Jenny, worked as a librarian. He’d requested articles about Martha Matilda Harper’s followers, but Jenny didn’t know the reason why he wanted them. Nor had Jenny heard any mention of his involvement in a pet-fur scheme. Perhaps he’d said something relevant, but his sister hadn’t realized its importance at the time, Marla thought. She’d have to conduct a more thorough interview in person. Possibly Jenny didn’t realize how strong the police’s suspicions were concerning her brother.
Jenny warned me to be careful . What did she mean about Goat having a run-in with a neighbor? Which neighbor? Was there someone here to fear, in addition to Yani Verkovich’s killer? Were they linked, and was Goat their patsy? What else could be at stake besides a shady business, not quite illegal, involving dogs and cats? That’s a question Cutter might be able to answer. He’s mixed up in this-I know it .
She got up to change into her nightshirt. Too many possibilities crowded her brain, so she took solace in routine actions. Nonetheless, her mind remained in hyperdrive. At this rate, she’d never relax enough to fall asleep.
A cup of coffee might help. She padded toward the kitchen, wondering if she had any sweets tucked away in the refrigerator. Passing the living room, her gaze zeroed in on Vail’s chess set. It had fallen onto the carpet, cracked open, and some of the pieces had spilled out.
“Spooks!” she yelled, certain her poodle was guilty of a misdemeanor. Her heart sank after she replaced the carved chessmen into their felt-lined impressions. An open spot leered at her like an empty eye socket. “Oh, this is just great.”
Charging into the kitchen where Spooks had his bed, she spotted him cowering under the table. As soon as he saw her, he dropped whatever was in his mouth. Marla stooped to pick it up, ready to scold the pooch. Instead, she gasped with dismay. The knight had been chewed to the extent that the varnish had come off, and teeth marks were visible.
Dear Lord, what would Vail say? “Spooks, what have you done? You’ve ruined his gift. Bad dog!”
Spooks whimpered. His tail down, he hung his head.
Vail had bought the chess set in Europe, many years ago. She’d have to find a replacement, but where? Marla opened her mouth to chastise Spooks again, but then recalled what Vail had told her about dogs being killed for their fur. Reaching for Spooks, she scooped him into her arms and snuggled her face against his soft, fluffy coat. No one better hurt you, pal. I’ll just deal with this new problem later .
Easier said than done. Work consumed the next few days, and she was forced to push aside personal concerns. On Friday morning she arrived early at the salon to take inventory and place orders for supplies. That task accomplished, she set up the coffeemaker. So much to do, so little time. “I’m going to Bagel Busters,” she told the receptionist, a temporary hire.
Hastening along the shopping strip, she approached the restaurant, already full with the breakfast crowd. “Hi, Arnie,” she said to the man behind the cash register.
“Here’s my shayna maidel. ” Arnie beamed widely as he rounded the bend to embrace her in a bear hug.
“What are you so happy about?” she asked her old friend, whose dark hair increasingly showed traces of silver.
“Jill has decided to take Judaism lessons. I never suggested it to her; she made the decision completely on her own. Needless to say, I’m thrilled.”
She smiled, touching his forearm. “That’s wonderful. Did you tell Josh and Lisa?”
His eyes twinkled. “They think it’s cool.”
“We’ll have to double-date again. I’ll talk to Dalton.”
Arnie, a widower with two children, had courted Marla before he started dating Jill. While Marla held a special fondness for him, she’d made it clear friendship was on her slate, nothing more. She didn’t want to be burdened with children, although now she’d gotten involved with Dalton
Jenny warned me to be careful . What did she mean about Goat having a run-in with a neighbor? Which neighbor? Was there someone here to fear, in addition to Yani Verkovich’s killer? Were they linked, and was Goat their patsy? What else could be at stake besides a shady business, not quite illegal, involving dogs and cats? That’s a question Cutter might be able to answer. He’s mixed up in this-I know it .
She got up to change into her nightshirt. Too many possibilities crowded her brain, so she took solace in routine actions. Nonetheless, her mind remained in hyperdrive. At this rate, she’d never relax enough to fall asleep.
A cup of coffee might help. She padded toward the kitchen, wondering if she had any sweets tucked away in the refrigerator. Passing the living room, her gaze zeroed in on Vail’s chess set. It had fallen onto the carpet, cracked open, and some of the pieces had spilled out.
“Spooks!” she yelled, certain her poodle was guilty of a misdemeanor. Her heart sank after she replaced the carved chessmen into their felt-lined impressions. An open spot leered at her like an empty eye socket. “Oh, this is just great.”
Charging into the kitchen where Spooks had his bed, she spotted him cowering under the table. As soon as he saw her, he dropped whatever was in his mouth. Marla stooped to pick it up, ready to scold the pooch. Instead, she gasped with dismay. The knight had been chewed to the extent that the varnish had come off, and teeth marks were visible.
Dear Lord, what would Vail say? “Spooks, what have you done? You’ve ruined his gift. Bad dog!”
Spooks whimpered. His tail down, he hung his head.
Vail had bought the chess set in Europe, many years ago. She’d have to find a replacement, but where? Marla opened her mouth to chastise Spooks again, but then recalled what Vail had told her about dogs being killed for their fur. Reaching for Spooks, she scooped him into her arms and snuggled her face against his soft, fluffy coat. No one better hurt you, pal. I’ll just deal with this new problem later .
Easier said than done. Work consumed the next few days, and she was forced to push aside personal concerns. On Friday morning she arrived early at the salon to take inventory and place orders for supplies. That task accomplished, she set up the coffeemaker. So much to do, so little time. “I’m going to Bagel Busters,” she told the receptionist, a temporary hire.
Hastening along the shopping strip, she approached the restaurant, already full with the breakfast crowd. “Hi, Arnie,” she said to the man behind the cash register.
“Here’s my shayna maidel. ” Arnie beamed widely as he rounded the bend to embrace her in a bear hug.
“What are you so happy about?” she asked her old friend, whose dark hair increasingly showed traces of silver.
“Jill has decided to take Judaism lessons. I never suggested it to her; she made the decision completely on her own. Needless to say, I’m thrilled.”
She smiled, touching his forearm. “That’s wonderful. Did you tell Josh and Lisa?”
His eyes twinkled. “They think it’s cool.”
“We’ll have to double-date again. I’ll talk to Dalton.”
Arnie, a widower with two children, had courted Marla before he started dating Jill. While Marla held a special fondness for him, she’d made it clear friendship was on her slate, nothing more. She didn’t want to be burdened with children, although now she’d gotten involved with Dalton
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