Swiped in Savannah: A Made in Savannah Cozy Mystery (Made in Savannah Mystery Series Book 12)

by Hope Callaghan

  “You,” Carlita guessed.

  “Yes.”

  “Oh, brother.” Carlita threw her hands up in the air. “Suit yourself. I hope you are able to figure out what happened to the painting.”

  “Oh, I will. Mark my words.” Elvira slipped back inside her apartment and closed the door behind her.

  Mercedes stood in the doorway waiting for her mother. “What was that all about?”

  “Astrid left her backpack behind, so Elvira searched it.”

  “And?”

  “Other than some meager personal belongings which nearly broke my heart, there was a wrapped gift. Elvira is convinced it’s a thank-you gift for her, which is why Astrid didn’t want her touching the backpack.”

  “So now what?”

  “She’s working on some other leads and basically told me to butt out,” Carlita said.

  “Butt out?”

  “She claims I messed up and wants me to leave the investigation to the experts, namely her.”

  “You don’t want to follow Astrid again tonight, to see what she’s up to?”

  Carlita gazed at her daughter thoughtfully. Despite the fact that Astrid had a legitimate reason for guarding her backpack, something still wasn’t sitting right. “No. I do. We’re missing something. Elvira mentioned Astrid was packing up and leaving first thing tomorrow morning, but she had to take care of something first. She’s working now, so if she’s taking care of something, she’s doing it after she finishes her security job at the festival.”

  “I say we take in the festival later this afternoon before it shuts down. We hang around after it ends and then follow Astrid,” Mercedes said. “If she told Elvira she had something to take care of, I’m guessing she’ll want to do it after she finishes working.”

  “And before tomorrow morning.”

  *****

  The afternoon passed slowly. Carlita spent most of it mulling over the suspects and Elvira’s comment about how she was following up on something. Were the authorities close to making an arrest?

  If Elvira knew Astrid was lying about her identity yet still trusted the woman enough to hire her, perhaps there were others in Elvira’s employ who shouldn’t be trusted. She thought about Dernice and her past criminal record.

  Carlita returned to the theory someone on the inside knew about Dernice’s background, despite leaving the information off the application, and that was the reason EC Security Services was awarded the job…as a setup.

  The women ate a late lunch, and Mercedes helped her mother clear the table. “Hey, Rambo. Would you like to go for a walk?”

  Carlita placed their leftovers in the fridge. “You want me to tag along?”

  “Nah.” Mercedes reached for Rambo’s leash. “I was thinking maybe I would stop by Sam’s place to see if Sadie wanted to go with us.”

  Carlita lifted a brow. “And maybe even Sam?”

  “Maybe.” Mercedes frowned. “Don’t look at me like that.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like you’re trying to marry me off to Sam or something.”

  “Marriage is a bit premature,” her mother teased. “But I think it’s wonderful you and Sam have made amends and are finally friends. Perhaps even something more someday.”

  “Yeah, well you might be sorely disappointed.” Mercedes reached for the door handle.

  “Might be,” Carlita said. “I like the sounds of that.”

  Mercedes didn’t reply as she coaxed Rambo into the hall.

  Carlita hurried to the living room window facing the alley.

  Mercedes and Rambo emerged first. Sadie trotted onto the stoop. Her daughter turned back, a goofy smile on her face. Sam joined her and Carlita’s heart melted.

  “Will you look at that?” Carlita whispered. “Miracles never cease.” She watched them stroll to the end of the alley and turn right, toward the trolley stop and the street that led to Morrell Park.

  She turned to go when she noticed movement near the side of Elvira’s building. Her neighbor scurried into the alley, furtively glancing over her shoulder. Instead of stopping at her backdoor, she hustled to the parking area.

  Carlita eased her door open and stepped onto the balcony.

  Elvira had reached the corner. She glanced over her shoulder again, this time misjudging her steps. She tripped on the corner of a gutter that was jutting out. Her arms flailed wildly as she attempted to regain her balance.

  “Now what is she up to?”

  Elvira regained her footing before disappearing around the side of the building.

  Carlita stepped back inside and settled in at her desk where she began balancing the business accounts. Despite the seasonal slowdown, Savannah Swag was still turning a decent profit. Now that the apartments were filled, they would have some extra money to help keep Ravello’s afloat.

  Carlita scrutinized the restaurant’s food costs and wondered if she should get quotes from other purveyors. She jotted a note to ask Pete which company or companies he used for Parrot House Restaurant and then clicked out of the screen.

  Mercedes burst through the door. “Oh my gosh. Ma…did you see what’s going on next door at Elvira’s place?”

  Chapter 20

  “No.” Carlita turned. “Now what?”

  “Check it out.” Mercedes darted to the window, and Carlita joined her. A police car was parked next to Elvira’s back door.

  “I hope they’re not coming back here again.”

  “I don’t think so. I saw the cops go inside Elvira’s place. There are two of them.”

  “Hard telling what that woman has managed to get herself into this time.”

  Another few minutes passed before the door opened. Detective Polivich stepped into the alley. Elvira was next, followed by a uniformed officer.

  Polivich opened the back door to the patrol car.

  Elvira shook her head.

  “I wish I could hear what they’re saying,” Mercedes said in a low voice.

  “Me, too.”

  The detective turned to Elvira, a stern expression on his face.

  Elvira shook her head again as she said something.

  The detective grasped her arm and guided her into the back of the patrol car.

  “Uh-oh. They’re taking her down to the station.” Carlita pressed her forehead against the windowpane. “Can you tell if she’s handcuffed?”

  “No. It doesn’t look like it.”

  The women stood motionless as they watched the detective and the officer climb into the front of the car. The vehicle slowly made its way down the alley and disappeared from sight. “Glenda Fox said the authorities were close to making an arrest.”

  “They must have something on her,” Mercedes said.

  Dernice stepped into the alley. Carlita hurried onto the balcony. “Hey! Dernice.”

  Elvira’s sister shaded her eyes as she looked up. “Yeah?”

  “What happened?”

  “With what?”

  “With Elvira. She left with the police.”

  “Eh,” Dernice crossed the alley. “It’s a minor misunderstanding. Elvira salvaged a picture frame from the museum’s recycle bin and brought it home. It still had a museum sticker on the back. When the cops searched our place the other day, they found it. Elvira told them she pulled it out of the junk pile. I guess they didn’t believe her because they took it as evidence and now the museum’s curator is claiming it was stolen.”

  “You’re kidding.”

  “Nope.” Dernice shook her head. “I think they plan to pin the painting theft on Elvira.”

  “Are you going to try to bail her out?” Mercedes leaned both elbows on the railing.

  “Nah. We finally hired an attorney.” Dernice waved dismissively. “He’s on his way down to the police station now. Ten bucks says she’s back by dinnertime. I gotta get going.”

  Carlita waved good-bye and followed Mercedes inside. “I don’t think Elvira is going to have as easy of a time as Dernice seems to think she will.”


  “Me, either,” Mercedes agreed. “Are we still on for a trip to the festival later?”

  “Yeah. I think Astrid is up to something.”

  “I was gonna say, even if we don’t keep an eye on Astrid, you might want to check it out.” Mercedes told her mother she found out from Sam that LaFitte Square was hosting a food truck festival.

  “Food truck festival?” Carlita’s interest was piqued. “You know what? We need to get in on these food festivals, or the haunted restaurant tour business.” She warmed to the idea. “Mercedes, this is brilliant. I can’t wait to check it out.”

  It was nearly five by the time Carlita and her daughter headed to LaFitte Square’s festival. Food trucks, parked bumper to bumper, lined the square. The tantalizing aroma of fried foods encompassed the center.

  “Where should we start?”

  “Eating or searching for Astrid?” Carlita joked.

  “Either one.” Mercedes motioned to one of the food trucks. “I see an Italian food truck. They stepped over to the Pasta Paradise food truck, and Carlita perused the menu:

  Pasta and Meatballs

  Custom Flatbread Pizza

  Eleven Layer Lasagna

  Manicotti

  Rigatoni

  Italian Sampler: Mozzarella Cheese Sticks, Eleven Layer Lasagna and Meatballs

  Freshly Baked Bread

  Mama Mia’s Italian Ice

  “You got any cash on you?” Carlita nudged her daughter.

  “I do.” Mercedes pulled her cell phone and a twenty-dollar bill from her pocket. “What should we try?”

  “The Italian Sampler.” Carlita ordered one sampler, extra marinara sauce and two Italian Ices.

  “That’ll be nineteen dollars and ten cents.”

  Carlita handed him the twenty. “Keep the change.” She carried the tray to a nearby picnic table. “There isn’t a lot of food here for almost twenty bucks.” She sliced a small piece of the lasagna. “Not bad. It’s a little dry and needs more sauce.”

  Mercedes took a bite. “Yep.”

  They sampled each of the items; both agreeing the food was tasty considering it was prepared in such a cramped space.

  “You really think we should try a food truck?”

  “Sure. Why not,” Mercedes said. “I bet we could lease a truck for a coupla months, to see how it goes. We gotta get Ravello’s on the map.”

  They finished the food and tossed the wrappers in the trash before making their rounds. All the while, Carlita kept an eye out for Astrid. She finally spotted her standing near a park bench talking to a young couple.

  Carlita took a quick step back to move out of her line of vision, but it was too late. Astrid spotted them and gave a small wave.

  “We had better say hello.”

  Astrid met them near the center of the square. “Hello, Mrs. Garlucci.”

  “Hello, Astrid. Have you met my daughter, Mercedes?”

  “Hi.” Mercedes smiled.

  “Hey. Are you here to check out the competition?” Astrid asked.

  “You could say that. Elvira said you’ll be leaving soon.”

  “I am.” Astrid nodded. “I’m leaving first thing tomorrow morning.”

  “I hope you have a safe trip. Perhaps we’ll see you again sometime if you ever fly back to the States.”

  “Maybe.”

  The trio made small talk for a few more minutes, and then Astrid excused herself.

  Mercedes watched her walk away. “She doesn’t strike me as the criminal type. Why do you think she’s hiding her true identity?”

  “I don’t know.” Carlita gazed at her thoughtfully. “She doesn’t strike me as a thief, either, but she is lying. Why is she leaving the country? Why was she living on the streets, scrounging through dumpsters for food?”

  “Drugs?” Mercedes guessed. “Maybe she has a drug problem.”

  “I suppose.” The women wandered around the area until the food trucks began closing up shop and pulling out of the square.

  “We need to find somewhere to hang out where Astrid doesn’t see us,” Mercedes said. “We could go to the next square where we still have a visual. That way, we can see which direction Astrid heads.”

  “I agree.”

  The women strolled to the next square, this one partially concealed by manicured bushes and shrubs.

  “This is a good hiding spot.” Carlita squinted her eyes. “Maybe a little too good. I can’t see LaFitte Square.”

  “I got it covered. I figured we might need a few supplies.” Mercedes shrugged off her backpack and set it on the ground. She unzipped the main compartment, reached inside and pulled out a pair of binoculars.

  “Why didn’t I think of that?” Carlita asked.

  “Because I did.” Mercedes handed them to her mother.

  “What else do you have in there?”

  “A flashlight, a multi-tool and this.” Mercedes brandished her handgun.

  “Mercedes. Put that thing away!” Carlita’s eyes darted around the square.

  “You asked.”

  “Why on earth did you bring a gun?”

  “I always carry it. That’s why I got a WCL - a weapon carry license. I think you oughta get one, too.”

  “I don’t want to carry a gun around.” Carlita held the binoculars to her eyes and adjusted the focus wheel. “The trucks are gone.” She shifted the binoculars and scanned the square. “There…I see Astrid.”

  Mercedes consulted her watch. “It’s six-twenty. She’ll be heading out soon.”

  “Your turn.” Carlita handed her daughter the binoculars and eased onto the bench. Several pedestrians strolled past. A couple slowed, giving Carlita and her daughter a strange look.

  “We’re birdwatching,” Carlita joked.

  “Huh.” The couple kept going. The woman turned back once before whispering something in the man’s ear.

  “I have a visual. Astrid is on the move.” Mercedes shoved the binoculars in the backpack, zipped it shut and slung it over her shoulder. “Stay low. She’s heading this way.” She sank down onto the bench and shrank back as Astrid passed by. She was moving at a fast clip.

  “We gotta go.” The women hopped off the bench and jogged across the square. They stepped onto the sidewalk and began following Astrid. “You know where she’s going,” Carlita said breathlessly.

  “The museum?”

  “Yes, at least that’s the direction she’s headed.” Carlita was certain Astrid was returning to the museum until she changed directions and began heading toward Walton Square.

  “She’s going back toward the apartment,” Mercedes said.

  “Yes.” Carlita held out her hand. “I think you’re right. She’s heading home. We might as well take our time.”

  The women slowed their pace, and Astrid quickly disappeared from sight.

  “This surveillance operation was a bust.” Mercedes shifted her gaze. “The museum is right around the corner. We might as well go check it out since we walked all the way over here. Maybe something will stand out as a clue.”

  “I suppose.”

  The women circled the block and approached the front entrance to Darbylane Museum. “It’s closed.” Mercedes pointed to the sign affixed to the front of the locked entrance gate. “They close at six.”

  “We just missed it.”

  They walked around the side to the corner where the storage sheds were located. “This is where I think Astrid was staying until Elvira offered to let her camp out in her yard,” Carlita said.

  “And the caretaker’s cottage is back here?” Mercedes asked. “Sam and I ran into Violet and Shelby during our walk. Violet told me all about the magical cottage, the flowers and the fairies who come out at night. The caretaker has convinced Violet that she’s a princess.”

  “I heard.” Carlita grinned, and then changed the subject. “According to the map Tony gave me, the cottage is in the opposite corner, over here.”

  The women wandered to the other end of the property. Through t
he bars, Carlita spotted a section of white picket fence. Brightly colored flowers lined the cobblestone walkway.

  “I see a porch.” Mercedes pointed through the bars. “It does look enchanting, almost magical.”

  “It’s lovely, just what a magical cottage should be.”

  The women were still admiring the cottage when the front door opened. An elderly man crept onto the porch. A woman, the same one who noticed them near the dumpster the previous night, joined him.

  Mercedes pressed a finger to her lips, as they inched off to the side.

  “She’s not going to show,” the woman said. “I told you we never should’ve trusted her.”

  “Relax Mabel. She’ll be here. She said she would and she will.”

  “She had better.”

  There was a moment of silence. “You don’t think that stupid woman from the security company got her hands on it first, do you?”

  “Elvira Cobb?” The old man cackled. “She’s not bright enough to put two and two together.”

  “Don’t be so sure. What time is it?”

  The man looked at his watch. “It’s almost seven. She said she would be here at seven.”

  Carlita glanced around. They needed to hide, to see who showed up.

  Mercedes was a step ahead of her mother. She grabbed her hand and dragged her behind a row of metal trashcans.

  Carlita hit her knees, and a sharp pain shot down her leg. She bit her lip to prevent herself from crying out.

  The duo remained motionless for several minutes, until Carlita’s foot went numb. She shifted slightly, to relieve the numbness when Mercedes stopped her. She jabbed a finger in the direction of the museum.

  Carlita’s heart skipped a beat as a familiar figure approached.

  Chapter 21

  Astrid strolled to the back of the property and called out.

  Carlita and Mercedes watched as the elderly man approached the wrought iron gate. He said something to Astrid before opening the gate and motioning for her to step inside. Moments later, they disappeared from sight.

  Mercedes bolted from their hiding spot and hurried to the corner of the property.

  Carlita wiggled her toes until the numbness subsided and then limped across the alley to join her daughter. She could hear voices coming from the direction of the cottage’s porch but couldn’t make out what was being said.