A Body to Spare (The Odelia Grey Mysteries) by Sue Ann Jaffarian Page A

to the vet, Wainwright is in his eighties in people years. Greg and I have both noticed Wainwright’s hearing isn’t the best anymore; nor is his eyesight. If the people who stashed the body were very quiet, they wouldn’t have roused Wainwright if he was in the house and asleep in our room.” I paused to catch my breath—not that talking was wearing me out, but the idea of Wainwright getting old and dying was crushing the air out of me. We’d lost our cat Seamus just over a year ago. He was also old and had suffered a stroke. Losing Wainwright would kill Greg, just as losing Seamus had nearly done me in. After the last vet visit, Greg and I talked about the inevitability of losing Wainwright and whether or not Greg should get a replacement dog now, knowing the length of time it would take to train one properly. Wainwright was more than a pet and Greg’s constant companion; he was also a service dog trained to protect Greg in sketchy situations. For now the animal was in good shape for his age, but he definitely was slowing down.
    “So what are you going to do now?” Zee asked. “With the FBI involved, this is a whole different kettle of fish. I hope you know that?”
    I shrugged as if she could see me. “I do, Zee. Trust me.”
    “Knowing the danger and seriousness has never stopped you before, Odelia.” Zee was being a normal worried mother while my own mother wanted to play Sherlock Holmes, regardless of the danger.
    “Clark is looking into a few things for me,” I told her, “and I’m sure Dev will have some choice words of caution tonight. We’re having dinner with him.” I paused, wondering if I should spill the beans about Dev, then decided what was the harm. It seemed everyone was finding out one way or another through the grapevine. “Dev is retiring from the police force.”
    “Seth did tell me that much,” Zee said, still sounding a bit peeved about being the last in the information chain. I’d forgotten I’d told Seth while we were at the Long Beach police station. “Do you know what his plans are for retirement?”
    “Not yet,” I answered, “but I’m sure he’ll tell us tonight.”
    Through the phone I heard Zee’s throaty, rich laugh. After her grumpiness, it was like music played in a tunnel lined with mahogany. “Maybe he could become a PI and work just for you,” she suggested. “You could keep him busy.”
    “Cute, but I already have Clark working that end.” It was meant as a joke but had a definite ring of truth to it. “I’ll let you know what his plans are if he decides to tell us.”
    “Hmm,” hummed Zee on the other end. It was one of the things she did when thinking out loud. “I’m wondering if he’ll finally join Beverly. Didn’t she move to Seattle?”
    Zee was referring to Dev’s old girlfriend. Just over a year ago she’d gotten a new job in Seattle and moved there. She’d asked Dev to go with her but he’d declined, citing his job and not wanting to leave his daughter and her family. They had broken up. “I don’t know,” I answered. “I think that’s over, and it would mean leaving his grandchildren.”
    “I know how that is,” noted Zee with sadness. “Ever since Hannah and Rob announced at Christmas that they were pregnant, all I can think about is that baby being in New York while I’m here.”
    I chuckled. Much to Zee’s grief, her son-in-law’s work took them around the country. Recently they’d landed on Long Island when Rob’s company sent him to their office in New York City. “Something tells me you’ll be racking up frequent flyer miles this year.”
    “That’s exactly what Seth said.” Zee chuckled. “But you know it’s going to kill me. With Jacob gone off to college and his sister in New York, I’m lost. I’m not cut out to be an empty nester, Odelia.”
    I knew it well enough since Zee poured a lot of her maternal energy out on her friends now, including me—especially me. “You’ll be fine, Zee,” I assured