The Dog Who Knew Too Much

by Krista Davis

  We watched her silently. It took effect, and she was able to sit up.

  “It’s hard to tell how much fentanyl you have in your system,” said Dr. Engelknecht. “Chances are good that you will need more of the Narcan. I’ll stay with you until you’re in the hospital, okay? But I need to know where you got the fentanyl.”

  Glenda already looked considerably better, but she was obviously scared. “From a guy in town. I was planning to go over to Snowball to buy it, but then I heard some guy was selling it in Wagtail.”

  “What was his name?” asked Dave.

  “I only know him as Wade.”

  “Incredible,” I said. “So I guess we know who bought at least some of the fentanyl Howard gave him.”

  Dave took a deep breath. “Wade obviously needed cash, and it took him no time at all to find eager buyers. I wonder how many other people bought fentanyl from him.”

  Dr. Engelknecht gazed at me. “Are you feeling any effects?”

  “No. I’m fine. I’ve been watching Glenda. She seems to be okay, too.”

  I told them exactly what had happened.

  “Interesting,” said the doctor. “They’re training dogs to pick up the scent of fentanyl. It’s very effective, because the officers don’t have to open bags to see what’s inside. Stella probably remembered the smell from the night Diane died.”

  “Glenda?” Dave shook his head. “What were you thinking?”

  “Diane caught Stan stealing a package from her front door. She gave him a warning. But he did it again. That time she came over to talk to Augie and me. She didn’t want to get Stan into trouble. I don’t think she knew about his past. She said we had to get control of him. And that if it happened again, she would report him to Dave. I couldn’t let him go back to prison. He’s my little boy. Do you know what it’s like there?”

  I had a feeling that she would be experiencing prison firsthand very soon. “Are you the one who shot the arrow?”

  Glenda winced. “It was so easy to get rid of Diane. If only you hadn’t ducked, we wouldn’t be going through this right now. That arrow had your name on it.”

  After the ambulance whisked her away, Dave took control of the cleanup. I was sent to shower. All three dogs were bathed, and the Dogwood Room was off-limits to everyone while it was cleaned from top to bottom.

  Thirty-nine

  Glenda Hoover was released from the hospital the next morning and was taken into custody, but she was the talk of Wagtail. Parents wondered how far they would have gone to protect their own children. But everyone agreed that Glenda had lost her mind. Poor Diane thought she was being considerate toward her neighbors by not reporting Stan’s thefts. And in the end, she died because of her kindness.

  At breakfast, Marlee crowed that she had been wise to wear a disguise. “I did the right thing and turned them in, but you can see that they’re nuts and would have come after me. I’m lucky to be alive.”

  After doing our rounds in the inn, Trixie and I hopped into a golf cart and were on our way to pick up some items the cook needed when Mr. Finkelstein waved me down. “Can I have a ride? Somebody took my golf cart again!”

  I wondered if his brain was beginning to fail. Maybe he shouldn’t be driving. But I was more than happy to help him out. He stepped into the golf cart.

  “Where to?” I asked.

  “The other side of town, please.”

  He gave me directions as I drove.

  I knew the street we were on very well. My ornery aunt Birdie lived there. She had been oddly silent in recent days, which caused me to wonder what she was cooking up.

  “Right here!” said Mr. Finkelstein. He stepped out of the golf cart. “You don’t mind keeping my little secret, do you?”

  “Secret?”

  “Now you know where my lady friend lives.”

  Aunt Birdie’s front door opened, and she looked out at us. She was, as always, impeccably dressed in a chic dress that showed off her slim waistline. “Holly?” Aunt Birdie strode toward the sidewalk.

  “Birdie,” said Mr. Finkelstein, “someone stole my golf cart again. I don’t know what’s going on in this town anymore with murders and golf cart thefts.

  “Thank you for the lift, Holly,” he said, as a golf cart just like Mr. Finkelstein’s parked directly in front of me.

  Cute old Mr. Ledbetter from the bakery shouted at Mr. Finkelstein, “What do I have to do to keep you away from Birdie?”

  “Did you steal my golf cart, you old curmudgeon?”

  “So what if I did? You have no business here with Birdie.”

  I could hardly believe my eyes. Two adorable old men arguing about my cranky aunt Birdie?

  “Now, boys,” she said, “I think you’re both wonderful.” She tilted her head coyly.

  Was she flirting with them?

  “Why don’t you both come in? I made plenty of food.”

  The two old fellows followed her up the walk to her front door. I could still hear them muttering at each other.

  Trying not to laugh out loud, I drove away fast, fearing one of them might decide to rope me in as a mediator. At least we knew now who the golf cart thief was.

  Trixie and I hustled to pick up the items the cook had requested. I loaded them onto the golf cart and drove back thinking how wonderful it was not to be afraid of an arrow zinging through the air at me anymore.

  I delivered everything to him and headed for the office to see what else needed to be done.

  Rae Rae was talking with Oma and Zelda. She held a leash with tiny glittering rhinestones on it. The moment she saw me, she fairly sang out, “I’m adopting Stella!”

  Zelda said, “Stella is so excited. She loves Rae Rae and her sparkles. It’s a wonderful match.”

  “Are you flying her home?” asked Oma.

  Rae Rae appeared appalled. “I’m not going to make this sweet girl fly in a crate! I’ve rented a car and bought a guide to all the best dog parks and dog-friendly hotels.” She fastened a collar covered in giant rhinestones onto Stella’s neck and slid a pair of blinged-out goggles over Stella’s eyes. “Road trip, Stella! In a convertible!” Rae Rae bent over and held up her palm. “High five!”

  To my complete astonishment, Stella raised her paw and touched Rae Rae’s hand. “Did she already know how to do that?” I asked.

  Rae Rae smiled. “Jim taught her. Isn’t she darling? We’re going to have so much fun. And we’ll both remember Diane fondly. I like to think that Diane’s spirit will be with us.”

  Although the Sugar Maple Inn never served dinner, on that night, Oma asked the cook to prepare a special meal for Pippin and his entourage, as well as members of the Wagtail community.

  At six o’clock in the evening, Trixie, Twinkletoes, and I were out on the terrace that overlooked the lake. Mr. Huckle and I had set up a buffet. The cook and Shelley were busy bringing out corn bread, beans, Southern fried chicken, barbecued short ribs, and an array of salads and vegetables. Two buffet warmers were labeled For canine guests. It looked like they were having a choice of chicken breasts with yellow squash and rice or beef tips, barley, and broccoli in a sauce.

  “Thanks for helping me.”

  I whipped around. Dave wore a red golf shirt and shorts. “No uniform?”

  “I’m pretending to take a day off. But I mean it, Holly. If you hadn’t whacked Wade over the head, there’s no telling what could have happened. I appreciate it.”

  “I’m glad I didn’t kill him. What does pretending to take a day off mean?”

  “I did a lot of paperwork today. I’m still trying to wrap some things up.”

  Oma and Gingersnap bustled out onto the terrace. “Ohh, it smells so good out here. It must be the short ribs. I don’t see drinks in your hands.”

  “I just arrived, Liesel.” Dave hugged Oma as if she were his own grandmother.

&
nbsp; Holmes bounded up the stairs that led to the lake. At the same time, Pippin and his crew emerged from the inn. The party was on!

  Poor Dave was bombarded with questions. We gathered around him with icy drinks and listened.

  Marlee grimaced when she asked, “What will happen to Stan?”

  “He has violated his parole by stealing again, so he’s headed back to prison. Interestingly, his mom, Glenda, was so intent on protecting him that she hid the items he stole in the rental cabin where Stella and Holly discovered the missing dogs. I don’t think we’ll have any trouble providing ample evidence of his crimes.”

  “Then Glenda knew all along where the missing dogs, Tavish and Dolly, were?” I asked.

  Dave groaned. “I’m afraid she staged the theft of her own dog. She took Tavish because she knew Clara didn’t keep a close eye on him. She thought it would be easy to snatch him.”

  “But why?” asked Rae Rae. “Why would she do that?”

  “Because she planned to kill Diane. She thought if dogs went missing, it would point a finger at a nonexistent dog thief. It almost worked. A lot of people thought Diane might have been murdered by someone who wanted her dogs.”

  “Stan had nothing to do with it?” asked Marlee. “What about Sugar?”

  “So far we haven’t found any connection to Sugar at all. And while Stan did steal packages, it appears that only Glenda was involved in Diane’s murder.”

  We settled at tables and ate the feast our cook had prepared. The setting sun glowed red as it sank behind the mountain, and lights twinkled in cabins across the lake from the inn.

  After dessert, when most people had gone home or out to a bar, I sat down on the top step and looked out at the lake.

  I had been too busy to realize that a full moon was in the making. It reflected on the water in a wide, golden swath. Trixie nudged her nose under my arm and nestled next to me. Twinkletoes leaned against my legs. And just when I thought life couldn’t get any better, Holmes came up from behind and joined us on the stone stairs.

  He grinned at me. “It’s good to be home.”

  Recipes

  One of my dogs suffered from severe food allergies that did not allow him to eat commercial dog food. Consequently, I learned to cook for my dogs and have done so for many years. Consult your veterinarian if you want to switch your dog to home-cooked food. It’s not as difficult as one might think. Keep in mind that, like children, dogs need a balanced diet, not just a hamburger. Any changes to your dog’s diet should be made gradually so your dog’s stomach can adjust.

  Chocolate, alcohol, caffeine, fatty foods, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, onion and garlic, salt, xylitol, and unbaked dough can be toxic (and even deadly) to dogs. For more information about foods your dog should not eat, consult the Pet Poison Helpline at petpoisonhelpline.com/pet-owners.

  Zucchini Pineapple Cake

  Not for dogs.

  Krista’s note: This is an incredibly moist cake. While you do not have to wring liquid out of the zucchini and pineapple, you also do not want to use any excess juices that might collect. Drain them before adding to the batter.

  ¾ cup milk (2% or higher)

  1 teaspoon white vinegar

  3 cups shredded zucchini

  1 8-ounce can pineapple chunks (drained)

  2 cups flour

  2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

  2 teaspoons baking powder

  2 teaspoons baking soda

  ½ teaspoon salt

  3 eggs

  2 cups sugar (if you plan to use frosting then only 1½ cups sugar unless you like it very sweet)

  ¾ cup vegetable oil

  2 teaspoons vanilla

  Grease and flour a 13-by-9-inch baking dish. Preheat oven to 350ºF.

  Measure the milk, and add the vinegar to it. Set aside. In a food processor, shred the zucchini and the drained pineapple. Set aside. Combine the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl and stir well with a fork to combine. Beat the eggs lightly, add the sugar, and beat until thick. Slowly beat in the oil, milk, and vanilla, then the flour mixture. When well combined, drain any juices from the shredded zucchini and pineapple and stir the zucchini and pineapple into the batter. Bake 45–50 minutes.

  Serve with lightly sweetened whipped cream.

  Oma’s German Pancakes with Strawberries and Whipped Cream

  A non-oily bite of a pancake may be shared with dogs, but not the strawberries or the whipped cream.

  German pancakes are thicker than crepes but thinner than American pancakes. They’re easy to make, and once you know how, you won’t even need to measure the basic ingredients of flour, milk, and eggs. You can just gauge whether the batter is the correct density. The trick is to use a nonstick or well-seasoned pan. If you don’t have one, you can still make them, but you’ll likely need more oil.

  This recipe makes approximately 3–4 pancakes. Double the recipe for 7-8 pancakes.

  Strawberries

  16 ounces strawberries

  ¼ cup sugar

  Wash, hull, and slice the strawberries. Sprinkle with ¼ cup of sugar, turn a few times to spread the sugar, and let sit while you make the pancakes.

  Sweetened Whipped Cream

  1 cup heavy whipping cream

  ⅓ cup powdered sugar

  1 teaspoon vanilla

  Beat the cream until it begins to take shape. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla and beat until the cream makes a firm peak.

  Oma’s German Pancakes (Pfannkuchen)

  1–2 tablespoons or more oil (mild-flavored olive or canola)

  2 large eggs

  Pinch of salt

  ½ cup milk

  ½ cup flour

  Crack the eggs into a medium bowl and whisk lightly. Add the salt and the milk and whisk. Add the flour and whisk until smooth.

  Use a nonstick or well-seasoned pan to cook the pancakes. Heat the pan over medium heat and add the oil. As the oil warms, lift the pan and rotate to spread the oil around the pan. When the oil is hot, pour batter in the pan about five inches in diameter. Lift the pan, slant it, and rotate so that the batter runs around the edge of the pan’s base. Set the pan back on the burner. Lift the entire pancake with a thin spatula (Oma likes to use a super-thin cookie spatula) and flip. When the underside is done, remove from the pan and serve.

  Note that there is no sugar in these pancakes, so they work well with sweet or savory fillings. No strawberries or whipped cream on hand? Use the trick of German Omas and spread with your favorite jam. They’re delicious with maple syrup, too.

  Assembly

  Place the pancake on a plate. Spoon the fruit in a line near one side. Roll the pancake up so the fruit is in the middle. Garnish with additional fruit and a dollop of whipped cream.

  Alternatively, spread a thin layer of your favorite jam or preserves on the pancake and roll it up. Sprinkle the top with a pinch of sugar.

  Herbed Dijon Potato Salad

  Not for dogs.

  3 pounds red potatoes (roughly 6 medium red potatoes)

  2 teaspoons salt, divided, plus extra to taste

  3 hard-boiled eggs

  ¼ cup mayonnaise

  1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

  2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

  2 teaspoons tarragon

  2 teaspoons minced shallots

  Cut the potatoes into ¼-inch cubes. Add water and 1 teaspoon salt to a large pot. The water should be sufficient to cover the potatoes by about an inch. Cook the potatoes in boiling water with the peel on until they can be pierced easily with a fork. Chop the eggs and add to the potatoes. Mix together the mayonnaise, vinegar, Dijon mustard, tarragon, 1 teaspoon salt, and shallots. Pour over potatoes and turn to coat. Salt to taste.

 
Serve warm or cold. Note that you will want to make more dressing if you eat it warm. Warm potatoes will absorb the dressing. If you allow it to cool first, you can use less of the dressing to suit your taste.

  Waffles with Caramelized Bananas

  Makes 12 waffles.

  2 cups flour

  2 tablespoons sugar

  2 teaspoons baking powder

  1 teaspoon baking soda

  ¾ teaspoon salt

  2 eggs

  1½ cups buttermilk

  3 tablespoons vegetable (high heat) oil

  1 teaspoon vanilla

  In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Lightly whisk the eggs. Mix with the buttermilk, oil, and vanilla. Pour over the dry ingredients and gently whisk to combine. Do not overmix.

  Place a baking rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 250ºF.

  Use nonstick spray or brush the waffle maker with oil and preheat. Follow the instructions for your waffle maker or add the batter and close. You may wish to spread the batter toward the edges. If you find the batter is too thick, you may thin it with a couple of tablespoons of milk. Cook for 3 minutes or until the waffle maker indicates they are ready. Serve immediately or place on the rack in the oven to keep warm. Freeze any extra waffles!

  Caramelized Bananas

  For people only, not for dogs.

  Note: This makes enough for 3–4 servings. If planning to serve all the waffles, double or triple the amounts for the bananas.

  2 fresh bananas

  4 tablespoons butter

  4 tablespoons dark brown sugar

  Slice the bananas about ½-inch thick. Melt the butter in a pan. Add the brown sugar and let it melt. Add the bananas and cook about 4 minutes on each side. Note: You can also keep the caramelized bananas warm in the oven with the waffles.

  Sweetened Whipped Cream (optional)