Chapter 28
“Let me get this straight.” Mercedes twirled her hair. “You want me to tag along on the charity motorcycle ride tomorrow morning and flirt with the biker dudes?”
“In a nutshell,” Carlita said. “I believe we’re closing in on the hooded figure we noticed hurrying from Sonny’s hospital room.”
“A person on the petite side, with a heart and angel wings tattoo,” Dernice added.
“Factor in the articles of women’s clothing your mother found hanging on Sonny’s coat rack, and we think we have it narrowed down.
Tutti, who is married to Hot Rod, and Reyna, who is fairly new to the biker group.
Leesa, another biker chick, has missed the last few events so I’m certain it wasn’t her. ”
“I’m hoping between the three of us, we’ll spot the wings and heart tattoo.”
“And then what? Tie them up and interrogate them?” Mercedes asked. “If one of them is responsible for Sonny’s death, they aren’t going to confess.”
“I haven’t made it that far yet, figuring out what to do if we spot the tattoo.” Carlita spun around, motioning to Dernice. “What about Rocky? He’s part of the biker group. Sonny was a womanizer. Maybe Sonny went after his brother’s love interest. They fought and Rocky took him out.”
Dernice made a fizzling sound. “An interesting theory, but way off. Remember…Rocky wasn’t at the engagement party.”
“Crud. You’re right. Back to square one and on the hunt for a woman who had a grudge against Sonny.”
“I’ll go. I mean, I want to help in any way I can. Although we have a problem and it might be a biggie.”
“What?”
“We don’t know how to drive motorcycles, not to mention the fact we don’t own one.”
Carlita scratched her forehead. “Mercedes is right.”
“You can ride with me. Mercedes can ride with Luigi, or vice versa.”
Elvira, who so far and much to everyone’s amazement, had remained silent during the discussion, finally spoke. “What about me?”
“You don’t have a motorcycle either.”
“But I want in on the sting,” she whined.
“Again, you don’t have a ride.”
“What if I borrow one?”
Dernice rolled her eyes. “Who would be dumb enough to let you borrow their motorcycle?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Friends don’t loan friends their motorcycles.”
“Maybe not your friends, but mine do,” her sister insisted.
“I bet they don’t.”
Elvira sprang to her feet. “I’m up for a little extra cash. How much do you want to bet?”
“Fifty bucks.”
“This will be an easy fifty bucks.” Elvira cackled gleefully and held out her hand. “It’s not binding unless we shake.”
Dernice shook. “Fifty bucks says you won’t have a bike unless you steal it.”
“I don’t need to steal a motorcycle,” her sister haughtily replied.
“This should go without saying, but when I say bike, I’m not talking about a tricycle a three-year-old rides.”
“I’ll have a motorcycle, shiny, new and one you’ll be salivating over,” Elvira vowed.
“I can’t wait to see it. The ride starts tomorrow morning at nine over at the fairgrounds. Let’s plan to meet in the alley at eight thirty.”
“Sounds good to me.” Carlita gave Dernice a fist bump. “I have to admit, I’m more than a little curious to see what Elvira’s ride looks like.”
Tink. Carlita’s cell phone chimed. “I gotta run. Tori Montgomery and I are having lunch over in the Brick District.”
Mercedes whistled loudly. “Fancy.”
“She hasn’t been feeling well lately. The doctor ordered a slew of tests and she finally has the results.” Carlita crossed her fingers. “I hope it’s nothing serious.”
“See you in the morning,” Elvira said.
“We’ll be here, ready to roll.” After parting ways with Mercedes in the alley, Carlita climbed into her car for the drive to the other side of town, which might as well have been a different world.
Visitors arrived at one of the most prestigious neighborhoods in the entire country as soon as they drove through the massive wrought-iron gates, passing by the towering live oaks canopying overhead, creating an enchanting tunnel of trees.
The epitome of old money and oozing Savannah charm, it was where the who’s who of the South lived in mega-mansions, hand-crafted by artisans featuring imported finishes and furnishings sourced from all around the world.
She pulled under the portico. A parking attendant promptly appeared to offer her a hand and park her car. Topnotch service and a country club staff team who didn’t miss a beat, all a part of the moneyed world of Savannah’s wealthy.
As soon as Carlita gave the woman at the counter Tori’s name, she was whisked away to a table near a tiered fountain offering an unobstructed view of Brick District Golf Club’s 9th hole through the floor to ceiling window.
“Carlita.” Tori slid her chair back.
She stopped her. “Don’t get up.” Carlita circled the table and gave her friend a gentle hug. “You’re looking well.”
“Better than when you last saw me.”
“I have to confess I’ve been more than a little concerned about you.”
“Hence the reason for your weekly calls, to check on me,” Tori said.
“Guilty as charged.” Carlita eased into the seat across from her friend, unfolded her napkin and placed it in her lap. “Hopefully, the doctor has given you some good news.”
“I’ll spare you the boring details. My diet needs to change. I need less stress and more exercise. My blood sugar has become an issue and I’m getting old,” Tori joked.
“Aren’t we all?” Carlita asked. “In other words, we live in a stressful world.”
The server arrived to take their order, recommending the Mongolian beef lettuce wraps with an Asian cucumber salad side dish.
“It sounds delightful. I’ll have the special.”
“I will as well.” Tori waited until the server left. “Speaking of stress, Ravello’s was on the news.”
Carlita’s shoulders drooped. “I threw a surprise engagement party for Elvira’s sister, Dernice, and Luigi, my tenant. Sonny Skidz, a guest who also works for the City of Savannah, got food poisoning and was rushed to the hospital. He wasn’t the only one who fell ill.”
Tori’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh dear.”
“It’s a mess.” Carlita filled her friend in on what had transpired, ending with the plan to figure out who the mysterious hospital visitor with the tattoo might be.
“The authorities have been investigating, I’m sure.”
“And are probably following the same trail I am. They’ve questioned me, Sonny’s brother, along with others from the Thursday Riding Club.”
“How do you propose to determine if this person, the tattoo person, is responsible for Mr. Skidz’s death?”
“I have no idea, at least not yet.” Carlita changed the subject. “How was your river cruise?”
“Fabulous. I have pictures.”
“Pictures I would love to see.” Carlita scooched closer, listening while her friend showed her photos from the recent European riverboat cruise. She was thrilled to see Tori looking tanned, rested, and relaxed. “The cruise did you a world of good.”
“We had such a lovely time that I’ve put a deposit down on another cruise, this one closer to home.”
The food arrived fresh and seasoned perfectly. While they ate, she and Tori caught up. Having a busy life and only a few close friends, Carlita cherished every single one of them. Tori Montgomery was at the very tippy-top.
All too soon, lunch ended, and the friends made their way to the valet station. Tori’s driver arrived first and helped her into the back seat.
With a cheery wave, Tori was off, on her way home to Montgomery Hall.
An inkling of sadness pinched Carlita’s heart.
Despite the good news that Tori’s health issues were under control and she looked healthier than she had the last few times they’d gotten together, the woman’s ailments mirrored her own.
Catching up with her friend was a reminder. The fact of the matter was, Carlita and Pete, also in their golden years, weren’t getting any younger. If they planned to slow down and enjoy a more laid-back lifestyle, they would have to start soon.
If not, she would blink again, and the window of opportunity to spend those sunset moments taking advantage of all they had worked so hard for would be gone.
But first, she needed to clear Ravello’s name and get her restaurant back on track.