“Hello,” the man behind the small counter greeted them.
Carlita echoed his greeting and said the first thing that popped into her head. “I’ve never been inside a pirate museum.”
“Then you’ve come to the right place if you want to find out more about pirates. Would you like to take a tour?” The man didn’t wait for an answer. “Our pirate museum is home to Thomas Tew’s chest, the world’s only surviving pirate treasure chest.”
Mercedes’ eyes lit. “A treasure chest?”
The man explained the four-hundred-year-old wrought iron chest was owned by Tew, one of the richest pirates in the Golden Age of Piracy. “Tew used the chest to transport his plunder from the Arabian Sea to Rhode Island in 1694.”
“It sounds fascinating.”
Carlita wondered if Pirate Pete had ever visited the museum. “We’re here to track someone down. Her name is Elvira Cobb, and this is the address we have for her.”
“I know Elvira. Is she a friend of yours?”
“I…sort of,” Carlita stammered. “Do you know where we can find her?”
The man consulted the computer on top of the counter. “She’s renting a room upstairs. I can’t let you up there, but I can call her room to let her know she has visitors.”
“Yes. Please.”
The man reached for the desk phone. “Your name?”
Carlita said the first name that came to mind. “Zulilly.”
“Zulilly,” the man repeated as he held the phone to his ear. “No one is answering. She may have gone out.”
Carlita’s heart sank. “Figures.”
“We can wait for her for a few minutes,” Mercedes suggested. “Maybe she’ll be back soon.”
“We did drive all of this way.”
“There’s a side tenant entrance, but Elvira usually comes in and out through these doors,” the man said.
“We’re already here. We might as well tour the museum.”
“Since you’re friends of Elvira’s, I can give you a twenty-five percent friends and family discount.” He rang up the tours and waited for Carlita to swipe her credit card. “Would you be interested in searching the discovery drawers hidden throughout the museum?”
Mercedes leaned an elbow on the counter. “Discovery drawers?”
He handed her a pencil and a slip of paper. “There are secret drawers scattered throughout the museum. A skull and crossbones are inside each of the drawers. Find all of them, and when you finish your tour, stop back by here to collect your prize.”
“I’ll do it,” Mercedes said.
The museum’s entrance was on the other side of the counter. The dimly lit hallway was lined with glass display cases. Pirate’s memorabilia filled the cases and spilled into the open room at the end of the hall. Long tables lined the center of the room.
Mercedes approached one of the tables and studied a book on top. “Book of Pirates.” She plopped down and flipped the cover open. “Everything we ever wanted to know about pirates and more.”
Carlita eased into the seat next to her. After perusing the books, they circled the room and then entered the main deck. A replica pirate ship, complete with a captain’s wheel, filled the cavernous room.
“This reminds me of Pete’s pirate ship,” Mercedes said.
“I’m sure he’s heard of this place. I’m going to take some pictures.” Carlita pulled her cell phone from her pocket while Mercedes made her way to the captain’s cabin.
They spent most of their time exploring “Shipwreck Island” and admiring Tew’s treasure chest. The last stop was a small room sporting a collection of Hollywood pirate’s memorabilia.
Mercedes, who had meticulously found the entire collection of drawers, returned to the counter to collect her prize, a replica of a gold doubloon. She slipped the prize into her pocket and turned to her mother. “Now what?”
“Elvira hasn’t shown up yet,” the man said.
The women stepped off to the side to discuss their next move. “We can wait a little longer. The only problem is, who knows how long she’ll be.” Carlita frowned.
“Maybe just a few more minutes,” Mercedes said.
The entrance door chimed. Carlita gazed over her daughter’s head and spotted a mop of familiar grey locks. “Guess who just showed up?”
Elvira locked eyes with Carlita. The look of surprise on her face was unmistakable. She stumbled backward, pulling the door closed behind her.
“Oh no, you don’t!” Carlita ran to the door and jerked it open.
“What are you doing here?” Elvira tightened her grip on the knob, refusing to let go.
“We’re here because you’ve managed to stir up a whole heap of trouble in Savannah. Someone forced your sister’s work van off the road, tried to shoot at us and now a woman has been found dead inside your Tybee property.”
“You’re making a mountain out of a molehill.”
“Dead people and a crazy person trying to shoot at me are making a mountain out of a molehill?” Carlita could feel her blood start to boil as she glared at the defiant woman in front of her.
“This doesn’t concern you.”
“A woman’s body was found inside your Tybee property.”
“Why are you here?” Mercedes asked.
“I…uh. I’m taking care of some personal business.”
“Let’s talk about your recent property purchase,” Carlita said. “Atlantic Deep, the company that’s developing the Coastal Adventures’ projects, is partly owned by your ex…or should I say your husband?” She hadn’t planned to let that little tidbit of information out and immediately regretted her slip.
Elvira’s face turned bright red. “How do you know about that?”
“I can’t divulge my sources.”
“My sister,” Elvira gritted out. “Now you’re sticking your nose in someone else’s business, even more than you normally do.”
“Me?” Carlita gasped. “I’m a suspect in a dead woman’s murder, thanks to you.”
Elvira ignored the comment. “Who is Luigi? Dernice mentioned him when she called. Something about having him keep an eye on the place.”
“He’s an employee of yours.”
“Dernice has to run all hires by me first. Wait a
