“You’re telling me Elvira is rude to people because she likes them?”
“Weird, huh.”
“I hate to say it, but she’s perfected the attitude,” Carlita said.
Dernice tapped the side of her forehead. “She needs head help. She flat out refused to talk to anyone or leave the house, and now she’s shutting down.”
“Let me give it some thought. There’s gotta be something we can do.”
“I’m praying for a miracle. I’ve never seen her like this.” Dernice thanked Carlita for trying. With shoulders drooped, she returned to the apartment, slowly closing the door behind her.
Carlita stared at the door for a long time. Elvira had been the biggest pain in the rear. Deep down, she always suspected the woman’s overbearing and obnoxious attitude was some sort of defense mechanism, to keep people at a safe distance by driving them off.
It had worked for the most part. Carlita could only take her former tenant in small doses.
She traipsed back to the apartment and found Brittney in the kitchen, standing in front of the stove. “Hi, Ma. I got your note. I hope you don’t mind. I ran next door and one of the kitchen workers gave me the ingredients for my unstuffed cabbage.”
“I certainly don’t mind. There are never too many cooks in my kitchen.”
“I didn’t see Luigi or Ricco around. Do you know what happened to them?”
“I…do. In fact, that reminds me. I’ll be right back.” Carlita ran downstairs to the pawnshop. She passed by Tony and one of the employees as she made her way to the front window.
The police cars, crime scene investigators’ vans and Detective Polivich’s unmarked car were gone. The lot across the street was empty.
Tony joined her. “They took off about half an hour ago. I already called Luigi and Ricco to let them know the coast was clear.”
“It’s not clear. They’re going to have to lay low for a few days.” Carlita told her son about her visit to Annie’s real estate office and how her surveillance cameras caught the men on video. “Polivich told Annie he’s going to step up area patrols.”
“No kidding.” Tony shoved his hands in his pockets. “Luigi and Ricco should know better than to be caught on camera.”
Carlita pointed to the familiar sedan that turned the corner, heading toward the alley. “Speak of the devil. I’ll go talk to them.”
Tony stopped her. “You want me to handle it? I might be able to persuade them to lay low since I know the drill.”
“True.” Carlita gazed at her son thoughtfully. “While you do that, I’ll go see if Angelica is close to packing the last of her bags and vacating. Once she’s gone, Vito’s guys can move in.”
Mother and son parted ways, with Tony heading to the alley and Carlita making her way to the efficiency apartment at the end of the hall.
The door was ajar. Carlita pushed it open. “Hello? Angelica?”
“In here.”
She found the young woman standing in the closet, cramming a floppy flamingo hat into an oversized handbag. “This is the last of my stuff. I’m ready to collect my deposit.”
“I’ll need to check for damages first.”
“Suit yourself. I’ll be back in a minute.”
Angelica left, and Carlita began her inspection in the bathroom. The sink was covered with dried toothpaste, and the room reeked of nail polish remover. A layer of scum coated the bottom of the bathtub. The shower curtain hung haphazardly, and several of the hooks were torn, as if someone had grabbed hold of it and ripped it from the rod.
“Cleanliness wasn’t one of her strong points,” Carlita mumbled under her breath. She backed out of the bathroom and inspected the empty clothes closet before circling the efficiency.
The unit was fully furnished, but small…only large enough for two people. There was a full-size bed tucked in the corner. A sleeper sofa was on the opposite end, and a flat screen tv above the bed.
Although there wasn’t room for a dining room table, there was plenty of space to eat at the bar area which opened to a spacious kitchen, Carlita’s favorite feature of the apartment.
Similar to the bathroom, a thick layer of scum coated the kitchen sink. Caked on spills covered the flattop stove and greasy smudges dotted the refrigerator door.
Angelica returned to the apartment. “As you can see, I left this unit in better condition than when I moved in.”
Carlita lifted an eyebrow. “You’re kidding. This place needs a bottle of bleach not to mention a putty knife to scrape off the scum.” She pointed to the cooktop. “I don’t believe you ever wiped this off.”
Angelica joined her in the kitchen. “You’re nitpicking.”
“I’m over this. Whatever.” Ready to have the woman out of her hair, she made her way to the hall. “Let’s go upstairs, and I’ll write a check for your deposit.”
“I was hoping for cash.”
“Why would I give you cash? There’s no paper trail. It would be my word against yours. You’ll have to take a check.”
Angelica grumbled under her breath as she stomped up the stairs behind Carlita. They stepped inside and to the bar area where Brittney was mincing garlic. She took one look at Angelica and waved the knife in their direction. “What is she doing here?”
“She’s leaving. I’m writing her a check for her deposit.”
“Good.” Brittney attacked the cutting board with a vengeance, pinning Angelica with an angry stare. “Chop, chop.”
“Is that a threat?” Angelica gasped. “Are you threatening to cut me up?”
“Stop!” Carlita lifted her hands. “Just stop.” She ripped the check from the checkbook and handed
