Bruja Brouhaha Read Online Free PDF Page B

talk.” Nick peered over my shoulder. “Who’s with Lucia?”
    “Father Nuncio and Cruz.”
    “I have to give Cruz credit for starting her new job the day of Paco’s wake.” Nick stepped back, giving me an admiring once-over. “Did I tell you today how beautiful you are?”
    I tugged my scooped neckline to cover my peeking cleavage. “You did. But thank you again. I still feel like a tramp wearing a red party dress to a wake.”
    “Paco would approve. I certainly do,” he said. “Sangria?”
    “It’s a little early. Are you trying to loosen me up?”
    “Yes.”
    “Not going to happen.” I cocked my head at the buffet. “I haven’t eaten since breakfast. How about some food?”
    “How about both? I’ll get the drinks, you get the food, and I’ll meet you at a table.”
    “Deal.”
    I sidetracked to the long buffet line near a middle-aged couple engaged in conversation. The two appeared as out of place at Paco’s wake as country fans at a midnight rave. She wore a conservative black suit and pumps, and her brown hair was teased into a bubble. His heavy lids, flat nose, and droopy jowls reminded me of a bullmastiff.
    “Must you eat, Bernie?” the woman said, turning her back to me. “Can’t we give our condolences and leave? I feel like I’m sinning in this room of heathens. This whole affair is a sacrilege. You’d think Paco Rojas was a saint with the way these people are making offerings to his ashes.”
    “Zip it up, Erica. I was this close.” He pinched his forefinger to his thumb. “I almost had Rojas warmed up to sell his building. I want Mrs. Rojas to know I paid my respects if—”
    “You are not that crass,” Erica said.
    “I’m not stupid, woman. I’m not here to make a sales pitch. But I’m not the only Realtor here. Raymon Cansino just left.”
    My mind whirred, the pieces clicking into place. Raymon Cansino was the man who was just with Lucia. Mr. Cansino, as in the phone call I took on Monday.
Paco’s good friend?
Curious.
    “Selling that building won’t mean anything if your soul ends up burning in hell,” Erica said.
    “You don’t mind burning through my dough while we’re still alive. Go and ask your Padre over there if you’re sinning. He’s not ashamed to be here.”
    “Father Nuncio is here? Where?” Erica craned her neck toward the guests. She gasped. “I don’t believe it. Teresa Suarez has a lot of nerve to show up here.”
    “Who?” Bernie said.
    “Over there.” She pointed across the room at Teresa. “The woman in the blue dress.”
    “Nice rack,” Bernie said. “What’s the problem?”
    “Paco Rojas is dead because of her loose morals. She was cheating on her gangster husband in broad daylight. Paco was outside with her and her lover that night. The second bullet hit him instead of Teresa. No wonder she’s laughing. She tricked the devil.”
    “Her husband shot them?” Bernie said.
    She tossed her hand. “His deputies or whatever they call them. Her husband ordered the hit from jail.”
    “Geez, how do you know all this?”
    “My manicurist told me.”
    Bernie snorted. “The case is solved. Call the police and collect your reward.”
    I held back a grin. When waiters brought the line to a halt to exchange empty chafers for fresh servings of food from the kitchen, I stepped out of line to say hello to Detective Bailey at a nearby table.
    “Nice of you to pay your respects, Detective. Or is this official business?”
    “Maybe a little of both,” he said, cocking his head.
    “Do you think Paco’s killer is here today?” I glanced through the room.
    “Could be,” he said. “Some gang members run the street from behind so-called legitimate businesses. I was across the river at the Saldivar funeral yesterday, same type of crowd, different territory. I’m curious if any of the same faces are here.”
    “And?” I said.
    He cracked a smile. “And nothing. How is Mrs. Rojas?”
    “She has moments when she accepts what happened, but