Dog Show Demise: A Bishop's Landing Cozy Mystery by Kent Avery

Author:Kent, Avery
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2024-01-30T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

Annie took a deep breath as she stepped inside the show reception with Cookie by her side. Jake followed behind her with Sarge almost glued to the retriever’s side. She glanced at Jake. Casey’s words from the day before, in Patricia’s office, popped into her head. She shook them away; she had to focus on keeping Cookie safe. She glanced at the desk, wondering if the entire plan was a mistake, and if she should pull Cookie out of the competition for her safety. But she was the person on the inside. She sighed.

“I’m going to check in with Dickins,” Jake almost whispered to her. “Will you two be okay for five?” Annie nodded. “Okay, keep Cookie with you at all times; you have water with you, and keep her away from anyone offering food.”

“I will,” she smiled at Jake. He looked at her with a frown, hesitating to leave. “Go,” she said.

“Five minutes,” he said, still not moving.

“We’ll be at our grooming station,” she replied.

“Okay,” he rubbed his chin and then nodded at Sarge. “Come on buddy; let’s make this quick.”

Annie watched them go, and she took another deep breath before heading in the direction of their prep room.

The little space was relatively quiet, and Annie couldn’t help but notice the owners glancing at one another without making eye contact.

“News of your friend’s dog got around.” Annie jumped a little at the sound of Carlton Hayne’s voice. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“That’s okay. I think I’m just a little jumpy. Between the murder and Forbes …” she trailed off.

Carlton nodded, “It’s been, well awful, hasn’t it?” He paused, looking around the room. “Look at them,” he glanced at the other dog owners. “They’re not a particularly chatty bunch at the best of times. Now they don’t even trust to be in the same room as each other.” He shook his head. “Owning dogs should be about the love; not this.”

“You show,” Annie pointed out as kindly as she could.

“True, for my sins,” he smiled. “But, not like these people,” he looked around the room. “They’re here for something else.”

“Glory?” Annie asked, remembering what Augustine had said.

“Odd word for it, but I suppose. I think I would say superiority. Each of them wants to think they are better than the rest because they have the best dog.”

“Not you?” Annie asked.

He chuckled. “I come to meet other dog owners, to talk, and to shop,” he smirked. “It’s social for me. Always was. Always will be.”

“Was it social for Patricia?” Annie asked, glancing at him.

“In a manner of speaking,” he smiled wistfully. “When I first met her, she was a dog walker you know,” he smiled. “All she wanted was to make dogs happy. All sorts of dogs, mutts, greyhounds; it didn’t matter. We would walk for hours enjoying life and the dogs. She was a good dog mum; Patricia was, but it only went so far in the end. She got a couple of articles in the magazine, started reading it every month, and then she suggested we go to a show.

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