Free Dead at Breakfast by Beth Gutcheon

Maggie.
    â€œAnd you,” said Hope to Nina, “are a Sagittarian.”
    â€œI’m a what?”
    â€œWhen’s your birthday?”
    â€œDecember first.”
    â€œI rest my case,” said Hope.
    The head of housekeeping was in Mr. Gurrell’s office. Mrs. Antippas’s dog had been in room 6G yowling, since midmorning. When the girl went in to clean, it snarled at her, and then went to the bathroom on the carpet. She had just gone to ask Mr. Antippas to take the dog, so the room could be ready for when the sisters came back, but he had his DO NOT DISTURB sign out, apparently taking a nap after lunch. His room reeked of cigar smoke, by the way. She’d found a cigar butt floating in his toilet yesterday, disgusting, like he forgot to flush. Someone had to get the dog out of the room, and she wasn’t going to do it, she drew the line, he knew when he hired her that she wouldn’t deal with animals . . .
    Gabriel Gurrell was pinching his knees under the desk to distract himself so he wouldn’t shout at her. She was a very good housekeeper, but high-strung, and once she got going like this you practically had to tackle her to get her to stop.
    â€œI’ll take care of . . . Mrs. Eaton, I’ll . . . Mrs. Eaton!” he finally raised his voice. Then he added, “I’m sorry. I know it’s been difficult. I will have Cherry take the dog for a walk, and please apologize to the staff for me. There was an accident this morning, you know, and we’re all upset.”
    Mrs. Eaton knew all about the accident. Everyone in the house did. They all knew about the girl’s death in California too, the singer, and they thought Mr. Antippas was a . . .
    â€œThank you, Mrs. Eaton,” Gabriel said. “Everyone is under strain.”
    â€œThey are. Chef is very upset. Earl is upset.”
    â€œI’ll take care of it. Thank you for coming to me.” He was on his feet, guiding her to the door. When she had disappeared up the stairs he went down to find Cherry.
    Cherry was lounging behind the reception desk, reading a magazine and chewing gum. She jumped up when she saw him coming, stowed the magazine, and spit the gum into her hand and hid it behind her back.
    â€œCherry,” he said.
    â€œWhat?” No more ‘Yes, Mr. Gurrell?’ Now that she knew she wasn’t staying on she’d reverted to the sullen manners that were apparently her default mode.
    â€œA couple of things. When the deputy arrived this morning, you should have called me rather than dealing with it yourself.”
    â€œYou said I was to take initiative.”
    â€œBut this was rather a special case, don’t you think?”
    â€œYes I do. I did. Buster said he needed to see Mrs. Antippas’s sister right away and I knew where she was so I took him. Anyway it wasn’t morning.”
    Now she was just being rude. She was really a very hostile little item, Gabriel thought. He sighed impatiently and hitched hisshoulders back. Stand straight. Maintain your dignity. You’re the one who always has to eat the crow if you’re in the hospitality business. Clearly the Cherry situation was deteriorating fast, but at this minute, he needed her, if he didn’t want a domino effect cascading through the staff.
    â€œAfternoon then. You’re right about that.”
    â€œI know.”
    â€œI’ve come to you about something else though. With Mrs. Antippas in the hospital, and her sister gone, I need someone to walk the little dog. The maid hasn’t been able to clean the room and—”
    â€œYou know what, I quit. I quit right now. I know you already fired me but I still quit, I am not a fucking dog walker. I don’t even like dogs.”
    â€œCherry! Remember where you are!” Gabe was trying to whisper.
    â€œThat slobbering horse you made me walk last time dragged me halfway around the lake, I’ve still got blisters on my feet, you try