“That doesn’t make my son a mobster,” Carlita gritted out.
“Nor does it make him a saint, so I did a little more digging around, up in New York. Queens, New York, right?”
“Yes, we lived in Queens.”
Elvira decided to get right to it. “Your son has an arrest record, just some minor stuff - simple assault, disorderly conduct, discharging a firearm within the city limits to name a few.”
“What’s your point?”
“It would be terrible to think you’ve worked this hard to build your reputation and businesses only to have the Savannah Area Restaurant Association, of which you’re a member, find out about your son’s questionable character.”
Carlita could feel her blood pressure spike. She clenched her fists. “This is extortion.”
“Believe me, the last thing I want to do is damage your reputation, but we need help. You’re forcing me to resort to desperate measures.”
Dernice nudged her sister to the side and stepped between them. “We would never consider revealing your family’s history. Elvira is talking smack. She would never throw you under the bus, but we could use your help.”
Carlita tightened her lips and glared at Elvira.
“Please?” Elvira pleaded. “You know begging is beneath me. I’ll owe you one.”
Carlita softened when she noticed Elvira’s eyes starting to water. “Well…”
Chapter 8
“Fine. I’ll do it, but I’m not sure how much it will help,” Carlita said.
Elvira grasped Carlita’s hand, dragging her across the alley and into their apartment. “We need to make sure you’re wired.”
“Wired?”
“You know, earpiece, mini mic so we can communicate during the investigation.”
“Oh, brother.” Carlita wrinkled her nose. “This is not a full-blown investigation. I agreed to have a look around.”
“And that’s what you’re going to do.” Elvira didn’t loosen her grip as she led her through the kitchen to the front and the offices.
Dernice trailed behind. “We have some extra sets in here.” She began digging through the storage closet.
“This might work.” She handed the equipment to her sister.
Elvira inspected the earpiece first. “This one is too small.” She eyed Carlita’s ear. “Her ears are too big. It’ll get swallowed up.”
Her sister handed her another piece. “What about this one?”
“This’ll work.” Elvira showed Carlita how to use the device and then tested the settings. “We’re gonna have to stay in close proximity, not far from the museum if we want to maintain audio.”
“I know the perfect place,” Dernice said. “I’ll show you when we get there.”
“What am I looking for again?” Carlita adjusted the earpiece.
“A storage room. When you step inside the museum’s front entrance, the ticket counter will be on your left, and the storage room is to the right.”
“How am I going to sneak into the storage room if there’s a person standing at the ticket counter in clear sight of the room you want me to snoop inside?” Carlita asked.
“That is a dilemma.” Elvira rubbed her brow. “You’ll need an assistant…err…accomplice. What about Mercedes?”
“She’s working at the restaurant until early this afternoon. We’ll have to wait until she finishes her shift.” Carlita remembered her daughter’s doggie date with Sam. “Scratch that. She’s tied up all day.”
“What about Annie from the real estate office?” Elvira suggested. “She’s been with us on a spy mission or two.”
“I can try to reach her.”
“Hey.” Dernice clapped her hands. “What about the new chick who moved into Carlita’s building? The young woman? I’ve seen her around before. Her brother owns the tattoo shop down the street.”
“Autumn Winter,” Carlita said. “She’s helped out a time or two. I could ask her to tag along.”
“She might just work,” Elvira nodded approvingly.
“First, I’ll need to see if she’s available.” Carlita made her way to the front sidewalk. Elvira and her sister followed close behind.
She began dialing Autumn’s cell phone number but quickly disconnected the call. “I should try the Savannah Evening News’ main telephone number.”
Carlita searched for the number and pressed the “call” button. “Savannah Evening News. Gail speaking.”
“Yes, I was wondering if I could speak with Autumn Winter please.”
“One moment.”
Background music played until Autumn answered. “Autumn Winter.”
“Hi, Autumn. Carlita here.”
“Hi, Mrs. G.”
“I’m sorry to bother you at work.”
“You’re not bothering me. I just clocked out and was getting ready to head home.”
“I have a huge favor.” Carlita corrected herself. “Actually, Elvira, my neighbor, has a huge favor to ask.”
“Elvira. Why does that name sound familiar?” There was a moment of silence on the other end. “I know why she sounds familiar. She was your tenant.”
“And now my alley neighbor.”
“She’s the talk of the news department. I heard she worked at the security company in charge of the art exhibit. She confessed to stealing the famous artwork before changing her mind.”
“She owns it…the security company, EC Security Services. It’s kind of a long story. I’m at Elvira’s place now. She and her sister claim they aren’t responsible for the theft of the painting. They want me to have a look around the museum and a certain area in particular. I need a distraction.”
“You want me to be your distraction?”
“Maybe. I would ask Mercedes to go with me, but she’s working at the restaurant and has plans for later this evening. I’m not sure how long this will take.”
“It won’t take long,” Elvira whispered.
Carlita motioned for her to be quiet. “If you’re uncomfortable helping me, I completely understand.”
“You know I’m always up for an adventure, Mrs. G. I’m in. When are we heading over there?”
“We’ll leave as soon as you get here. I want to get this over with.”
Autumn promised she was on her way and would be home shortly.
Carlita ended the call and waved her phone at Elvira. “I’ll help you out this time since I feel somewhat responsible for your detainment. At the first hint of trouble, I’m out of there.”
“You’ll be fine.” Elvira patted Carlita’s shoulder. “All you gotta do is tell them you were looking for the bathroom and took a wrong turn.”
“That’s a flimsy excuse.” Carlita sucked in a breath, already regretting her decision to help. “But I guess it’ll have to do. I’ll run home and wait for Autumn.”
“Don’t forget about us.” Dernice followed Carlita through the building to the alley. “We’re gonna be in the vicinity the entire time.”
“That’s reassuring,” Carlita joked. “I’ll swing by as soon as we’re ready to go.” She stepped back into her building, all the while wondering how the women had managed to talk her into participating in their snooping…and why she’d even agreed.
A breathless Autumn appeared on Carlita’s doorstep a short time later. “Are we ready to get this mission underway?”
“I’m ready if you’re ready.” Carlita dropped the earpiece and mic in her jacket pocket.
Elvira and Dernice were already in the alley waiting.
“We can take the new company van,” Dernice offered.
“No. We can’t. Not with EC Security Services emblazoned on both sides. We’ll stand out like sore thumbs.”
“Elvira has a point,” Carlita agreed. “We can take my car or walk. It’s not far.”
“I’m not walking,” Elvira grumbled. “I get enough exercise standing on my feet day in and day out.”
“The car it is.”
The women strolled to the other side of the al
ley, and Carlita unlocked the doors. “I need to stop by the restaurant to let Mercedes know I’m leaving.”
“Don’t tell her what you’re doing,” Elvira said. “The fewer people who know what’s up, the better.”
“Fine. I won’t tell her until it’s over.” Carlita dashed inside. She found Mercedes standing in front of the server station entering an order.
“Hey, Ma.”
“Hi, Mercedes.” Carlita peered into the restaurant’s dining room. “How’s business?”
“Pretty good, actually. The lunch special is our best seller. It’s the Italian sub with a side of pinzimonio, the Italian-style crudites. I think we’re onto something with these specials.”
“That’s music to my ears. I stopped by to let you know Autumn and I are heading to the museum. Elvira has convinced us to help her out, and Autumn agreed to be my distraction.”
“Help her out?”
“I’ll explain later. I shouldn’t be gone more than a couple of hours.” Carlita retraced her steps, giving the line cook and kitchen staff a wave before returning to her car.
She climbed inside and reached for her seatbelt. “Have the authorities talked to the man you were with the night the artwork was stolen?”
“Spelling? I don’t know. I’m sure they have. I have a good instinct for people. I don’t think he has anything to do with the missing artwork,” Elvira said. “What about the artist himself? Abbott something. What if he lifted his own painting?”
“Why would he do that? He’s in the business of selling, not stealing,” Dernice argued.
“We can’t rule out Elizabeth Portsmith.”
“Who is Elizabeth Portsmith?” Carlita asked.
“She’s some big shot loudmouth who has something to do with the historic district,” Dernice waved dismissively. “No way.”
“Portsmith is the Director of the Riverfront Historical District,” Elvira elaborated. “I think she’s cunning, crafty and definitely a suspect. She was watching the exhibit like a hawk. Every time I walked into the exhibit area, she was there with her old eagle eye on me.”
“Interesting.” Carlita consulted her rearview mirror before backing into the alley. “So we have three suspects, Roland Abbott, the artist, Elizabeth Portsmith, the director of the historic district and Gaston Spelling, the museum curator.”
“Yep. One of those three swiped the painting,” Dernice said. “I’m almost positive of it. They set us up.”
“Except for Gaston Spelling,” Elvira shook her head. “Like I said, I don’t think he’s responsible.”
“We’re still leaving him on the list.” Carlita checked for oncoming traffic before pulling onto the street. “Now that Autumn is here, we need to go over exactly what you want us to do.”
“Buy tickets to the exhibit. Autumn distracts the greeter/cashier while you sneak into the storage room. My gut tells me the painting is still inside the museum. Whoever lifted it plans to go back in to get it.”
“What if they shoved it in their bag and carried it out the front door?” Autumn asked.
“Not possible,” Elvira rubbed her forehead. “No one was allowed to bring bags inside. They were required to check them at the front desk.”
“So maybe we should take a closer look at the greeter/cashier at the front entrance,” Carlita said.
“Tabitha?” Elvira snorted. “That airhead couldn’t fight her way out of a paper bag.”
“I have to admit she was a bit of a scatterbrain,” Dernice said. “But remember, she is kinda young.”
“So we now have four suspects,” Autumn said. “The greeter, the curator, the director and the artist.”
“Motive and opportunity,” Elvira sucked in a breath. “I’m putting my money on the hoity-toity director Miss Fancy Pants. Elizabeth.”
“You’re just ticked off because she got onto you,” Dernice chuckled. “Man, you shoulda seen the look on your face when she caught you with the meatball in your mouth.”
“It was ridiculous,” Elvira muttered. “So I ate a tasty morsel or two.”
“Or a half dozen.”
“We’re here.” Carlita circled the block, driving past the museum before Elvira told her to turn onto a back alley.
“You got your earpiece and mic?” Elvira asked.
“Check.” Carlita patted her pocket. “This shouldn’t take long.”
“Hang on.” Autumn unzipped her backpack. She reached inside and pulled out a pair of stiletto heels.
Elvira curled her lip. “You’re gonna break your neck in those things.”
“That’s the point. The shoes are my distraction.”
“Ah. The old damsel in distress play.” Dernice nodded approvingly. “I like it. It’s both classy and crafty.”
“Let’s go before I come to my senses and change my mind.” Carlita slid out of the driver’s seat and waited for the others to exit the vehicle before locking the doors. She motioned to Elvira. “Where are you two going to hang out?”
“Well?” Elvira turned to her sister. “You said you had the perfect spot.”
“Over there.” Dernice pointed to a construction zone adjacent to the museum’s parking area.
“A construction zone?” Elvira frowned.
“Close. There.”
Carlita followed Dernice’s finger and burst out laughing. “Now this I’ve got to see.”
Elvira shoved a hand on her hip. “I am not hiding out in a porta potty.”
“Do you have a better idea?” Dernice asked.
“No, but gross.”
“It’s the perfect spot. It’s close enough to the museum for us to get reception. The work crew is nowhere in sight. Besides, I used it myself the other day, and as far as portable toilets go it didn’t even smell.” Dernice didn’t wait for her sister and began making her way toward the lime green toilet.
Elvira mumbled under her breath and stomped after her sister.
Autumn waited until they were out of earshot. “Those two are a trip.”
“Yes,” Carlita sighed heavily. “You never know what’s going to come out of their mouths next. Are you ready?”
“I am.” Autumn took a tentative step in the stilettos. Her ankle twisted, and she faltered.
Carlita reached out to steady her. “I take it heels aren’t your thing.”
“Not at all. I bought these for a Halloween party last year. They’ve been collecting dust in my closet.”
It was a slow hobble from the parking area, up the museum steps and across the porch to the entrance.
Carlita reached for the door handle. “Here goes nothing.”
Chapter 9
Autumn tottered over the threshold and into the museum’s front lobby. She kept a tight grip on Carlita’s arm as she eased the door shut.
A multi-colored antique Tiffany lamp beamed soft yellow light inside the spacious rotunda, welcoming them inside.
“Good afternoon. Two for the museum?” The man behind the counter smiled.
“Yes.” Carlita pulled out her wallet and handed him her debit card. “You’re not busy this afternoon.”
“Nope. The other day was a different story. This place was a madhouse. Everyone wanted to catch a glimpse of royalty. Half the town was here.”
“I heard an earl or duke or some sort was on hand for the grand opening.” Carlita watched him swipe her card before handing it back.
“Yes. He was here for maybe half an hour, tops. I caught a glimpse of the guy when he was leaving.” The man pointed to Carlita’s purse. “I’ll need to hang onto your purse. We don’t allow personal belongings inside the museum.”
Carlita started to hand her purse to him and then snatched it back. “I can hang onto my wallet and phone, though.”
He opened his mouth to tell her “no,” but took one look at the expression on Carlita’s face and quickly changed his mind. “Yes, ma’am. You can take your wallet and phone, but I’ll need to keep your purse behind the counter.”
She removed the it
ems and held out her purse. “I think you’re maybe going a tad overboard with the security. I’m sure there are cameras everywhere inside this place.”
“When they work.”
“We heard about the missing artwork, how the museum’s surveillance cameras weren’t able to capture the thief on camera,” Autumn said.
“I…I don’t know. That’s the rumor going ‘round, that there was some sort of power outage. It knocked out the security system and cameras.”
A balding man, dressed in a three-piece business suit, entered the rotunda. The clerk snapped to attention. “Good afternoon, Mr. Spelling.”
“Hello, Vance. I thought Tabitha was working this afternoon’s shift.”
“Yes, sir.” Vance cleared his throat. “She asked if I would cover for her for a couple of hours. She had something to take care of first thing this morning.”
“I see.” The man turned to face Carlita and Autumn, a slow smile spreading across his face. “Welcome to Darbylane Museum. I’m Gaston Spelling, the museum curator. Is this your first visit?”
“Sort of,” Carlita said. “I was here the other day. The place was packed, so I decided to return after the crowds died down.”
“This is my first visit,” Autumn said. “I’ve been meaning to stop by. When Aunt…Carlita invited me to come with her, I jumped at the chance.”
“Enjoy the museum.” The curator strode down the center hall, his heels clicking sharply on the gleaming marble floors.
Vance waited until he was out of sight. He handed Carlita two tickets. “The Cotswold Georgian Exhibit begins in the room to the left. Our permanent exhibit, The River City, is in the exhibit room behind the Cotswold.” He handed each of them a pamphlet, which included a detailed description of the exhibits.
They wandered into the first section. Autumn glanced over her shoulder. “Now what?”
“Keep your eyes peeled. I forgot to check out the storage room Elvira asked me to investigate.” Carlita crept across the room and returned to the doorway. She peered around the corner and into the lobby they had just exited.
She could hear Vance rustling papers at the counter and eased a little closer to the side. Carlita tilted her head to get a visual on the other side of the room. There, near the main entrance, was a smaller door.
Swiped in Savannah: A Made in Savannah Cozy Mystery (Made in Savannah Mystery Series Book 12) Page 7
