The First Deadly Sin

By GiAnna Moratelli

The Reverend Darrin Thorne is a minister who has a hard time keeping his hands to himself, and having a hot-looking secretary, Morocco Gunn doesn't help. Sometimes a man's occupation gets in the way of how he wants to live. When he ends up dead while playing golf with Lt. Joe Novelli, Joe finds he has a stadium full of suspects. But when the deacon, John Conn ends up dead as well, that puts a new outlook on things. Maybe the minister's infidelity with his secretary isn't the whole story. It's a double homicide that will lead to a suspect Joe never expected.

• Language: English
• Publisher: GiAnna Moratelli
• Release date: Dec 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311818515

GiAnna Moratelli

Born in El Paso, Texas, I grew up in Iowa and was lucky enough to have parents that that had money to travel, a truck and 45' fifth wheel, and liked to travel. I've been in almost all of the fifty states, from the east coast to the west and have visited small bits of Canada and Mexico. As a major in history, I've visited the battlefield of the Little Big Horn; on three different occasions, Gettysburg Battlefield, and the Battle of Athens (which most have never visited, it sits on the border of Iowa and Missouri). I've been to as big a places as the Smithsonian Institute and small places as the grave of Chief Wapello located in Agency, Iowa and The Grotto of the Redemption in northern Iowa, which is well worth anyone's time, especially if you like rocks and history. I grew up, as ole horsemen say, on the back of a horse. I started riding by myself when I was three and when I was sixteen I started working at the tracks of Standardbred racing barns during the summers when we weren't travelling. After graduating high school I bought a couple of race horse; a six month old dark bay filly named J.C's "Blitz" DeVane and a little later a yearling sorrel colt named "Breezy" Judge, which I trained and raced myself, only needing to acquire a fair license to do so, compared to those who had pari-mutual license. My horse racing came to an abrupt end a few years later with a barn fire, in which none of the 12 head of horses died, The horse I'm pictured with is Breezy, the best horse I ever owned (and I've owned a lot of horses of different breeds) and passed from this earth when he was 25 years old. I went to college, attended R.O.T.C.; went to Fort Knox, Kentucky for basic training and earned a B.A. in history. My interest lying mostly in American history. Other than the above, many other experiences in life, and living in different places, have given me good resources for my writing: 1. Staying with my grandparents on their farm when I was very young is where I learned to ride and gave me knowledge of farming, which I later helped a farmer near where I grew up. 2. I work for my father; who is a Certified Public Accountant, doing taxes and bookkeeping. I started working for him when I was in middle school, and after health problems in our family, have come back to help him as of 2019. 3. I managed my dad's used car lot in Fairfield, Iowa. 4. I drove a semi with a 52' trailer over the road for 13 years. 5. I worked real estate and did real estate appraisal as a second job to OTR. 6. I've done construction work (helping my dad and brother put up my dad's office building from the ground up, plus many other projects for my dad, many which included pouring concrete every Fourth of July for more years than I care to think about. 7. I worked for a local manufacture making cabinets 8. While in college I cleaned at a hotel to pay my way through the first two years. 9. After college, while driving OTR (after the RE job) I sub-taught for two years. 10. I worked security for four years. 11. I do know how to cook, make garden and can food. That's my life wrapped up in a peanut shell. I decided to write fiction under my pen name and non-fiction under my real name Linda Scott. Just a good idea I thought to keep the two of them seperate.

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The First Deadly Sin

Lt. Joe Novelli, Homicide 8

By

GiAnna Moratelli

COPYRIGHT 2014

GiAnna Moratelli

SMASHWORDS EDITION

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Chapter One

An older man with grey hair wearing a red golf shirt and light tan plaid pants walked up to where a golf ball lay and looked at it. He studied it, as if lining it up with the hole in front of it. Where’s your wife this morning, Joseph? he suddenly asked.

Constance is riding with friends today. Joe Novelli adjusted the mesh visor so it would help keep his dark brown hair out of his eyes as he waited. You going to tap it, slap it, or what, Darrin?

Darrin looked up at him with grey-blue eyes and smiled. Riding what?

Joe’s dark brown eyes glared at the man. Weren’t there times he’d like to just hall off and hit a guy? You gonna play, preacher man?

He’s probably too busy looking at the women down there on the lower green, a third man stated.

Darrin frowned. You’re just jealous because I’m better than you, Alex?

Better than me? Alex shook his head. You’re not better than me, and I’m not the pervert proclaiming to be a holy man.

I didn’t say I was holy.

Would you hurry up? The rest of us would like to get a shot in before it gets dark.

I want to make a good shot. Darrin glanced at Joe. I bet a good-looking man like yourself has all kinds of women chasing you, don’t you? He tapped the ball. So you go to that confession thing every Saturday and confess to the priest about your -.

I don’t know how you can play and talk so much! Joe snapped.

Haven’t you noticed? He can’t, Alex said. That’s the reason he isn’t playing worth a shit.

Darrin shook his head, ignoring Alex. We don’t have that confession thing at my church, so every time you shoot someone you wouldn’t have to confess it.

Joe frowned. I don’t shoot people.

You’re a cop aren’t ya?

In all my years on the department, I’ve never shot anyone.

Besides that, he’s a homicide investigator, not a street cop, Alex said.

Still, you need to start coming to my church, Darrin said.

We’re not Methodist. Joe walked over to where his ball lay. He lined it up.

You can convert can’t you? Your wife would like coming to my church. I could enlighten her.

Shut the fuck up, Joe said hesitating between each word. He tapped the ball and watched as it went in the hole then he looked at Darrin. But Al’s right.

About what?

You can’t play worth a shit!

Darrin shrugged. I’ve had better days. I’m surprised you’re playing as well as you are. How many weeks has it been since you’ve played?

Joe ignored him.

Been about three hasn’t it, Joe? Alex asked.

Something like that, Joe replied. "I’ve been too busy shooting people to play golf."

You should have brought Constance with you this morning, Darrin said. She’s nicer than you are.

Yeah, well the reason she isn’t here is because she thinks you’re a pervert.

Alex laughed.

I’m very respectful to her, Darrin grumbled.

You’re obnoxious, not respectful. And you’re not going to be around my wife if I can help it, Joe stated.

Darrin shook his head. You’re pretty protective of her, Novelli.

I have to be around people like you.

That was a low blow.

Honesty’s a hard thing to digest isn’t it? Joe watched as Alex hit the ball down the course. Good one.

Thanks, Alex said and smiled. Honesty and fidelity are not something the preacher man here understands.

Alex Wonderlich, you’re trying to stir things up.

I don’t have to stir it up, Darrin. You’re good enough at doing that on your own. Alex pushed the bill of his golf cap up as they started walking to the next hole. Glad ya didn’t have to work today, Joe. Miss playing with ya Saturday mornings.

I don’t stir anything, Darrin said following them.

It’s still summer, so my work keeping me pretty busy, Joe said.

Worse in summer than winter?

Seems like it, Joe answered. Have you ever played out at Lincoln Green?

I’ve been out there a few times.

It’s a nice course if you have a lot of time. Constance and I went out there last weekend.

I knew you been practicing, Darrin said. And she went with you then huh?

I figured you were probably busy on that murder up on the north side of town. Jack Wells, Alex cleared his voice. Was that your case?

Joe shook his head. Shay McBride had it. She wrapped it up last night. Why, you interested in it?

Alex shook his head. Kind of. I knew Jack fairly well.

How’d you know’em?

I worked with him at the Ford dealership.

When was that?

Oh, it’s been fifteen years now. But I use to see him every once in a while. We’d get together for a beer once in awhile. He was a pretty good mechanic; still working there the last I knew. He looked at Joe. You know who did it?

I wasn’t on the case. I can find out if it’s that important to you.

No, it’s… I was just curious. I knew that Jack and his wife had been having a lot of problems. The last time I talked to him, he thought she was seeing someone else.

I’ll have Shay call ya. She might be interested in talking to you.

I thought the case was closed?

It is, but what you know may be of some help, especially to the D.A.

I really don’t want involved in it.

That’s the problem. No one ever wants involved in it.

I know, but. I don’t want to have to go to court.

You two are ignoring me, Darrin snapped as he tagged along behind.

Alex glanced at Darrin, who was looking at some women playing golf. Unfortunately you’re impossible to ignore. I’m surprised your congregation doesn’t kick you out.

Kick me out for what?

Flirting with women. You do that to the women that go to your church too?

I imagine so, Joe said lowly.

I don’t flirt with them! Darrin snapped. Besides, if God didn’t intend on men being interested in women, he wouldn’t have made them, would he?

I think you better read your book better reverend. Joe motioned to the golf ball. It’s your turn.

You’re Catholic. So what would you know about it? Darrin looked at the ball. You know, of all the Christian faiths out there, Catholics know less about the bible than any other!

I know lust is one of the seven deadly sins, Joe said.

That’s not in the bible, Darrin replied.

It’s the first one, isn’t it? Alex asked.

Joe shrugged. I’m not sure. If you see any good preachers around, we can ask.

Alex looked around. I don’t think we’re going to find one out here.

Not today, anyway, Joe added.

You people don’t know as much as you think you do, Darrin snorted as he got down on his hands and knees to line up his ball with the hole.

What the hell are you doing? Joe asked.

Lining it up.

* * * *

Constance pulled her long dark blonde hair from the collar of her shirt. I seen Tommy Moranto talking to Grace this morning, she said riding beside Bonnie.

Yeah, he’s here looking at the yearlings. I’d think with all those horses he has, he’d have enough without having to buy another one.

Maybe he’s just looking at them, Constance said. Probably a few of them are his, since he’s standing his stallion here.

Bonnie nodded. That could be. That Topper he’s a super looking horse. The most gorgeous grey I’ve ever seen.

Top racehorse producing top colts too I imagine, Constance replied.

We’ll find out. His first crop goes to the track this coming summer. I can’t wait to see how they do. Bonnie looked at Constance. You’re going to watch them race aren’t you?

Maybe when they’re racing at the fairgrounds, Constance replied. But Joe and I aren’t into travelling around to the tracks to watch them.

What else do you have to do?

Constance raised her eyebrows. Joe usually has to work and when he isn’t we have a lot of work to do around the lawn.

I’d hate being a homicide investigator. He works all the time. I couldn’t do that job, looking at dead people.

You like college? Constance asked. She rubbed the neck of the horse she was riding.

Bonnie shrugged as she turned her horse along the white board fence that lined the driveway to the highway. It’s all right. But I’d rather be out here working with the horses.

You’re still getting a degree in horse husbandry aren’t you?

Yeah, and we get to work with horses all the time and get credits for it, but. I don’t know.

You get a degree in horses and you’ll be able to get a good job working with them. Constance leaned forward and rubbed the horse’s ears. I kind of like, Magic here. He’s pretty nice.

Yeah for a three year old, he’s really quiet. Better than ole Barney here. Bonnie rubbed the horse’s neck, letting her long flowing natural blonde hair hang down along the horse’s dark brown coat. I really like working here, but I don’t think Grace is going to give me a raise just because I have a college degree doing what I’m doing now.

You never know. You might like working for a big horse farm out East that pays good. Or who knows, Tommy might hire you to work for him.

Bonnie laughed. He has enough money to pay me well. I guess money’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?

That’s why you’re going to college isn’t it?

Honestly, I was really looking to get my M.R.S degree. But that isn’t working out so well.

Constance laughed and her hazel eyes sparkled. I thought that went out in the nineties.

Are you kidding? That’s a degree that never goes away.

I guess. It didn’t work for me, so if you don’t find anyone, you aren’t the only one.

You have a great husband, Constance.

Yeah but I didn’t meet him in college.

You wouldn’t have been very old if you would have, Bonnie said and laughed.

You don’t think they would have let me in at the age of three?

Bonnie shook her head. I don’t think so.

Of course you never know, Tommy might be looking for a new wife.

I’m not into guys that much older than me. So Joe’s what, fifteen years older than you?

Fourteen. You know, Tommy’s last wife was really young.

Not as young as me! And that didn’t -.

The gelding Bonnie was riding suddenly jumped sideways into