A Drizzle of Deception: A Cozy Mystery (Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book 10) Read Online Free PDF

Atlanta now, but they had a residency on 50 acres out on Route 22. They usually only came in the summer now to enjoy their 4 acre lake and so the grandkids could ride their 4-wheelers.
     
    “Nobody is probably staying out there right now, do you think?” I asked.
     
    “Actually the son, Lincoln Hodges, is staying out there. He comes in several times a week for coffee and my huge chocolate chip cookies. He’ll buy half a dozen of them at a time and take home. Don’t you remember him from school?”
     
    I had to think for a second, and then his face from 16 years ago popped into my head. “Oh yes, now I do. He was one of the cool kids so I guess I didn’t pay too much mind to him.”
     
    Lizzy laughed. “Yeah, the cliques…I don’t miss that in the least.”
     
    I shook my head. “Neither do I. So what’s Lincoln doing out there all alone? Has he ever said?”
     
    “Probably goofing off. He doesn’t have to work for a living with all that family money.”
     
    “I can’t imagine not working at something though. I would get bored pretty quick.”
     
    “You and me both.”
     
    “Interesting. Well, I better get back to my business. It was nice visiting with you Lizzy.”
     
    Lizzy walked back behind the counter. “You too Tara. Tell Stormi I said hi.”
     
    “Will do.”
     
    I thought about Lincoln Hodges, wondering if the dogs could be his. It was quite a coincidence that he owned yellow labs and that’s exactly the type of dogs visiting Jeb.
     
    When I arrived back at the shoppe I asked Stormi if she remember Lincoln Hodges. She was less than impressed.
     
    “Yeah…why?”
     
    “I stopped in at Lizzy’s and we got to talking. I asked her if she knew of anyone who owned yellow labs and she said Lincoln Hodges did.”
     
    “Is he living out at the summer home right now?” Stormi filled the flower vases on the tables with water. “I didn’t know anyone lived there during the colder months.”
     
    “Apparently he does. Lizzy says he comes in several times a week to her café.”
     
    “Glad he doesn’t show up here.”
     
    “How come? I could tell by the disgusted look on your face when I mentioned his name that he must be on your poop list.”
     
    “Poop is right.” Stormi emptied the remaining water from the water can into the sink. “I went out on a date with him in school.”
     
    I turned towards her, a shocked look on my face.
     
    Stormi grimaced. “You can drag your chin off the floor now.”
     
    “I never knew you dated Lincoln Hodges!”
     
    Stormi waved one finger in the air. “Once. And he was a jerk. He tried to get to third base on a first date and I wouldn’t let him get to second. Then he said I was a tease and all the other guys on the football team said I was easy. I told him they lied and to take me home. He dropped me off in the middle of town and I had to walk home.”
     
    “Oh my gosh!” I was stunned. “You never told me or Paige?”
     
    Stormi appeared sad from the memory. I now wished I’d never breathed his name to her.
     
    “I was embarrassed so I didn’t tell anyone.”
     
    “You didn’t have anything to be embarrassed about. He was the jerk.”
     
    “I know that now, but when you’re young and in high school and everyone talks….well, you know.”
     
    I did know. Being a teenager is tough. Dealing with peer groups, mean girls, and jerks plus your studies can take a toll on any kid. Sammi, Paige’s daughter, was handling it great though.
     
    “That was a long time ago. Lots of things have changed since then.”
     
    Stormi smiled. “Yes it has. And all for the better. Now if I could just figure things out with Papaw.”
     
    It was late Wednesday afternoon and Wednesday night was one of our slowest during the week. “Why don’t we close up early and go out to Jeb’s again. Let’s really look around the buildings. I don’t think we performed a thorough examination last time.”
     
    “Fine with me.” Stormi pulled her