“Check out the date,” Elvira’s smile widened.
Carlita’s heart plummeted as she studied the date. “October sixteenth. You’re going on my family’s cruise.”
“Not just me, but me and Dernice, thanks to my friend, June, who also happens to be a travel agent.”
“She assured us we got a sweet deal,” Dernice said.
“Luigi’s doing a good job. He can handle running the businesses for a few days. I haven’t been on a vacation in years. I figured, hey, if Carlita and her family are going, why not join them?”
Mercedes peered over her mother’s shoulder. “Cabin 3510.”
“October can’t come fast enough.” Elvira snapped her fingers. “We’re going to be cruisin’ and schmoozin’.”
Carlita slid the paper back inside the folder and handed it to Elvira. “What if you get motion sickness? October is hurricane season. I heard the seas can get pretty rough.”
“Hurricane shmurricane. Already got it covered. My doc is going to hook me up with one of those arm patches. Besides, I’m almost positive I won’t get motion sickness. I never felt a thing while I was on Pete’s pirate ship during the Christmas boat parade.”
“It’s a long drive from here to Miami,” Carlita said.
“Dernice likes long road trips.” Elvira elbowed her sister. “Don’t you?”
“They’re not my favorite.”
Carlita turned to Dernice. “What are your thoughts about this cruise?”
Dernice shifted uncomfortably. “I’m on the fence. The Christmas parade boat ride made me a little queasy.”
“Don’t be such a baby,” Elvira snorted.
“I practically begged Elvira to consult with you before she booked our cabin, but she wanted to surprise you.”
Carlita rubbed her brow. “She certainly managed to do that. You’re free to book any trip you want, but this was a family trip.”
“And we’re like family,” Elvira insisted. “Besides, like Dernice mentioned, we got a great deal. I mean, I know it’s an inside cabin on a lower deck, but we don’t plan on spending much time in there. It’s all about fun in the sun. Have you checked out the itinerary?”
“Not in depth,” Carlita admitted.
Elvira rambled on about the islands…Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao. “They’re called the ABC islands. Our cruise will be the ship’s first sailing out of Miami.”
“It’s their first voyage?” Carlita wasn’t sure she wanted to cruise on a maiden voyage, a ship where perhaps the kinks and bugs hadn’t been worked out.
“Let me rephrase that…it will be the ship’s first voyage after returning from the British Isles.” Elvira altered her voice and began speaking in a fake British accent. “Now that will be a bloody fun voyage. What cabin are you in?”
“I don’t know,” Carlita said. “But I plan to find out as soon as I return home.”
“If you’re on the third deck, we might be neighbors.” Elvira’s brows knitted. “I thought you would be more excited.”
“More like shocked.” Carlita started to say something else, but the look on Elvira’s face stopped her. “I’m sorry, Elvira.” She attempted to muster up some enthusiasm. “I’m sure we’ll have an…a great trip…err…cruise.”
“While you’re here, I’ll show you what I found on my surveillance cameras.” Elvira settled into her office chair while Carlita and Mercedes stood behind her.
Similar to what Carlita had discovered, Elvira’s cameras captured a man pushing a wheelbarrow down the alley and to their dumpster, where he tossed a load of trash inside. After emptying it, he hurriedly wheeled it back down the alley, slipping away into the dark night.
“Our cameras caught the same guy,” Mercedes said. “We can speculate it was Sandy Sue’s construction crew, but there’s no proof.”
Elvira wagged a finger. “Now, there’s where you’re wrong and why having high-tech, high-end equipment pays off.” She reached for the mouse, rewinding the recording until the mystery man reappeared.
She paused the recording and then enlarged the picture. He was wearing a lightweight jacket with some sort of marking in the upper left-hand corner. With a couple more clicks, the logo was clearly visible.
“City Square Construction,” Carlita whispered.
“Which also happens to be the name of the construction company working across the street,” Elvira said. “I stopped by there the other day to offer my services and find out if they were in the market for surveillance equipment.”
“Did you meet the owner?” Perhaps if Carlita stopped by to chat with either the owner or the construction supervisor and let them know what an employee was doing, she could nip the troublesome situation in the bud.
“I did. Her name is Sandy Sue Jarvis. Her husband, Carl, wasn’t there. She said I would need to talk to him about camera installation. She seemed a little…”
“A little what?” Mercedes asked.
“Well, not particularly warm and fuzzy.”
“She was rude,” Dernice elaborated.
“Although she did say she would get back with me.”
“Is it possible for you to text a copy of the surveillance footage to me? I’m going to take it over there and politely ask the workers not to use our dumpster.”
“Sure.” With a couple quick clicks, Elvira’s message and attachment popped up on Carlita’s phone.
“This should do the trick.”
Elvira followed behind as Carlita and her daughter made their way to the door. “We’ve only got a couple of months before we hit the high seas. I think we should have a pre-cruise meeting so we can go over the plan.”
“Plan?”
“You know…port stops and excursions, making reservations for the specialty dining restaurants. I might even book a visit to the spa,” Elvira said. “I heard their Waves of Wonder show is spectacular. You have to get to the theater early to get a good seat.”
“She has a point. It might be in our best interest to plan ahead,” Mercedes said. “Vinnie might also have some suggestions since the cruise was his idea. Or perhaps his in-laws have made other
