Carlita set the cooler on the mat and waited for Rambo to finish his business. They returned home where she settled in at the computer, first to check her messages. She sorted through the new ones, taking a quick look at a promising rental application and then noticed Glenda Fox had sent her a message. She double-clicked on it:
Mark heard from one of his friend’s at the police station, the authorities are close to making another arrest in the museum theft.
Carlita’s heart skipped a beat when she remembered Detective Wilson’s surprise visit the previous evening. Surely, he didn’t think she was involved. Yes, she had visited the museum with Elvira before the painting was stolen. And yes, the surveillance camera caught her sneaking into the storage area. Still, those two incidents weren’t “proof” she was involved in the theft.
Glenda ended the message by telling Carlita she had an idea for Ravello’s and promised she would call her later.
Mercedes joined her mother, who had wandered out onto the balcony, a short time later. “You’re up early.”
“You didn’t feel the ground shaking this morning?”
“Yeah, but I ignored it.” Mercedes lifted her hands in a slow stretch. “What’s on your schedule today?”
“I’m working an afternoon shift at Ravello’s. What about you?”
“I’m meeting Angelica Reynolds’ rep to preview the apartment.”
“What about the guy Sam suggested?” Carlita asked.
“I’m gonna hold off. I want to meet with this person before scheduling another showing.”
Carlita sipped her coffee eyeing her daughter over the rim of the cup. “You really are determined to have this woman move in.”
“Yes. I mean, this is the opportunity of a lifetime for me. She could help me fast track my writing career.” Mercedes changed the subject. “I haven’t seen much of Autumn since she moved in.”
“She hurt her ankle yesterday while we were at the museum. Glenda sent me an email. Mark heard through the grapevine the authorities are close to making another arrest in the missing painting.”
“Elvira?”
“Could be. She’s having a bad week.”
“I would say so. First the theft and then the tazing.”
“I feel kinda bad about that.” Carlita shifted to the side. “I blew my cool.”
“Not a hard thing to do when it’s Elvira.”
“Yep. Glenda also said she had an idea for drumming up some business for Ravello’s.”
“Uh-oh.” Mercedes leaned both elbows on the railing. “Check it out.”
Carlita followed her daughter’s gaze and then did a double take as a police car pulled into the alley. “Elvira’s bad week might be getting even worse.”
They watched Detective Polivich, another local Savannah detective, and a uniformed officer exit the car. Instead of heading toward Elvira’s place, they made their way to Carlita’s back door.
Her breath caught in her throat. “They’re coming here.”
“I’ll go find out what they want,” Mercedes said.
“No. You’re still in your pajamas. I’ll go down.” Carlita handed her daughter her coffee cup. She darted inside and down the back steps to the alley.
“Good morning, Mrs. Garlucci.”
“Good morning, Detective Polivich. I would like to say I’m surprised to see you this early, but maybe I’m not.”
The detective reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. “I have a search warrant to search your property and the premises.”
“Search warrant? Whatever for?”
“A Piece of Renaissance. After further review of the museum’s surveillance cameras, Detective Wilson and I obtained a search warrant for your place and for your neighbor’s residence.”
A second police vehicle, this time a large van, pulled in behind the patrol car. Several uniformed officers exited and joined the detective.
“Over there.” Polivich pointed to Elvira’s door before turning his attention back to Carlita.
“You…aren’t going to search my tenants’ units, are you?” she asked.
“We’re searching your unit, your businesses and any storage areas.”
“You’re gonna be here awhile.” Carlita thought about Mercedes still clad in her pajamas. “My daughter just got up. I need to warn her you’re coming in.”
“I’ll go with you.” The detective followed Carlita up the stairs.
“You think I’m going to hide something.”
“I’m here to investigate. If you have nothing to hide, you won’t mind me following you.”
“Be my guest.” Carlita marched up the steps and into the apartment; all the while mentally berating Elvira for her current predicament and the fact that the authorities were going to tear her place apart.
Mercedes was in her room. The detective followed Carlita to the doorway and stood off to the side while she knocked.
As per Mercedes’ usual, the door flew open. Carlita didn’t even flinch. She got right to the point. “The authorities are here with a search warrant.”
“Here?”
“Yes. They caught me on camera at the museum, mistaking a storage room for a restroom. Now they want to have a look around our home and businesses.”
“Elvira,” Mercedes said.
“Exactly. So you may want to hang out in the living room until they’re finished.”
“Sure.” Mercedes snatched her laptop off her desk and followed her mother into the living room, passing by the detective who was hovering in the hallway.
Two more officers stood in the doorway. Carlita waved them inside. “Let’s get this over with. The sooner, the better.”
The officers entered the apartment and began searching, all the while Carlita stewed over the fact that all of this was brought on by Elvira. Although she couldn’t entirely blame her for the search. She did willingly agree to snoop around the museum.
She also couldn’t blame Elvira for inviting her for a private tour the other day. Surely, Elvira had no idea the valuable painting was about to go missing. The more they searched, the more aggravated she became, convinced the theft was an inside job.
She remembered Elvira mentioning the museum’s curator as well as the director. Was one of them responsible for the missing
