“We couldn’t have done what we did today without her help. I’m going to mention it to Tori and ask her if perhaps we could invite Autumn to the party, too.”
“Really?” Mercedes brightened. “I’m sure she would love to go. Heck, I’m going to love it. I’ve never been inside a grandiose home like hers before. I bet the place will be decked out.” She chattered on about the party until they reached the apartment.
When they got inside, Mercedes dropped her purse on her dresser and headed back downstairs to help Tony in the pawnshop while Carlita led Rambo outdoors.
Feeling a twinge of guilt for leaving Rambo alone all morning, they took a long leisurely walk to Morrell Park, down by the ferry landing, to the other end, before circling back and taking the long way home, past the Book Nook, Colby’s Corner Store and Shades of Ink, Steve Winters’ tattoo shop.
By the time they returned home, Autumn had already sent the photos to Carlita’s email. She opened the file and studied the pictures. The walls were covered with weapons. She pulled her cell phone from her purse and dialed Tori’s private line.
It went to voice mail. Carlita left a brief message, explaining how she, along with Mercedes and Autumn, had visited the Beachy Bargains Pawn Shop and thought they might have something of interest.
She asked her friend to call back before wandering out onto the balcony. A movement near the building across the alley caught her attention. She watched as Elvira and her sister loaded several plastic bins into the back of Elvira’s compact car.
Dernice hurried back inside the building and returned with another bin. She bent down and peered inside the car.
Elvira shook her head, motioning wildly. The women began bickering and Dernice elbowed Elvira out of the way, turning her attention to the packed interior of the car.
Elvira quickly regained her balance, a scowl on her face. She lifted her leg and planted the bottom of her foot squarely on her sister’s rear end.
“Ouch.” Dernice jerked her head, banging it on the roof of the car. “You witch! What did you go and do that for?”
“Because you pushed me out of the way, that’s why. This is my car and my house.”
Carlita took a step back to hide from view and then leaned forward as she peeked over the top of the railing.
“Are you telling me you don’t want me here? You begged me to drive from one end of the country to the other to help you and this is how you repay me?” Dernice’s voice rose an octave. “No wonder you got kicked out of the mob building. You’re lucky they didn’t whack you.”
Carlita gasped and quickly clamped a hand over her mouth.
“Lower your voice,” Elvira growled. “Listen, I’m sorry. I need you to stay and help run my new operation. I guess I’m getting cranky with all of these people living under the same roof.”
“Then kick them out,” Dernice said. “Problem solved.”
“It’s not that easy. I need them to help run my businesses, especially now that I nailed that big gig next week.”
“You’re crazy.” Dernice shook her head. “I don’t see why you won’t listen to my advice and bring them in as independent contractors.”
“Because it’s too hard to keep track of them,” Elvira whined. “I need to make sure they show up for work and what better way than if they’re living under the same roof?”
“Oh brother. I would at least get rid of that weasel Weston. There’s something not right about him, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. He strikes me as someone capable of conducting criminal activities.”
“Well, if anyone would know about criminal activity, it would be you,” Elvira muttered.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Exactly what I said. You spent years in the slammer. You had all of those years to become acquainted with the criminal element. It takes one to know one.”
“But I was innocent. It was a setup,” Dernice said. “You know that.”
The women disappeared from sight, ending Carlita’s hour of entertainment. She started to go back inside when she noticed a familiar sports car coast into the alley and park behind Elvira’s vehicle.
Glenda Fox exited her Alfa Romeo and walked over to Elvira’s car.
Carlita stepped to the railing and waved. “Hi Glenda.”
“Hey Carlita.” Glenda wandered to the other side of the alley, shading her eyes as she gazed up. “I almost called you the other day to see if you wanted to have lunch.”
“Do you have time to come up?”
Glenda nodded. “Yes, but first I’m here to talk to Elvira…official Savannah Architectural Society business.”
“Ah. I see. Well, hit the buzzer when you’re done working.”
Glenda gave her a thumbs up and walked over to Elvira’s back door.
Although Carlita was dying to see what happened next, she didn’t want Glenda to think she was snooping on her, so she discreetly made her way inside the apartment and closed the door behind her.
She filled the teakettle with water, turned the burner on high and placed the kettle on top. The buzzer rang moments later, and Carlita hurried down the stairs to let Glenda in.
“That was quick.” Carlita held the door.
“Elvira wasn’t home. Isn’t that her car parked in the alley?”
“Yes, that’s her car and Elvira is home. She was putting something inside her car not two minutes before you pulled up.”
Glenda frowned. “So she’s avoiding me.”
“Does it surprise you?” Carlita waved her friend up the steps and into the apartment. “What did she do this time?”
“She plans to paint the front of her building chartreuse.”
“Chartreuse?” Carlita asked.
“Greenish-yellow. It’s not on the list of exterior colors approved by the SAS,” Glenda explained.
“I bet not. You
