The call abruptly ended. Carlita checked the time. It was nine o’clock. Taking a chance Dernice was still up, she dialed her number.
“Carlita,” Dernice answered on the first ring. “How was the date?”
“It was wonderful, except for the ending when Pete and I ran into your sister.”
“Here?” Dernice asked. “She said she might be on her way back to town.”
“She’s on Tybee Island, meeting with Ken Gibbons, a restaurant owner. He’s on the list as one of the property owners Atlantic Deep is negotiating with.”
There was a long silence on the other end of the line.
“Hello?” Carlita asked.
“I’m still here,” Dernice said. “I wonder if she plans to spend the night on Tybee or if she’s coming home.”
“Who knows with Elvira? For all we know, she could be sleeping in her car.”
“She didn’t take one with her to St. Augustine,” Dernice reminded her.
“You’re right. Maybe she’s staying with her friend, Ken.”
“Could be. Anyway, I’m waiting for her to call me back.” Dernice explained she’d been doing some digging around on Coastal Adventures and the employee, Kim Turbell. “The press released some details about her background. There was more going on with that chick than just selling real estate.”
“Like what?” Carlita asked.
“I think you should check it out for yourself. Coastal was involved in several questionable business transactions, and I think Turbell was a key player.”
“So maybe one of the Tybee business owners wasn’t responsible for her death. It also means Elvira’s ex or almost-ex is looking more and more like the killer.”
“I was thinking along the same lines. Google her name and death, and you’ll see what I’m talking about.”
Carlita promised she would, but first, she wanted to check on Luigi. She returned downstairs and approached the efficiency at the end of the hall. She could hear muffled sounds coming from within. She gave the door a tentative knock.
Luigi appeared in the doorway. “Hey, Mrs. G.”
“Hello, Luigi. I thought I would check to see how you’re doing.”
“Fine.” Luigi began cracking his knuckles. “I was just watchin’ some clips on YouTube from last year’s convention center cooking contest where the women started brawling. It’s the gig I’m working Monday.”
“I hope it’s not too much to handle on your own.”
“Too much to handle?” Luigi grinned widely. “I can’t wait. A bunch of women attacking each other over food? It’s a free freak show – one I’m gonna get paid to watch.”
“I’m glad you’re looking forward to it.”
“You wanna come in?” Luigi shifted to the side.
“I don’t want to bother you.”
“It’s no bother.”
“Maybe for a couple of minutes.” Carlita followed him into the efficiency. It was tidy, neat as a pin as her mother would say. There was nothing out of place…no dirty dishes in the sink, no clothes strewn about. “You got the place lookin’ good.”
“A lot better than the last tenant you had in here.”
Carlita couldn’t agree more. Angelica Reynolds, her former tenant, had been evicted after she became involved in a physical altercation with Brittney, Carlita’s daughter-in-law. “I’m not sure who was more of a pain…Elvira or Angelica.”
“She almost got snuffed out,” Luigi chuckled. “Makes me kinda miss Princess Brittney.”
“Are you regretting your decision to move down here?” Carlita asked. “Seems like life in Savannah is a lot slower pace than what you’re used to.”
“Yeah. I mean. I don’t miss the family. I gotta be honest. I miss the action. The casino was always buzzin’ with something. I kinda miss Ricco too.”
“How is Ricco?”
Ricco DeGrassi was one of Vito Castellini’s “bodyguards.” He also lived in New Jersey and was assigned to protecting Vito’s family and daughter. Although he had visited Savannah several times, she didn’t know him as well as she’d come to know Luigi.
“He’s doin’ good. He ain’t real keen on the partner Vito set him up with. She’s a real tool.”
Carlita arched a brow. “A woman?”
“Roxy Ciccone. I ain’t never liked Roxy. She’s two-faced. I think Vito uses her as a plant, to keep his men in line.”
“I’ll be sure to keep my distance if I ever meet her.”
“Oh…you’ll meet her all right. She’s in charge of protecting Brittney. The next time you see Brittney, you’ll meet her.”
“I can’t wait.”
Luigi pulled an unlit cigarette from his pocket and began twirling it between his fingers.
“I’ll let you go have a smoke.” She wandered into the hall, and Luigi followed her out. He slowed when they reached the back door. “Thanks again, Mrs. G. Thanks for giving me a chance.”
Carlita smiled. “You’re welcome, Luigi. I hope you enjoy living in Savannah for many years. If you give it a chance, it will grow on you.”
Luigi reached for the doorknob before turning back. “I’ve been meanin’ to ask…how’s it goin’ with Elvira and the dead woman?”
“I’m hoping we’ll have more information by tomorrow.” Carlita told Luigi to let her know if he needed anything and then returned to the apartment.
Mercedes still wasn’t back. Carlita knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep until she was home. She remembered Dernice telling her to research the real estate agent and Coastal Adventures. She pulled out her desk chair and perched on the edge.
She typed “Kim Turbell death, Georgia,” in the search bar. Several results popped up. At first, there was no new information until Carlita began to dig a little deeper. From the snippets she was able to find, Kim Turbell’s previous employment history included a stint as a mortgage lender as well as a stockbroker.
After exhausting her search on Turbell, Carlita typed Coastal Adventures in the search bar. Dernice was right. Several Atlantic Deep projects were under federal investigation. The details were vague, only stating the money to fund the projects may have come from questionable sources.
She decided to go
