Conspiracies and Stuff: A Dreamland Junction Mystery by Kendra Ashe Page A

and you’ll end up being like three months pregnant.”
    This seemed to do the trick.
    “You’re probably right. I’m freaking out for no reason.”
    “Of course I’m right,” I said, wrapping my arm around her slender shoulders. “Even doctors can be wrong sometimes.”
    Before we had a chance to get in the jeep, my phone rang. It was a long distance number, so I figured it was the Riverside Police. I was right.
    “This is Detective Roberts. I’m looking for Katherine Parker.”
    “This is she,” I said into the phone. “I need some information on the Peterson case. The person I talked with yesterday said you were the one I needed to get in touch with.”
    “That’s me, but there really isn’t much to tell. Mister Peterson was electrocuted when a hairdryer fell in his bathwater.”
    “It was my understanding that although it was ruled an accidental death, there were some questions about his wife’s involvement.”
    “Well not necessarily his wife … more like the kid. Molly Peterson wasn’t even home at the time of the accident … just Mister Peterson and the kid. The kid’s fingerprints were all over the hairdryer,” he explained.
    “That is suspicious.”
    “The mother insisted that the kid used the hairdryer every morning so his prints would be on it, but he seems awful young to be using a hairdryer all the time.”
    That was true, though it was always possible the boy showered in the morning and mom didn’t want him going out with wet hair.
    “Thanks Detective. I appreciate the information.”
    “Is there some problem concerning the Petersons?” he asked.
    “Molly died under suspicious circumstances a few nights ago, and the child is missing.”
    “That’s unfortunate. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to contact me,” he said.
    “Thanks.”
    Ending the call, I turned to Celeste, who was staring straight ahead, a dazed expression on her face.
    “Well let’s go get that lunch. I’m starving,” I told her.
    That seemed to do the trick. She was back in her body and smiling. “Me too. I guess I’m eating for two now so we better find something to eat that will fatten me up a little.”
    I wasn’t about to argue with her. Celeste needed some meat on her bones, especially if she were going to be carrying around a little person inside her.
     

Chapter Six
     
    The Alien Museum was getting ready to close for the day, but Jacob didn’t mind me hanging out for a few minutes.
    Jacob Lamont had been running the museum for as long as I could remember. It was actually started by his brother, but Steve Lamont disappeared years ago. According to the story people told, one morning Steve didn’t show up to open the museum. First his house was searched, then the town, and then the entire country. No sign of him was ever found. He just disappeared into thin air.
    There was nothing to indicate foul play was involved, but the way he left his house was certainly strange enough. The TV was left on, and there was a half eaten plate of dinner at his kitchen table. All his clothes and belongings were still where they were supposed to be. His car was still in the driveway. Nothing was missing at all, except for Steve.
    “You waiting for another phone call at the payphone?” Jacob asked.
    I nodded, keeping my eyes focused on the deck of cards I was examining. It was one of those decks with pictures on each card. This deck just happened to have aliens posed in different positions, and not exactly nice positions.
    Totally perverted!
    “Why do you carry such sick merchandise?” I asked, but mostly because I wanted to take his attention off my waiting for a call at a payphone, when the entire world used cell phones these days.
    Jacob shrugged. “The tourists like quirky things.”
    “Hmm … well to each their own,” I said, putting the deck back on the little wrack of merchandise.
    “You know, waiting for calls at payphones is a red flag,” Jacob pointed out.
    He wasn’t telling me anything I