Free A Drizzle of Deception: A Cozy Mystery (Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book 10) by Constance Barker Page B

cake on paper plates. “He’d be grumbling about people trying to steal his gold or something like that.”
     
    Greg took a bite of his red velvet and vanilla ice cream cake. “He’s been calling the police station too. Apparently he had a security alarm installed on the house and something keeps tripping it. I went out to the property and looked around. I didn’t see anything unusual though.”
     
    “Then what’s setting off the alarm system?” I asked, taking another sip of wine.
     
    “Not sure,” Greg answered. “I had the alarm company guy come out and test the system and it seems to be working okay. The only thing I can come up with is that either an animal or the wind is setting it off.”
     
    Stormi made a face. “Oh Lord, he’ll think the wildebeest is back.”
     
    Greg shook his head and placed his napkin on the now empty paper plate. “He didn’t mention the wildebeest, only that he thinks someone is trying to rob him.”
     
    Stormi threw her napkin on her plate. “It’s all Howie’s fault! He got Papaw all worked up and now we have to pick up the pieces.”
     
    “But what if he’s not exaggerating,” Bruce offered as he sliced himself another piece of ice cream cake. “Maybe in his mind he really thinks someone is after his loot.”
     
    Paige licked her fork. “What are you saying? That he’s going senile?” You never had to wonder what Paige thought…she was a straight shooter. No pussy footing around with her.
     
    Stormi grimaced. “Ugh! I would hate to think Papaw is losing it.”
     
    “Maybe it’s just a momentary lapse,” Bruce offered. “He got all excited over the Howie deal and it’s taking him a while to decompress.”
     
    Stormi nodded but I could tell that little suggestion was enough to worry her. The funny thing was, nobody had entertained the thought that perhaps it was real. That someone was actually trying to steal from Jeb.
     
    That evening as Brandon took me home I decided to quiz him on the subject.
     
    “So, what do you think of this predicament with your grandfather?”
     
    “What predicament?” Brandon asked as he pulled into my driveway.
     
    “Huh? Where have you been? All this craziness that’s going on at Papaw Jeb’s.”
     
    Brandon put his truck in park and turned off the engine. “Hon, it’s probably nothing. I’ve lived my entire life listening to Jeb’s tales about his money, valuables, and ghosts haunting him, wild animals tearing up his property. But no one else has ever seen his money, heard or seen the ghosts, or witnessed weird animals on his property. I just think it’s the musings of a bored man who needs the excitement of these stories to keep him entertained.”
     
    As Brandon walked me to my door and kissed me goodnight my mind reeled. Something wasn’t adding up. But it looked like I might be on my own with this way of thinking.

Chapter Three
     
     
    The next morning I stopped at the bank on my way to The Frozen Scoop. As I walked from the bank towards the shoppe I noticed Jeb and ol’ Charlie sitting on their usual bench in front of the hardware store. I walked slowly near them so I could hear their conversation. Jeb looked stricken while Charlie rattled on. Seems Charlie was trying to convince Jeb that the lights he saw outside his house at night were aliens. Good grief! The awful grimace on Jeb’s face made me think he was contemplating the notion.
     
    “Have you seen any of those crop circles down your way?” Charlie asked Jeb. “That’s how they communicate with each other.”
     
    Jeb rubbed his chin. “No, can’t say I’ve heard any of the farmers down my way speak of anything like that. I have talked to some neighbors to see if they’ve seen these strange lights too, but they haven’t.”
     
    Charlie took a cigar out of his pocket. “Sounds like the aliens are only interested in you Jeb. I’d keep a shotgun nearby and fill them full of buckshot if I was you.”
     
    I walked in front of the