Carlita picked up. “They left Walton Square via the trolley and got off at the bus station, where they purchased two tickets, planning to leave town. Maybe they argued. Maybe Tanner killed Monica Clay and is in hiding.”
“You must have your own suspicions to suggest such a theory. Is there someone else, perhaps a guest or family member who may have been a target?” Clousen asked. “Perhaps someone from up north?”
Carlita’s mouth went dry. Savannah was a small town and rumors ran rampant. She was well aware some acquaintances suspected she and her family moved to Savannah to escape their past…surely, the authorities would know that, too.
“Two of your sons still live up north,” Polivich said quietly. “I don’t know if I ever recall hearing what your sons do for a living.”
“Paulie, my youngest, is mayor of a small town,” Carlita said. “But he’s not a crooked politician; I can assure you of that.”
“What about the other son?” Polivich prompted.
“He works for his father-in-law in New Jersey.”
“At a casino,” Clousen said. “We’ve done a little digging around before we drove over here. Let’s not beat around the bush. Is there any reason to suspect a guest or worker at the wedding was targeting someone other than Ms. Burelli?”
Carlita and Mercedes exchanged an uneasy glance.
“Maybe. I mean, we don’t have anything concrete,” she blurted out. “I didn’t poison Burelli. I didn’t even know her, and barely knew Monica Clay. I just hired her.”
“How well did you know Blake Tanner?” Clousen asked.
“His real name is Blake Tanner?”
“Yes.”
“He gave us a fake name of Duane Sorensen.” Carlita crossed her arms. “I’m not going to say anything else until I talk to my attorney.”
“We’ll be waiting for your call, Mrs. Garlucci.” Detective Polivich handed her his card before he and the police officer climbed into their car and drove off.
“Great,” Mercedes muttered. “They think we had something to do with Burelli and Clay’s deaths. Who do you think called the crime hotline and named you as the killer?”
“Blake Tanner.” Rambo nudged the back door open and joined Carlita and her daughter on the stoop. “It has to be Tanner. There’s no way the family called a crime tip hotline to implicate us. They could care less who takes the fall. I think if the cops focus their attention on Tanner, they’ll have the real killer.”
“You gonna go down to the police station with a lawyer?” Mercedes asked.
“I dunno. I’m kinda hoping with the information we gave them, they’ll forget about harassing us and track down the real culprit, Blake Tanner. First, we need to find a lawyer, one who specializes in criminal law, not real estate.” Carlita sighed heavily. “I hope Vinnie took my advice and is on guard. I don’t think this is the end. Maybe it’s just the beginning.”
“Makes you wonder what Vito did to Louie to make him go after Vito’s family.”
“I don’t know.” Carlita eyed Rambo. “I could use some fresh air to clear my head.”
“I’ll go with you. Let me grab Rambo’s leash.” Mercedes darted back inside, her feet clattering loudly on the stairs.
When she didn’t return, Carlita stuck her head inside. She heard the sound of loud voices coming from the upstairs hall.
A flushed Mercedes appeared at the top of the stairs. She shot a sour look over her shoulder and tromped down the steps.
“What’s going on?”
“Ivey’s apartment door was open again, so I took the liberty of shutting it for him on my way out. He didn’t like it.”
“Mercedes,” Carlita chided. “Does it bother you that much if Sam leaves his door ajar?”
“Yes, it bothers me that much. He’s spying on us, and even if you don’t care, I do.”
“He’s not spying.” Carlita hooked Rambo’s leash. They began walking toward the parking lot and Rambo’s favorite strip of grass. “Have you ever stopped to think maybe he’s lonely?”
“Well, then he should get a dog or a cat or a parrot.”
Carlita wrinkled her nose. “I wish I could figure out why you dislike him so much.”
“Because he’s a pompous jerk, he’s full of himself and he’s nosy.”
Carlita let the statement slide as they made their way into the parking lot. She followed behind her pooch as he inspected the grassy area.
Mercedes leaned against the car. “Watch out for Rambo’s land mines.”
“I need to get out here and clean up the parking lot and this grassy area. It’s time to mow.” Carlita waded through the deep grass, keeping an eye out for Rambo’s poo piles.
She stepped into a hole and lost her balance, falling onto her hands and knees. “What in the world?”
Carlita lifted her foot and peered into a freshly dug hole. She said the first thing that came to mind. “Elvira!”
Chapter 23
“Are you all right?” Mercedes rushed forward to help her mother.
“I’m fine, but Elvira might not be after I get my hands on her. I’m going to wring her neck.” Carlita scowled at the gaping hole. “Now I know what she was doing with a shovel.”
“Why would Elvira dig a hole in our yard?”
“Remember the story Pete told us about some of these older Savannah area properties, and how it’s not uncommon to find valuables hidden or even buried in the backyards?”
“Yeah,” Mercedes nodded. “It was during the Civil War era. The city fell into ruin, and the majority of area treasures went missing when the property owners fled or abandoned
