Page 64 of Takedown in Savannah
“Standby.” Carlita sent a quick text to Dernice, asking her to confirm the time Shrimpy said the heist would take place.
She replied a nanosecond later.Between 11 and 12 tonight.
Carlita relayed the message to her husband. She could hear tapping on the other end of the line. “Are you still there?”
“I’m here. I pulled up the mapper app. It shows only a couple of cargo ships coming through at that late hour. Two to be exact.” Pete thanked her for the information and told her he would keep her posted.
“Why don’t you meet us at Elvira’s at six?”
“Good idea. I should have new information by then.”
“We can use all the help we can get.” After they hung up, Carlita finished jotting her notes and tucked them in the side pocket of her purse. One thing was certain. It was going to be a very long night.
Pushing the unsettling events aside, it was time to check in with Mercedes, who had sent a text asking her mother to call.
“Hey, Mercedes. I got your text. What’s up?”
“I have a couple of potential tenants who want to look at the apartment today, and I’m at work. Do you have time to call them back for me?”
“I do. Give me the information.” Carlita reached for the yellow pad and scribbled down the contact information. “I’ll call them right now.”
“Thanks. They both sound promising.”
Carlita promptly dialed the first on the list and left a message. The second applicant, a woman, answered her call. “I need to move soon and was hoping to look at the apartment today.”
“I’m only a couple of blocks away. I can show it to you now if you’re free.”
“I’m on my way.” The woman, Darlene, promised to meet her at the alley entrance.
After a mad dash to freshen up, Carlita headed out, making it to the alley with a few minutes to spare. A woman with pale, almost translucent skin, a stark contrast to her electric purple hair, stood on the stoop, smacking her gum and staring at her cell phone.
“Hello,” Carlita greeted her as she approached. “Darlene?”
“Dar for short.” The woman extended her hand. Long pointed nails, tattoos on each finger and a lingering odor reminiscentof a substance still considered illegal in some places emanated from her.Skunk weed.
Despite an initial assessment of her being a no-go, Carlita figured she was already there, so she might as well show her the unit.
She gave Darlene a brief tour and wrapped it up where they started, down in the alley. “As you can see, the apartment won’t be ready for another week. I’m sure Mercedes forwarded you a copy of the application.”
“Already filled out. I have it right here.” The woman handed her a stack of crumpled papers. “I’m very interested, although I do have a minor issue.”
“Which is?”
“I don’t have all the money. I have the first month’s rent but was wondering if we could work out a schedule for me to pay the security deposit and last month’s rent over the next thirty days.”
“I’m sorry. I won’t be able to rent the unit unless I have a fully executed rental agreement and all the money plus the security deposit,” Carlita said.
“I’m kind of in a bind.” The woman frowned. “My boyfriend borrowed some money from me. I’m trying to get it back. Unfortunately, he’s in jail right now, so I don’t think it’s gonna happen, at least not right away.”
“In jail?”
“Nothing major. Petty theft, arson, resisting arrest. He’s a good guy but has a few issues.”
“I see.” Carlita forced a smile. “It appears renting my unit won’t work for you.”
“Unless, like I said, we can work out a payment plan.”
Carlita pulled the door closed behind her. “It won’t be possible.”
