“Uh-uh. I’m sorry, Carlita. I’m working alone from here on out.”
“Don’t you want me to help clear my name?”
“No. It’s just that…” Elvira’s voice trailed off.
“What?”
“You kind of screwed up on the intel mission by getting caught on camera inside the museum’s storage area. I can’t take that chance again. I’ve decided it’s best for you to leave this one to the experts.”
“You,” Carlita guessed.
“Yes.”
“Oh, brother.” Carlita threw her hands up in the air. “Suit yourself. I hope you are able to figure out what happened to the painting.”
“Oh, I will. Mark my words.” Elvira slipped back inside her apartment and closed the door behind her.
Mercedes stood in the doorway waiting for her mother. “What was that all about?”
“Astrid left her backpack behind, so Elvira searched it.”
“And?”
“Other than some meager personal belongings which nearly broke my heart, there was a wrapped gift. Elvira is convinced it’s a thank-you gift for her, which is why Astrid didn’t want her touching the backpack.”
“So now what?”
“She’s working on some other leads and basically told me to butt out,” Carlita said.
“Butt out?”
“She claims I messed up and wants me to leave the investigation to the experts, namely her.”
“You don’t want to follow Astrid again tonight, to see what she’s up to?”
Carlita gazed at her daughter thoughtfully. Despite the fact that Astrid had a legitimate reason for guarding her backpack, something still wasn’t sitting right. “No. I do. We’re missing something. Elvira mentioned Astrid was packing up and leaving first thing tomorrow morning, but she had to take care of something first. She’s working now, so if she’s taking care of something, she’s doing it after she finishes her security job at the festival.”
“I say we take in the festival later this afternoon before it shuts down. We hang around after it ends and then follow Astrid,” Mercedes said. “If she told Elvira she had something to take care of, I’m guessing she’ll want to do it after she finishes working.”
“And before tomorrow morning.”
*****
The afternoon passed slowly. Carlita spent most of it mulling over the suspects and Elvira’s comment about how she was following up on something. Were the authorities close to making an arrest?
If Elvira knew Astrid was lying about her identity yet still trusted the woman enough to hire her, perhaps there were others in Elvira’s employ who shouldn’t be trusted. She thought about Dernice and her past criminal record.
Carlita returned to the theory someone on the inside knew about Dernice’s background, despite leaving the information off the application, and that was the reason EC Security Services was awarded the job…as a setup.
The women ate a late lunch, and Mercedes helped her mother clear the table. “Hey, Rambo. Would you like to go for a walk?”
Carlita placed their leftovers in the fridge. “You want me to tag along?”
“Nah.” Mercedes reached for Rambo’s leash. “I was thinking maybe I would stop by Sam’s place to see if Sadie wanted to go with us.”
Carlita lifted a brow. “And maybe even Sam?”
“Maybe.” Mercedes frowned. “Don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you’re trying to marry me off to Sam or something.”
“Marriage is a bit premature,” her mother teased. “But I think it’s wonderful you and Sam have made amends and are finally friends. Perhaps even something more someday.”
“Yeah, well you might be sorely disappointed.” Mercedes reached for the door handle.
“Might be,” Carlita said. “I like the sounds of that.”
Mercedes didn’t reply as she coaxed Rambo into the hall.
Carlita hurried to the living room window facing the alley.
Mercedes and Rambo emerged first. Sadie trotted onto the stoop. Her daughter turned back, a goofy smile on her face. Sam joined her and Carlita’s heart melted.
“Will you look at that?” Carlita whispered. “Miracles never cease.” She watched them stroll to the end of the alley and turn right, toward the trolley stop and the street that led to Morrell Park.
She turned to go when she noticed movement near the side of Elvira’s building. Her neighbor scurried into the alley, furtively glancing over her shoulder. Instead of stopping at her backdoor, she hustled to the parking area.
Carlita eased her door open and stepped onto the balcony.
Elvira had reached the corner. She glanced over her shoulder again, this time misjudging her steps. She tripped on the corner of a gutter that was jutting out. Her arms flailed wildly as she attempted to regain her balance.
“Now what is she up to?”
Elvira regained her footing before disappearing around the side of the building.
Carlita stepped back inside and settled in at her desk where she began balancing the business accounts. Despite the seasonal slowdown, Savannah Swag was still turning a decent profit. Now that the apartments were filled, they would have some extra money to help keep Ravello’s afloat.
Carlita scrutinized the restaurant’s food costs and wondered if she should get quotes from other purveyors. She jotted a note to ask Pete which company or companies he used for Parrot House Restaurant and then clicked out of the screen.
Mercedes burst through the door. “Oh my gosh. Ma…did you see what’s going on next door at Elvira’s place?”
Chapter 20
“No.” Carlita turned. “Now what?”
“Check it out.” Mercedes darted to the window, and Carlita joined her. A police car was parked next to Elvira’s back door.
“I hope they’re not coming back here again.”
“I don’t think so. I saw the cops go inside Elvira’s place. There are two of them.”
“Hard telling what that woman has managed to get herself into this time.”
Another few minutes passed before the door opened. Detective Polivich stepped into the alley. Elvira was next, followed by a uniformed officer.
Polivich opened the back door to the patrol car.
Elvira shook her head.
