The Family Affair: A Made in Savannah Cozy Mystery (Made in Savannah Cozy Mysteries Series Book 9)

by Hope Callaghan

  Carlita opened the door a crack and then swung it open. “I almost forgot about you, Vinnie.” She peered around the corner. “Where’s Brittney?”

  “She was complaining of a stomach ache, so she’s lying down.”

  “I hope my food didn’t upset her stomach.”

  “It was delicious Ma. It might have been a little rich for her, plus she eats like a bird.” Vinnie patted his stomach and stepped inside. “She don’t have the stomach of steel like us Garluccis.” He turned to his brother. “Did Shelby make it home?”

  “She did.” Carlita gazed at her middle son expectantly. “You want to tell your brother what’s going on?”

  Tony grunted. “Shelby went to meet her ex this morning and found him dead, shot in the head, in a park not far from the river district. The police took her to the station for questioning and we’re pretty sure they’re going to charge her with his murder.”

  “So she was gonna meet her ex and someone whacked him? It doesn’t make her the killer.”

  “The cops found a text from Shelby on his cell phone. She told him to leave her and Violet alone or else.”

  Vinnie let out a low whistle. “Yeah, that ain’t good. You gonna help her stay out of jail?”

  “He and Shelby aren’t talking. I’m going to meet with Shelby in the morning to go over everything she knows.”

  Mercedes emerged from her room. “I thought I heard voices. Where’s Brittney?”

  “Brittney is in the apartment, lying down.”

  She punched Vinnie in the arm. “What’s the big idea of running off and marrying the head of the mafia’s daughter?”

  “You married into the family?” Tony sputtered. “Brittney is a mob daughter? Oh, that’s a good one Vin. I’m surprised you’re still alive.”

  “Vito and I are pals,” Vinnie said.

  “I wasn’t talking about Vito killing you. I was talking about Ma killing you.”

  “I wanted to. In fact, the option is still on the table. I promised your father I would get all of you out of the family and now look at what you’ve done. You brought the family to my doorstep. And not only the family, but Vito Castellini himself.”

  “Brittney told me her father is on his way down here to check out our place,” Mercedes added.

  Carlita crossed her arms, her attention focused on her eldest son. “What on earth were you thinkin’?”

  Vinnie became defensive and bristled at his mother’s harsh reprimand. “You’re not giving Brittney a chance. She’s a sweet woman and isn’t involved in the family.”

  “But you are.” Carlita jabbed her finger at her son. “Are you really gonna take a job working for Castellini in Atlantic City?’

  Tony hooted. “Way to go, bro. You landed a job at one of Castellini’s casinos?”

  “One?” Mercedes raised an eyebrow. “How many does the man own?”

  “He has two. Vito’s son, Tommy, runs The Royal Flush Casino on the boardwalk. I’m gonna take over the daily operations of the Treasure Cove Casino, a block off the main drag.” Vinnie shrugged. “It’s gonna be an easy breezy job, mainly just keeping the staff in line.”

  “Tell Tony about the penthouse,” Mercedes said.

  “Penthouse?” Tony grinned. “You got in good, didn’t you?”

  Vinnie returned the smile. “Got a smokin’ hot wife, a cush job, swanky digs. What more could a guy want?”

  “You sold your soul to the devil,” Carlita muttered. “All I gotta say is there ain’t much loyalty in the family. You should know that, Vinnie. You cross Vito Castellini and your job, wife and penthouse apartment won’t mean squat.”

  “I appreciate your concern, Ma,” Vinnie replied with a tinge of sarcasm. “I love my wife. I thought long and hard before popping the question to Brittney. I’m gettin’ up there in years and my options for career advancement were limited. I could languish at the bottom of the family ladder or make a big move. I chose to make the move.”

  “You’re an adult. I hope you fully understand what you got yourself into,” Carlita said.

  Mercedes changed the subject. “How is Shelby?”

  “She’s holding up.” Carlita briefly explained to her daughter what Shelby told her and that she needed help. “Your brother here, the other brother, is letting his pride get in the way. He and Shelby are fighting and he’s digging in his heels.”

  “Turd!” Mercedes whacked Tony’s arm this time. “Shelby needs you. If you stand by and let her take the rap for this, poor Violet will be homeless.”

  “No matter what the outcome, Violet won’t be homeless. We’ll be here to care for her if she needs us,” Carlita said. “In the meantime, I’m meeting Shelby in the morning to try to get more information and hopefully help her figure out who offed her ex.”

  A sudden thought occurred to Carlita and she pressed a hand to her chest. “What if…”

  Mercedes’ eyes widened. “What if Shelby or Violet is next.”

  “Now you’re scaring me Ma,” Tony said.

  “You should be scared - for Shelby’s sake.”

  “I’m gonna go over and try to talk some sense into her.” Tony marched to the apartment door.

  “You can catch more flies with honey,” Carlita called out. “Shelby has been through a lot. Remember that before you open your mouth.”

  Vinnie, Mercedes and Carlita watched Tony exit the apartment, slamming the door behind him, hard enough to rattle the pictures on the wall.

  “He’s bullheaded,” Vinnie joked.

  “Like someone else I know.” Carlita gave her eldest son a pointed stare. “I finally get Paulie and Gina on the road to reconciliation and now I’ve got you two to worry about.”

  “There’s nothing to worry about with me, Ma. Life is peaches and cream.”

  “As long as you give your pampered bride her heart’s content 24/7, you should have it made,” Mercedes teased.

  “You guys got Vito pegged all wrong. He’s a tough guy on the outside cuz he has to act tough. Underneath, he’s a real easygoing fella once you get to know him.”

  “You’re defending the godfather, the head of the mob?” Carlita shook her head. “They either got you brainwashed or you got your head stuck in the sand.”

  “It’s neither,” Vinnie insisted. “You’ll see. Once you get to know Vito and Francesca, you’ll see for yourself what I’m talking about.”

  The front door flew open and Tony stormed into the apartment, a dark look on his face. “I knew I shoulda left well enough alone.”

  “What happened?” Carlita took a step forward.

  “I tried to reason with Shelby and she threw me out of her apartment.”

  “What exactly did you say?”

  “What you told me, Ma. That she needed my help and I was there to support her.”

  “That’s all?” Carlita asked.

  “Well…” Tony averted his gaze.

  “And?”

  “That none of this woulda happened if she woulda come clean with me from the get-go.”

  “Oh Tony.” Carlita threw her hands up in the air. “I’ve had enough. I need to come to grips with the sad state of affairs this family is in. I can’t believe this day.” Frustrated, Carlita stomped out of the living room and slammed her bedroom door.

  She paced back and forth, talking to Vinnie’s picture about their sons’ predicaments. More than anything, she wished her Vinnie were there to talk some sense into them, or knock a few heads together, whichever worked.

  It was a terrible predicament. She wanted Tony and Shelby to patch things up and she was concerned over Vinnie’s new wife and in-laws. How had all of this happened? She’d tried so hard to make a better life for all of them and it was backfiring in every way.

  Her only consolation was Gina and Paulie were doing okay, and Mercedes hadn’t run off and married into the family, at least not yet.

  By the time she calmed down enough to leave her bedroom, the house was dark, her sons were gone and she spotted a faint light shin
ing under Mercedes’ bedroom door.

  She crept to the kitchen for a glass of water and then headed back to her room.

  Grayvie, Carlita’s cat, followed her into the bedroom and leapt onto the end of the bed.

  She absentmindedly scratched Grayvie’s ears. “Grayvie, what are we gonna do with my sons?”

  Grayvie’s only response was to purr while butting his head against her hand before curling up in a ball and promptly falling asleep.

  “I wish I could fall asleep that fast.” Carlita turned off the bedside lamp, pulled the covers to her chin and stared up at the dark ceiling.

  Vinnie was probably rolling over in his grave at the behavior of his two eldest sons. Somehow, Carlita had failed…failed at the only thing Vinnie asked of her as he lay there dying and that was to save his sons from the “family.”

  She tossed and turned all night, sleeping in fitful spurts, only to wake to the eerie feeling something bad, even worse than what she’d already been through, was about to happen.

  Finally, in the early morning hours, she gave up trying to sleep, crawled out of bed and stumbled to the kitchen to start a pot of coffee.

  The sound of shuffling slippers echoed in the hall and Mercedes emerged from her room.

  “I’m sorry, Mercedes. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

  “You didn’t. I was already awake.” Mercedes covered her mouth to stifle a yawn. “I worked on my new book for a while and then decided to call it quits early, but just laid there wide awake. I guess I’m more of a night owl.”

  “Which explains why you’re up with me at six in the morning,” her mother teased.

  “Something like that.” Mercedes pulled the container of coffee from the cupboard while Carlita filled the decanter with water. “I was worried about Shelby and Violet, thinking what numbskulls my brothers are being. Has Vinnie lost his mind?”

  “I’m beginning to wonder.” Carlita shook her head. “I don’t have anything against Brittney. She seems like a sweet girl. Still, there are a million other women out there Vinnie could have married. Why her?”

  “Maybe he truly does love her.” Mercedes dumped fresh coffee into the basket. “We need to give her a chance, for Vinnie’s sake. What’s done is done.”

  “You’re right.” Carlita turned the coffee pot on. “I guess I’m still in shock. Then we’ve got poor Shelby. I don’t know how we can help her, but we better move fast. She’s convinced the police are working on her arrest warrant.”

  “I would like to be there when you talk to Shelby.” The coffee finished brewing. Mercedes poured a cup and handed it to her mother. “We can always ask for Elvira’s help.”

  “Bite your tongue,” Carlita said. “You think we’re in a bind now, let Elvira stick her nose in this. She already offered, when I ran into her last night while Violet and I were out walking Rambo.”

  “She has a nose for sleuthing, I’ll give her that.”

  “She does. Thanks for the coffee.” Carlita carried her coffee to the bathroom and began getting ready for the day. As she showered, she thought about Violet. What would happen to the young girl if Shelby were to be convicted of her ex’s death?

  At nine on the dot, Carlita and Mercedes crossed the hall and knocked on Shelby’s front door. There was a small muffled sound coming from the other side. It opened a crack and then opened wider, but it wasn’t Shelby who answered.

  An older, gray-haired and heavyset man peered down his nose at them. “This is a no-solicitation building. We’re not interested.”

  Chapter 6

  The man started to close the door. Carlita wedged her foot between the door and the frame. “I’m not soliciting. My name is Carlita Garlucci and I own this building.”

  “Oh.” The man turned his head. “Shelby. You got company.”

  Shelby appeared in the doorway. “Thank you. I can handle this.”

  The man grunted, giving Carlita a warning look and then limped away while Shelby joined Carlita and Mercedes in the hall. “I’m sorry. Uncle Jerry can be a little abrupt, not to mention we’re all on edge.”

  “That…that’s your uncle?” Mercedes asked.

  “Yes. He showed up on my doorstep early this morning after seeing Robert’s murder plastered all over the news. Actually, he and my aunt showed up on my doorstep.”

  “I’ve never heard you mention family nearby.” Carlita said the first thing that popped into her head.

  “My parents died years ago. Uncle Jerry and Aunt Ginny are the only family I have left.”

  “At least you have family,” Mercedes said. “What do your aunt and uncle think of Robert’s death?”

  “They’re glad he’s gone. There was no love lost between Uncle Jerry and Robert. Hang on a sec.” Shelby held up a finger. She slipped back inside the apartment and returned moments later. “They’re going to keep an eye on Violet so we can talk in private, if you want.”

  “Yes, of course.” Carlita led Shelby and Mercedes back inside their apartment. “Would you like some coffee?”

  “No.” Shelby shook her head. “I’ve been drinking coffee all morning.”

  “Have a seat.” Carlita motioned to the chair. “I’m sorry you and Tony weren’t able to patch things up.”

  “Maybe it’s better this way.” Shelby shifted uneasily. “I can see his point of view yet he refuses to see mine.”

  “Stubborn as a mule,” Mercedes said. “All of my brothers, except for maybe Paulie, but he’s married.”

  “So is Vinnie,” Carlita pointed out.

  “I forgot all about Vinnie and his surprise. Tony didn’t mention it. Let me guess…he’s decided to move to Savannah.”

  “I wish,” Carlita said. “He got married on Christmas Eve.”

  Shelby’s jaw dropped. “Married? And you weren’t invited to the wedding?”

  “He had his reasons.” Carlita and Mercedes exchanged a glance. “It’s a long story. Now back to your crisis. Tell me everything you think is relevant to Robert’s demise.”

  “This might take a while.”

  “Take your time,” Carlita said.

  “I met Robert on a blind date, set up by one of my close friends. At first, he was charming, intelligent and attractive. As soon as our relationship became serious, he turned from prince charming to evil stalker. By the time I realized it, it was too late. I was pregnant with Violet.”

  Shelby stared at her clasped hands as she paused to gather her thoughts. “My aunt and uncle didn’t approve. Of course, looking back, they could see my love for Robert was blinding me and that he wasn’t a good person.”

  Shelby went on to tell them she told her uncle about the baby and he begged her to end the relationship. All the while, Robert begged her to sneak off and marry him.

  “I was stupid and married Robert. Uncle Jerry and Aunt Ginny argued with Robert after we returned from the ceremony at city hall and ever since, I’ve had little contact with either of them, not because they didn’t want to. After Robert and I split and I fled to the women’s shelter, I felt like such a failure. I never contacted them to let them know.”

  “Oh Shelby.” Carlita’s heart went out to the young woman. “I’m so sorry. I wish we had known. It’s apparent your aunt and uncle love you.”

  “They do.” Unshed tears threatened to spill over and Shelby quickly wiped them away. “I was a fool, and as stubborn as your son.”

  “I hate to be morbid, but at least now you don’t have to worry about Robert,” Mercedes said. “Do you have any idea who might have murdered him?”

  “Besides my uncle?”

  Carlita studied Shelby’s face. “You’re not kidding.”

  “No. He hated Robert. I called Uncle Jerry the other day, to tell him I had left Robert some time back and now he was demanding cash in exchange for signing away his parental rights. He became enraged and said he would take care of Robert. I also asked to borrow some money, thinking the more money I had to offer my ex, the better my chances of getting rid of him for good
.”

  “According to what you said last night, Robert planned to trick you by taking your money and then filing for custody of Violet.” Carlita frowned. “Do you think he’s capable of murder? Your uncle, I mean.”

  Shelby slowly nodded her head. “Yes, I do believe if he was angry enough or if he believed Robert was going to harm Violet or me.” Shelby hurried on. “I know you’re shocked and are probably wishing your son wasn’t involved with a woman who has a troubled past.”

  “Your past is the least of my concerns. We all have a past, even us.”

  “Not like mine,” Shelby insisted.

  “You’d be surprised,” Mercedes muttered under her breath.

  Shelby stood. “Still, I don’t think my uncle killed Robert. Robert kept talking about some big deal he was working on and trying to get me to meet him at this downtown bar, the Black Stallion. I’ve been by it before. The place gave me the creeps, even during the day.”

  “The Black Stallion.” Carlita gazed at Mercedes. “Why does the name sound familiar?”

  “Maybe Cool Bones mentioned it.”

  Cool Bones aka Charles Benson, was Carlita’s other tenant. Cool Bones was a jazz singer and head of the jazz band, the Jazz Boys. They played regular gigs at the Thirsty Crow, a bar in the City Market district.

  “We need to ask him,” Carlita said. “Is there anything else?”

  “Yes. You have to promise not to breathe a word of what I’m about to say to anyone,” Shelby said.

  Chapter 7

  “My lips are sealed,” Carlita promised.

  Shelby sucked in a breath. “Robert claimed he was making money hand-over-fist as a bookie. He planned to use the cash for this major deal he was working on, but he double-crossed someone with connections to an East Coast gang and they were hot on his trail. He never told me exactly what he’d done.”

  She cast an uneasy glance at Carlita. “On top of that, I think someone has been following me. I’m probably just being paranoid. I’m so sorry, Carlita.” Shelby rubbed her brow. “The last thing I would ever want to do is bring a bunch of criminals to our doorstep. I’m considering packing a suitcase and hiding out at my uncle’s house until this all blows over.”