Karma's A Bitch (A Pet Psychic Mystery) by Shannon Esposito Page B

essence.
    Frankie smiled down at me with perfectly white, squared off teeth and more than a little curiosity. “Hello, I’m Frankie Maslow.”
    I raised my hand, managing to keep myself from commenting on the size of the three rings. Seriously, how did she hold that hand up! “Darwin Winters.” I motioned to Sylvia. “And you know Sylvia. She’s co-owner of Darwin’s Pet Boutique.”
    “Hey, Frankie.” Sylvia waved.
    “Oh, good to see you, Sylvia. So, you met my new babies? Aren’t they just precious?”
    “Oh yes!” We both said at once.
    “I’m being rude,” she flung her hand to her chest. “Everyone, this is my boyfriend, Vick Bruno.” She lovingly placed a palm on his arm.
    He nodded as we said our hellos, his arms never uncrossing from his chest. Yeah, I could see why Mad Dog didn’t like him. He was closed off, protective and kind of rude. What was Frankie doing with a guy like him? Surely she could reel in a better fish with the kind of bait she now had. My mom used to say love is a mystery. I was beginning to understand what she meant.
    I was also starting to get worried about leaving Karma alone for so long but I really wanted to talk to Frankie about some fund raising ideas.
    While Frankie and Landon were exchanging pleasantries, the twins appeared, their silver outfits swapped for street clothes. They looked about in their early twenties. Stocky girls. Gymnasts maybe? One of them waved at Frankie and then Vick made a jerking motion with his head. They followed him to the corner of the stage. I kept glancing over at them and noticed Frankie doing the same, concern pinching the corners of her eyes. At one point, one of the twins threw up her hands and laughed. Vick had his hands on his hips. He didn’t look amused. This seemed to get Landon’s attention, too and his eyes narrowed for a second before he went back to his conversation with Frankie.
    The twins turned and walked away, leaving Vick staring after them. What in the world? What would two young girls have to talk to someone like Vick about? Maybe it was just my naivety again, but something didn’t feel right about it.
    When a lull in the conversation came between Frankie and Landon, I butted in. “Excuse me, Frankie?”
    “Yes?” That wide smile again. I pushed the image of a camel out of my head.
    “Do you have a business card? I’d like to discuss a few fund raising ideas I have for the homeless. I thought maybe we could do something together?”
    “Oh, wonderful idea.” She dug through a gold bag and handed me a card. She seemed genuinely pleased with the idea, which made me happy. Something got accomplished this evening besides being wowed by Landon Stark. I glanced at Sylvia. Well, for me at least. She seemed as wowed as a gal can get.
    The evening wrapped up about an hour later with Landon lingering over Sylvia outside the building, asking her if she was sure she didn’t want a ride home. To her credit, she refused, saying she was going to walk back with me. I watched this exchange with open curiosity but they didn’t seem to notice. I couldn’t figure out why she was acting so uninterested when I knew exactly how interested she was. Was this what they called “playing hard to get”?
    Sylvia offered her hand, which he kissed and then she slipped her arm in mine and we walked away. I glanced back once. Landon Stark still stood there—hands in his pockets, a slight smile on his face—watching us. I rested my head wearily on Sylvia’s shoulder.

 
     
    CHAPTER THIRTEEN
     
     
    I thought Karma had behaved himself quite nicely last night as he greeted me with a slight thumping tail on the bed—although extra slobber did grace my pillow, which I’m sure he did on purpose. Until the morning when I found the French doors to the porch wide open and the bowl of dog rose water emptied.
    “That was naughty,” I said, making sure the doors were tightly closed this time. “Don’t most dogs just drink out of the toilet