Page 33 of Takedown in Savannah
“I would think traveling by car would make more sense.”
“Unless it didn’t make sense.” Dernice hurried on. “Hear me out. Let’s say these thugs are from somewhere up north or down south and they live or travel via the river.”
“I’m following.”
“Not to suggest Pete or his ancestors were bad people, but pirates as a whole don’t have the best reputation.”
“True.”
“What if they’re modern-day pirates, sneaking into Savannah after dark via boat? They steal, rob, destroy, whatever, and then leave the same way, returning to their hideout.”
“The ocean is a pretty big place to hunt them down.” Carlita briefly thought about her conversation with Tori and Luigi’s possible involvement. Perhaps he had reverted back to his old ways.
It would be a shame, but not a shock. She hoped not. The Garlucci family had done what they could to give him a hand up and help him start over. And then there was the possibility Dernice was involved. She was a convicted criminal, having spent time in prison for armed robbery, no less.
Maybe the two, working as security guards, had been approached by the San Maris Gang and offered a deal too tempting to refuse. It would be an almost perfect setup to commit crimes. Legit security guards making sure the coast was clear.
Despite the plausible scenario, Carlita’s gut told her this wasn’t the case. Luigi had never shown any inclination or interest in returning to his previous line of work. If he had, her oldest son, Vinnie, would be the first to hire him back and offer him a position working for the Castellini family.
Same with Dernice. Still…you never really knew a person unless you lived with them. And even then, Carlita didn’t know half of what her deceased husband had been involved in while part of the “family.”
The bottom line was that it was entirely possible. “I visited Tori this morning. We got to talking about what was going on. She wondered if I thought Luigi would be tempted to return to a life of crime.”
“No way.” Dernice waved dismissively. “I know him better than anyone. He’s as clean as a whistle.”
“He’s never hinted at making a few quick bucks on the side?”
“We spend most of our free time together. I would know.” Dernice grew quiet. “But now that you mention it, something odd happened the other day.”
“Odd?” Carlita echoed.
“Yeah. He got a call and was talking to someone on the other end about a pickup,” Dernice said. “When I asked him who it was, he mumbled an excuse about it being the wrong number. His face got red, which only happens when he doesn’t want to talk about something.”
“Could you hear any of the conversation?”
“Nope. As soon as he answered, he walked away. I do know it was a man’s voice on the other end of the line.”
“Maybe he was going to pick up a pizza.”
Dernice wrinkled her nose. “Why wouldn’t he just tell me?”
Carlita leaned back in the chair. Could it be Luigi had become involved with the gang? The new car. An odd conversation. Being at the jewelry store only seconds after the window was busted out. The clues were adding up. Still…she didn’t want to believe he had returned to a life of crime.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
“That perhaps Luigi crossed over to the other side?” Carlita blew air through thinned lips. “I hate to even consider it.”
“I’m staying at his place for a couple of days until Elvira changes her mind about canning him. We could look for clues.”
“He’s at the pawn shop working with Tony.”
Dernice rubbed her palms together. “Let’s swing by there to make sure he’s not on break, and then you and I can do a quick search of his place.”
Carlita grimaced. “You want me to go with you?”
“Sure. I mean, you know more about what we should look for.”
“I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to take a look around.” A sick feeling settled in the pit of Carlita’s stomach. She had never stooped so low as to search a tenant’s apartment—except for Elvira’s, but then she’d had a good reason.
