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“I hope everything is okay. When I talked to Steve on the phone earlier, he seemed upset.” Carlita hustled to keep pace with her daughter, Mercedes. “He was looking forward to the fundraiser, but now he’s threatening to call it off.”

Steve Winters, a Garlucci family friend and owner of the Shades of Ink tattoo shop, had been struggling financially to keep his doors open and the lights on at his business for several months.

Carlita and a bunch of other Walton Square business owners had come up with a plan to host a fundraiser for him and Paisley, his girlfriend, to raise some much-needed funds, enabling them to get back on their feet.

Mother and daughter reached the shop, where they found the couple waiting inside, both of their faces mirroring a look of defeat.

“Uh-oh.” Carlita said the first thing that popped into her head. “Please tell me whatever happened doesn’t involve Elvira.”

“It has nothing to do with Elvira,” Paisley said. “Steve and I know how hard you’ve been working to plan this fundraiser. We don’t want to waste any more of your time and we’re thinking maybe we should call it off.”

“What makes you think we’ll be wasting our time?” Mercedes asked. “I’m positive we can rake in enough dough to get you back in black with enough left over to set aside for a rainy day. This doesn’t even factor in the raffle tickets we’ve already pre-sold.”

Steve handed Carlita a piece of paper. At the top was the name of a local investment bank. It was a letter addressed to Shades of Ink. She lowered her gaze and read the subject line aloud, “Notice of Foreclosure.”

“The bank is foreclosing on this place?” Mercedes asked. “Their timing is impeccable.”

“It’s useless. There’s no way we can raise enough money to catch up.” He took the paper from Carlita and tossed it on the desk. “I’m ready to throw in the towel. Maybe I’m a crappy businessperson, and this is my sign to sell and go get a different job.”

Mercedes folded her arms. “You can’t quit.”

“I’m not quitting. I’m giving up,” Steve said. “The worry is eating me alive.”

“And keeping us both up at night,” Paisley added.

Carlita could hear the stress in both their voices and had no doubt they viewed this as a sign it was time to “pack it in.” But they were close…so close to finally digging their way out of their financial hole. She needed to convince them they should hang on a little longer. Hours, literally. “Everything is ready to go. Cool Bones and his band are itching to perform. The food from Ravello’s and the Parrot House Restaurant is being prepped as we speak.”

Mercedes picked up. “All the silent auction gifts—and there are a ton—are gonna bring in stacks of cash.”

“Mark and Glenda Fox have invited close friends from the Brick District, friends with deep pockets and the spirit of giving,” Carlita said. “Not to mention Tori Montgomery has invited quite a few people with money. Mark my words. Not only will this fundraiser get you out of the hole, but it’s going to put you over the top.”

Steve frowned. “What if you do all of this for us and we still can’t get caught up? To me, this foreclosure notice is the icing on the cake.”

“We won’t know until we try,” Carlita said. “Don’t deny your friends and neighbors the opportunity to do a good deed and help one of our own.”

“Steve and I will feel terrible if you put in all this time and effort and it still doesn’t solve our problems,” Paisley said.

“Thinking you’re somehow wasting our time should not even be a thought in your minds.” Carlita patted Paisley’s shoulder. “We want to help. Besides, I think we’re going to knock it out of the park. You’ll be rolling in dough.”

“I can only dream of this being the case.” Steve placed a light hand on the back of his neck, eyeing them thoughtfully. “Do you really want to host the event, knowing there’s a chance it won’t turn things around for us?”

“I look at this as a challenge.” Carlita tapped the top of the foreclosure notice. “It’s even more motivation to get Shades of Ink back on its feet and your money problems behind you.”

He looked away, but not before Carlita noticed the tears in his eyes. “You’re a big part of Walton Square,” she said in a quiet voice. “It wouldn’t be the same without you.”

“Thanks, Carlita, Mercedes.” Steve impulsively hugged them. “As long as no matter what happens, we’re still friends.”

“Friends forever.” She hugged him back. “Put the letter in the drawer and know that the next time you pull it out, you can call the number and tell them you have the money to get caught up on your loan.”

“While we’re here, Ma and I figured we could start unloading the raffle items. They’re in the pawn shop’s storage room,” Mercedes said.

“We can help.”

Working as a team, the group of four ran back to Savannah Swag, the Garlucci family’s pawn shop, grabbed the auction items and carried them to Steve’s place.

He placed the last box on the floor by the door and dusted his hands. “Elvira swung by earlier. She told me she was sorry she would be missing the fundraiser, but wanted to let me know she donated an EC Investigative Services background search.”

“She’s leaving for Alaska.” Carlita glanced at her watch. “Thanks for the reminder. I need to get going. I’m dropping her off at the airport this afternoon.”

Paisley wrinkled her nose. “She’s gonna go all the way up there to look for gold?”

“Sort of. She’s meeting with some gold mining folks to learn the ropes, although something tells me Elvira won’t stop at just learning how to goldmine.”

“Me either,” Steve said. “She’ll tear Alaska apart trying to strike it rich.”

“We may never see her again,” Mercedes said.

“Bite your tongue.” An uneasiness settled over Carlita. She’d had several dreams about Elvira recently, all involving her upcoming trip. In them, she’d become involved in some sort of trouble, although Carlita was never quite clear what exactly had happened. Knowing Elvira and her quest for riches, the dream might not be too far off.

Her trip had all the makings of a calamity waiting to happen. When Elvira became laser-focused on a project, she acted impulsively, giving little thought to her safety and the safety of those around her.

Hence, Carlita’s concern. Elvira had never stepped foot in Alaska, didn’t actually know the people she was meeting and planned to visit a rugged and remote area—a trifecta of factors which seemed like a recipe for disaster.

The only saving grace was the fact her boyfriend Sharky would be “somewhere” in the vicinity, along with Millie Armati, a Garlucci family friend. On the flip side, neither of them knew she was heading their way.

To hear Elvira talk, she had everything under control. After all, she owned a security services company and assured Carlita she would be safety and security conscious. Still, the trip concerned her, and she couldn’t shake the ominous feeling something bad was going to happen.

After leaving Steve’s shop, mother and daughter parted ways in the alley. Carlita crossed over to her former neighbor’s building and knocked on the door. No one answered. She tried again, this time pounding her fist and ringing the bell. Finally, a flustered Elvira appeared. “Hey, Carlita.”

“Hey, Elvira.” She tapped the top of her watch. “For a minute, I thought you found another ride to the airport. Are you ready to go?”

“Almost. I was wondering if we could take one of the work vans. I already have my gear loaded up.”

“Gear?”

“You know…the stuff I’m going to need for mining.”

Carlita’s eyes widened. “How much stuff are we talking about?”

Elvira began rattling off her list.

She cut her off. “I agree. We should probably take your van.”

“Cool. I’ll be right out.” Elvira slammed the door in her face. She opened it moments later, fully dressed and raring to go.

Carlita burst out laughing.

“What’s so funny?”

“This.” She flipped the flap of the plaid hat perched atop Elvira’s head. “Where on earth did you get this?”

“Online.” Her brows knitted. “It’s a genuine trapper’s hat. Believe me, it’s going to come in handy in the blustery arctic weather.”

“Arctic weather? As in…you’re expecting it to snow?” Carlita had a hard time believing there was a chance of snow falling in September.

“No, but hey, the forties and fifties are cold, especially to warm weather people like us.”

Elvira had a point. The temperature difference would be noticeable, especially for a southerner who was accustomed to the mild Georgia climate. Plus, if it made her happy to dress like a trapper…who was she to rain on her parade? More power to her.

“It’s a good look.” Carlita fell into step, trekking down the alley to the parking lot. “When are you coming back?”

“In a couple of weeks. I plan to hang out with the gold-mining production crew and then hop on board Siren of the Seas, if all goes well,” Elvira said.

“Meaning, if Sharky doesn’t freak out about you showing up unexpectedly?”

“Something along those lines.” Elvira muttered under her breath, and Carlita let it drop. Clearly, the woman had a plan. Whether her boyfriend would be on board could be an entirely different story.

Elvira tossed the keys to her and climbed into the passenger seat. “Before I forget, Dernice said she’ll let you know if she needs someone to keep an eye on Snitch. She seems to think she’ll be okay.”

“But if she starts to show signs of distress, she’s more than welcome to hang out with Gunner,” Carlita offered.

“Thanks. She said she would keep it in mind.”

During the ride to the airport, Carlita kept the conversation light, asking questions about Elvira’s itinerary. Unfortunately, the more she asked, the more her concern grew. The woman’s plan was to wing it, basically traveling by the seat of her pants.

Her only concrete arrangement was to meet with the gold mining team to work for a couple of days as an apprentice before making her way to Whittier, where she would wait for Siren of the Seas to dock and surprise Sharky. None of which sounded like a good idea. But then…it was Elvira, a woman who was anything but conventional.

“This might be a dumb question, but do you have enough money to pay for your trip, for travel expenses, stuff like that?”

“Yeah. I have some cash and a few credit cards, although I don’t foresee using them much. I mean, I only need a few days’ hotel stay. Plus, the film crew offered to let me bunk in their travel trailer. I’m not sure if I’ll take them up on it. I’m not much into communal living.”

“Particularly with people you’ve never met,” Carlita said.

“They seem like decent folks, but you never know. I got a couple of ideas and am leaving my options on the table,” Elvira said. “My main goal is to learn as much as I can about mining, maybe strike out on my own for a day or two and then hop on Sharky’s ship to enjoy a little R&R with my babe.”

“I hope it all works out,” Carlita said. “Call me if you need help or if something comes up.”

“Will do. I was gonna bring Dernice’s lucky rabbit's foot but I forgot.”

Keeping her eyes on the road, Carlita unzipped her purse. She reached inside and pulled out one of her restaurant’s monogrammed ink pens. Mercedes had convinced her mother to hang onto it, insisting it was good luck after she used it to scratch off a winning lottery ticket. “You can borrow Mercedes’ lucky pen.”

Elvira’s eyes lit. “Is this the one she used on the five hundred dollar scratch-off ticket last week?”

“It is.” Carlita held it out. “Maybe it will bring you luck, too.”

“Thanks.” Elvira took it from her and tucked it in her coat pocket. “I see the unloading area for Alaska Airlines.”

“I see it too.” Carlita eased the van alongside the curb. She hopped out and caught up with Elvira near the side door, watching as she unloaded her checked bag, a carry-on and finally her bulging backpack. “I think this is everything.”

“Are you sure you’re ready for this big adventure?”

She gave her a thumbs up. “As ready as I’m ever gonna be. If I have my way, I’ll be a whole lot richer the next time you see me.”

“Safe travels.”

“Thanks.” With the ear flaps of her trapper’s hat flapping in the wind, Elvira dragged her bags through the open gate. She turned once and gave Carlita a jaunty wave before disappearing from sight.

“Good luck, my friend,” she whispered under her breath. “Something tells me you’re gonna need it.”