Christmas Family Style in Savannah: A Garlucci Family Saga Novel (Made in Savannah Mystery Series Bo by Hope Callaghan (summer reading list txt) 📕

Vinnie voiced her thoughts. “This ain’t good.”

“No, it’s not. We’re going to have to report Roxy as missing this morning,” Carlita said.

“I was thinking the same thing.” Vinnie downed the rest of his coffee and slowly stood. “Before we do that, I need to let Vito know what’s goin’ on.”

“I’m sorry, Son,” Carlita followed him inside the apartment.

“Me too, Ma. This isn’t the best way to kick off a family holiday.”

Vinnie made a quick trip to the bedroom. He returned carrying his cell phone and a pack of cigarettes.

“I thought you quit smoking,” Carlita said.

“Don’t start on me. Brittney nags me enough.”

Carlita followed her son out of the apartment and down the steps. They stopped when they reached the stoop. Vinnie lit a cigarette, took a deep drag and then blew it out over his mother’s head.

Her heart went out to him. She had no idea how Vito would react but was almost certain it wasn’t going to be a pleasant conversation. To give him some privacy, Carlita wandered to the end of the alley.

It was still early, and the streets were nearly empty. The city had decorated the Victorian-era lampposts with green and red Christmas trees. Although Carlita hadn’t kept up on it, Mercedes had told her there were several holiday events taking place in the city squares that week and leading all the way up to Christmas Day.

Reese had planned a surprise for the grandchildren later that day, which would tie into Christmas cookie decorating for kids at the visitor’s center that afternoon. Now the fun-filled activities were all up in the air, depending on how Roxy’s disappearance played out.

Carlita’s visions of magical Christmas memories were in jeopardy. Her concern over her family and how the disappearance was putting a damper on her well thought out plans filled her with a tinge of guilt.

Here she was worrying about what they might miss out on, and meanwhile, a woman was dead, even if it wasn’t Roxy.

Carlita thought about how Luigi hadn’t liked her. In fact, he had mentioned her by name right after he moved to Savannah and told Carlita she was taking his place as Brittney’s bodyguard.

He had called her a tool. The two had fought the previous evening, and Luigi took Roxy’s gun. Had Luigi intentionally confiscated it with a plan to take her out later, when he could get her alone, knowing she was unarmed?

She had no idea how deep their animosity toward one another was.

Or maybe it was Ricco. If Roxy was half as bad as Luigi implied, maybe Ricco was tired of working with the woman and had found a way to get rid of her. If Vito was the one who decided who was tasked with guarding his daughter and grandchild, Ricco wouldn’t have much of a say about who he worked with.

If she treated Ricco the same way she treated everyone else, he may have gotten fed up. There was so much going on last night…the fireworks, the band. It would have been easy for someone to slip to the back of the ship unseen, let her out and then take her out.

Ricco also knew Roxy didn’t carry identification with her. It would be hours, maybe even days, before the authorities would be able to identify her.

She slowly turned, her eyes falling on Elvira’s building next door. Dernice had also argued with the woman. What if she’d gone back to confront her, the two argued, Roxy was injured and then ended up going over the side of the ship?

A chilling thought occurred to Carlita. The argument between Luigi and Roxy had brought the party to an abrupt halt. Pete and Carlita were the last two people to see Roxy on board the ship.

Vinnie ended his call and shoved the cell phone in his pants pocket. Carlita recognized the look of frustration on his face.

She made her way back to the stoop. “Were you able to reach Vito?”

“Yeah. I talked to him.” Vinnie took a final puff on his cigarette and then tossed the butt on the ground. “He wasn’t happy. I got some bad news.”

Chapter 7

“What kinda bad news?” Carlita stared at her son.

“If Roxy doesn’t surface by noon, Vito’s sending someone down to look into the matter.”

Carlita didn’t like the sounds of that. “Sending who down?”

“A consigliere.”

Although Carlita was certain she’d heard the term before, she couldn’t remember what it meant. Regardless, if Vinnie wasn’t happy about it, she knew she shouldn’t be, either.

“You know, an advisor to the ‘family,’” Vinnie elaborated.

“So, this…advisor is going to come down and do what? Once the cops get involved, it’s out of our hands.”

“Jersey Joe will be conducting his own investigation.”

“Jersey Joe,” Carlita echoed. “Great.”

When they returned inside the apartment, Brittney and the baby were up, and Carlita could tell from the look on her daughter-in-law’s face she had heard the news. Papa Vito had probably already called her to get her version of the events that had taken place the previous night.

“Daddy’s sending Joe Mariani down here to look into Roxy’s disappearance.” Brittney bounced the baby on her hip as she talked. It was the first time Carlita could ever recall her looking that nervous…or anxious.

Something told Carlita that Jersey Joe wasn’t going to help matters. If anything, his arrival would make matters worse.

“I talked to your father a few minutes ago,” Vinnie said.

“Me too. I told him Roxy was acting trashy and causing trouble, that Pete escorted her to a holding area until the parade had ended and that now she’s missing.”

The quick turn of events in less than twenty-four hours made Carlita’s head spin. Her life had gone from calm to chaos.

Buzz. The doorbell buzzed loudly, causing Carlita