A Drizzle of Deception_A Cozy Mystery

by Constance Barker

  “You’re crazy as a loon!”

  “Hey, hey,” I interrupted. “I know everyone is upset about Jeb, but let’s try and get it together.”

  Suddenly a man stepped around the outbuilding. Stormi and I both jumped!

  “Hey Denny,” Brandon said to the older man.

  He was older, but a little younger than Jeb. He wore overalls and his weathered face and hands showed him to be a hard worker almost all of his life. He wore a hat over his thick gray hair. He stretched his hand out to Brandon.

  “Good to see you Brandon. I thought I heard talking out here. Come to see your grandfather?”

  “Yep,” Brandon answered. “Hey Denny, this is my fiancée Tara and my sister Stormi.”

  Denny nodded his head to us. “How’s the handyman business treating you?”

  “Very busy. Denny Fowler here is a carpenter and he’s helped me quite a few times when I’d be in a jam or need his expertise on a carpentry situation.”

  “So Papaw Jeb rents out a workshop to you?” Stormi asked.

  “Yes’m, has for years.” Denny scratched the top of his head. “Celeste Yang rents the other half. Unfortunately that’s the only building Jeb lets us work in. I’d love to see what he has in all these other outbuildings, but he has them boarded and chained. He doesn’t want anyone snooping around.”

  Brandon looked around the property. “Funny how I never paid much attention that he locked all these buildings.”

  Denny scuffed his worn work boot into the dirt. “Even the sheds are locked up. I simply would like to look around at some of his collections to get some inspiration for my sculptures.”

  “You make sculptures too.” I was intrigued. That was not an art are the faint of heart.

  Denny chuckled. “I try. Not sure I’m very good at it, but I like to do it. Mostly metal sculptures. I made one for the high school. It’s a metal sculpture that looks like a pencil.”

  “Oh my gosh, you made that?” I was impressed. The metal sculpture was more than 6-feet high and stood at the edge of the high school welcoming students as they entered the area.

  “Yes’m I did.” Denny looked pleased that I knew of his work.

  “Denny’s quite the artist,” Brandon remarked. “He’s just too modest to let on.”

  “I do smaller scale items too, like for front yards. I sell them at festivals.” Denny pulled a smart phone from his pocket and punched the face a few times, then handed it to me. “Here’s a few snapshots of my wares.”

  The three of us looked at the photos, mesmerized by his genius. Some metal sculptures had no rhyme or reason, simply abstract metal pieces with long limbs floating upwards, but others were replicas of animals like a bird or cat. Some were table top versions and others were 3 to 4-feet tall.

  “These are beautiful,” I exclaimed. “Let me know when you’re at a festival and I’d like to browse through your collection.”

  Denny smiled, obviously liking the attention. “I will let Brandon know.”

  “Denny, have you noticed anything odd when you’ve been out here?” Brandon asked. “Jeb’s been having trouble with his security alarm going off and he sees weird lights and hears humming noises.”

  “I heard about that.” Denny punched his phone then placed it back into his back pocket. “But I haven’t seen or heard anything myself when I’ve been out here.”

  “So you haven’t heard the strange noises or weird lights?” Stormi looked concerned and I didn’t blame her.

  “No, afraid not. But I’m not here at night either when it seems the peculiarities occur.”

  “Well thanks for your time Denny.” I could tell Brandon wasn’t feeling much better about this situation than Stormi. If no one else could corroborate Jeb’s story, one might assume Jeb is either making it up for attention or becoming senile. Neither option looked good.

  Denny walked back to the workshop as we headed up to the house. Suddenly barking could be heard behind us. Three yellow labs raced by us and up to the house. Jeb came outside and hugged the dogs, scratching their ears as their thick tails almost wagged off their hind ends. Okay, now where did these dogs come from?

  Chapter Five

  We walked up to the porch where the dogs continued to lick Jeb’s face.

  “Papaw, whose dogs are these.” Stormi rubbed the ears of one of the dogs who promptly sat down and leaned against her leg.

  “I don’t know.” Jeb chuckled as he scratched the heads of the other two dogs. “They started coming by, oh I don’t know, maybe a couple of weeks ago. They come for a visit and I give them treats, then they leave.”

  Brandon looked at their different colored collars. “I don’t see any tags. That’s odd. Why would someone let these purebred dogs out and not have tags on them?”

  The collars were different colors, one black, one blue, and the other red. “I guess the colored collars are one way to tell them apart, but yeah, no tags is strange.”

  Jeb didn’t seem to be listening to us. He was enjoying the dogs’ company and their excited whining. Finally they settled down and we all sat on the rocking chairs that dotted the long expansive front porch. We discussed the weather and some town gossip, then Stormi broached the subject of looking inside the locked outbuildings.

  “Papaw, why don’t you let us look inside some of those locked buildings. Maybe if we go inside we can see if anyone has been trying to get in.”

  Jeb shook his head. “Sorry Stormi, I don’t want anyone going in those buildings but me.”

  “How are we going to help if you don’t allow us to look around?” Brandon seemed exasperated.

  “Sorry boy, but I just don’t want anyone walking through my buildings, even family.”

  Stormi changed the subject. “Anymore weird lights and humming noises.”

  Jeb nodded as he rubbed the top of red collar dog’s head. “Again last night,” he said with a weary voice. “I can barely get a few hours of sleep at night. Been taking long naps during the day.”

  “All the more reason to let us see inside these buildings.” Brandon’s patience was wearing thin.

  “I don’t see how that will help.” Jeb sighed.

  Stormi intervened. “If we know what’s in those buildings, maybe we can figure out who’s trying to break into them.”

  Jeb shook his head. The man was stubborn to a fault.

  Suddenly the dog’s ears perked up like they heard something we couldn’t. Then they raced down the driveway barking the entire way until we could no longer see them.

  “That was weird.” Stormi said as she rocked back and forth. “I wonder if the Hackman’s down the road got some new dogs?”

  “I already asked,” Jeb answered. “They haven’t and neither has the Parker’s down on Rebel Run Trail either.”

  Brandon stood up and stretched. “Well, if you aren’t going to let us into the buildings to look around then we probably ought to head out.”

  We said our goodbyes and told Jeb to let us know if anything else happens. Not that we could do much. If there was someone snooping around, then they were searching for Jeb’s money or whatever he had hidden in those buildings. Unfortunately, today we wouldn’t know what that was, but before long Stormi and her mother Dottie would be taking things into their own hands.

  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 th
e 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 c
ommittee 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.”