Swiped in Savannah: A Made in Savannah Cozy Mystery (Made in Savannah Mystery Series Book 12) Read online

  Swiped in Savannah

  Made in Savannah

  Cozy Mystery Series Book Twelve

  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.

  ______________________________

  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., Barbara W. and Renate P. for taking the time to preview Swiped 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, Becky, Brinda, Carolyn, Cassie, Charlene, Christina, Debbie, Denota, Devan, Diann, Grace, Jan, Jo-Ann, Joyce, Jean K., Jean M., Judith, Katherine, Lynne, Megan, Melda, Kat, Linda, Lynne, Pat, Patsy, Paula, Rebecca, Rita, Theresa, Valerie, Vicki and Virginia.

  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

  Chapter 23

  Join The Fun

  Other Series You May Enjoy

  Meet the Author

  Carlita’s Creamy Chicken Milano 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.

  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

  Carlita Garlucci ran a clean rag over the top of the fireplace mantle and took a step back. “This place is spic and span and ready for our new tenant.”

  Mercedes, Carlita’s daughter, joined her mother in the living room. “Yep, today is the big moving day. I hope Autumn likes her new apartment.”

  “I know Shelby and Violet, not to mention Tony, are all enjoying their new home.” A look of concern crossed Carlita’s face. “I hope we’re not making a mistake in allowing Autumn to take Shelby’s vacant unit.”

  Tony, Carlita’s middle son, had recently married her tenant, Shelby. The newlyweds, along with Shelby’s young daughter, had moved into a new, larger apartment above Ravello’s Italian Eatery, Carlita’s restaurant.

  With the couple wed, she had two vacant units on her hands…Shelby’s two-bedroom apartment, situated directly across the hall from Carlita and Mercedes’ apartment, as well as Tony’s efficiency, which was downstairs, and behind their pawnshop, Savannah Swag.

  Autumn, who had recently broken up with her boyfriend, a local police officer, and whose lease was almost up in her current rental, was anxious to move out of the building where the couple both lived.

  She nearly begged Carlita to allow her to rent the vacant unit. Despite her reservations about allowing a family friend to move in, Carlita had finally caved.

  “Ma, we’ve been over this a dozen times. Autumn will be the perfect tenant and neighbor. Besides, she needs to get out of her building. It will be good for her to be closer to her brother, Steve.”

  “I suppose you’re right. I just don’t like to mix friends and business…it’s never a good combination.”

  “It’ll be fine. You’ll see.” Mercedes glanced at her watch. “I better get going. I promised Autumn I would help her move some of the smaller boxes this morning.”

  Carlita followed her daughter down the stairs and into the alley. “What on earth?” She frowned at the white minivan parked outside her door.

  “Elvira has a company vehicle.” Mercedes pointed to the bright blue lettering on the side of the van:

  EC Security Services

  EC Investigative Services

  One Call Covers it All

  Elvira’s phone number and website information were listed directly beneath the catchy slogan.

  “She’s gonna have to move it.” Carlita shifted her gaze. “We won’t be able to get restaurant delivery trucks through here if she’s hogging the only access to our unloading area.”

  “You better nip this in the bud before Elvira gets it in her head she owns the alley now that she bought the building behind us,” Mercedes advised.

  “I’m on it right now.”

  “See you later.” Mercedes headed to their parking area. Carlita waited until she was gone before stepping around the back of the vehicle to her neighbor’s rear entrance. She rapped loudly, but there was no answer. She returned to the vehicle and leaned inside the open driver’s side window. “That figures.” Fast food bags filled the passenger seat and spilled onto the floor.

  A tower of coffee cup containers teetered precariously inside the cup holder, threatening to tumble. A strong stench - a combination of grease and sweaty feet - emanated from the vehicle.

  Carlita made a gagging sound and jerked her head back. “Disgusting.”

  Certain that Elvira did not intend to move the vehicle without strong motivation, she strode down the sidewalk and to the business side of her neighbor’s building.

  A pair of newly installed black and white striped awnings shaded the entrance. Along with the awnings was a new sign, EC Investigative Services. Carlita spied movement inside and pushed the door open.

  Beep. A loud buzzer announced her arrival. Dernice, Elvira’s sister, hurried from the back. “Oh, it’s you.”

  “I’m glad to see you, too.”

  “I thought you were a customer.”

  “Nope. Not a customer…just an aggravated neighbor.”

  “What did Elvira do this time?” Dernice grinned.

  “Someone parked an EC Investigative Services van in the back alley. It’s blocking delivery vehicles from reaching my restaurant.”

  “It’s my fault. Sorry about that. I thought I was going to be in and out lickety-split,” Dernice apologized.

  Carlita’s tone softened. “It’s okay. I…it’s just that we’re sharing the alley. If the food trucks can’t get back to my restaurant, there’s nowhere else for them to unload.”

  “Right. I didn’t think about that. You should’ve gone ahead and moved it out of the way.”

  “I would need the keys.”

  Dernice waved her hand. “I leave the keys in the ignition, that way I know exactly where to find them.”

  “Aren’t you worried someone might drive off with the van?” Carlita remembered the trashed interior and foul odor. “Never mind. I don’t think anyone would steal the vehicle smelling the way it does.”

  “That’s Elvira’s nasty natto. I told her the stuff stinks to high heaven but she claims she can’t smell it.”

  “Speaking of Elvira…where is she?” Carlita glanced around, realizing she hadn’t seen her nosy neighbor for a couple of days.

  “She’s managing the security gig over at Darbylane Museum.”

  “Ah.” Carlita lifted a brow. “I he
ard there’s some sort of famous exhibit in town. It’s attracting a lot of attention and publicity.”

  “And with publicity comes crimes, so the city officials decided to hire the best security company in Savannah.”

  “EC Security Services,” Carlita said.

  “Yep. I’m on my way back there in a few. You should stop by and check out the exhibit. I’m not much into the artsy fartsy scene, but they have some cool old paintings.”

  “I might,” Carlita said. “In the meantime…”

  “Yeah. Move the van.” Dernice followed Carlita out of the building, to the back and climbed behind the wheel.

  “Gross.” Dernice waved her hand in front of her face. “I was hoping if I rolled the windows down it would air out, but I think the smell is even worse now.”

  Dernice drove off while Carlita headed back inside. She stopped by the pawnshop to check on Tony and exited through the front entrance, turning right and making her way to Ravello’s.

  The recent grand opening of the Garlucci family’s new restaurant had been a resounding success. Despite a few weeks of robust sales after opening, business had started to drop off, and it was slower than Carlita had anticipated. She knew she needed to get the word out so tourists and area residents would find out about her new restaurant.

  She needed help, and she needed it fast. There was one person Carlita thought might be able to help - her friend, Glenda Fox, a member of the Savannah Architectural Society. Glenda, a longtime local, had plenty of connections not only in Savannah’s Historic District, but also in the surrounding communities.

  There were only a few diners inside Ravello’s during the lunch hour rush. Carlita decided it was time to stop worrying and start working on drumming up business. She ran upstairs to grab her purse, and then hurried across the street to catch the next trolley to the City Market district.

  She made it to the stop and only had a short wait before Reese and the trolley turned the corner. Reese gave a small wave as the trolley rolled to a stop.

  “Hey, Reese.” Carlita climbed the steps and settled onto the bench seat directly behind her friend.

  “Hey, Carlita. Where ya headed?”