“I hope you know what you’re doing.” Mercedes shook her head.
Mother and daughter retraced their steps and stood in front of the car while Autumn hovered near the corner, peeking around the side of the building. She gave Carlita and Mercedes a thumbs up.
“We don’t need a medical emergency,” Carlita said. “Think about it. If I hit the floor, Al, the pawnshop guy will call 911 and the cops will arrive, along with the fire department and an ambulance. It’s too risky. Al already told us he was working alone. I say all we have to do is go back inside and keep him busy waiting on us.”
“True,” Mercedes nodded. “Not to mention if other customers show up, he’ll have his hands full.”
“I plan on making sure his hands are full, even if we’re the only two in there.” Carlita nodded at Autumn. “Let’s go.”
Mercedes and Carlita marched into the store and Al looked up from the counter. “You again?”
“Yeah. I might want to buy another one of your metal lawn art pieces since my niece paid me the money she owed me.”
Mercedes’ eyes darted around the store and her heart skipped a beat when she found a set of drums in the corner, right next to an electric guitar. “Did you see the set of drums? I wonder if we can fit them in the trunk of the car.” She zigzagged past several display shelves. When she reached the drum set, she hopped on the stool and picked up a set of wooden sticks. “Do you mind?”
She didn’t wait for Al to reply and began beating on the drums with both sticks. She smashed the cymbals and her ears started to ring, but Mercedes didn’t dare stop. “I’m a little rusty!” she yelled at the top of her lungs. “How do I sound?”
She continued pounding on the drums and then noticed one more weapon at her disposal…the bass drum. Mercedes stomped on the foot pedal.
Boom. Boom.
Al covered his ears and hurried over. “You break ‘em, you buy ‘em.”
“Huh?” Mercedes continued to pound on the tom toms.
“Stop!” Al shouted as he waved his hands. “You’re giving me a headache.”
“Sorry.” Mercedes set the sticks down and slipped off the stool. “I guess I got carried away.”
“Does this thing work?” Carlita reached for the dial on a nearby CB radio and cranked the volume up. A loud crackling sound filled the store. “Check this out.” She picked up the microphone, pressed the button on the side. “Breaker, breaker. Do you copy?”
Mercedes chuckled. “Great. That’s all we need. A CB radio.”
Al clenched his jaw. “I thought you came back to check out the metal art.”
“We’re easily distracted,” Mercedes said. “So does the CB radio work?”
“Well, first you need to turn the volume down.” Al’s arm shot out and he twisted the dial. “You’ll need to purchase a cable and antenna to go with it. We sell those separately.”
“I see,” Carlita said. “I don’t know how much I would use a CB radio. I guess I’ll take another look at the metal art.”
Al began to walk to the back and Mercedes’ eyes darted around the room, searching for another distraction when her eyes fell on another noisemaker. “Is this what I think it is?”
“No!” Al lunged forward as he attempted to stop her from touching the horn. “It’s an air horn, but it has to be hooked up to a vehicle to work, although knowing you two, it would work just to spite me.”
Mercedes appeared offended. “Seriously? I guess you don’t want customers.”
“I want paying customers, not annoying customers. Look.” Al ran a hand through his cropped locks. “I’m not sure what’s going on, but ever since you two walked back in here, you’ve been doin’ nothing but creating a lot of noise.” His eyes narrowed. “Hey, where’s the other woman who was with you, the one I bought the gems from?”
Mercedes and her mother’s eyes locked. “I…uh. She wasn’t interested in buying anything. She walked down the street to see if there were any other shops.”
“Huh.” Al wasn’t buying it. “Something fishy is going on here.”
Mercedes’ throat went dry and she swallowed hard. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
***
Autumn waited until Mercedes and her mother were inside the store before she jogged to the back of the building, veered into the alley and ran to the other end. After a quick glance around, she approached the back door of Beachy Bargains Pawn Shop and grasped the padlock, giving it a quick yank.
It refused to budge, so she reached into her pocket and plucked out a small tool, jabbing it into the hole.
Click. The lock clicked. “Sweet.” Autumn swiped a stray strand of hair from her eyes and pulled again, but the only thing she got was a handful of rust that flaked off.
“Great. Now what?” Autumn took a step back and studied the rear of the building. To the left was a hinged wooden box and above the box, a window. It was small, but Autumn quickly calculated she could easily fit.
She slid the tool back inside her pocket and placed both hands on the box, heaving herself up. Autumn’s feet dangled in the air for a moment as she wiggled back and forth until her knees hit the edge. She scrambled across the flat surface and crawled to the window.
Ping. A small ping echoed from the overgrown brush along the fence line and she craned her neck, peering into the dense grass. It was only a matter of time before someone spotted her.
Autumn fumbled with the windowsill, desperately tugging it up, but it refused to budge. She grabbed her pick tool and ran it between the window frames, praying it was an old window with a lock lever.
Click. The lever slid forward and she silently lifted the sash. With a quick glance behind her, she slithered through the opening.
It took only a split second for her to realize she was crawling into the pawnshop’s bathroom. A small gurgle escaped Autumn’s lips when she discovered there was nothing for her to grab onto, but it was too late.
She shoved both hands in front of her to break her fall and desperately grabbed hold of the only thing within reach – the toilet bowl. By the time Autumn realized the seat was up, it was too late.
Autumn clutched at the sides of the smooth, porcelain rim. Her hand slipped, her ponytail flipped forward and made a small splash as the tips hit the water.
“Oh disgusting,” she grunted. She wiggled the rest of the way in, landing on both feet. She stared at her hands, and then the grimy pedestal sink beside the toilet. “Yuck.”
Autumn turned the rusty knob until a small stream of water trickled into the sink. She squirted some soap in the palm of her hand and quickly scrubbed as she looked around for something to dry them on. There was a hand dryer on the wall, but she couldn’t risk turning it on and creating noise.
With a quick swipe across the front of her jeans to dry her hands, Autumn tiptoed to the door and opened it a crack before peering into a narrow hall. She briefly closed her eyes and prayed the door wouldn’t squeak, although it wouldn’t have mattered because the sound of someone pounding on a set of drums echoed and the walls shook.
She crept along the edge of the hall and opened the first door she reached. It was a storage closet. She quickly closed it and moved to the next. She opened the second door and peered into total darkness. Autumn silently berated herself for not bringing a flashlight as she ran her hand along the wall and flipped the light switch.
The first thought that popped into her mind was she had entered some sort of torture chamber. The walls were covered in an array of weaponry, from long swords to sabers, to a metal mace, complete with a chain and spikes. She shivered involuntarily and wondered what kind of person collected tools designed to torture.
Autumn’s hands shook as she pulled her cell phone from her back pocket. She switched it on, clicked the camera icon and quickly snapped several pictures before backing toward the door.
She reached for the knob and then spied a desk, covered with papers. Autumn was torn between getting out fast, before the owner showed up an
d tested some of his torture tools on her or snapping a quick picture.
A dull thud helped settle the matter. She yanked the door open and darted into the hall. The banging drum had stopped and was replaced by a loud crackling noise.
Autumn crept down the hall and slipped back into the bathroom. She climbed onto the toilet seat, balancing one foot on each side before gingerly stepping onto the lid. With a quick check to make sure the coast was clear, she sprang onto the ledge.
A faint whiff of cigarette smoke drifted up and she forced herself to remain calm as she silently slid the window shut and slithered to the edge of the box. Autumn pushed herself off, landing lightly on her feet. “Piece of cake.”
The alley and sidewalk were empty, and Autumn reached the pawnshop without incident. She glanced inside to make sure Mercedes and Carlita were still there before pushing the door open. “Are you guys almost done? There’s nothing around here but this place and a tattoo shop.”
“I…yes.” Mercedes nodded and almost passed out when Autumn sauntered in.
“Not quite.” Carlita picked up another piece of lawn art, this time a penguin with piercing blue eyes, and carried it to the counter. “This fella looks like he could use a good home.”
Carlita paid for her purchase, the women stepped out of the store and onto the sidewalk.
“That was a close call,” Mercedes said. “Al was starting to get suspicious.”
“See? We make a great team.” Autumn grinned. “Mission accomplished. I think we may have hit the jackpot.”
Chapter 5
“Wait until we get into the car and I’ll show you what I found,” Autumn said.
The trio climbed inside and Autumn slid to the center of the back seat. “I heard a bunch of loud racket coming from the front of the pawnshop. It sounded like Led Zeppelin on steroids.”
“It was Mercedes’ drum solo performance. We decided a noise diversion would work just as good as a medical diversion.”
“Ma didn’t do too bad herself, picking out a CB radio to crank all the way up.”
“I think poor Al was getting ready to throw us out.” Carlita checked the rearview mirror before backing up and pulling onto the street.
Mercedes buckled her seatbelt and then lowered the visor, staring at Autumn in the mirror. “You said you hit the jackpot. What did you find?”
“Mr. Goldstein’s collection of weapons. Check it out.” Autumn switched her phone on and passed it to Mercedes.
“He’s definitely a collector of unique weaponry.” Mercedes let out a low whistle. “When we get back home, you gotta check this out Ma. I’m not sure Mrs. Montgomery will be able to make heads or tails of all of the different items.”
Carlita gave the girls a quick glance before focusing her attention on the road. “Forward the pictures to my email and I’ll get them over to Tori to see if she recognizes anything, although I’m sure she’s up to her eyeballs in party planning.”
“A party?” Autumn’s eyes lit. “Mrs. Montgomery is planning a party?”
“The Merry Masquerade.” Mercedes started to say something else, but didn’t want Autumn’s feelings to be hurt since she hadn’t been invited. She quickly changed the subject. “Was there anything else besides a bunch of old swords and stuff?”
“The desk was covered in papers and file folders, but I got freaked out when I thought someone was coming, so I didn’t take a picture of any of it.”
Mercedes handed the cell phone back to her friend. “What happened to your hair? It’s wet.”
“Eau de toilette. Toilet water. I fell through the window, into the bathroom and had to grab the sides of the toilet bowl to break my fall. The seat was up. At least it was empty,” Autumn sighed. “My ponytail flopped forward and made a splashdown inside the toilet.”
“Gross,” Mercedes wrinkled her nose.
“You’re telling me. I’m going to go home and bathe in a tub of rubbing alcohol.”
During the ride home, the women discussed Mr. Goldstein’s office. The only person who could tell them if any of the pieces hanging in the man’s office belonged to Montgomery Hall was Tori Montgomery.
Carlita swung by Autumn’s apartment first and eased the car alongside the curb. “I’m sorry you had to give the pawnshop a copy of your driver’s license. Hopefully, nothing comes of it.”
“I wouldn’t worry too much, Mrs. G. One of the Savannah Police Department’s finest moved into the apartment below mine. He drives his patrol car and parks it in front of our building when he’s not working. Someone would be stupid to try to mess with our place.”
Autumn sprang from the car and hopped onto the sidewalk. “I’ll send the pictures as soon as I get inside.” She started to close the passenger door and paused. “Thanks for inviting me to join in the fun. If I don’t see you before Thanksgiving, have a good one and make sure you gobble til you wobble.”
She chuckled at her joke and slammed the car door.
“I feel bad about mentioning the Merry Masquerade party.” Mercedes watched as her friend gave them a jaunty wave and disappeared inside her apartment building.
“We couldn’t have done what we did today without her help. I’m going to mention it to Tori and ask her if perhaps we could invite Autumn to the party, too.”
“Really?” Mercedes brightened. “I’m sure she would love to go. Heck, I’m going to love it. I’ve never been inside a grandiose home like hers before. I bet the place will be decked out.” She chattered on about the party until they reached the apartment.
When they got inside, Mercedes dropped her purse on her dresser and headed back downstairs to help Tony in the pawnshop while Carlita led Rambo outdoors.
Feeling a twinge of guilt for leaving Rambo alone all morning, they took a long leisurely walk to Morrell Park, down by the ferry landing, to the other end, before circling back and taking the long way home, past the Book Nook, Colby’s Corner Store and Shades of Ink, Steve Winters’ tattoo shop.
By the time they returned home, Autumn had already sent the photos to Carlita’s email. She opened the file and studied the pictures. The walls were covered with weapons. She pulled her cell phone from her purse and dialed Tori’s private line.
It went to voice mail. Carlita left a brief message, explaining how she, along with Mercedes and Autumn, had visited the Beachy Bargains Pawn Shop and thought they might have something of interest.
She asked her friend to call back before wandering out onto the balcony. A movement near the building across the alley caught her attention. She watched as Elvira and her sister loaded several plastic bins into the back of Elvira’s compact car.
Dernice hurried back inside the building and returned with another bin. She bent down and peered inside the car.
Elvira shook her head, motioning wildly. The women began bickering and Dernice elbowed Elvira out of the way, turning her attention to the packed interior of the car.
Elvira quickly regained her balance, a scowl on her face. She lifted her leg and planted the bottom of her foot squarely on her sister’s rear end.
“Ouch.” Dernice jerked her head, banging it on the roof of the car. “You witch! What did you go and do that for?”
“Because you pushed me out of the way, that’s why. This is my car and my house.”
Carlita took a step back to hide from view and then leaned forward as she peeked over the top of the railing.
“Are you telling me you don’t want me here? You begged me to drive from one end of the country to the other to help you and this is how you repay me?” Dernice’s voice rose an octave. “No wonder you got kicked out of the mob building. You’re lucky they didn’t whack you.”
Carlita gasped and quickly clamped a hand over her mouth.
“Lower your voice,” Elvira growled. “Listen, I’m sorry. I need you to stay and help run my new operation. I guess I’m getting cranky with all of these people living under the same roof.”
“Then kick them out,” Dernice said. “Problem solved.
”
“It’s not that easy. I need them to help run my businesses, especially now that I nailed that big gig next week.”
“You’re crazy.” Dernice shook her head. “I don’t see why you won’t listen to my advice and bring them in as independent contractors.”
“Because it’s too hard to keep track of them,” Elvira whined. “I need to make sure they show up for work and what better way than if they’re living under the same roof?”
“Oh brother. I would at least get rid of that weasel Weston. There’s something not right about him, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. He strikes me as someone capable of conducting criminal activities.”
“Well, if anyone would know about criminal activity, it would be you,” Elvira muttered.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Exactly what I said. You spent years in the slammer. You had all of those years to become acquainted with the criminal element. It takes one to know one.”
“But I was innocent. It was a setup,” Dernice said. “You know that.”
The women disappeared from sight, ending Carlita’s hour of entertainment. She started to go back inside when she noticed a familiar sports car coast into the alley and park behind Elvira’s vehicle.
Glenda Fox exited her Alfa Romeo and walked over to Elvira’s car.
Carlita stepped to the railing and waved. “Hi Glenda.”
“Hey Carlita.” Glenda wandered to the other side of the alley, shading her eyes as she gazed up. “I almost called you the other day to see if you wanted to have lunch.”
“Do you have time to come up?”
Glenda nodded. “Yes, but first I’m here to talk to Elvira…official Savannah Architectural Society business.”
“Ah. I see. Well, hit the buzzer when you’re done working.”
Glenda gave her a thumbs up and walked over to Elvira’s back door.
Although Carlita was dying to see what happened next, she didn’t want Glenda to think she was snooping on her, so she discreetly made her way inside the apartment and closed the door behind her.
Merry Masquerade in Savannah: A Made in Savannah Cozy Mystery (Made in Savannah Cozy Mysteries Series Book 8) Page 4