“We still don’t know how she died,” Dernice said. “I asked Detective Wilson when he stopped by yesterday, but he wouldn’t tell me.”
“Speaking of Detective Wilson, he’s called me twice. I need to call him back.”
“The man is on a mission to get to the bottom of Turbell’s death. Although he wouldn’t tell me how she died, he called it a homicide, so there’s a killer running loose.” Dernice glanced at her watch. “I’m working on a small project I need to finish over at the house. Can you send me a copy of Elvira’s email?”
“Sure.” Carlita forwarded a copy and then walked Dernice out.
Next on Carlita’s list was a call to Detective Wilson. She left a voice mail message and had disconnected the line when the outer bell rang. The detective was standing on her stoop.
She ran down the stairs. “I left you a message to let you know I was back in town.”
“And I just got it while I was on my way over here. Do you have a few minutes to chat?”
“I do.” Carlita joined him in the alley and closed the door behind her.
“Your name was on a signup sheet at Coastal Adventure’s Tybee Island sales office. The sales representative, Kim Turbell, was found dead inside a property owned by your neighbor.” Wilson tilted his head, eyeing her closely. “Speaking of your neighbor, she’s in St. Augustine.”
Carlita’s scalp started to tingle. “She is.”
“Do you mind if I ask where you were yesterday afternoon and this morning?”
“I was in St. Augustine, as well,” Carlita admitted.
“Meeting with your neighbor?”
“Yes. It was a quick trip.”
The detective reached into his pocket and pulled out a small notepad and pen. “What did you discuss?”
“This and that.” Carlita nervously twined her fingers together. “Look, I filled out a form for information on a vacation property. I own income properties. There is nothing suspicious about filling out a form.”
“Did you and Miss Cobb discuss the woman’s death?” the detective probed.
“Of course, we did. Do you think I would be dumb enough to put my name on a sign-up sheet right before I killed the woman? If I were you, I would start investigating the property owners on Tybee Island, specifically the ones who are linked to Coastal Adventures.”
“We are. Is there anything you would like to add?”
“Such as?”
The detective switched tactics. “How was Ms. Turbell’s demeanor during your visit? Did she strike you as nervous, agitated, distracted?”
“None of the above. She was cordial, polite and professional. I left my information. When Dernice Cobb and I left the sales office, Ms. Turbell was very much alive.”
“And where did you go after that?” the detective asked.
“After what?”
“After stopping by the sales office.”
Carlita’s mouth went dry. The interrogation…questioning…had taken a turn for the worse. “Dernice wanted to check on her sister’s property.”
The detective began scribbling furiously. “So, you left Coastal Adventure’s sales office and went directly to 216 Shore Street, Elvira Cobb’s property…the property where Ms. Turbell’s body was found.”
“We did,” Carlita whispered, visions of being handcuffed and loaded into the back of Detective Wilson’s car flashed through her mind. “We looked around and then left a short time later.”
“Did you see Ms. Turbell again?”
Carlita could feel her knees start to buckle. Her hand shook as she reached out to steady herself.
“Are you all right?”
“I’m…I’m okay.”
“I’ll repeat my question. Did you see Ms. Turbell again?”
“We passed her on the street. She was heading in the direction of Elvira’s property. She asked us what we were doing. We told her we were checking on the property. We talked briefly about the sale of the island’s properties. She seemed certain the remaining owners would sell to Coastal,” Carlita blurted out. She could almost feel the cold metal cuffs circling her wrists.
Detective Wilson’s expression was solemn as he studied Carlita. She was certain he could smell her fear. “You’ve been helpful, Mrs. Garlucci. I’ll be in touch.” He left the last sentence hanging in the air before turning on his heel and returning to his vehicle.
Carlita’s legs wobbled as she dragged herself back inside. She pressed her forehead against the door and closed her eyes. If the investigators fingerprinted the inside of Elvira’s building, her prints would be there. Her prints. Dernice’s prints.
Carlita took a deep breath. There was nothing she could do. She had visited the sales office. She had stopped by Elvira’s place. They had run into the woman again.
She forced Detective Wilson’s visit from her mind and finished going over her books from yesterday before heading to Ravello’s.
Her next stop was the pawn shop, where she found her daughter-in-law, Shelby, working. She caught Carlita’s eye and met her near the back. “Hello, Carlita. How was St. Augustine?”
“Eventful. We tracked Elvira down. She’s working on finalizing her divorce.”
“I had no idea she was married,” Shelby chuckled.
“It’s a long story,” Carlita sighed.
The women made small talk until a customer arrived, and Shelby excused herself.
On her way out, Carlita noticed the basement trapdoor was unlocked. She returned to the store floor to ask Tony about it, but he was busy helping a customer.
Carlita made her way back to the trapdoor. She reached for the door to flip it shut when she changed her mind. Instead, she decided to have a look around, remembering Elvira’s trapdoor and how Tony had mentioned the brick wall and an entrance to Elvira’s building.
She grabbed a flashlight and cautiously made her way down the ladder. She paused when she reached the bottom step, checking for critters. Carlita finished her descent and approached the far wall.
Small piles of loose concrete lined the bottom. She pinched some between her fingers and watched it fall.
