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

“We got a mess on our hands. When Jersey Joe gets here, it’s gonna be a hundred times worse,” Ricco predicted.

“Is he that bad?” Carlita asked.

“I wish I could say otherwise. Unfortunately, his job will be to get to the bottom of what happened to Roxy. You don’t take out one of Vito’s employees and get away with it. The only person who takes them out is Vito. And now that the cops will be involved, Vito’s gonna want to get it cleaned up, and fast.”

Carlita’s cell phone beeped. It was a text from Pete, telling them he and Vinnie had left the police station. “We gotta get out of here. Pete and Vinnie just left the police station.”

The group hurriedly descended the narrow steps, making their way across the upper deck and down the wider set of stairs leading to the main deck and the gangway entrance on the opposite side.

Carlita waited until they had all assembled. She reached for the lever that lowered the gangway as she peered out the porthole. “Hang on. We got a big problem.”

Chapter 9

Two patrol cars coasted along the dock, with Pete’s pickup bringing up the rear. He sprang from his truck and stopped the police before they were able to exit their vehicles.

“Great,” Carlita groaned. “Now, what do we do? The cops are going to find us in here and wonder what we’re doing.”

“Pretend we’re employees,” Ricco suggested.

“Which would be fine except we’re going to be on their list to question, and that excuse will be blown sky-high,” Mercedes pointed out.

Carlita remembered the small second exit, one she had teased Pete about, calling it the alternative option to walking the plank. “There’s another way off the ship. Follow me.”

The group scrambled up the steps to the open deck. They followed Carlita to the other side where Cool Bones and his band had played the previous night.

It seemed like eons ago now, when life was simple, and Vito’s employee was still alive.

With a quick look over the side to make sure the coast was clear, Carlita hoisted the rolled ladder over the railing. It made a muffled thud as it hit the side of the ship and then bounced off before dangling loosely.

“We gotta go down that?” Mercedes eyes grew wide.

“Unfortunately, yes. Unless we want to be seen.”

“I’ll go first.” Luigi did an about-face. He grabbed hold of both sides of the twisted rope and began making his descent.

“You next,” Tony motioned to Ricco. “You and Luigi need to clear the deck first.”

Carlita peered over the side, praying the men would find some way to make it to the edge of the dock several yards away.

She pressed a light hand to her forehead when she noticed a narrow ledge running along the side of the ship and didn’t let out the breath she was holding until both men reached the safety of the concrete dock. Thankfully, it was on the opposite side of the ship and the gangway where Pete and the police had parked.

“Ma?” Tony tapped his mother’s shoulder.

“Mercedes is next.” Carlita gave her daughter a firm nudge. “You go.”

“Hang on, toots. I’m next. Being at a crime scene and getting caught will look bad. I have a reputation at stake.” Elvira shoved Mercedes aside and climbed over the side of the railing. “See you at the bottom.” Elvira was gone in a flash.

“She’s such a trip,” Carlita sucked in a breath.

“Every man for himself or in Elvira’s case – herself.” Mercedes waited until Elvira cleared the ladder before she began making her way down.

She moved with lightning speed, easily navigating the rope ladder. Mercedes inched along the narrow ledge, and when she reached the dock, she easily leaped from the ledge to the dock where Ricco and Luigi caught her.

Luigi gave a thumbs up.

Pete’s booming voice echoed from the bottom of the stairs. Carlita cast an anxious glance behind her. The authorities would be on the open deck soon.

Tony tapped his mother’s arm and pointed at the ladder. It was her turn. She sucked in a breath and pivoted, forcing herself not to think about the distance from the deck to the dark water below if she were to lose her grip and fall.

She offered up a silent prayer and carefully descended the ladder. Halfway down, the gentle breeze picked up, creating a mini wind tunnel around her.

Carlita could feel the ladder liftoff, causing her to become airborne.

The wooden rung let out a loud whack as the wind blew the other way, forcing it against the side of the ship and jarring her. Unprepared for the forcefulness of the impact, her foot slipped, and she lost her grip.

“Ma!” Tony’s expression grew horrified as he watched his mother dangling in midair.

Carlita’s fight instinct kicked into gear. She was not going down. Filled with a rush of adrenaline, she scrambled to secure her footing. She nearly cried when she managed to find the rung. Not waiting for another large gust, she hurriedly descended to the narrow ledge.

Tony was right behind her, moving at a fast clip. He caught up with her halfway across the narrow ledge. “You’re doin’ great, Ma. Keep movin’. You’re almost there.”

They were still several feet above the waterline and a good yard away from where the others stood waiting.

“You can do it, Ma,” Mercedes urged her forward. “You’re almost here.”

Carlita pushed on and made the last few feet in record time, nearly collapsing in Luigi’s arms. “Thank God.”

“You did it, Mrs. G. I thought you were a goner when that big gust of wind came along and tossed you around. You were flying high like a trapeze artist.” Luigi gazed at her admiringly. “But you were a real trooper the way you lost your footing