Ghostly Graveyard (Zoe Donovan Cozy Mystery Book 17) by Kathi Daley Page B

for him to run.”
    “Wonderful. I guess I’ll head back and check on the wild animals. Call me if you need me.”
    The Zoo was built to have two distinct sections. Three, if you counted the small animals, which were caged in the center of the building, to the right of the area for domestic animals. Each dog had their own kennel, with both an indoor and outdoor component. There’s also a play area where the social dogs could play.
    The cat area was designed as sort of a lounge. Felines who got along with others were allowed to roam freely in the large area that was equipped with climbing posts and pillows to lounge on. Kittens and their mothers were kept in the nursery.
    In the center of the building were cages for squirrels, birds, and other small animals. To the far left was the area where we kept the larger wild animals such as bears, mountain lions, and coyotes. We currently had five bear cubs and two injured coyotes in residence. We released our injured and orphaned animals as soon as they were able to survive on their own.
    “Hey Zoe; Charlie,” Tiffany greeted us. “I’m glad you’re here. That cub from the Riverton fire has been acting lethargic the past couple of days. I first noticed it on Friday, and when I came in to relieve Gunnar this morning he confirmed that he’d been off his feed. I called Scott and he said he’d stop by, but I thought you’d want to know.”
    Scott Walden was our local veterinarian.
    “I do. Thanks.”
    I walked over to the cage in which the cub was housed and looked in on him. Poor thing. He’d been through a lot. He seemed to be doing better, so I hoped that whatever was wrong was no more than a temporary setback.
    “How’s the murder investigation going?” Tiffany asked.
    “It’s not. I really want to track down Duncan’s killer, but I was busy with family stuff the entire day yesterday.”
    “That’s good. Your family should be your priority. What does Salinger think?”
    “Salinger is out of town. There’s a sub up from Bryton Lake who seems to think I did it.”
    “You? Why?”
    I shared some details of my very public tirades in the day or two before the murder.
    “Yikes. That really does make you sound guilty.”
    “Tell me about it. I was furious with the guy. A lot of other people were too, but I was more vocal about it. I’ve pretty much determined that the best way to divert suspicion from myself is to find the real killer, but I’m not sure where to start.”
    Tiffany opened the bear cage and tossed in some fresh fruit. “Most times the best place to start is with what you know.”
    I explained what I’d learned from Willa and Hazel concerning Duncan’s interest in documents he’d only been able to access due to his familiarity with the women. I also shared that he was camping out at the old mine and that he didn’t appear to have any intention of actually helping with the Haunted Hamlet in spite of the fact that he all but took it away from me.
    “Have you been out to the mine?” Tiffany asked.
    “No, not yet.”
    “Seems to me to be as good a place as any to start.”
     
    Tiffany was right. It was a good place to start. I explained what I was doing to Jeremy and then Charlie and I headed out of town on the old highway. After the mine was closed the road that led to it had fallen into disrepair, leading to a paved surface that was riddled with potholes. I found myself wishing I’d left the cute little car Zak had bought me at home in favor of my huge four-wheel-drive truck.
    In spite of the treacherous road the drive was absolutely gorgeous. The fall leaves were bright and plentiful and the contrast of the yellow with the evergreen trees that grew in the area was breathtaking. When we arrived at the clearing where the old mine offices were located I spotted a trailer, which I assumed belonged to Duncan, off in the distance. I parked the car and exited the vehicle. Charlie and I looked around the area, which appeared to be deserted, before