The door was ajar, so Carlita nudged it open with the tip of her shoe and stepped inside. The bedroom light was already on and she hesitated for a fraction of a second as an internal war waged. She was uncomfortable invading what was not only her tenant’s space, but also the private space of her son’s girlfriend.
She took a tentative step to the right and the bedroom dresser. On top of the dresser was a glass bowl. Inside the bowl were hairpins, a bracelet, a pair of earrings and one silver key.
Carlita moved past the dresser to a folding chair propped against the wall. In front of the chair was a wicker laundry basket. She lifted the lid and peered into the empty basket before walking to the far side of the bed and the bedside table.
On top were a rainbow-colored stacked glass table lamp and a cork coaster. A quilted blue and yellow bedspread covered the bed and several small throw pillows were scattered along the headboard.
She retraced her steps, to the other side of the bed and the second bedside table where she found a matching table lamp and coaster. The room was clean…almost too clean, but then Carlita reminded herself they had straightened the apartment right before they dropped Shelby off at her uncle’s house.
She paused briefly, deciding whether to open the dresser drawers and take a quick look inside when she heard an excited yelp coming from the other room.
“Jackpot!”
Carlita hurried into the living room. “You found something?”
“Mercedes did. Check it out.”
She joined her daughter and Elvira, who were standing at the bar staring at a piece of paper. “What is it?”
“Shelby’s cell phone bill.”
“Her cell phone bill is a clue?”
“Not the bill itself,” Elvira explained. “It’s the call log.” She ran her finger down the list of numbers. “Do you recognize any of these numbers?”
Carlita squinted her eyes. “I don’t have my reading glasses. I can’t make heads or tails of the numbers.”
“I can.” Mercedes lifted the cell phone bill. “This is Tony’s number, this is the pawnshop phone. I see your number Ma. There are a few I don’t recognize.”
“I’m sure one of them is the post office.”
“There are several incoming calls that aren’t local, and they’re all within the last thirty days.”
“It could be nothing,” Carlita said.
“Or it could be something,” Elvira said. “Think about it. You said yourself Shelby’s ex didn’t live in the area. How did he contact her?”
“I have no idea.”
Elvira began to pace. “Here’s my theory. Robert was somehow able to track Shelby here. He may have even gotten her cell phone number and called her.”
“Shelby did say she met Robert. She never said anything about him showing up on her doorstep.”
“Which means his first contact could have been via cell phone, unless she has a home phone.”
“She doesn’t,” Mercedes said. “How are we going to figure out if any of these numbers is a clue?”
Elvira snorted. “It’s a good thing I’m here to help. I need a cell phone.”
Mercedes tugged her cell phone from her back pocket. “I have mine.”
“Perfect. Take a picture of the phone log. When you get home, start calling the unidentified numbers.”
“And tell them what? I’m Shelby’s landlord; I broke into her apartment, snooped through her personal belongings and started calling everyone who contacted her over the last thirty days?”
“Of course not,” Elvira snapped. “You make up some excuse. In fact, I have one I’ve been dying to try for a while now. May I?”
Mercedes reluctantly handed her cell phone to Elvira.
Elvira switched the phone on. “Where’s the camera-thingy?”
“Here.” Mercedes scrolled through the icons and tapped the screen.
“Perfect.” Elvira shifted the phone away from the sheet of paper and pressed the button. “There are more numbers on the other side.”
She flipped the sheet over and snapped a second picture. “This should be fairly easy, although I must say I’m surprised she has a paper copy of her cell phone records. Not many people request those anymore unless, of course, she’s able to turn them in to her employer for reimbursement if she uses her cell phone for business purposes.”
Mercedes tapped her mother’s arm. “I told you we need to have a registered business name so it can start paying for some of our expenses. Between the pawnshop, the rental business and the restaurant, we need to make sure we’re taking advantage of all of our legitimate write-offs.”
“We’ll look into it,” Carlita promised. “Just as soon as we get this mess straightened out.”
“That should be enough.” Elvira handed Mercedes her cell phone. “Do you have time to call the people on the list tonight?”
Carlita glanced at her watch. “We’re heading out shortly for a family dinner at some tapas restaurant downtown.”
Elvira looked disappointed. “Crud. I was hoping we could test out my phone inquiry ruse. Are you busy tomorrow?”
“Mercedes is taking Brittney shoe shopping and I have another matter to take care of. We could do it first thing in the morning.”
“Perfect. I have a new client meeting me at eleven. How does nine-thirty tomorrow morning sound?”
“Okay, I guess.”
“Great. Come over to my place around nine-thirty tomorrow morning. We can run down this list faster than you can say Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo.”
The trio exited the apartment after Carlita made sure all of the lights were off. She locked the door and pulled it shut, giving it a sharp tug to make sure it was closed.
“See you in the morning.” Elvira tromped down the stairs, whistling a catchy tune. She gave them a jaunty wave before breezing out the back door.
Mercedes shook her head. “How does she do that?”
“Do what?”
