Free Drop Dead on Recall by Sheila Webster Boneham Page B

and began to doodle on her pad. “So, you and Ms. Dorn were friends?”
    “I wouldn’t say that. We knew each other from dog training and competition. We train—trained—at the same place and …”
    “Where is that?”
    I gave her the address and phone number for Dog Dayz. “Anyway, I knew her and Greg, her husband, really just in the doggy context, you know, from training and shows.”
    “And who do you know who didn’t like her?”
    I’m afraid I allowed myself to guffaw. “Sorry. Actually, I can’t think of many people who liked her. Greg, of course. And I think Giselle and Abigail were friends.”
    “Giselle?”
    “Giselle Swann. Remember the woman who wanted to take Pip home?”
    “Ah, yeah, Precious.” A barely perceptible tremor ran across her cheek. “And they were friends?”
    “Yes, I think so. I know they often set their crates up together at shows. To be honest, I don’t know either of them very well.”
    “And I take it there are people who actively disliked Ms. Dorn?”
    “Abigail wasn’t exactly warm and cuddly. Except with her dogs. Maybe Greg too, although I only ever saw her scolding him or ordering him around.”
    “Who else?”
    “Gosh, I don’t know. I mean, I don’t know that I’d want to suggest that anyone I know hated her enough to kill her!” This conversation was not one I really wanted to continue.
    “I didn’t say anyone killed her.” She gave me that poker face.
    “Right.” I fought off the urge to squirm in my seat. “There was a long-standing rivalry between Abigail and Suzette Anderson. But I think they were reasonably friendly outside the ring.”
    “What sort of rivalry?”
    “They were both in the running for top national ranking in obedience with their Border Collies.” I pointed at Pip. He was rolled onto his back, leaning up against the wall, his head back and tongue lolling out the corner of his mouth. “Believe it or not, you’re looking at one of the top competitive obedience dogs in the country over the past two or three years.”
    “Yeah?” She gave me a look I couldn’t read, but it made the base of my skull itch. “And now you have him.”

20
    “I have Pip temporarily, until Greg takes him.” Here I was in my own kitchen, the heart of my little house, my cat purring, no bright lights in my eyes, knowing I’d done nothing illegal, at least not lately, and yet Detective Jo Stevens’ questions were beginning to make me sweat. “In fact, with your permission I’ll take Pip back to Greg today or tomorrow.” Based on her non-reaction, I wasn’t sure Detective Stevens had heard me so I rambled on. “Besides, obedience is a team sport. Pip’s ranking is a result of their teamwork, his and Abigail’s. It takes years to build that rapport between dog and handler.”
    The detective nodded. “So, this Suzette Anderson and Ms. Dorn had conflicts over national competition?”
    “They were both hoping to qualify for the National Obedience Championship competition next January. Both their dogs were in the running for top-ranked Border Collie of the year. But obedience people generally get along fine outside the ring. I mean, it’s a sport where the results mostly depend on how you and your dog do on a particular day. Politics can enter in on some of the finer points, but mostly it’s do or die.” I sucked in a quick breath. “So to speak. I’m sure Suzette didn’t hate her enough to kill her.”
    “Who else?” Jo was madly scribbling.
    I was beginning to feel like a stool pigeon, but once I started to sing, I just couldn’t seem to shut up. “I’ve heard that Abigail and Marietta Santini had some problems a couple years ago over a puppy sale that fell through.”
    “Who’s she?”
    “She owns Dog Dayz, where we train.”
    She wrote it all down.
    “That was a while ago, and I don’t know much about it, but I don’t think it was that big a deal. I can’t think of anyone else. I mean, as I said, lots of people didn’t care