“Did you find anything that might be a clue as to who set fire to the Mystic Dream or attacked Lawson?” Pete asked.
“No,” Autumn said. “The office was clean.”
“At one point, right after we got there, we could’ve sworn we heard someone above us on the open deck,” Mercedes said. “Then, when we were leaving, just before I started down the rope ladder, I thought I saw someone near the staircase.”
“Was it a man or woman?” Pete asked.
“It was too dark to tell, plus I only caught a glimpse out of the corner of my eye,” Mercedes said. “It could’ve been my mind working overtime.”
“So you found nothing at all?” Pete pressed.
“Some employee lists,” Autumn shook her head. “No wonder Lawson’s employees are looking for another job. He goes through employees like I mow through bags of potato chips. I took pictures of the employee logs and Mercedes snapped a few pictures of the restaurant end of things. Would you like to see what we’ve got?”
“Yes, if you could forward a copy. Perhaps I’ll pick up on something,” Pete said.
“I would like a copy, too, since I wouldn’t mind taking a look at how the Mystic Dream runs its restaurant operations.” Carlita turned to Pete. “Which reminds me, I was wondering if you could spare your restaurant manager for a couple of days around the time I open Ravello?”
“Of course,” Pete said. “I appreciate Mercedes and Autumn taking a quick look around Lawson’s office for me, although I think I should have gone along.”
“Who would have manned the getaway boat?” Mercedes pointed out. “Ma couldn’t do it. I would’ve tried, but then you might not get your boat back in the same condition. I have a hard enough time driving a car during daylight hours.”
“Ditto here,” Autumn agreed. “Besides, we’re always up for a little sleuthing, especially for a worthy cause. Just don’t mention it to Cole. He would give me an earful.”
“Cole is Autumn’s boyfriend,” Carlita explained. “He’s also a police officer.”
“Speaking of police officer,” Pete said. “How is it going with your new tenant, Sam Ivey?”
“Good,” Carlita said.
“He’s a pain in the rear,” Mercedes said.
“Mercedes,” Carlita shook her head.
“Okay. He was a pain in the rear. I’m withholding my final opinion.” Mercedes changed the subject. “Now what? We’re back to square one and not any closer to figuring out what’s going on with Lawson and his riverboat.”
“I was thinking about it while I was pacing the sidewalk, waiting for you to come back,” Carlita said. “Glenda Fox’s husband, Mark, met with Lawson last night to confront him about his accusations. I wondered if maybe Lawson said something that might be a clue, so I called Glenda while I was waiting. We’re going to stop by her place after we leave here.”
Carlita turned to Pete. “Before I go, my old tenant, Elvira Cobb, found something in a box in the apartment building where she lives. I took a picture of it and wondered if this was something you might recognize.”
She scrolled through her phone and pulled up the picture of the coins and gem encrusted knife Elvira found before handing her phone to Pete.
“You said your former tenant found these?”
“Yes. They were buried in the bottom of a storage box.”
Pete tapped the screen to enlarge the picture. “It’s not uncommon to find valuables in historic Savannah homes or even buried in the backyards of Civil War era homes. Rumor has it Savannah has millions of dollars in buried treasure. Prior to the arrival of Sherman’s troops, the citizens of Savannah buried their valuables. When the city fell into ruin, the majority of the treasures simply could not be relocated because the owners fled or abandoned their properties.”
“Or died,” Carlita said.
“Yes - or died,” Pete nodded.
Mercedes perked up. “Does that mean there may be treasures buried on our property?”
Pete chuckled. “You mean even more than you already found in the basement?”
Carlita shot him a quick look, hoping the comment passed over Autumn’s head. Unfortunately, it did not.
“You found buried treasure in your basement?” Autumn gasped. “You never told me that.”
“It was a lucky find,” Carlita mumbled. “I’m sure it won’t happen again. Let’s not mention this to Elvira. She’ll be digging up the parking lot, the courtyard, you name it.”
“True,” Mercedes laughed. “We better not give her any ideas.”
“I’ll tell her what you said Pete, but then I’m sure she’s going to break into the upstairs again and tear the place apart.”
“Does the landlord know?” Pete asked.
“No. She snuck in through an upstairs window.” Carlita sighed. “It’s a long story.”
The heavy rain turned to light sprinkles and she shifted her gaze out the gangway door. “The storm is letting up. We should get going if we want to stop by Glenda’s place before it gets too late.”
Pete accompanied them off the ship. “Thanks again for taking a look around the Mystic Dream. I owe you one.”
Carlita cast a wary glance up and down the sidewalk. “Be careful tonight, Pete. I worry Lawson’s attacker isn’t finished and might be after you, too.”
“I got my trusty dagger handy.”
Autumn’s eyes grew wide. “You have an honest to goodness pirate dagger?”
“No,” Pete laughed. “I was kidding, but I do have a loaded Colt pistol. Would you like me to walk you to your car?”
“No. I think we’ll be all right.” Carlita eyed the side of the pirate ship. “With all the talk of Lawson’s attack, I haven’t thought to ask you when you think the pirate ship might be up and running.”
“Now that my good friend and partner has given me some much-needed working capital, I’ll start interviewing employees tomorrow.
