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

After returning from their short trip to Rambo’s grassy strip, Carlita turned in. She tossed and turned all night, wondering how on earth the woman managed to cause so much trouble when she wasn’t even around.

She finally fell asleep and woke when Rambo began whining at the door. Carlita stumbled to the kitchen and started a pot of coffee. Her cell phone, which was sitting on the counter, chirped.

Carlita eyed the clock. It was only seven-ten. She snatched the phone off the counter and glanced at the screen. It was Elvira. Cranky from lack of sleep, she answered the call and got right to the point. “What do you want?”

“What kind of greeting is that?”

“The way I answer it when I know it’s you,” Carlita said rudely. “I barely slept last night, wondering if the cops were going to show up any minute with an arrest warrant.”

“You worry too much.” Elvira changed the subject. “I have a plan.”

“I’m not interested.”

“You haven’t even heard it.”

“I don’t need to. I already told you that you were on your own. This whole EC Investment Group, you trying to make a quick buck when you don’t know diddly about real estate has come back to bite you. Somehow, I have, once again, managed to get caught in the middle of your shenanigans. At this point, I’m going to suggest Luigi have nothing to do with your company if he wants to stay sane and alive. Leave me out of whatever new disaster you’re concocting. End of discussion.”

There was silence on the other end of the line, and Carlita knew the wheels were spinning in Elvira’s head.

“You’re not thinking clearly.”

“You’re right. I’m not.” Carlita tightened her grip on the phone. “I’m exhausted, stressed out and ticked off.”

“You really should look into anger management exercises. It’s not healthy to get so worked up.”

A sudden thought occurred to Carlita; actually, it was brilliant. “I want to buy your building.”

“Buy my building? What does this have to do with you being a murder suspect?”

“Everything. I wouldn’t be a suspect if it wasn’t for you. If you move away, it will eliminate ninety-nine percent of my stresses.”

“What about your mafia ties? You can run, but you can’t hide from the family, especially when one of your kids is involved with them.”

“My family is none of your concern.”

“Whatever. My building isn’t for sale. I’m in the perfect location.”

“For torturing me.”

“We need to stop bickering and get back to your current crisis,” Elvira said. “The authorities aren’t going to stop searching. I have a plan to uncover the killer and whoever has been behind the attacks. I’m almost certain now that my ex is involved. My plan will only take a couple of hours of your time.”

Carlita sucked in a breath. The last thing she needed was to continue to be involved in anything Elvira cooked up. Everything the woman touched or was even remotely involved in turned into a disaster.

“I’m also ready to sell. I’ll give you a cut of whatever I get out of the Tybee Island property. Ten percent.”

“Ten percent of what?” Carlita thought she’d heard a number thrown around but couldn’t remember what it was.

“Two hundred fifty thousand. You could make a quick twenty-five thousand for a couple of hours, plus bring a killer to justice, and I would return home.”

“That’s a case for not helping you,” Carlita joked.

“Very funny. Well?”

“I…” Carlita slowly wandered to the window and stared at the side of Elvira’s building. “Does it involve illegal activities?”

“Nope. There is one stipulation.”

“Here we go.” Carlita rolled her eyes.

“You have to pretend we’re partners.”

“Which won’t be hard since you’ve already told everyone, including the cops, that’s the case.”

“See? It will work out perfectly. The only snag is it would help me if I knew the name of the fourth Tybee property owner.”

“I know who it is.” Carlita started to tell Elvira and then changed her mind.

“Who is it?” she demanded.

“Why does it matter to you? You plan to have me handle your dirty work.” Carlita watched as a Savannah police car turned onto the alley. They drove to the other end and pulled into the parking lot. “The cops are here.”

“To see you?” Elvira asked.

“It’s either me or Dernice. I have to go.”

“Wait! What are you…”

Carlita hung up. Detective Wilson and another man, this one a uniformed officer, exited the vehicle and began circling Elvira’s parking lot.

Certain she was probably next on their list, Carlita made a beeline for the bathroom to get ready. While she showered, she wondered what kind of plan Elvira had in mind.

Every time Elvira was involved, it didn’t end well. Somehow, there was a link between Tybee Island and the woman’s death. Perhaps Kim’s death was unrelated to whoever had forced Dernice’s van off the road.

She finished showering and threw on a pair of slacks and a button-down blouse. Carlita made her way to her desk and computer. She switched it on and then typed in Mayor Clarence Puckett’s name.

A handful of news stories popped up. There was a quote from him about the re-opening of the recently renovated city hall.

He was also quoted singing the praises of Coastal Adventure and the new Tybee Island project, telling the news reporter he thought it was a wonderful opportunity for the island. He failed to mention he had a vested interest in the success of the venture.

Below that was another story, this one about the authorities re-opening the investigation into Puckett’s wife’s death.

Carlita’s heart skipped a beat as she read the story. The mayor’s wife, Mariella, had died several years back. Her death was ruled a suicide after her SUV was found partially submerged in the Savannah