Paws and Puzzles: Whiskey Dog Mystery Book #1 by Faith Walker

Author:Faith Walker [Walker, Faith]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: In Your Face Ink LLC
Published: 2024-01-22T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

At six o’clock, after stopping home, inhaling a microwave burrito, feeding Whiskey, and changing into a sweatshirt and hiking boots, Sarah and Whiskey met Jared on the street in front of Mrs. Jenkins’ house. Sarah had packed some fruit and protein bars and two bottles of water for the humans and a refillable dog water bottle with flip down trough for Whiskey. Those and a couple of flashlights with fresh batteries, plus a cannister of pepper spray, were in her backpack.

“It occurred to me that the graffiti creators could have come down the street but may have fled through the woods. And if that is the case, I thought since we had recently been in the woods, that maybe we’d be able to tell if anything had changed.”

“Good thinking,” Jared said. “And I’m glad you didn’t decide to investigate this on your own.” He smiled at her, so Sarah took his comment as care and not a reprimand.

“I figure we have a couple of hours before it gets dark.” She dug the flashlights out of the backpack anyway and handed one to him. The hefty metal flashlight could double as a weapon, if need be, but then again, Whiskey might be the best deterrent or weapon of all, Sarah mused to herself.

As they walked around Mrs. Jenkins’ house, Sarah searched for grass that had been trampled or droplets of paint—anything to provide them with some direction. “Do you smell anyone, boy? Sarah asked Whiskey. He was following his nose as usual, but Sarah had no idea if he was on the trail of a squirrel, a raccoon, or a person. He zigged one way in the backyard and then another. He even went in a circle before they made it to the woods at the back of the property.

Whiskey wove through the trees with Sarah and Jared walking single file but close together. “I think this is the same path we went on the last time,” Jared said, pointing to the broken tree branches.

“Looks like it,” Sarah said. Her eyes scanned the dried leaves and small sticks that crunched under her feet. She eyed every plant they passed, searching for anything amiss.

“What did you study at university?” Jared asked.

“Business and communications. Double major.”

“What made you open the Coiffure?”

“I’ve always loved animals,” Sarah said, while stepping over a downed tree trunk. “When my grandmother got sick and I came to stay with her, I realized Cottageville didn’t have a groomer. I worked at one in Seattle to pay my way through school. It was work I enjoyed and I was good at. So, I figured, why not stay here and open one. I mean after I found out she had left me the house. I always liked coming here as a kid, and everyone has been so nice to me, accepted me as a local.” Sarah looked back over her shoulder at him and smiled. “What about you?”

“Me? Why I’ve always wanted to be a knight in shining armor, in service to mi’lady,” Jared joked.

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