Labor Day Tails & Troubles: Holiday Pet Sleuth Mysteries by Marlene Bierworth

Author:Marlene Bierworth [Bierworth, Marlene]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-07-14T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

The store owner emerged from behind a thick, heavy curtain as the bell jingled over the door announcing their arrival.

Josie started the conversation in a polite direction. “Howdy, Mr. Wagg. How is that new grandson of yours doing? Haven’t seen your daughter or the baby in town for weeks.”

“She’s been staying at the house—regaining strength after the tough delivery.”

Josie envisioned the man’s house outside of town, the grandest structure and piece of property in the entire county. He said his wealth came from old money, and no one had doubted that until today when Josie’s mind conjured up all kinds of illegitimate sources for his potential income. The Wagg family often stuck to themselves, except for the odd time one of them showed up to relieve the father at the cash register in the storefront. It seemed to Josie a bizarre way for rich people to act who could buy almost anything the town had to offer.

Josie attempted to dial down her suspicious nature—innocent until proven guilty was the only way to approach an investigation.

“You should hire someone to help you out front here at the store so you can spend more time with your grandson—I hear it’s the time of life most folks enjoy the best, even more than raising your own youngsters. And to think you can afford such a luxury and are not taking advantage of it is more than this gal can comprehend.”

“I get enough of the squawking when I go home at night.”

“Oh, that doesn’t sound like any grandfather I know, but I get it; infants can tax a person’s patience.”

“What would you know? You don’t even have any younger siblings.”

So much for friendly; Josie looked at Detective Barns and shrugged her shoulders. The owner seemed to be in a foul mood, and likely their presence in his store was an added stress—if he had anything to hide from the law.

“Mr. Wagg. I am here on official business and would like to ask you a few questions and see if you can identify a couple of faces.”

The man appeared shocked, then recovered just as quickly. “Most folks wander my way at one time or another, and I have a good memory. Who you got?”

The detective took out a picture of Ms. Berkston and Fred Baker from his pocket and laid them on the counter. “Do you recognize either one of these?”

“Saw the gent in here once.”

“Did he give you a name?”

“Pride myself on remembering names too. He called himself John Smith—not too hard to doubt a man with a name like that.” Mr. Wagg chuckled, but it seemed to Josie to have a nervous ring to it. “Don’t recall seeing the woman.”

“What did he buy?”

“Nothing much—soda pop, I think it was.”

“And he only came once?”

“As far as I know, but the rest of the family take their stint at minding the store occasionally.”

“May we come to your house and interview the family, or would you prefer to gather them here?”

“I am the head of the Wagg household.

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