Merry Masquerade in Savannah: A Made in Savannah Cozy Mystery (Made in Savannah Cozy Mysteries Series Book 8) Read online

  Mercedes shifted in her chair. “Austin, one of the other authors in my author group, told me it took him two weeks to sell a copy of his first book and months of eating ramen noodles before he made enough to be able to buy his first fast food meal.”

  “See? Everyone has to start somewhere,” Carlita said. “Don’t get discouraged and give up, if this is your dream.”

  “Oh, I’m not giving up.” Mercedes reached for the book. “I was so excited to see my book; I forgot to give you the rest of the mail.” She handed a small stack of envelopes to her mother. “It looks like we got some sort of invitation.”

  “I bet it’s the invitation to Tori’s masquerade party.” Carlita flipped through the stack until she reached a red invitation, a spray of glitter coating the top. She slipped her finger under the edge of the seal and removed a matching red invitation, the front decorated with twinkle lights and gold Christmas tree ornaments bordering the edge. “I think you’re right.” She read the invitation aloud:

  “Merry Masquerade

  You’re invited to Montgomery Hall’s Merry Masquerade Holiday Party for an evening of dinner, drinks and dancing.

  Please join us on Saturday, December 2nd 2017

  Time: Seven p.m. to Eleven p.m.

  Location: Montgomery Hall, Savannah / Tybee Island

  Hosted by: Victoria Montgomery

  Evening Attire: Formal attire and mask are required for admittance.

  RSVP Regrets Only: (212) 766-1218”

  “That was fast. I was over there a few days ago,” Carlita said. “The party is right after Thanksgiving and only a couple of weeks away.”

  “Speaking of Thanksgiving.” Mercedes wrinkled her nose. “What are we doing this year?”

  Carlita hadn’t given Thanksgiving much thought. The weather was too warm to think about celebrating the holidays. It would also be her first major holiday since her husband, Vinnie, had passed away.

  Paulie, his wife, Gina, and the kids would remain in Clifton Falls since they’d just left. Vinnie, Jr. was on the fence about making the trip south, which left Tony, Carlita’s middle son, Mercedes, her only daughter, and her to celebrate on their own.

  If Carlita had her way, she would hibernate inside the apartment for the holiday and pretend it never happened, but that was selfish. She needed to think of her children, too. “I figured I would roast a turkey, do a few of the trimmings and maybe invite Elvira, Shelby and Violet, and also Cool Bones, to join us since none of them have family close by.”

  “For someone who lives alone, Elvira sure seems to have a lot of company,” Mercedes said.

  “You noticed too?” Carlita had wondered about the guests who visited Elvira’s new digs at all hours of the day and night. The only reason she knew they were coming and going at all hours was because Elvira had installed a motion detector floodlight. The light illuminated not only the entire alley but also Carlita’s living room, kitchen, dining room and deck with bright, fluorescent lights.

  Carlita had cornered her former tenant the previous day when she ran into her in the alley. Elvira told her the people she’d seen were customers of hers, along with two new employees she’d hired. According to Elvira, the new employees had no place to go and were temporarily bunking at her place.

  Elvira’s generosity only went so far, and Carlita suspected there was some benefit to her for allowing the new employees to stay there.

  “Tony and I were talking about it and we don’t mind skipping the fuss this year,” Mercedes said. “I think between Thanksgiving and Christmas, both holidays will be too much for us.”

  Vinnie’s sudden death had been hard on all of them. Life had changed dramatically for not only Carlita, but her children too. Sudden tears welled in the back of Carlita’s eyes and she blinked hard. “I don’t want you to miss out on my account.”

  Mercedes slowly stood and wrapped an arm around her mother. “We won’t be missing out. Like I said, Tony and I don’t mind keeping Thanksgiving low key this year. Maybe we can head out to a local restaurant and let someone else do the cooking for a change.”

  Relief flooded Carlita’s body, and it felt as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. “If you’re sure.”

  “Positive.” Mercedes released her grip and shook her finger at her mother. “But we’re gonna be all in for Christmas. We’re puttin’ up a tree and decorating it with lots of lights…enough lights to give Elvira and her spotlights a run for their money.”

  Carlita chuckled. “It’s a deal.” She waved the invitation from Tori. “I’ve been meaning to get with Tony to do a little digging around on a pawnshop up in Hilton Head.”

  She told her daughter about her conversation with Tori, how she’d sold a few of her gems at a pawnshop in Hilton Head and right after, her home had been broken into and her gate busted up. “Tony has been busy and I didn’t want to bother him.”

  “Why can’t we go check it out?” Mercedes asked.

  “I suppose we could. We are part owners of the pawnshop.”

  “Let’s go tomorrow. We ain’t got nothing else pressing.”

  “I’ve never been to Hilton Head and heard it’s very nice,” Carlita said. “Now that the tourist season is over, it would be the perfect time to check it out and have a look around.”

  “And scope out the competition,” Mercedes pointed out.

  “Yeah. I like your idea. In the meantime, I think a masquerade ball sounds exciting. I’ve never been to a ball. I remember Victoria telling me she used to host the ball every year, but stopped a few years back.”

  “Well, maybe if we behave ourselves, she’ll invite us back next year.” Mercedes frowned. “Or maybe I’m not invited, just you, Ma.”

  Carlita flipped the invitation over and studied the address. “Nope. It’s addressed to the Garlucci family. I hope she knows what she’s getting herself into.”

  “I’m sure she does. If not, she’s about to find out. We’ll need to go shopping for some new duds and masks.” Mercedes spun the chair around and plopped down. “I might even be able to find some cool masks online. I’m not sure how many costume stores there are in the Savannah area, plus we don’t have much time.”

  Carlita patted her daughter’s shoulder. “I’ll let you handle it. In the meantime, I’m gonna run downstairs to see if Tony needs some extra help in the pawnshop.”

  Mercedes had already started her research and absentmindedly nodded at her mother, who quietly tiptoed out of the room and headed downstairs.

  The pawnshop was busy for a Saturday afternoon, and although Josh, their part-time employee, was working, she could see they could use another hand.

  She spent the rest of the afternoon helping customers, straightening store shelves, ringing up purchases and finally, there was a lull in the crowd. She approached her son, who was locking the gun case. “We should think about hiring someone full time, at least through the holiday season.”

  Tony checked to make sure the case was locked before slipping the keys in his pocket. “I was thinkin’ the same thing. This place has been nuts all day. I had no idea it was gonna be like this.”

  “This is our first year,” Carlita pointed out. “Maybe you can check with Josh to see if he would like more hours through the rest of the year.”

  “I will,” Tony promised. “Mercedes talk to you about Thanksgiving?”

  “Yeah. I was planning to cook a big dinner, but she kinda talked me into eating out this year. We’ll do a big Christmas instead,” Carlita promised. She told her son about the Merry Masquerade party invitation. “It sounds like fun. You wanna go with us?”

  “Maybe.” Tony shrugged. “I would feel bad about going without Shelby and then we’d have to bring Violet.”

  “I hadn’t thought of that,” Carlita said. “I think this is an adults-only party, but I’ll double check.” She glanced at the clock on the wall. “I need to run upstairs and start making dinner. You wanna eat with us?”

  “Sure. Shelby is working extra hours
at the post office, what with the holidays right around the corner.”

  “I’ll have it ready at seven, as soon as the store closes,” Carlita promised before making her way back to the apartment.

  Rambo, Carlita’s dog, met her at the door. “I bet you’re ready for a walk.” She grabbed his leash and hooked it to his collar. “I’m taking Rambo for a walk,” she hollered into the back of the apartment. She heard Mercedes’ muffled response, which she took for an okay, and they descended the steps.

  Carlita stepped onto the stoop and began to close the door behind them when the deafening roar of an engine filled the alley. “What in the world?”

  Chapter 2

  Carlita watched as a chrome-covered motorcycle careened around the corner and sped into the alley. The driver popped a wheelie and then skidded to a halt in front of the stoop.

  Two thoughts popped into Carlita’s head. The first was that the blue bandanna; aviator sunglass-wearing rider was smoking a cigarette while carelessly riding. The second occurred as soon as the rider kicked the kickstand and climbed off the Harley-Davidson.

  “Yo.”

  Speechless, Carlita’s mouth dropped open. “Y-yo to you too.”

  The rider took a long drag off the cigarette, dropped it on the gravel and ground it out with the tip of her boot. “I’m looking for Elvira.”

  “You’re Elvira’s sister.”

  “Dernice,” the woman offered. “You must be Carlotta.”

  “Carlita,” Carlita corrected.

  “Carlita.” The woman nodded. “Your accent is a dead giveaway. Now I know why Elvira said she thought you was part of the New York mafia. You got the look and voice for sure.”

  “Elvira told you I was part of the mafia?”

  “Yeah, but it don’t bother me none. If you are, you are.” Dernice shifted her gaze. “Elvira said you kicked her out.” She jabbed her thumb toward Elvira’s building. “That her place over here?”

  “How did you know?” Carlita asked.

  “The jumbo-size motion detector is a dead giveaway. My sister is off the deep end when it comes to security, if you know what I mean. That and she told me she recently installed a commercial-grade motion detector, so she could keep an eye on her property.”

  “I’m not surprised,” Carlita mumbled and then spoke louder. “That’s Elvira’s place, but I’m not sure if she’s home.”

  Carlita watched as Dernice made her way around her Harley and approached Elvira’s alley door. “Are you going to leave your motorcycle blocking the alley?”

  “Are you kidding? I’m parking it inside, but first I have to find out where Elvira wants me to put it.”

  Elvira’s sister rapped on the back door and it abruptly opened. “I finally made it.” The woman slipped inside and the door quickly closed behind her.

  “Oh my gosh!” Carlita tugged on Rambo’s leash. “I think we just met Elvira’s twin.”

  By the time Rambo and Carlita returned home from their walk, the motorcycle was gone. She could feel eyes on her as they strolled down the alley to their back door, certain that Elvira was watching her every move.

  She wouldn’t put it past the woman to have installed cameras on every corner to keep track of everyone who entered and exited the area.

  Although there wasn’t much Carlita could do about it. Elvira’s place was private property, but she did wonder if the property owner knew what his new tenant was doing. Knowing Elvira, the answer was most likely a no. But it was no longer Carlita’s concern, and for that she was thankful.

  With dinner on her mind, Carlita sifted through the cupboard, and then perused the contents of the freezer, deciding a homemade pizza she’d frozen a couple of weeks earlier would be the perfect meal.

  She pulled the pizza from the freezer and set it on the counter to thaw while she heated the oven. Next, she pulled a packet of fresh frozen basil from the freezer and set it next to the pizza.

  Deciding a tossed salad would go nicely with the pizza, she chopped a head of romaine lettuce and sliced some red onion. After mixing them in a salad bowl, she sprinkled a few Castelvetrano olives on top.

  Several years back, Carlita had created her own Italian dressing and the entire family - including Vinnie - loved it. It was her go-to dressing. No store bought mixes for the Garlucci family.

  After mixing the salad, she stuck the bowl in the fridge, the pizza in the oven and then wandered out onto the balcony. Her eyes were drawn to Elvira’s back door, and once again, she got the eerie sensation she was being watched.

  Carlita briefly pondered the idea that it might have been safer if Elvira had remained a tenant. She also wondered where Dernice had parked her motorcycle and how cozy the living quarters were now that Elvira, Dernice and an unknown number of temporary tenants were living under the same roof. One big happy family. “Better them than me,” she muttered under her breath.

  “Hey Ma. Whatcha doing?” Mercedes joined her mother on the deck and wiggled onto an empty chair. Grayvie, Carlita’s cat, followed Mercedes out and climbed onto her lap.

  “Wondering how Elvira, her new roommates as well as her sister, Dernice, are going to get along inside the apartment.”

  “Dernice?” Mercedes’ eyes widened. “I thought I heard a loud rumble earlier. Don’t tell me Dernice finally arrived riding her Harley.”

  “She did and she’s quite a character, I’ll give you that.”

  “If she’s anything like her sister, I can only imagine,” Mercedes groaned. “I should make up some excuse so I can run over there and meet her. I know.” Mercedes snapped her fingers. “We got a couple pieces of her mail we can take over.”

  The timer on the oven chimed. “Let me take the pizza out of the oven and we’ll make a quick run over there.” Carlita hurried to the oven, slipped a potholder on and then opened the oven door. A burst of heat blasted her in the face and the smell of toasted cheesy goodness wafted out. “Dinner is ready.”

  She set the pizza on top of the stove and turned the oven off. They still had another fifteen minutes before the pawnshop closed, enough time to visit their new neighbor.

  The women exited the building and strolled across the alley to Elvira’s back door.

  Carlita lifted her hand to knock. “You got Elvira’s mail?”

  Mercedes patted her back pocket. “Yep. I wasn’t trying to snoop, but it looks like a collection bill and some sort of ‘Landlords of America’ newsletter.”

  “Great.” Carlita rapped on the back door and then pressed the doorbell. “I hope Elvira knows what she’s getting herself into.”

  The door slowly opened and a bespectacled man peered out. “Can I help you?”

  “We’re looking for Elvira,” Mercedes said.

  “Elvira who?”

  “Elvira Cobb. The woman who lives in this building,” Carlita said.

  He shook his head, clearly confused. “Are you talking about Bernice?”

  “Elvira Bernice Cobb,” Carlita said.

  “Oh. Well, I don’t know Elvira, but Bernice is out front, talking to a woman who arrived on a Harley.”

  “And parked it inside,” Carlita guessed.

  “Yep.” He nodded. “It’s in the living room.”

  “I can’t wait to see this,” Mercedes hissed under her breath. She cleared her throat. “We live in the building across the alley and have some of Elvira…Bernice’s mail.”

  “Ah. Follow me.” The young man opened the door wider and mother and daughter stepped inside. “Bernice and Movira are sitting out front.”

  “Don’t you mean Dernice?” Carlita asked.

  “Bernice and Movira,” the man repeated.

  “Wait a minute.” Carlita abruptly stopped. “We’re talking about two different people.”

  “Maybe more by the sounds of it,” Mercedes chimed in.

  Carlita lifted a finger. “First, we have Elvira Bernice Cobb, the woman who lives in this building. Second, we have Dernice Cobb, Elvira aka Bernice’s sister, who rode in
here on a Harley.”

  “I don’t know Dernice, but I know Bernice and Movira, the woman who rode in on the Harley.”

  “Now I’m confused,” Mercedes said.

  “That makes two of us.” The young man extended a hand. “At least my name is easy. I’m Joe. Joe Becker, one of Bernice - Elvira’s - new employees.”

  Carlita shook his hand. “It’s nice to meet you Joe. You’re working for Elvira?”

  “Yes. I’m working security…part-time down at the local pub, the Thirsty Crow, more of a bouncer for now, but we’ve got a big gig coming up in a couple of weeks.”

  “A bouncer?” Joe Becker looked like anything but a bouncer at a bar.

  Computer programmer? Check.

  Bouncer? No way.

  “I see.”

  The trio continued walking, passing by the shiny chrome-plated Harley.

  “Nice bike,” Mercedes complimented.

  “It is. I wouldn’t try touching it,” Joe advised. “I got too close and I thought Movira was gonna freak out.”

  “Duly noted,” Carlita said.

  Joe led them to the front entrance and Carlita could see Elvira, aka Bernice, and her sister Dernice, aka Movira, sitting at a small table out front. Dernice was puffing away on a cigarette while Elvira fanned her face.

  “Bernice, you have company.” Joe left them there and returned inside.

  “Hi Elvira, also known as Bernice.” Carlita turned to Elvira’s sister. “And Dernice, also known as Movira. What’s up with the names?”

  “What do you mean what’s up?” Elvira said. “Those are our given middle names.”

  “It’s our parent’s fault. They messed us up.” Dernice blew a ring of smoke in the air. “We always call each other by our middle name.”

  “I figured you were trying to keep your identities hidden from your roommates,” Carlita said.

  “That too,” Elvira admitted. “Never can be too careful.” She shifted in her chair. “So what brings you by?”