“I…I never told her she could use me as a reference.”
“And neither did I, but that didn’t stop her from doing it, which is why the authorities wanted to talk to me. In fact, I’m sure you’re on their list to contact, as well.”
“Great.” Carlita frowned. “That woman has caused me more trouble since she moved out of my building than during the time she lived under my roof.”
“Including the time she set her apartment on fire?” Glenda joked.
“Let me revise my statement. She causes me as much grief now as when she lived under my roof. I hope she didn’t take the painting, even if it was a prank. She’ll never work in this town again.”
“I agree.” Glenda changed the subject. “How’s business these days? Mark and I plan to stop by for dinner this Saturday evening.”
“We have busy days and slow days. The first couple of weeks after we opened we were going gangbusters. Since then, business has started to taper off. I’m not sure if it’s because of the change in seasons or if this is the new norm.” All of Carlita’s concerns over the success or failure of her business came flooding back. “That was the reason I stopped by to see you yesterday.”
“You’re looking for some advice?”
“Yes. I was also wondering how Mark’s new venture, Savannah Riverfront Inn, is doing.”
“We’re in the same boat. Some days are great while others are crickets. Like any tourist town, there are ups and downs.” Glenda eyed her friend thoughtfully. “You could try coupons or discount cards.”
“Reese suggested something similar, how I should experiment with coupons. She offered to hand them out to trolley passengers.”
“Why don’t we join forces?” Glenda brightened. “We could give you discount cards for the inn, and you give us cards for the restaurant.”
“What a great idea. Thanks, Glenda.” Carlita motioned toward the apartment. “Would you like to come in for a cup of coffee?”
“No.” Glenda consulted her watch. “I need to get back to the other side of town. I called an emergency meeting with the other members of the SAS to see if they’ve heard anything about the theft.”
Carlita thanked her for the heads up concerning Elvira. She promised to begin working on discount cards for the restaurant and then returned to the apartment to grab the recipes before circling around to the alley.
“Hey!” Elvira stood in her doorway.
“Hello, Elvira.” Carlita crossed to the other side. “You look frazzled.”
“I’ve had my hands full. Listen, I was wondering if it would be okay if I used you as a business reference.”
Carlita briefly closed her eyes. “It’s a little late for that, isn’t it?”
“What do you mean?”
“You already used me as a reference. In fact, I’m waiting for the authorities to come knocking on my door to ask me about the missing piece of artwork you joked about taking yesterday.”
“I-I…uh. I was kidding about that,” Elvira stuttered. “You know I was just kidding. I even told you it was a joke.”
“Yes, you did, but it doesn’t mean you didn’t say it.”
“You’re not going to tell anyone what I said, are you?”
“Only if they ask me,” Carlita said. “I’m not going to lie. Did you take the painting?”
“No.” Elvira’s eyes grew wide, and she shook her head. “Do you think I’m stupid?”
“No. Stupid isn’t your first trait that comes to mind. You have other more prominent characteristics, including a disregard for rules and laws. If you didn’t take the artwork as a joke, what exactly did happen?”
“I was working my shift. The place was a madhouse, people coming and going, spilling food and drinks. It was a full-time job keeping the crowds from messing with the artwork.” Elvira explained she strategically positioned her employees in and around the building and appointed herself as the one to keep an eye on A Piece of Renaissance. “I figured I should be the one to keep an eye on the art.”
“When exactly did the piece in question go missing?”
“It happened after the museum closed. Dernice was in charge of checking every nook and cranny of the museum to make sure no one was hiding out, waiting for us to lock up. The museum curator accompanied me for a final inspection of the museum and grounds, we locked the doors and left.”
“So why are you considered a suspect?”
“Because after we locked up, I told Spelling, the curator, I accidentally left my keys on the counter of the butler’s pantry. I went back in to get them while he waited for me. I picked them up, joined him in the hallway and we left together. The last thing he did was set the alarm.”
“Then I’m sure the authorities cleared your name,” Carlita said.
“Logically, most intelligent life forms would reach the same conclusion, except that I was the last person inside the building before the alarm was set. When the curator and staff arrived first thing this morning, the piece was MIA.”
“So maybe someone…a staff member took it,” Carlita theorized.
“I said the same thing myself, but the cops aren’t talking. I’m not taking the rap for the piece of garbage painting. I told them they could search this whole place, my van, whatever, but I wasn’t going to go down for this. My reputation is at stake.”
“I think…” A truck turned onto the alley and coasted by them, interrupting their conversation.
It was Carlita’s chef, Dylan. “I gotta get going.” She stepped off the stoop. Elvira trailed behind. “You’re not going to mention me joking about the missing artwork, are you?”
“I already told you I’m not going to lie.”
“But you can’t tell them that. They’re going to throw me in the slammer, for sure.”
“Then you’ll have to work
