The Family Affair: A Made in Savannah Cozy Mystery (Made in Savannah Cozy Mysteries Series Book 9) by Hope Callaghan (top 10 ebook reader TXT) 📗

They had almost cleared the front of the building when the door flew open and Elvira sprang onto the sidewalk.

“Carlita. Hey! I thought that was you.” Elvira waved. “Wait up.” She hurried to join them. “Hi, Violet.” Elvira patted Violet’s head.

“I had ice cream before dinner,” Violet informed Elvira.

“Oh. That sounds good. What kind?”

“Chocolate with sprinkles. When my mommy gets here, we’re going to watch Frozen.”

“Sounds like fun,” Elvira motioned them inside the building.  “You have a minute?”

“I suppose.”

Violet, Carlita and Rambo followed Elvira into the building.

Dernice was seated at one of the desks. She looked up when they stepped inside. “Hey, Carlita. I noticed you got some company. Who’s the smokin’ hot Italian?”

“I think you’re referring to my oldest son, Vinnie. He’s here visiting with his…” Carlita forced the words from her mouth.  “New wife.”

“Barbie?” Dernice asked.

“Brittney,” Carlita corrected.

“No, she looks like Barbie, as in Barbie doll.” Dernice waved her hands in and out to demonstrate an hourglass figure.

“And she looks like she’s twelve,” Elvira added.  “How old is she?”

“I have no idea,” Carlita said.  “It’s none of my business and it’s none of your business, either,” she added pointedly.  “Did you drag me in here to interrogate me on my new daughter-in-law?”

“No.” Elvira shook her head and gave Violet a quick glance.

Dernice caught the look.  “Say Violet. I have a box of doggie treats in the kitchen. Would you like to give Rambo one?”

Violet hopped on one foot.  “Yes. Rambo likes treats.”

Dernice and the child walked out of the office and Elvira turned to Carlita.  “I caught a spot on the evening news about some guy by the name of Robert Towns. He was found murdered in a park not far from the river.” She lowered her voice.  “Correct me if I’m wrong. Wasn’t Shelby’s ex-husband’s name Robert?”

“It was.”

“They said they were questioning persons of interest. What’s Shelby’s take?”

“I don’t know,” Carlita answered honestly.  “I haven’t discussed it with her yet.”

Elvira’s eyes widened. “You have Violet. Shelby is down at the police station, isn’t she?”

“That’s none of your business.”

Carlita’s cell phone beeped. She pulled it from her pocket and glanced at the screen. It was a text from Tony, telling his mother he was waiting for her in the apartment.

“We’ve gotta run.” Carlita glanced past Elvira. “Violet, it’s time to go.”

Violet, Rambo and Dernice joined them.

“It’s time to go home,” Carlita said.

“Rambo says thank-you for the doggie treats,” Violet said.

Elvira followed them to the door.  “I’m gonna swing by your place tomorrow. I think I may be able to help.”

“I hope we won’t need it.” Carlita and Violet stepped onto the sidewalk, circled around the side of the building and made their way past the parking lot and Tony’s car.

She held the door for Violet and Rambo, and followed them up the steps.  When they reached the apartment, Carlita whispered a quick prayer that Tony wasn’t alone and Shelby was with him.

If not, she had no idea what she was going to say to Violet.

***

Carlita herded Violet into the apartment where Tony was pacing near the balcony doors. “You’re alone.”

“Shelby is home,” Tony said in a clipped voice. “You can take Violet over there. Shelby is waiting for her.”

“Okay.” Carlita turned to Violet. “Grab your backpack off the couch and I’ll take you home.”

Violet darted to the other side of the room and hugged Tony.  “Bye-bye Tony Baloney.”

Tony smiled as he hugged the small child.  “Good-bye Violet.”

“What’s up with the nicknames?” Carlita ruffled Violet’s hair.  “I’m Nana Banana and Tony is Tony Baloney.”

“Because it’s funny.” Violet skipped across the hall and opened the apartment door, which surprised Carlita. Shelby was always careful to keep her front door locked at all times.

She followed Violet into the apartment. “Shelby?”

A pale Shelby emerged from the hall and met Carlita near the door.

“Mommy.” Violet ran across the room. “Nana and I walked Rambo and Dernice gave him treats. I ate chocolate ice cream before dinner and there’s a pretty lady visiting Nana.”

“There is?” Shelby kissed her daughter’s cheek.  “It sounds like you had fun at Nana’s house.”

Violet nodded. “Can we watch our movie now?”

“We can in just a minute. You go get it ready. I need to talk to Nana.” Shelby motioned Carlita into the hall and pulled the door closed behind her, leaving it open a crack. “Thank you for taking care of Violet.”

“I normally don’t like to stick my nose in my children’s affairs, but what is going on?” Carlita asked bluntly. “Tony is across the hall, wearing a hole in my floor. You’re white as a ghost and Violet said her daddy is coming for a visit.” She didn’t mention the news clip on television. She wanted to hear what Shelby had to say.

Shelby briefly closed her eyes and then opened them. “My ex, Robert, managed to find Violet and me.”

Carlita interrupted.  “I know you came from a women’s shelter, and I never felt it was my place to ask, but do you have a restraining order?”

“No.” Shelby lowered her gaze. “I started the process. Before I finished filing the papers, Robert and I reached an agreement. He promised he would leave the area if I didn’t pursue the restraining order. Everything was going fine until he contacted me, insisting we meet. He said he was working on some big deal with some important people and was going to give me a signed consent to terminate parental rights in exchange for cash.”

“Where is Robert now?”

Shelby glanced over her shoulder and inside the apartment.  “He’s dead. Someone shot him in a park not far from the riverfront district.”

“Surely, this doesn’t involve you.”

“It does. I agreed to meet him this morning and that’s when I