Exes and Woes: A Garlucci Family Saga Novel (Made in Savannah Mystery Series Book 14) by Hope Callaghan (good summer reads .TXT) 📗

the divorce, how does someone messing around here, not to mention forcing our van off the road, fit into all of this?”

“I don’t know. What I do know is that Elvira didn’t want me to sign for those papers and now I’m regretting going against her wishes. Gremlin’s attorneys can move forward, and she’ll have to surrender the information regarding her businesses if the courts request it.”

“What are you gonna do?” Carlita asked. “Are you going to tell your sister what you did and continue to let Zulilly hang around?”

“Elvira needs to come home. Zu needs to know we’re onto her and that I know her father is behind all of this.” Dernice placed her hands on her cheeks. “I hate to ask you since I know what my sister has put you through, but I’m at my wit’s end. Will you help me come up with an idea for setting some sort of trap, a way to confirm my suspicions about what’s going on?”

“I…” Carlita studied the woman’s face. She had more than enough on her own plate – and her own share of worries. She didn’t need any more. But the way Dernice looked at her, the look of pleading. The woman needed help, and Carlita was never good at turning people down.

She blew air through thinned lips. “Okay. I’m not sure how I can help, but I’ll try.”

“Tybee is the link. We need to go back there and take another look around.” Dernice was booked with jobs for the rest of the day, so the women agreed to meet first thing the following morning.

*****

Carlita was up early. Since Mercedes was still asleep, she left a note before heading to the car, where she found Dernice already waiting.

“I’ll drive.” Carlita jangled her keys. During the drive, the women discussed Elvira’s current location.

“I was up half the night thinking about the divorce papers,” Dernice said. “I’m almost certain that’s why Elvira was depressed and why she’s in St. Augustine.”

Carlita slowed as they passed by the gift shop Mercedes and she had previously visited. She circled the block and eased the car into an empty spot in front of a recently renovated building. A gold-lettered Sales Office sign filled the upper half of the building’s large picture window.

“Looks like they just opened.” Dernice reached for the door handle. “We should check it out.”

Once they entered the building, they approached a small counter displaying several brochure stands. A dark-haired woman who had been sitting at a desk near the back wall smiled pleasantly as she crossed the room to greet them.

“Good morning.” Carlita approached the counter. “We’re curious about your sign out front.”

“This is the sales office for Coastal Adventures. I’m Kim Turbell, one of Coastal’s sales representatives.” The woman removed a brochure from one of the nearby stands and handed it to Carlita. “We’re in the early phases of creating one of the most exciting communities on the coast.”

The brochure’s cover sported an inviting picture of a sandy beach with shimmering water as the backdrop.

Carlita flipped the brochure open, revealing a map of the future development. “It looks like it’s going to be a very nice resort.”

“The entertainment complex will be a premier vacation destination. We have two more developments to the south. One is on St. Simons Island and the other in St. Augustine,” the woman explained. “If you would like more information, you can jot your name on the signup sheet. You’ll be notified of our progress and when properties become available for purchase.”

“I guess it wouldn’t hurt.” Carlita scribbled her name and email address on the sheet. “I have a few investment properties of my own. It would be fun to own a vacation spot close to home. My granddaughter, Violet, would love it.”

Dernice pursed her lips. “You people are going to ruin the tranquility and footprint of this beautiful island, causing congestion and increased prices, not to mention higher taxes. Elvira should know better than to contribute to the ruining of a beautiful island like Tybee by greedy developers.”

“Elvira?” The woman’s head snapped up.

“Elvira Cobb,” Dernice said. “She’s my sister. She owns a property Coastal is interested in purchasing.”

Turbell’s expression grew grim, giving Carlita the impression the woman either knew Elvira or had heard her name before. Or it could have been Dernice’s reproach about ruining the island with big development. “I’m sorry you feel that way. Our company’s belief is the complete opposite. We believe this will help enhance the community by bringing in money for more services as well as tax breaks for businesses and homeowners.”

“And tons of cash in your pocket,” Dernice muttered.

“Thank you for your time.” Carlita grasped Dernice’s arm, certain trouble was brewing on the horizon. She propelled her out of the building and onto the sidewalk. “I think she took your opinion personally.”

“Did you see the look on her face when I mentioned Elvira’s name?” Dernice glanced back inside the sales office. “They must have crossed paths.”

 “I wouldn’t doubt it. Since we’re already here, we might as well check on Elvira’s place again. It’s right around the corner.”

“Hang on. I’ll be right back.”

Before Carlita could stop her, Dernice returned inside.

Carlita watched as she approached the counter. The woman frowned and waved her arms. There was a brief exchange, and then Dernice exited the building.

“What did you say?”

“I asked her if she knew Elvira, and she said ‘no.’ I think she’s lying.”

The women walked to the end of the block, where they found a row of abandoned buildings. A bulldozer sat poised to level the landscape.

“Let’s go in the back this time.” Dernice tromped between Elvira’s building and the one next to it. The buildings were so close together, Carlita could touch both walls.

Clusters of weeds pushed up through the cracks in the crumbling concrete.