Free A Sinister Sense by Allison Kingsley Page B

you want to heat it up.”
    Clara heard the words but was too concerned to pay attention to them. “What have you done to Tatters?” She dropped on her knees by the side of the dog. Tatters yawned and sat up.
    Jessie glanced down at her. “What? Oh, nothing much. We had a nice talk, that’s all. He was a bit boisterous when I first let him out, but after I picked myself up off the floor, I gave him a lecture and he soon settled down.”
    Clara let out her breath. Having been on the blunt end of her mother’s lectures, she could almost feel sorry for Tatters. She fondled the dog’s ears. “Did you have a nice afternoon, then, boy?”
    Tatters whined and licked her nose.
    “I do think you could have warned me,” Jessie said, getting up from the chair. “I was expecting a little puppy, not a full-grown Bigfoot. It was rather a shock to find myself on the floor with two huge hairy paws on my chest.”
    “Sorry.” Clara got to her feet. “I knew you could handle him, though. You always were better with animals than people.”
    Jessie looked offended. “What does that mean?”
    Clara smiled. “Nothing. I just meant you have a way with animals, that’s all. It looks as if you’ve got Tatters totally under control.”
    “Well, you never know. One has to keep a stern eye on animals. They can be difficult when they’re upset.”
    Like some humans she knew, Clara thought, but resisted the temptation to say so. “Well then, I guess youwon’t mind keeping an eye on him this evening.” She glanced at the clock. “I just came home to change. I’m meeting Steffie at the bowling alley in a few minutes.”
    Jessie stared at her in dismay. “What about dinner?”
    “I’ll grab something out there.” Clara headed for the hallway.
    “But I wanted to tell you about—”
    Clara waved a hand at her. “It’ll have to wait. I’ll be late if I don’t get going.” She dashed down the hallway and into her room before her mother could argue.
    Ten minutes later she was ready to leave. Her mother met her in the hallway, holding up her hand to prevent her passing.
    “I just wanted to tell you that the murder victim has been identified.”
    Clara paused in the act of opening the front door. Spinning around, she demanded, “Who is it?”
    “I can’t remember his name. Something Polish, I think.” Jessie frowned. “He worked in construction or something in Portland. Apparently he was here on vacation and was staying at one of those dreadful motels on the coast road.”
    “Who identified him?”
    “The manager of the motel. He didn’t see a photo of the victim until late this afternoon when he saw the front page of the newspaper. Apparently he doesn’t watch much TV.”
    “Do they know who killed him?”
    Jessie gave her a pitying look. “They’re still sayingthat they have no suspects in custody but that Rick Sanders is helping in their investigation. Carson Dexter was there again, demanding the police make an arrest. He more or less hinted that Rick should be arrested for the murder.”
    Clara grunted in disgust. “Carson Dexter is an idiot.” She opened the door and stepped outside. “I won’t be late.”
    Jessie moved forward to stand in the doorway. “Be careful, Clara. You have always been too trusting, you know.”
    Clara’s mouth twisted in a wry smile. “Not anymore, Mother. Never again. Believe me.” Without waiting for an answer, she fled down the path to her car.
    Stephanie had already arrived and was waiting in the doorway when Clara parked in front of the bowling alley. “We’re not really going to play, are we?” she asked anxiously as Clara led the way into the foyer. “I haven’t bowled since my teens and even then I was known as the gutter-ball queen.”
    The clatter of falling pins and the thumping of a heavy metal band made it hard to hear her. “Let’s get something to eat.” Clara grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the bar. It was relatively quiet in there, and she chose a