A Flurry of Lies

by A. Gardner

  “If I have to tie you to my car and drag you out of town, I will.” The sheriff stroked his gray mustache, wishing he didn’t see the family resemblance every time he looked in the mirror.

  “I’m not going anywhere now that my baby girl is getting married.” Ralph lit a second cigarette to emphasize his point. He wouldn’t be told what to do, especially when it came to reconnecting with his daughter.

  “You stay away from Essie,” the sheriff said. “The Stratters are good people, and they’ve given her a life you never could have.”

  “She’s an adult now, and she deserves to know the truth.” Ralph puffed a cloud of smoke toward the ceiling. “Besides, she thinks Murray is my biological child. Nice going with that one.”

  “Stay away from her and stay away from that wedding,” Ronald warned his brother.

  Ralph dropped his cigarette on the wood floor and stepped on the embers.

  “Then you’ll have to drag me out a dead man,” he answered. “I’m not leaving without telling my daughter the truth, and I’m not leaving without those papers.”

  Low Sugar Peanut Butter Brownies

  From Mrs. Tankle's kitchen

  1/4 cup unsalted butter

  1 cup Splenda (or other sugar substitute)

  2 eggs

  1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk

  1/2 cup all-purpose flour

  1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

  1/2 teaspoon baking powder

  Pinch of salt

  3/4 cup peanut butter

  Instructions

  Cream together the butter and substitute sugar. Add the eggs and almond milk. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and mix thoroughly. Pour batter into a greased 8x8 inch baking dish.

  Melt the peanut butter in the microwave (about 30 seconds). Drizzle the melted peanut over the brownie batter and swirl gently to create a marbled effect.

  Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 – 30 minutes.

  Enjoy!

  Acknowledgements

  A special thanks to my sisters for letting me steal their one-liners.

  Thanks to my all of my taste testers who are down with eating sweets at a moment's notice.

  Thanks Joe, Christine, and Annie.

  Thanks to all of my readers. I wouldn't be here without you.

  Books by A.GARDNER

  Southern Psychic Sisters Mysteries

  Dead and Butter

  Mississippi Blood Cake

  Dead Velvet Cheesecake

  Lemon Meringue Die

  Bison Creek Mysteries:

  Powdered Murder

  Iced Spy

  Frosted Bait

  A Flurry of Lies

  Poppy Peters Mysteries:

  Southern Peach Pie And A Dead Guy

  Chocolate Macaroons And A Dead Groom

  Bananas Foster And A Dead Mobster

  Strawberry Tartlets And A Dead Starlet

  Wedding Soufflé And A Dead Valet

  Ice Cream Bombes And Stolen Thongs (short story in the "Killer Beach Reads" collection)

  Thanks, Y'all!

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