Tailing Trouble, page 22
The hour wasn’t that late, so she angled her head down to hide her blush. “Thanks, but I’m fine.”
Domino tugged hard at the leash in a way he hadn’t for the past two days. “Heel, Domino.”
He strained again and then growled low in his throat. Ally frowned. This was new. Domino rarely growled.
“What’s bothering him?” Noah asked.
“I don’t know.” She glanced around the area. At seven o’clock the sun had already begun its descent, but it was light enough to see there was no one suspicious hanging around. There were a couple of young kids tossing a baseball and another kid riding a bicycle.
Domino lunged hard against the leash again, still growling. She couldn’t imagine what had caught his attention, but then she saw it.
A paisley scarf partially hidden beneath a bush.
Chapter Twenty-One
“Noah? Do you see it?” Ally whispered. She wasn’t sure why she was whispering, but under the circumstances it seemed appropriate.
“Yeah. Here, take Roxy for a moment.” He handed her the leash and reached into his pocket. In a minute, he had scooped the scarf into an evidence bag.
“Is it blue and red?” Ally asked, thinking of the one she’d seen Hilda wearing earlier.
“No, it’s green and aqua blue,” Noah said, showing her the scarf. “Why?”
“Hilda had a red-and-blue paisley scarf on earlier today. I thought maybe she dropped it.”
“Someone sure did.” Noah glanced around again.
“You mean the murderer?” Ally knew she’d never look at a paisley scarf the same way ever again. “That must be why Domino was growling.”
“Ally …” Noah sighed and took Roxy’s leash from her hand, his warm fingers brushing hers. “Domino isn’t a police dog.”
“Neither was Roxy, but she helped bring down a murderer this past summer.” The back of Ally’s neck tingled, as if they were being watched. “Domino might be able to do the same.”
“Doubtful.” Noah tucked the evidence bag into the pocket of his dress slacks. “Come on, let’s finish up with the dogs and take them back inside.”
She wasn’t about to argue. There were several houses nearby but no sign of anyone watching from a window. Still, it was nerve-racking to have found a paisley scarf on the ground so close to the clinic.
“Do you think the killer dropped it recently?” Ally asked as they paused to let both dogs take care of business. “Or earlier today?”
“We don’t know for sure it was the killer who dropped it.” Noah’s expression was noncommittal. “And it’s hard to say when it was dropped.”
Her temper slipped. “Come on, Noah. Are you seriously going to stand there and tell me that finding a paisley scarf exactly like the murder weapon used on both Pricilla and Jake is a coincidence?”
“I didn’t say Jake was killed with a paisley scarf,” Noah protested.
“Susie indicated she saw something that could have been a scarf,” Ally repeated. “I may not watch as much Dateline as Gramps, but I’ve learned enough over the past few months to know killers often use the same MO on their victims. It’s not like I was interfering with your case when we stumbled across the scarf.”
Noah glanced away, then sighed. “Okay, fine. I personally think the killer dropped it. You’re right that Jake was also strangled with a paisley scarf. And from what I can tell, the scarf we found wasn’t lying outside for long. It’s not very dirty, just snagged a bit from the bush.”
“I wonder if the killer saw us coming outside the clinic and took off, dropping it along the way?” Ally could easily envision the scenario. “Only Domino caught the killer’s scent and led us straight to it.”
Noah glanced at Domino, who’d stopped growling and was squatting to go number two. “You really think he’s that smart?”
“Poorly trained doesn’t mean he’s not smart,” Ally said defensively. She pulled out a baggie to take care of Domino’s stool. “And if you have a better explanation for why Domino acted the way he did, I’m all ears.”
“I don’t.” Noah swept a gaze around the area. “And I didn’t see anyone, did you?”
“No.” She didn’t feel guilty for not being perceptive this time, since Noah was a cop and hadn’t noticed anything unusual either. “The killer must have left the instant he or she saw us.” She couldn’t help but wonder if the killer had taken off because Ally hadn’t been alone.
Had Noah scared the killer off? Probably.
“Went where?” Noah was still looking over the area. “Into one of the houses?”
“That or disappeared between two houses to the street that runs parallel to this one.”
“Let’s get back to the clinic.” Noah turned his attention back to the dogs. “I, uh, missed whether or not Roxy is finished out here.”
It was cute the way Noah didn’t like talking about the dog’s elimination habits. “She isn’t, so let’s walk a little more.” Ally felt safe with two dogs and Noah at her side. But what about once Noah left to head back to the Legacy House? Should she risk keeping both dogs up in her apartment?
Just the thought of the two dogs playing rough and damaging her furniture made her wince. Then again, better destroyed furniture than someone sneaking inside.
She couldn’t forget about Midnight, too. No way could she handle all three of them in her apartment.
Another block up and Roxy did her thing. Ally took care of that too, and they turned around to head back to the clinic.
She put Domino in his kennel. Having Roxy upstairs was enough protection. Besides, Domino would bark and growl the way he did before if anyone tried to break in.
“Are you sure you’ll be okay here alone?” Noah asked as they stood near the doorway.
Why, are you volunteering to stay? Ally managed to hold back the comment, offering a smile instead. “Positive. I have Domino and Roxy guarding me.”
Noah gazed down at her for a long moment. She hoped he’d kiss her, and he did, but only on her cheek in the general area of her scratches that were finally beginning to heal. “Okay, be safe. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“Thanks again for agreeing to watch Gramps and the WBWs,” Ally said breathlessly. The man had only kissed her cheek, and she still felt light-headed. His woodsy aftershave should be declared a lethal weapon. At least against females.
“Lock the door behind me,” Noah murmured before leaving.
She shot the dead bolt home, then leaned weakly against the door. All in all, this had been a very long day, starting with the news of Jake Hammond’s murder. But the way it had ended, with Noah’s chaste kiss, had made it all worthwhile.
Even after nearly being run over by a car.
Yep, she had it bad for Noah. The man turned her to mush without much effort at all.
Not good for her sense of well-being. She didn’t do well in relationships. Tim and Trina taking off together was proof of that.
“Come on, Roxy. I need to take care of giving Midnight his next antibiotic before we head upstairs.”
Despite her exhaustion, and partially because of the various aches and pains from the near collision with the dark car, Ally had trouble sleeping. And when she finally succumbed, she dreamed that dozens of paisley scarves were hanging around her clinic, taunting her.
The following morning, Ally staggered to the kitchen, peering through bleary eyes at the coffeepot. She filled the machine, then took Roxy outside.
In the bright light of day, her nightmare seemed foolish. Still, she didn’t take Roxy very far and switched her with Domino as soon as possible.
Only when the dogs had both been fed and she’d checked Midnight’s wound and given him another dose of antibiotic did Ally have time to drink her coffee and make her customary oatmeal. She carried both the coffee cup and the bowl of oatmeal downstairs, where she let both dogs roam the clinic.
Double-checking her schedule, she noted that she had a cat immunization scheduled for ten o’clock, a Siamese cat known as Frankie. In honor of famous old blue eyes, Frank Sinatra? Maybe. Ally didn’t have any notes on the animal, as Hanson hadn’t made a practice of that, but she verified what the cat was due for so she could have the medication ready to go by the time Frankie’s owner brought him in.
It was depressing to have only one appointment for the entire day. Better than having zero appointments, but not by much.
At this rate, she’d never make enough to pay a vet tech.
Ally finished her oatmeal, then set about cleaning the exam rooms and getting Frankie’s immunizations ready to go.
Her cell phone rang, and she inwardly groaned when she saw Gramps’s name come up on the screen. She belatedly realized it was Wednesday, his normal day to come in to work at the clinic and head to the library over lunch.
“ALLY, DID YOU FORGET TO COME GET ME?”
“I don’t really need you this morning, Gramps. How about I take you to the library later?”
“BUT TODAY’S MY DAY TO WORK THE CLINIC.”
“Yes, but you’ve been here the past two days, right?” She rubbed her temple. “Seriously, Gramps, I’ll take you to the library after lunch, okay?”
“BEFORE LUNCH,” he shouted. “WE NEED TO WORK THE CASE.”
Talking in person would be way easier than this one-way yell fest. “I’ll fill you in on the paisley scarf we found later.”
“YOU FOUND A PAISLEY SCARF?” She hadn’t thought it was possible for him to get any louder, but he did.
“Please stop yelling. I have an appointment coming in soon. I’ll come pick you up afterwards, before lunch.” It was easier to give in than to keep going back and forth.
“OKAY, I’LL BE WAITING.”
“See you soon.” She hung up as the dogs crashed into one of the lobby chairs. Again. This was her life, she thought with a sigh. And while it might not be glamorous by any stretch of the imagination, she was beginning to feel as if she belonged here in Willow Bluff.
* * *
Frankie was indeed named after Frank Sinatra, as indicated by his owner, a lovely woman by the name of Maria Gomez.
“I still listen to all those old songs,” Maria confessed with a dreamy sigh. “Sometimes I wonder if I’ve been reincarnated from the 1950s, I love that era so much. My kids think I’m crazy.”
“Oh, well.” Ally had no idea what to say to that. “I grew up reading classics because of my parents and grandparents, which is kind of the same thing.”
Maria Gomez’s eyes widened. “Do you think you were reincarnated too?”
“Um, who knows, right?” Ally glanced at the Siamese cat. “Do you have any concerns about Frankie? Is he eating okay? Any trouble with his bowel habits?”
“Oh, no, Frankie is fine. Sammy’s the picky eater.”
“Sammy?” Ally hadn’t seen a notation in Frankie’s records about a second cat in the home.
“Named after Sammy Davis Junior, of course,” Maria said with a sigh. “Oh, I love that big-band era.”
Ally gave Frankie his immunization, causing him to howl, but thankfully he didn’t try to bite her. When that was finished, she disposed of the needle. “Is Sammy another Siamese? Is he due for his shots too?”
“No, he’s all black, from head to toe.” Maria’s face crumpled. “Unfortunately, he ran away.”
A runaway black cat? Was it possible Midnight was really Sammy Davis Junior?
“Maria, a young girl named Amanda found a stray black cat. Would you like to take a look to see if he’s your Sammy?”
“Oh, yes!” Maria looked excited at the possibility.
“He has a cut on his side that I treated,” Ally said to prepare the woman. “Wait here, and I’ll bring him out.”
Ally ducked into the back and found Midnight batting at the small furry mouse toy she’d given him. It was the first sign of him playing that she’d seen and a good indication that he was on the mend. “Hey, are you Sammy? Or Midnight?” She gently removed the feline from the kennel and carried him into the exam room.
“Sammy!” Maria’s eyes welled with tears. “Oh, Sammy! You naughty boy, you shouldn’t have run away like that.” She pulled the black cat into her arms and nuzzled him. The cat purred in her arms.
“Well, he’s fine, but you really should get collars for both cats,” Ally said with a smile. “That way, you might have gotten him back sooner.”
“I looked all over for him, then waited for him to come home when he got hungry.” Maria swiped at her eyes. “Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome. You’ll need to give Midnight—I mean, Sammy—antibiotics twice a day for the next six days, okay? And keep an eye on his wound to make sure it doesn’t get infected. If it changes in any way, give me a call.”
“Okay.” Maria looked from one cat to the other. “I’ll take them into my car separately.”
“Good idea, but I’ll need you to pay the bill first.” Ally couldn’t believe she’d found Midnight’s owner. This was definitely her lucky day.
She prepared the invoice, including treatments for both cats. She expected Maria to complain, but the woman didn’t bat an eye. This was what she loved about pet people.
Well, most pet people. Some complained about every dime they had to spend caring for their pets. As if they hadn’t anticipated such an expense.
“Oh, and here’s a pamphlet on getting personalized collar tags,” Ally added, handing it to Maria. “Please consider getting one for each cat.”
“I will. Thanks again, Dr. Winter.”
When the two cats were gone and both the exam room and kennel had been cleaned, Ally called Jeri Smith at the Clark County animal shelter. “Hey, I found Midnight’s owner. Maria Gomez.”
“Yes, that was one of the two who’d adopted my black kittens,” Jeri agreed. “I was going to call each of them first before contacting you. Sorry for the delay.”
“It’s no problem. I just couldn’t believe it when Maria brought her Siamese cat, Frankie, in, then mentioned her black cat Sammy who ran away.”
“I know Maria; she’s a sweetheart. No way did she abuse that cat,” Jeri said firmly.
“No, I don’t think so either. But she should have them identified with a collar or a chip.”
“I always recommend that.” Jeri’s tone was defensive.
“I know you do,” Ally assured her. “I think she’ll follow through this time, though.”
“I’m glad you found the kitten’s owner. I’m hearing I may end up with one of Patsy’s Labradane puppies too.”
Ally sighed. “I’m trying to find a home for Bandit but so far coming up blank. I really think Noah would be great with the puppy, but he’s kinda busy with the two murders at the moment.”
“I’ve told Wendy to hang on to the puppy a little longer,” Jeri said. “Hopefully someone will step up.”
Ally felt herself caving under the pressure. “I’m not sure I can handle adding Bandit to my home, especially when I have pets boarding.”
“Keep working on Noah,” Jeri advised. “Listen, I have to go; I have someone coming in to look at one of my cats.”
“Good luck.” Ally set her phone aside and went back to the kennels. She took both dogs outside, one at a time, then let them run loose.
It took her a moment to remember she needed to head out to pick up Gramps. In her mind, there was no rush. He’d been worn out by the end of the day yesterday. The longer he stayed home to rest, the better.
She worked a bit with Domino, teaching him to sit and stay using treats. The poodle had come a long way in the past week. She hoped Kayla and Mark could keep working with him once they’d taken him home. As difficult as it would be for them to manage with the twins, she knew having a well-trained dog was worth the effort.
“Right, boy?” She threaded her fingers through his curls. Roxy came over and nudged her for attention too.
She put both dogs in their respective kennels and locked up the clinic. Grabbing her keys, she headed out the back to her Honda.
When she arrived at the Legacy House, Gramps was inside finishing up a game of cribbage with Tillie, who did have a plastic device that held her cards, allowing her to play one-handed. “Ready to go, Gramps?”
“Yep. Gotta get my book.” He struggled to his feet.
Ally helped lever him up and handed him his walker. “Where is it?”
“Right here.” Gramps leaned over to grab the library book off the end table.
“The Billionaire Murders.” Ally read the title out loud. “Was it good?”
“Very interesting,” Gramps said with a nod.
Probably better than some of the books he’s chosen, Ally thought as she tucked the book beneath her arm.
She decided to drive straight to the library rather than have Gramps walk down Main Street with his cane. She drove through the parking lot outside the municipal building, searching for a close parking spot.
As she pulled in, the sound of sirens split the air.
“What do you think is going on?” Gramps asked, leaning forward eagerly. “Another murder? Maybe Colin this time? Or Marlie?”
“I hope not,” Ally muttered. She frowned when she saw an ambulance and a police car pull right up to the front of the municipal building.
“Come on, Ally, we need to get closer.” Gramps was doing his best to jump up and out of the passenger seat of her car.
“Gramps, it’s not like there’s a crime going on. I’m sure someone needs medical attention.”
“Yeah, but who?” Gramps grabbed his cane and began thumping toward the ambulance.
Ally grabbed the library book, locked her car, and quickly followed him. The EMTs and an empty gurney disappeared inside the main doorway.
“Wonder who the patient is.” Gramps stood near the entrance, looking as if he were settling in to watch a movie.
“It doesn’t matter, Gramps. Come on, let’s go inside.”
“No, let’s just wait a minute.” If he’d had a bucket of popcorn, he’d be chewing on it, his avid gaze taking in the scene.
Ally was grateful there was no sign of Noah. All the more reason to believe this was nothing more than some poor person suffering a medical malady.
