“Help me,” Lisa called out.
The armed woman swung her gun down the hallway. “Who’s that? Is this a trap?”
I sighed. “No. That’s Lisa. She owns the place. I’m Anna Albertini. What’s your name?”
The second woman, who had to be in her late seventies, narrowed her gaze. She was under five feet tall with short, white hair, dressed in an overflowing gray coat that nearly brushed her ankles. “Albertini? Like Elda?”
Hope burst through me. “Yes. Elda is my nonna.”
She pulled a cell phone from her right pocket and pressed a button.
“Hello,” Nonna answered.
“Hi, Elda, it’s Martha,” the older woman said. “Tricia has a gun pointed at a woman who says she’s your granddaughter, but she’s at the antique store covered in what looks like paint, ink, dirt, and blood.”
Nonna sighed. “That is most likely my Anna.”
I nodded wildly. “Hi, Nonna. It is me, and we were just robbed by the Cupid gang.”
“Again?” Anger coated Nonna’s words. “Tricia? You turn that gun away from my granddaughter, or I’m bringing my spoon to the barn raising this spring. Don’t think I won’t do it.”
All three of us winced. Nonna was well known for keeping a wooden spoon in her purse to clap people’s heads.
Tricia slowly lowered her shaking arms and sighed in relief. “Sorry about that. Can’t be too careful, you know?”
I finally breathed. “I know. Do you mind calling the police?”
Chapter19
Isat on the hospital bed with my knee elevated and covered in ice as the nurse finished bandaging my wrists. Detective Pierce had taken one look at me and insisted upon bringing me to the hospital. He’d tried to call an ambulance, but I refused. Finally, he gave up and had a patrol car bring me. I was sure he had broken all sorts of rules.
After I’d informed Pierce of Lenny’s duplicity, he’d remained at the scene to interview Lisa and the two elderly ladies. Unfortunately, Jolene O’Sullivan had caught the call and ended up snapping my picture before I was taken away.
An hour later, the detective walked into the hospital room.
“Why couldn’t you keep the press away, Pierce?” I groused.
He sighed. “I didn’t see her arrive, but I had her removed instantly. She must’ve caught wind of the situation over a scanner. The Cupids are big news right now.”
Finally, the nurse finished fussing over me and walked out to find my discharge papers.
“You did not have to send me to the hospital.” I sat back, somewhat grateful to have ice on my knee. I didn’t remember twisting it, but it pounded like someone had taken a hammer to it.
“Better safe than sorry,” he said, looking more tired than he had the day before. “Now, tell me what happened.”
“The Cupids came back.”
“What is it about you?” he asked, his green eyes sparking.
“I don’t know. I just went to interview Lisa about her affair with Richard Basanelli, and the Cupids came in. They’ve been hitting businesses all around town, so I guess one on the outskirts isn’t a huge surprise. There were some beautiful pieces in that place, Pierce.” Of course, many of them had been stolen or shattered. What a bunch of jerks.
“Are you positive the Cupid you landed on was Lenny Kristoff?”
“Yes. I’m sure.”
Pierce straightened. “How did you see his face?”
“He slipped on marbles, and I fell on him and pushed his mask off. I saw his face. It was definitely him.” Fury grabbed me that he’d lied to my nana. She was a sweet and trusting woman, and he’d lied right to her face. And mine. The creep.
