Chapter 24
“I’m not seeing it.”
“It looks like a tattoo,” Dernice said. “On their lower right arm.”
Elvira tilted her head, staring sideways at the screen. “The mark three inches above the right wrist?”
“Yeah.”
“It doesn’t look like a tattoo to me.”
Dernice scratched her forehead. “It looks vaguely familiar, like I’ve seen it before.”
“From your motorcycle club?”
“Maybe. Let me ask Luigi.” Dernice fired off a brief text message to her boyfriend, along with a copy of the photo in question.
He replied within seconds. Angel wings.
Dernice: They look familiar.
Luigi: From the Thursday Riding Club?
Dernice: Maybe.
The texts flew back and forth until Luigi signed off, claiming he needed to get back to work.
“Luigi and I are both thinking it might be someone from the bike club.” While she talked, Dernice scrolled through her phone’s photo album until she found the last set of group photos she’d taken, right after Creed’s accident.
“You could be chasing your tail,” Elvira finally said.
“Maybe, but I’m almost positive I’ve seen this tattoo before,” she insisted. “If it’s the one I’m thinking about, the angel wings have a red heart in the center.”
“Even if you figure out who this person was, it doesn’t mean they murdered Sonny Skidz.”
“Who were the other women at the engagement party?” Carlita began sifting through the notes she’d taken. “I must’ve left the party list at home.”
“I have a copy.” Elvira thumbed through a messy pile of papers on her desk. “Here it is. I’ll name everyone, starting at the top.” She cleared her throat and began reading off the list of names. “Cyclone Courtney.”
“Was not there,” Carlita interrupted.
“Right. Last-minute cancellation.” Elvira drew a line through her name and continued. “Reese, Shrimpy, Steve Winters, Paisley, Annie Dowton, Juice, Duke and Ed, who both work under Luigi now. The last person on the list is Reyna Osmond.”
“Reyna Osmond,” Carlita repeated. “I don’t remember meeting her.”
“She’s in the photo but hasn’t been a part of our group for very long.” Dernice handed Carlita her phone. “She’s the skinny chick on the right.”
“And the woman on the left?”
“Courtney.”
Carlita studied the curvy woman with long dark hair. “I’ve seen pictures of her. No wonder she caught Sonny’s eye. She’s a real looker.”
“She’s a little rough around the edges, but overall a good gal. So now what?”
“How close are you to Rocky, Sonny’s brother?” Carlita asked.
Dernice shrugged. “We’re friends. We don’t make a point of hanging out, but Rocky’s a regular guy, not a chick magnet like his brother was. He’s much quieter, more laid back.”
“Does he live nearby?”
“He and Sonny own…or owned…a duplex and both live there.”
Carlita blinked rapidly. “Beside each other?”
“Yeah.”
“I think we might have a way to kill two birds with one stone. Find out from Rocky his brother’s cause of death and, if we’re lucky, convince him to let us take a look around Sonny’s place.”
“Actually, I already have a way in. He collects sunglasses and borrowed a favorite pair of mine during our last ride. All I gotta do is tell Rocky I’m not sure which pair they are. Hopefully, he’ll let us check Sonny’s stash.” Dernice snapped her fingers. “We’ll be in like Flynn.”
“When?”
“How does tomorrow morning sound?”
Elvira made a timeout with her hands. “Hold on a sec. Pete and I cut a deal. I plan to be at your place bright and early tomorrow morning.”
“It’s not like we’ll show up on Rocky’s doorstep at daybreak. I’ll have time to supervise your dig before meeting Dernice and visiting Rocky.”
“I’ll call him to see if he’s available.” Dernice excused herself. She returned in record time, a triumphant gleam in her eye as she waved her cell phone in the air. “It’s a done deal. You and I can swing by right after my morning security shift. He’s expecting us around eleven thirty.”
Carlita’s brows knitted with concern. “How is he doing?”
“He’s taking it pretty hard. He said the cops have been by a couple of times.”
“Did he say if they found any clues or evidence?” Elvira asked.
“I didn’t want to ask too many questions. I figured Carlita and I could find out in a roundabout way when we get there.”
“Thank you, Dernice.” Carlita impulsively hugged her. “I feel like we’re getting closer to figuring out what happened to Sonny. All we need is one big break.”
“If we play our cards right and approach Rocky with the right tone, I think he’ll help us.”
“What about my hug?” Elvira sulked. “I risked my business to try to help.”
“And benefitted from it,” Pete reminded her. “With cash and permission to do a little exploratory digging.”
“Still.”
“You could have easily said no.” Carlita wrapped both arms around Elvira and squeezed her tight. “You’re the best-est, most annoying almost friend I’ve ever had.”
Elvira jerked back. “Did you call me your BFF?”
“No. I said almost friend. Not a best friend forever.”
Elvira ignored the comment. “I’ve never had a BFF before. I promise no matter what, I’ve got your back.”
Carlita leaned in so that their eyes met. “I suppose on some level I do consider you a friend. Regardless, you annoy me in so many ways I can’t even begin to count them.”
“You’re not exactly easy to put up with yourself,” Elvira pouted.
“Which means our relationship is a match made in heaven.”
Elvira twined her fingers together. “Like this, my bestie.”
“We should get going,” Pete said. “It’s getting late, and tomorrow is shaping up to be a busy day for you.”
Elvira walked them to the door. “Don’t forget—first thing tomorrow.”
“I’ll meet you in the parking lot at seven thirty.” Carlita waited until she and Pete were out of earshot. “Do you think I made a mistake admitting to Elvira I consider her to be a friend?”
“She does have a way about her.”
“The woman is aggravating as all get-out, but to be honest, she’s always been there when we needed her.”
“And even when we didn’t,” Pete joked. “I think you admitting that you consider her a friend made her day.”
“I believe it did.” Carlita linked arms with her husband. “Whether I live to regret it remains to be seen.”