Trouble at the Kennel (Cedar Bay Cozy Mystery #9)(30)
“That was pretty much my impression as well,” Kelly said, “but I have learned that sometimes the one person you don't think is capable of committing murder is actually the one who has committed the murder.”
“I'm sure that's true, and you would know more about that than me. I don't know if you know Jack Powell. He's the head of a group called the Pit Bull Sanctuary. He pays me a retainer and brings in various different pit bulls from time to time. He’s passionate about the breed, and while I've never known him to be violent, he was furious he had to find another place for the pit bulls after one of them attacked Sandy Reston's dog. He felt he was very lucky to find foster homes for the dogs with almost no notice.”
“Actually, I had a long talk with him at the dog show,” Kelly said, “and he told me about the incident. He seemed really angry that Mary had made such a quick decision. He felt what she did was unfair to him and the dogs, because it didn't allow him enough time to rent space for them somewhere else.”
“Yes, that's true. Now that brings me to the Restons. Evidently Sandy and Mary had disagreed for a long time about the pit bulls being on the premises. When one of the pit bulls savagely attacked Mickey, the Reston's dog, the situation came to a head. Sandy was furious when she brought her in to me for emergency treatment and ultimately surgery. She told me she was going to have to call her husband and tell him, because the dog was his baby. Sandy said her husband was in New York and would not be happy about it.”
“I guess she was lucky the dog didn't lose its leg.”
“Very. It was one of the worst injuries I've ever seen. In fact, the dog is still here, even though it happened several days ago. I don't know if he'll ever regain full use of that leg. Her husband comes in daily to see the dog. Sandy might have gotten over it, but her husband definitely hasn't. Quite frankly, if I were to pick one person that might qualify as a leading suspect, I would probably pick Hank.”
“I don't know him. Why do you say that?”
“There's not much I can tell you. He's a lawyer for a lumber company, and he travels a lot. When he's gone, I understand Sandy takes their dog with her when she goes to work at Doggie Love Kennel. There's nothing specific I can tell you about him, it's more of a sense that I have about him. He seems to have anger issues.”
“Can you give me an example?”
“The one that comes to mind is something that happened several months ago. It was time for his dog to be given her annual Bordetella vaccine. I don't know if you've noticed, but when this building was built, the way to open the front door was inadvertently reversed.”
“What do you mean, reversed?”
“Usually the right side of a door swings open. When the contractor built ours, somehow it got reversed, and the left side of the door is the side that swings open.”
“I've never noticed it,” Kelly said, “but I will on the way out. I'm still a little unclear what this has to do with Mary Barnes' death.”
“Sandy and her husband moved here about a year ago, and he brought his dog in to meet me and talk to me about shots, etc. When he opened the door and came in he was furious about the way the door opened. He was so angry he was shaking and told me I should have that door reversed. It seemed overkill to me. What's interesting is that he still gets just as angry over that door every time he comes here. That's what I mean when I say I think he has some anger issues. Seems to me the situation with the front door shouldn't merit that amount of anger.”
“I agree. I suppose he could have a motive to commit murder in that his dog was severely injured while she was staying at Doggie Love Kennel, but I do have a problem seeing a young lawyer risking everything by doing something like that.”
“Yes, I've considered the same thing, but if someone has severe anger issues, I'm not so sure they think that far ahead. Often it’s simply reacting to whatever is in the moment.”
“Let me ask you something, Doctor. What's your impression of Sandy Reston?”
“I like Sandy, but I do think she's intimidated by her husband. I told you she was panicked when she brought the dog in after it had been attacked. She seemed to be far more worried about what her husband was going to say than she was about the dog's injury. I found that to be very unusual.”
“Doctor Simpson, I just thought of something. I know this is really a leap, but I noticed a big bruise on Sandy's jaw when I talked to her the other day. She was wearing a lot of make-up, and I had a fleeting thought that maybe someone had hit her, and she was trying to cover the bruise up. I have absolutely nothing to base it on.”
He was quiet for several moments, and then he said, “I've never put it together, but now that I think about it, I've seen bruises on her several times. One time I commented on a bruise, and she told me she'd tripped on the stairs and fallen. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?”
“Let's put it this way, Doctor. I don't like what I'm thinking.”
“Kelly, I'm going to have to go. I'm running late. I feel better after talking to you, but I'm not too sure how valid anything I’ve said is, or if it will be of any help to you and Sheriff Mike.”
“Thanks, Doctor. When I find out something, I'll let you know. Glad you approve of the new little girl.”