A Drizzle of Deception: A Cozy Mystery (Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book 10) by Constance Barker Read Free Book Online
Authors: Constance Barker
metabolism. “We see him there quite a bit. He eats by himself.”
Paige studied her daughter. “Do you have a crush on this Lincoln dude?”
Sammi turned red. “Noooo….”
“How old is he?” Paige’s inquisition had begun.
Sammi shrugged. “How do I know? We just see him in the diner and he stands out because of that big black Hummer he drives.” I had a feeling he stood out for more reasons than his vehicle. Good looks and money might be a couple more.
I suddenly remembered the black vehicle that had startled me pulling away from the shoppe. I only saw the back of it, but I believe it said Hummer in white letters on the rear. Interesting.
I headed for the door. “So you think he’d be there right now?”
Sammi nodded. “He might be. We could go and check it out.” Paige’s eyes narrowed.
My plan was to look around the Hodges estate for the labs, but maybe it would be better to get a gander at the man himself first.
We arrived at the Classic Diner at around 7:30. The diner was a throw back to another era, complete with framed posters on the walls of James Dean and Elvis. A jukebox sat in the corner and red booths lined the walls where we grabbed one and sat down. A long counter faced towards the kitchen and a few people sat on the stools eating their hamburgers and breaded tenderloins. This was grease heaven, and the aroma was enticing.
There were no menus. A huge board above the kitchen windows displayed the food items, which included malts, fresh made pies, and the usual hamburgers and French fries.
We looked around, but Sammi didn’t see Lincoln. A waitress came to our table.
“What can I get you girls?”
“Do you have any peanut butter pie left?” I was here so I might as well partake.
“We have two slices left.”
Paige perked up. “Bring them to this table then.”
“I’ll have a chocolate chip milkshake and an order of fries.” We looked at Sammi with envy.
“What?”
Paige gave her a pat on the hand. “One of these days you’ll be middle aged and have an inner tube around your belly like us.”
Sammi grabbed a napkin out of the holder on the table. “Not if I can help it.”
Paige nodded. “That’s what we said 16 years ago.”
The waitress was quick and we had our food within three minutes. As Paige and I chowed down on the delectable peanut butter pie with its perfect meringue topping, and Sammi gobbled her fries, we heard the ding of the front door announcing someone either entering or leaving the restaurant. Paige and Sammi were facing the door and I saw Sammi elbow her mother. Paige perked up as I heard Sammi whisper, “That’s him.”
I wanted to turn around, but Paige shook her head slightly. I heard the clip clop of shoes as someone walked down the narrow path between the stools and the booths. Suddenly the man stopped and sat at one of the red stools facing the counter. I looked over to see a tall figure with slicked back black hair. There was a long mirror hanging on the wall opposite him so I could see his face.
Lincoln Hodges was a handsome young man with chiseled features and a prominent dimple in the middle of his chin. I could see why Sammi was so captivated by him. He wore a long black trench coat that he took off and laid on the stool next to him. I was surprised to see a man of such wealth eating at a simple diner. I would have thought he’d rather dine at the posh restaurants in Atlanta than get a greasy burger at the local hot joint. Maybe he was more down-to-earth than we gave him credit for.
Our waitress walked over to him and said, “The usual Lincoln?”
“Yeah Patty. But make the peanut butter pie to go would you?”
“Sorry Lincoln. Just served the last of the peanut butter pie.” She motioned towards our booth. Lincoln turned around and we looked at him with guilty faces. With a full mouth and her last bite of pie
Paige studied her daughter. “Do you have a crush on this Lincoln dude?”
Sammi turned red. “Noooo….”
“How old is he?” Paige’s inquisition had begun.
Sammi shrugged. “How do I know? We just see him in the diner and he stands out because of that big black Hummer he drives.” I had a feeling he stood out for more reasons than his vehicle. Good looks and money might be a couple more.
I suddenly remembered the black vehicle that had startled me pulling away from the shoppe. I only saw the back of it, but I believe it said Hummer in white letters on the rear. Interesting.
I headed for the door. “So you think he’d be there right now?”
Sammi nodded. “He might be. We could go and check it out.” Paige’s eyes narrowed.
My plan was to look around the Hodges estate for the labs, but maybe it would be better to get a gander at the man himself first.
We arrived at the Classic Diner at around 7:30. The diner was a throw back to another era, complete with framed posters on the walls of James Dean and Elvis. A jukebox sat in the corner and red booths lined the walls where we grabbed one and sat down. A long counter faced towards the kitchen and a few people sat on the stools eating their hamburgers and breaded tenderloins. This was grease heaven, and the aroma was enticing.
There were no menus. A huge board above the kitchen windows displayed the food items, which included malts, fresh made pies, and the usual hamburgers and French fries.
We looked around, but Sammi didn’t see Lincoln. A waitress came to our table.
“What can I get you girls?”
“Do you have any peanut butter pie left?” I was here so I might as well partake.
“We have two slices left.”
Paige perked up. “Bring them to this table then.”
“I’ll have a chocolate chip milkshake and an order of fries.” We looked at Sammi with envy.
“What?”
Paige gave her a pat on the hand. “One of these days you’ll be middle aged and have an inner tube around your belly like us.”
Sammi grabbed a napkin out of the holder on the table. “Not if I can help it.”
Paige nodded. “That’s what we said 16 years ago.”
The waitress was quick and we had our food within three minutes. As Paige and I chowed down on the delectable peanut butter pie with its perfect meringue topping, and Sammi gobbled her fries, we heard the ding of the front door announcing someone either entering or leaving the restaurant. Paige and Sammi were facing the door and I saw Sammi elbow her mother. Paige perked up as I heard Sammi whisper, “That’s him.”
I wanted to turn around, but Paige shook her head slightly. I heard the clip clop of shoes as someone walked down the narrow path between the stools and the booths. Suddenly the man stopped and sat at one of the red stools facing the counter. I looked over to see a tall figure with slicked back black hair. There was a long mirror hanging on the wall opposite him so I could see his face.
Lincoln Hodges was a handsome young man with chiseled features and a prominent dimple in the middle of his chin. I could see why Sammi was so captivated by him. He wore a long black trench coat that he took off and laid on the stool next to him. I was surprised to see a man of such wealth eating at a simple diner. I would have thought he’d rather dine at the posh restaurants in Atlanta than get a greasy burger at the local hot joint. Maybe he was more down-to-earth than we gave him credit for.
Our waitress walked over to him and said, “The usual Lincoln?”
“Yeah Patty. But make the peanut butter pie to go would you?”
“Sorry Lincoln. Just served the last of the peanut butter pie.” She motioned towards our booth. Lincoln turned around and we looked at him with guilty faces. With a full mouth and her last bite of pie
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