Chapter 1
“Did she send it?”
“Finally.” Carlita adjusted her reading glasses. “It’s a good thing we have plenty of room. We’ll need it.”
Mercedes leaned over her mother’s shoulder, peering at the printout she held in her hand. “I had no idea Dernice and Luigi knew this many people.”
When Luigi Baruzzo popped the question, asking Dernice Cobb, Carlita’s neighbor, to marry him, she’d started planning a surprise engagement party at Ravello’s, the Garlucci family’s Italian eatery in historic Savannah, Georgia.
Elvira, Dernice’s sister, had offered to help by handling the invitations and inviting the guests. Unfortunately, she was in no hurry to share the list with Carlita, sending it over only hours before the surprise party started.
Mercedes made a choking sound. “Are these real names?”
“I was wondering the same thing. Sonny Skidz, Paul Maul.”
“Paul Maul. Isn’t that a cigarette?”
“Yes, except the cigarette brand is spelled P-A-L-L and M-A-L-L.”
“Are there any women on the list?”
“A bunch. Some of those names are even more interesting. Here’s one…Cyclone Courtney.”
Mercedes tapped her lower lip. “I think I have an idea who these people are. They’re bikers.”
“You could be right.” Carlita waved the list in the air. “From Dernice and Luigi’s motorcycle riding group.”
“The Thursday Riding Club. They have a reputation for being a little rough.”
“Elvira had better plan on bringing some of her security team to the party to keep an eye on these people. The last thing I need is a bunch of rowdy riders trashing Ravello’s.” Carlita snatched her cell phone off the counter and dialed her former neighbor’s number.
“Helloooo, Carlita,” Elvira sang. “I take it you got a copy of the list?”
“I did, and I have questions.”
“About what?”
“Who are these people?” She rattled off a few of the names.
“What you asked for—friends of Luigi and Dernice.”
“But Cyclone Courtney?”
Mercedes interrupted. “Mercedes here. Ma and I are wondering if some of these people are from their biker group.”
“Yeah. The Thursday Riding Club. By the way, you can scratch Cyclone Courtney from the list. She sent a message saying something had come up and she couldn’t make it.” Elvira’s voice grew muffled. “I’m leaving my office now and can swing by to go over it with you.”
“Might not be a bad idea. I would like to know what I’m getting myself into.”
“See you in a sec.”
“I…” It was too late. Elvira had already hung up.
Mere minutes later, a flit of movement passed by Ravello’s front picture window. Elvira appeared.
“That was fast.”
“Like I said, I was on my way out. So…you got a problem with the list, because if you do, it’s too late. The people have already RSVP’d.”
