own—fur, feathers, or Swarovski crystals, it was all fair game. I guess she thought it was cute to dress like her dog.
Darby threw a couple of pillows at me. I tossed them next to the basket.
“There’s been a slight change of plans with your cousin’s photo shoot. Caro requested we do it at her place, tomorrow morning at ten. It’s easier on the cats.”
As Darby dragged a ficus tree across the cement floor to the staging area, I racked my brain for a quick fix. “Can you talk her into a few shots here or outside maybe? Just her and Dogbert? On the beach or at the dog park? Anything to get her out of the house for an hour.”
She brushed off her jeans. “We can’t be too obvious. She knows I feel partially responsible that she has the pin again. I was so busy watching her case the boutique, I didn’t think about watching the brooch. If I push too much, she’ll know something’s up.”
I picked up the handful of scattered leaves and tossed them in the basket. “It wasn’t just you. Heck, my eyes were glued to her too.” Caro never came into the shop. At least not since we’d stopped talking to each other.
“Before I forget, I met Betty,” Darby said.
I checked my cell. It was time to head over to Dr. O’s office, but I wanted to hear her opinion on my almost part-timer. “What do you think of her?”
Darby worried her bottom lip. I could tell she was searching for the right words. “She’s interesting. Seems to have a lot of energy.”
“She finished putting up the Christmas decorations while I was out.”
Darby nodded. “I wondered about that. You may want to consider reviewing your products with her. She tried to convince me the pale pink polish would look good with my skin tone. Does she understand you sell pet products?”
I laughed. “She used to sell cosmetics.” I checked the time again.
“Are you late for an appointment?”
“You’re never going to believe this, but Tova asked me to help her get a photo from Dr. O’s office.”
Darby pursed her lips. “You’re right. I don’t believe it. Why would she think you would help her?”
I shrugged. “Who can explain Tova? She thought Malone and I were friends.”
“Where would she get that idea?”
“You know, because I ‘helped’ him once, so that must mean now we’re best buds.”
“She obviously doesn’t know Detective Malone.”
“Trust me, she wasn’t going to stop hassling me until I agreed to run interference for her. She’s so desperate, she apologized about the fleas.”
“So what?” Darby narrowed her sharp blue eyes. “An apology is easy when she wants something. She didn’t have a problem spending the hush money you gave her.”
“Whoa there, Tiger. First, it wasn’t hush money. It was cheaper for me to pay her off than to fight a nuisance suit. I hate to acknowledge this out loud, but as annoying as Tova may be, between her and Jack O’Doggle, they’ve spent ten times that amount at my shop in the past month.”
“You do remember Detective Malone said to stay out of it.”
I smiled wryly. “I hear his droning commands in my sleep. Look, I’m running interference for Tova so she can grab a photo of her and the doctor. That’s it. I swear. If you’re that worried she’s taking advantage of me, feel free to come along.”
I’M NOT SURE if Darby tagged along to keep tabs on Tova or me. Either way, I was glad to have her as backup. At three-thirty, we entered Dr. O’Doggle’s office building in Newport Beach. It was as if we’d walked into the Montage Resort Hotel. The office exuded a specific lifestyle of sophistication, luxury, and money. He definitely catered to an upscale clientele.
Tova had changed into skinny jeans, a Stella McCartney colorblock print top, and black, four-inch pirate boots. I hadn’t realized I should have dressed for the occasion. Darby and I were still in our everyday jeans and tops.
Not surprisingly, Tova hadn’t followed directions. She’d arrived
Darby threw a couple of pillows at me. I tossed them next to the basket.
“There’s been a slight change of plans with your cousin’s photo shoot. Caro requested we do it at her place, tomorrow morning at ten. It’s easier on the cats.”
As Darby dragged a ficus tree across the cement floor to the staging area, I racked my brain for a quick fix. “Can you talk her into a few shots here or outside maybe? Just her and Dogbert? On the beach or at the dog park? Anything to get her out of the house for an hour.”
She brushed off her jeans. “We can’t be too obvious. She knows I feel partially responsible that she has the pin again. I was so busy watching her case the boutique, I didn’t think about watching the brooch. If I push too much, she’ll know something’s up.”
I picked up the handful of scattered leaves and tossed them in the basket. “It wasn’t just you. Heck, my eyes were glued to her too.” Caro never came into the shop. At least not since we’d stopped talking to each other.
“Before I forget, I met Betty,” Darby said.
I checked my cell. It was time to head over to Dr. O’s office, but I wanted to hear her opinion on my almost part-timer. “What do you think of her?”
Darby worried her bottom lip. I could tell she was searching for the right words. “She’s interesting. Seems to have a lot of energy.”
“She finished putting up the Christmas decorations while I was out.”
Darby nodded. “I wondered about that. You may want to consider reviewing your products with her. She tried to convince me the pale pink polish would look good with my skin tone. Does she understand you sell pet products?”
I laughed. “She used to sell cosmetics.” I checked the time again.
“Are you late for an appointment?”
“You’re never going to believe this, but Tova asked me to help her get a photo from Dr. O’s office.”
Darby pursed her lips. “You’re right. I don’t believe it. Why would she think you would help her?”
I shrugged. “Who can explain Tova? She thought Malone and I were friends.”
“Where would she get that idea?”
“You know, because I ‘helped’ him once, so that must mean now we’re best buds.”
“She obviously doesn’t know Detective Malone.”
“Trust me, she wasn’t going to stop hassling me until I agreed to run interference for her. She’s so desperate, she apologized about the fleas.”
“So what?” Darby narrowed her sharp blue eyes. “An apology is easy when she wants something. She didn’t have a problem spending the hush money you gave her.”
“Whoa there, Tiger. First, it wasn’t hush money. It was cheaper for me to pay her off than to fight a nuisance suit. I hate to acknowledge this out loud, but as annoying as Tova may be, between her and Jack O’Doggle, they’ve spent ten times that amount at my shop in the past month.”
“You do remember Detective Malone said to stay out of it.”
I smiled wryly. “I hear his droning commands in my sleep. Look, I’m running interference for Tova so she can grab a photo of her and the doctor. That’s it. I swear. If you’re that worried she’s taking advantage of me, feel free to come along.”
I’M NOT SURE if Darby tagged along to keep tabs on Tova or me. Either way, I was glad to have her as backup. At three-thirty, we entered Dr. O’Doggle’s office building in Newport Beach. It was as if we’d walked into the Montage Resort Hotel. The office exuded a specific lifestyle of sophistication, luxury, and money. He definitely catered to an upscale clientele.
Tova had changed into skinny jeans, a Stella McCartney colorblock print top, and black, four-inch pirate boots. I hadn’t realized I should have dressed for the occasion. Darby and I were still in our everyday jeans and tops.
Not surprisingly, Tova hadn’t followed directions. She’d arrived
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