Cats, Cannolis, and a Curious Kidnapping: An Anna Romano Murder Mystery

Chapter 1: The Feline Witness

One purrfect morning in the quaint town of Little Italy, Private Investigator Anna Romano strolled through the cobblestone streets, her keen eyes scanning for any signs of trouble. As she passed by Vincenzo's Bakery, the intoxicating aroma of freshly baked cannolis wafted through the air, tempting her taste buds.

But something peculiar caught her attention. A sleek, black cat sat perched on a windowsill, its emerald eyes fixed on a shadowy figure in the alleyway behind the bakery. Anna's instincts kicked in as she approached cautiously.

Cats, Cannolis and a Curious Kidnapping (An Anna Romano Murder Mystery Series Book 1)

by Cheryl Denise Bannerman

4.4 out of 5

Is Discontinued By Manufacturer	:	No
Package Dimensions	:	12 x 12 x 1 inches; 1 Pounds
Manufacturer	:	Steadfast Records
Label	:	Steadfast Records
Number of discs	:	2
Language	:	English
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	128 pages
File size	:	2624 KB
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE

"Excuse me, madam," she addressed the cat's elderly owner, "I couldn't help but notice your feline companion's unusual behavior."

The woman, Mrs. Santini, looked up from her crossword puzzle with a puzzled expression. "Oh, that's just Max. He's always watching the alleyway. You know, I do believe there was a kidnapping there last night."

Anna's heart skipped a beat. "A kidnapping? Can you tell me more?"

Mrs. Santini nodded. "My granddaughter, Sofia, witnessed it from her apartment across the alley. She said she saw two men dragging a young woman into their van. She was so frightened that she called the police, but they couldn't find any trace of her."

Armed with this information, Anna knew her investigation had just taken an unexpected turn. With Max as her silent guide, she entered the shadowy alleyway, determined to unravel the mystery behind Sofia's puzzling tale.

Chapter 2: The Sweet Trail

As Anna followed the path that Max had indicated, she noticed a trail of crushed cannoli shells scattered across the cobblestones. She couldn't help but think that these sweet crumbs might lead her to the truth.

She traced the trail to a nearby park, where she found a group of teenage boys huddled around a large cannolis box. Anna approached them, hoping to find a link between the kidnappers and the stolen pastries.

"Excuse me, boys," Anna began, "have you seen anything unusual in the park lately?"

One of the boys, a lanky kid with a mischievous grin, looked up. "Yeah, we saw two guys buying a ton of cannolis earlier today. They said they were for a special occasion."

"Do you remember what they looked like?" Anna asked.

The boy described two men, one tall and muscular, the other short and stocky. Their clothing matched the descriptions given by Sofia.

Anna thanked the boys and continued her pursuit, the sweet scent of cannolis guiding her like a trail of breadcrumbs. She knew time was running out, and she had to find the missing woman before it was too late.

Chapter 3: The Hidden Lair

Following the trail of cannoli shells, Anna found herself on the outskirts of town, near an abandoned warehouse. As she approached cautiously, she heard muffled voices coming from inside.

She took a deep breath and cautiously entered the warehouse. The air was thick with the stench of stale cigarette smoke and the faintest hint of something sweet. Anna searched the shadows, her heart pounding in her chest.

Suddenly, she spotted a dark figure moving towards her. She drew her gun and called out, "Identify yourself!"

The figure stepped into the light, revealing the muscular man described by Sofia. His eyes widened in surprise as he stared down the barrel of Anna's weapon.

"Anna Romano," he muttered, "what are you ng here?"

Anna lowered her gun slightly. "I'm here to find the missing woman. Where is she?"

The man hesitated for a moment before nodding towards a small room at the back of the warehouse. "She's in there."

Anna cautiously approached the room, her senses on high alert. She opened the door and gasped in horror. There, tied to a chair, was the missing woman, Sofia.

Chapter 4: The Truth Unveiled

As Anna untied Sofia, she noticed a piece of paper clutched tightly in her hand. She carefully unfolded it, revealing a message written in shaky handwriting: "The cannolis...the key."

At that moment, Anna realized that the stolen pastries were not just a sweet treat but a clever clue. She searched the warehouse frantically until she found what she was looking for – a small, wooden box hidden beneath a pile of scrap metal.

The box was locked, but Anna remembered the short, stocky man Sofia had described. He had been carrying a toolbox earlier today. She rushed back to the alleyway where Max had spotted the kidnappers and searched for any sign of forced entry.

Finally, she found a broken window at the back of a garage. She carefully climbed inside and found the toolbox in question. Inside, she discovered a key that perfectly fit the wooden box.

Anna returned to the warehouse, her hands trembling as she opened the box. Inside, she found a memory card, filled with incriminating evidence of the kidnappers' involvement in a human trafficking ring.

Chapter 5: Justice Served

With the evidence in hand, Anna marched back to the warehouse and arrested the kidnappers, freeing Sofia and bringing the human trafficking ring to justice. Max, the feline witness, had inadvertently played a pivotal role in uncovering the truth.

As the sun began to rise over Little Italy, Anna Romano stood victorious, having solved the curious case of the cats, cannolis, and a kidnapping. The town breathed a collective sigh of relief, grateful that their beloved resident detective had once again protected them from the shadows. But as Anna watched Max purring contentedly on the windowsill of Vincenzo's Bakery, she knew that her work was never truly done. In the intriguing tapestry of life, where murder and mystery intertwined, Anna Romano would always be ready to uncover the truth, no matter how sweet or curious the clues may appear.

Cats, Cannolis and a Curious Kidnapping (An Anna Romano Murder Mystery Series Book 1)

by Cheryl Denise Bannerman

4.4 out of 5

Is Discontinued By Manufacturer	:	No
Package Dimensions	:	12 x 12 x 1 inches; 1 Pounds
Manufacturer	:	Steadfast Records
Label	:	Steadfast Records
Number of discs	:	2
Language	:	English
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	128 pages
File size	:	2624 KB
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE