Tony shook Reese’s hand. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Reese. My mom sure does enjoy riding the Big Peach.” He turned to a beaming Shelby. “This is my wife, Shelby.”
“How do you do.” Shelby smiled warmly as she shook Reese’s hand.
“You two make a snazzy couple.” Reese elbowed Carlita. “You got some good lookin’ kids right here, Carlita. Why if I was forty years younger and fifty pounds lighter…and your son wasn’t married.” She winked at Tony. “I might have given Shelby a run for her money.”
“I’m Violet.” Violet wiggled between her mom and Tony.
“Hello, Violet.” Reese set her plate of food on the table and knelt down. “I love your name. Your dress is pretty. You look like a princess.”
“Except when she’s being naughty,” Shelby said.
“I’m not naughty.” Violet crossed her arms. “Who are you?”
“Reese drives the Big Peach,” Carlita explained.
Violet’s eyes widened. “You drive a peach?”
“It’s the nickname for my trolley. Maybe Nana will take you on a trolley ride one day.”
“Will you, Nana?” Violet tugged on Carlita’s hand.
“Of course. We’ll ride the Big Peach soon, maybe even while mommy and Tony are on their honeymoon,” Carlita promised.
“See you later.” Reese held up her hand for Violet to give her a high five and then slowly stood. “You’re lucky, Carlita. You’ve got a nice family.”
“I’m blessed,” Carlita nodded. “I see my son, Paulie, and his family over there.”
“Carlita.” Sam Ivey quietly came up behind her and tapped her shoulder.
“Hello, Sam. I’m glad you could make it.” Carlita noted a troubled look on his face. “Is something wrong?”
“Yes. I think you should come out to the courtyard. It’s about one of the wedding guests.”
Chapter 6
“A female guest collapsed. She’s not responding, and her pulse is weak. I took the liberty of calling 911 and requested an ambulance.”
Carlita and Sam dashed out of the restaurant. Reese, curious to find out what had happened, followed behind.
Vito’s bodyguard stood sentinel at the gate, watching as they passed through. Carlita cast him a quick glance, wondering if he was somehow involved.
A small crowd had already gathered around the woman; including a woman who was screaming hysterically. “Megan! Megan! Can you hear me?” Her eyes scanned the crowd as tears streamed down her face. “Can someone please help?”
“An ambulance is on the way.” Sam knelt next to the woman. “Is this your friend?”
“Yes. Megan was talking to this good-looking Italian guy, the best man in Tony and Shelby’s wedding. I think it was Tony’s brother.” The woman paused.
“Go on.”
“Well, they were making small talk. All of the sudden a blonde chick in a clingy pink dress showed up. She got in our faces, griping about us talking to him. After she left, I went to use the bathroom. When I got back, Megan started complaining she wasn’t feeling well. Next thing I know, she collapsed.”
“Does your friend have any medical conditions, a possible cause for her collapse?” Sam asked.
“Not that I know of.” The woman’s face crumpled. “Something is terribly wrong with her, isn’t it?”
Off in the distance, Carlita could hear the faint wail of sirens. “Help is on the way.”
Mercedes quietly crept up behind her mother. “What happened?” she whispered.
Carlita shook her head and motioned Reese and her daughter off to the side.
“Something suspicious is going on. According to the woman’s friend, Vinnie was talking to them. Brittney showed up and caused a minor scene. Shortly after, the woman complained to her friend that she was feeling ill and then collapsed. Sam isn’t saying it, but I think this woman is in rough shape.”
“What do we do?” Mercedes whispered.
“First of all, Elvira needs to keep the guests inside the restaurant and away from the courtyard.”
“I’m on it.” Reese darted out of the courtyard.
Carlita eyed Vito’s guy. “We need a record of everyone here in the courtyard. Can you take a quick video with your cell phone?” She gave a slight nod toward the door. “Make sure you include Vito’s employee.”
“His name is Ricco.” Mercedes slipped her hand into her blouse and pulled out her cell phone.
“Mercedes.” Carlita wrinkled her nose.
“What? I didn’t have anywhere else to put it.” She shifted off to the side and took a step back while Carlita hustled to the entrance. “Ricco?”
The man nodded. “Yes, Mrs. Garlucci.”
“Could you do me a huge favor?”
“It’s done.”
“What’s done?”
“I’ve secured the scene. I’m stopping anyone who tries to get in.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She turned to go and then turned back. “You didn’t happen to see anything, did you?” Their eyes met.
“You did see something?”
“Maybe,” Ricco said. Before he could elaborate, an ambulance barreled around the corner and screeched to a halt. Two EMTs sprang from the vehicle and ran toward the gate.
“In here.” Carlita quickly led them to the young woman and Sam Ivey, who was still kneeling next to the woman’s chair.
Sam briefly explained what had transpired and then made room for them to begin examining the unconscious woman. The men threw out medical mumbo jumbo, which went right over Carlita’s head.
One of them made their way back to the ambulance and returned with a stretcher. Together, they gently loaded the woman onto it.
The EMTs exited the gate, passing by two police officers who had just arrived. Sam and the woman’s friend joined them on the sidewalk, talking in low voices.
After a brief exchange, one of the officers entered the courtyard.
Carlita greeted him near the gate. “I’m the owner of this property.”
“Ivy…er…Sam Ivey, told us Megan Burelli, the woman on her way to the hospital, was a wedding guest.”
“Yes, although I don’t know her personally. In fact, I didn’t even know her last name. I believe she may be a friend of
