicide-detective boyfriend. But once she arrives at the soon-to-be-opened Hill Haven Inn, she’s not so sure anymore. The added ingredients of an ominous treat, a missing person, and a woman making eyes at her man leave Angie convinced that the only recipe in this inn’s kitchen is one for disaster.

  COOKING MOST DEADLY

  Food columnist Angie Amalfi has it all. But while she’s wondering if it’s time to cut the wedding cake with her boyfriend, Paavo, he becomes obsessed with a grisly homicide that has claimed two female victims. Angie becomes the next target of a vendetta that stretches from the dining rooms of San Francisco’s elite to the seedy Tenderloin.