Support Your Local Pug by Lane Stone

Author:Lane Stone
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2018-02-21T11:13:11+00:00

Chapter 22

Only the real dinner would have to wait. The Gate House signature appetizers of truffle fries and fried brussels sprouts were on the tables, and waiters came around with napkin-wrapped bottles of white and red wine. Lady Anthea had recovered well enough without the help of bracing fresh air and we sat down. At the last moment she made a sprightly little shift to the chair opposite mine and voila, there was room for John to sit next to me. The choreographed move told me she was just fine. Mayor Rivard and Valerie Westlake sat at the next table.

Lady Anthea complimented Valerie on how well Smoochie was doing in the class. This was either because the dog was indeed mastering tricks after just one lesson, which was unlikely, or because she wanted to turn away and leave me no choice but to talk to John. My money was on the latter, and I obliged and turned to talk to him. It was the least I could do after the awesome job she did keeping her feelings about the name Smoochie out of her voice. From my vantage point I had seen her nose wrinkle, but only a little.

“Did you get Billy B.’s safe open?” I asked him.

“Yeah, the contents that seemed relevant to the investigation are in our evidence locker. I’ll go back and look through it later tonight.”

“Can I look at it with you?”

“Why? You already found out what we needed to know. Martin doesn’t automatically inherit Billy B.’s share of the business.”

I had my reasons for not wanting to answer him about what I would be looking for, so when Valerie spoke, I turned my head to join that conversation. “I don’t know when I’ll have an elegant meal out like this again. I’d better enjoy it now!” She spooned a few fries and brussels sprouts onto her plate.

“The divorce settlement talks aren’t going well?” Mayor Rivard asked, helping herself to the hors d’oeuvres. “I thought everything was working out.”

“I did, too. Sandy gave me this bull story about how he was going to be coming into a ton of money. Now he says that’s not going to happen.” Fair or not, it was hard to see her and not think of Wags’s reaction to her husband. Then her angry tone reminded me of her message for Rick.

“Valerie, what did you mean today about Martin and Sandy’s scheme?” I asked.

“They wanted to use Smoochie for breeding.”

“Backyard breeding?” I asked. Lady Anthea’s head jerked up and I looked across to her. “You must think the same as I do on that topic.”

“I’m extremely opposed to it. It’s highly irresponsible,” Lady Anthea said.

Valerie was nodding furiously. “Sue, I read your newsletter article about it so I knew how you felt.”

“Was that his plan?” Betsy asked. “Doesn’t sound like much money in that.”

“No, it was something else, but he wouldn’t tell me what it was.”

“Did he tell you about our Monday morning trip to the Harbor of Refuuuu? Ow.” John had stepped on my toes under the table, but when I looked at him his face was sweet as a puppy’s.

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