Tony slung the backpack over his shoulder and stood. “Let’s get outta here.”
He strode out of the courtyard and Carlita and Mercedes hurried to keep up. “We’re gonna tell Shelby we broke into the building?”
“Why not? She should be relieved we’re onto something.”
“True,” Carlita said.
Tony waited for his mother and sister to exit the courtyard before pulling the gate shut. “If this backpack belonged to Robert, it definitely gives someone another reason to take him out.”
“Hang on a sec. Let me start testing my walking app.” Mercedes tapped the cell phone screen. “We need to add a couple of feet since we’re already out of the building, but this should get us close.”
The trio walked in a straight line, down the sidewalk that ran adjacent to the river, past the few remaining buildings on Harner Street. They crossed onto a side street and reached an area bustling with businesses.
They crossed one more intersection and Mercedes held up a hand. “This is it.” She stopped to inspect the back of the building. “What is it?”
“It’s the back of a building, Sis.”
“No kidding,” Mercedes snapped. “We need to figure out what it is.” She took a step back and counted the buildings. “It’s the third one in. Let’s circle around to the other side.”
They continued to the next corner, turned right and walked to the other end of the block. It spilled onto a main thoroughfare.
“We’re almost there,” Mercedes said. “It’s the next building.
When they reached the building, Carlita’s breath caught in her throat. “It’s the Black Stallion Club.”
“It makes perfect sense,” Mercedes said. “Now all we gotta do is confirm who the backpack belongs to.”
The trio returned to Tony’s car and he waited until they were safely inside and the doors locked before speaking. “I say we keep this to ourselves until I can unlock the computer and find out what’s on it.”
“Agreed,” Carlita and Mercedes said in unison.
It was a quick drive back to Walton Square. Tony pulled into an empty spot and they exited the car.
Elvira must’ve been watching for Mercedes and Carlita to return because she was waiting for them in the alley. “Did you take care of your pressing business?”
“To some degree,” Carlita said evasively.
“We still need to hammer out our plans.”
“Plans for what?” Tony asked.
“We’re going to hang out,” Elvira said.
“Huh. Right. I’m gonna head inside and put this in a safe place.” Tony shrugged off the backpack and turned to his mother. “I’ll be in the pawnshop if you need me.” He walked into the building and gave the trio one final look before quietly closing the door.
Elvira waited until the door was shut. “I was thinking about something. You still have an inkling of suspicion Shelby hasn’t told you everything?”
“Yes,” Carlita admitted. “I do.”
“You have a key to her apartment. Now is the golden opportunity to search it.”
“Search her apartment,” Mercedes wrinkled her nose. “Without her permission?”
“You have her permission. If my memory serves me correctly, there’s a section somewhere in your ironclad rental agreement where Shelby gave you permission to enter her apartment even if she’s not present.”
“That’s a gray area,” Carlita said.
“It is? You broke into my apartment when I wasn’t home. You also brought your buddies with you to search my place.”
“You were missing, Elvira. Not only were you missing, you ended up getting kidnapped.”
“And we saved your life,” Mercedes chimed in. “If Ma hadn’t been concerned about your safety, you would be dead by now.”
“I would’ve figured out a way to escape the evil clutches of that madman,” Elvira scoffed.
“You’re making light of a serious situation,” Carlita said.
“You don’t think this is serious, too? A man has been murdered and there’s a chance you might be harboring a killer.”
Carlita sucked in a breath and briefly closed her eyes. Once again, Elvira was right. The evidence pointed to Shelby somehow being involved in her ex’s murder, and even if she wasn’t, at the very least, she suspected her tenant was hiding something.
“I hate to admit it, Ma, but Elvira is right. Something fishy is going on and Shelby is not being completely honest with us. People commit crimes of passion all of the time. We both know the lengths she went to, to hide from her ex-husband, how freaked out she was by the thought he might take Violet from her,” Mercedes said.
Elvira patted Carlita’s arm. “If you don’t have the stomach for it, I’ll volunteer to do the deed myself. I have no qualms about searching Shelby’s apartment.”
“I’m sure you don’t,” Carlita said wryly. “No. I’m the landlord. It’s my responsibility to ensure the safety and security of my tenants. I don’t want to tip Tony off, at least not yet. If he suspects Shelby is withholding something else from him, their relationship is toast and I’ll be the one to take the blame.”
“It could be a blessing in disguise,” Elvira said. “I figure I’m a good judge of character, but even I have to admit if Shelby is involved in some criminal activity and the death of her ex, she has me fooled.”
Carlita glanced at her watch. “Daylight is burning. I would like to get this over with as quickly as possible.”
“I think you’re making a wise decision in searching her place now. You can’t let the trail go cold. You have to strike while the iron is hot. Are you sure you don’t need a hand?” Elvira asked eagerly. “I could be your lookout and guard the alley in case Shelby shows up.”
“No,”
