“Because someone paid her,” Mercedes finished her mother’s sentence. “Which means she could be close to flying the coop. What if she has the painting? What if it’s just Astrid?”
“It’s possible,” Carlita admitted. “Although I don’t think she had the means to pull it off without an accomplice. Besides, I think it was planned ahead of time. This was in the works before Astrid appeared. She just happened to be in the right…or should I say wrong place at the wrong time.”
“But how do we prove it?” Mercedes asked. “This is all merely speculation.”
“There’s something to Astrid’s connection with the museum and the fact she doesn’t let her backpack out of her sight. We know she’s going back to the museum. She told Elvira today is her last day in Savannah and she had something to take care of. She’s packing up and heading out tomorrow. That means if something is going to happen, it’s going to happen today.”
“So you want to follow Astrid again to try to figure out who else may be behind the theft.”
“I do. If Astrid is involved, I believe she’s going to make contact with her connection one last time,” Carlita said. “Tonight will be her last chance.”
Beep. Beep. Beep. The outer doorbell chimed. Carlita popped out of the chair and hurried to the living room window. “It’s Elvira.”
The doorbell began beeping again, this time nonstop. “Hold your horses,” Carlita hollered as she ran down the steps. “Give me time to get to the door.” She flung the door open.
“We don’t have time. Follow me.” Elvira didn’t wait for Carlita to reply and marched down the alley.
Carlita hurried to keep up. “Where’s the fire?”
“You’ll see.”
The women reached the parking area, walking between the vehicles until they reached Astrid’s tent.
“I was on my way out to run some errands. Something told me to take a quick look inside Astrid’s tent.” Elvira unzipped the tent door. “I always go with my gut. It never steers me wrong.” She reached inside and pulled out a dingy gray backpack.
“Astrid’s backpack,” Carlita said breathlessly. “She left it behind.”
“She was running late for her job this morning and must’ve forgotten it.”
“Did you look inside?”
“Not yet. I figured I owed you one, what with everything I put you through lately.”
“You mean always,” Carlita said.
“Do you want to criticize me or do you want to see what’s inside?”
“I want to see what’s inside.”
Elvira shoved her hand in the small front pocket. “Empty.”
She unzipped the next section and pulled out a hairbrush. She set it on the welcome mat and reached inside again. There was a Ziploc bag containing a travel size tube of toothpaste and a toothbrush. “That’s all for this section. Let’s try the next one.”
Elvira balanced the bag on the mat as she unzipped the main compartment. She reached inside and pulled out a plastic grocery bag. Crammed inside the bag were two pairs of shorts, two faded t-shirts, three pair of threadbare underwear and a cheap pair of dime store flip-flops.
“Poor thing,” Carlita’s throat clogged as she gazed at the woman’s meager belongings.
“At least she doesn’t have to pay checked bag fees on the plane. There’s something else in here.” Elvira gingerly pulled out a small, rectangular wrapped box. “It’s a present.”
“We should open it.”
“No way.” Elvira snatched it back. “This is a gift.”
Carlita ran a light hand over the top. “It’s hard. Maybe she bought you a thank-you gift which is why she didn’t want you peeking inside her backpack.”
“You’re right, which means we don’t open it.” Elvira eased the wrapped package back inside.
“C’mon. If you can’t bring yourself to open it, I will.”
“Fine.” Elvira pulled a small pocketknife from her pants pocket and flicked it open. “I’ll open one end. That’s it.” She ran the blade of the small knife under the strip of tape and pried it off. “Ha!”
“What is it?” Carlita leaned forward, eager to catch a glimpse of the contents.
Elvira turned it so she could see. “It’s a telescope. Astrid must’ve read my mind. I’ve always wanted one for stargazing.”
“Or spying on your neighbors,” Carlita muttered. “Fine. She’s giving you a telescope as a parting gift, which explains why she didn’t want you snooping around her stuff.”
“She probably dug it out of a dumpster.” Elvira carefully folded the wrapping paper and pressed on the piece of tape. “The end of the box is a little beat up. It’s the thought that counts.”
She returned the bag of clothes before zipping the backpack and setting it in the tent. “This entire time we thought she was hiding something and all she was doing was hiding a surprise gift.” Elvira turned accusing eyes on Carlita. “Do you always have to believe the worst about people?”
“Me?” Carlita could feel her face grow warm. “Elvira Cobb, you are the most trying person I have ever met. You do one kind thing for a person, and now you think you’re a saint.”
“I didn’t say I was a saint, but you’ve been suspicious of poor Astrid from the moment you met her.”
“You’re the one who told me she’s using a fake name.”
“People lie all of the time. It doesn’t make them a criminal,” Elvira argued.
“But it usually means they have something to hide.”
“Well, I hope this settles your suspicion of Astrid. Besides, after tomorrow, she’ll be long gone.”
“And we’re still under suspicion for the painting’s theft,” Carlita pointed out. “We’re back to square one.”
“I’ve got some leads I’m working on. I think I might have a break in the case soon.”
Carlita followed
