Page 48 of Shakedown in Savannah

“What?” Dernice’s eyes traveled around the group. “Why are all of you looking at me like that?”

“We need a favor,” Carlita said.

Luigi swung the door open and hopped out. “Let me guess…something happened with Enzo and Costanza.”

“Enzo is dead.” Carlita briefly brought them up to speed. “The key is the Morton Street property. The firebombing, Enzo’s death, Vinnie purchasing the property. This all ties into the place.”

“I’m familiar with Morton Street,” Dernice said. “It’s a rough area.”

“It is. Despite my hunch, I’m clinging to the hope there’s the off chance the guy’s death has nothing to do with me.”

“Or it’s the exact opposite and has everything to do with you and Lombardo,” Vinnie said.

“Either way, we need more info about the property,” Carlita said. “For various reasons, none of us can snoop around with the cops there. We’re not sure when they plan to wrap up their investigation.”

“You want me to do some digging around?” Dernice asked.

“If you don’t mind. There’s a laundromat very close by. I noticed someone with binoculars staring out the window earlier when we were there. I checked out some of the old news stories after the property was vandalized. They specifically mentioned the laundromat.”

Dernice’s brows furrowed. “It wouldn’t happen to be Spiffy Clean Dry-Cleaning and Laundromat, would it?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“Because June Cleary, the little old lady who owns the place, is...” Using her index finger and thumb, she made circles and pressed them to her eyes. “Eye spy. I took my leather jacket to her place to have it cleaned not long after I moved here. Let me tell you, she’s off the charts.”

“Off the charts?” Luigi asked.

“I happened to swing by there on my Harley. I was kind of low on cash. She started hinting about wanting a ride, so we made a deal. A cruise around town on my bike in exchange for a discount on cleaning my leather jacket.”

“Awesome.” Mercedes clapped her hands. “You two are friends.”

“We have common interests. I mentioned Elvira and her businesses. As soon as we got back, she dragged me inside to show me around. The woman makes my sister look like an amateur at surveillance.”

“Even better.” Carlita gave her a thumbs up. “If anyone knows what happened over at Vinnie’s property, it would be her.”

“No doubt about it,” Dernice said. “It’s been a while since I’ve been by there. She might not remember me.”

“It’s worth a try.”

“What kind of information are you looking for?”

“Anything she can remember about the property right around the time it was damaged. I’m also curious to know if she noticed Enzo and Costanza,” Carlita said.

“I’ll give it a shot.” Dernice turned to go.

Carlita stopped her. “Hang on.” She ran to the pawn shop, grabbed fifty bucks from the petty cash drawer, and ran back out. “You said she loves your Harley.”

“Loves, loves, loves it. June is definitely a biker chick.”

“Here’s fifty bucks. Fill the tank, take her for another spin and get her to tell you everything she knows.”

“Fifty bucks to fill my motorcycle’s little old gas tank?” Dernice’s eyes lit. “You have yourself a deal.”

*****

“I hope we aren’t wasting Dernice’s time,” Carlita said. “It was awfully nice of her to agree to help.”

“Fifty bucks for her to spend time on her bike, and she’s one happy camper,” Luigi said. “In the meantime, I’m gonna head over to the Black Stallion and see what Pete Duce has to say about the cops asking questions.”

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