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

As they walked, Baby Vinnie gurgled and chattered, and then he grew quiet.

Carlita hurried ahead to peek in on him. He had nodded off, his chubby cheeks resting on his shoulder, and his tiny hands curled into fists. A trickle of drool ran down his chin, and his small lip moved up and down. “He’s asleep,” she whispered.

“The stroller works like a charm,” Vinnie said. “That and riding in the car.”

“I remember those days.”

The foursome passed by the Waving Girl. Up ahead, she could see the top of The Flying Gunner’s crow’s nest. Pete’s pickup was parked not far from the entrance.

There was another vehicle parked next to his with a familiar figure standing nearby, talking on the cell phone.

“Great,” Carlita muttered. “This guy is everywhere.”

Chapter 15

Jersey Joe waited until the family drew close. He ended his call and eyed them with interest. “Fancy meeting you here. Hello, Brittney.”

“Brittney is missing a piece of jewelry she had on last night. We’re here to try to find it,” Vinnie explained. “I would ask you what you’re doing, but I think I already know.”

“Mr. Taylor graciously offered to let me take a look around.” Joe grinned, and the smile reminded Carlita of a Cheshire cat who was getting ready to pounce on his prey.

“Because he has nothing to hide,” Carlita said. “The police have already searched the ship. I’m sure they collected any evidence they may have found.” She didn’t mention the search she, Ricco, Luigi and the others had already done.

Joe shrugged. “Half of them are incompetent, a quarter don’t care, which leaves a couple who might actually be doing their job. They could walk on top of a clue and not see it.” He tapped the side of his forehead. “I know what I’m looking for.”

The gangway lowered, and Pete emerged. He acknowledged Joe’s presence with a nod. “I assume you’re Mr. Mariani.”

“I am.” Mariani tipped his hat. “Thank you for accommodating my request on such short notice.”

“You made it sound as if I didn’t have a choice,” Pete said.

“There are always choices,” Joe replied. “Some of them are better than others. You chose the better one.”

“Let’s get this over with. I have a business to run.”

“How’s business?” Joe shoved his hands in his pockets, eyeing the side of the ship with interest. “You’re in a sweet spot, not far from the river and on the trolley routes.”

It was apparent Joe had wasted no time in doing his homework, and it made Carlita wonder how much he already knew about her, about her husband and her family. Probably a lot more than she wanted him to.

“Business is good. Always has been.” Pete stopped when he reached the top of the gangway. “The investigators have already combed over every square inch of this place, so I’m not sure what you hope to find.”

“We’ll see.”

Pete gave him a brief layout of the ship, and then the men headed to the upper deck to start in the back where Roxy had been detained.

After they left, Carlita helped Vinnie and Brittney start their search on the main deck. It didn’t take long since she’d only traveled through on her way to the party deck.

They climbed the stairs to the open deck where the couple had spent the majority of their evening.

Pete joined them halfway through. “Any luck?”

“No.” Brittney’s look of disappointment deepened. “There are so many nooks and crannies, the bracelet could be anywhere.”

“I have a metal detector in my office. Would you like to borrow it?”

“You do?” Brittney brightened. “That would be great.”

While the men made their way to Pete’s office, the women continued searching the area.

Carlita wandered to the railing and stared out. What she wouldn’t give to turn back time. She would’ve insisted Roxy not board the ship, but then Vinnie and Brittney wouldn’t have joined them and would have missed a wonderful evening.

She also thought about what Vinnie had said during lunch, how Roxy mentioned seeing someone on board who looked familiar. Was it someone from Roxy’s past? Had it been a member of the “family?” If so, who was it?

Carlita knew almost all of the guests. Maybe it was Victoria “Tori” Montgomery. The woman had an “interesting” past. But then, so did Pete. Perhaps she was talking about Pete. Maybe it was time to delve a little deeper into Roxy’s past.

The men returned, and Pete gave Vinnie brief instructions on how to use the device.

Jersey Joe joined them. He asked Pete a question, and then the two of them descended the stairs to the main deck, leaving the foursome behind.

To his credit, Vinnie scoured every single square inch of the upper deck before making his way to the main deck and doing the same. The only place he didn’t search was the galley and below deck, since Brittney hadn’t been in either place.

He returned a short time later. “I’m sorry, Brit. There’s no sign of your bracelet.”

Brittney’s face crumpled, and she sniffled loudly. “I don’t know how I’m going to tell Daddy that I lost my favorite bracelet.”

“How does that thing work?” Carlita eyed the metal detector. “Elvira has one, and she’s always digging up her yard, looking for treasure.”

“And you want to do the same thing?” Vinnie teased.

“Nah. Not my yard, but who knows? It might come in handy to have one.”

Vinnie handed the detector to his mother. “It’s pretty easy to operate. You turn it on and start waving it around.”

Carlita did a slow sweep in front of her and then playfully hovered it over the stroller’s bottom basket.

Beep. Beep.

“It just beeped.”

Brittney dropped to her knees and began digging around inside the thick