by Donna Ball
Buck handed my purse to me. “We found it in the Dumpster behind the ticket stand. Everything looks like it’s there—phone, driver’s license, credit cards, forty-two dollars in cash?”
I passed the dogs’ leashes to Sonny and grabbed my purse. Buck bent to rub Cisco’s ears, and I thrust my fingers into the zippered pocket inside. It was empty.
I looked at Jolene and she read my face. “Great,” she muttered.
Buck straightened up and looked at her. “What?”
Jolene said, “Sir, Stockton found what she thought might be a micro-transmitter in the collar of the dog belonging to the Madison woman. I asked her to bring it in for examination, and apparently it was stolen.”
Buck scowled. “A micro-transmitter? In a dog’s collar?” He looked at me. “What made you think that’s what it was?”
“I didn’t,” I replied coolly. “Uncle Ro and his friend Marshall Becker did. Marshall said he’d seen something like it used by the FBI.”
I have to say, it gave me a certain amount of pleasure to toss Becker’s name around so casually. And I enjoyed the way Buck’s eyes darkened with questions he was not permitted to ask when I did.
Buck turned on Jolene. “Let me get this straight. You discovered a piece of sophisticated surveillance equipment on a dog belonging to a dead woman and you didn’t think that might be pertinent to our investigation?”
Jolene said stiffly, “Yes sir, I did think it was pertinent. That’s why I wanted to take it into evidence.”
“But you can’t, can you?” His tone was sharp. “Because now it’s been stolen. Why didn’t you go and collect the evidence yourself, Deputy?”
She tightened her lips and raised her chin in the instinctive manner of a soldier accepting discipline, and I knew she wouldn’t defend herself. I said, “Because I volunteered to bring it in. If you ask me …”
Buck shot me a glance. “I’m not asking you.” He demanded curtly, “Check your purse again. Is anything else missing besides the transmitter?”
I checked again. I’m not one to carry around a lot of stuff—my wallet, cell phone, some dog pickup bags, an extra clicker. It was all there. “No. Nothing but the transmitter.”
His frown deepened. “The guy knew what he was looking for then.”
“Sir,” Jolene volunteered, “there’s no reason to think the device wasn’t still active. If it was, the thief may have tracked her here.”
“Good heavens,” said Sonny uneasily.
I had to agree. Creepy.
Buck turned back to Jolene. “Finding this thief is your top priority. I want all the witness reports on my desk by end of shift.” He cast a last, scowling glance at me and added, “Get someone to escort Miss Stockton back to her car.”
“Yes, sir.”
But he was already striding away.
I took the dogs’ leashes from Sonny. “I don’t know about you,” I said, “but I think I’ve had enough fun for one day.”
She nodded agreement and looped Hero’s leash around the handlebar of the scooter. “I’m parked next to you,” she said. “I’ll go with you. You need to go home and take care of that knee.”
We started toward the midway and Jolene fell into step beside us. I said, “I don’t need a police escort.”
“I have my orders,” she replied, and I tried not to roll my eyes.
“Anyway,” I said, trying to be gracious, “I’m sorry you got in trouble. He only yelled at you because he couldn’t yell at me.”
I sensed her sharp intake of breath and thought she was going to make a typical retort. But the words that came out were a rather grudging, “I’m always in trouble with him.”
I murmured, “I know the feeling.”
We moved onto the midway, where the crowd had grown even more now that the sun had fully set. The air was filled with the ping of carnival games and the squeal of children as they sailed by on the tilt-a-whirl; the call of barkers hawking hot dogs, peanuts, and cotton candy; the pervasive, nostalgic sound of calliope music. People smiled and pointed when they saw the parade of dogs, and a little girl almost lost her cotton candy when she lingered too close to Cisco. She was close to Melanie’s age, and I smiled at her even as I spoke sharply to Cisco and pulled him close.
Then, unexpectedly I got a lump in my throat. I missed Melanie. I missed Miles. I missed them so much I couldn’t even think about them, so I blinked away the hot blur in my eyes and started to say something meaningless to Sonny. That was when one of the goldens at my side leapt to the end of the leash with an outburst of excited barking that was interspersed with hopeful, high-pitched whines. It sounded just like Cisco when he anticipates a really tasty treat and loses control … or when he sees Buck. In fact, I was so sure that the culprit was Cisco that I automatically scolded, “Cisco, quiet!” while I reeled in the leash. Cisco, who was already at my side, gave me a puzzled look. The barking and whining was coming from Cameo, and she was as animated as I had ever seen her.
I pulled her back to my side and she swiveled her head around, still barking, although it was beginning to sound a little forlorn now. I turned to follow her gaze, searching the crowd for whatever it was that had set her off. Another dog? A stray cat? I couldn’t think of anything else that would get her so excited and, as hard as I tried, I couldn’t see anything, either.
Cisco gave a couple of supportive barks, but it was clear he didn’t know what he was barking at, and when I told him to sit, he did. So did Cameo, who had apparently lost track of whatever had set her off. She was still panting with excitement though, and her eyes were bright, as though for the first time she was expecting good things in her future.
“I wonder what that was about,” I said, bending down to stroke her ears. “She’s usually such a quiet dog.”
Sonny regarded Cameo with a puzzled expression, and then she looked at me. “She says,” she replied, “it was her dad.”
I lifted an eyebrow, and Jolene said, staring suspiciously at Sonny, “What?”
But there was no way I was explaining that to Jolene. I gave a dismissing wave of my hand and said, “Nothing.”
Sonny looked amused as I slapped my thigh to get the two goldens by my side and started walking again. But now she’d planted an idea in my head that I couldn’t stop thinking about. I hadn’t gotten that much of a look at Tony Madison, but the man who’d attacked me had been roughly the same size. And if he’d been the one who had stolen my purse, what better way to evade detection than to simply dispose of the mask and the purse and blend into the crowd again, acting like an ordinary fairgoer until the police moved on?
I said to Jolene, “So did Tony Madison go back to Virginia, or is he at the campground tonight? Because he didn’t answer when I called his cell phone earlier.”
Jolene said, “His wife just died. Are you really surprised he didn’t answer a phone call from a stranger?” She stepped in front of the dogs and me when we came to a corner and I saw her look right and left; it wasn’t showy, just instinct. She added, resuming her stride, “Last I heard he was staying overnight in Asheville to make arrangements for his wife’s body to be returned home.”
I said, “Do you know what he does for a living?”
She replied impatiently, “It’s not my job to give you information about our investigation, Stockton. Where are you parked?”
“In the back. Employee parking.” She made the turn at the carousel and I added, “I was just wondering if he was in the tech field.”
“He’s a CPA.” And then she paused and gave me an intense look over her shoulder. “Why? Do you have some reason to think he was the one who stole that transmitter?”
“No,” I said carefully. Except that Cameo had never barked like that before, and I would stake everything I knew about dogs on the fact that she had just seen someone she knew, and loved. “It’s just that he did lie about how long his wife had been missing. And whoever planted the device had to have easy access to Cameo’s collar, like someone who lived with her
would. And the only person who could track the device would be the one who planted it, right? I mean, if he was following me.”
She did not reply, and I prompted, “You’re going to see if he has an alibi for tonight, right?”
We had reached my car and I beeped the remote control to unlock the doors. “Because if he did plant the transmitter to spy on his wife, that could be the whole foundation of your case,” I went on. “It makes sense he’d want to get it back before it went into police custody.”
Jolene turned to me. “Let me ask you something, Stockton,” she said, looking thoughtful. “Just how stupid are these folks at the Hanover County Sheriff’s Department, anyway?”
I was confused. “What? What makes you think …”
“Because to hear you talk,” she went on, “you’d think not a one of them ever went to police academy or took the certification exam or even watched an episode of CSI. Well, the good news is, I’ve done all those things, and I know how to work a case. If I need help from you, I’ll be sure to let you know.”
She turned to Sonny, whose lips were tight with repressed amusement, and said politely, “Do you need any assistance, ma’am?”
Sonny replied, equally as politely, “No thank you, Officer. I can manage.”
Jolene walked away, and I muttered, “I was just trying to be helpful.”
I put the dogs in my SUV and helped Sonny with the scooter. Hero jumped into the front seat and Sonny got behind the wheel of her car. “Are you sure you don’t want someone to take your shift at the booth tomorrow?” she said. “You’ve had a rough couple of days.”
I said, “Thanks, but I’m good. I’m kind of looking forward to doing something normal for a change.”
She said, “Well, you need to take care of yourself. Go home, draw a cool bath, have a glass of wine, and call Miles. He always makes you feel better.”
She was right; he did. I felt my stomach clench as I said, “I broke up with Miles.”
The dismay on her face seemed to reflect my own. “Oh, Raine,” she said. “I’m so sorry.” She added, “It’s none of my business, of course, but the two of you seemed so good together. And Miles …” She hesitated, and then said, “I’ve known him off and on through the years, and I’ve never known him to be so devoted to anyone. I thought … well, it doesn’t matter.” She smiled, though her eyes seemed to search mine as she looked at me. “It’s just that … I know you’ve got to be a little gun shy after Buck, and … are you sure this is what you want?”
I heard myself saying, with a shake of my head, “No. It’s not what I want at all. It’s just … complicated.”
She looked at me with genuine sympathy. “Raine Stockton,” she said. “You work harder at getting what you don’t want than anyone I know. If you put even a fraction of that energy into getting what you do want, you’d be unstoppable.”
I prickled at that and wanted to object, but Sonny started her engine. “Let me know if you change your mind about tomorrow,” she said. “I’m home all day.”
She waved as she drove off, and I lifted my hand in a feeble reply, still frowning over what she had said.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
I slept restlessly and awoke once again the middle of the night, sweating and gasping from the nightmare in which everything I loved in the world was about to be blown out of existence. Instinctively I grabbed my phone and checked for a message from Miles, but there wasn’t one, of course. The hollow emptiness in my stomach settled in again as I realized that this time the nightmare had come true.
Almost. Cisco, sensing my wakefulness, rested his sweet golden head on the side of my bed and I dropped my hand atop it, stroking his ears. I lay there staring at the darkness, feeling the steady reassurance of my dog beside me, until the sound of blood roaring in my ears was silent. Night shadows swirled and lightened, and eventually I fell again into an uneasy sleep. But I was glad when daylight came.
I checked my phone again, I don’t know why. Nothing. That was fine. That was okay. It only meant that he had thought over what I’d said and come to realize I was right. It was better this way, for everyone. No long discussions, no regrets, no drawn-out good-byes. Much better.
My knee was stiff and swollen, and it took me twice as long as it usually did to get dressed and feed the dogs. I couldn’t have been more annoyed with myself. I should have let the paramedic wrap it last night; now I was going to miss most of the fun of teaching a class—showing off how well my own dog and I could do the exercises—and so was Cisco.
I wrapped the knee myself in an elastic bandage and limped around the house for another half hour or so, working out the stiffness. In the summer months, agility class starts at eight a.m. to avoid the heat of the day, which can be dangerous for both dogs and humans when they’re running and jumping full speed. I have an air-conditioned indoor training room which I sometimes use for beginning students, but it’s too small to set up a sequence class. Besides, running outdoors is a lot more fun, for both dogs and the people. It was clear, however, that I would not be running very far today.
By the time I got to the kennel at seven a.m., Corny was already there, scooping out kibble into stainless steel bowls in the kitchen. The kennels had of course been cleaned and most of the dogs were enjoying the morning air in their outdoor runs. I stopped at the door to the kitchen, staring at him, and he turned quickly, bubbling over with apology and enthusiasm. “Oh, Miss Stockton, I know I’m not supposed to start until ten, but I noticed on the schedule that you’re teaching a class this morning, and I thought if I got here early and took care of the kennel I might be able to watch? Only if it’s okay with you, of course. I mean, I’m not trying to run up my hours, this is completely on me, it would just mean so much to be able to see in person how you work.”
I didn’t answer. I couldn’t answer, because I was frantically trying to remember whether, when I had searched my purse for the second time last night, the little gold miniature Schnauzer pin had been there. I had put it in my purse before I left for the hospital. But I hadn’t seen it after Buck returned my purse to me. What kind of thief would ignore credit cards and cash in favor of a little gold dog pin?
Obviously, the same kind of thief who would put a transmitter in a dog’s collar and then steal my purse to get it back.
At my continued silence, Corny added anxiously, “Unless I’d be in the way.” Then, “Of course I’d be in the way, I shouldn’t have asked. I’ll just get these dogs fed …”
“No,” I said, “no, it’s okay. You’re welcome to watch a class any time. Not a problem.” Then I added, forcing a quick smile, “Nice hat.”
He stood there beaming, a stainless steel bowl of kibble in each hand, his fuzzy orange hair poking out on either side from beneath the baseball cap that was covered with gold dog pins. He said, “My grandfather collected the pins, one for each breed he put a championship on.”
“Wow,” I said. “Impressive. Looks like there’s one for just about every breed there.”
“Just about,” he agreed cheerfully.
Except the one for the miniature schnauzer, I thought, because try as I would, I did not see the little schnauzer pin on his hat. I added casually, “Did you find the employment papers I left for you last night? I put them in your coat pocket so you wouldn’t forget.”
Something flickered across his eyes, but it was too quick, and too subtle, for me to define. “Thanks,” he said, and gestured toward the door with one of the dog bowls. “I guess I’d better start serving breakfast.”
I moved out of his way and the alarm in his face was genuine as he noticed my stiff movements and bandaged knee. “Oh no! Are you hurt?”
I shrugged it off. “A hazard of the profession. I’ll tell you what, though. I’m all for saving steps today, so why don’t I fill the bowls and you can distribute them?”
“Absolutely,” he assured me. “Whatever you need. You can count on me.”
I smiled. “I know I can, Corny.” I made my way over to the
counter and picked up the list of boarders with special meal requirements while Corny hurried toward the door. “Oh, by the way,” I added over my shoulder, as though it were of no importance whatsoever. “Did you happen to go up to the house yesterday while I was gone?”
He turned and looked at me, wide-eyed. “What, your house? No, of course not. Why would I do that?”
I shrugged, pretending to study the list. “It must’ve been one of the girls, then. I just wanted to mention that if you ever need anything from the house the back door is almost always unlocked during the day. I don’t mind if you go in. Just let me know.”
“Oh,” he seemed puzzled. “Okay.”
“Oh,” I added, still very casually, “I keep forgetting to mention that the police will probably want to talk to you about what you saw at the campground the other night.”
I was certain I did not imagine the flicker of alarm in his eyes. “Police? Me?”
“You know, about seeing Cameo and her owner get into the car.”
“Oh.” He still looked worried, but then the prospect of being interviewed by the police didn’t usually fill anyone’s heart with joy. “Well, yes, of course. Whatever I can do to help.”
He walked on down the corridor with the two bowls in hand, and I thought his step was a little less carefree than before.
Clearly, I needed to work on my interrogation technique. My father used to say that the only way to get the right answers is to ask the right questions. The problem with that, however, is that there is a very real danger of finding out something you don’t want to know. Corny was not only the best employee I’d ever had, he was very likely the best employee anyone had ever had. The man had come in four hours early, off the clock, and was doing extra work just so that he could watch me teach an agility class, for heaven’s sake. I’d be crazy to look that particular gift horse in the mouth.