The Fashion Hound Murders: Josie Marcus, Mystery Shopper by Elaine Viets

Author:Elaine Viets
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Marcus, Women Detectives, Murder, Dog Breeders, Mystery & Detective, Single Mothers, Animal Welfare, Crime, Fiction, Josie (Fictitious Character), Mystery Fiction, Women Sleuths, General, Mystery Shopping
ISBN: 9780451228420
Publisher: Penguin
Published: 2009-11-02T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

“Hunk alert!” Amelia said, peering between the miniblinds out the front window. “Major hottie on the porch.”

Josie was horrified to see her daughter had mastered Mrs. Mueller’s spying technique. Amelia was lifting a blind by one finger for a better covert view.

“Amelia, what are you talking about?” Josie kept her voice low.

“I think Harry’s new vet is about to knock on the door,” Amelia whispered. “This dude is sizzlin’.”

“Amelia Marcus!” Josie gave her daughter a glare that should have lasered the freckles off her nose. “If you start any of your stupid matchmaking talk, I won’t answer the door. If Harry dies, it will be your fault.”

A chastened Amelia retreated to her room. Josie opened the door and her eyes widened. Her daughter was right.

Dr. Ted was a hunk. He was a strapping six feet tall. A red plaid lumberjack shirt emphasized his broad chest. His jaw could have been designed with a T-square. He had on jeans and well-worn Timberland boots. Dr. Ted wasn’t outrageously ripped like Stan. He was a normal, average hunk with melting brown eyes. And Josie was melting like ice cream in August.

Easy, girl, Josie told herself. Wipe off the drool and reboot your brain. If you fall for this vet, there is definitely something wrong with the man.

“Hi, I’m Dr. Ted. Thank you for the new client.”

“Come in,” Josie said, pleased she could manage those two words. “I heard from Traci how you helped Snowball.”

“I didn’t do anything but examine her dog. She’s going to have to do most of the work. But I think she has the patience and motivation to work with Snowball.”

Modesty. A good quality in a man, Josie thought.

“How can I help you?” Dr. Ted said.

“I’m worried about my daughter’s cat.” She described Harry’s symptoms.

“Could be serious, could be minor,” Dr. Ted said. “Won’t know until I see the little guy. Do you have a pet caddy?”

“Yes.”

“Would you put it outside the door of his room? I don’t want to spook him, but I may have to take him to the van for an X-ray.”

Josie led Dr. Ted down the hall to Amelia’s room. Her daughter was on her bed, petting her lethargic cat. Harry’s eyes widened and his ears pricked up, but he stayed there.

Ted deftly turned Harry to expose his belly and expertly probed it with his fingers. “I think the little guy is constipated. He’s probably in pain. But I’d like to take an X-ray first.”

“Did he break a bone?” Amelia was white with fright.

“No, but pets sometimes swallow strange things. I worked on a dog that ate a needle and a cat that swallowed a plastic bag. Sometimes there’s a mass blocking the intestines. I don’t think your cat has those problems, but I have to check.”

While he talked, Josie handed him the pet caddy. Dr. Ted efficiently packed Harry into it. Harry gave one faint meow and they were out the door. Dr. Ted loped to an oversized blue van. On the side was ST.

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