The Case of the Prescient Poodle

by B R Snow

  “What’s the name of that game they’re playing?” I said, intrigued by their strange behavior.

  “Arrack Attack,” she said.

  “I beg your pardon?” I said, frowning.

  “Arrack Attack,” she repeated. “Arrack is a liquor that’s made in lots of places in Asia. But we like the one that comes out of Sri Lanka.”

  “Sri Lanka?” I said, thoroughly confused, then remembered who I was talking to. “Sure, now I get it. You buy fabric and clothing there, right?”

  “Yeah, primarily silk and batik,” she said as she fired up a joint the size of a taquito. She took several quick puffs to get it lit, then inhaled deeply and passed it to Danny who needed more about as much I needed to see the menu at C’s before ordering. “They have some really cool stuff, and the markups are a-ma-zing.”

  “Sure, sure,” I said, glancing at Danny who looked like he was about to try and talk with a lungful of smoke. This should be good, I decided, and I smiled at him while I waited.

  “And it’s…a great place…to party,” he said, then exhaled loudly. “Whew,” he said, exhausted from the effort. “You want to try the Arrack? Maybe join the game in the pool?”

  “No, I’m good thanks,” I said. “I don’t even like to get my hair wet in the shower.”

  Danny frowned at me then shrugged and took another hit before passing it back to his lounge chair partner.

  “I’ve never been to Sri Lanka. But I hear it’s nice. Do you spend a lot of time there?”

  “We do,” Terry said. “At least we did. Now, I’m sure what we’re going to do.”

  “Because of what might happen with the Jensen’s company?” I said.

  “Yeah, there’s that,” she said. “Not to mention their private island.”

  “They had a private island in Sri Lanka?” I said, leaning forward.

  “Yeah, it’s amazing,” Danny said, his eyes half-closed. “We used to go there for company meetings a couple of times a year.”

  “Has Jennifer made any decisions about what she’s going to do?” I said.

  “If she has, she hasn’t shared them with us,” Danny said, shrugging. “But that’s the way the Pink Princess operates.”

  Terry snorted smoke and giggled.

  “That’s Danny’s new nickname for her,” Terry said, taking another hit to reload her lungs. “Before she dyed her hair, she was the Green Gofer.”

  I forced myself to remain silent as the pair of insensitive and ungrateful, sorry excuse for houseguests again chortled.

  “If Jennifer decides to run the company herself, will you be sticking around?” I said when they recovered.

  “No way,” Danny said. “We’re out regardless of what she decides to do. We’ve been talking about setting up our own company for a long time. This seems like the right time to do it. In fact, we’ve got several-”

  “Oh, let’s not talk shop, Danny,” Terry said, squeezing his hand as she gave him a warning look I couldn’t miss. “That’s just going to bore, Suzy.”

  “No, it’s okay,” I said with a smile. “I’d love to hear about your plans.”

  “Maybe some other time,” Danny said, chagrined and massaging his hand. “Besides, we really haven’t worked out a lot of the details yet.”

  I imagine that polishing off a couple of blunts before noon, washed down with a twelve-pack, could definitely put a crimp in one’s ability to develop a coherent business plan. And since it looked like they weren’t long for the conscious world, I shifted gears.

  “Do the folks in the pool work with you?”

  They both glanced at the three in the shallow end who appeared to be taking a break and trying to catch their breath.

  “They all work for the company,” Terry said. “But they handle security.”

  “Security?” I said, frowning.

  “Yeah, you know,” Danny said. “Making sure the employees and company property stay safe.”

  “The owner and his yacht just blew up,” I said, frowning at them.

  “Yeah,” Danny said, shrugging at me with a blank stare. “I guess they sort of whiffed on that one.”

  “Ya think?” I said, baffled. “So, I imagine the three of them will be looking for other jobs?”

  “Eventually,” Terry said.

  “Probably as soon as they get through the last couple of cases of Arrack,” he said.

  He and Terry burst out laughing again. Then he relit the joint, took a hit and passed it to her. I officially hit the wall and stood up.

  “Is Jennifer inside?”

  “That would be my guess,” Terry said. “She’s been keeping to herself since the accident.”

  “Thanks,” I said, sliding my hands into the pockets of my shorts. “Nice seeing you guys.”

  “Yeah, it was,” Danny said. “Stop by the next time you feel like partying.”

  “I’ll do that,” I said, then a question surfaced. “Hey, I’ve been looking for things to do at night around here. You guys got any suggestions?”

  “You mean, apart from drinking and eating?” Terry said.

  “Yeah, I’ve got those pretty well covered,” I said, nodding. “I was talking about doing something a bit out of the ordinary.”

  “Well, we thought we found one the other night,” Danny said. “But that turned out to be a major disappointment.”

  “What was that?” I said, going for casual.

  “We went to a cockfight,” he said. “But the cops raided the place before it could even get started.”

  “People freaked out,” Terry said. “I almost got trampled trying to get out of there.”

  “Yeah, sorry about that,” I whispered.

  “What?”

  “Nothing,” I said, shaking my head. “A cockfight, huh?”

  “Yeah, but it was nothing compared to the ones we’ve been to in Asia,” Danny said.

  “Oh, you’re a fan?” I said, giving him my best crocodile smile.

  “Love it,” he said, nodding. “There’s just something about watching animals fight to the death.”

  “You don’t think it’s a bit barbaric?”

  “Nah, those birds are way too far down the food chain to worry about,” he said, waving my question off.

  “I see,” I said, needing to leave before I forced him into my own version of Arrack Attack in the deep end of the pool. “Well, good luck with the new company. Given what you’ve told me, I’m sure you’ll do very well.”

  “Gee, thanks,” he said, reaching into the cooler for two fresh beers.

  I headed toward the house but not before I caught the cold stare Terry was giving me.

  I knocked on the sliding glass doors, and soon Jennifer slid one of them open and stared at me. She was definitely surprised to see me and seemed preoccupied but not annoyed I’d shown up unannounced.

  “Suzy,” she said, stepping back and waving me inside. “Come on in.”

  “Hi, Jennifer,” I said, stepping inside. I squinted until my eyes adjusted to the change in light then smiled at her. “How are you doing?”

  “I’ve been better,” she said with a small shrug. “Can I get you some coffee? I just made a pot.”

  “Sounds good, thanks.”

  I followed her into the kitchen and sat down on one of the stools next to the island. She handed me a mug then sat down across from me. I splashed a bit of milk in my cup then stirred and took a sip. I glanced around the well-appointed kitchen then noticed the curious look she was giving me.

  “You’re wondering why I’m here, right?”

  “Maybe a little,” she said, sipping her coffee.

  “It’s about Polly,” I said.

  “Is she okay?”

  “She’s fine,” I said. “I was just wondering if you have any of her dog toys here.”

  “Why, did she ask you to come over and get them for her?” she said, laughing.

  “What?”

  “Family joke,” Jennifer said, shaking her head. “That dog always seemed to
be a step ahead of everybody.”

  “I have to say that she is a bit spooky to be around at times,” I said, nodding. “I’ve never met a dog quite like her before.”

  “I’m surprised she didn’t write you a list of the toys she wants back,” Jennifer said, laughing again. Then she paused to look at me. “She didn’t do that, right?”

  “No,” I said, laughing along. “But I think she was looking for pen and paper just before I left this morning.”

  “I guess we’re lucky she doesn’t have opposable thumbs,” Jennifer said. “How did she tell you she wanted her toys?”

  “Last night, we were sitting outside, and Polly dropped a tennis ball at my feet then kept looking back and forth at me and the ball. At first, I thought she wanted me to throw it, but then she trotted off and brought me another ball. She kept doing it until I eventually figured out what she was trying to tell me. I spend my entire life with dogs, but I have to admit that it kind of freaked me out.”

  “That’s our girl, Polly,” Jennifer said, sipping her coffee.

  “So, do you have some of her toys here?”

  “Oh, yeah,” she said. “My father couldn’t walk past a pet store without buying her at least one. Help yourself to them.”

  “Thanks,” I said, glancing out the window at the pool area. “I see your house guests are still here.”

  “Yes, they certainly are. They’re like a bad rash you can’t rid of,” she said, following my eyes. “Are they still playing that stupid drinking game?”

  “Well, the three people who work security are,” I said. “But despite their ability to hold their breath, I don’t think it would be a good idea for Danny and Terry get in the water at the moment. They’re pretty hammered.”

  “They’re always hammered,” she said, shrugging. “But I’m sure all of them will be leaving soon.”

  “To go back to work?”

  “I seriously doubt that,” she said. “As soon as they hear that I’m selling this place and my dad’s company, I’m sure they’ll be hitting the road.”

  “You decided to sell?” I said, giving her room to top off our mugs.

  “I have,” she said, sitting back down.

  “I’m in the middle of selling a company at the moment, too.”

  “Really?” she said, cocking her head at me. “How do you feel about that?”

  “It feels fantastic,” I said, laughing.

  “Yeah, me too,” she said, raising her mug in salute before taking a sip.

  “Have you decided what you’re going to do next?”

  “Well, my plans are a bit up in the air at the moment,” she said, exhaling softly. “I didn’t think they would be, but they are. Such is life, huh?”

  “Yeah, I get that,” I said. “Problem?”

  “Yeah. A love problem.”

  “Oh, don’t you just hate when that happens?”

  “They’re never fun. Especially when the problem is coming from outside the relationship.”

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “Not really,” she said, shaking her head.

  “Fair enough. Can I ask you a question?”

  “Now you need permission?” she said, laughing.

  “Yeah, I really need to start working on that,” I said, shrugging. “My question is about Gerald.”

  “Gerald? What about him?” she said, suddenly wary.

  “He mentioned that the two of you used to be…an item,” I said, choosing my words carefully.

  “An item?” she said, grinning. “That doesn’t sound like something Gerald would say. He’s usually a bit more graphic.”

  “My term, not his.”

  “Yes, we were involved for a while,” she said. “I really enjoyed spending time with him. And I probably would have continued seeing him.”

  “But you met somebody else, right?”

  “As a matter of fact, I did,” she said, nodding.

  “And that person is the other party in your current love problem.”

  “How the heck did you know that?” she said, surprised.

  “Lucky guess.”

  That was the truth. It was. But I could tell I was about to cross a line with her, so I let it go.

  “What are you going to do with your parents’ island in Sri Lanka?”

  “Danny and Terry are chatty today, aren’t they?” she said, shaking her head. “Why do you ask? You want to buy it?”

  “No, thanks,” I said. “I’ve already got more waterfront property than I know what to do with.”

  “That’s a good problem to have,” she said. “I’ll be selling the island and some other properties just as soon as the lawyers are able to track down the deeds and ownership records.”

  “They can’t find them?”

  “They think they might have gotten destroyed in the explosion,” she said. “They’re currently working on some replacement documents.”

  “Do you know where you’re going to move?”

  “We’ve been talking about Europe,” she said. “We’d like to see some different seasons for a change.”

  “Be careful what you wish for,” I said, flashing back to our recent experience at home with an early and brutal winter. “Have the police been back recently?”

  “No, I think they’ve moved on from their original theory that I was somehow involved,” she said.

  “Well, that’s good news.”

  “One would think,” she said, getting up from her chair. “Let me get those toys for you.”

  I waited in the kitchen until she returned carrying a cardboard box overflowing with dog toys of all shapes and sizes. I thanked her, then headed outside where all five of the partygoers were sprawled out on lounge chairs sound asleep. I lumbered along the path that led back to my jeep and hoisted the box into the back seat. I climbed in and headed for home. A few minutes later, my phone rang, and I checked the number and slid it into its dashboard holder.

  “Detective Renfro,” I said. “You’re timing is perfect.”

  “Why’s that?” he said.

  “I just came from Jennifer Jensen’s place.”

  “And?”

  “And she has decided to sell her father’s company and the house here in Cayman. She’s talking about moving to Europe as soon as she gets her love problem sorted out.”

  “Interesting,” he said. “Who’s she in love with, and why is she having problems?”

  “She wouldn’t say.”

  “You’re losing your touch,” he said, laughing.

  “Oh, let’s hope not,” I said. “And I got some strange vibes from a couple of the people who work for the company. Did you meet the couple that handles the fabrics and clothing?”

  “The Stoner Twins? Yeah, I met them. I can’t wait to hear all about it. We’ll take the boat out.”

  “I’m free at the moment,” I said, glancing at my watch.

  “No, I can’t right now,” he said.

  “Because you’re out fighting evildoers, right?” I said, laughing.

  “No, because I’m on my way to arrest the Premier’s son for the murder of Jack and Jill Jensen,” he said without emotion.

  “You’re joking.”

  “About something like that? Never.”

  “Why are you arresting him now?”

  “Do you remember when I mentioned that we were going to keep a patrol boat checking for debris around the area where the yacht blew up?”

  “I do,” I said, slowing down. “You said it was a million to one shot.”

  “I guess sometimes long shots do pay off,” he said. “They found a couple of things floating on the surface.”

  “Things that fit with the prevailing direction of the current?”

  “Yeah.”

  “What did they find?”

  “Pieces of wood from a box that dynamite comes in,” he said.

  “Is that all?” I said, frowning.

  “The name of William’s company was stamped on the side of one of the pieces.�
�

  “Is that enough evidence to make an arrest with?”

  “Probably not,” he said. “Unless you also happened to find shards of fiberglass embedded into the wood. And some feathers and a few bloodstains.”

  I pulled the jeep over to the side of the road and rubbed my forehead as I felt the onset of a headache.

  “Are you still there?” he said after a long pause.

  “Yeah, I’m here,” I said, exhaling loudly. “Wow. That’s pretty incriminating evidence.”

  “That’s what we thought. Hence, our decision to arrest him.”

  “Would it be possible for me to talk to him?” I said.

  “Not until he makes bail, it won’t.”

  “Will the judge grant bail?”

  “Suzy, the kid’s the Premier’s son,” Detective Renfro said. “What do you think?”

  “There’s no need to get snarky, Detective,” I snapped. “Geez, I was convinced William wasn’t involved.”

  “You need to start trusting my instincts,” he said.

  “Yeah, thanks for the tip,” I said, my mind racing. “Can we take your boat out tomorrow?”

  “I think I can make that work,” he said. “Today’s is going to be a zoo as soon as the word gets out. This is going to be a major story.”

  “Just a word of caution to you and Gerald,” I said, pulling back onto the road.

  “What’s that?”

  “Try to avoid taking any victory laps.”

  “I’ll do my best,” he said, sounding way too happy.

  “And whatever you do, don’t start measuring your new offices for curtains just yet.”

  “Funny.”

  “I really wasn’t going for funny, Detective.”

  Chapter 21

  I stared at the reflected images in the mirror behind the glass shelves the bottles were sitting on, and my eyes landed on a bottle of Arrack. I leaned forward, shifting in my seat enough to get Josie’s attention.

  “Penny for your thoughts,” she said, glancing up from her menu.

  “That’s about all they’re worth tonight,” I said, waving to Rocco who was standing on the other side of the bar reviewing a stack of receipts.

  “You folks ready to order?”

  “I am,” Josie said, then proceeded to recite her order.