A Ghostly Affair: A cozy mystery series (Death by Chocolate Book 3) by Pat Amsden
Authors: Pat Amsden
Ads: Link
there weren’t more. Eliza’s daughter was heartbroken when their labradoodle went missing. I know they papered the neighborhood but as far as I know they haven’t heard anything more. And then there’s Mr. Spratt two streets over. I’ve never done more than smile at him if we passed in the street but he’s got an Alaska Malamute that disappeared a couple of weeks ago. As far as I know it hasn’t been returned. These dogs are like family to these people. Who would do such a thing?”
“I don’t know,” Maxine said grimly. “The money was picked up by what looked like a teenage boy tonight. But I can’t see the average teenager being the brains behind such a scheme.”
“It could be someone who lives in the neighborhood though,” Heather said, finishing off a witch and then cleaning her hands carefully. “Heath said I could use your computer.”
Maxine nodded and Heather went over to it turning it on with practiced ease. “I used Google Maps to pinpoint each of the missing dogs that I’m aware of.” She brought the map up now and Maxine could see red pins for every dog missing.
Wendy’s house was in the epicenter and Maxine felt a prickle of excitement. She wasn’t sure exactly what this meant but she was pretty sure it was important. How many dogs had gone missing? And were they all being ransomed by their owners? At $5000.00 a pop she didn’t see the dog-napper stopping anytime soon.
She said as much to Patrick when he picked her up. But tired, with bags under his eyes that hinted of late nights and looking decidedly crumpled, he wasn’t in the best of moods.
“I’m not saying it’s not important. But I’m in the middle of a major case right now.”
“And this isn’t serious?”
“Look, I know Toto’s like family to Wendy and she’s your friend. But it’s not exactly the same as if someone’s life is in danger.” He held up a hand to forestall her objections before she could voice it. “Toto’s back, Wendy doesn’t want any police involvement and there haven’t been any complaints of dogs missing.”
“Well, considering the response Wendy got when she reported Toto missing I’m not surprised.”
“OK, I get it. See if you can find anymore owners willing to at least talk to the police and I’ll see what I can do. But I have to say the Captain isn’t exactly crazy about investigating crimes no one has even complained about.” His voice sounded strained. “Not if there doesn’t seem to be any immediate danger to humans.”
Their self-defense class was short that night. He did show her how to break an attackers’ hold on her neck if she couldn’t manage to get his arms down with hers. It involved bridging up then sitting down as a crunch. That broke his hold on her and then she could shift sideways with her hips and move one leg onto his hip, then the other leg on his other hip and push him away. Scissoring her hands out she could then grab his wrists and start kicking.
“In the balls, groin, face, don’t show the scumbag any mercy.”
The thought made Maxine shiver. As far as she was concerned if some rat bastard had her down on the ground attacking her she was going to go after him with a vengeance, no holds barred.
She looked at Patrick now, all hot and sweaty. “Why do you do this,” she said. “Why do you put up with me?”
He looked at her in a way that made her blood heat up. “You really have to ask that?”
“You have to admit it would be a lot easier without me in your life.”
He shuddered. “Don’t even go there.” He moved over her again and there was no doubt what he wanted.
She reached up putting her arms around him, as eager for his touch as he for hers. His lips were on hers, gentle, then hard and searching. His body met hers, all hard muscles and bone sinking into her softness and making her want more. So much more…
Chapter Eight
“Jake Jones?” That doesn’t sound very traditional to me,” Maxine
“I don’t know,” Maxine said grimly. “The money was picked up by what looked like a teenage boy tonight. But I can’t see the average teenager being the brains behind such a scheme.”
“It could be someone who lives in the neighborhood though,” Heather said, finishing off a witch and then cleaning her hands carefully. “Heath said I could use your computer.”
Maxine nodded and Heather went over to it turning it on with practiced ease. “I used Google Maps to pinpoint each of the missing dogs that I’m aware of.” She brought the map up now and Maxine could see red pins for every dog missing.
Wendy’s house was in the epicenter and Maxine felt a prickle of excitement. She wasn’t sure exactly what this meant but she was pretty sure it was important. How many dogs had gone missing? And were they all being ransomed by their owners? At $5000.00 a pop she didn’t see the dog-napper stopping anytime soon.
She said as much to Patrick when he picked her up. But tired, with bags under his eyes that hinted of late nights and looking decidedly crumpled, he wasn’t in the best of moods.
“I’m not saying it’s not important. But I’m in the middle of a major case right now.”
“And this isn’t serious?”
“Look, I know Toto’s like family to Wendy and she’s your friend. But it’s not exactly the same as if someone’s life is in danger.” He held up a hand to forestall her objections before she could voice it. “Toto’s back, Wendy doesn’t want any police involvement and there haven’t been any complaints of dogs missing.”
“Well, considering the response Wendy got when she reported Toto missing I’m not surprised.”
“OK, I get it. See if you can find anymore owners willing to at least talk to the police and I’ll see what I can do. But I have to say the Captain isn’t exactly crazy about investigating crimes no one has even complained about.” His voice sounded strained. “Not if there doesn’t seem to be any immediate danger to humans.”
Their self-defense class was short that night. He did show her how to break an attackers’ hold on her neck if she couldn’t manage to get his arms down with hers. It involved bridging up then sitting down as a crunch. That broke his hold on her and then she could shift sideways with her hips and move one leg onto his hip, then the other leg on his other hip and push him away. Scissoring her hands out she could then grab his wrists and start kicking.
“In the balls, groin, face, don’t show the scumbag any mercy.”
The thought made Maxine shiver. As far as she was concerned if some rat bastard had her down on the ground attacking her she was going to go after him with a vengeance, no holds barred.
She looked at Patrick now, all hot and sweaty. “Why do you do this,” she said. “Why do you put up with me?”
He looked at her in a way that made her blood heat up. “You really have to ask that?”
“You have to admit it would be a lot easier without me in your life.”
He shuddered. “Don’t even go there.” He moved over her again and there was no doubt what he wanted.
She reached up putting her arms around him, as eager for his touch as he for hers. His lips were on hers, gentle, then hard and searching. His body met hers, all hard muscles and bone sinking into her softness and making her want more. So much more…
Chapter Eight
“Jake Jones?” That doesn’t sound very traditional to me,” Maxine
Similar Books
