Trouble at the Kennel (Cedar Bay Cozy Mystery #9)(28)
She took a deep breath and told him about her conversation with Roxie and her subsequent conversation with Sandy. She mentioned they both had said the man in question drove a silver/grey car, and that she’d seen one when she was leaving the coffee shop and felt spooked. When she finished, she asked, “So what do you think it all means?”
Mike was quiet for several moments and then began to speak. “Kelly, I’m not certain what to think. I’ve never met the man. I have no information that would tell me whether or not it was Sandy's husband who asked questions about you and the coffee shop, and I certainly don't know if you were being followed. What I am certain of is I don't like some man asking where you live, and from what you're telling me, he didn't seem like someone who was simply interested in an attractive woman.”
“Thanks for the compliment, but I agree. I'm glad Roxie didn't tell whoever he was where I lived. The whole thing kind of creeps me out. I found myself checking to make sure the doors were locked, and I even looked out the window a number of times to see if there was a grey or silver car driving by on our street.”
“Kelly, did you say anything to Sandy that would make her think you suspected her in connection with the murder of Mary Barnes?”
"No. You and I talked about it the other night, but that was as far as I’ve gone with it. When I went to the Doggie Love Kennel on Saturday, it was under the guise that Lady had lost her dog tag. If you remember, I told her it was silver and had been a gift from you. I told you I was a little suspicious of her but no, I haven't told anyone else.
“Maybe she looked at Rebel’s and Lady’s files and saw that I owned Kelly's Koffee Shop and was married to you, and she might have told her husband. I suppose it could have even been Mary who told her I owned a coffee shop. I'm really going out on a limb here, but maybe Sandy was the one who committed the murder and she told her husband. If that's true, he could be worried that I suspect her, and he wants to get rid of me in order to protect his wife. I know this all sounds pretty far-fetched.”
“None of what you’ve just told me would fly in a criminal justice course called Suspect 101. As a matter of fact, if any of my deputies told me they suspected someone had committed a crime based on evidence that flimsy, I wouldn't go along with it. Tell you what, let me do some investigating and see what I can find out about this guy. In the meantime, I think I'll take Lady with me to work and you take Rebel and Skyy. From what I've seen so far of Skyy, she's got a long way to go before she can provide you with any meaningful protection, but Rebel has always watched out for you, and I'd feel better if he was with you. Now, what can I do to help you get dinner on the table?”
CHAPTER 22
Kelly woke up the following morning and remembered she needed to take Skyy to the veterinarian. When she’d called Dr. Simpson and told him she had a new puppy, he’d been adamant that she bring her in and let him examine the puppy even though Mary had taken Skyy to him when she’d first gotten the puppy. Kelly decided she’d take Skyy to see him after she closed the coffee shop that afternoon. She looked over at Mike, sleeping peacefully beside her, and blew him a kiss as she got out of bed, dressed, let the dogs out, and put Rebel and Skyy in her minivan.
There was a lull about ten in the morning, so she called Dr. Simpson’s office and made an appointment with him for four that afternoon. She closed the coffee shop at 2:45 and had about an hour before Skyy's appointment. She decided to make a couple of the brie and egg stratas like the one she’d made Mike for breakfast on Sunday. They were always a hit with the customers, but they took a little time to prepare.
About the time she finished with the stratas, it was time to head for Dr. Simpson’s vet clinic. Rebel wasn’t a big fan of the vet, and it always amused Kelly how the big dog would start to quiver and shake whenever she took him to see Dr. Simpson. Rebel seemed to sense he was being taken there to get a shot or that something else would be done to him that he wouldn't like. The big boxer was very happy when Kelly lifted Skyy up from the back seat and left him alone in the minivan with the windows halfway down.
“Hi, Mrs. Reynolds, is this the newest addition to the family? That puppy sure looks familiar,” the receptionist said.
“For now,” Kelly said. “I'm trying to convince my husband we need to have three dogs. He's really taken with her, but I haven't been able to get a firm commitment from him that three dogs will be okay. I want to make sure Skyy’s vaccines and puppy shots are current. She was Mary Barnes' dog, and as you probably heard, she was murdered. Her daughter gave Skyy to me because she knows how much I like dogs, but she was pretty rattled and didn't bring me Skyy’s vet records. I figured you'd have a record here, and I wouldn’t have to bother her. Poor lady has enough to deal with.”
“I agree. It will be in her file. Give me a minute. How are Lady and Rebel doing with her?”
“They've fully accepted her. I have this theory that puppies do better when there's an older dog around that can act as a role model.”
“I think you're absolutely right. Looks like she's ready for her Bordatella vaccine. You can put her in room two. Dr. Simpson will be with you shortly.”
“Good. I want him to take a look at her and make sure everything is okay. She seems fine to me, but since I don't have any records for her, and I don't want to bother Mary's daughter, I'd appreciate his input.”