“So be on your best behavior,” Carlita joked.
There was a small noise coming from the hall. Wentworth, another of Tori’s staff, appeared in the doorway. “The rooms are ready, Mrs. Montgomery.”
“Perfect. Thank you, Wentworth.” Tori turned her attention to her houseguests. “Wentworth and Byron will help retrieve your bags and show you to your rooms.”
“What about the car?” Ricco asked. “We’re parked out front.”
“Wentworth will show you to the garage.” Tori shot Carlita a quick look. “Although no one will enter the property without first getting through the gate, I would assume you want to keep the car out of sight.”
“Yes. Please.” Carlita smiled gratefully. “I was hoping they could park it somewhere…secure.”
“I’m ready to put my feet up and rest.” Brittney tottered to the doorway. “All of this moving around is exhausting.”
Ricco followed Brittney from the room while Luigi lingered behind.
“Yes, Luigi?” Carlita asked.
“I was just gonna say…I’m sorry about the broad comment. I didn’t mean anything by it.”
“Broad comment?” Tori asked.
“I was askin’ your guy what you did for a living to afford a swanky place like this.”
“I see. Well…perhaps in some circles I am a ‘broad.’ No offense taken.”
“Thanks.” Luigi followed the others into the hall, and Carlita waited until they were gone. “I’m gonna apologize for their actions ahead of time. They’re a little…shall we say…rough around the edges?”
“I suspected as much.” Tori motioned to a pair of overstuffed chairs in front of the fireplace. “I know you told me you needed to keep these three out of sight, and it has something to do with that horrid Savannah Six member’s death. Did they kill him? Because I would think the city would award them some sort of medal of honor for ridding the city of the vermin.”
“They didn’t, but they are suspects. They were caught on Annie Dowton’s surveillance cameras the night the guy died. The police are searching for them.”
“And they’re not completely innocent upstanding citizens,” Tori guessed.
“They have rap sheets,” Carlita said bluntly. “They didn’t take Rutger out, but easily could have based on their career paths.”
Tori answered with an equally blunt statement. “They’re family from up north.”
Carlita nodded. “Sent down here with my daughter-in-law because of a family situation in Atlantic City. She isn’t safe there. She isn’t safe in New York, and now it doesn’t look like she’s safe in Savannah.”
“She’s perfectly safe here.” Tori reached out and patted Carlita’s hand. “And so are the other two. In fact, they might liven the place up.”
“They’re guaranteed to do that. I don’t know how I can ever thank you for allowing them to stay,” Carlita said. “I owe you one.”
“Perhaps I could stop by to enjoy another fabulous meal at Ravello’s.”
“Absolutely. Which reminds me, I’m hosting a fall bash. I invited Pete, along with some of the other locals and friends, to a party at the restaurant the Saturday after Halloween.”
“Invitation accepted. I need to get out more.”
“Byron, Wentworth and Mrs. O’Brien are invited, as well.”
“Thank you.” Tori changed the subject, and they chatted about Pirate Ventures, their partnership with Pete. “How is Pete these days?”
“He’s doin’ good. We had breakfast a coupla days ago before all heck broke out…dead bodies, police stakeouts, the Black Stallion Club’s owner being thrown out of the trolley’s emergency exit.”
Tori interrupted. “I thought they closed that dreadful place.”
“It reopened under Phil Duce’s management.”
“Duce.” Tori tapped her chin. “Another family member.”
“Yeah, and they’re still up to their old tricks. In fact, before Luigi and Ricco ended up on the run, they found out there was some sort of trouble brewing between the Savannah Six and local area business owners.”
“Trouble?”
“I think it involves whoever took Davis Rutger out. Either Rutger’s own crew or an area business associate, possibly even Duce’s doing. Things are coming to a head. The only problem is I don’t know where or when. From what the guys said, it’s happening soon. Vito Castellini has them on the hunt down here, too. They finally admitted it last night. They’re doing some sniffing around about some backdoor deals, illegal gambling opportunities…who knows what else.”
“And you’re sure they didn’t take this Davis Rutger man out?” Tori asked.
“Almost positive. First of all, they just arrived in town.”
Tori interrupted. “So maybe they did do it. Maybe this Vito person sent them down for a hit.”
“True.” Carlita shifted as she considered Tori’s suggestion. “I guess they could have, and now seeing as there’s a possible connection between some of the business owners down here and the Savannah Five. Still, they swear they didn’t whack him.”
“Since you’re my only ‘mafia’ connection, I only know what I watch on television. I thought most mafia hits filled someone full of lead.”
“They are, and Rutger was strangled.”
“Perhaps the killer or killers were concerned about the sound of gunshots.”
“I’m pretty sure they have silencers so that would have been a non-issue.” Carlita ran a ragged hand through her hair. “I guess there’s a chance they took Rutger out. The motive would be Vito sent them down here for a hit and opportunity would be luring him to the vacant lot.”
“I see.” Tori leaned back in her chair. “Even if your houseguests did take Rutger out, I’m confident they wouldn’t see me or anyone in my household as a target.”
“And you wouldn’t be, but you’re my friend. I hate to put you in a potentially dangerous situation,” Carlita fretted.
“My dear, I have been surrounded by questionable associates for most of my life. Luigi and Ricco are not after me.” Tori pointed to the antique weaponry on the wall. “Although I may have to make sure one of my antiques doesn’t grow legs and walk
