Trouble at the Kennel (Cedar Bay Cozy Mystery #9)(8)
He picked up the bucket of mop water laced with disinfectant, put it in front of an empty kennel, dipped the mop in it, and swabbed out the kennel. He laughed to himself when he remembered how that big pit bull had gotten loose from the fenced-in rescue area and entered the kennel where that little Frenchy lookin’ dog was with her silky hair all combed just so perfect and her little pink bow on the top of her head.
She got religion purty quick. Can’t blame that big boy fer doin’ what comes natcherlly, and boy howdy, did he ever put it to her. That was somethin’ to see. When it was over I put him back in the pit bull area. No one was around so didn’t have no eyes watchin’. Nobody saw me. It was jes’ a guess on Old Snooty’s part when she called me in and asked me if I knew anything about one of the dogs getting’ into that pipsqueak dog’s kennel and doin’ the nasty. Everybody looks down on me. That’s another reason I gotta get outta here. Why didn’t she ask any of the other people who work here? Jes’ me. Tol’ her nah. Didn’t happen. She asked if I’d made sure all the kennel doors were secured and the gate to the pit bull area was locked. Tol’ her sure. First and last things I check every day. Didn’t tell her ‘bout them open doors. Don’ think Old Snooty woulda understood.
He rinsed out the mop and started on the next kennel. Old Snooty had told him they were expecting to be full over the weekend, so she wanted him to clean all of the kennels. She’d told him to work with Anita, the young woman who was in charge of taking the dogs for walks. She said the easiest way to insure that all of the kennels were spotless was for him to stay with Anita, and each time she took a dog for its daily walk, he was to clean that particular kennel. That was in addition to making sure that all of the dogs had water and removing any scum that might be on the lake. She’d also said that the manager of Doggie Love Kennel, Sandy Reston, would be giving him some more things to do as needed.
There was absolutely nothing Ricky liked about his job. If there was anywhere else he could work in Cedar Bay, he definitely would have preferred that job to the one he had, but it was a small town and there weren’t many jobs available. It probably hadn’t helped that he’d been expelled from the Cedar Bay High School almost a year ago when his history teacher thought he looked like he was high on something when he’d come to class. It was unfortunate that the principal had searched his locker and found a block of marijuana in it. The principal figured out he was the one who had been selling it to some of the students. He also developed a little habit of his own. The principal hadn’t wasted any time calling his father and expelling him. Ricky tried to tell them it was an unfortunate misunderstanding, but nobody had believed him. He was gone from good old Cedar Bay High the next day.
His father had been furious when he’d been expelled and had told Ricky that he better get a job or he was going to kick him out of the house. Ricky had applied to the few places in town that had Help Wanted signs in their windows, but Cedar Bay was a small town, and everyone knew that Ricky Anderson had been expelled from high school. None of the business people wanted to take a chance on a kid with a history of selling drugs. The only thing that had come his way was the job at Doggie Love Kennel, and that was only because of his father.
Just a few more months of this, and I’m outta here. Won’t ever have to clean a kennel again the rest of my life or take orders from Old Snooty. Won’t even have to see my Dad no more. It would be kinda fun to pull Old Snooty’s chain, her bein’ so high and mighty and all. Might be interestin’ to see what would happen if all the dogs got out. That might knock her down a notch or two and serve her right for accusin’ me of sumpin, even if I probably was responsible for doin’ it. Jes’ because the school kicked me out doesn’t mean she can accuse me of somethin’ without no proof. And there ain’t no proof I was the one who didn’t double check to make sure a couple of them gates and doors were shut.
Shoot, coulda happened to anyone. I’d give anything to see her chasin’ all them dogs and tryin’ to get ‘em back in their kennels. Man, that would be a sight to see. I could hide and watch, and it’d be kinda like watchin’ a reality TV show. Only thing is, couldn’t share it with no one, but sure think that’s what I’m gonna do. Take that, Old Snooty!
CHAPTER 7
When the doorbell rang an hour later, Kelly looked through the peephole and saw Noelle standing there. She quickly opened the door and hugged the young woman. “Again, Noelle. I am so sorry. I feel like there’s a hole in my heart. I’ve had tears running down my cheeks all day. I can only imagine what you must be going through. Please, come in.”
Noelle walked in and was warmly greeted by Lady and Rebel, both of whom maneuvered to get close to her hoping for an ear scratch. Kelly noticed that she didn’t seem to be a dog person like her mother had been. “Come on, guys, time for you to go outside.” She opened the door and let them out. “Can I get you something to drink, Noelle?” she asked.
“No, thanks,” she said as she nervously twisted her hands.
“Noelle, you seem upset by something other than your mother’s death. Is that why you wanted to see me? Is there something I can help you with?”
“I hope so, Kelly, I really hope so. See, here’s the thing. You know I’m married, actually you were at the wedding.” She stopped and took a deep breath. “I don’t know what’s going to happen to the kennel. My husband Tony, you met him at our wedding, is a cat person, and so am I. We have three cats. Tony and I have no desire to take over the kennel. I don’t have any brothers or sisters and dad died several years ago, so I imagine I’ll inherit it, but I don’t want it. You know Tony and I live in Portland, and we love it there. He’s a CPA and really likes the firm he’s with. He specializes in tax work involving real estate companies.”