How to Kennel a Killer

by Cat Clayton

  Lloyd’s lower jaw dropped, his eyes widening. “Lizzie don’t!”

  A horn blared, and from somewhere behind me, I heard a whooshing sound.

  Before I realized what’d happened, I was on the ground, on my side, gravel digging into my legs and hip. I could see feet under Lloyd’s truck, and lots of them.

  People were congregating.

  Someone screamed in my ear.

  “You little tramp! I’ll kill you!” a woman shrieked.

  She yanked my hair, and as I pulled away, I saw her crazy green eyes. Lizzie sat on top of me, screaming, how dare you sleep with my husband? All of a sudden, she went flying to the ground, landing a few feet from me.

  Cuff yipped and barked and wailed.

  “Don’t you ever touch my sister again!” Stoney said beside me. She helped me sit up and smoothed down my hair.

  Gertie toddled over. “I’ll teach you to mess with my granddaughter, you crazy woman!” She walloped Lizzie in the shoulder with her bowling ball bag. After the bag made contact, Gertie lost control of it and it dropped to the ground.

  Lizzie bawled in pain, holding her right arm. She struggled to get up from the concrete, her feet unsteady.

  A crowd had gathered and I heard a siren heading in our direction. I guess someone had called the police. Terrific.

  Cuff continued his yapping session until I called him off.

  “Cuff, come here, boy.” I patted my leg. He came to my side and licked my hand.

  Oh, Chiquita! I thought she was gonna kill you!

  “I’m okay, little buddy.”

  Lloyd backed up against the door of his truck.

  Lizzie pointed at me, then to Stoney. “I don’t know which of you my husband is foolin’ around with now, but by God, I swear, you both will rue the day you ever set eyes on him!” She turned and sprinted away, back behind the building.

  “You okay, Steely?” Stoney asked. “Can you stand up?”

  “I think so,” I said, stunned, hurt, and completely caught off guard.

  She gathered me in her arms and helped me off the ground. On wobbly legs, I dusted off my jeans and sweater, my mind still whirling from the attack.

  Daniel rushed up, his jazz hands flying. “Oh my gosh! Is everyone alright? I saw a dark, frizzy-haired wild woman rushing over, and then, oh my god, she threw you down and pulled your hair. I didn’t know what to do! Oh, Steely, are you okay?” He took my hands in his.

  I managed a smile at my fast-talking friend. “I’m fine. Please tell me you didn’t call the police?”

  He shook his head. “Don’t look at me.”

  “It’s my fault,” Gertie said from behind us.

  I dropped Daniel’s hands and turned toward her.

  She dragged her bowling bag across the gravel. “I was so excited about the hot wings I forgot to tell you, Little Bob called them on the count I’d shown up here tonight.”

  Chapter 25

  “You’re bleeding, Steely,” Jackson said, rushing to my side.

  The whole cavalry had arrived. Fortunately, half the Pleasant Hills police force showed, which allowed Jackson to focus his attention on me. He led me over to one of the picnic tables outside Little Bob’s.

  Chief Becker had Gertie pulled to the side. Her hands were stacked on her hips, her head bobbing and her mouth jabber-boxing.

  “I’m sure it’s only scratches from the gravel,” I assured him. “I’m thankful I didn’t break a heel off these boots.”

  “You’re lucky you didn’t break an ankle,” he said, gently lifting the sleeve on my left arm, the one I’d landed on. “Let me take a look at your arm.”

  I winced from the stinging.

  He withdrew a tiny Maglite from his gun belt and flashed it across my skin, inspecting the damage.

  I observed the scrapes and scratches along my forearm. “It’s only road rash. Did anyone find her?”

  “No. She took off before we arrived,” he said. “You need to go to the urgent care clinic and get this looked at.”

  “Seriously, I’m fine.” I pulled my arm back and attempted to push my sleeve down. It hurt like a son of a gun! “What about Lloyd? Did he confess to killing Petunia?”

  “Right now, I have a better question for you.” Jackson’s concerned eyes grew dark and grave. “And, you’re not going to like it. What in the hell were you doing here?”

  He’s right. I didn’t like it one bit.

  Chiquita, this is serious.

  I glanced over toward Lloyd’s truck, the hub of the scene. Nick had arrived and it appeared he was taking statements from Daniel and Stoney. Lloyd had his driver’s side door open and sat on the seat, giving his statement to another officer.

  “Steely?” Jackson said.

  I turned to him, deciding on how to deliver my story.

  He is a big boy. He can handle it.

  I told him every last detail. Me keeping the Stumble app on my phone, not deleting the account, and setting up a meeting with Mich5166. I told him I didn’t see the harm in staking out the guy, since my sights were set on Vivienne Peacock. I’d merely wanted to check this last person out. When we realized we knew the guy, it seemed perfectly safe to approach him. Then, everything spiraled out of control. I shared my version of what happened with Lizzie.

  “But before she jumped me, Lloyd admitted to being angry with Petunia about breaking things off with him. I’m almost embarrassed to say, I was so wrong about Vivienne. She may be a vengeful witch, but she didn’t kill anyone. I think Lloyd had something to do with it. Or Lizzie.”

  When I finished, Jackson sighed and closed his eyes for a moment.

  “The domestic call I received earlier regarded the Maddens. Lizzie attacked Lloyd when he tried to leave. She pulled a gun on him. You could’ve been...” And without another word, he paced back and forth in front of the picnic table where I sat.

  A gun? Lloyd had seemed so cool and collected earlier. What kind of man cheats on his wife, leaves his wife, has a gun pulled on him, and meets up with some random woman from a dating app?

  A crazy or desperate one, I thought.

  I gave Jackson some space and time to work it all out in his head.

  Cuff hopped up on the bench and then onto the table and sat down next to me. I gave him a little pat. His body trembled under my hand.

  My doggy intuition tells me he is angry or worried or nervous. His emotions are all over the place, Chiquita.

  After a few minutes, which seemed like an eternity, Jackson positioned himself in front of me. He bent his head low and kissed the top of my head, his lips lingering, and he inhaled as if he were memorizing my scent. He pulled back and stared into my eyes.

  “Part of me is so furious with you,” he said, his jaw clenching.

  “And the other part?” I asked, cringing.

  He studied me, taking my hand.

  “Is totally in love with you,” he said.

  “What?” I asked, my lips trembling.

  Steely and Jackson sitting in a tree. Cuff nudged my arm with his nose.

  Jackson grazed my cheek with his fingers. “I said, I love you.”

  GERTIE, DANIEL, STONEY, and I left the scene not too much longer after Jackson’s confession of love. I walked on air the last thirty minutes we were there answering questions and giving our statements. Jackson resumed his professionalism and performed his law enforcement duties, but I noticed a sparkle in his eyes every time he glanced in my direction. They’d called out a paramedic from the urgent care clinic. They cleaned and wrapped my road rash in the back of the unit.

  The chief had to do a lot of pleading on Gertie’s behalf. Little Bob agreed not to press charges on her, but he begged me to keep her far away from his establishment.

  Needless to say, Gertie didn’t go bowling. One, by the time we’d finished up in the parking lot at Little Bob’s, she’d missed a full hour of Gutter Nutter action, and two, when we opened up her bowling bag and inspected her green and black marbled ball, it had a huge chip
in it from bouncing off the concrete. I promised her I’d purchase a new one.

  I pulled the Bug into the parking lot behind Scrubadub, put it into neutral and set the parking brake. I killed the engine and began gathering my things.

  “You’ve been awfully quiet since we dropped off Gertie and Stoney,” Daniel said, unhooking his seatbelt.

  I shrugged. “It’s nothing.”

  “It doesn’t feel like nothing,” Daniel said, turning and facing me. “You sure you don’t want to talk about it?”

  I pulled the keys out of the ignition and tucked them into my purse. “I’m feeling kind of rotten about the stress my Pop is under. Did you see his face when he came out to the car?”

  He put his hand over mine. “He knows you love him.”

  “Yeah, but he has Stoney to deal with and she has such a long road of recovery in front of her. And, here I am acting a fool, getting myself into trouble. I also may have botched Petunia’s murder investigation. What was I thinking? Gosh, I’m terrible!”

  Daniel squeezed my hand. “You’re not terrible.”

  I laid my head back on the headrest and sighed.

  “You’re a loving daughter, sister, and granddaughter. And, I’m sure the investigation is fine. They’ll figure it out.” He patted the back of my hand.

  I will paw bump to that. Cuff stood on the center console between us. He rowed a paw at Daniel.

  Daniel shook his tiny paw. “Cuff, you’re adorbs.”

  “Thanks, friend,” I said.

  “Don’t mention it. About tomorrow, what time do you want me here?” he asked.

  With all the night’s excitement, I’d forgotten about the rest of the contest preparations. “Why don’t you take the day off?” I said.

  “Say what? Girl, we have a ton of stuff to do!” Daniel said.

  Squeaky voice.

  I concealed a giggle at Cuff’s thought. “Yes, but Pop and Jackson are devoting the entire day to helping me. Stoney and Gertie will be around if we need backup. No worries. Enjoy a day off.”

  “Fab. I’m headed to Austin to see some friends then.” He leaned over past Cuff and pecked me on the cheek. “See ya Saturday!” He jumped out of the car and loaded into the Miata. Within minutes, he zoomed out of the back lot.

  “Let’s get inside, little buddy.” I unlocked the back door and glanced around for good measure. Everything appeared normal. I sighed in relief, my nerves frazzled.

  Before heading to bed, I checked the front and back door locks downstairs again. My cell phone buzzed in my hand on the way back up the stairs. I froze, staring at the screen. Unknown Caller.

  I let the call roll into voicemail. When I checked it minutes later, whoever had called didn’t leave a message.

  FRIDAY MORNING, I WOKE early. I threw on a black sweatshirt with the official COW emblem screen-printed on the front, a black and white cow wielding a magnifying glass, and a pair of blue jeans.

  Standing out on the balcony, I guzzled a fruit and yogurt smoothie and waited on Jackson to arrive. I shivered as a brisk, cool breeze rushed past me. The cloudless blue sky hinted at a warmer afternoon. I’d checked the weather for the following day, and we were guaranteed another beautiful day ahead of us. I closed my eyes, enjoying the sun on my face and thought about all we had to do today. We needed to wrap up the remaining pet costume contest and parade details. We also had a delivery of metal kennels due early afternoon for the animal rescue society.

  A familiar roar dragged me out of my thoughts.

  I waved to Jackson when he parked his motorcycle near the curb. He removed his helmet and strapped it on the raised back seat with a bungee cord. I recalled riding on the back of his motorcycle not long after we’d met. I’m not a fan of bikes; they make me feel out of control, and I don’t like to be out of control.

  Clad in a pair of faded jeans and a black leather jacket, he nodded to me and removed his front pooch pouch where he carried Taffy. He set her on the ground and Cuff barked from between the railings.

  Hello, my love!

  Taffy peered up at us and yipped in reply.

  “I’ll be right down,” I told Jackson, and we headed downstairs to let them in the front door.

  He kissed me hello, soft and sweet, smelling of leather and his spicy aftershave. I kissed him back.

  “Hey,” I said, grinning up at him.

  “Hey yourself,” he said. “How’s your arm today?”

  “Other than a few scratches, it’s fine.”

  Cuff and Taffy danced around in circles at our feet.

  “Good to hear it. You wanna grab a bite to eat down at Orsack’s before we get started?” he asked. He unzipped his leather jacket and wiggled out of it, exposing his broad shoulders and bulky chest under a tight black Henley shirt. “I’m starving.”

  “I can fix you a smoothie.” I enjoyed my view, but tried not to gawk.

  Or drool, Chiquita. Drooling is for dogs.

  I ran my fingers under my lip. No drool.

  “I need more than fruit and juice,” he said, tossing his cycle keys on the counter. “I worked well into the night, without dinner. By the time we’d finished up and put out the BOLO for Lizzie Madden, all I wanted to do was collapse. I need sustenance. And meat. And biscuits.”

  “And, a BOLO is?”

  “Be on the lookout.”

  I nodded. “Oh, okay.”

  Since Lizzie attacked me, I’d decided to press charges. Hopefully, they located her soon before she hurt anyone else.

  I agreed to breakfast, grabbed my keys, and we locked up behind us. We walked to Orsack’s. The dogs trotted up in front as we strolled down Main Street. We’d have to sit outside since Cuff had demanded they join us. Cuff didn’t want to miss out on anything.

  “Maybe we should go somewhere else,” Jackson said.

  I followed his gaze.

  Nick and Stacia Peacock were sitting at one of the café tables outside; they hadn’t seen us approaching.

  “We have nothing to hide. They’re the ones who should be ashamed of themselves, not us.” I slid my arm through his. “Unless you want to avoid them for some reason.” I considered the fact since they all three worked together at the police department, maybe Jackson didn’t want to rub our relationship in their faces.

  “No, I’m good if you are,” he said, leading me into the covered seating area.

  Nick and Stacia glanced up, and Nick nodded in our direction.

  “Campbell,” Jackson said, acknowledging him. He paid Stacia no mind, which made me do a little mental happy dance.

  “S’up, devil dog?” Nick asked.

  “Same shit, different day,” Jackson replied.

  Guy language is so weird.

  “Do you want to wait out here with the dogs or go fetch some menus?” Jackson asked me.

  “I’ll go in. I need to use the restroom anyway. I’ll be back in a few,” I told him. The last thing on earth I wanted to do was sit out here alone with Nick and his bimbo girlfriend.

  “I’ll be right over here,” Jackson said, choosing a table as far away as possible from the two of them.

  I ran inside and used the bathroom, only to collide into Stacia on my way out the door.

  So much for avoiding a confrontation.

  “Oh, sorry!” she said with a surprised expression.

  “Excuse me,” I said, skirting around her.

  “Steely, wait,” she said.

  Annoyed, I whirled around. “What now?”

  She blinked her baby blues at me, her blonde hair pulled back into a high ponytail. “For what it’s worth, I’m truly sorry for the way my aunt Vivi treats you. She really doesn’t have a good reason, and well, I just wanted you to know.”

  I braced myself for a rude comment or two, but nothing followed. A total pinch-myself-moment. I didn’t know how to react.

  “Um, thank you,” I said in bewilderment.

  She walked past me and back out the front door.

  “Huh,” I said and grabbed a me
nu from the front counter. I glanced out the window. I noticed Jackson standing over near Nick’s table outside, the two of them conversing. Stacia made her way back and sat down in her chair. What possessed her to apologize? The shock needed time to settle in.

  The shade from the red and white scalloped awning made it difficult to decode Jackson’s expression, but his rigid body posture spoke volumes as he towered over the table.

  “Hey there, Steely,” Bethany said, straightening her light blue server’s apron. Her platinum hair pulled up into a severe bun on the top of her head, black eyeliner cat-eyed in the corners of her dark brown eyes. “I heard you had yourself some trouble last night out at Little Bob’s.”

  It didn’t surprise me; word traveled fast in our small town.

  “Yeah, it was no big deal,” I said, not wanting to add fuel to the wildfire of town gossip. “Hey, Jackson and I are sitting out front. He’ll need to order food, but for now, can you bring us two coffees?”

  “Sure thing,” she said. “I’ll be out there in a sec. But I’m glad you’re okay. I’ve had my doubts about Lizzie Madden since they moved to town.” She jotted something down on her order pad and slid the pen through the tight strands of her hair.

  Interesting. I had to admit, I didn’t know much about Lizzie, nor did I care to, until she attacked me last night. My curiosity intensified.

  “Bethany, if you don’t mind me asking, what did you mean you had your doubts about her?”

  Bethany busied herself wiping down one of the booths nearby. I glanced around and noticed she was the only server on the floor, and she struggled to stay on top of things in the packed restaurant.

  “Well, I heard they’d moved around a lot. And a friend of Trudy’s down at the salon told her Lizzie had been fired from the hospital she worked out of in California,” she said, rearranging the ketchup, salt, and pepper on the table.

  “Fired, huh,” I said. And, from a hospital. Interesting little tidbit.

  “Yeah, rumor is she used to be a hospice nurse and got canned for some reason. Don’t ask me for what, though. Heard it was the reason they picked up and moved to Texas. Apparently, Lloyd is from around these parts. When no one would hire her as a hospice nurse here, she started creating those weird mannequin things she calls art,” Bethany said.