Murder in Cottage #6 (Liz Lucas Cozy Mystery Series Book 1) by Dianne Harman Page B

when he needed me to testify as an
expert witness in one of his cases. A woman had been attacked by a man’s dog
and she was suing him. I was able to show that she had antagonized the dog and
his client walked away from the lawsuit. Roger and I have been friends ever since.
He’s a good man. He took the death of his wife pretty hard. In fact, it darned
near destroyed him. Work was his salvation, but it looks like he may have found
another salvation,” Ed said with a twinkle in his eye and an easy smile on his
face.
    “In all honesty, I don’t
know any more than you do about what my relationship with Roger is, but I will
tell you this, I like him a lot and yes, like you said, he is a good man.
Thanks for telling me that.” She bent down and scratched Winston behind his
ears. “Well, boy, it’s you and me. Brandy Boy’s here, but that doesn’t mean
much. Say goodbye to Ed, and then I’ll give you the grand tour.”
    “Winston, come,” Ed said,
kneeling. “You take care of Liz. You’re a good boy, and I’m going to miss you.
Stay.” He stood up and turned towards the door, but not before Liz saw that his
eyes were a little too shiny. She was pretty certain it was from unshed tears.
    “Ed, thanks for taking the
time to deliver Winston to me. I promise he’ll have a good home, and I also
promise we’ll pay you a visit in a few months.”
    He walked down the steps
to the SUV and gave her a half wave. Seconds later he was gone.
    Liz spent the next hour
showing Winston the lodge, her living quarters, the spa, the cottages, and
ended where the lane met the highway. She’d glanced at the sheet of
instructions Ed had given her. On it he’d written that if there was an area
where she didn’t want Winston to go, she should use the words, “No go.” The
only thing that had concerned her about Winston’s safety was the highway at the
end of the lane. It was fairly busy and she was worried that Winston might go
onto it and get hit by a car. When they reached the end of the lane, she turned
to him, took his head in her hands and looked directly at him. “Winston, no go.
No go.” She put her foot on the highway and repeated the command. He backed up,
and she could swear he understood exactly what she was telling him and why she
was telling him. They turned and began the short walk back to the lodge, a
happy dog and a happy new dog owner.
    *****
    Just before they reached the lodge,
she heard the noise of a car engine coming from behind them on the lane, and
she stepped to the side and stopped. “Winston, come. Sit.” Winston instantly
sat and looked up at her expectantly, waiting for his next command.
    “Hey, Mrs. Lucas. Got a
new dog?”
    She turned and looked at
the man behind the wheel of the run-down rusted truck. It was Zack, and it was
obvious from his appearance that he hadn’t paid any attention to his grooming
for a couple of days. She didn’t know what he’d been doing during his short
vacation, but it didn’t appear to be anything health-related. His hazel eyes
were bloodshot, and he obviously hadn’t shaved for several days as there was
far more than a five o’clock shadow on his face. His sandy colored hair looked
like it hadn’t been washed for a long time, and his shirt was covered with food
spots and what she suspected were beer stains.
    “Hi Zack. How was your
vacation? And yes, this is Winston. I just got him.”
    “Scary looking, but he’s a
beauty. As for my vacation? Not so good. Don’t know if you knew that my brother
was the one who was running against Dave Nelson for mayor. He’s run twice
before against Dave, and once again, he lost. Losing wouldn’t be so bad, but
what’s tough is that he had to lose to that man. He’s as dirty as they come.
Just can’t prove it. Got Bart over at the Red Cedar Trib to write a couple of
pieces about Dave, but I just came from his office and he told me he won’t be
writing any more articles. Something about getting sued by Dave for