Fly by Night (A Gracie Andersen Mystery Book 3) Read Online Free

face from a gash over his right eye. A protester must have found his or her target. Stragglers were standing by their vehicles along the road.
    Gracie saw Dan Evans, the owner of the local hardware, talking to Ed Findley, a dairy farmer who lived just down the road from the kennel. Dan was Deer Creek’s fire chief, so he had to know something. Jim went to check out the scene around the platform. Gracie walked across the road to Dan’s blue Ford pickup.
    “Hey, Gracie. Quite the commotion tonight,” Dan said grimly.
    “No kidding. Who started it?” She watched Jim who was talking to Toby and one of the state troopers.
    “Not sure. Probably those tree huggers, but I thought they were supposed to be non-violent types.”
    Ed chimed in, “Toby might have thrown that rock at D. B. He was spoiling for a fight with him tonight.”
    “Did you see him?”
    “No. There must have been a bunch of people who came with gravel in their pockets and started pitching it everywhere. It was hard to see what was really going on. People were all over the place.”
    “A rock almost hit us. It wasn’t any gravel,” Gracie replied, swatting at a mosquito that had settled on her arm for a snack.
    “There were a few rocks. It was lucky nobody got seriously hurt,” Dan grumbled. “I’m not so sure Toby threw the rock. A lot of stuff happened fast.”
    “So, D. B. is okay?”
    “He’s says he’s fine,” Dan answered. “His head is as hard as rock anyway. I tried to check him out, but you know D. B. He doesn’t need anybody’s help.”
    “Well, at least it’s not serious.”
    Gracie saw Jim slap Tobias on the back and begin walking toward them. The state trooper handed Tobias a paper, which he stuffed in his pants pocket.
    “Geez Louise, I didn’t think those Renew Earth people would go postal on us. They sure didn’t win any popularity contests tonight.” Ed stuck a thumb in his jeans belt loop and put a foot up on the bumper of his truck. “Guess I’d better get home. It’ll be breakfast time again before you know it.”
    Dan grunted in agreement. He seemed unimpressed with the whole affair.
    “You’re right, Ed. Looks like the excitement is over for now. I’ve got an early morning myself.” Dan turned and reached for door handle of his truck.
    “See ya, Dan … Ed,” Gracie called.
    She joined Jim. They walked slowly back up the rutted dirt road to the truck.
    “So, did Toby hit D. B. with a rock?” She could hardly wait for Jim to answer.
    “He says he didn’t, but he got a ticket for disorderly conduct. From what he says, D. B. threatened to call the loan he has on the Meadow today if he doesn’t sign the paperwork to sell. It’s not going to be pretty. Both of them are plenty mad.”
    “A loan? Tobias borrowed money from D. B.?”
    “I guess. Wasn’t very smart. Greerson’s Meadow could be a thing of the past if D.B does call it.”
    Jim started up the truck and pulled back onto the road. There were a few vehicles left at the Meadow, including D. B.’s big pickup, which sat near the platform.
    The sound guy was hauling his battered equipment to a gray van parked on the shoulder. Gracie smiled feebly at the harried man as they drove past. She was sure the conversation around Midge’s counter tomorrow morning over coffee and sweet rolls would be steaming hot. Too bad she wouldn’t be able to join the restaurant gang for breakfast.

Chapter 3
     
    The gobble of turkeys broke through the songs of the robins and warblers that threaded the woods. There were three hens and one hefty tom moving up the ravine from the creek. The tom kept a lookout, while his harem continued pecking through the layers of wet leaves. Sunlight filtered through the trees, but the morning air was still chilly. A light breeze escorted some rainclouds from the west. The shotgun blast ruffled the watchful tom’s tail feathers and sent the big birds scattering in different directions as they attempted to lift off. Their heavy