Read Death by Chocolate Sundae: A Cozy Mystery (Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book 2) for Free Online Page A

one with ice cream and one without.
     
    When he saw us staring at him, Mr. Brooks opened the front door and walked in. He wore a dark suit with a stunning red tie that set off his grey hair and perfect haircut. I quickly ducked down to clean up the mess on the floor then popped my head back up as he approached the counter. I nudged Stormi so she’d come out of her spell and stop staring at Mr. Brooks. The almond mocha that made it to the cone was now melting, streaming down onto her fingers. She walked over to the sink and dumped the ice cream into it, threw the cone away, and washed her hands.
     
    “Good afternoon ladies,” Mr. Brooks said with a smile.
     
    “Afternoon,” I said warily not sure why he was here. Of course, he could simply be here to order a smoothie, or as Stormi was probably thinking, here to kill us all. Ugh!
     
    “What can I get for you today?” I asked trying to smile. I could see Stormi turn around at the sink and stare at him.
     
    “Actually I have a few questions for you,” he said.
     
    Questions? For us? Stormi took a move towards her weapon of choice, the stainless steel ice cream scoop.
     
    “I noticed there is a vacancy right next door. A for lease sign in the window. Do you happen to know the people who own the property? The phone number on the sign is somewhat smudged.”
     
    We both stared at the man. He must have thought he entered a town where people go inexplicably mute.
     
    “Ladies? Is there anything wrong?” He asked taking a step backward.
     
    Finally, I found my voice. “Oh no,” I stammered. “I was trying to think of the name of the owner.” I looked at Stormi. “Isn’t it Hanson?”
     
    Stormi looked at me. “Yes but the owner doesn’t live around here.” She looked back at Mr. Brooks and asked, “Why do you want to know?”
     
    “I’m interested in leasing the place,” he answered. “I’m getting older and I’d like to settle down here in Caesar’s Creek away from the city life of Atlanta. That way I can take on fewer cases but still remain busy. I was driving through town when I happened to see the for lease sign and thought I’d stop and retrieve the number but it’s too difficult for me to distinguish so I thought maybe you ladies might know the owner.”
     
    I could tell Stormi wasn’t sure if she believed him or not. I didn’t know if I did either.
     
    “No, we don’t know the owner,” I replied. “Like I said, he doesn’t live around here although he does own some properties in town. Sorry we can’t be of more help.”
     
    I hoped my non-help would be enough to move him out the door. No such luck.
     
    “Oh that’s alright. I’ll stop in at city hall and see if they can provide me with the owner’s number,” Mr. Brooks answered as he turned to walk towards the door.
     
    Stormi and I breathed a sigh of relief, and then he turned back around.
     
    “While I’m here I should partake in one of your ice cream delicacies,” he replied. “Can I have a blueberry smoothie?”
     
    “Why of course,” I answered stiffly. I turned to grab a scoop of fresh blueberries when I heard the familiar door chime.
     
    “What the heck?” Paige blurted. “I thought we were all going to confront him together!”
     
    I stood holding the scoop of blueberries while Stormi was shaking her head at Paige. Mr. Brooks turned around and stared at Paige who was now looking from Stormi back to him.
     
    “Excuse me?” Mr. Brooks asked quizzically.
     
    “Paige,” I said dumping the blueberries into the sink. “Mr. Brooks came by to inquire about the office next door that’s for lease.” I tried to give her a look, like ixnay on the apetay, but it was fruitless.
     
    Paige turned and grabbed my open/closed sign hanging in the window and turned it over to closed.
     
    “Whatever, he’s here now so what better time than to see what he has to say for himself.”
    Paige was bound and determined to follow this through.
     
    “Tara, go get