“No, but then they weren’t really talkin’.” Pete shook his head.
One of the “pirates” joined them. “Sorry to interrupt, Pete. We got a guest inquiring about a group cruise.”
“I’ll let you go,” Carlita said. “Thank you for the information and for giving all of us a wonderful pirate adventure. We enjoyed it immensely.”
“I’m glad you and your family had a good time.” Pete pressed the palm of his hand to his chest. “It warms the cockles of my black heart.”
Mercedes waited until Pete walked away. “I think we’re finally onto something. What if someone or some-ones managed to infiltrate our staff with the sole purpose of murdering Brittney?”
“There’s one way we can find out. We’ll call the cell phone number that’s in the employee’s file. What was his name?”
“Duane something. It would still take a couple of people to pull off an inside job,” Mercedes said. “There would need to be one who was working the crowd with trays of appetizers and drinks. A second would have to be behind the scenes, in the kitchen, tampering with the appetizers or drinks.”
“The first thing we’re gonna do when we get home is call Duane Sorensen’s cell phone. I’ll think of what to say on the way.”
Mother and daughter joined Paulie and his crew, who were standing near the railing, tossing pieces of leftover popcorn in the water for the birds.
Carlita held up Violet’s Elsa and Anna backpack. “Are you still going with Uncle Paulie and Aunt Gina to the hotel pool?”
“Yes.” Violet took the backpack from Carlita. “Are you going, too?”
“I’m afraid not. Nana and Mercedes have some things to take care of at home.”
Violet’s lip quivered, and Carlita thought she might start to cry.
She knelt down next to the young girl. “I have an errand to run a little later. Why don’t I stop by the hotel to check on you? You can let me know if you want to spend the night with your new cousins, or if you want to come home with Nana.”
“Okay.” Violet nodded solemnly.
Gracie slipped her small hand into Violet’s hand. “It will be okay. Mommy said if we’re good, we get to have ice cream later.”
Touched by her granddaughter’s tender heart, Carlita wrapped one arm around Gracie and the other around Violet. “I’m sure you’re going to have so much fun, you won’t remember Nana Banana.”
“Let’s go.” Gina and Paulie herded the children down the sidewalk, toward the riverfront district and their hotel.
Mercedes tugged on her mother’s arm as Carlita watched Violet leave with the others. “C’mon. Violet will be fine.”
“But she’s missing her mother,” Carlita said. “I don’t want her to feel like I’m abandoning her.”
“She’s going to have a ball. You worry too much.” Mercedes linked arms with her mother, and they began walking in the opposite direction. “Like you said, you’ll be checking on her later.”
“True.”
“And we have some sleuthing to do. First, we’re going to track down Duane what’s-his-name’s cell phone number.”
Mercedes abruptly stopped. “Ma.”
“What?”
“The video. Remember when Megan collapsed and you asked me to take a quick video of the courtyard?”
“Yes. I remember now. Do you still have it?”
Mercedes plucked her cell phone from her back pocket and scrolled through the screen. “Yep.”
Carlita peered over her daughter’s shoulder, and they watched the short video. “I didn’t catch anything.”
“Me either. The screen is kinda small.”
“We should definitely take a closer look. I’ll send a copy to your email. When we get back to the apartment, we can check it out on the computer.”
“Good idea.”
Back home, the women stopped by the pawnshop to check on the employees. Josh, who was still working, assured them everything was running smoothly.
Carlita stepped into the back hall, and Mercedes closed the door behind them. “He’s the pawnshop’s best employee.”
“Yes, he is,” Carlita agreed.
They climbed the stairs to the upper hall, and Mercedes let out an irritated breath.
“What?”
“Over there.” Mercedes frowned at Sam’s door, still ajar. “Every time I’m in the hall, his door is ajar. I wonder if he quit his job.”
“He’s self-employed,” Carlita pointed out. “Sam sets his own hours. Maybe he decided to take a day off.”
“Yeah, well I’m sick of seeing his door open.” Mercedes marched down the hall to Sam’s door. She rapped hard, hard enough to push the door open. “Hello?”
“Mercedes.” Carlita hurried after her.
“Who leaves their door open and unlocked when they’re not home?”
“Can I help you?”
Mercedes nearly jumped out of her skin as Sam swung the door open, scaring her half to death.
“You!” Mercedes’ eyes narrowed accusingly. “You did that on purpose.”
“Did what?”
“You tried to scare me.”
“No. I merely answered my door. You scared yourself.”
Mercedes had certainly met her match. Carlita couldn’t help it. She doubled over in gales of laughter.
“I did not. Ugh.” Mercedes clenched her fists in frustration. “Why do you keep leaving your door open?”
Sam casually leaned his hip against the doorframe, peering down at Mercedes with a look of amusement on his face. “Is it bothering you?”
“Yes. It is bothering me. I feel like I’m being watched.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way. I can assure you I have no desire to spy on you.”
“Then do us all a favor and shut your dang door,” she gritted out.
“Mercedes.” Carlita grasped her daughter’s arm. “Sam is entitled to leave his door open. As a matter of fact, he can run up and down the hall in his bathrobe if he wants. This is his home.”
“Thank you, Carlita.” Sam offered her a dazzling smile, which only seemed to enrage Mercedes.
“You’re not helping, Ma.”
“I apologize for distracting you, Mercedes. I never intended to
