Pirates in Peril: A Made in Savannah Cozy Mystery (Made in Savannah Cozy Mysteries Series Book 10) Hope Callaghan (unputdownable books TXT) đ
- Author: Hope Callaghan
Book online «Pirates in Peril: A Made in Savannah Cozy Mystery (Made in Savannah Cozy Mysteries Series Book 10) Hope Callaghan (unputdownable books TXT) đ». Author Hope Callaghan
Numbness spread from Carlitaâs feet and her knees began to wobble. PleaseâŠhurry up and leave.
âThis is a bust,â Kensington grumbled. âWe might as well head to Emmett Pridgenâs office.â
The trio returned to their van and climbed back inside.
As soon as the doors shut and the van rumbled off, Carlita rolled onto her backside and began massaging her calves.
The door to the restaurant slowly opened and Pirate Pete emerged. âCarlita?â
âIâm over here.â
âOver where?â
âIn your bushes.â
The bushes parted and Pirate Pete peered in. âWhat are you doinâ in my bushes?â
âI was hiding from the reporters.â Carlita crawled out of her hiding spot. She reached for the wall to steady herself and slowly stood.
âI thought that was my job.â Pirate Pete extended a hand. âLet me give you a hand.â
Carlita gingerly stepped onto the asphalt. âI sent you the text to tell you I was here. Next thing I know, the nosy news crew was pulling in. I did the first thing I could think of.â
âI appreciate the warning.â Pete led her inside and closed the door behind them. âI have a feeling I havenât seen the last of them. Theyâll be back.â
âIâm sure they will.â
Carlita followed Pete to his office where he motioned her inside before closing the door behind them. âSavannah Fire Chief, Earl Gillison, called. Heâs going to stop by this afternoon to âchat.ââ
âHopefully, Lawson doesnât show up on your doorstep.â Carlita pointed at Gunnerâs empty birdcage. âGunner isnât here today?â
âHeâs home. I didnât dare bring him through the tunnels. He gets a little freaked out.â
âI donât blame him.â Carlita leaned forward in her chair and began massaging her knees.
âIâm sorry you had to hide out in my bushes. I appreciate the heads up.â Pete changed the subject. âHow did you happen to find out about the fire on board the Mystic Dream?â
âRambo and I were taking a walk down by the river. When we reached the Mystic Dream, I noticed right away something was wrong.â
Carlita told Pete she smelled the smoke first. âWhen we got closer, I spotted the fire trucks parked in front of the riverboat. From what I could tell, it appears most of the damage was in the back.â
âThe authorities believe the damage was intentional and not accidental?â Pete asked.
âThatâs my guess.â Carlitaâs head bobbed up and down. âThe roving reporter, Brock Kensington, marched right up to Lawson Bates and asked him. Thatâs how I found out Lawson is accusing you of damaging his riverboat.â
âThe man has his share of enemies. Any number of people couldâve been responsible for the damage to the riverboat.â
âI heard that, too,â Carlita said. âYou werenât the only one. He also named Mark Fox and the city development manager as suspects.â
Pirate Pete lifted a brow. âEmmett Pridgen?â
âYes, that was the name.â Carlita leaned back in her chair. âDo you think heâs naming you because you told him you were opening a pirate ship in Savannah?â
âCould be.â Pirate Pete scratched his chin thoughtfully. âHe wasnât too keen on the idea, Iâll give you that. Thanks again for the warning.â
âYouâre welcome.â Carlita glanced at her watch. âI should go. Iâm meeting Glenda Fox for a late lunch. I warned her, as well.â
âAre you going to warn Emmett Pridgen?â
âNo. I heard Kensington tell his crew he wanted to head to Pridgenâs office when he found out you werenât going to answer the door.â
âBetter him than me.â Pete stood. âIâll walk you out.â
Carlita paused when they reached the parking lot. She squinted her eyes and studied her friendâs face. âI havenât had time to review the agreement yet and was wondering about the money.â
âWe werenât sure how much you were comfortable investing,â Pete replied. âWeâre hoping for at least twenty-five thousand.â
âI see. Now that I have a dollar figure, it will help me make my decision.â During the short walk home, Carlita mulled over the offer. Was she taking on more than she could handle? Three businesses would keep her hoppingâŠa fourth might be too much.
Back at the apartment, Carlita opened the alley door and stepped inside. A loud thump, thump echoed from upstairs.
âWhat in the world?â Carlita climbed to the top of the stairs and placed her hand on the hall wall. The sound was coming from her apartment. She fumbled with the lock and then swung the door open. âMercedes?â
The music was even louder inside the apartment, so loud that it rattled the doorknob.
Carlita marched down the hall and pounded on her daughterâs bedroom door. âMercedes Garlucci!â
The music continued.
âThis is crazy.â Carlita backtracked through the apartment and stepped onto the balcony. Rambo was right behind her. âIâll bet the racket is hurting your ears, too.â She patted her poochâs head and then dialed her daughterâs cell phone number.
âHello?â
âMercedes, what is going on?â Carlita yelled into the phone.
âI donât know what youâre talking about,â her daughter calmly replied.
âThe racket! Turn down the racket and meet me on the balcony.â Carlita jabbed the end call button and began massaging her temples.
âHi, Carlita.â
Cool Bones, Carlitaâs rear tenant, leaned over his balcony railing and waved. âYou having a party?â
âIf thereâs a party, I wasnât invited. I apologize for the racket.â
âNo worries. When you got a minute, I want to run something by you.â
âIâll be over as soon as I figure out what is going on.â
Cool Bones chuckled. âGood luck.â He stepped back inside and she heard his sliding door close.
The music suddenly stopped and Mercedes joined her mother on the balcony. âWhatâs up?â
âI was going to ask you the same thing.â Carlita placed a fisted hand on her hip. âWhatâs up with the disco music? I heard it as soon as I walked into the building.â
âI was listening to music.â
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