Death by Dog Show by Arlene Kay

Author:Arlene Kay
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2018-11-16T11:47:36+00:00

Chapter 14

Facing death was never easy. Confronting murder was unendurable. Death during wartime was inevitable, and one had to accept that. While serving in the army, I steeled myself to endure the attendant casualties. I had seen corpses many times before but never grew complacent about it. That was a good thing that kept me sane and reaffirmed my humanity. After all, the life of all God’s creatures had value, a philosophy that initially drew Pip and me together. Homicide at innocuous venues like a dog show was particularly outrageous and unexpected. Dog shows were family events that celebrated the universal love of beauty and all canine creatures. That simplicity intensified the horror of this crime. I shivered, thankful for the warmth of my cashmere coat. I cherished the coat, a Christmas present from Pruett, more for the giver than the gift. Tonight, I also appreciated the practical side of the garment as it cocooned me in a warm embrace.

I shook myself back into reality. This was scarcely the time for daydreams and distractions. I crept up to Bethany’s corpse, all the while keeping a close eye on Jess Pendrake and that lethal weapon. With its razor-sharp cutting blade, a plough gauge left little room for error. It sliced through a sheet of leather as if it were sweet cream butter. I had no desire to test the impact on human flesh, especially my human flesh.

“What happened here, Jess?” I summoned my official voice to avoid any misunderstandings and went on autopilot. Jess wasn’t the type to crave sympathy or to respond to it. Her hands were stained with blood—presumably Bethany’s—but her clothing was unblemished. Unlike the rest of us, Jess had made no concession to propriety or the rituals of Lee’s memorial service. She was dressed in her usual peacoat, scuffed boots, and jeans.

“She’s dead,” said Jess, stating the obvious. Her voice was flat and devoid of expression.

“I noticed.” I shifted into neutral to avoid the snarky retorts perched on the tip of my tongue. “Did you see who did it?”

She shook her head. “Nope. She wanted to meet me, but I was late.”

From what I knew, Jess and Bethany were scarcely intimates. Jess barely spoke to anyone, and Bethany confided in men whenever possible. What connection could these two polar opposites possibly have?

The cavalry arrived before I asked anything else. Roar Jansen glided into the barn, with his hand conspicuously gripping his Glock. Oddly enough, he was accompanied by the dogged prince of the printed page, Wing Pruett.

“You okay, Perri?” Roar asked.

I nodded but stayed silent. Pruett’s face was impassive as he stood to one side, taking everything in. Probably had his tape recorder or iPhone switched on too. Personal experience had taught me that when a big story intervened, Wing Pruett was a journalist first and foremost. Friendships and even romantic ties came in a very distant second. I’d learned that lesson the hard way.

“Care to tell us what happened, Ms. Pendrake?” Roar’s voice stayed pleasant and neutral, as if they were two friends chatting about a sporting event.

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