A Drizzle of Deception: A Cozy Mystery (Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book 10) (3 page)

Chapter Six

The week went by without hearing anything new about Jeb and the strange lights and noises. We were cautiously optimistic that whatever had occurred, whether it was Jeb’s imagination or him simply wanting attention, had finally ran it’s course. But just when you think the coast is clear, a giant Mack truck is right there to run you down.

It was later in the afternoon during a lull and I was in the back making a red velvet and vanilla ice cream cake. I loved the time I could bake in the back…alone with my own thoughts. Stormi remained in front to wipe down tables and take customer’s orders. I was pouring the batter into two round cake pans when Paige walked through the back door of the shoppe from Bruce’s building right across the alley way.

Paige pointed to the baking pans. “That reminds me, I need to order a devil’s food cake with butter pecan ice cream for the book club meeting next week.”

I pointed to a notepad and pen on the counter. “Just jot it down and I’ll add it to the others.”

Paige wrote the message on the pad. “Now let’s hope I can serve it to the book club before Bruce notices it in the freezer. He has such a sweet tooth.”

“Ahhh talking about me again.” Bruce popped his head in the back door as Paige almost jumped out of her skin.

“What are you doing? Trying to give me a heart attack?”

Bruce put his arm around Paige’s shoulders. “Now why would I want to do that?”

“For the insurance money, what else?”

Suddenly we heard a commotion out front. I placed the cakes into the oven and followed Bruce and Paige through the swing door out to the front.

Dottie and Stormi were in a hot discussion, complete with arms flailing and heads bobbing. I was glad there weren’t any customers in the shoppe.

“What in the Sam hill is going on?” Paige was the first on the other side of the counter. Dottie looked flushed so Paige pulled a chair over for her to sit down.

“It’s Daddy.” Dottie pulled a lace hanky from her purse. “He’s losing it. He called me in the middle of the night railing on about the lights and noises. I swear he’s going senile.”

Dottie wiped the sweat from her face with the handkerchief.

“And you’re just now telling me about this?” Stormi stood glaring at her mother while the rest of us sat at the table with Dottie.

Dottie straightened up in her chair. “I had errands to run, plus I had a hair appointment. I can’t miss my hair appointment otherwise Arlene can’t get me in for another week. You know how booked up she is.”

Stormi rolled her eyes.

I tried to get us back on track. “So Jeb called you in the middle of the night upset about the lights and noises he heard outside the house.”

Dottie nodded as she continued to wipe her brow. “Yes, the poor man is getting worse.” Dottie turned to look at Stormi. “I wish you would have Greg stay out there one night to see what’s going on. He’s a police officer…maybe he can get to the bottom of this.”

“Yes, Greg is a police officer Momma, but he has a duty to this town, not just Papaw. Besides, he doesn’t have the time or the manpower to put another officer out there.”

“That’s it then.” Dottie placed the hanky back into her purse. “I’m going to have to put him in a home.”

“I told you that’s not going to happen!” Stormi stood with her hands on her hips. “It’s like you just want to put him somewhere so you don’t have to worry about him.”

“That’s not true!” Dottie was getting red faced again so I motioned for Paige to get her a cup of water.

Bruce reached out and grabbed Dottie’s hand. “We don’t believe that’s what you’re thinking Dottie.”

“I do!” Stormi wasn’t helping.

Paige set the cup of water in front of Dottie. “Drink this and Stormi, get a grip.”

Stormi looked like a whipped pup. “I just don’t want Papaw going to a nursing home.”

Dottie looked up at Stormi. “I don’t either dear, but I don’t want your Papaw to hurt himself either. The way he’s carrying on…well I just don’t know what to do anymore. No one else has seen these strange occurrences.”

“Has anyone spent the night there?” Bruce asked. “That’s when these things tend to occur.”

“Greg had one of his men patrol the area one night as much as he could,” Stormi answered. “He didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. Heck, if I have to I’ll stay the night with Papaw and find out what’s the frick is going on.”

Paige shook her head. “You’re a newlywed. You should stay home with your husband.”

I stood and put my hand on Dottie’s shoulder. “Please don’t do anything rash Dottie. Let’s give it a little more time and maybe we can figure out what’s going on.”

Dottie stood and gave us all a hug. “Alright, I won’t do anything without talking it over with you and your brother.” Stormi seemed more relaxed. “But we can’t keep going on like this. Something’s got to give on this situation.”

She toddled out the door with the four of us contemplating the matter.

Bruce walked behind the counter and dipped himself a scoop of raspberry crème. “So the old boy is still having problems out at his property huh?”

Stormi collapsed into one of the chairs. “Yes and I’m at my wits end on what to do. Papaw won’t let us into the outbuildings. We were hoping we might find a clue as to why someone would be snooping around, but Jeb’s so paranoid he won’t even let family in. Dang that Howie for screwing with Papaw’s head!”

I understood Stormi’s frustration. On the one hand if Jeb was seeing and hearing things, it didn’t bode well for him. And Dottie was right…he could hurt himself or someone else. But my gut kept clawing at me. That maybe there was someone or something causing the strange occurrences. Jeb had never acted this way before. Sure he had tall tales, but nothing in which he was scared to death like he is now. Had Howie stirred up something that was pushing Jeb over the edge? I shook my head. I didn’t want to think that was happening to this dear man.

Customers entered the shoppe and Bruce and Paige left for next door to their investment business. Stormi was quiet and I didn’t broach the subject of Jeb until Trixie showed up.

“How’s my favorite ice cream shoppe?” Trixie was ever the fashionista. She wore cream slacks with a pink flowing blouse, her lipstick matching the shirt. Pink stones from her earrings glistened in the light.

She looked at our down faces. “Good grief did someone die? I know I checked the obits this morning in the paper and didn’t recognize a soul.”

“It’s Papaw.” A tear ran down Stormi’s cheek.

Trixie rounded the counter and gave her a hug. “Oh darlin, I’m so sorry. Actually that’s why I’m here. I had a chat with Celeste to see if she’d heard or seen anything while at the workshop on Jed’s property.”

“Has she?” I hoped she did.

Trixie shook her head. “Unfortunately no. She’s heard the stories of what he’s said he’s seen and heard, but she’s not experienced any of it while out there.”

Stormi wiped her tears with a tissue. “This is just getting worse. Momma thinks he’s going senile and wants to put him in a home.”

“Nonsense.” Trixie placed her bag on the counter and looked us square in the eye. “I’ve known your Papaw for many years, even before you were born. He’s going through a rough patch, but I don’t believe for a second he’s becoming senile.”

“I hope you’re right.” Stormi sniffed and blew her nose.

“Well, I’m going to let you in on a little secret.” Trixie leaned against the counter. “Celeste has had a, well, “thing” for your grandfather since she was a young girl.”

Stormi’s eyes got wide and she made a face. “Really?”

“Yes. See her older brother Ken was friends with Jeb. Celeste was a lot younger than Jeb, but she adored him. Of course Jeb didn’t give her a second look. Then he got married to your dear departed grandmother and Celeste married as well. But I know for a fact that since her husband’s been gone it’s relit that fire she’s had for him all these years.”

Stormi’s face was becoming more aghast by the minute. “Fire? They still have fire?”

Trixie gave Stormi an admonished look. “My dear, sex is still going strong in your 70’s, 80’s and dare I say 90’s.”

“Oh crap. Now I can’t get that mental image out of my head!” Stormi was having a bad day.

Trixie patted Stormi’s arm. “It’s alright; you’ll be old like me some day.”

Stormi looked at me. “That didn’t make me feel any better.”

“Tara I need to order another Mississippi Mud ice cream cake for the garden committee meeting for next Tues.” Trixie was the president of the Caesars Creek garden committee and she liked to have sweets on hand for their monthly get together. She said the chocolate released endorphins that kept the ladies calm. I didn’t know garden committee meetings could be so cut-throat, but apparently theirs was.

“Wouldn’t you like to mix it up? Try a different flavor,” I offered.

Trixie waved her hand. “Lands no child. I have to sooth the savage beasts with chocolate otherwise I might have a revolt on my hands.”

I made a note to visit one of those garden meetings sometime. From the way Trixie talked, most times it was a barn burner.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more help with Jeb.” Trixie grabbed her bag from the counter and headed towards the door.

“Maybe I could talk with her.” The thought flew out of my head before I knew it.

Trixie stopped at the door. “Certainly dear. Just don’t let on about the crush she has on Jeb.”

Stormi blanched.

Trixie looked at her watch. “She’s working the late shift at the library if you want to catch her today.”

We bid Trixie goodbye and I looked at Stormi. “It’s a slow time. How about I go down and talk to her some more. Maybe I can jog a memory or two of something she’s heard or seen down at Jeb’s.”

“Be my guest.” I knew Stormi didn’t want any part of someone crushing on her Papaw. “And while you’re gone I’ll try and recover from Trixie‘s visuals.”

“Go play with Winchester. He’s lazing in his bed in the back. He’ll get your mind off…well things.”

“Good idea!“ Nothing like puppy breath to turn your bleak day into a bright one.

I wasn’t sure if I’d find out anymore from Celeste, but for Stormi and Brandon I wanted to try.

Chapter Seven

I grabbed my coat and purse and headed out the back door into the alleyway. The library was only a few blocks away so I decided to walk there. As I rounded the corner out of the alleyway onto the sidewalk I was startled by a dark vehicle pulling suddenly away from the curb in front of The Frozen Scoop. I didn’t recognize the large and black SUV with tinted windows. And their sudden departure and squealing tires gave me pause, but I shook off the experience and continued my walk down to the library.

Our town’s library was small but historic. A hundred and fifty years ago the building was used as the town meeting hall. Now it served the community as a library, complete with modern conveniences like meeting rooms, state of the art computers, and rows upon rows of books. They even had a teen room where kids could congregate and chat or study. Several tables and even a few booths adorned the space. A cardboard replica of the Tardis from
Dr. Who
stood in one corner.

Although the library was new on the inside, the city had preserved the brick on the outside so it still looked much like it did over a hundred years ago.

I walked to the front desk. I noticed Celeste right away from the name card pinned to her dark blue sweater. She was Trixie’s age and just as stylish. Her short grey hair was cut into a pixie cut that made her look 10 years younger, even with her reading glasses fastened to a chain dangling from her neck. She had a kind smile and I liked her instantly.

“Celeste, my name is Tara Beckley. I believe Trixie told you about me?”

Celeste put her hands on the counter. “Of course! She’s said so many wonderful things about you and Stormi and Paige.”

“I was wondering if you’d have time to talk to me.”

“Yes. It’s time for my break so let me get someone to take care of my station and we’ll head to the break room.”

After finding someone to replace her out front we headed to the break room. It was a small room with a couple of vending machines, a counter with a sink and a small refrigerator. We sat down at one of the few tables within the space. Luckily no one else was there so we had the room to ourselves.

I decided to get straight to the point. “Celeste, as you know there’s been some trouble out at Jeb’s place. You told Trixie you hadn’t noticed anything?”

Celeste shook her head. “No. I wish I had so I could be of more help, but when I’m there everything seems normal. Nothing out of the ordinary.”

“How about anything out of place?”

Celeste thought for a second. “I can’t think of anything. I normally just go straight to my workshop and it’s always as I left it. Jeb won’t let anyone in the other buildings so I have no idea if anything’s out of place there.”

I nodded. “Yes, Stormi and her brother Brandon, my fiancé, tried to coerce him into letting us in but he’s adamant he doesn’t want anyone to see what’s in those buildings. Were you ever able to look in them?”

“No, but I heard he collected items and some of it may be valuable.”

She’s probably heard some of his tall tales that have weaved their way through the community, I thought.

Celeste leaned over the table. “I will tell you this. If Jeb thinks something’s going on, then it is. He’s a good man and I believe him.” I was happy to hear that. But then again could she be so love sick it was blinding her? Crap…why did I have to think that?

“So you and Jeb go back aways?” I tried to probe, although subtly, to see if she would take the bait.

“Yes, he was my oldest brother’s friend.” Go on…….but she didn’t.

“So you’ve known him most of your life then?”

“Yes.” Wow, she wasn’t going there, at least not with me.

Suddenly she stood up. “I’m sorry to end this conversation so abruptly, but I should get back to work.”

I stood up from my chair. “Oh that’s fine. I appreciate you took the time to talk with me.”

“No problem whatsoever. Now you have a nice day.” And out the door she went. That sure was a fast exit. Maybe she knew I was hinting at her crush for Jeb and she simply didn’t want to talk about it. Or maybe she was hiding something else.