Double Dip Dilemma: A Cozy Mystery (Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book 5) Read online

  “That’s good,” I replied. “She said something about her brakes not working.”

  Sammy pulled her long dark tresses back into a ponytail. “That’s what Jeremy told us as well. The car was totaled so they were going to take it to the salvage yard, but now it’s at the police station. I guess they’re checking it over to see what happened with the brakes.”

  Colton placed his ever-present laptop on the table and opened it. “Yes it’s odd because Jeremy and I took the car to the auto shop a week ago to have it serviced. You would think the mechanics would inspect the brake lines.”

  I put a small scoop of my new flavor Chocolate Explosion in a cup and walked around the counter to give it to Colton. “Here, try my new flavor and see how you like it.”

  “Thanks,” Colton answered.

  I knew he loved ice cream so named him my new taste tester. “That is odd about the service call. I don’t think I would want to take my auto there for a maintenance visit if they aren’t that thorough.”

  Sammy began emptying the trash receptacles scattered around the store. “Unless the brake line was cut.”

  Stormi dropped the ice cream scoop she held in her hand back into the water bin installed into the ice cream case. “You sound like your mother.”

  Sammy pulled the bag from the trash receptacle. “Is that a bad thing?” She smirked at Stormi.

  “Not necessarily,” Stormi teased back. “Evidently you have her suspicious streak.”

  Sammy tied the ends of the bag closed. “I’ve heard you have the same streak.”

  “My dear, suspicion is my middle name,” Stormi answered with a smile.

  “And she’s not kidding!” In walked the man who was becoming the love of my life. Stormi’s brother Brandon.

  If you told me this one year ago, or heck even 6 months ago, I would have laughed hysterically in your face. Brandon and I grew up with one another and the idea of us being a couple didn’t hit me until a couple of months prior. I began looking at him differently. Not as the mischievous boy he once was, but as the man he’d become. Hard working, humorous, giving and caring. Everything I’d been looking for in a man and hadn’t found was right under my nose the entire time. We’d been dating for around a month now and even double dated a few times with Stormi and Greg. But mostly we loved to pick up a pizza, rent a movie, and curl up with Winchester on the couch.

  So here he walked into the shoppe, his thick black hair tousled after a full day of work. His blue eyes danced as he walked over, gave me a kiss on the cheek, and sat down at the table with Colton and me.

  “Listen brother, you’re the one that made me this way…you and your impish ways,” Stormi said as she wiped the counter.

  Brandon ignored her. “So I heard about the excitement here on Main Street. Lucky that Ol’ Charlie didn’t become a hood ornament.”

  “Brandon!” I admonished. “Actually the entire episode didn’t faze him in the least.”

  Brandon leaned back in his chair. “Doesn’t surprise me a bit. The guy’s got nerves of steel.”

  “Uh oh…” Colton said with his mouth full of Chocolate Explosion. He stared at his laptop screen.

  Sammy walked over to him and looked at the screen. “What is it? Oh my gosh!”

  Stormi tossed the dishtowel she was using to wipe down the counter over her shoulder. “Good grief younguns…what is it?”

  Sammy pointed to the screen. “It’s the Caesars Creek Gazette online website. It says the police suspect foul play in this morning’s accident on Main Street.”

  At that moment, Paige and Bruce walked into the shoppe. “So I guess you’ve heard,” Paige said as Bruce took a seat at the table next to Brandon, Colton and I.

  “Just now,” Stormi answered.

  A few customers came in and I walked around the counter to take their orders as the others carried on their conversation. Winchester decided it was too noisy not to get into the mix and rose from his bed and promptly jumped into Brandon’s lap.

  Paige took a seat at Bruce’s table. “Mrs. Morgan said she had no brakes. I wonder if someone cut them.”

  Sammy pulled another full bag out of the trash receptacle in the rear of the shoppe. “That’s what I said.”

  “But who would cut the brake line on her car?” Bruce asked.

  Colton wiped his mouth with a napkin. “I know who she’ll blame.”

  Everyone turned to look at Colton. Stormi wasn’t much on patience. “Spill it kid.”

  Paige rolled her eyes. “Did anyone ever tell you how subtle you are?” She asked.

  Stormi looked at her as if she had two heads. “No.”

  Bruce muffled a chuckle and waved a hand at Colton. “Proceed son.”

  Colton turned off his computer and shut the laptop closed. “Jeremy Morgan is my best friend and Sandra is his step mom. His dad left his mom for Sandra several years ago. Jeremy’s mom wanted to move to New York, but Jeremy and his little brother Joshua didn’t want to be uprooted so they stayed on with their dad. Thing is, Sandra doesn’t like Jeremy although she will tolerate Joshua…maybe because he’s younger.”

  “How old is Joshua?” Stormi asked.

  “He just turned 13,” Colton answered. “Anyway there’s been a lot of fighting between Jeremy and Sandra. She keeps trying to talk his dad into shipping him off to NY but Jeremy wants to stay here, at least until he graduates. Caesars Creek is all he’s ever known. There’s no love lost between the two, so I’m betting she will blame Jeremy.”

  Stormi stood up. “Maybe she cut them herself.”

  Bruce shifted in his seat. “Storm, that’s crazy talk. You really think she would put herself in jeopardy like that. Pretty peculiar behavior if she did.”

  “She’s kind of wacko,” Sammy said. “I’ve met her a few times when Colton and I have gone over to Jeremy’s house.”

  “How do you mean?” Paige asked.

  “She’s so hateful to Jeremy, but in the same instant, she’ll be all goo-goo with Joshua. It’s somewhat sickening. I think she’s trying to put a wedge between them.”

  “Is she?” Stormi asked as she gathered the small vases of flowers I had arranged on each of my tables.

  Sammy looked at Colton. “I don’t think so do you Colton?”

  Colton stood up and took his now empty cup and plastic spoon to the trash bin. “No…they know what she’s up to and their bond is greater than anything she can toss at them. Although Joshua’s young, he knows what she’s up to.”

  “That’s good,” Paige replied. “Onto a happier subject. Do we all want to sit together at the upcoming free concert around the courthouse Saturday night? We’ll bring a cooler of drinks and sandwiches.”

  Every year Caesars Creek holds a free country music concert on the courthouse grounds, weather permitting. There’s only been one year it was moved to the school gym because of cold temps, but this year with the Indian summer looked to be a gorgeous evening. The music was provided by local and regional talent where they could sell their CD and get further recognition.

  “Greg and I will bring potato salad, deviled eggs, and cole slaw,” Stormi chimed in.

  “Brandon and I will bring the desserts…not ice cream though.”

  “Bring the brownies with pockets of peanut butter on the inside,” Bruce said as he rose from his chair and rubbed his stomach. “I’ll have to diet the rest of the week, but it will be worth it.”

  The gang left shortly after we determined a time and place to meet for the concert. Sammy, Stormi and I closed the store by 7pm. I closed earlier in the cooler months as not as many customers came in late. As I was closing up the shoppe Sammy turned to Stormi and said, “Think Greg will tell you what’s going on with the Morgan investigation?”

  “He can if the information won’t hurt the case. If there’s something only the culprit would know, he won’t divulge that information to me,” Stormi said as she pushed the button on her key to unlock her car door. “Is there something you want to know?”


  We stood in a circle waiting for Sammy to answer. “Well, Colton and I are worried about Jeremy. He’s the nicest guy and the breakup of his parents really affected him. He was always a straight A student and his grades fell miserably after their divorce. He even went through a depressed period, especially when his mother moved away. He’s just now getting his grades back up, despite the crap Sandra keeps throwing at him.”

  I could tell this was upsetting to Sammy. Sam was a nurturer. She hated to see people mistreated and this Sandra Morgan was definitely getting to her.

  Stormi put her hand on Sammy’s arm. “Don’t worry my girl. I’m sure this will blow over.” Sammy nodded and bid us goodbye. Stormi looked at me and said, “I had to tell her something, but this could go either way. Hopefully the kid isn’t involved, but from everything Sammy and Colton have said, it doesn’t look good.”

  I shook my head. “I agree, but remember you also mentioned she may have done something to the car herself.”

  Stormi opened her car door. “Hey, I wouldn’t put it past some of these weirdoes. I mean she seemed genuinely upset, but who knows.”

  We said our goodbyes and Winchester and I headed home. Waiting for us was Brandon with a home cooked meal of pork chops, steamed asparagus, and mashed potatoes and gravy.

  I kissed him hello as Winchester curled up on the couch. “Like Bruce I’m going to have to start dieting myself if you keep cooking these big meals.”

  “Nonsense,” Brandon said as he pulled me into an embrace. “But I should cook a little healthier. I’ll get right on that…next week.”

  I laughed and we sat down to eat. “So what do you think about this afternoon’s conversation regarding the accident?” I asked as I spooned myself a small portion of the mashed potatoes.

  “Not sure,” Brandon answered as he took a bite of his pork chop. “If someone messed with her vehicle, he or she would have to know the mechanics of it. Of course they could also look online and probably find out all the information they need to know.”

  I crunched into an asparagus spear. “So that puts us back to square one. It could be anyone with an internet connection.”

  Brandon took a sip of his iced tea. “True, but I think you’d still have to know a bit about how a vehicle operates to ensure you tinker with the right objects. That’s why it’s hard for me to think this woman would do that to herself. If she cut her own brake lines, which is what we’re all speculating, that’s putting yourself and others at great risk. Despite what my sister threw out there, I can’t see it happening.”

  I nodded. Brandon had a point. Surely, no one with a lick of sense would do that. We spent the rest of the evening sitting on my back porch enjoying the warm weather with a glass of iced tea before the winter chill would keep us from doing so. We looked forward to the upcoming concert, unaware of the havoc that was yet to unfold.

  *****

  The streets surrounding the courthouse square were blocked off, allowing more seating for the concertgoers. The large stage was set in front of the courthouse steps and speakers and large video screens were installed in places around the grounds so people who weren’t sitting in front of the stage could still view the action.

  When Brandon, Winchester and I entered the area with our chairs and cooler, we saw Stormi as she waved her arm high over her head. We took off in that direction and found her and Greg along with Paige and Bruce already set up. Paige had brought several blankets to lay the food on. Other people were doing the same…eating, talking, and having a good time before the concert started. We saw Charlie sitting up front with a few of his buddies. I was happy to see he was out and about as I hadn’t seen him the last few days in his usual spot in front of the hardware store. I thought perhaps the excitement of almost being plowed down might have finally gotten to him. But he looked as dandy as ever.

  We saw Trixie and her husband Ben streaming through the crowd with their picnic basket and chairs. Bruce ran over to them and guided the couple to where we were sitting. Winchester barked out a greeting as well.

  Trixie bent over to give Winnie a proper hello. “Hello little man. Have you been a good boy? No potty business in the house or chewing on Momma’s new shoes, right?”

  Winchester barked twice and Trixie took that as an affirmative on being a proper doggie.

  We girls gathered our chairs in a huddle to talk. Trixie wanted to know about the accident with Sandra Morgan. “I read in the paper the police think foul play may be involved. Did you girls notice anything peculiar?”

  Stormi took a swig from her water bottle. “Unless you mean Ol’ Charlie sitting amongst the ruins smoking his cigar like it’s another day in the park…no.”

  Trixie laughed. “That doesn’t surprise me. The old coot could sit in the middle of a stampede and wonder what the fuss was about.” We chuckled at the thought.

  “Actually I don’t remember anything out of the ordinary,” I said. “Well of course the entire situation was out of the ordinary, but as far as noticing anything unusual about her car…I couldn’t tell you. She kept saying she had no brakes. Stormi, did Greg ever say anything to you?”

  We all looked at Stormi. She leaned in so Greg couldn’t hear her and we all bent forward to listen. “I tried to pull it out of him but the man’s got an iron will. I used food, back rubs, even my..umm…womanly wiles if you know what I mean.”

  She leaned back in her lawn chair as we looked at her with mouths agape. Paige spoke first.

  “Good grief woman, did he cave or not?”

  Stormi shook her head. “Like I said…iron will.”

  After we ate, Stormi and I gathered the used paper plates and cups into plastic bags and set off across the courthouse lawn to dump them into one of the trashcans scattered throughout the area. We dumped the bags into the can and as we turned to leave, a woman ran up to us. It was Sandra Morgan.

  “Oh I’m so happy to see you both,” she exclaimed. “I’ve wanted to stop at your shoppe and thank you two for keeping me calm the other day.”

  We introduced ourselves properly and then I asked, “How are you feeling?”

  Sandra crossed her arms in front of her chest. “Physically I’m fine. I was a little sore the next day, but that was the extent of it, thank God. But mentally I’m a basket case. To think someone may have deliberately tried to sabotage the brakes and steering…”

  Stormi stood up straight. “Steering? What was wrong with the steering? You said the brakes didn’t work but the steering didn’t either?”

  “No, I couldn’t steer the car. That’s why I plowed into that parked SUV,” Sandra explained.

  “How scary that must have been for you,” I replied.

  “It still is,” Sandra exclaimed. “I’m afraid whoever messed with my car might try again…and this time succeed in finishing me off.” Sandra looked at Stormi. “I see you’re with Officer Manning…has he said anything about the case? Like are there any suspects?”

  Stormi shook her head. “He doesn’t talk police business with me.” Sandra looked away as Stormi gave me the side eye.

  Sandra pointed off in the distance. “I have a feeling my stepson might be in the thick of it.”

  We looked to see where she was pointing and there was Colton, Sammy, Jeremy and another girl we didn’t know. We assumed it was Jeremy’s girlfriend.

  “Why would you think that?” Stormi asked. I could tell she was fishing and I was hoping she’d pull in a thumper.

  Sandra sighed. “We don’t get a long very well. Maybe it’s teenage angst, who knows, but all we do is argue. I think it would benefit him more if he went to live with his mother. He doesn’t listen to me as an authority figure. Always saying he doesn’t have to do anything I say since I’m not his mother. Now my other stepson, we get a long just fine, but then he’s younger.”

  At that moment, Paige walked up. “I thought I better see what was taking you two so long.” She looked at Sandra. “Hi I’m Paige Murphy.”

  “Paige, this is Sandra Morgan
…the lady in the car accident the other day,” I said.

  “Oh,” Paige said. “I didn’t recognize you. I was there at the accident.”

  “You were?” Sandra asked. “Everything was such a blur.”

  “Actually the man that was there helping is Paige’s husband,” I explained.

  “Oh yes, I remember him and Tara and Stormi. Oh wait, is Sammy your daughter?”

  Paige nodded. “Yes she is.”

  “She’s such a lovely girl. I wish Jeremy could find a girl like her.”

  Stormi pointed towards the young people. “Looks like he has a girlfriend.”