2 Lady Luck Runs Out (5 page)

"Yeah, there's that." I shrugged. Not a bad idea. I could use to recharge my batteries. It had been a harrowing, busy week and exhaustion was beginning to feel like the norm.

It was a gorgeous day for a bike ride. High seventies, low humidity, sunshine. I glided  down the quiet street, glad this was a happier occasion than the last time I was here. Finding the right address, I leaned my bike against Mrs. Shoster's porch and lifted out the cake box. My knock brought immediate and incessant barking from the other side of the door.

"Oh, hello, Darwin." Mrs. Shoster answered the door in a flowered dress and an oversized plastic beaded necklace. She pushed Snookie back away from the door with a bare foot. "Well, let her in, Snook, she's bringing your cake for crying out loud." I followed her into the kitchen. "Just set it right there on the counter, sugar."

I was surprised to see that, although the condos looked small from the outside, they were open and rather spacious on the inside. This one had been decorated with smoked glass tables, mirrors on the walls and peach leather furniture. Two ladies holding tea cups waved to me from the sofa by the sliding glass doors. I noticed a Chihuahua peering out from one lady's lap and a small, wiry, brown dog panting at the feet of the other. The smell of cinnamon hung heavy in the air.

"Hi, ladies. I'm Darwin Winters from Darwin's Pet Boutique. Y'all here for Snookie's party?" I smiled.

The thin, red head rolled her eyes and laughed. "We're indulging Jeanie because she's our oldest friend. I'm Gretchen by the way." She patted the Chihuahua in her lap. "This is Tiny Tim."

"Nice to meet you both."

"Mary Beth and Brownie." The younger, plumper woman offered.

"Don't worry." Jeanie Shoster waved a finger at her guests. "I have goodies baking for us humans, too." She flicked on the oven light. "Almost done."

Ah, that was the source of the mouthwatering cinnamon smell
. I unboxed the cake.

"Oh, that's just lovely. Wonderful job, Darwin," Jeanie squealed. Snookie had jumped up on her legs to sniff it. "Not yet, snookems." She shooed him down. "Patience!"

"You're not going to make us look at his puppy pictures first, are you?" Gretchen asked.

I noticed Jeanie's face drop so I tried to help her out. "You know, pet birthday parties are all the rage right now. Especially among the upper class families who either didn't have children or their children are grown."

"Is that right?" Gretchen shrugged. "Well, Jeanie is always in the know when it comes to all things pet-related."

Jeanie brightened up and winked at me. "I even made little 'doggie bags' full of treats for them to take home." She clapped. "We're just waiting for two more guests."

Mary Beth groaned. "You didn't invite Tula with that little rat that pees on everything did you?"

"Of course Tula's coming. But," she held up a hand, "she's putting Angel in a diaper."

I folded my arms with a grin. "They make doggie diapers?"

"Sure, in fact, Darwin, you should carry those. We've got a lot of friends with aging dogs around here."

"Not a bad idea." I made a mental note to check into that.

"Maybe we should all keep our pets in diapers instead of letting them do their business outside like nature intended." Gretchen had a little bite to her tone.

"Save us money on that damned DNA testing," Mary Beth said.

"Well, maybe that will get voted down now that You-Know-Who is no longer president," Jeanie said. She made the sign of the cross on her chest.

"DNA testing?" I asked.

"Yeah, the HOA committee decided to combat the fact that pet owners weren't picking up after their pets by doing a DNA sample on any pet waste found. If it's yours, they slap you with a $1,000 fine! And if you don't pay it, they put a lean against your condo."

"Or they can confiscate your pet," Mary Beth threw in.

"Take your pet? Is that even legal?" I asked.

"Well, they can do whatever they want and we had to pay two hundred dollars to put our dog's DNA on file. See here." Jeanie picked up Snookie and held out a little green tag on his collar. "This is his DNA Pet World Registry I.D tag."

 I thought about something else Jeanie had said. "Were you talking about Rose Faraday? Was she the association president?"

"Yep," Jeanie answered. "It was all her idea to start this ridiculous program. At least she didn't poison poor Monkey like she threatened to."

I frowned.
She threatened to poison a monkey?

"I know, can you believe it? She actually said she was gonna feed rat poison to his little rat." Jeanie's hand fluttered to her throat. "I thought Jack was gonna knock her block off when she said that, his face got red as a tomato."

Oh! Monkey must be a dog.

"Yeah, that was an entertaining meeting." Mary Beth shook her head. "Of course, she has...
had
a cat so it didn't affect her."

Jeanie snapped her fingers. "Oh, speaking of her cat, you were taking care of Lucky that night, weren't you, Darwin? How's she doing?"

"Yes." I nodded, still thinking about this Jack person.
Was he mad enough to plant the rattler in Rose's condo?
 "She's pretty traumatized. She won't walk on the floor and she cries at night. I think she misses Rose. But, she's gotten quite attached to my sister." So, I was guessing there was no love lost between these ladies and Rose. "Will y'all be attending the service for Rose on Sunday?"

"Oh, is it Sunday?" Jeanie asked. She began to fiddle with something on the counter. "I have a hair appointment...usually takes hours."

The other ladies chuckled.

 
Ding dong.
 Snookie's barks echoed off the condo walls.

"Snookems, shush." Jeanie scooted the schnauzer out of the way with her foot so she could open the door. "Oh, Jack, Hello." She kissed his freshly shaved and cologned cheek.

 "And hello Monkey." She scratched under the chin of the strange little creature. The dog was hairless except for white tufts on his ankles, tail and top of his head. He had a leather spiked collar around his neck and his tongue hung down the side of his jaw.

"Jack, this is Darwin." She walked him in and introduced us. "She owns Darwin's Pet Boutique on Beach Drive and has made this lovely birthday cake for Snookie."

"Howdy, Darwin. Now that is a fine lookin' cake." He shook my hand. "This here's Monkey, he's a Chinese Crested."

"Nice to meet you." I studied him, looking for anything in his eyes that might suggest he was homicidal. "And you, too, Monkey. I'm sure y'all will enjoy the goodies Jeanie has for you." Jack carried Monkey into the living room and sat him on the floor where he proceeded to sniff around the carpet and then stick his nose up the other dogs' backsides.

"How are we today, ladies?" Jack used the more socially acceptable form of greeting for humans... a handshake.

I noticed a distinct shift of atmosphere in the room. The women became more bubbly and flushed. Was Jack the resident "good catch"? He did still have a full head of silver hair and a confident air about him. The doorbell rang again, bringing Snookie scrambling on the tile to bark at the intruder. The last guest, Tula, entered holding a nearly hairless, white dog wearing a sweater and a diaper. The dog, not Tula.

I guessed it was time to make my exit and let these nice folks get their party on. I pulled some coupons for free nail trims out of my bag and laid them on the counter. "Here, Jeanie, you can add these to your guests' goodie bags."

"Oh, so thoughtful. Thank you."

I said my goodbyes and left.

On the bike ride back to Beach Drive, I thought about the fact that Rose was the president of the home owners association and how mad all the dog owners were about the implemented doggie DNA program. Seemed like Rose Faraday was enemy number one in her neighborhood, especially if she was threatening to poison people's dogs.
Could that be enough motive for murder?
Depends on exactly how angry people were, I supposed. If someone thought their dog was going to be confiscated, that could do it. Or if they feared for their pet's life. One thing I've learned already from my short time in the pet business. You do not mess with people's animals.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Mallory and I had spent a relaxing day at the beach, soaking ourselves in the sun and water, so by the time six o'clock rolled around, we were experiencing that familiar bond again, laughing and feeling comfortable with each other. Since the tension had eased from our relationship, I was dying to ask her if she had forgiven me for leaving yet, but decided that was a subject best left for another day. When she was ready to bring it up.

We arrived at the Moon Under Water restaurant before Will and waited until a table opened up beneath the burgundy umbrellas.

"This looks like a scene from a Hollywood movie," Mallory commented, surveying the area as we sat down.

"Yeah." I smiled, joining her in assessing our view. "Amazing, isn't it?"

A horse and carriage had parked on the street beside us, a musician played on the porch of the restaurant next door and the Straub Park trees sparkled against the background of Bay waters.  A slight breeze rustled the surrounding tropical foliage. I sighed. Paradise. I ordered a merlot and water. Mallory reluctantly ordered an iced tea since she was only eighteen.

"So, what's the deal with you and Mr. Hot-Stuff Detective anyway? It's pretty obvious you two are crazy about each other. Why isn't he your boyfriend?"

"It's complicated." I watched an elderly couple shuffle by, hand in hand, wearing matching Dali museum t-shirts.
Could that be me and Will some day?
I flushed at the thought.

Mallory stared at me expectantly.

"Okay, because I can't let myself get that close to him until..." My eyes welled up.
Heavens, was I more upset about this than I would admit to myself?
"Until I can tell him the truth and not hide secrets from him."

"So don't hide secrets from him." She leaned on her elbows and tilted her head. "You have something in your eye?"

I picked up a napkin and pressed it into the corners of my eyes, ignoring her. "It's not that simple. He's so closed minded, Mal. I've had dreams about telling him. Nightmares, really. He leaves me, disgusted. So, I just can't bring myself to do it, knowing it will be over between us."

"Oh, so you can read people's minds now?" She frowned at me and sighed. "Besides, Grandma Winters says if someone can't love you, warts and all, they don't deserve you."

My turn to sigh. "I know, but I'm hiding some pretty big warts." I really wouldn't blame him for leaving me. That was the problem. I didn't believe I deserved him, not if I couldn't be honest with him.

Mallory sat back in her chair with a frustrated thump. "This place does sort of have its own kind of magic," she said, her voice softening. "I guess I can see why you like it here." Then her mouth curved into a smile. "And why you like him." She nodded behind me.

I turned and caught sight of Will approaching through the crowd. I didn't know if I'd ever stop getting that little flutter in my stomach every time I saw him. His six-four frame looked especially yummy tonight clad in a pair of dark jeans and white linen shirt. I stood to greet him. When he kissed my cheek, I closed my eyes and breathed in his signature scent of fresh rain and coconut. "Hi."

"Hello, Gorgeous." He took the seat to my left, letting his hand linger on my back. "Evening." He smiled at Mallory. "So, how are you enjoying St. Pete so far?"

Mallory twisted a tendril of red hair around her finger. "Well, besides my sister making me slave away in her pet boutique, it's been fun."

"Nice, Mal." I rolled my eyes. The waitress brought our drinks and Will ordered a Guinness. "Don't let her fool you. We spent the day lounging on the beach. After I delivered my first pet birthday cake, that is."

"Ah, a day at the beach? That's why you two look so radiant. Well, congratulations on the cake," Will said, smiling at me. "Though, I can't imagine having a birthday cake for a pet. Do people seriously do that?"

Radiant? Yeah. We don't get sunburned or waterlogged; we get powered up like batteries.
"It's not so strange. Pets give so much love and companionship to their owners; they just want to give something back. Besides, I think around here it's just another reason to throw a party. Oh, before I forget, Sylvia said Landon's having a Halloween party next Saturday night. Everyone's going to dress up. Can you make it?"

Will's mouth twisted to the side. "A few weeks early, isn't it?"

"Yeah, well, Sylvia says he knows there's going to be other events and parties on the actual Halloween weekend, so he wanted to do it early."

"Well, you'll have to brave this one without me, I'm afraid. Work calls." He slid his hand on top of mine and squeezed apologetically. "Sorry."

I felt a stab of disappointment but I forced it away and concentrated on enjoying the time I did have with Will. With his job, I had to be flexible.

"Who's Landon?" Mallory asked trying to sneak a sip of my wine.

I shooed her hand away. "Landon Stark. He's a magician and Sylvia's boyfriend," I said.

"Like, a
real
magician?" Mallory smirked at me. I kicked her under the table. "What?" she frowned. "Just asking."

 Yeah, I knew what she was asking. Our mother had been seventeen when she snuck out to a magic show with her friends. Turned out, that night changed the course of her life. The superstar "magician" was our father, Ash Winters, and his magick was real. He picked her out of the crowd for a disappearing trick and immediately fell for her. They saw each other secretly for three months until she got pregnant with me. Her very strict, religious parents weren't having any of it and kicked her out, so our father moved her to his family mansion in Savannah, where he would visit her every few years, leaving her with two more girls four years apart. Mom seemed to understand this arrangement, though she would never elaborate on it. She would just sigh and start to say something about "the law of three" and then stop herself. The one time I had tried to really push her for information, her eyes grew so sad, I decided not to ask again.