Farmer Danger

By Mary S. Sheppard

When Alisa Price first came to San Axel, she was able to help Sheriff Max with a case. She also reestablished her friendship with Jake, but it is not only her friend that is bringing her back to town this time.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mary S. Sheppard
• Release date: Dec 18, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005805357

Mary S. Sheppard

In my new series Samantha Keene, energy analyst extraordinaire, lead a pretty much run of the mill existence. There is always work, family and more work, but when she takes a vacation to the U.K. she is suddenly plunged into a different world, one filled with spies, intrigue, and romance and so the limited series starts.

Book preview

Farmer Danger

An Alisa Price Mystery

Mary S. Sheppard

Copyright © 2020 Mary S. Sheppard

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior permission.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual events, institutions, businesses, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

You can also visit my website for more information at http://www.maryssheppard.com

Table of Contents

List of main Characters

Start of Farmer Danger

Other books by Mary S. Sheppard

Main Characters

Alisa Price - crime analyst

Jake Jones - temporary mayor of San Axel

Max Quinn - the sheriff

Lucas Stone - deputy sheriff

Emily Stone - wife of Lucas

Daryl Grale - friend of Jake’s, owner of cannabis farm

Esteban Rios - biochemist, works with Daryl

Alonso Rios - brother of Esteban

Beth Wilkins - doctor at the Centrale Hospital, works in forensics

Virginia del Valle - lives next to Daryl’s farm

Ciera Fisher - college friend of Alisa and Jake

Liam Taylor and Ed Brown - co-owners of Brown & Taylor Cannabis

Lieutenant Wells - Alisa’s boss in Oakland

Cecilia and John Price - Alisa’s parents

Karen Smythe - relator

Rosemary Strawberry - property buyer

Ron Stevens - duty officer at the sheriff station

Chapter 1

This is fun, thought Alisa as she glanced at Jake. They were sharing an ice cream sundae, and even though each had picked their favorite flavor, he had picked strawberry which was her second favorite; so, she had won twice. The SA Creamery had been recently remodeled, and was now offering a large assortment of flavors, including some exotic ones, but she had gone with dark chocolate with coffee bits.

I’m glad this place finally opened, said Jake. I remember it being smaller, and dingier, but now it looks quite nice with those large windows. This town needs places like this.

Jake was talking about San Axel like the town belonged to him, noted Alisa. It definitely has an interesting selection and I might have to try the lychee or chirimoya next time.

You would give up your chocolate?

And my strawberry, she smiled. Was the remodel part of the town facelift? She knew the town was trying to attain a cool vibe with the hope of enticing people from the Bay Area and in her view an ice cream shop, was a necessary attraction.

It is part of the plan. He looked at her. By the way, I hope this sundae is an adequate apology.

She laughed. I wasn’t upset, but I’ll take the apology. You know what would really make me forget you were late would be another scoop.

He smiled, Wait, before you order more ice cream, I want you to know I made reservations for dinner at a cute little restaurant in Carmel.

Okay, okay, I will forgo the ice cream. Anyway, we’re not on a tight schedule and you didn’t take long.

Jake nodded, That was lucky, I never know how long my constituent’s requests are going to take.

Jake was still working as the temporary mayor of San Axel. It was over a month since he had assumed that role, and the election was just being scheduled. In the meantime, Alisa had made many trips down to San Axel, almost as many as Jake had made to Oakland, and she would have to admit she was really enjoying their renewed relationship. If she had to define it, she would call it a close friendship, stronger than they had had during college, but there wasn’t romance, yet.

It was Jake who had suggested a weekend away and she thought going away together, without distractions of work, was a good idea. It could define their relationship in one direction or another.

Have you set a date for the election? she asked.

Running an off-schedule election costs money, which the county doesn’t have, and they think I’m doing a good enough job, to stay until the previously scheduled election day. That is only in eight weeks.

Mayor Jake Jones, it has a good ring.

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, I am not running unopposed. If I lose …

You will win, she interrupted, I can’t imagine anyone else having more experience or being more qualified, it just makes sense.

Thanks, but I don’t think everyone is as logical as you. I also have to think of other things as well, he scooped up the remaining ice cream. What about you? Have you considered the job Sheriff Max offered you?

It’s still under consideration, she smiled.

You’ve been saying that for a while, at some point you will really have to consider it.

She had been seriously thinking about it, but she was tentative on making the move. Working with the Oakland PD was fine, and it might get boring working in a small town where it seemed that everyone knew everyone’s business. Of course, there were some advantages to living in San Axel, such as a cheaper cost of living, a less hectic life and then there was the other benefit the town offered, she glanced at him.

Suddenly the door of the shop banged open. A guy stood there for a moment and then his eyes rested on them. Alisa guessed his age, like she liked to do, twenty-eight to thirty. His brown hair had not been combed in a while and his glassy eyes might be the reason.

He hurried to them starting to talk before he reached them, Jake, so glad I found you. He sidestepped a stool and almost tripped on the leg of a table.

Jake, he finally arrived at their table. You have got to … He stopped and looked at her.

Daryl, are you, all right? Take a seat, said Jake. This is Alisa Price.

Hi Alisa. I’m Daryl Grale, nice to meet you. Daryl nodded to her while grabbing a chair. Jake has told me a lot about you.

She, on the other hand, had not heard about him. Nice to meet you Daryl.

I’m sorry to burst in, but I really need to talk with you, Jake.

Jake sighed. I just started my vacation, can it wait? I’ll be back in the office on Monday.

It doesn’t have to do with mayor business, and I don’t think it can wait that long. It will just take a few minutes to explain.

Jake thought about it.

Please? It is really important, life or death.

Okay, Daryl, sighed Jake, go ahead.

Daryl looked at Alisa again.

I’ll meet you at the car, said Alisa.

Thanks, I appreciate it, said Daryl.

Like Daryl said, it should just take a few minutes, said Jake.

Alisa went to the door and glanced back as she opened it. Daryl was already in a deep conversation with Jake.

She was curious, especially about the life or death part. Daryl seemed to be close to Jake and one thing was certain; he was definitely high. She had seen people looking like that in the streets in Oakland and it wasn’t surprising to find it here. San Axel was close to Salinas, and that was one of the major cannabis growing regions in the country. It could also account for Daryl’s clumsiness and his anxiety.

She stood by her car and looked across Main Street. It didn’t have much of a Main Street vibe although the ice cream shop did improve it. She could see the sheriff’s office on the other side.

Maybe she should stop by to say hi to Sheriff Max. But then he would ask her if she had made her decision and she had not. He might wonder why it was taking so long and then think she was an indecisive person. No, it was best to not open that can of worms.

Ready to go? Jake came out of the ice cream shop.

Sure.

And you don’t mind me driving?

I love it, it gives me a chance to enjoy the scenery.

He smiled. I’m thinking of taking 152 to Highway 1. What do you think?

Sounds fine by me. Anywhere with Jake would be great, the thought snuck in before she could stop it. You’re the driver.

He turned out to be a good driver or it could have been the lack of traffic or the pleasant company, but Alisa found herself relaxing. The highway to the coast took them through wide, open fields doted every now and then with a greenhouse. In most cases a large sign indicated the type of crop that was being grown and when there wasn’t a sign, Jake and Alisa took turns guessing what it was.

They reached the coastal hills and the recent rains had covered them in bright green.

Pretty isn’t it? said Jake.

It is, and I love it, she sighed. I guess I should get out more often.

He smiled. Yeah, there’s something to be said about the life work balance.

It seems neither of us has that figured out.