“We’ll keep going and head back around.” Carlita slowly crept along, weaving back and forth in an attempt to avoid the potholes that jostled the car. The alley narrowed. Up ahead was a brick wall.
“It’s a dead end.” Carlita pointed to the sign. “I’m gonna have to back out.” She shifted into reverse, pressing lightly on the gas pedal. The rear bumper clipped a metal garbage can. It teetered for a moment before bouncing off the wall and hitting the ground with a loud clang.
“You hit a garbage can.” Mercedes peered into the rearview mirror.
“You know I’m not the best driver and backing up in the dark is tricky.” Carlita pulled forward, careful not to run over the can’s lid and tried again. She steered to the left, causing the headlights to flood the back of the building with bright light.
Two men emerged from the shadows and began making their way toward the car.
“Someone’s coming. I…it looks like they have guns,” Mercedes said.
Carlita’s eyes widened as she caught a glimpse of the men closing in on them.
“Nail it!” Mercedes yelled.
Carlita stomped on the gas. The car careened to the right and rammed dead center into a light pole.
The women whiplashed forward as the car came to a screeching halt.
Chapter 14
Carlita fearfully lifted her head, a wave of pure terror filling her body when she realized one of the men was pointing a gun at the front windshield.
Another man materialized out of nowhere. He rapped the passenger side window, motioning for them to get out.
“I think we’re in trouble,” Carlita whispered.
The man tapped the window with the butt of his gun again, this time harder.
Carlita reluctantly shifted into park. She left the engine running as she reached for the door handle. “You stay here.”
“No way.” Mercedes eased the passenger door open. The man standing next to the vehicle never wavered, his gun pointed at her head while the other man, the one who had stopped their vehicle, strode to the driver’s side.
“What’re you doing?” he demanded.
“We…uh. We got lost,” Carlita stammered.
The man motioned to the sign. “Can’t you read? It says private property. No trespassing.”
“We did, but it was too late. We’re lookin’ for the bus station,” Mercedes said. “I thought this was a shortcut.”
“This ain’t no shortcut.”
“What’s that?” The man next to Mercedes tapped her jacket pocket, the one Carlita knew contained her handgun. “You got a gun?”
“I…yes.”
“You undercover?” The man next to Carlita leaned in. “I think we got a coupla undercovers on our hands. Call it in to the office.”
The other one snatched Mercedes’ gun from her pocket and reached for the walkie-talkie clipped to his hip. “Yeah. We got a coupla trespassers, boss.”
There was a crackle of the radio. Carlita couldn’t make out what was being said. The back door to the pool hall flew open and several men burst onto the alley. She briefly closed her eyes, praying for a miracle and that they would make it out alive.
Carlita almost fainted with relief when she recognized two of the men - Luigi and Ricco.
“We got a couple snoops. One is carrying.” The man standing next to Mercedes waved her weapon in the air. “They claim they’re lost.”
“We are…we’re lost.” Carlita caught Ricco’s eye, and he gave her a small nod.
“I’ve seen you around before,” Ricco shoved his hands in his pockets. “You own a pawnshop in town.”
“I…yes.” Carlita nodded nervously. “Swag in Savannah Pawn Shop.”
“We own a restaurant, too,” Mercedes said.
The man closest to Carlita narrowed his eyes. “So, you’re not undercover?”
“No. Like I said, we were looking for the bus station and decided to take a shortcut after we got lost.”
The man holding Mercedes’ gun relaxed his stance. “You need to be more careful where you’re travelin’ at night. This neighborhood isn’t safe for two women alone.”
“No. I. You’re right.” Carlita made a move to return to the vehicle. “We’ll be on our way.” The man didn’t stop her as she fumbled with the door handle, motioning frantically for Mercedes to hurry up and climb in.
Mercedes stuck out her hand. “Can I have my gun back?”
“This?” The man taunted her as he waved her gun in the air.
“Yes.”
“You got some guts, lady. Sure. Take your gun.” He tossed it to her, and she caught it mid-air before scrambling into the car.
“Watch out for the pole,” one of them yelled before he burst out laughing. The others joined in.
Carlita shifted into drive, cautiously pulling forward as she turned the wheel. She shifted into reverse, narrowly missing the pole as she backed out of the alley. She didn’t let out the breath she was holding until they were back on the street.
“We almost died,” Mercedes gasped. “Thank God Ricco and Luigi covered for us.”
“Yeah. My life flashed before my eyes.”
It was a quiet ride back to the apartment. Carlita’s legs nearly gave way as she stepped out of the car. “Now I understand why the guys didn’t want us over there.”
“It wasn’t safe.”
“That’s an understatement.”
Carlita headed home to wait for Ricco and Luigi while Mercedes ran next door to get Brittney.
She was still watching for them when Brittney limped inside, followed by Mercedes. “Are Luigi and Ricco back?”
“No. Not…yet,” Carlita said.
“Violet wore me out. I think I’m going to go lie down.”
Mercedes waited until Brittney was gone and she heard the bedroom door close. “I don’t think Ricco and Luigi are gonna be very happy when they get back here.”
Carlita turned her attention to the alley. “When you were walking back here, did you notice the car parked on the other side of the street?”
“No.” Mercedes joined her mother. “I see it now. What if they’re undercover cops,
