Read A Drizzle of Deception: A Cozy Mystery (Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book 10) for Free Online Page B
Book: Read A Drizzle of Deception: A Cozy Mystery (Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book 10) for Free Online
Authors: Constance Barker
Jeb.” I didn’t want him to feel overwhelmed. “Just know that you do have options should you ever want to share your treasures with others.”
Jeb locked the buildings and accompanied us back to the car. “I’m glad you girls came out. I feel better now that I’ve finally opened up the buildings and had a gander inside. I always dreaded going through those items, but now that I have, it wasn’t as bad as I thought. Now if these dang noises and lights would go away, I’d be set.”
Oh yes. Those disturbances at night. Lately I started wondering if Dottie was right and Jeb was going a bit senile, but after seeing the scratches on the building and that cracked window, I wasn’t so sure.
“Papaw, do you want me to spend the night with you? I’ll catch whoever it is and punch them into next week.”
Jeb shook his head and leaned against one of the porch posts. “Naw….you go on home and be with your husband girl. I’ll be alright.”
Jeb seemed weary and I couldn’t blame him. He’d been through an emotional journey tonight. And if there was someone out there scaring an old man on his own property….well, God help them.
Chapter Ten
I took Stormi home and then decided to run by the shoppe to check on a freezer that wasn’t cooling down properly that day. After ensuring the freezer was at the right temperature and my ice cream cakes were freezing well, I heard someone yell in from the back door.
“What are you doing here? I thought you closed up early.” It was Paige and her daughter Sammi.
“I did.” I closed the freezer door. “Just wanted to check on this freezer and make sure it was still doing its job.”
I told them about Stormi and me visiting Jeb’s place and how he’d finally allowed us into the buildings and what was inside.
“That’s remarkable he had all those things stored away,” Paige replied. “I think a museum would be a great idea, if he’s willing.”
“We didn’t push him. I know it was difficult for him just to let us in. You could see the tears in his eyes as he remembered how he and Jeanette use to collect the items.”
Paige looked at the floor. “How sad…but maybe it’s good for him to finally go through this stuff. It sounds like he was dreading it, but now that it’s over, maybe he can be at peace with it.”
“Yeah, he probably would if whoever is terrifying him would stop.” It made me angry to think about it.
“So you think someone is causing the lights and noises?” Sammi asked.
I nodded. “Yes I do. We found scratches on one of the outbuildings, only they were up near the roof and a cracked window up there as well. You couldn’t reach it unless you were on a ladder. But there’s no way anyone could move an extension ladder fast enough before tripping the alarm and Jeb racing out there.”
“Well that really gets my hackles up.” I knew Paige would be just as angry as I was.
“What’s a hackle?” Sammi asked.
Paige ignored her daughter. “Someone is tormenting that poor man.”
Suddenly I remembered something. “Hey, would you guys want to accompany me on a road trip out to the Hodges estate?”
“Is anyone living there right now?” Paige asked.
“Lincoln Hodges the son is. Lizzy says he comes into the coffee shop quite a bit.”
“He owns the big black Hummer.” Sammi’s eyes got big.
“How do you know that?” Paige asked. I believe there’s a lot Sammi didn’t tell her mother.
“Oh my friends and I have seen him around town. He goes into Lizzy’s and sometimes we’ve seen him at the diner eating or picking up a to go order. In fact, he might be there now.” Sammi seemed fascinated with Lincoln.
“Why would you think that Sammi?” I gathered my bag and car keys.
“Abbey and I go there sometimes after studying at the library and get a milkshake or a plate of fries.” Oh to be young and have a speedy
Jeb locked the buildings and accompanied us back to the car. “I’m glad you girls came out. I feel better now that I’ve finally opened up the buildings and had a gander inside. I always dreaded going through those items, but now that I have, it wasn’t as bad as I thought. Now if these dang noises and lights would go away, I’d be set.”
Oh yes. Those disturbances at night. Lately I started wondering if Dottie was right and Jeb was going a bit senile, but after seeing the scratches on the building and that cracked window, I wasn’t so sure.
“Papaw, do you want me to spend the night with you? I’ll catch whoever it is and punch them into next week.”
Jeb shook his head and leaned against one of the porch posts. “Naw….you go on home and be with your husband girl. I’ll be alright.”
Jeb seemed weary and I couldn’t blame him. He’d been through an emotional journey tonight. And if there was someone out there scaring an old man on his own property….well, God help them.
Chapter Ten
I took Stormi home and then decided to run by the shoppe to check on a freezer that wasn’t cooling down properly that day. After ensuring the freezer was at the right temperature and my ice cream cakes were freezing well, I heard someone yell in from the back door.
“What are you doing here? I thought you closed up early.” It was Paige and her daughter Sammi.
“I did.” I closed the freezer door. “Just wanted to check on this freezer and make sure it was still doing its job.”
I told them about Stormi and me visiting Jeb’s place and how he’d finally allowed us into the buildings and what was inside.
“That’s remarkable he had all those things stored away,” Paige replied. “I think a museum would be a great idea, if he’s willing.”
“We didn’t push him. I know it was difficult for him just to let us in. You could see the tears in his eyes as he remembered how he and Jeanette use to collect the items.”
Paige looked at the floor. “How sad…but maybe it’s good for him to finally go through this stuff. It sounds like he was dreading it, but now that it’s over, maybe he can be at peace with it.”
“Yeah, he probably would if whoever is terrifying him would stop.” It made me angry to think about it.
“So you think someone is causing the lights and noises?” Sammi asked.
I nodded. “Yes I do. We found scratches on one of the outbuildings, only they were up near the roof and a cracked window up there as well. You couldn’t reach it unless you were on a ladder. But there’s no way anyone could move an extension ladder fast enough before tripping the alarm and Jeb racing out there.”
“Well that really gets my hackles up.” I knew Paige would be just as angry as I was.
“What’s a hackle?” Sammi asked.
Paige ignored her daughter. “Someone is tormenting that poor man.”
Suddenly I remembered something. “Hey, would you guys want to accompany me on a road trip out to the Hodges estate?”
“Is anyone living there right now?” Paige asked.
“Lincoln Hodges the son is. Lizzy says he comes into the coffee shop quite a bit.”
“He owns the big black Hummer.” Sammi’s eyes got big.
“How do you know that?” Paige asked. I believe there’s a lot Sammi didn’t tell her mother.
“Oh my friends and I have seen him around town. He goes into Lizzy’s and sometimes we’ve seen him at the diner eating or picking up a to go order. In fact, he might be there now.” Sammi seemed fascinated with Lincoln.
“Why would you think that Sammi?” I gathered my bag and car keys.
“Abbey and I go there sometimes after studying at the library and get a milkshake or a plate of fries.” Oh to be young and have a speedy