“Not only was I the one who found Robert’s body, the police found a text on Robert’s phone where I told him he better leave Violet and me alone or else.”
“Oh dear,” Annie shook her head.
“And I had some cash on me I planned to give Robert after he promised to give me the papers terminating his parental rights. I figured if I gave him what I could, he would leave Violet and me alone.” Shelby’s lower lip began to tremble. “The authorities found papers on Robert. They were papers he planned to file, seeking custody of Violet. He was going to trick me.”
Annie pressed on the bridge of her glasses. “I don’t see how the authorities can pin your ex-husband’s murder on you without solid evidence.”
“The reason we’re here is that Shelby remembers Robert mentioning a big deal he was working on and he mentioned Harner Street. Shelby showed me the spot where she found Robert’s body, and it was only steps from Harner Street,” Carlita said. “We think there may be a link. That’s where you come in.”
“You want me to research the properties,” Annie guessed.
“Yes. We hoped you might be able to search your real estate database and tell us who owns the properties. There are only a couple of buildings. One is for sale and the rest are vacant, at least as far as we can tell.”
“Of course I can.” Annie’s fingers hovered over the keyboard. “You can also find the owner’s name on the Board of Assessor’s website.” She tapped the keys. “One of the properties is owned by the City of Savannah, seized for non-payment of taxes.”
Annie’s brow furrowed as she studied the screen. “Actually, there are two properties owned by the city. Judging by the information here, it appears they’re empty.”
“That makes sense. They looked empty,” Carlita said.
“There’s one more property.” Annie grew quiet. “Four twelve Harner Street. A deed was recently recorded. It lists East Coast Ventures, LLC as the owner.”
“Does it give the owners’ names?” Carlita asked.
“No. Unfortunately, it does not. If they formed the company a short time ago, the information might not be available online yet. We can still check,” Annie said.
“If it’s not too much trouble,” Carlita said.
“Of course not.” Annie turned her attention back to her keyboard and the women sat quietly listening to her fingernails tapping the keys. “There is a record of an East Coast Ventures, but no other information is currently available.”
Carlita stood. “So we’re back to square one.”
Annie walked the women to the door. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get you the information. If you think of anything else, give me a call.”
Carlita thanked Annie, and then followed her daughter and Shelby out of the office and back to their apartment building.
When they reached the back door, they discovered the door ajar. “Mercedes, you were the last one out. Did you forget to pull the door shut?”
Mercedes shook her head. “I don’t think so. Although you know how it sometimes sticks. Maybe Vinnie and Brittney came back and didn’t shut the door all of the way.”
“Huh.” Carlita pulled the door shut and gave it a hard push. “I need to remind them to check the door to make sure it’s shut.” She turned to Shelby. “Is now a good time for Tony and you to have a chat?”
“Yes. I’d like to run upstairs and freshen up first.”
“Of course.” Carlita waited until Mercedes and Shelby reached the top of the stairs before opening the pawnshop’s back door. She was halfway inside when a woman’s bloodcurdling scream stopped her dead in her tracks.
Chapter 11
Tony heard the scream too, bolted out the back door, past Carlita and ran up the stairs.
Carlita was hot on his heels as she raced up the steps where Mercedes and Shelby stood in Shelby’s doorway.
“What’s going on?” Tony grasped both of Shelby’s arms. “Are you okay?”
“Yes,” she whispered. “My apartment…”
Carlita barreled past her daughter and tenant, and followed her son into Shelby’s apartment. She stopped short, taking a quick gasp of air at the sight of Shelby’s home.
The couch cushions were torn off, the living room curtains lay in a heap on the floor, the table lamp was broken, the lampshade punctured. The kitchen was in a similar sad state of disrepair. All of the cabinets were wide open, the contents strewn along the counter and on the floor.
The bathroom medicine cabinet was open, but not nearly as messy as the bedrooms, which were in the same condition as the main part of the apartment.
Tony’s eyes sparked with anger. “What I wanna know is how someone got in here.”
“I don’t know, son. Violet left with Shelby’s aunt and uncle. Shelby, Mercedes and I were over at Annie’s office. When we returned, we found the back door ajar. Mercedes thinks she closed it, but isn’t certain. Did you hear anything?”
“Nope. The store has been busy, with people in and out all day. Did you notice if someone busted down the door?”
“I didn’t.” Carlita followed Tony to the living room and the front door.
Tony leaned in for a closer inspection of the door and lock. “There’s no sign of forced entry.”
He nodded at Shelby, who was still standing in the hall. “Did you lock this on your way out?”
“I…I think so. I mean, I’m usually careful about locking the door.” She pressed a hand to her forehead. “With the way the last couple of days have gone, my head isn’t on straight. There’s a chance I left the door unlocked.”
“Either way, someone tore your place apart. Do you have any idea what they were looking for?”
Shelby’s eyes grew round as saucers and she shook her head. “I have no idea, but I’ve been getting the feeling that someone is following me.
