Page 54 of Waylaid in Whittier

The attendant helped Wanda into the passenger seat and waited for her to buckle up. “Take care Ms. Tillman.”

“I’m gonna try.” Wanda thanked the man and pulled the door shut. “Would you mind stopping by my place so I can shower and change into some clean clothes?”

“Of course not.” Elvira drove straight to the apartment building and escorted her upstairs to her unit. She waited near the door while she showered. Wanda reappeared, looking much better than she had earlier. “You don’t look like death warmed over anymore.”

“Thanks. The shower helped.” Wanda gently placed her fingertips on her bandage. “It’s a good thing I have excellent reflexes and ducked when I saw my attacker coming at me.”

“If you had to name someone, who do you think it was?” Elvira asked.

“Obviously, the person was at the bar the night of my attack and a part of our group,” Wanda said. “Maybe Otis or Alex.”

“Alex?” Elvira blinked rapidly. “I was thinking more along the lines of Carter.”

“Carter Morley?” Wanda thought about it. “Maybe. I mean, he seems like such a sweetheart.”

Elvira tapped the side of her forehead. “Sweet and flying under the radar, making him the perfect culprit because no one will suspect him. Like I said, I left the bait. The team was heading up for one of the final takes, which means camp is empty, giving whoever it is time to sneak in and try to get the goods.”

“Did you leave a map?”

“A fake map that’ll send whoever it is on a wild goose chase,” Elvira snickered. “Whenever you’re ready, we’ll hit the road.”

“I’m ready.” Wanda grabbed a jacket on her way out. They reached the elevator, only to find it was out of service. “The elevator has broken down again.”

“How annoying. Why don’t you get it replaced and be done with it breaking down?”

Wanda rubbed her index finger and thumb together. “Money. Too many cheapskates live in the building who don’t want to pay to have it replaced. They would rather it break down multiple times a week and inconvenience everyone.”

“An inconvenience until it goes haywire and someone gets hurt,” Elvira said.

“Not a chance.” Wanda waved dismissively. “It’s been acting up for years, maybe even decades. Ellie is a temperamental old broad. I guess we’ll have to take the stairs.”

Taking the side stairs and exiting out at the rear of the building, the women circled around and returned to Elvira’s rented pickup. They drove to the tunnel, barely passing through before vehicle traffic was waylaid and the train took over the tracks.

During the drive, they chatted about life in Alaska, how Wanda loved living there…loved the outdoors. She even loved the long winters.

“Better you than me,” Elvira said. “I’m happy as a clam living in Savannah, Georgia.”

“I’ve never been to Savannah. What’s so special about it?”

“The history. The architecture. Not to mention we have tons of things to do. If you ever get down my way, you’ll have to come and stay with me.”

“Do you have family close by?”

“My sister, Dernice and my other family, the Garluccis,” Elvira said. “They’re mafia.”

Wanda clutched her throat. “Your family is part of the mafia?”

“Not my real family, although it feels like we’re flesh and blood. I know it might be hard to believe, but sometimes I’m not the easiest person to be around. Carlita, the matriarch, kind of took me under her wing. In fact, I was a tenant of hers until she kicked me out.”

Wanda’s jaw dropped. “She kicked you out?”

“It was kinda my fault. I accidentally set my apartment on fire.”

“Good grief. I think I would kick you out too. And you’re still friends?”

Elvira twined her fingers. “Like this. I’ll be traveling to New Jersey to see her son.” She gave out a flirty whistle. “He is one smoking hot, babe. Would you like to see his picture?”

“Sure.”

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