Page 1 of Takedown in Savannah
Chapter 1
“It’s dope.” Mercedes plucked a zippered plastic bag off the sidewalk and held it up. “This is the second time in a week I’ve found a drug bag in front of the apartment’s courtyard.”
“And only steps away from our businesses on either side.” Carlita placed her hands on her hips, a grim expression on her face. “I read the other day the police department hired a bunch more cops, but it seems like instead of our streets being safer, they’re getting even more dangerous.”
“Which might start scaring tourists away and keep them from coming to Ravello’s Italian Eatery or our pawn shop,” Mercedes said. “It’s probably the San Maris Gang. They’re popping up all over downtown, not only here in Walton Square.”
Her daughter was right. For the past few months, the local news stations had been reporting about a spike in criminal activity. Not random crime but organized crime—gangs, whose main source of income was selling drugs and stealing from businesses.
So far, Savannah Swag, the Garlucci family’s pawn shop, and their Italian restaurant hadn’t been targeted, but day by day, Carlita noticed they were creeping closer, spreading out from the river and working their way into other squares.
“Elvira mentioned her office phone has been ringing off the hook. Business is booming. She’s having a hard time keeping up. Thank goodness things didn’t get busy for her until she got home. I haven’t even had a chance to ask her how her trip to Alaska went.”
“Probably pretty good if you don’t factor in her being arrested and charged with assault,” Mercedes reminded her mother. “If not for Sharky and Millie Armati, she might still be sitting in jail.”
“Not necessarily. The woman who was attacked refused to press charges. Still, I’m sure Elvira was more than ready to pack her bags and hightail it out of Whittier.”
“Have you told her?”
“About not finding pirate treasure below Pete’s restaurant? Not yet.” Carlita shook her head. “Today might be the day. She called, asking me to stop by as soon as I had a chance. It sounded important.”
“If I were you, I would escort her to the dig spot and then break the news.”
“I was thinking the same thing.” Carlita slapped her palms together. “Knowing Elvira, she won’t believe me and will insist on seeing it for herself. She’ll want to see ‘no-treasure-here’ piles of dirt.”
“I have to say the archaeologists did a thorough job.”
“And dug up every square inch of soil.” Carlita trailed behind Mercedes to the corner of the parking lot. “Something looks different.”
“It’s the fancy new set of wheels.”
“You’re right.” Carlita shaded her eyes and studied the vehicle. “Did Sam buy a sporty new convertible?”
“It belongs to Luigi. He traded in his old sedan for something newer and more dependable.”
She let out a low whistle. “I bet he and Dernice will have fun riding around in that thing.”
“I saw them take off in it the other night with the top down. Hang on. I want to get rid of this.” Mercedes darted over to the alley dumpster and tossed the plastic baggie in the bin. She caught up with her mother near Elvira’s back door.
Knocking loudly, they waited for her to appear, but no one answered.
“Maybe we should go around front.”
Mother and daughter trudged to the end of the alley and along the sidewalk until reaching EC Investigative Services/ EC Security Services’ front entrance. From the window, Carlita could see Elvira seated at her desk talking on her phone.
Her sister Dernice sat across from her, staring at a computer screen.
They slipped inside and waited until Elvira finished her conversation. She ended the call and waved her phone in the air. “Hey, Carlita.”
“Hello, Elvira. You asked me to stop by. Is now a good time?”
“It’s as good as any. We’re busier than a bee on a buzz saw. Who says crime doesn’t pay?”
“I suppose it depends on what side of the crime you’re working,” Carlita said. “Not that I want to see you go out of business, but this new gang is getting a little too close for comfort.”
“I’ve been finding drug paraphernalia and plastic baggies,” Mercedes said. “It looks like the San Maris Gang is starting to creep into our neighborhood.”
Elvira held a finger to her lips. “I heard from a reliable source that the cops are closing in on them. But for now, I’m having a hard time keeping up with the calls from people wanting to hire my company.”
