“How can you be sure?” Tony asked. “You told this Cricket person not to say anything.”
“Asking Cricket to keep a secret is like trying to stay dry while you’re swimming in the ocean,” Mercedes said. “It ain’t gonna happen. The other three will hear that I have Jon Luis’ manuscript within the hour,” she predicted.
The rest of the evening crawled by as Mercedes waited for the pawnshop to close. The family ate early and Gina and the kids stayed in Carlita and Mercedes’ apartment while Mercedes and her brothers headed downstairs to guard the pawnshop.
“We need to arm ourselves.” Tony stepped over to the desk and unlocked the top left-hand drawer. “What kind of gun you want Paulie?”
“Whatever you wanna give me.”
Tony handed him a Ruger. “It’s already loaded.”
“You keep these things loaded?”
“Yeah. If someone decides to rob the pawnshop, they’re not gonna wait for me to load my gun.”
“True.”
“What about you Mercedes?” Paulie asked.
“I got my own.” Mercedes pulled a small silver gun with a pearl handle out of her jacket pocket.
“That looks familiar.” Tony pointed at the gun.
“Ma and I found it in Pop’s safe not long after his death.”
“Ah.” Tony pulled out a gun, checked the chamber to make sure it was loaded and then shut the desk drawer. “Paulie, you take the back hall. I’ll take the front of the store.”
“What about me?” Mercedes asked.
“You stay here, behind the counter where it’s safest. If this thug shows up, he’ll have to get through Paulie or me before he gets to ya. If anything happens, call the cops.”
Mercedes smiled. “I swear I have the best bros in the whole world.”
“Yeah, well don’t be passin’ out the compliments just yet. It’s gonna be a long night.”
Tony killed the lights and crept to the front of the store while Paulie made his way to the back. Mercedes eased into the desk chair and glanced at the glowing hands on the wall clock. It was only ten and Tony was right, it was going be a long night.
She stayed in the back area for what seemed like forever, getting up every fifteen minutes to stretch her legs and check on her brothers. They agreed to leave the store’s back door ajar, just in case, to keep the lines of communication open.
Around midnight, she dozed off.
“Mercedes,” Tony hissed in her ear.
Mercedes jerked upright, her arms flailing in the air. “What?”
“I’m gonna take a quick bathroom break. Keep an eye out front.”
“Sure.” Mercedes wiggled out of the chair and walked around the side of the counter.
Click…click.
“Did you hear that?” she whispered.
Tony nodded and held a finger to his lips. He slipped past Mercedes and motioned her to move back as he crept toward the front of the store.
She could see the shadow of someone in front of the door and then it faded. Moments later, Paulie raced into the room motioning wildly toward the hall.
Tony ran past his sister. “Stay here in case there’s more than one.”
Mercedes ducked behind the counter. She gripped her gun in one hand and her cell phone in the other. Her heart began to race when she heard the tinkle of glass breaking. Then silence. All she could hear was the sound of her heart pounding in her ears.
Ugh. She heard a loud grunt, followed by a loud thump.
“Call the cops!” Paulie shouted.
Mercedes’ fingers shook as she dialed 911. “Yes. This is Mercedes Garlucci, 210 Mulberry Street in Savannah. Someone is trying to break into our pawnshop.”
“A patrol car is on the way,” the dispatcher said. “They’re only three minutes out.”
“Thank you.” She disconnected the call and ran into the hall where Paulie had Tom Muldoon pinned to the floor. Tony was standing over him, his gun pointed at Muldoon’s head.
The sound of sirens filled the air and Mercedes ran to the back door to let the police inside. Two patrol cars screeched to a halt in the alley and officers sprang from the car. “We got a guy inside who was trying to rob our store,” Mercedes said breathlessly.
While the officers ran inside to assist Mercedes’ brothers, Mercedes dialed Detective Skip Wilson’s cell phone.
“Detective Skip Wilson speaking.”
“This is Mercedes Garlucci. I think we’ve got Jon Luis’ killer.”
Chapter 21
“Hold the door, Mercedes.” Carlita grabbed a couple of potholders and carried the bubbling tagliatelle pasta dish out of the apartment and to the table in the hall. She carefully set it next to the other two pasta dishes she’d pulled from the oven.
Cool Bones’ apartment door opened and he stepped into the hall. “I thought I smelled something heavenly.” He took a breath and closed his eyes. “I’ve been saving my appetite all day for this.”
“I’m glad you could make it,” Carlita said. “Grab a seat.”
Elvira’s apartment door opened and she met Cool Bones’ gaze. “Well hello tall, dark and handsome.” She batted her eyes and plunked down in the chair next to him.
Cool Bones grinned, displaying a gleaming set of pearly whites. “Hello Elvira. Have you finished moving out?”
“Almost. All I’ve got left to move is my bed. Would you like to help?”
Mercedes snorted. “Ha.”
“I-uh. Well, if you want to move it tonight, I can see if Tony and Paulie want to add a little muscle. We can get it over to your new place in one trip.”
Elvira frowned. “That wasn’t what I had in mind.”
Shelby and Violet emerged from their apartment, saving Cool Bones from having to reply. “I hope we’re not late.”
“Not at all,” Carlita said. “I’m still waitin’ on the others. They’re closing up shop now.”
Gina and the kids stepped out of Tony’s apartment and climbed the stairs. “It looks like you outdone yourself Ma.” Gina herded the kids to the other side of the table and then followed Carlita into the apartment to grab the plates, napkins and silverware.
They finished setting the table and Tony and Paulie joined them. “These smells have been torturing me all afternoon,” Tony said.
After everyone was seated, they passed around the pasta dishes, baskets brimming with garlic rolls and a large bowl of salad.
Carlita took her seat at the head of the table and a slow smile spread across her face as she gazed at her children and grandchildren. The only ones missing were her Vinnies…her husband and oldest son.
A twinge of sadness washed over Carlita and she forced it from her mind.
During a lull in the conversation, Cool Bones asked how the Jon Luis’ murder investigation was going.
“It’s over,” Mercedes said.
“Mercedes set a trap for the killer and he walked right into it,” Carlita said.
“Or broke into it,” Paulie quipped. “As in, tried to break into the pawnshop, but we were waitin’ for him.”
“Tom Muldoon ain’t no match for the Garlucci brothers,” Tony bragged.
“Did he confess to killing Jon Luis?” Elvira asked.
“No, but I think the authorities are close to having enough evidence to charge him. They’re holding him in jail on a technicality right now. One of the publishers at Live Oak admitted he let Tom Muldoon take a look at Jon Luis’ draft. They were friends from way back.”
“Mercedes figured Muldoon became suspicious of Autumn attending the author group when she showed up and Mercedes didn’t,” Carlita explained. “When Autumn started nosing around, asking questions about publishers, Muldoon decided to ramp up his plan to frame Mercedes by tossing the murder weapon into our dumpster and then he made an anonymous phone call to the police.”
“Thank God Cool Bones saw someone toss something into our dumpster on his way home from work,” Mercedes said. “The killer who wrote thrillers.”
Elvira elbowed C
ool Bones. “If I were you, I’d ask for a discount on this month’s rent.”
“Elvira,” Carlita warned.
“What?”
“That’s something you would pull.”
“Well, soon enough, I’ll be out of your hair forever.”
“You’re moving across the alley,” Mercedes said.
“Yeah, but it’s not like living under the same roof.”
“Close enough,” Carlita muttered.
Elvira straightened her shoulders. “I think you’re going to miss me, probably even beg me to move back in. I’m not gonna do it, so you might as well start looking for a new tenant now that the repairs to the apartment are done.”
“I think I’m gonna put it off for a few weeks and enjoy the peace and quiet,” Carlita said.
“When you do, make sure you go over the applicants with a fine tooth comb,” Elvira said. “Quality tenants like me are few and far between.”
“There’s only one Elvira Cobb.”
“I can’t argue with you there,” Carlita said.
The end.
The Made in Savannah Mystery Series Continues!
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Hope Callaghan is an American author who loves to write Christian books, especially Christian Mystery and Cozy Mystery books. She has written more than 50 mystery books (and counting) in six series.
In March 2017, Hope won a Mom’s Choice Award for her book, “Key to Savannah,” Book 1 in the Made in Savannah Cozy Mystery Series.
Born and raised in a small town in West Michigan, she now lives in Florida with her husband.
She is the proud mother of three wonderful children. When she's not doing the thing she loves best - writing books - she enjoys cooking, traveling and reading books.
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Fresh Pasta Dough Recipe
INGREDIENTS:
1 ½ cups flour
½ cup semolina flour (pasta flour)
2 whole eggs, at room temperature
3 egg yolks, at room temperature
DIRECTIONS:
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and the semolina. Create a well in the center and add the eggs and egg yolks. Using a fork, break up the eggs then gradually start to draw flour from the edges of the well into the mixture.
If the dough gets too firm to mix with the fork switch to mixing with your hands. Continue to work in flour until the dough no longer sticks to your hands; you may not need to incorporate all of the flour. (I used a bit more than what the recipe called for.)
Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead the dough for 8 to 10 minutes or until it is smooth and pliable. Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and allow to rest for at least 30 minutes.
If using a pasta roller: Divide the dough into 4 pieces. Starting with the machine set to the widest setting, pass the dough through the rollers. Fold the dough into thirds and pass it through again 2 more times. Continue passing the pasta through the machine, reducing the setting a few notches each time. You may need to dust a bit with flour if the dough sticks to the rollers at all. Once you reach your desired thickness, use the cutting attachment to cut the pasta sheet into fettuccine. Dust the cut pasta with more flour to prevent sticking and repeat with the remaining dough.
If using a rolling pin: Divide the dough in half. Dust your surface with flour and sprinkle generously on your rolling pin.
*Roll out the dough as thin and as evenly possible, adding flour as needed to prevent sticking. Use a paring knife (a pizza cutter works great!) to cut your dough into even ribbons, then set aside, dusting the cut pasta with more flour. Repeat with the remaining dough. (At this point, the pasta can be transferred to a sealable plastic bag and frozen for up to 3 months; do not defrost before cooking.)
Cook the pasta in a large pot of generously salted boiling water, checking for doneness after just 1 minute; fresh pasta cooks very quickly. As soon as it is al dente, no more than 3 or 4 minutes, drain, reserving some of the cooking water if desired for saucing the pasta. Toss with your sauce, loosen with some of the reserved cooking water as needed and serve immediately.
*Note: You must get the dough as thin as possible and cut them into small strips, otherwise, it will be too thick and end up having the texture of dumplings.
Garlucci Family Secret Pasta Sauce Recipe
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1-1/2 cups pureed tomatoes
1-1/2 tablespoon tomato paste
2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-1/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
3/4 pound fettuccine
Directions:
Heat olive oil in a pan on medium heat. Add onions and garlic. Cook until tender about 3 minutes.
Add in tomato paste and pureed tomato, stir.
Season with basil, black pepper and salt.
Stir until everything is blended.
Add the heavy cream and let it simmer for about 5 minutes until the sauce thickens.
Add cooked pasta.
After plated, sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
Table of Contents
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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
Join The Fun
Other Series You May Enjoy
Meet the Author
Fresh Pasta Dough Recipe
Garlucci Family Secret Pasta Sauce Recipe
Setup in Savannah: A Made in Savannah Cozy Mystery (Made in Savannah Cozy Mysteries Series Book 7) Page 14
