Page 20 of Waylaid in Whittier

Kendra would be okay. Maybe even more than okay with the support of her family back home. Cat would take good care of her, making sure she felt loved, welcomed, and accepted.

Millie glanced at her watch. It was time to give Carlita a call and get the scoop on Elvira.

Chapter 8

Carlita Garlucci-Taylor’s cheery voice echoed across the miles. “You must have been reading my mind. I was thinking I should call you to find out what’s goin’ on up there. I’m in Ravello’s kitchen. Let me step outside where it’s not so noisy.”

Millie could tell Carlita was on the move. The loud voices faded, and it grew quiet. “Much better. I’m sure you’re calling about Elvira.”

“Sharky is beside himself.” Millie filled Carlita in on what she knew so far, which wasn’t much. “We know Elvira is being held in the Whittier jail. Dernice called Sharky to see if he would visit her and figure out what happened.”

“I know about as much as you do. Elvira told her sister she had found a promising dig site. Next thing we know, she’s in jail. Something about another miner, a woman, who was part of the same group. She and Elvira argued. The woman was attacked after leaving the local bar, and the authorities are charging Elvira with the attack.”

“Wow.” Millie shifted her feet. “So, there were eyewitnesses to the altercation?”

“Apparently. Not to the actual attack, but to their argument.”

“Between you and me, do you think it’s possible Elvira injured the woman?” Millie asked.

“Maybe. If it was self-defense.”

“Which would be the case for almost anyone. According to Siren of the Seas’ head of security, he spoke with someone fromthe jail and found out Elvira is allowed to have visitors. Sharky asked me to go with him to see her.”

“I’m worried about her. She comes up with some cockamamie ideas and when she gets obsessed with treasure or gold, all bets are off.”

“Elvira and her group are in a fairly remote area up here. I’m not sure how large the jail or prison system is, but something tells me it might be tricky getting her out if the charges stick. Did Dernice mention the name of the place where her sister and this woman argued?”

“Hang on a minute. She sent me a text with the name.”

The other end of the line grew muffled. Carlita returned. “It’s Bay Bar & Grill in Whittier, Alaska.”

Millie repeated the name. “Thanks. It will give us a starting point, after we see Elvira, of course.”

The women chatted for a few more minutes, with Millie promising to have Elvira check in as soon as possible. “It might take some time.”

“Any help you can give is greatly appreciated.”

After the call ended, Millie gathered up what she thought they might need. Something told her because of the limited timeframe, she and Sharky would need to move fast.

She pulled up a street map of downtown Whittier and began jotting notes. The distance from the cruise port to the jail. The location of Bay Bar & Grill. Millie hadn’t thought to ask Carlita about the area where the gold mining team was staying. She added a note to find out when they talked to Elvira.

After finishing, she folded the paper in half and stuck it in her pocket. Saturday was shaping up to be a long day, although probably not nearly as long as Elvira’s day. How Sharky had everbecome involved with a woman like Elvira was beyond Millie. Perhaps it was a case of opposites attracting.

Maybe it was the excitement. She also suspected Sharky preferred long-distance relationships. Whatever the reason, he cared enough about her to want to try to help.

Something told Millie they would need to hit the ground running if they were going to figure things out. She and her friends had solved some complicated cases, but Alaska had its own unique environment.

Would they be able to figure out what had happened? She hoped so. If not, there was a very good chance Elvira would remain Waylaid in Whittier indefinitely.

*****

Millie arrived at the gangway at exactly eight the next morning. Sharky was already there waiting, sporting a bulging backpack, a bag so full it wasn’t fully zipped. She tapped the top of a wooden handle sticking out. “What’s this?”

“What’s what?” Sharky stretched his neck.

“It looks like a hacksaw.”

“You would be correct. I also have binoculars, bottled water so we can stay hydrated, a pair of vice grips, and some other stuff. I have no idea what we’re getting ourselves into and want to be prepared.”

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