The Family Affair Made in Savannah Cozy Mystery Series Book Nine Hope Callaghan hopecallaghan.com Copyright © 2018 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 events or actual 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. ______________________________ Visit my website for new releases and special offers: hopecallaghan.com Thank you to these wonderful ladies who help make my books shine - Peggy H., Cindi G., Jean P., Wanda D. and Barbara W. for taking the time to preview The Family Affair, for the extra sets of eyes and for catching all of my mistakes. A special THANKS to my reader review teams, here in the U.S., and those across the pond, over the border and an ocean away! Alice, Amary, Barbara, Becky, Becky B, Brinda, Cassie, Charlene, Christina, Debbie, Dee, Denota, Devan, Grace, Jan, Jo-Ann, Joeline, Joyce, Jean K., Jean M., Katherine, Lynne, Megan, Melda, Kat, Linda, Lynne, Pat, Patsy, Paula, Rebecca, Renate, Rita, Shelba, Tamara, Valerie and Vicki. Allie, Anca, Angela, Ann, Anne, Bev, Bobbi, Bonny, Carol, Carmen, David, Debbie, Diana, Elaine, Elizabeth, Gareth, Ingrid, Jane, Jayne, Jean, Joan, Karen, Kate, Kathy, Lesley, Margaret, Marlene, Patricia, Pauline, Sharon, Sheila and Susan. CONTENTS Get 12 Cozy Mysteries – Just 0.99 Cents Cast of Characters 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 Chapter 23 Books in This Series Save 50-90% on Your Next Cozy Mystery Get Free Books and More Download All Hope Callaghan Books Here Meet the Author Tuscan Chicken Macaroni and Cheese Recipe Get 12 Cozy Mysteries – Just 0.99 Cents (For A Limited Time) Get The first 6 books in both the “Garden Girl” & “Cruise Ship Cozy Mysteries” Series For Just 99 Cents! 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. Vincent Garlucci, Jr. Carlita’s oldest son and a younger version of his father, Vinnie is deeply entrenched in the “family business” and is not interested in leaving New York. Tony Garlucci. Carlita’s middle son and the first to follow his mother to Savannah. Tony is protective of both his mother and his sister, which is a good thing since the Garlucci women are always in some sort of a predicament. Paulie Garlucci. Carlita’s youngest son. Mayor of the small town of Clifton Falls, NY, Paulie never joined the “family business,” and is content to live his life with his wife and young children far away from a life of crime. Gina, Paulie’s wife, rules the family household with an iron fist. Chapter 1 Carlita Garlucci grabbed the pepper grinder and twisted the knob, coating the top of the chicken breasts in a thick layer of black pepper. “Ma!” Mercedes yanked the pepper grinder from her mother’s hand. “You’re drowning the chicken in pepper. We’re making Tuscan chicken mac and cheese, not pepper-flavored chicken.” She scraped a layer of pepper off the chicken and reached for the shaker of salt. “You gotta relax. Vinnie should be here any minute now and then you can stop worrying about whatever it is that has you worried.” “And not a moment too soon,” Carlita groaned. “You know how I hate surprises. I wish he would’ve just told me what his surprise was instead of making me wait.” She thrust her hand on her hip and watched as her daughter turned the chicken over and began seasoning the other side. “He’s actin’ all suspicious. I know my son and I know when something ain’t right.” She trudged to the other side of the apartment and to the French doors, leading out onto the balcony. “Ever since he started hinting around about moving up in the ‘family business,’ my gut has been churning.” “It will all be over soon enough. I’ll finish cooking the chicken if you want to mix some Italian dipping sauce for the bread. I think you’ll like the latest version I’ve been tweaking.” Mercedes reached behind the spice rack and handed her mother a recipe card. Carlita studied the recipe. “I don’t think Vinnie likes parsley.” “He won’t even know it’s in there.” Mercedes changed the subject. “I see Bob Lowman and his men have finished ripping out the walls between the front part of the restaurant and the back section.” “Ravello,” Carlita’s dream restaurant, was well on its way to becoming a reality. After Christmas, Carlita, along with Mercedes and her son, Tony, had traveled to Atlanta to sell several of their larger gems to a big pawnshop in the metro area. The gems had given Carlita enough cash to fund the entire restaurant renovation project. With cash in hand, Carlita and Lowman met with an architect and engineer to go over her vision for the gourmet Italian restaurant. After meeting to finalize the plans, the architect had taken them to the city building department and the SAS, or Savannah Architectural Society, for the necessary approvals, because of the building’s historic designation. Glenda Fox, a member
