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

to the bustling pawn shop. She sprang into action, ringing up several sales. Finally, the shop cleared, and she joined her son in the back.

“Thanks, Ma. One minute the store is empty. The next, it’s full,” Tony said. “You ever find out about the explosion next door?”

“It was a faulty old propane tank. The investigators aren’t sure what ignited it. There’s some damage to EC Security Service’s front entrance door, but it’s nothing that can’t be repaired.”

“Was anyone hurt?”

“Thankfully, no. Dernice had placed the tank by the door, planning to swap it out for a new one. She left right before it blew,” Carlita said. “Dernice is having a rough day. Luigi and I rode along with her to Tybee to check out a property. On the way back, the car behind us forced her van off the road and the driver pulled a gun on us.”

“Are you kiddin’ me? That’s nuts. Sounds like a case of road rage.”

Carlita hadn’t considered that. “I suppose that could have been the case. Before I forget, Dernice hired Luigi to keep an eye on the place. It’s on a trial basis.”

“Good for him.”

The door chimed, and a customer stepped inside. “I’ll let you get back to work.” Carlita returned home and was greeted with the tantalizing aroma of herbs.

Mercedes was standing at the stove, staring at the bubbling dish. “I just took it out. It looks delish.”

“I hope this tastes half as good as it smells.” Carlita waited for it to cool slightly. She eased a generous spoonful of the layered eggplant into two small dishes and handed one to her daughter.

Mercedes studied the layers before sampling the dish. “You added your special Italian seasoning.”

“Only a pinch.”

“This is the best eggplant I’ve ever tasted.” Mercedes polished hers off and filled her dish a second time. “I was thinkin’ about what you said – how Dernice hired Luigi. Does she know about his background?”

“Yes, thanks to Elvira’s snooping. Dernice confessed she already knew about his work history – or at least enough to make an informed decision, which I think is one of the reasons she decided to hire him.”

“Luigi will be good at protecting the business.”

“Without a doubt.” Carlita slid the baking dish to the back of the stove. “We’ll have to give this a chance to finish cooling before covering it.”

Rambo, the family pooch, trotted to the kitchen and planted himself in the doorway.

“You wanna go for a walk?”

He extended his paws, stretching into a downward dog pose as he rubbed his face on the floor.

“I’ll take that as a ‘yes.’” Carlita stepped over him and headed for the door. “You wanna go with me and Rambo?”

“I’ll pass. I was right in the middle of an action scene when the timer went off. Maybe next time.” Mercedes returned to her room while Carlita followed the pup down the steps and into the alley.

“Hang on.” Carlita clipped his leash to his collar. “Which way should we go?”

She was still contemplating their walk when a compact car zoomed around the corner and turned into the alley.

Carlita tightened her grip on the leash and watched as the purple-haired driver sped past. The car swerved into an empty parking spot right next to Elvira’s car.

Chapter 6

“Looks like Dernice has company.” Carlita and Rambo strode to the other end of the alley.

The driver cast Carlita a glance as she slung a backpack over her shoulder. “Hey.” A thick layer of bracelets jangled as she reached inside the back seat.

“Hello.” Carlita offered the woman a tentative smile.

“What?” The woman pulled out a gym bag and slammed the door shut.

“What?”

“Why are you staring at me? Am I parked in the wrong spot?”

“I…it depends. This is the parking area for EC Investigative Services and EC Security Services.”

“Then, I’m in the right place.” The woman slid her sunglasses on top of her head and studied the building. “It’s a little smaller than Mom let on.” She turned her attention to Carlita. “You live around here?”

“Mom…” Carlita lifted a brow as it dawned on her who the purple-haired, Volkswagen-driving woman was. “You’re Zulilly.”

“Zulilly Fontaine. You know my mom?”

“Elvira,” Carlita said.

“Yeah. She’s not here.”

“No, she’s not.”

“Which is why I’m here. I’m here to help Aunt Dernice until Mom gets back. She’s worried about her.” Zulilly began walking.

Carlita and Rambo trailed after her. “You plan to stay here?”

Zulilly abruptly stopped. “You’re asking a lot of questions. Who are you?” she asked rudely.

“Carlita Garlucci. I’m your mother’s former landlord, not to mention her alley neighbor.”

“Ah. I get it.” Zulilly chomped loudly on her gum, her jaws working furiously. “You’re the annoying mafia lady Mom is always talking about.”

“Annoying mafia lady?”

“I wouldn’t take it personally. Mom doesn’t have many nice things to say about anybody.”

“Your mother is a pain in the…” Carlita bit back the rest of what she wanted to say about her troublesome neighbor. It was neither here nor there and had nothing to do with Zulilly. “I thought you and your mother had a falling out.”

“A falling out?” Zulilly adjusted her backpack. “Mom came to visit me in Hilton Head a couple of months ago. She was stressed out about a…personal matter.”

“Wait a minute… Your mother visited you a couple of months ago and told you she was stressed out about something.”

“Yep. Next thing I know, Auntie D is freaking out because my mom borrowed some cash from the business and left town.”

They had reached Elvira’s alley entrance. Zulilly turned her back to Carlita. She gave the door a sharp rap before glancing over her shoulder. “See you around.”

“I’m sure you will.” Carlita turned to go, but something told her to stay. She had a sneaking suspicion Dernice had