Allergic to Death by Peg Cochran

Author:Peg Cochran
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Foodie, Cozy
Publisher: Berkley
Published: 2012-08-07T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Gigi watched as the two patrol cars slowed to a stop in front of Martha’s house. She ordered herself to run, but her feet refused to move. Of course, the clouds parted just then, and moonlight flooded the street. Now she wasn’t just visible, she was practically casting a shadow.

“Adora,” Gigi yelled through cupped hands over the din of the rotating sirens.

Sienna was equally rooted to the spot, looking like an exotic plant with her gauzy skirt blowing in the faint breeze. Gigi grabbed her by the arm. She swore as they pushed their way through the bushes that ran between the two driveways.

“Ouch.”

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothing. Just a scratch.”

They could see the outline of someone standing on the front porch of Adora’s house. Gigi waved. “Adora. It’s us.”

Adora peered into the darkness. “Gigi? What on earth are you doing—?”

“What on earth are you doing?” Gigi countered. “Why did you call the police? We’re just out walking the dog.” She gestured toward Reg, who sat at her feet, casting a baleful eye at Adora.

They mounted the three steps to the front landing of Adora’s house. Sienna had several leaves and a small branch caught in her hair. Gigi’s knee was bleeding where she’d scratched it on the bushes, and she was breathing heavily.

“What’s that funny smell?” Adora sniffed and looked around.

“I don’t smell anything.” Gigi was glad it was dark, and Adora couldn’t see how red her face was.

“I don’t smell anything, either.”

“I thought someone was breaking into Martha’s house.” Adora put a hand to her chest in a dramatic gesture. She was wearing a lacy, white slip dress that accentuated her ample curves, and she had a glass of white wine in one hand.

“She’s channeling her inner Maggie the Cat,” Sienna whispered to Gigi.

“What on earth are you doing walking the dog all the way over here? You live, what, two, three miles from here. It’s hardly the sort of night for a long walk.” Adora looked up at the sky.

Sienna started to open her mouth, but Gigi gave her a look, and she shut it again. She raised her eyebrows inquiringly.

“It’s like this,” Gigi began. Her mind was whirling furiously. What possible explanation could there be for her and Sienna to be skulking around Martha’s house like a pair of cat burglars?

“Well?” Adora waited, her head titled to one side.

“Yes?” Sienna echoed with her head titled in a similar fashion. Gigi wanted to pinch her.

“As you know, Reg was Martha’s dog, and I recently adopted him, and we just came over to get some of his things so he would feel more at home in his new home…that is to say, my place.”

Sienna nodded dutifully and hastened to wipe the surprised expression off her face.

Gigi risked a look over her shoulder. Four policemen were standing in the street, hands on their holsters, looking toward Martha’s house.

Adora opened her screen door. “Come on. You’d better get inside. I’ll deal with the police.”

But before Gigi and Sienna could disappear from view, Detective Mertz called out.

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