Welcome to my stop on J.M. Griffin's Super Book Blast for The Esposito Series. Please leave a comment or question for J.M. below to let her know you stopped by. J.M. will be will be awarding Tea and Chip Nuts to three randomly drawn commenters (US/CANADA ONLY) during her review tour and Super Book Blast. You can follow her tour here, the more often you comment, the better your odds of winning.
The Esposito Series
by J.M. Griffin
The Esposito Series Box Set:Now you can own the first three books in the sassy and suspenseful Vinnie Esposito Series by J.M. Griffin!By day, Lavinia (Vinnie) Esposito is a criminal justice instructor at a college in Rhode Island. By night Vinnie is an amateur sleuth, solving murders while trying to avoid getting yelled at by her Italian father, her hunky protective boyfriend Marcus Richmond, and her sexy upstairs tenant, the mysterious Aaron Grant.For Love of Livvy (Book 1)Vinnie investigates the death of her beloved aunt, and a mysterious box is left on her doorstep.Dirty Trouble (Book 2)Someone is stalking Vinnie and that’s just the beginning of her troubles.Dead Wrong (Book 3)Vinnie is out to save her brother from being framed after a valuable painting is stolen.Buy Links:
Excerpt :
The
front door knocker rapped twice after the door bell rang. I hustled from the
rear deck of the gargantuan house to answer the summons. Someone seemed
impatient, and I was curious as to who it was. My watch read just after eight
o’ clock. I swung the heavy door open to find my prospective visitor absent.
It
was so quiet, the town ghostly in its seemingly deserted state. Sundays were
always lazy days in Scituate, once church was over. With a glance up and down
the street of the small historic Rhode Island village, neat colonial homes
stretched along the sides of the road in both directions. No one came into
view.
On
the doorstep, a package addressed to my recently deceased Aunt Livvy sat
wrapped in brown paper. Again, I gawked up and down the street, but only empty
sidewalks and barren roadway appeared in the waning light. The idea of a jaunt
along the main drag entered my mind. I figured it would be senseless since the
street was visible for about two hundred yards in either direction. Whoever had
left the package was gone, long gone.
An
eternity passed, or so it seemed, while my gaze locked onto the square, little
box. Reluctant to touch it, I decided to call the local fire company to come
take a gander. Call me paranoid, but as a criminal justice instructor, a recent
audit of a class on bomb components remained fresh in my mind.
I
quickly stepped to the living room and grabbed the phone. I dialed the private
number of the fire station up the street. A grunt came across the phone line
that could only be Bill MacNert.
“Hey
Nerd, its Vinnie,” I said. “A package was just left on my doorstep, could you
come down and check it out for me?”
“Sure,
you got a secret admirer or somethin’?” He cackled, as only senior men can.
“Not
likely, but you never know. This package is addressed to Lavinia Ciano, not
Lavinia Esposito and is wrapped in brown paper. Nobody’s here to accompany this
little surprise either.”
“I’ll
be right down, Vinnie, don’t touch it.” He warned.
“Okay.”
Anxious,
I paced back and forth across gleaming hard wood floors in the spacious living
room of my newly acquired colonial. My fingernails tapped the enamel on my
teeth as I wandered to and fro. As irrational as it seemed, I finally leaned
against the door jamb inside the entry to wait for MacNert to arrive.
It
wasn’t long before the limber old guy came into view as he hot footed down the
street with a stethoscope in his hand. This particular piece of equipment
wasn’t quite what I’d expected, but then he wasn’t a bomb expert either.
When
he arrived on the doorstep slightly out of breath, he glanced at the parcel,
and then turned toward me.
“This
was just delivered, you say?” MacNert squinted toward me with wizened brown
eyes that twinkled all the time. It was as though there was a private joke
going on inside his head.
“Yeah,
someone knocked on the door, and when I got here to answer, there was nobody
around. It didn’t seem prudent to mess with it, so I called you.”
“You
just finished that bomb class, eh?” He chuckled and then sobered quickly. Since
9/11, everyone took stuff like this with a serious attitude. While he chuckled,
I knew MacNert was no different.
The
stethoscope ends plugged into his ears, Bill laid its diaphragm on top of the
package. Removing it, he gingerly set it against the sides and listened again.
I didn’t make a sound as he stood and glanced up.
“There’s
no tickin’ but that doesn’t mean it’s not an explosive. You should probably
call the state police barracks up the road. Have them send their bomb guys down
for a lookie see, just to be on the safe side.”
“Geez,
I hate to do that. I’ll feel stupid if it’s a joke,” I whined.
“It’s
up to you, but if you were nervous enough to call me, then you should call
them. It’s just my opinion, Vin.” He stepped over the box and wandered into the
entryway. “Got anythin’ to eat? Wifey’s out of town visitin’ her sister and I’m
starved.”
Bill
didn’t seem over concerned, but then again, he hadn’t recently taken a bomb
class either. My eyes never left the box as I answered him. “There’s food in
the fridge, help yourself.”
I’d
known the homely man and his family for years and respected his opinion.
Tapping my fingers against my lips, I called after him, “You’re right. I’ll
ring the state police now, but stick around okay?”
Unwilling
to be nailed as over-dramatic by the staties, I reluctantly punched in the
numbers. It was bad enough that the local cops had bugged the shit out of me
for the first month after Aunt Livvy’s death. They still stopped by now and
then, annoying me even more with stupid questions. Questions to which I had no
answers.
After
the trooper covering the desk answered, I explained what I’d found on the
doorstep. He seemed unconcerned until I mentioned my name and address, and then
he stated someone would be down momentarily. The swift change in his manner
piqued my curiosity. I wondered why he’d suddenly capitulated when his initial
response had been of disinterest.
In
the living room, I paced while awaiting the arrival of the state police. Within
minutes a sleek, grey Crown Victoria pulled up to the curb out front and a
tall, lean trooper got out. Broad shouldered and well built, he walked with
assurance and a certain amount of swagger. I stepped into the open door entry
and watched him saunter through the front gate onto the walkway. He stared at
the package and then at me.
“Did
you call about this box, ma’am?” Keen hazel green eyes traveled over my face
and down my body.
Craggy
features, sculpted from granite, faced me and I felt my blood run hot as the
breath caught in my throat. What was this about? I gazed at him admiring the
neat package wrapped in the trim uniform.
“I
did. Bill MacNert from the fire station thought it would be a good idea since
it was mysteriously left on the doorstep. He checked to see if it was ticking,
but it isn’t.”
“Are
you Lavinia Ciano?” The trooper’s glance strayed from the name on the wrapper
to me as his eyes showed a glint of humor and his mouth twitched.
Could
that humor be over the name? I wondered, as I said, “No, my name is Esposito.
Livvy was my aunt.” Our eyes held and my heart pounded. I licked my parched
lips and then glanced away.
An
oversized van idled up behind the patrol car and the trooper glanced back. Two
men stepped from the vehicle dressed in heavy gear and acknowledged him. He
turned to the lead man, mumbled a few words and then stared at me again. If
this was an action film, I would have expected Bruce Willis to jump out of the
truck announcing he was about to kick someone’s ass. This wasn’t an action
film, but a real life situation instead.
The
two guys angled through the front gate and hitched their gear as they hauled a
peculiar looking lidded barrel toward the front door. By this time, a few
neighbors had taken notice of the activities. Several people straggled along
the sidewalk across the street to watch.
You’d
think it was a freakin’ sideshow. I smiled and waved. Nobody responded, they
just continued to gawk. A little excitement for them on an otherwise dull
Sunday, I guessed. The trooper stood aside and watched the crowd, but said
nothing.
The
overdressed bomb guys corralled the box between them. With delicate finesse
they lifted and stowed it into the metal container, loaded it into the truck
and drove off. I stared in disbelief. Hell, I wanted to know what was in the
package. I had a right to know, didn’t I?
The
trooper turned to leave and I stepped forward.
“Uh,
I’d like to know what’s in the box, if it’s not too much to ask.” My hand snuck
up to my hip as my cocky Italian attitude slid into place.
Tall
and Curious stiffened at my tone and turned to stare at me. It seemed he wasn’t
used to being spoken to in this manner, which wasn’t any big surprise. Women
tend to respond differently to men in uniform, especially a man such as this
luscious creature. Well, not this chick. I teach guys like him all year long
and the “I’m so wonderful” thing gets old fast.
“I’ll
be sure to let you know, Miss Esposito. If we have any questions, you’ll hear
from us right away.”
I
gawked a moment and my eyes narrowed. His opened wide in contrast and he
waited, his body tense. Maybe he thought I’d pitch myself off the steps onto
his perfectly toned frame and pummel the daylights out of him or something. It
was a thought, but I really wanted to know what was in the package. Besides,
his muscles were bigger than mine.
In
an effort to change tactics rather than be handcuffed and dragged off to jail,
I smiled and spoke in as nice a manner as I could muster.
“I’d
appreciate any information you could give me officer, since the package was
left in such an alarming way. Should I call headquarters tomorrow?”
His
look narrowed. I suspected he was unsure of where this was headed. There was a
moment’s hesitation before he answered the question.
“Sure,
that would be a good idea.” He gave a nod of the stiff brimmed campaign hat
that covered cropped brown hair.
“All
right then. I’ll call the colonel first thing.” My voice remained light and
sweet, and the smile was charming, at least I hoped it was.
The
colonel runs a strict police force and is a tough disciplinarian with an
intense dislike for any impropriety, implied or otherwise. I’d gleaned that
much from the cops in my criminal justice classes.
A
tight lipped smile crossed his face. I figured he couldn’t decide whether I
really knew the colonel or if this was a ploy. To be truthful, I lied by
omission. I hadn’t said I knew the colonel, I just said I’d give him a call.
“That
won’t be necessary ma’am. As soon as there’s any information, I’ll get in touch
with you.” With a nod of his head, he turned and left.
Don’t
you hate that ma’am thing? It makes me feel old. I know I’m thirty-something,
but really.
Bill
MacNert stood near the doorway sucking down a sandwich filled with sausage and
peppers. My mother had sent the food home with me the day before. The smell of
rich tomato sauce and fragrant sausage tantalized my taste buds.
“Guess
it wasn’t that serious then?” Slurp noises preceded a sauce blob that dripped
down his uniform shirt.
I glanced at Bill’s shirt, snagged a tissue
from my pocket and dabbed at the drip.
“I
won’t know until tomorrow, but if I’m the town laughing stock you’re in for it
and don’t forget it. By the way, did you leave me any food?” I chuckled at his
expression.
Bill’s
guilt ridden grin assured me that he hadn’t, but he swore that he had. He
handed me the empty plate before he headed toward the fire station. I watched
the stethoscope bob up and down from the back pocket of his pants. He trotted
up the street, and I felt sure the story would make the rounds since Bill was
an avid gossip.
The
crowd had dispersed, and I was alone again. Livvy would have had a fit over the
whole affair had she been alive, but I figured there was no sense in being
stupid. I act that way often enough, thank you.
Mystery
still surrounded Livvy’s non-violent death. While the police weren’t
forthcoming with information, the state troopers’ attitude on the phone caused
me to reconsider the promise to my father to not investigate on my own. I
wandered through the house deep in thought over the situation.
Darkness
had descended as I headed toward the bedroom. Changing into a t-shirt and boxer
briefs, I climbed into bed with a notebook. The troopers’ attitude niggled at
me. I leaned back against the pillows scribbling notes about the package
delivery. Words ran across the page as the scene and the trooper came to mind.
The trooper’s name wasn’t on his badge, but I remembered the badge number.
The
pad propped against my knees, my mind drifted over the parcel and the officer’s
attitude. Warm hazel green eyes along with the trooper’s cool manner had drawn
my interest. It wasn’t really just his bearing that caught my attention either
and it was a struggle to stay focused.
Intense
eyes sat above a strong, chiseled nose and firm jaw. I sketched the features
onto the pad of paper. His lips weren’t thin, not too wide, but just right for
kissing. Wondering what it would be like to taste those lips, I gave myself a
mental head slap. A cop is the last thing you want or need, my inner voice
echoed. This voice always echoed dire warnings through my head. It had a bad
habit of doing so at the worst possible moment. Just stay focused on Livvy, I
lectured myself.
Snuggled
under the lightweight blanket, thoughts about Livvy and our life played in my
mind. Muscles relaxed, and I realized I needed to talk to her tomorrow. The
graveyard was about two blocks away from the house. I often went to her grave
for a conversation when I’d become involved in one issue or another. That’s
what my life consisted of, one issue or another. Most of the time the issues
were huge, never mundane, not ever.
I
sighed, sniffed the sweet summer scents that wafted through the open window and
wondered how this summer in Rhode Island would be. The pillow slipped lower and
so did I as my mind wandered over life, the package and my aunt.
AUTHOR
Bio and Links:
As
a humorous, cozy mystery writer, J.M. adds a touch of romance to every story.
She believes in fairies, doesn't believe in coincidence, and feels life is what
you make it. Believe in yourself and look at the positive, not the negative, to
bring about success. AND. . .never stop trying.
J.M.
lives in rural New England with her husband and two very mysterious cats
Website:
http://www.JMGriffin.net
Twitter:
mycozymystery
Blog:
http://mycozymysteries.blogspot.com
Don't forget to leave a comment or question for J.M. below to let her know you stopped by. J.M. will be will be awarding Tea and Chip Nuts to three randomly drawn commenters (US/CANADA ONLY) during her review tour and Super Book Blast. You can follow her tour here, the more often you comment, the better your odds of winning.
