Free A Hell of a Dog by Carol Lea Benjamin Page A

nodded, and with that, the officers left. Sam started to take the empty chair that would have been Alan’s, pulled it out from the table, and then hesitated, resting her hands on the back of it instead of sitting.
    â€œElizabeth Cooper is on her way from Connecticut. I have Beau in my room. He’s pacing a lot, but Elizabeth says he always does that. We have”—she stopped and looked at her watch—“an hour and a half before my little welcome to the students and Beryl’s very important talk on breed character. I thought I’d take Beau out to the park and then see if I can get him to eat something. I think each of us needs to find a way to calm down so that we can go on with our work.”
    The room was silent. Sam pushed the chair back in and turned to leave. But then she turned back to face us again.
    â€œThe detectives have questioned the staff and those of us whose rooms were closest to Alan’s. Nothing unusual was heard or observed and they have assured me his death was—” Sam looked up for a moment, as if she were trying to stop the flow of tears. Then she picked up a napkin from the table and blotted her eyes. “Accidental,” she said when she was able. There wasn’t another sound in the room. “Does anyone have a question?” She held out her hand, as if she were asking for spare change.
    â€œHow did they—” Cathy asked.
    â€œThe manager called me after Boris and Chip had gone to the front desk to inquire about Alan. I’ve known Alan Cooper for ten years, and I know many of you don’t like the method he used with dogs; however, I have always found him to be a responsible, reliable speaker. Had I not, I wouldn’t have asked him to participate this week. It made no sense to me that he’d agree to do something and then just not show up, so I asked the manager if they could check his room and see if he was there, if perhaps there was some problem, if he was sick. He sent up one of the maids, and she found him. She spoke to the police, and then she was sent home. She was pretty shaken up.”
    Sam waited. No one else, it seemed, had anything to say.
    â€œIf that’s all for now, I’m going to take care of Beau. I’ll be back in my suite in forty-five minutes, should you need me.”
    â€œWalk Beau on this.” Chip had a nylon slip collar in his hand. I took it and passed it to Sam.
    â€œDo you want me to go with you?” I asked.
    Sam didn’t answer right away, as if she were thinking over my offer.
    â€œYou’re all great,” she said. “I knew you’d come through. It’s tragic, what happened to Alan. But it could have happened anywhere, at any time. I just knew you’d all—” She looked away for a moment. “You’re all terrific. Together we’re going to do this thing. And we’ll be great.” Then she turned toward me. “Thank you, Rachel, but I hope you understand, I’d rather be alone just now. Thank you all for being so wonderful.”
    I followed her out into the hall.
    â€œI can’t believe this,” she said. “What a freak thing to happen.”
    â€œWhat you said in there was perfect, Sam, setting the tone for cooperation. They’re all going to pull together and make this happen. You’ll see.”
    â€œDo you really think so?”
    â€œI do.”
    â€œPoor Alan,” she said.
    â€œSam, what else did the police say?”
    â€œThat from the position of his legs they’re pretty sure he was getting out of the tub when the accident happened. His left heel was on the rim of the tub, and there was a lot of water on the floor. They said the water was very soapy, which is what made the tub so slippery. Of course, the final determination of cause of death rests with the medical examiner.
    â€œThey said the shelf Alan grabbed to try and stop himself from falling was never meant to hold anything except