Elvira abruptly stopped. “Vinnie’s in-laws are going?”
“Yes, and I’m sure they’ll be bringing along a bodyguard or two, as well.”
“You mean the mob is cruising with us?” Elvira gasped. “I-I thought it was family only.”
“The Garlucci family plus Vinnie’s in-laws. From what he told us, the cruise is part business trip, part family vacation.”
“What kind of business? I mean, do we really know what we’re getting ourselves into?”
“We did not ‘get ourselves’ into anything. No one twisted your arm to book this cruise,” Carlita pointed out. “If you’re concerned about being around Vinnie’s in-laws, then perhaps you should reconsider.”
“It’s a little late. If I cancel now, I’m gonna lose my deposit.” There was a flicker of concern as Elvira consulted her sister. “What do you think, Dernice?”
“It’ll be fine. I mean, we won’t be hanging around Vinnie’s in-laws.”
“Except for dinner. I thought we could link our reservations. That way, we can all dine together.” Elvira cleared her throat. “This throws a wrench into my plans.”
“I’m sure it will all work out.” Carlita patted her arm. “Perhaps we should lower our expectations for quality time, plan to meet for dinner once or twice and then call it good.”
“No. I want us to stick together.” Elvira insisted. “I suppose I could be overthinking it. I don’t have a lot of experience with mob people, except for you, of course. I’ll plan on keeping a low profile and not get on the boss’s radar. What’s his name again?”
“Vito Castellini.”
“Do you have any idea what cabin he’s staying in?”
“No. What I do know is that Vito and his wife have reserved a suite.”
Elvira pressed a hand to her chest. “Good. Good. There are no suites on our deck.”
“What exactly do you think Mr. Castellini is going to do? Weapons aren’t allowed on board the ship. In fact, I’m certain passengers’ bags are screened and contraband items taken at the gate.”
Elvira cast Carlita a skeptical look. “Don’t be naïve. I’ve watched enough of those mob shows to know those guys don’t go anywhere without guns.”
The woman had a point. All of her husband’s associates, not to mention anyone she’d ever met from the “family,” packed heat, including her son, Vinnie.
“All I know is I won’t be bringing a weapon, and neither should you.” Carlita thanked her again for the surveillance footage before exiting the building.
Mercedes hurried to keep up with her mother’s fast pace. “The cruise is shaping up to be one exciting vacation.”
“I was thinking more along the lines of chaotic, stressful, maybe even disastrous.”
“C’mon, Ma,” Mercedes chided. “How bad could it be?”
“We’re talking Elvira, here.” Carlita paused long enough to grab an empty paint can they had removed from the dumpster before making her way along the sidewalk.
Construction workers were everywhere. As they drew closer, Carlita could see Sandy Sue’s was almost done.
The front porch was warm and inviting. Blooming baskets, filled with purple, pink and yellow flowers, hung along the railing. Despite the restaurant’s rustic charm, the interior was light and bright.
The double doors were open, and the overpowering smell of floor polish drifted out.
“It looks like they just finished the floor,” Mercedes said.
“You’re right. We don’t want to mess them up. Let’s go around back.” Carlita and her daughter backtracked, making their way to the rear of the building. She could feel her blood beginning to boil when she spotted a dumpster.
She strode over to it and peered inside. It was brand new. “Check it out.”
Mercedes joined her. “It’s new.”
“Can I help you?” A man wearing a City Square Construction t-shirt stood in the doorway.
“I hope so.” Carlita held up the empty paint can. “I own the property across the street and found this empty paint can, along with some other construction materials, in my dumpster this morning.”
“Yeah.” The man looked bored. “And your point is?”
“I would like to speak to whoever is in charge of the construction crew.”
“That would be me.” In no hurry, the man ambled toward them. He was tall, much taller than Carlita’s barely five-foot frame. “Whatever you found is not from this site.”
“You’re wrong.” Carlita handed the can to Mercedes. She grabbed her cell phone and pulled up the surveillance footage Elvira had sent her. “A man wearing a jacket with your company’s logo on it dumped this paint and other construction trash in my dumpster last night.”
She could tell from the expression on the man’s face he couldn’t care less. “I’ll mention it to my guys, although I think you’re making a mountain out of a molehill.”
Carlita could feel the tips of her ears burn. “The city has fined me, not to mention refused to empty my dumpster. I wouldn’t exactly call that nothing.”
Mercedes jabbed her finger in the direction of the pristine dumpster. “I suggest you use your dumpster instead of ours.”
A woman, in her late forties if Carlita had to guess, joined them. Her hair was long and braided in the back with touches of gray around her temple. “What’s going on, Bud?”
“These women are from across the street. They claim my guys dumped construction materials in their trash.”
“We have proof.” Carlita waved her phone in the air. “We caught the man on our surveillance cameras.”
The woman gave Bud a pointed stare. “Is it true?”
“I…maybe,” the man stuttered. “I’ll find out.”
“You do that.” The woman’s voice was hard. She stared the construction supervisor down until he walked away. Her voice softened as she faced Carlita and Mercedes. “I do apologize. I’m Sandy Sue Jarvis.”
Carlita shook her hand. “Carlita Garlucci. This is my daughter, Mercedes.”
“My pleasure to meet you. I’m sorry about that. It won’t happen again.”
“Thank you.” Carlita released her grip. “Your restaurant looks very inviting. Are you opening soon?”
“Our soft opening is tomorrow.
