Page 9 of Takedown in Savannah
Luigi let out his signature whistle.
The figure, who was peering into a trash can, dropped the lid. “Luigi?”
Relaxing his stance, he stepped out of the shadows. “Hey, Steve.”
“I thought I recognized your whistle.” Steve swiped his forehead. “You scared the you-know-what out of me.”
Luigi motioned toward the gun Steve held in his hand. “It’s a good thing you didn’t start shooting and ask questions later.”
His friend and neighbor slid the weapon into the holster. “Unfortunately, this has become a sign of the times.”
Luigi introduced Ed to Steve. “The jewelry store manager around the corner hired EC to keep an eye on the place.”
“Because of the San Maris Gang,” he guessed. “A friend of mine’s business on the other side of town got broken into a coupla days ago. Last night, someone tried jimmying the lock on my back door.”
“I can understand the thugs wanting to break into a jewelry store, but I’m not sure why they would want to break into your place.”
Steve shrugged. “You got me. This gang has everyone’s nerves rattled. It’s good to know you’re on the beat. Paisley’s freaking out. Even the slightest sound has her running to the windows.”
The back door creaked open. Steve’s girlfriend appeared. “I thought I heard voices. Hey, Luigi.”
“Hey, Paisley. My partner and I are on patrol. We heard noises and came back here to check it out.”
“Anything you can do to keep the bad guys looking over their shoulders is appreciated.”
Luigi tapped the top of his watch. “Better get back on the beat.” He told them goodbye, and he and Ed retraced their steps.
Reaching the sidewalk, Luigi surveyed their surroundings. A warm heat crept up his neck, the feeling he got when he was being watched.
Ed cleared his throat.
“You feel it?” Luigi muttered under his breath. “We’re not alone.”
“Someone is watching us.”
Both men slowly turned, casually gazing around.
Streetlight on the corner. Clear.
Colby’s Corner Store’s covered entrance. Empty.
Shifting his attention, Luigi looked toward the Garlucci’s pawn shop. Floodlights beamed down onto an empty sidewalk.
“I don’t see anyone.”
“Same.” He began walking to the end of the block, still getting the feeling they were being watched. “Let’s head back toward the jewelry store.”
Ed abruptly stopped. “Elvira texted me and asked me to swing by for a minute.”
“Go ahead and see what she wants. I’m gonna take a leisurely stroll past the stores.”
The men parted ways, with Luigi heading in the opposite direction of his apartment building and Elvira’s businesses. He picked up the pace, moving at a fast clip. Unable to shake the feeling, he knew he was no longer being watched but being followed.
On high alert, he kept his hand on his holster, ready to act. Up ahead, he could see the light above the jewelry store. Shards of broken glass covered the sidewalk out front.
Luigi swore loudly and took off at a dead run. It couldn’t have been more than fifteen minutes since he and Ed had made their last pass. Which meant only one thing. Someone had been casing the joint, watching them until the coast was clear.
Wheoo…wheoo.As he drew closer, he heard the store’s alarm blaring loudly.
