Free Best in Show by Laurien Berenson

do.” Peg looked at me meaningfully. “Perhaps with somebody new in charge.”
    I guessed I should have seen that coming.
    Aunt Peg and I parted for the night. As she had said, there wasn’t anything more we could do. I took my puppy upstairs and went to bed.
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    I awoke the next morning with a vague sense of unease, though it took me a moment to remember why. Then the events of the previous night came flooding back. I hoped Edith Jean was going to be able to cope on her own. The sisters weren’t young; and from what I’d seen they relied upon one another heavily. I wondered if they had family at home, someone who could look out for E.J. now that B.J. was gone.
    My thoughts were cut short by the realization that once Eve was awake she needed to go outside. Exhibitors lucky enough to have rooms that opened directly onto the exercise area had been known to walk their Poodles in their pajamas. With a room on the other side of the building and up a floor, I didn’t dare take such liberties.
    I jumped in the shower, dressed quickly, and had Eve out behind the hotel in under fifteen minutes. The exercise area was mostly empty. The few people who were outside with their dogs seemed subdued.
    Usually there was a lot of chatter going on; that morning, nobody seemed to have much to say. Most kept glancing over at the corner where Betty Jean had been found. After I’d left, the police had cordoned the area off. Yellow tape fluttered in the early morning breeze, warning onlookers to stay away. No one, including me, went near.
    Business attended to, I cleaned up after Eve and took the puppy back to the room. I’d been looking forward to attending Mary Ludlow Scott’s presentation that morning, but now it seemed that the club’s interests would be better served if I drove over to the show site and opened up the raffle table. With no idea of where Edith Jean was, or what she might be doing, I decided I’d better assume I was in charge.
    Eve went with me, as she had the day before. As we were cutting across the parking lot and heading into the building, Terry Denunzio hailed me. “I heard you had some excitement at the hotel last night.”
    â€œThat was quick.”
    â€œOh, honey.” Terry rolled his eyes. He loves dramatic gestures, and executes them with flair. “What are you, new around here? News travels at a dog show faster than a Beagle can scarf down a table scrap. I hear the police have been questioning suspects. Now that’s something I wouldn’t mind getting in on, especially if they send around a detective who looks like Vincent D’Onofrio.” Need I mention that Terry is a Law and Order addict?
    â€œSuspects?” I stopped in my tracks. “Do they think Betty Jean was murdered?”
    â€œDon’t know yet, though I’m sure someone will fill us in shortly. Word is they’ve been talking to people who were there last night when she was found.”
    I supposed that meant the police would get around to me eventually. I started walking again. “Those are witnesses, Terry. Not suspects. Big difference.”
    â€œYou should know, doll. How’s Edith Jean holding up?”
    â€œI don’t know, I haven’t seen her. I imagine she’s back at the hotel, maybe making preparations to go home. That’s why I’m here. I figured someone should see to the raffle table during the obedience trial.”
    â€œGood thought. You know how those obedience people are.”
    â€œNo.” I stopped again, turned around and looked back at him. “How are they?”
    â€œLet’s just say I wouldn’t leave my valuables lying around unattended.”
    â€œDon’t be ridiculous.” I knew that Terry, like many people who showed in breed, tended to look down on the dogs that showed in obedience. I hadn’t realized that his prejudice extended to their owners as well.
    â€œScoff if you will, but I