Page 1 of Family Ties and Alibis

Chapter 1

“Watch out!” Mercedes instinctively reached for the scooter’s handle, steering her mother’s four-wheeler away from a woman who stood using the casino’s redemption kiosk.

Carlita loosened her grip on the throttle, casting the woman an apologetic smile. “I didn’t mean to almost take you out. I’m still trying to figure out how to drive this thing.”

“No problem. I’m good at bobbing and weaving.” Despite her words of assurance, the woman scooched back, widening the distance between them.

“We need to put a front and back beeper on this baby,” Vinnie joked. “I bet you gave Rambo a stern lecture for tripping you.”

“It wasn’t his fault.” The previous day, while rushing around to pack and finish her last-minute errands before leaving home to spend Thanksgiving in Atlantic City, New Jersey with her oldest son, Vinnie, Carlita had tripped over her pup.

Thankfully, she’d only suffered a minor sprain. At Pete’s insistence, they had rented a scooter, figuring it would help Carlita navigate the Boardwalk, allowing her to enjoy all the iconic oceanfront district had to offer.

Unfortunately, operating the speedy scooter was proving to be a bigger challenge than she’d anticipated. She’d already had several near misses and one head-on collision with another driver. Although there weren’t any injuries, it rattled Carlita enough that she was ready to return it to the rental store.

“Maybe I should park this speed demon and hobble around on crutches instead,” Carlita sighed. “Before someone really gets hurt.”

Pete patted his wife’s arm. “I think you’re doing much better today. There are a lot of people here. Just go slow. I’m sure before long you’ll be operating this thing like an old pro. On the plus side, you have a telehealth appointment with the doctor tomorrow. Maybe he’ll recommend a safer mode of transportation.”

“Treasure Cove Casino is huge,” Tony added. “Vinnie hasn’t even given us a tour yet. You’re gonna want to keep it for at least a little while longer.”

“You’re not a quitter, Ma. Besides, Tony’s right. We got some ground to cover,” Vinnie said. “If you get rid of it now, you’ll miss out on checking out the Boardwalk.”

Violet tugged on her arm. “Nana, you promised me cotton candy and giraffe ears.”

“You mean elephant ears.” Shelby ruffled her daughter’s hair.

Carlita noted the worried look on Violet’s face. There was no way she would let her granddaughter down, knowing how excited the young child had been about the trip. “You’re right. I won’t be much fun if I can’t get around.”

“Slow and steady,” Mercedes chimed in.

“Before we start the tour, how are your hotel suites?”

“Luxurious,” Carlita said. “It reminds me of a smaller version of our apartment.”

Mercedes gave her brother a thumbs up. “Ditto. There’s almost too much room in my suite seeing how Elvira and Dernice backed out and I have the place to myself.”

“Which reminds me…where’s Luigi?” Carlita’s tenant and former Castellini family bodyguard had recently become engaged to neighbor Dernice Cobb. Although she’d backed out of the trip, Dernice insisted he go without her, knowing how much he was looking forward to seeing “family” members, including Vinnie, whom he’d previously worked with.

“He’s hanging out with some old friends. Last time I saw him, he was at the craps table and up a few bucks.”

“Good for him,” Mercedes said. “He told me he’s been working overtime to save money.”

Vinnie counted heads. “It looks like everyone is here. Let’s get this show on the road.” He escorted his family down the main aisle of the gaming floor, making a straight trek to the atrium, the massive domed epicenter and “hub” of the sprawling entertainment complex.

Following the Treasure Trail sign, they continued along a gentle slope, past lush foliage and vibrant blooms before stepping into what could only be described as a peaceful sanctuary.

Towering palm trees. Blooming bird-of-paradise plants. Red, pink, and yellow hibiscus all blended together to create a visual rainbow of colors. On closer inspection, Carlita noticed banana trees sprinkled in among the flora and foliage.

Mindful not to get too close to the plants, she coasted around the bend. The sound of splashing water caught her ear.

“Check it out.” Tony whistled loudly. “Treasure Cove has a rainforest in the middle of the hotel.”

“More like a tropical oasis,” Vinnie chuckled. “In case you’re interested, this is the perfect spot to relax and unwind after a day of winning.”

“Or losing your butt,” Pete kidded.

The winding path meandered around the waterfall, past a cozy enclave tucked off to the side. Bistro tables dotted the landscape. Fall decorations were creatively woven in to accentuate the tropical theme—fall leaves in vibrant shades of orange, purple-grey, and rich gold, along with pinecones and miniature leaf-shaped wreaths.