Dernice handed her sister the clipboard. “I’m prepared to sign a joint venture agreement with you. This outlines the terms and conditions.”
Carlita peered over Pete’s shoulder and scanned the single-page document. The first few items contained standard verbiage, something she was sure Elvira had pulled off the internet. She had filled in a few of the blanks regarding the ship’s usage, distance, and timeframe.
It also spelled out the terms of the agreement – a split of 60 / 40 in Elvira’s favor.
“This isn’t 50/50.”
“It’s my expedition, my map, my time.”
“What about my time, my ship, my crew?”
Carlita recognized the look in Pete’s eyes. He wasn’t going to budge. Elvira would have to agree to an even split or he was going to walk.
“Fifty-five, forty-five?” she asked hopefully.
“Fifty-fifty or nothing.”
“Fine.” Elvira blew air through thinned lips. “You drive a hard bargain.” She scratched out the split and jotted down the agreed change. They both initialed and signed, and then Dernice and Carlita witnessed their signatures.
With the contract signing out of the way, they turned their attention to the chest.
“Bolt cutters won’t work on this,” Pete said.
“Neither will picking the lock. I already tried.”
“The only thing left is a hammer and some muscle.”
Dernice ran upstairs to grab some tools. When she returned, she handed them to Pete, who began hammering away at the padlock. Chunks of rust fell off, but the lock refused to budge.
“You might have to pry it open,” Dernice suggested.
Elvira shook her head. “If this box is as old as I think it is, it might be worth some money.”
“Then leave the contents untouched,” Pete shrugged. “All I know is this lock isn’t opening without a key.”
Elvira pursed her lips, weighing her options. “Do what you have to do. I need to find out what’s inside.”
Pete lifted the hammer, giving the box a solid whack. The lid splintered. He hit it again, and then again. With each blow, more pieces flew off. “We’re finally getting somewhere.”
Using the claw end of the hammer, he began prying it off.
Eager to find out what was inside, the women gathered around, watching as he removed the last few pieces of wood. A layer of red velvet material was clearly visible.
“This chest bears a strong resemblance to an old pirate's chest,” Pete said. “They lined them with fabric to protect the gems and other booty for transportation.” He began removing a corner of the fabric.
“Be careful,” Elvira said. “Maybe we can save the fabric.”
“I’ll try.”
Carlita pressed a hand to her chest, watching as Pete carefully removed the front panel. He peeled back a second section before reaching inside.
Snap. The lock opened. Using his free hand, Pete easily removed it.
“You popped the lock.” Elvira’s jaw dropped. “That was cool.”
“I’m almost certain this is an old treasure chest. The inside mechanism, a lever, is a safety feature. If the captain or one of his crew was imprisoned inside the chest, the pirate had a way to unlock it.”
“Similar to the safety latches inside a car’s trunk,” Carlita said. “Very clever.”
With the padlock off, Pete lifted what was left of the lid, revealing the contents of the chest.
Chapter 12
At first glance, Carlita thought the chest was empty.
“It’s not full of treasure.” Elvira’s shoulders slumped.
“All is not lost.” Pete plucked out a piece of parchment paper.
“I’ll take that.” Elvira snatched it out of his hand. She turned her back as she unrolled it. “I can’t make heads or tails of this thing.”
Dernice inched toward her sister. “It’s gibberish with weird symbols.”
“I figured this would be how it played out,” Pete said.
“I give up.” Elvira handed it to him. “Make sure you give it back.”
He scanned the paper before returning it to her.
“Well? Don’t just stand there. Is it anything? Is it significant?”
“It means something. It’s significant.”
“Is it a map?”
“It is.”
“A pirate’s map?”
“I believe so. I recognize the coded legend in the corner.”
“Sweet,” Elvira whooped. “Man, I knew I picked the right person to join this venture. So? Where is this? What do the secret symbols mean?”
“I’ll have to confirm it, using a translation document I keep at home.”
“I want to see it,” Elvira said.
“And then what? You cut me out of our deal and head off to find it yourself?” Pete shook his head. “I’m neither naïve nor dumb. We work together.”
“Fine. For the record, this doesn’t sound like much of a partnership to me.”
“It’s a partnership all right, but on a more equal basis.”
Elvira rubbed her hands together. “When can we start?”
“I’ll have to look at my schedule and get back with you.”
“The sooner, the better.” She tucked the scroll under her arm and began feeling along the bottom of the chest. “There’s nothing else in here.”
Carlita wrinkled her nose. “That’s an awfully large chest for a piece of paper.”
“Which could turn into something bigger,” Dernice pointed out.
Pete turned to go, and Elvira stopped him. “Can you get back with me as soon as you get home?”
“I’ve been out of town and have some catching up to do. It might not be until tomorrow.”
While Elvira badgered Pete, Dernice began inspecting the chest and then tipped it on its side.
Plink.
“Hey, Elvira. I think we missed something.”
Elvira darted to her sister’s side. “What is it?”
“I don’t know. It’s stuck behind the lining.”
“Let me see.” Elvira shoved her sister out of the way and began feeling around. “You’re right. It feels like a coin.”
Abandoning her plan to salvage the delicate fabric, Elvira ripped it off. There, in the corner of the chest, was a silver coin. Her hand trembled as she held it up to the dim light. “It’s a coin. It has some markings on it.”
Pete took it from her, his eyes narrowing. “Aye. I recognize it. It’s a doubloon. A Spanish coin.”
Elvira lunged forward.
Pete, anticipating her move, took a quick step back. “Hold your horses.”
“It’s mine. How much do you think it’s worth?”
“Could be a few bucks. Could be a small fortune. I’ve got a few of my own, stored in a safe place in case I ever need them.” Pete handed it back. “It’s only worth as much as a collector is willing to pay.”
“There’s a site I use to gauge this stuff. I’ll figure it out.” Elvira pocketed the coin. “Thanks for your help. Don’t forget to call me with a timeframe for starting our treasure hunting expedition.”
Carlita ducked down and stepped into the tunnel.
“Hey, Carlita.” Elvira stopped her. “Did you get my video?”
“I did. Thank you. Tony is going to have a friend run the partial plate through a driver’s database.”
“I can do the same, but it’ll cost you. I mean, the fee I have to pay for using it, plus a small amount to cover my time.”
“If it doesn’t pan out, I’ll let you know,” Carlita said.
“Mercedes called me earlier. She said something about needing some help.”
“She seems to think she and I should swing by Sandy Sue’s to have a look around.”
“I’ll be here for another hour, if you and Mercedes want to come back,” Elvira said.
“We’ll do that.”
Back home, Carlita fixed a quick lunch, and Mercedes joined them. While they ate, Pete and Car
lita took turns filling Mercedes in on Elvira’s exciting discovery.
“She’s already commandeering my ship and crew,” Pete joked.
“Elvira is going to drive you crazy until you take her out.” Carlita took a big bite of her sandwich. “Do you really think there’s a chance she found a treasure map?”
“It could be authentic,” Pete said. “But then again, I won’t know until I’m able to compare what I saw to my legend.”
“I’m sure Elvira would love to get her hands on that,” Mercedes said.
“I wouldn’t put it past her to break into your house to find it.” Carlita said it in a joking manner, but there was a nugget of truth in her joke. Elvira was obsessed with treasure hunting. Finding the chest, a map and a coin only fanned the flames.
After finishing their lunch, Carlita accompanied Pete and Gunner downstairs and into the alley where Pete’s pickup was parked. He placed Gunner on the passenger seat while Carlita watched. “Goodbye, Gunner.”
“Gunner is going to the poop deck,” he informed her.
“The poop deck,” Carlita chuckled.
“Aye. It’s the aft of the top deck. Gunner thinks he’s funny.”
“Gunner is funny.”
Pete leaned in and sneaked a kiss. “Thanks, lass, for takin’ care of Gunner.”
“You’re welcome.”
Pete climbed in and rolled down the window. “I’ve taken the rest of the day off to catch up on some paperwork. I was thinkin’ if you’re not busy, I might be able to persuade you to join me for a romantic dinner for two on my terrace this evening.”
Pete had recently renovated the upper level of the Parrot House Restaurant after selling his home. The apartment was modern and sleek, offering all the amenities of a high-end penthouse.
Carlita was secretly thrilled he was now only a few short blocks away. Her favorite part of his new home was the rooftop terrace that he’d added. She’d seen it during the beginning stages of its transformation and was certain it would be a favorite of his, as well. “I would love to.”
“Dinner it is. How does seven sound? I’ll come back to pick you up.”
“I’ll be waiting.” After Pete and Gunner left, Carlita, along with Mercedes, headed back to Elvira’s.
Dernice was in the office and waved them in. “Elvira’s in the shower. She shouldn’t be long.”
“I’m surprised she’s not glued to her desk, trying to decipher the map or research the coin.”
“Oh, believe me. It’s coming,” Dernice said. “She hasn’t shut up about it since you left. She’s already spending the money.”
“Maybe she’ll sell this place and move to a larger location,” Mercedes said.
“It won’t happen. There’s no way she’ll give this place up now. She’s already talking about tearing down more walls and searching for more underground tunnels.”
“Hey, Carlita.” Elvira emerged from the back. “I thought I heard your voice.”
“Congratulations on finding a treasure map and coin,” Mercedes said.
“Thanks. I’m so geeked, I probably won’t be able to sleep tonight.”
“It’s an exciting discovery,” Carlita said.
“I can’t cut you in on me ‘n Pete’s deal, but you’re welcome to tag along while we make ourselves rich beyond our wildest dreams.”
“Thank you for the offer. I may take you up on that,” Carlita said. “I’m sure Pete knows some experienced divers.”
Dernice told her she and Elvira had signed up for scuba diving classes. “It was Elvira’s belated Christmas present. That and the cruise tickets.”
“Right. Our family cruise.”
“I figured, hey, if I’m gonna be on a cruise ship, I might as well take advantage of snorkeling or diving on one of those isles. I’ve been reading up on Bonaire, one of the islands we’ll be visiting. It’s a world-class diving destination.”
“I’m sure you’ll have fun. So, what’s the plan for me to have a look around over at Sandy Sue’s place?” Carlita asked.
“After Mercedes called, I did some digging around in my supplies. Before I show you what I came up with, I need to ask you a few questions. Are you allergic to powder?”
“What kind of powder?”
“Talcum powder.”
“Not that I know of,” Carlita shook her head.
“What about putty or wax?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Good.” Elvira held up a finger. “Stay put. I’ll be right back.”
An inkling of trepidation filled Carlita. Elvira seemed a little too eager to help. She nudged her daughter. “Do you know what she has up her sleeve?”
“Yes,” Mercedes said. “I think you should see it instead of me trying to explain.”
Carlita turned to Dernice. “Do you know what she has in mind?”
“I…” Dernice’s face turned a shade of red.
“You do know.”
“I’m sorry, Carlita. Just remember I have nothing to do with this.”
“Great,” Carlita groaned.
The trio waited…and waited.
Carlita consulted her watch. “What’s taking her so long?”
“I’ll go check on her.” Dernice popped out of the chair and headed to the back, nearly colliding with Elvira, who was on her way into the room. Or someone was coming into the room.
Carlita blinked rapidly. “What in the world?”
Chapter 13
Dernice critically eyed the elderly man shuffling toward them. “You’re getting pretty good at your disguises.”
“Elvira?” Carlita crept closer, studying the sagging skin, the bushy eyebrows and the hooked nose. Matted gray hair poked out beneath a tattered fedora.
“You can call me Ernest.” Elvira grinned, her missing front tooth sticking out like a sore thumb. “You need to go incognito? This is the ticket. Since I’m still working on perfecting my old man disguise, I’d be willing to give you a makeover at no charge.”
“You want to put me in that getup?” Carlita asked.
“Do you want to snoop around inside Sandy Sue’s Bar-B-Que?”
“Yes.”
“This is how you’re going to have to do it.”
“I let her practice on me,” Dernice said. “Unfortunately, we discovered I’m allergic to talcum powder. It took a week for the rash around my eyes to go away.”
“I’m not so sure about this.” Carlita began shaking her head.
“Chicken.” Elvira made clucking noises. “What if someone calls the health department again? Ravello’s can’t afford to keep taking those kinds of hits. Savannah is a small town. If people suspect your restaurant’s food is unsafe, you won’t be able to give it away.”
Elvira’s words sent a chill down Carlita’s spine. She was voicing her worst fears – someone, somewhere at some point, would start a rumor about Ravello’s. She could never recover.
Carlita wanted her businesses to not only survive but thrive. “Do you think Jarvis and her husband are behind the anonymous call and targeting my property by vandalizing it?”
“I don’t know,” Elvira said. “What I do know is her place is a hot mess. Look at what happened to Luigi.”
Carlita shifted her gaze to her daughter. “What do you think?”
“Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Elvira has a point. If Sandy Sue is determined to torpedo our business, we need to be proactive, not reactive.”
Carlita weighed her options. She could ignore the string of events and hope they stopped, or she could face them head on. “Mask me up.”
Elvira swung into action, propelling Carlita into the nearby bathroom. She handed her a brown bag and told her to change.
Inside the bag was a plaid button-down shirt and a pair of loose-fitting trousers. Carlita pulled them on over her clothes and returned to where the others waited.
Elvira gave her the once over. “It’ll have to do.” She whisked her to an empty chair and wheeled her around the side of the desk, ba
rking orders at her sister about the supplies she needed.
“Aye, aye.” Dernice snapped to attention, giving her a mock salute before hurrying off. She returned carrying two large plastic bins that reminded Carlita of tackle boxes.
“Thanks.” Elvira lifted the lids and began humming as she rummaged around inside. “We need one of these.” She tossed a gray wig, along with several styles and sizes of noses, on the desk.
Elvira began sifting through the noses. “This might work.” She placed one of them on Carlita’s face. “Too small. You have a big schnoz.” She tried a second, this one large enough to cover half of Carlita’s upper lip. “Surprisingly, this one is too big.”
She rummaged around in one of the drawers. “Ah. This should do the trick.” She pressed a crooked nose on top of Carlita’s and nodded approvingly.
Mercedes burst out laughing.
“We’ll need to add a few wrinkles to the ones you already have.” Elvira set some silver tubes next to the wig. She finished assembling her collection by adding a bristle brush and an array of sponge applicators.
“How long is this gonna take?” Carlita watched as Elvira smeared a sizable amount of flesh-colored cream onto a sponge.
“Not long. I’ve got it down to half an hour, tops. Of course, this is one of the simpler disguises I’ve been working on.”
Carlita was curious. “What do you consider a more detailed disguise?”
She didn’t miss Dernice’s wicked grin. “What is it?”
“The winsome widow.”
“Enough.” Elvira shot her sister a warning look. She finished the makeup application, and Carlita resisted the urge to touch her face. Although not itching, it was tickling. “My skin feels a little taut.”
“That’s the drying compound. A word of warning, whatever you do, try not to scratch your face.” Elvira reached for the wig and motioned to Mercedes. “Help me get the wig on.”
Mercedes smoothed Carlita’s hair, twisting it into a knot in the back. There was some tugging and hair pulling. “Ouch.”
“It’s a tight fit. I can’t help it if you have a melon head.” Elvira dusted her hands and took a step back to inspect her handiwork.
Carlita winced. “It feels like you wrapped a rubber band around my head.”
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