Peril for Your Thoughts (Mind Reader Mystery) by Kari Lee Townsend

left the excitement to you. It’s like you said. I’m doing this for your own good.” She stepped through the screen door, but closed it before I could follow.
    “What exactly does that mean?” I asked, standing up straight and frowning at her.
    “You’ll see,” she said with a cat-ate-the-canary grin, sounding like her old self for the first time since the murder, and then turned the lock with a foreboding click.

    Ten minutes later, after relentless knocking to no avail, I was about to gather Prissy and head around front. That’s when I heard the snuffing and snorting behind me.
    Miss Priss’s white fluffy hair stood on end, and she bolted to her feet. With eyes wide, she stared at something across the yard, and I was afraid to look. Swallowing hard, I ignored my crawling skin and turned in that direction. I was still terrified but relieved to see that Wolfgang was on the other side of the fence in Detective Steven’s side of the yard. Nik chose that moment to wander out on his deck in jeans and a sweatshirt with a beer in his hand. The dog jogged over to him, whined, and then pawed at the door.
    “For the last time, boy. No more treats. Now, go do your business.” He glanced to the side and spotted me, smiled a pleasant smile, and held up his beer in greeting. I smiled weakly back and gave him a small wave. My gaze darted to the sliding glass door, and I choked on my own breath. Jaz had made popcorn, refilled her drink, and was sitting contentedly in a chair, thoroughly enjoying the show.
    I gave her an evil look and was about to walk around to the front of the house to get inside that way when Nik spoke.
    “Nice evening, isn’t it?” he said.
    It was , I thought, but responded, “It sure is, but I think I’ve had enough.”
    And that was all it took for Wolfgang to notice my presence. He bolted to the fence, looking over the top while still on all four paws, wagging his tail and whining pathetically. His tongue hung out and dripped saliva while I tried desperately not to gag. I didn’t care how clean they said a dog’s mouth was, that could not be sanitary.
    “He likes you,” Nikos said with a knowing smirk.
    I couldn’t say the same, so I simply said, “Mmmm, does he? That’s nice. Well, it’s getting late. I’d better head inside.”
    Prissy hissed, and Wolfgang froze. His tail stopped wagging, his tongue stopped flopping, and his adoring eyes narrowed with a look that said, Mine ! He let out one loud bark, stood on his hind legs, and leaned on the fence. It didn’t take much for that sucker to fall to the ground, and for all hell to break loose.
    I screamed as the beast charged into my yard.
    Nik jumped over the deck railing and bolted after him.
    Prissy let out a yowl and headed for the nearest tree.
    “Wolf, heel!” Nik yelled, but the St. Bernard ignored him, blocking Prissy’s escape route.
    She shot across the yard in another direction, and he gave chase once more. Nik ran after him, slipping and sliding on the slick grass wet from the recent rain as the dog kept evading him by mere inches. Meanwhile, I ran after Nik and followed Prissy. I almost caught her when she let out one more hiss and bolted up the tree to safety. Relief swept through me until I heard the whine again.
    Now that Prissy was out of reach, Wolfgang had turned his attention on me. His enormous tongue made an appearance once more, and his entire hind end moved back and forth with the wag of his tail. His large paw scraped the ground a couple of times, making him look more like a bull than a canine, and then he charged.
    Nik commanded, “Stay!” but once again the beast ignored him.
    I shrieked, “Don’t let him get me!” as I backed up against the tree.
    Nik slid in between us, and Wolfgang stopped short. “Hop on,” he said. I didn’t hesitate. I jumped on Nik’s back and he held on tight, keeping me behind him and Wolfgang in front. “Heel, Wolf. I mean it,” he said louder this time, and finally the dog