The Giggling Grandma with the Lizard Eyes (part 1 of 7)
An unassuming grandma with lizard-like eyes becomes a suspect in a series of mysterious deaths.
Darling Ross, a 59-year-old grandmother and five-time widow, puzzles Detective Jorge Cabrera. The friendly, unassuming old woman is not someone he would have pinned as a person of interest in a mysterious death. She lives in a gorgeous, two-story adobe house in the rural southern California town of San Julian with her sixth husband, Mr. Joseph Ross. She welcomes Cabrera and his partner, Detective Elise Alvaro, with a smile. Her sparkling, dark brown eyes exude a warm familiarity.
Cabrera takes mental note of the house’s cozy atmosphere and immaculate cleanliness. He feels foolish being there. Inside are the hallmarks of a typical, law-abiding, affluent married couple. Monet imitations and family portraits decorate the walls atop antique furniture with embroidered, floral patterns. There are bookshelves stocked with a wide breadth of genres, albeit with a heavy emphasis on romance.