Free Will You Marry Me? (Sam Darling Mystery Book 4) by Jerilyn Dufresne Page B

red, and yellow patterned carpeting, worn in many places, especially right down the middle where most people walked. I hadn't noticed that I was now in front of Clancy because she had abruptly stopped and pulled me backwards.
    "What is it, girl?"
    She stood there, staring at the floor, then looking up at me, back and forth. Trying to tell me something. There were times when our communication seemed to only flow one way, and unfortunately this was one of those times. I tugged on her leash but she refused to give. She just sat there giving me a look that seemed to be full of frustration. Then she pointedly put her nose on the carpet. As she did, I really looked at where her nose was pointing. Finally I noticed that the red in the rug pattern was different in this area. Also it was more of a rust color than the faded red of the rest of the carpeting.   There was no metallic smell, like I'd noticed on the rug on which my boss died. But the color looked the same.
    "So this is what blood looks like a year after a murder," I said aloud.
    "Murder?" clucked a passing chicken, and I immediately regretted my indiscretion.
    Like Chicken Little with his fear of the sky falling, the chicken ran down the hallway yelling, "Murder! Murder!"
    All I could think was that he'd probably get kicked out of the Cluck Club for talking. Before things got even crazier I pulled out my phone and called George. "Honey, I'm in the back hallway of the motel and I think Clancy has found something."
    He said he'd notify Jeremiah, and they both arrived within ten minutes. With them was Luigi and Wilma, and soon a panting Jim Bob was on the scene--in street clothes.
    I looked at Jeremiah. "I think you probably ought to cordon off this hallway immediately. Seems like I found the spot where Missy was murdered." At Clancy's low growl, I amended that to, "I mean Clancy found it. Good girl."  
    I petted her as Jeremiah swung into action. He called Chip and told him to leave the Bobs in charge of the station again, and to get over to the motel ASAP. He then turned to Wilma and said, "Get me the results of the DNA tests. Tell them it's an emergency and we need the information now."
    To George he said, "Make sure no one leaves the motel. We don't know if this bloodstain has anything to do with the skeleton we found, but I'm betting it does. Stuck back here in the dark end of this hallway, it could easily have been here for a year without being noticed."
    It surprised me how well George followed orders. As Chief of Detectives in Quincy he was used to giving them rather than taking. However, a good cop is a good cop--and he was a great one.
    As George left the area to go to the registration desk, Jeremiah finally turned to Clancy and said, "Thanks." Even though it was succinct, I was grateful he acknowledged that Clancy had done what none of us humans had. She found the bones and the blood. I felt like a proud Mama.
    I continued petting her and said to the sheriff, "What about me? What do you want me to do?"
    "Just stay here," he said. "I want this area kept free of people. You can help with that."
    It felt good to have an assignment, but it certainly wasn't an exciting one.
    Chip soon arrived, and Jeremiah gave Chip the same assignment as he'd given me. Keep the area free of people.
      I wondered if Chip had said yes to being a deputy or if he'd declined the offer. I knew I'd have to find out as soon as the others left. My curiosity was always high, but was even worse without my meds.
    Jeremiah went off to question anyone he could and to notify the motel manager that he would need to vacate the rooms at the back entrance so no one would walk over the carpet.  
    When Chip and I were finally alone I immediately said, "So...did you take the deputy job?" I tried not to appear too eager but failed as usual.
    He must have been getting used to me because he didn't hesitate to answer and certainly didn't give me an odd look like I was used to receiving. "I've been thinking