Free Hair of the Dog by Laurien Berenson Page A

call name, and by handler as well. Pogo was a young Standard Poodle who’d been doing well in the variety but wasn’t yet much of a factor in the group. One name, and Crawford immediately knew where he stood.
    â€œPogo.” Viv frowned slightly. “I don’t believe I’ve seen that dog. Is he new?”
    â€œJack Stacey just started specialing him this spring.” Ron’s arm was looped around his wife’s shoulders, and he gave her an affectionate squeeze. “Leo’s been beating him pretty easily.”
    â€œPogo’s not a bad dog.” Crawford was ever the diplomat. “Just young. Next year he’ll be more of a threat.”
    â€œWho cares about next year?” Terry plucked a cherry tomato out of his salad and popped it in his mouth. “Today we’re winning Best in Show.”
    â€œDon’t say that!” Ron cried. “You’ll jinx us.”
    â€œMaybe he’ll bring us luck,” said Viv.
    Crawford, as usual, declined to comment.
    â€œDid you hear Melanie’s news?” asked Terry.
    Viv and Ron both turned to look at me, but all I could do was shrug. I had no idea what he was talking about either.
    â€œShe’s going to figure out who murdered Barry Turk!”
    Oh, Lord.
    â€œReally?” Ron didn’t look impressed. I couldn’t blame him a bit.
    â€œYou have big ears,” I said to Terry.
    â€œYou bet I do.” He placed his fingers behind his lobes and waggled them impishly. “And a big mouth too.”
    â€œWe’re working on correcting both,” Crawford said sternly.
    â€œBut we’re not succeeding,” said Terry, mimicking the stern tone.
    I had to laugh, in spite of myself. Viv did too.
    Ron was silent for a moment, as if thinking something over. “I imagine you’re aware that Barry used to handle Leo?”
    I nodded.
    â€œDoes that make me a suspect in your investigation?”
    Whoa, I thought. Everyone was taking this much too seriously. “I don’t have any suspects. Or an investigation. Alicia requested that I ask a few questions and I told her I would. That’s all there is to it.”
    Viv shook her head sadly. “I have to admit, I do feel sorry for her.”
    Abruptly Ron’s arm slid down from around his wife’s shoulders. “Why on earth would you say something like that?”
    â€œBecause it’s true. Obviously she was in love with Barry. She left Bill for him.”
    â€œAnd got stuck with a man who refused to do the right thing by her,” Peg chimed in.
    â€œDo the right thing?” I repeated. “As in marry her? Is that what Alicia wanted?”
    â€œOf course she did, hon,” said Terry. “Anyone with eyes could see that. You straight people are so conventional.”
    â€œAlicia mentioned it to me a couple of times,” said Viv. “We used to talk when Leo was there. She said she felt like she was living in limbo with Barry. She wanted a commitment. I don’t think she ever gave him an ultimatum or anything, but it was pretty clear she was beginning to get fed up.”
    When I’d seen Alicia at her house, she’d offered to tell me anything, but she certainly hadn’t told me that. I wondered if there were any other important facts she’d neglected to mention. I also wondered just how much of a temper Alicia had. It looked like there was more than one reason that the police had settled on her as their prime suspect.
    â€œBarry and Alicia were already living together,” I said. “Why wouldn’t he marry her?”
    â€œBecause that’s the kind of bastard he was,” said Viv.
    â€œBecause he liked his freedom,” guessed Terry.
    â€œBecause he was a fool,” Ron said.
    Crawford leaned into the group and spoke up for the first time. “Barry didn’t marry Alicia because he didn’t have to. He knew she’d stay with him regardless, and she