Page 57 of Takedown in Savannah
“Think, Dernice. You need to shake this guy.” She walked to the end of the block and stopped at the traffic signal. Crossing the street, she kept moving until she reached the bustling City Market.
The last place she wanted to go was home, to bring danger to her doorstep. City Market was a busy place, but she couldn’t hang out there forever.
An idea popped into her head. Dernice clicked on the Uber app and arranged for a car to pick her up. While she waited, she casually looked around. No one stood out as a potential stalker. Still…she couldn’t shake the feeling.
The Uber driver arrived minutes later. She climbed into the car and closed the door behind her. “You going to the airport?”
“I am.”
The driver glanced in the rearview mirror. “Traveling light, I see.”
“It was a spur-of-the-moment decision.”
“Trying to make a quick getaway?” he joked.
“You could say that. Yeah, I’m trying to get away.”
Chapter 24
After leaving Luigi and Josh in charge of the pawn shop, Carlita, Elvira and Tony made it as far as Morrell Park before they stopped to regroup.
“Let’s take a look at the tunnel maps.” She sorted through the small stack of maps Glenda had given her. “According to this and what Glenda told me, these are the tunnels branching off toward the river. The first is Pete’s. The second is near Gunner’s Landing, and the last is closer to Talmadge Memorial Bridge, not far from City Market.”
“What’s the plan?” Tony asked.
“Try to follow the San Maris Gang’s footsteps. If they’re using the river as their escape route, I want to know how they’re accessing it.”
“We can confirm it’s not via Pete’s tunnel,” Elvira said.
“True, but someonewastrying to pry his door open,” Carlita reminded her. “Throw in the speedboat we caught on camera hightailing it down the river right around the time the bank was broken into and I’m eighty percent certain the gang is using the river to travel into Savannah.”
“The most logical move would be to check out the second tunnel,” Tony said. “How do we get there?”
“Good question.” Carlita handed the map to Elvira. “You’re the tunnel expert.”
She flipped it around, turning it so the map was laid out in the same direction they were standing. “Glenda went crazy with the highlighter.”
“She was trying to help me understand the map,” Carlita said. “From what I’m able to figure out, the entry or access point is a stone’s throw from Gunner’s Landing.”
“I agree. Let’s head that way.” Elvira tucked the map under her arm and made a beeline for the pirate ship’s dock.
They stopped directly in front of it. To the left was a memorial. To the right were four identical park benches. At the top of the incline was a flagpole with a bountiful arrangement of blooming fall flowers.
Carlita took the map and unfolded it. “Based on this, we’re standing almost on top of the tunnel’s access point.”
Tony slid his sunglasses on top of his head and studied the sidewalk. Only a few steps away was a manhole cover, partially hidden by a brick retaining wall. “This must be the spot.”
“I can’t picture the gang members climbing in and out of this hole.”
“Unless they’re desperate,” Tony said. “Not only is it barely accessible, it’s highly visible.”
Elvira sorted through the remaining sheets until she found the page she was looking for. “What does the access point look like on your map?”
“Like a round cover.”
“It would be safe to assume this box marking the next access point is either a door or a square cover.”
“There’s only one way to find out.”
