Bear Witness to Murder

by Meg Macy

  A choking sound caught our attention. Maddie twisted around and pointed to Rosie, who now stood on the rug by the back door. Her paws splayed, she heaved several times.

  “Poor thing! What’s the matter, baby?”

  I rushed to her side and pried open her jaws, praying she hadn’t eaten a baby bird, one of my garden gloves, or a half-chewed golf ball like the last time. Rosie choked again, and twice more, until a lump of something small and green-hued fell out of her mouth.

  “What in the world is that?” Maddie had crouched down, but jumped back in horror.

  “Call the vet clinic. Tell them I’m bringing her in.”

  Rosie’s breathing came in short pants. That scared me. I lifted her head when she went limp, and my heart melted in sympathy at her whimper of pain. In between hacking sounds, she barfed up another wad of greenish scum. I panicked at the streak of blood.

  “They don’t open until ten,” Maddie called, waving her cell. “I’ll call the emergency number on the fridge magnet.”

  Once we followed their directions, I wrapped Rosie in a towel. Maddie handed me the greenish barf she’d scooped into a plastic bag. While I carried my dog to the car, she searched the lawn and bagged several more green chunks.

  “Go on, I’ll open for you and cover the register,” she said. “Forget the tour, go!”

  I barely paid attention to anything but the drive, via Baker Road, to the vet hospital. Traffic grew heavy closer to Ann Arbor, and I chafed at the delay. Rosie lay still on the seat, her head down, eyes closed. That worried me worse than anything. I fought back tears.

  After I rang the after-hours buzzer and waited, heart in my throat, a tech quickly arrived to unlock the door. I barged past, rushed to the room where he directed me, and laid my dog on the examining table.

  “Here’s what I caught her eating.” I handed the plastic bags to the tech. “I can’t tell what it is, though, or why it was on our lawn.”

  “No problem, ma’am. If you prefer, you can wait outside in the lounge.”

  Ma’am, again. Now I understood how Mary Kate felt. The tech looked fifteen with barely a trace of a beard. Mark Fox was around my age. I should have called him at home and begged him to open his clinic early, offered double his fee, but I didn’t have his private number. I stayed by Rosie’s side, since she seemed calmer with my presence. Once the vet, a Dr. Garvey, arrived and shook my hand, she did a quick checkup and then murmured to the tech.

  “We’ll give Rosie IV fluids, with vitamin K, and some meds to settle her stomach,” she said to me. “Looks like she purged the worst of it. Good thing.” Dr. Garvey spent several minutes massaging Rosie’s abdomen. “Do you keep rat poison around the house?”

  “Rat poison?” I stared at her, horrified. “No way.”

  “That stuff looks like chunks of bromadiolone. Yellow or green, comes in a bucket or box. Common use is for killing rats. You found it on the lawn?”

  I nodded. Not long after Holly visited, too. She’d ruined Maddie’s bear, threatened to run over my dog, but instead tried to poison her. Things had gotten way out of hand. My hands wouldn’t stop shaking, and I left Rosie in Dr. Garvey’s capable hands. Pacing in the hallway outside the room, I dialed my cell and waited on hold. The calming classical selections helped to calm my angry mood. But I seriously needed sleep. Or more coffee.

  Dr. Garvey finally came out to the hall. “I think you’d better leave Rosie here overnight, or at least for the day. We’ll let you know how she’s doing later this afternoon. With the IV and medication, she should recover nicely.”

  I juggled the phone to my other ear, still waiting out the taped music. “Do you think the poison affected her?” I asked. “Permanently, I mean.”

  Dr. Garvey smiled. “No, you acted quickly. If you’d waited, she might have been too far gone. Rosie will need to rest, though, for a few days.”

  “All right, and thank you so much.”

  “No problem. She’s a beautiful dog. I love her teddy bear grooming, too.”

  I nodded and headed to the lobby. At last the receptionist spoke in my ear. “Hello? Yes, I’d like to make an appointment. Sasha Silverman—with Mike Blake, thanks,” I said. “As soon as possible, please. Tell him I spoke to his wife, and I have a similar situation. Yes, it’s urgent. That would be great. See you in a few hours. Thanks.”

  Out in my car, I called Maddie and updated her on Rosie. “I’ve got an appointment with a lawyer. Rosie was poisoned—”

  “What? You’re not kidding, are you?”

  “It’s true, and I think Holly did it. I’m meeting with Mike Blake.”

  “Whoa. Listen, we’ve got customers,” Maddie said. “I’ll see you whenever you get back. Do what you have to do, Sash.”

  I pocketed my phone, relieved by her supportive words. We both knew it was long past time to take drastic steps. We needed help. Especially since the cops didn’t seem to be making much progress. Mike Blake would understand.

  We had to end Holly’s devious plans.

  Chapter 23

  “Poor sweet baby. How are you feeling today?” Aunt Eve rained kisses on Rosie’s head. My dog ate up the love, her tail wagging, while perched on the kitchen window seat. “You are the sweetest thing! Yes, you are. Such a good girl. Did you eat any breakfast?”

  “She did,” I said with pride, “and kept it down, too. I’m glad she didn’t have to stay the night at the hospital. The vet said she bounced back quicker than expected.”

  “But you gave her what, kibble?”

  “A touch of rice with a little cooked chicken mixed in.”

  “Aww! I bet you were hungry, Rosie.” Aunt Eve straightened her back, her posture better than anyone’s in my family. “I sewed her costume, you ought to see how darling it is! Those factory machines are much nicer than my old Singer.”

  “Thanks,” I said and hugged her. “I’m glad you had fun with it.”

  “I sewed that poodle skirt for my teddy bear, too. So easy! I ironed on an appliqué, and then embroidered a little leash.” She patted her hair. “Emily Abbott’s bear costume is finished, too. I hope she has time to pick it up today, but her band is practicing.”

  “I’d better get ready for customers. Maddie could barely handle everyone who came in yesterday. I bet we’ll be swamped again today.”

  “Ross called from the Sunshine Café. He waited twenty minutes to get a seat!”

  “For the counter? Wow, I’m surprised he didn’t leave.” I ruffled my dog’s curly coat. “Who’s a smart girl. Next time, don’t eat anything in the yard, okay?”

  Maddie carried in two plastic hanging bags and laid them on the parlor sofa. “She might have suffered weeks before the end came,” she said. “A slow and painful death, according to Mark Fox. If Holly did toss that rat poison in our yard, she’s seriously sick in the head.”

  “What is the matter with people nowadays?” Aunt Eve said with a sigh. “I’d better get to the dry cleaners right now and pick up Ross’s blazer. He wouldn’t let me buy him a costume, so I had to improvise. I can’t wait for you girls to see him dressed up.”

  “So are you coming tonight?” I asked.

  “No. Ross thinks we need more practice for the dance contest.”

  Maddie clapped her hands. “Wow! A samba, or the jitterbug?”

  “It’s a surprise, so you’ll have to wait till tomorrow night.”

  Cheeks pinker, Aunt Eve rushed out the door. I turned to Maddie, suppressing a laugh. “I’m thinking love is in the air again for those two,” I said. “So which costume is mine?”

  “This one.” Maddie pointed to the dark green dirndl dress. “Isn’t that the cutest little deer pattern? I couldn’t find this in my size, so you get to wear it.”

  “Gee, thanks.” I plucked up the frilly blouse, so short it stopped below the bust. “Let’s hope the dress will cover where it ends, but couldn’t you have found a regular one?”

  Maddie tossed a beige silk ribbon my way. “Don’t make fun, have f
un. Tie the sash at the waist in a bow. Jay’s lederhosen and hat are a matching dark green, too.”

  “So yours is the blue one, I take it.”

  “Yup.” Maddie’s dirndl was far simpler, with a black, laced corset over her ruffled blouse and a plain sky-blue skirt. She held up two short pigtails, decorated with beads, and twirled them. “I’m off to the salon so Karen or Lynn can clip in these extensions. Jay said he’ll pick us up at four o’clock, so be ready.”

  “I put a notice that we’re closing at two o’clock today,” I said. “Joan Kendall asked to cover the shop all day tomorrow. She needs the money. Time and a half, so I agreed.”

  “Got it. Why don’t you braid your hair?”

  “Why don’t you tell me whether Jay and Kip delivered the Hippie Bear last night? I had to pick up Rosie, remember.”

  “Yes, they did.” Maddie looked happy at that. “Finished at last, and it’s even sealed.”

  I hated to burst her bubble, my curiosity wouldn’t rest. “Did you ever ask Kip what happened in Traverse City?”

  “Abby found out.” Maddie hesitated, fluffing her dark pixie hair with a sigh. “When he first moved there, the local art galleries loved his work. All that sudden success went to his head. That’s why Kip bought that house with the studio, and a brand-new car. Got in debt, and then he couldn’t get enough commissions to pay it all off.”

  “Like Flynn, huh? He revels in showing off around town.”

  “Yeah, maybe. You know how it is in the art world. The spotlight shifts to the next big trend.” She sounded wistful, as if empathizing with his fading career. I knew Maddie had taken a few hits over the years as well. “Kip scrambled to get his pieces shown, and spent a lot on high-end marketing, open houses with wine and food. Gina Lawson’s idea, actually.”

  “Really. She worked for him, too?”

  “Just a onetime deal. It didn’t work, he admitted failure, and left it all behind. Kip blamed himself. Told me he came here to start over, right after we met.”

  “Never mind, Mads. Go to the salon or you’ll be late.” I hadn’t meant to worry her. “I’ll hang these dresses in our rooms.”

  My sister rushed out, grabbing her phone and keys. “Don’t forget, four o’clock!”

  Once I returned from upstairs, I let Rosie outside and stood guard. I wasn’t about to take any further chances. I couldn’t prove that Holly put the rat poison in our yard, but she’d worn a green sweatshirt. That was too much of a coincidence.

  “No, no, stay away from there.” I guided Rosie clear of a thick bush. After pushing aside the shrubbery to check, I breathed easier. Nothing hidden beneath. “My precious baby. You rest this morning, okay? Keep Nyx out of trouble.”

  I carried Rosie up the steps and into the kitchen. The cat stared balefully at us both from her perch atop the tower. Apparently, Onyx had already conceded the window seat. Rosie curled up in the sunshine with a happy sigh. I’d dragged out the wooden stairs from an upstairs storage room last night, so my dog would have an easier time getting up and down.

  Now I kissed her on the muzzle, poured more coffee, and headed to the shop. Aunt Eve was right. Customers had already lined up outside the front door, ten minutes early. Steeling myself, I plastered on a smile and unlocked the door.

  “Happy Oktobear Fest! Welcome to the Silver Bear Shop and Factory.”

  “Are there any tours today?” one woman asked.

  “Yes, one at noon. Only a few spots left.”

  “So you’re closing early today?” someone else asked. “How about tomorrow? My sister is off on Saturdays, and she wants to buy a silver bear.”

  “We’ll be open our usual hours, ten until six.” I turned to answer more questions. “Yes, the grand prize bear will be on display at the courthouse. The vandalism incident is still under investigation. We haven’t heard any updates from the police, so I can’t tell you more. Feel free to browse through our bears, the accessories, and clothing items. We have special bears dressed in dirndls and lederhosen for sale. Over on the far side, the middle shelf.”

  The morning hours rushed past. I’d added an extra half-dozen people to the tour, which proved difficult for the staff trying to work; they made the best of it, given the long line of curious visitors trooping through the factory. By the time I returned to the shop, I couldn’t move past all the people lined at the register. Maddie had changed to her costume already, chatting with women holding bags of merchandise from other shops in Silver Hollow.

  “We wanted to display the Polka Bear in the garden here,” my sister said, “but that’s not possible now.”

  “What a shame. I wonder who would do such a terrible thing,” one said.

  “They ought to be thrown in jail, for sure.”

  Maddie handled their comments and sympathy with grace. At last she locked the door and then glanced at the clock. “Whew, three o’clock. You’d better get dressed.”

  “Sounds like people want you to do another Polka Bear,” I said. “Too bad the fiberglass is so expensive.”

  “Dad wanted to buy another sculpture, but my heart wouldn’t be in it.”

  “I’m on your side. Better to get over it.” I hurried to the office. “Aunt Eve, are you sure you don’t mind keeping company with Rosie tonight? If you need to go practice, put her in the crate in the kitchen. It’s her safe spot.”

  “We’ll practice here, and she can watch. Ross rented a DVD for afterward, so we’ll settle in for a quiet evening. I’ll make some popcorn.”

  “No treats for the dog, remember! Her stomach is still healing.”

  Before I rushed upstairs, I gave Rosie her meds and fed her the rice and chicken mixture again. Before I reached my bedroom, I heard Jay’s truck in the parking lot. I brushed on powder, blush, a touch of eye shadow, then tied two short braids on either side of my ears with green ribbon. My dirndl had hooks in front instead of lacing, which made it less easy to adjust, so it felt a little tight. Too many cookies. I’d been stressing out about Rosie and indulged.

  “Pockets. Thank goodness.”

  I heard a ding for a text message. Maddie—with a frowny-face emoticon. “Yeah, yeah, I’m coming! Sheesh.” Slipping the phone into my skirt pocket, I rushed downstairs.

  My sister was breathless with excitement. She looked adorable, tiny and cute in the sky-blue dirndl, embroidered apron, and puffy-sleeved blouse. I probably resembled a hefty Viking Brunhilde, minus the horned hat and steel chain mail.

  “You be good for Aunt Eve.” I fluffed Rosie’s blanket in her crate, retrieved her from the window seat, and placed her inside. “You’re safe, sweetie.”

  “I’m so glad she’s better,” Maddie said. “Come on, we’re late.”

  We rushed outside to meet Jay, who slid out of his truck. I burst out laughing when he struck a pose, one arm bent to show off a muscle. He tipped his green feathered hat at a jaunty angle and lifted one leg to display knee-high stockings; his short green britches buttoned up on either side, attached to H-shaped suspenders with an embroidered band over his chest. Jay scratched his chest with a wide grin.

  “Kind of itchy. So are these wool socks. You both look great, by the way.”

  “Thanks. I think.” Being bustier than Maddie, I kept tugging up my blouse in a futile effort to hide my cleavage. The dirndl skirt swished with my every move. “Doesn’t ‘lederhosen’ mean ‘leather’ in German?”

  “Yes, but don’t even go there,” Jay said. “These are bad enough.”

  “I dunno. Leather might make a real statement,” Maddie teased.

  “You’re hot, even without leather. Hot as in hottie.” I kissed Jay, which ended up longer than intended. “Thank goodness for flats, because we’ll be on our feet all night.”

  My sister used the truck’s bumper for balance and shook out a piece of gravel from her shoe. “No kidding. Now I wish I’d found boots.”

  “I hope we won’t get cold after dark,” I said, “especially if any one sloshes beer on me. Are you all ready to go?�
��

  “How’s Rosie?” Jay asked.

  Without waiting for me to explain, Maddie plunged into the story while Jay drove to the bank parking lot reserved for volunteers. “Who else but Holly would do it?”

  “I bet Mason won’t help,” he said. “Nothing’s been done about Gina’s murder.”

  “Speak of the devil. Er, the detective.”

  I gestured toward the county SUV, which pulled into the lot as well. Mason parked and then strolled over to join us. Casual in scruffy jeans, a dark green MSU sweatshirt, and a baseball cap, he blended in with the other tourists. I frowned. Tomorrow afternoon’s showdown between the state’s two top universities always drew fierce competition.

  “I take it you’re a Sparty fan?” Jay asked.

  “Alma mater,” he said with an upraised thumb. “They’ll beat the Wolverines.”

  “Not the way UM’s playing,” I retorted. “We’ve won almost every game so far. Brian Quinn is setting up a huge outdoor monitor so people won’t miss the game.”

  “He’s showing the Red Wings game tonight, too. I wish the beer tent was closer to that screen,” Jay said. “I’d love to see them play the Hurricanes.”

  “So, Sasha. I heard about your dog being poisoned,” Mason said. “We’ll look into who may have bought the stuff at any local shops, here or in the area.”

  “I already called The Birdcage. They don’t carry it.” I glanced at Maddie. “Whoever did it could have gotten it anywhere. With cash.”

  “Yeah,” the detective said. “Proof—a necessary evil. Well, enjoy your evening, folks. I’m working another case in Ypsilanti. Can’t stay long tonight.”

  He loped off toward the village with a casual wave. Maddie snorted in disgust. “Gee. Thanks for nothing.”

  “He’s right, though,” I said. “The police can only do so much.”

  “First Maddie’s bear, and then your dog.” Jay hugged me tight, clearly worried. “What if Holly targets you next, Sasha?”

  “She’s a coward at heart, and doesn’t want to be caught in the act. I doubt she’ll try to pull anything else with so many people around. Come on, we’d better go.”