Working on book number 4 in the Cetta Borski series. Thought I’d give you a quick peek. This book will be out the summer of 2023.

            Cetta could not believe how tired she had been after traveling from California back to New York. Specifically, Orchard Hill, New York. The last thing she remembered the night she returned was talking with Tony, sitting in front of a roaring fire. Tony must have carried her to bed. She woke up the next morning all nice and warm in his bed.

Actually, she was glad to be back. The weather was finally warming up and Spring was in the air. She was looking forward to Spring since her birthday was April 1^st. Yes, she knew it was April Fool’s Day having gotten all the jokes throughout her twenty-four years. This one would be her twenty-fifth. With that in mind she hoped no one would make a big fuss. She wanted a quiet, peaceful birthday celebration with Tony.

            Concetta Borski, known by her friends as Cetta, pronounced Setta, works for Tony Gambino, a private detective in Orchard Hill. Cetta used to work at the only hotel in town as a desk clerk. After a rousing time with mobsters; where guns were involved, she quit her job at the hotel and started working for Tony, aka her current boyfriend.

            Although it may seem she has it made working for her boyfriend, there’s just one little, tiny, weenie glitch. She still has the hots for her college boyfriend, Paul Canon. Well, to be clear, she wouldn’t say she has the hots for him. It’s just that every time he’s around her hoo-ha starts singing and it’s not the tune she really wants to hear. Especially because she is totally in love with Tony.

            Cetta has known Paul since grammar school and when they got to high school, they became an item. Here’s where there’s a turn of events. In college she saw her archnemesis, Jenny Tripi tongue-tied with Paul at a Pep Rally. Cetta dropped Paul like a hot potato. Next thing you know Paul and Jenny are getting married. She thought, good riddance. Glad to be free from him. Even being married Paul popped up frequently at the hotel where she was working. Before you know it, Paul’s talking divorce from Jenny and wanting to get back together with her. Although Cetta was not thrilled with the situation, she couldn’t help daydreaming of how nice it would be to have her legs wrapped around Paul. So far, she’s been keeping him at bay. Not without a great deal of work on her part.

            Cetta pulled herself together and took off to the shower. She had returned to her own apartment and there was not a thing to eat. She hadn’t had time to grocery shop since returning, so the next best thing would be to stop at Timmy’s on the way to work.

            Driving into the drive-through lane she ordered a breakfast sandwich and of course her prescription donut. How she ever lasted in California without it she’ll never know.

            Parking her car in the lot behind Tony’s office building she grabbed the bags with her sandwich, coffees and donuts. Cetta figured Angie was probably feeling as wiped out as her. She thought a coffee and donut would perk her up.

            Turning the handle and pushing the door open with her hip she made her way into the office. The place hadn’t changed since she left for California a few weeks ago. Angie’s desk was still a conglomeration of little chachkis. She could see as she peered down the hall, Tony’s office door was shut while the other PIs centered around the cooler. Actually, there was no cooler, so the PIs leaned against a wall at the end of the hall in a little alcove big enough for a table where a coffeemaker, cups and other coffee paraphernalia resided. It was out of the line of view from Tony’s office which suited the staff just fine.

            AG Investigative Services was in an old Victorian house just outside the village of Orchard Hill. It was a great place. Cetta would love to have a home like this one day. The entrance for clientele was to the right side of the building. Walking in you were greeted with a foyer where there was a small champagne colored brocade sofa along one wall and matching brocade chairs on the opposite wall. A table in the corner held some magazines. There was a small mahogany antique table next to the sofa with a knock-off Tiffany lamp. A floor lamp reminiscent of the same era stood between the two chairs. The walls were done in a beige Damask print wallpaper. All the wood trim was stained a deep mahogany color and an Oriental rug covered the hardwood floors. Toward the front of the house were double doors that led to a morning room which was used for conferences. Adjacent to that was the reception area with Angie’s desk and another desk out of view for one of the other office secretaries.

            Toward the back of the house behind the reception area was Tony’s office. Off of the foyer were stairs leading to the second and third floors which housed the other PI personnel. Cetta’s office was across from Tony’s and behind the stairs. It wasn’t very big, but Cetta liked it because she had windows along the one wall giving her a view of the surrounding grounds. Following down the hall was the bathroom and kitchen.

            Angie looked up when Cetta walked in. She could tell she hadn’t completely recovered from the time change from the west coast. Her eyes were as baggy as a bloodhound’s.

            “Whatya got there Cetta?”

            “Oh, just my breakfast.”

            “I see.” Angie gave Cetta a pouty mouth.

            Cetta smiled and plopped one of the bags with a donut and coffee down on Angie’s desk. Angie peeked inside and a grin swam across her face.

            “How’d you know I was craving a donut?”

            “Oh, because I was dying for one myself and I couldn’t forget my buddy.”

            “You’re alright girl. Ah, Tony wants to see you. He don’t look like he’s in a good mood. Just so’s you know.”

           Raising her bag of food she said, “Thanks Ang. I’ll put this in my office for now.”

            Angie’s full name was Angela Colucci and she was from Brooklyn. Her family was friends with Tony’s family and because of this he was the lucky one whose turn it was to put up with Angie. It really wasn’t that bad, but a few episodes with Angie and Cetta caused Tony to ask what did he get himself into?

            Cetta left the bag with her breakfast on her desk, grabbing a pen and notebook. She sighed. What was bugging him, she wondered.