Free Doggie Day Care Murder by Laurien Berenson Page A

watched the activity that bustled around us with huge, haunted eyes. “How do you stand it?”
    â€œNot easily,” I said quietly.
    â€œI mean, you went right in there and took charge. Like you knew what you were doing.”
    I shook my head. It hadn’t been that big a deal.
    â€œAnybody could have done it. All I knew was to call for the authorities and try not to mess up the area. I learned that from watching TV.”
    Alice looked at me speculatively. “You talked to Steve yesterday, didn’t you?”
    â€œYes, he was the one who gave me a tour around.” I paused and swallowed heavily, remembering Steve’s energy, his enthusiasm, his affection for the dogs like Nathan, the old Dachshund. What a terrible shame this was. What a loss.
    â€œSo now you’re involved again.”
    â€œNo, I’m not.” The protest was automatic. “I’m a mother now.”
    â€œYou were a mother before and that never stopped you.”
    â€œThat was different.”
    â€œHow?”
    I didn’t answer and Alice didn’t push me.
    â€œI wonder what will happen to this place now,” she said instead.
    The two of us gazed over at the front building where things seemed to be calming down. People were still going in and out, but they weren’t moving with the same sense of urgency they’d had when they first arrived.
    â€œMaybe Candy will continue to run it. Otherwise, an awful lot of dog owners are going to be out of luck.”
    â€œIncluding me,” Alice said glumly.
    Eventually the police remembered that we were still waiting there to speak with them. A detective came out of the building, stopped and looked around, then strode our way.
    He was tall and stocky, carrying more fat than muscle on a frame that looked like it might once have belonged to an athlete. In deference to the heat of the day, he had pulled off his jacket, rolled up his shirtsleeves, and loosened the knot of his tie.
    He leaned down and looked in the open car window. “I’m Detective Minton. Are you the ladies who found the body?”
    â€œNo.” I replied before Alice could speak.
    Over the years, I’ve discovered that it pays to be very precise when talking to the police. Otherwise, they have a tendency to quickly form conclusions that give them what they need rather than waiting patiently and listening for the truth.
    â€œWe’re the women who came running when we heard Candy scream,” I corrected. “She was the one who found her brother’s body.”
    â€œYou mind stepping out of the car? I have a couple of questions for you.”
    We complied. The detective stood for a minute and looked both of us over carefully.
    It was, no doubt, a gesture designed to make us feel guilty. Maybe it was working on Alice, but I’d dealt with the police often enough that I was pretty much immune. If he was hoping that we’d fall to our knees and confess, and he could have the case wrapped up by noon, he’d come to the wrong place.
    â€œWhich one of you is Miss Travis?” he asked.
    â€œIt’s Ms.,” I said.
    It’s not that I’m a fanatic for feminism or political correctness, but calling myself Miss negated Sam’s presence in my life. And Mrs. didn’t exactly work either, considering that I’d kept my own name rather than taking Sam’s. So the semantics of the situation were a little tricky.
    And judging by the expression on Minton’s face, I could see that they’d already caused us to get off on the wrong foot.
    â€œ Ms. Travis,” he repeated. Now there was a hostile edge to his tone. “What were you and Ms. Brickman doing here this morning?”
    â€œAlice and I had an appointment with Steve Pine.”
    â€œAbout?” He gaze swung back and forth between us.
    â€œMy dog, Berkley,” said Alice. “He’s a Golden Retriever. I got him for my kids for Christmas. Not last year, the