Turmoil in Savannah: A Made in Savannah Cozy Mystery (Made in Savannah Mystery Series Book 13)
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Turmoil in Savannah
Made in Savannah
Cozy Mystery Series Book Thirteen
Hope Callaghan
hopecallaghan.com
Copyright © 2019
All rights reserved.
*****
This book is a work of fiction. Although places mentioned may be real, the characters, names and incidents, and all other details are products of the author’s imagination and are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual organizations, events or persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.
No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced in any format, by any means, electronic or otherwise, without prior consent from the copyright owner and publisher of this book.
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Thank you to these wonderful ladies who help make my books shine - Peggy H., Cindi G., Jean P., Wanda D., Barbara W. and Renate P. for taking the time to preview Turmoil in Savannah, for the extra sets of eyes and for catching all of my mistakes.
Thank you to Alix, my Savannah expert, for sharing your knowledge of this special place.
A special THANKS to my reader review team:
Alice, Alta, Amary, Amy, Becky, Brenda, Carolyn, Cassie, Charlene, Christine, Debbie, Denota, Devan, Diann, Grace, Helen, Jo-Ann, Jean M, Judith, Meg, Megan, Linda, Patsy, Polina, Rebecca, Rita, Theresa, Valerie, Virginia and Vicki.
Contents
Complete List of Books
Cast of Characters
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Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Join The Fun
Other Series You May Enjoy
Meet the Author
Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Recipe
Complete List of Books
(Click Links Below To Buy or Read FREE with Kindle Unlimited)
Audiobooks
(On Sale now or FREE with Audible Trial)
Key to Savannah: Book 1 (Made in Savannah Series)
Road to Savannah: Book 2 (Made in Savannah Series)
Justice in Savannah: Book 3 (Made in Savannah Series)
Swag in Savannah: Book 4(Made in Savannah Series)
Starboard Secrets: Book 1 (Cruise Ship Cozy Series)
Portside Peril: Book 2 (Cruise Ship Cozy Series)
Lethal Lobster: Book 3 Coming Soon!
Made in Savannah Cozy Mystery Series
A mother and daughter try to escape their family’s NY mob ties by making a fresh start in Savannah, GA but they soon realize you can run but you can’t hide from the past.
Key to Savannah: Book 1
Road to Savannah: Book 2
Justice in Savannah: Book 3
Swag in Savannah: Book 4
Trouble in Savannah: Book 5
Missing in Savannah: Book 6
Setup in Savannah: Book 7
Merry Masquerade: Book 8
The Family Affair: Book 9
Pirates in Peril: Book 10
Matrimony & Mayhem: Book 11
Swiped in Savannah: Book 12
Turmoil in Savannah: Book 13
Exes and Woes in Savannah: Book 14
Book 15: Coming Soon!
Made in Savannah Box Set I (Books 1-3)
Made in Savannah Box Set II (Books 4-6)
Garden Girls Cozy Mystery Series
A lonely widower finds new purpose for her life when she and her senior friends help solve a murder in their small Midwestern town.
Who Murdered Mr. Malone? Book 1
Grandkids Gone Wild: Book 2
Smoky Mountain Mystery: Book 3
Death by Dumplings: Book 4
Eye Spy: Book 5
Magnolia Mansion Mysteries: Book 6
Missing Milt: Book 7
Bully in the ‘Burbs: Book 8
Fall Girl: Book 9
Home for the Holidays: Book 10
Sun, Sand, and Suspects: Book 11
Look Into My Ice: Book 12
Forget Me Knot: Book 13
Nightmare in Nantucket: Book 14
Greed with Envy: Book 15
Dying for Dollars: Book 16
Stranger Among Us: Book 17
Dash For Cash: Book 18
Arsonist and Lace: Book 19
Court of Corruption: Book 20
Framed in Florida: Book 21
Murder on Summer Lane: Book 22
Alien Allure: Book 23
Book 24: Coming Soon!
Garden Girls Box Set I – (Books 1-3)
Garden Girls Box Set II – (Books 4-6)
Garden Girls Box Set III – (Books 7-9)
Cruise Ship Cozy Mystery Series
A recently divorced senior lands her dream job as Assistant Cruise Director onboard a mega passenger cruise ship and soon discovers she’s got a knack for solving murders.
Starboard Secrets: Book 1
Portside Peril: Book 2
Lethal Lobster: Book 3
Deadly Deception: Book 4
Vanishing Vacationers: Book 5
Cruise Control: Book 6
Killer Karaoke: Book 7
Suite Revenge: Book 8
Cruisin’ for a Bruisin’: Book 9
High Seas Heist: Book 10
Family, Friends and Foes: Book 11
Murder on Main: Book 12
Fatal Flirtation: Book 13
Deadly Delivery: Book 14
Reindeer & Robberies: Book 15
Transatlantic Tragedy: Book 16
Southampton Stalker: Book 17
Peculiar Poison: Book 18
Book 19: Coming Soon!
Cruise Ship Cozy Mysteries Box Set I (Books 1-3)
Cruise Ship Cozy Mysteries Box Set II (Books 4-6)
Cruise Ship Cozy Mysteries Box Set III (Books 7-9)
Cruise Ship Cozy Mysteries Box Set IV (Books 10-12)
Divine Cozy Mystery Series
After relocating to the tiny town of Divine, Kansas, strange and mysterious things begin to happen to businesswoman, Jo Pepperdine and those around her.
Divine Intervention: Book 1
Divine Secrets: Book 2
Divine Blindside: Book 3
Divine Decisions: Book 4
Divine Christmas: Book 5
Divine Cozy Mystery Book 6 (Coming Soon!)
Samantha Rite Mystery Series
Heartbroken after her recent divorce, a single mother is persuaded to book a cruise and soon finds herself caught in the middle of a deadly adventure. Will she make it out alive?
Waves of Deception: Book 1
Winds of Deception: Book 2
Tides of Deception: Book 3
Samantha Rite Box Set – (Books 1-3-The Complete Series)
Sweet Southern Sleuths Short Stories Series
Twin sisters with completely opposite personalities become amateur sleuths when a dead body is discovered in their recently inherited home in Misery, Mississippi.
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Teepees and Trailer Parks: Book 1
Bag of Bones: Book 2
Southern Stalker: Book 3
Two Settle the Score: Book 4
Killer Road Trip: Book 5
Pups in Peril: Book 6
Dying To Get Married-In: Book 7
Deadly Drive-In: Book 8
Secrets of a Stranger: Book 9
Library Lockdown: Book 10
Vandals & Vigilantes: Book 11
Fatal Frolic: Book 12
Sweet Southern Sleuths Box Set I: (Books 1-4)
Sweet Southern Sleuths Box Set: II: (Books 5-8)
Sweet Southern Sleuths Box Set III: (Books 9-12)
Sweet Southern Sleuths 12 Book Box Set (Entire Series)
Cozy Mystery Collections
Summer Sleuths Cozy Mysteries Collection
Cozy Mysteries Collection (Heart and Holiday Edition)
Fall Into Murder 6 Book Fall Themed Cozy Mystery Collection
Cozy Mysteries 12 Book Box Set: (Garden Girls & Cruise Ship Cozy Mystery Series)
Cozy Mysteries Cookbook (Free w/Newsletter signup)
Cozy Mysteries Cookbook-Recipes from Hope Callaghan Books
Cast of Characters
Carlita Garlucci. The widow of a mafia “made” man, Carlita promised her husband on his deathbed to get their sons out of the “family” business, so she moves from New York to the historic city of Savannah, Georgia. But escaping the family isn’t as easy as she hoped it would be and trouble follows Carlita to her new home.
Mercedes Garlucci. Carlita’s daughter and the first to move to Savannah with her mother. An aspiring writer, Mercedes has a knack for finding mysteries and adventure and dragging her mother along for the ride.
Vincent Garlucci, Jr. Carlita’s oldest son and a younger version of his father, Vinnie is deeply entrenched in the family business and not at all interested in leaving New Jersey for the Deep South.
Tony Garlucci. Carlita’s middle son and the second to follow his mother to Savannah. Tony is protective of both his mother and his sister, which is a good thing since the female Garlucci’s are always in some sort of a predicament.
Paulie Garlucci. Carlita’s youngest son. Mayor of the small town of Clifton Falls, New York, Paulie never joined the “family business,” content to live his life with his wife and young children away from a life of crime. His wife, Gina, rules the family household with an iron fist.
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Chapter 1
“I’m sorry, Mercedes.” Carlita shifted slightly as she eyed her daughter apologetically. “I know this is unexpected, and we’re already cramped for space, but I couldn’t tell Vinnie no.”
“Could you at least ask Tony and Shelby if Brittney can stay with them?” Mercedes unplugged her laptop and closed the lid. “They have a spare bedroom. All we’ve got is a sleeper sofa.”
“It’s only temporary until…” Carlita’s voice trailed off. She had no idea how long her pregnant daughter-in-law, who was also the only daughter of mafia boss, Vito Castellini, would be staying with them.
“Until whoever is targeting Vito and Vinnie either burns the casino down, blows it up or kills one of them.” Mercedes finished her mother’s sentence.
Carlita’s oldest son, Vinnie, had called his mother the previous day, asking if Brittney could come to Savannah until what he referred to as a “family situation” had been neutralized. When she pressed for details, her son grew evasive, insisting his main goal was to have his new wife spend some time getting to know his mother and his younger siblings, Mercedes and Tony.
“How long are we bonding?” Carlita had asked, thinking about all she had going on…between running Ravello’s, her new restaurant, worrying about Shelby, her other daughter-in-law’s health, and ensuring Spooky Eats and Inns, a new tourist attraction she’d recently joined with some of the other local business owners, was running smoothly.
Vinnie admitted he had no idea how long she might be “visiting” but promised he would be down to join his wife as soon as he was able. He quickly ended the conversation after telling his mother that Luigi and Ricco, Vito’s “bodyguards,” would be accompanying Brittney.
Certain there was more to the story, Carlita let it slide, but after hanging up, she went online to search for recent news stories about Treasure Cove, the Atlantic City casino Vinnie managed.
She was horrified to learn it was the target of several suspicious fires. More than one of the stories hinted at the owner, Vito Castellini’s, mafia ties.
“Bite your tongue.” Carlita sighed heavily. “I am concerned about Vinnie. If someone from the mafia is targeting Castellini and the casino, who knows what they’ll do next.”
The outer bell chimed. Carlita darted to the window and peered down into the alley. The familiar hulking figure of Luigi Baruzzo filled the stoop. As if sensing he was being watched, Luigi looked up.
“They’re here.” She hurried out of the apartment and down the steps. “You made it.”
Luigi tipped his hat. “Mrs. Garlucci.”
“Hello, Luigi.”
“I figured I should make sure someone was home before Ricco unloaded all of Brittney’s bags.”
Carlita craned her neck, peering down the alley to the parking lot at the other end where Ricco struggled to remove a massive suitcase from the trunk of a car. Several other large suitcases were sitting on the ground next to the car.
“She’s got a lotta stuff,” Luigi said. “You want us to bring them upstairs?”
“Yes…yes. That will be fine.” Carlita forced a smile. “I would like to chat with you and Ricco after you finish.”
“We won’t be long.” Luigi stepped off the stoop and trudged back to the car.
Carlita left the door open and ran up the steps. She found her daughter standing at the balcony doors frowning. “Where on earth are we gonna put all of Brittney’s stuff?”
“I have no clue.”
“I have an idea. I’ll be right back.” Mercedes strode out of the apartment, leaving the door ajar. She reappeared moments later. “She’s not home.”
“What are you doing?”
“I’ll tell you in a minute.” She disappeared inside her room, returning to the living room a short time later waving her cell phone in the air. “Problem solved. I’m staying across the hall in Autumn’s apartment until Brittney leaves.”
“Mercedes…that’s a great idea.”
“Autumn is at work. She told me where to find her hidden key so I can let myself in. I’m gonna grab some things. Have Luigi and Ricco unload Brittney’s stuff in the hall until I’m done.” Mercedes returned to her bedroom.
Thunk…clunk…clunk. The thunking and clunking stopped, and a red-faced Ricco appeared in the doorway. “Hello, Mrs. Garlucci.”
“Hello, Ricco. You can bring Brittney’s bags in here.” Carlita led him to the hallway. Luigi was right behind him, his face the same shade of red and breathing heavily. “I think she’s got a body or pile of bricks in this one.”
“I hope there’s no body.” Despite the chaos of the situation, Carlita smiled at Ricco’s joke. She felt somewhat sorry for Brittney’s bodyguards and wondered how the drive from Atlantic City to Savannah had gone. Maybe she didn’t want to know.
The men lined her bags along the hall wall, leaving a narrow path between the bedroom and bathroom.
The sound of sharp heels clicking on Carlita’s living room floor grew louder and a flustered Brittney, carrying a designer bag and sporting matching sunglasses, appeared in the doorway. “There’s one more suitcase on the back seat.”
“You’re kidding,” Ricco and Carlita said in unison.
Carlita quickly recovered as she tiptoed forward, giving Vinnie’s wife a gentle hug. “Brittney, it’s so…good to see you. How was the trip?”
“Monotonous, long and boring. My back is kil
ling me.” Brittney snaked her hand behind her back, a pained expression on her face.
Mercedes emerged from her bedroom; an overstuffed backpack slung over her shoulder. “It could be the high heels.” She pointed to the ruby red stilettos Brittney was wearing.
“No way.” Brittney shook her head. “These are the most comfortable shoes I own. In fact, they’re designed to prevent an even worse backache.”
“Hello? Anybody home?” A female voice echoed from the front of the apartment. Carlita recognized it as her new temporary tenant, Angelica Reynolds.
“It sounds like Angelica.” Mercedes slipped past her mother. “I’ll find out what she needs.”
“You do that.” Carlita squeezed into the corner of the hall to give her daughter room. “Good luck.”
Angelica was renting the downstairs efficiency on a month-to-month basis and planned to move out at month’s end. The woman, an author from Los Angeles, was in the area assisting with the production of her blockbuster bestseller, “Into the Night.”
To say the young woman was high maintenance was an understatement. Every other day, Angelica was pounding on Carlita’s apartment door with a new complaint. The air was too cold. Her shower water wasn’t hot enough. There was too much noise outside her bedroom window. And the list of complaints went on.
Finally, Carlita put Mercedes in charge of handling her complaints since she was the one who convinced her mother to rent to the woman in the first place, certain Angelica could help jumpstart her writing career.
“We can start wheeling Brittney’s bags into the bedroom.” Carlita reached for a handle as the sound of raised voices coming from the hallway caught her attention. “I’ll be right back.” She held up a finger and hurried into the hall.
“They’re friends of the family,” Mercedes stood close to Angelica talking in a low voice. “I’m certain they won’t bother you.”
“What’s going on?” Carlita joined her daughter and troublesome tenant.
“I have a major issue.” Angelica pointed a glittery gold fingernail in Carlita’s direction. “The parking situation around here is ridiculous. Last night, I had to park on the street because your weirdo neighbor parked her security van in the way and blocked the empty spots.”