“You mean like Elvira?” Carlita chuckled.
“Precisely. I possess both money and notoriety…two traits that attract some interesting people. Speaking of interesting people, how is Elvira?”
“Missing.”
“Again?”
“No. Something happened. She fell into a deep depression. Her sister, Dernice, asked me to talk to her but she was out of it. She cleaned out one of the business bank accounts and disappeared yesterday morning,” Carlita said. “I haven’t heard if Dernice has found her, but I don’t think so.”
“I hope she’s okay. I mean, she’s not my favorite person, but I wish her no harm.”
“Me, either.”
Tori turned to Wentworth. “I need a TD.”
Wentworth removed a silver key from his pocket and unlocked the cabinet behind him. He pulled out a small black box and handed it to Tori.
“Thank you, Wentworth. Is this programmed?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Good.” Tori turned to Carlita. “Do you have your cell phone with you?”
“I do.” Carlita unclasped her purse, pulled out her cell phone and handed it to Wentworth.
“Please install the app on Mrs. Garlucci’s cell phone.” She motioned to Carlita. “While Wentworth takes care of installing the app, let’s figure out the best spot to put this.” Tori waved the black box in the air and exited the small office.
“What are we doing?” Carlita trailed behind.
“We’re going to install a tracking device.” Tori slowly circled the mobsters’ vehicle. “Luigi and Ricco will never know it’s here.”
“Is this illegal?” Carlita asked.
Tori laughed. “Are you worried Luigi or Ricco will find it and turn us in to the authorities?”
“No. They would dish out their own punishment.”
“It’s not illegal. At least not in Georgia.”
“I’d ask how you know this and why you have tracking devices, but maybe I don’t want to know.”
“You don’t. Let’s just say they’ve come in handy.” Tori returned to the front of the vehicle and the grill. “They’re smokers.”
“They are. How did you know?”
“I could smell it on them.”
Carlita remembered her brief lecture to the men earlier and repeated their argument. “They have worse habits.”
“Without a doubt.” Tori placed a hand on her hip as she studied the car. “Front grills are iffy. We can’t put it near heat.”
“Hold this.” She handed Carlita the tracking device, placed both hands on the front bumper and carefully lowered onto her knees.
“Would you like me to take over?”
“No. I was hoping for a bumper lip, somewhere to place the device where it won’t dislodge or be seen when Ricco or Luigi are out having a smoke.” Tori’s voice grew muffled as she poked her head under the bumper. “I think I’ve got it. Hand me the device.”
Carlita handed it to her.
Tori made a grunting noise and then crawled out. She slowly pulled herself up and brushed off her knees. “I’m not as young as I used to be.”
“You get around better than I do,” Carlita said. “So, how’s this tracking device gonna work?”
“I’ll show you. Let’s see if Wentworth has finished.”
The women returned to the small office.
“How’s it going?”
“I’m almost done.” His eyebrows furrowed as he tapped the screen. “There we go.” He handed Carlita’s phone to her. “The app is on your main screen under grocery list.”
“Grocery list?” Carlita studied the screen, searching for the app.
“In the left-hand corner.”
“Ah. There it is.” Carlita pressed the app, and a screen popped up. It looked like a sea of blue water with a landmass in the center. In the center of the landmass was a red dot.
Tori peered over her shoulder. “The tracking device is the red dot. As you can see, the map is of Montgomery Hall, surrounded by the ocean. There’s the Savannah River.”
“Fascinating. Let me guess...the vehicle moves, the dot moves.”
“Correct,” Tori nodded. “You should have no problem tracking the device.”
“I set it up so that as soon as there’s motion, you’ll be notified with a chime,” Wentworth said.
“This is awesome. If Luigi and Ricco take the car somewhere, this app notifies me, and I can track them.”
“Precisely. Isn’t technology wonderful?” Tori asked.
“And frightening.” She slipped the cell phone into her purse. “Thank you for letting me borrow the device and for taking Brittney, Luigi and Ricco in.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Thank you, Wentworth,” Carlita said.
“My pleasure.”
The women exited the garage, and Carlita consulted her watch. “I should be going, but first let me say good-bye.”
It took a few minutes to track the trio down. Brittney was first, and she found her already settling into her room. “I’ll check on you later.”
Ricco and Luigi were next, and she found them hanging out in Tori’s game room, a paneled room with intricate oriental rugs covering the floor. A pool table was in the center of the room, flat-screen televisions lined the walls and a cluster of arcade-style video games filled one corner. There was even a snack bar.
A thick cloud of smoke lingered in the air. Carlita gasped in horror when she realized Ricco was smoking. “Ricco. What are you doing?”
“Havin’ a smoke.” Ricco leaned forward, balancing the pool stick on the edge of the pool table. “I already cleared it with the big man.”
“Byron?”
“This is the smoking room,” Tori explained. “It was the only room in the house where my husband, William, was allowed to smoke.”
“As long as you don’t mind.”
“Not at all.”
“I’m leaving now.” Carlita jangled her keys. “I’ll keep my cell phone handy in case you need anything.”
“We may never leave,” Luigi joked. “They serve fancy dinners, snacks, drinks. This place is freakin’ awesome.”
“I’m glad you’re pleased with the accommodations,” Tori said. “Did Byron give you a tour?”
“He sure did. We’ll be on our best behavior, keep our weapons holstered and clean up after ourselves,” Ricco promised.
“Thank you.” Carlita reminded them she was only a phone call away and she would let them know as soon as an arrest had been made.
“I hope the cops take their sweet old time,” Ricco said.
Tori walked her to the front door, once again reassuring her she was perfectly comfortable with the houseguests.
Carlita prayed a brief prayer as she climbed into her car and pulled onto the drive. Despite Tori’s graciousness in extending an invitation to the trio, she vowed to do everything in her power to try to figure out who took Rutger out…and the sooner, the better.
Chapter 18
Carlita’s plan was to call Reese when she got home to see if there was a possibility of accessing the trolley rider’s records to find out who was on board the morning of the incident between the Savannah Six and Phil Duce, but she didn’t have to.
Reese, who worked weekdays and the Saturday afternoon shift, was waiting for her on her doorstep. She followed Carlita’s car to the end of the alley.
“Were your ears burning?” Carlita slammed the door and clicked the key fob before joining her friend. “I was going to call you.”
“You didn’t get my message? I sent you a text.”
“No.” Carlita reached for her cell phone. “I see it now.”
Reese glanced nervously over her shoulder. “Do you mind if we go inside? I think I’m being followed.”
“You’re not the only one,” Carlita motioned to her friend, and she fell into step.
“Buzz told me Polivich and Jackson were in his office yesterday, asking a bunch of questions and wanting to see my pe
rsonnel file. I’m telling you, it’s only a matter of time before they pin me with some bogus charge. I’ll lose my job and my freedom, all over a man who made it his mission to stir up trouble.”
“I’m sure it’s standard procedure, and they didn’t find anything,” Carlita patted Reese’s shoulder. “You’re a model employee.”
“Not quite,” Reese grimaced. “Remember the time Elvira and I got into it, and I kicked her off the trolley?”
“Yes, but that was Elvira.”
“I’m not getting a good feeling. My days are numbered.”
Carlita followed her friend inside. “I’ve been mulling over the whole situation, going back to the moment it escalated on board the trolley. Is there any way to access the records to find out who was on the trolley the morning of the incident, other than the Savannah Six and Phil Duce?”
“The only records we keep are the BOPs - those with business owners’ passes. We also keep records of the regulars, but I can already tell you none of the Savannah Six used cards. Criminals don’t want you tracking them.”
“So, it wouldn’t be worth our time to check the records,” Carlita said.
“I doubt it, but I can still take a look at them later before I start my shift.”
The women climbed the stairs and found the apartment door ajar. Carlita could hear the tinkle of laughter coming from within. “Mercedes?”
A flushed Mercedes hurried out of the kitchen, closely followed by a sheepish Sam Ivey.
“Hey, Ma.”
“What’s that smell?” Carlita sniffed the air. “Are you cooking?”
Mercedes’ face turned a shade of red. “Sam and I ran into each other walking the dogs. He told me he had this morning off, so I invited him to breakfast/brunch.”
“I see.” Carlita smiled slyly. “How thoughtful.”
“It smells good,” Reese sniffed appreciatively.
“I made Valdosta paninos. It’s a breakfast panini with freshly sliced prosciutto cotto, fontina cheese, and Ma’s homemade mayonnaise layered on a semi-sweet bun. I made some extra if you want to join us.”
“The weather is nice, and there’s plenty of room for us on the balcony,” Sam chimed in. “We could dine al fresco.”
Mercedes and Carlita burst out laughing.
“What’s so funny?” Sam asked.
“Al fresco in Italian means spending time in the cooler or jail,” Carlita explained.
“I meant dine outside.”
“We know what you meant. Reese and I don’t want to interrupt.”
“You’re not interrupting,” Mercedes insisted.
Reese patted her stomach. “I’m never one to pass up delicious food.”
“It’s settled then. I’ll pour the espresso macchiatos.” Sam reached for the small ceramic cups. “If someone wants to lend a hand and grab the bowl of fruit and juice, we’ll head outside before the food gets cold.”
Carlita dropped her purse on the counter and followed Mercedes, who was carrying the plate of sandwiches, to the balcony table. “I’m sorry, Mercedes. We didn’t mean to ruin your romantic brunch.”
“It’s not a romantic brunch.” Mercedes rolled her eyes. “I was walking Rambo, ran into Sam and Sadie and invited him over. It’s no big deal.”
“A big deal? You deciding to cook is a big deal,” her mother joked.
“If Brittney can cook, so can I. Speaking of Brittney, how did it go dropping the three of them off at Tori’s place?”
“Fine. I think I’m more concerned about them staying at Montgomery Hall than Tori is.”
“If anyone can handle those three, it’s Tori. She has the background and staff to keep them safe and out of trouble.”
“I still think Ricco and Luigi know more about Rutger’s death than they’re letting on.”
Reese and Sam started heading their way, and Carlita changed the subject. “Now that Brittney is gone for a couple of days, are you coming back home?”
“Yeah. I figured I would give Autumn a break from having me around. Besides, her futon is harder than a rock, and it’s killing my back.”
“I’ve got the caffeine,” Reese sing-songed. “What a treat…a gourmet breakfast. I don’t believe I’ve ever had Valdosta panino.”
They all settled in at the table. Mercedes passed around the plate of sandwiches while Carlita reached for the bowl of fresh fruit.
“Are you two dating?” Reese eyed Sam and Mercedes curiously. “I’ve noticed you walking the dogs when I’m on my route.”
“We’re friends,” Mercedes picked at a piece of melted cheese. “We like to hang out.”
“Friends?” Sam chuckled. “That’s news to me.”
“I mean. Yeah. We’re more than friends.” Mercedes shot Sam an exasperated look. “I already told you, if I mention the word ‘dating,’ Ma will have us engaged before Christmas.”
“And that’s a bad thing?” Sam teased.
Mercedes scowled.
“Fine. We’re friends…very good friends,” Sam played along.
“Dating friends,” Carlita clapped her hands. “A Christmas engagement sounds romantic.”
Mercedes kicked her mother under the table.
“Ouch.”
“Your daughter is starting to become violent. I think it’s time to change the subject,” Sam sobered. “The authorities still haven’t made an arrest in Davis Rutger’s death. They have a few persons of interest. Two of them are the men who were hanging around our neighborhood the other night.”
Carlita and Mercedes exchanged a quick glance. “Did they say what the men looked like?”
“One was medium build, wearing dark clothing. The other was heavyset and wearing a fedora. They asked me if I’d seen anyone matching those descriptions. I told them your daughter-in-law was here but that I hadn’t seen anyone else.”
“You’re a former cop.” Carlita popped a grape in her mouth. “You’ve heard the story. Who do you think killed Davis Rutger?”
“Someone who knew him. It wasn’t a random murder,” Sam said. “My guess is it had something to do with the trolley incident since his body was dumped in the vicinity. Maybe another member of his group or one of Phil Duce’s dregs.”
“I didn’t even know the Black Stallion Club was back open until the other day.”
Sam rubbed his thumb and index finger together. “The Duce family greased a few palms. Phil Duce is Pat Duce’s brother. But back to my theory…it was either one of Duce’s guys who took Davis Rutger out as payback or it was one of Rutger’s own posse. They’re a rough bunch.”
Carlita reached for her macchiato, savoring the robust aroma before taking a tentative sip. “I’ve done a little research on the other five in the group. There are four men and a woman…Lisa something.”
“Lisa Zant,” Sam said. “Most of them have rap sheets.”
“Did you hear that from the guys at the station?”
“Yeah, but it’s public information. All you gotta do is search the county’s public arrest records.”
Carlita’s jaw dropped. “Seriously?”
“Of course. With all of your sleuthing background, you’ve never done that?” Sam teased.
“No, but you can bet your bottom dollar I’m gonna start today.”
“Darn tootin’,” Reese nodded. “The cops are after me, but I’m not going down without a fight. Detective Polivich is snooping around in my personnel file. I think someone followed me home from work last night. It’s only a matter of time.”
“Why you? You wouldn’t hit my radar as a suspect.”
“Because I tried to tase Rutger. Because his body was found feet away from where the incident took place and….” Reese hesitated, “because I have a few shiners in my past.”
“A few shiners?” It was Sam’s turn to look surprised. “You have an arrest record?”
“It’s old. Decades old. I should’ve had it expunged. I had no idea it was going to come back and bite me, so now I’m trying to figure out who took Rutger out.
”
“We are, which means we have some research to do before Reese heads to work.” Carlita slid her chair back and reached for the empty plates. “I’ll clean up. You two relax and enjoy your coffee while you make googly eyes at each other.”
Reese followed suit and stood. “I know you don’t want to hear it, but you two make such a cute couple.”
“Thanks.” Sam smiled, the dimple in his cheek deepening as he turned to Mercedes. “Did you hear that? We’re perfect for each other.”
“I give up.” Mercedes crossed her arms and leaned back in the chair. “We might as well take an ad out in the Savannah newspaper and announce our commitment.”
“I like the idea,” Sam laughed.
“We better get out of here before Mercedes starts throwing dirty dishes at me.” Carlita and Reese made quick work of clearing the table, insisting the couple stay put and enjoy their coffee.
Reese even refilled their cups before returning to the kitchen to help Carlita. “Why is Mercedes so determined to downplay their relationship?”
“Because she thinks I’m determined to marry her off. She’s been attracted to Sam from the moment they met but refused to admit it. She and my eldest, Vinnie, are stubborn as mules.”
Reese scraped the scraps into the trashcan and handed Carlita the dirty plate. “Then he’s got his work cut out for him.”
“He does, but I also think Sam enjoys the chase and is up for the challenge.”
The women made quick work of cleaning the kitchen and then Carlita dragged a dining room chair next to her desk chair. She grabbed the list of the Savannah Six names and began tapping the keys. “Savannah arrest records.”
A link popped up at the top of the page and Carlita began entering the names. The first two - Quinton Jackson and Axel Bell, had no prior record, or at least no county arrest record.
Up next was Kellen Saylor. “No previous record for this guy other than his recent involvement with the Savannah Six and attacking the ferry captain,” Reese said.
Carlita consulted her notes. “He moved to the area not long ago. Maybe there hasn’t been enough time for him to build up a rap sheet here.”
Turmoil in Savannah: A Made in Savannah Cozy Mystery (Made in Savannah Mystery Series Book 13) Page 13