Pit and Miss Murder

by Renee George

  Our volunteer Jordan walked through the front door. When she saw me, she looked astonished. “Lily, I forgot you work here on Thursdays.” A slight, yet sharp, aroma of vinegar hit my nose, even over all the other scents in the reception area.

  “Hi, Jordan. What are you up to today?” She wasn’t on the volunteer schedule at the shelter today, and I knew she wasn’t taking summer classes.

  “I wanted to check on Hester. Keith told me yesterday that Hester had been taken to the vet, and I was on this side of town, so I thought I’d stop in and check on her.”

  Jordan had started volunteering the month before the Blakes took Hester in as a foster. I loved the bonds that our team formed with the pit bulls, even the ones we only had for a short while. “That’s so sweet of you to check on her. I’ll ask Ryan if you can go back and see her. Do you have time to wait a few minutes?” Plus, I’d wanted to talk to her about James Hanley, and this was the perfect opportunity.

  “Absolutely,” she said.

  “Just let me take Ms. Jackson and Pillow back.”

  The basic exam of the kitten included weighing him, taking his temperature, and observing for any physical abnormalities. After Kelly and I determined the cute-as-hell fluff ball appeared to be perfect, Ryan came in and charmed the pants off Ms. Jackson as he did a head to toe assessment of the kitten, checking his teeth, eyes, nose, ears, and genitals. Well, the lack of genitals. Kittens as young as Fluffy didn’t have prominent privates.

  The kitten flopping on its back and playfully batted at Ryan’s hands with his tiny toe beans. His cuteness melted me into a puddle. “He’s such an adorable baby,” I told Ms. Jackson.

  She grinned hard enough to make my cheeks hurt.

  Ryan nodded his agreement. “Congratulations, Ms. Jackson. Pillow is a healthy one-pound two-ounce six-week-old cutie-patootie. Did Abby go over the kitten package with you?”

  “She sure did,” Ms. Jackson said.

  “Great. So today, we’ll get his initial vaccinations done, and we’ll see you in two weeks for the next ones. Did you bring in a stool sample?”

  Ms. Jackson proudly held out a plastic baggy with a tiny poop ribbon inside. “I got it right before we came here.”

  “Perfect,” Ryan said, hitting her with a devastating smile.

  I heard her heartbeat kick up a notch. Ryan was gay, but not many people in town knew. Still, it didn’t stop him from flirting with anything on two legs. I loved that about him. “I’ll go check for heartworms while Kelly and Lily get the vaccinations done. Okay?”

  “Just fine, Doctor Ryan. Thank you.” I have expected the woman to start fanning herself.

  Kelly and I grinned at each other as we followed Ryan into the workspace. Kelly retrieved a vial of DHLPP vaccine, which protected cats from distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, and the parvovirus. We would give the cat a dewormer as well if the stool specimen showed any critters. While she was logging the lot number, I went over to Ryan, who was preparing a poop slide.

  “Jordan Deeter, one of the volunteers from the rescue is here.”

  “I remember Jordan,” he said, frowning in deep concentration as he finished the prep and was moving the slide under the microscope for examination. “Does she need something?”

  “She wants to check on Hester, if that’s okay.”

  “Without a doubt. If you want, why don’t you take Hester out for some activity? It’ll be good for her to stretch her legs. Her hips are a little arthritic, so laying down for long periods of time can make her stiff.”

  I’d noticed that when she’d gotten up from the cot. “Thanks. I’ll do that right after we get done with the vaccine.”

  “Go on,” Kelly said. “Pillow is pretty calm. I think between Ms. Jackson and me, we should be able to get one injection done. You’ll do Hester a lot of good.”

  “Can I just say how much I love working here?”

  Ryan chuckled. “You just did.”

  “We love having you, Lily. The animals, no matter how sick or feisty, seem to really calm down when you’re here. I’m going to start asking Ryan to call you in for all the hard cases,” Kelly said.

  “If I’m not at the shelter, you can have me,” I said, grateful to have found my way to Moonrise, Missouri.

  Chapter 17

  This morning the meteorologist on channel five had called for showers on Friday, and thunderstorms on Saturday, but today was just gorgeous outside. The sun was shining, there was a slight breeze, and it was a perfect seventy-two degrees. Jordan and I watched Hester trot around the big fenced-in area until she began to circle.

  “Poop patrol,” Jordan said.

  We both laughed. “They love to circle before they come in for a landing.”

  “They really do.” She laughed again. “I was really worried about her when I found out she got sick.”

  “Me too. She’s such a sweet old girl. I don’t understand people who go out of their way to hurt animals. There has to be something wrong inside them. Deeply wrong.”

  “Yes,” Jordan agreed. “It’s terrible.” I heard such heartbreak in her voice that I reached out to touch her. Jordan reflexively stepped away before my fingers made contact with her. I am a shifter, and touch is vital to my kind. Hugs, holding hands, a hand on the shoulder, arm, or knee, is all about showing love, support, and comfort, and I’d been lucky to find friends and family here in Moonrise who equally craved, or at least enjoyed, physical contact. However, I’d learned to respect someone’s preferences when they made it clear they weren’t comfortable being touched. So, I let my hand drop.

  “How are classes going?”

  “Good. A sculpture of mine was chosen to be displayed at the Two Hills Museum of Modern Art on campus for the summer.”

  “That’s great,” I told her. “Congratulations. I’ll stop in and take a gander at next week after classes.” When she didn’t say more, I decided to broach the subject of James. I started with subtle. “Are you seeing anyone?”

  She shook her head. “Not anymore.”

  Not a lie. Hmm. “I saw you with James Hanley at the courthouse the other morning. I thought you two—”

  Jordan shook her head. “It isn’t like that. I grew up with James. My parents and his used to be friends.”

  “Used to?”

  She gave a startled blink. “I mean, they’re friends.”

  My internal lie detector pinged hard, which seemed weird for such a small lie. “What do your parents do?”

  “They used to own a florist shop here in town.” Truth.

  “Are they retired? Do they travel?” I always thought I’d want to travel someday. Maybe, after my degree, I could start saving money for a trip with Parker.”

  Jordan shook her head. “Not yet. Maybe after I finish up college.”

  Truth. “Do you know Addy Newton?”

  “Sure. Why?”

  “He’s home for the summer. He’ll be taking on some volunteer hours several days a week until the fall semester starts back up.”

  “Wow. That’ll be great when we open up the new center.” She whistled for Hester, and the brindle baby trotted over. “Such a good girl,” Jordan said, cupping Hester’s jowls and giving them a playful squeeze. “Do we have everything we need for the opening?” She picked up a ball on the grass and tossed it. Hester took off after it.

  “Just about,” I said. Hester barked and rolled as she dived for the ball. I laughed. “We’re lucky to have so many talented volunteers. Your murals are fantastic.”

  “Thank you, Lily. It’s some of my favorite work.”

  We’d moved on from James, the Hanleys, and her parents. Well played, Jordan, well played. But I wouldn’t be deterred. “Isn’t James and Addy younger than you?”

  “I graduated two years before them.”

  “Addy says he saw James’s truck at the shelter on Tuesday night.”

  “I wouldn’t let someone who isn’t an official volunteer into the shelter at night.” Honestly, she looked real
ly upset. “I swear it. I talked to him in the parking lot for about ten minutes, but he didn’t stay, and I certainly didn’t let him in.”

  Shoot. Truth. “I didn’t mean to imply you would.”

  “I have to go.”

  Ping.

  Jordan knelt next to Hester and gave her one last cuddle. “Thanks for getting me access to Hester. I’m so relieved to see her doing so well.”

  “The shelter is lucky to have someone like you looking out for our pretty pooches.”

  She nodded. “See you soon.”

  I played with Hester for another fifteen minutes before taking her back inside. I couldn’t help feeling unsettled by my talk with Jordan. I believed her about James, but there was something she was holding back. The problem was, did the secret have to do with Jock’s death? Or was it truly none of my business?

  After my shift, I drove straight to Parker’s house. I couldn’t stop thinking about Nadine and Buzz, and everything that Buzz had risked trying to have a baby, then him nearly blowing up their relationship with his truth bomb. On top of that, I was certain that Clem Hanley was somehow neck deep in whatever bull crap Jock was into, but I couldn’t manage to connect any dots. There was gambling and offers to buy out businesses, and zoning violations being sent left and right. And what of the elusive Electa Laverty. I wanted to talk to the woman, but if I found her, what in the world could I say? It wasn’t like I had any ties to her, no friends or work in common. But if she had been Jock’s current lover, she might have a good idea who would want to kill him and why. Also, she might be the killer herself. I mean, if Jock was my guy, he would have been dead long before now.

  This mystery had pieces from several different puzzles all thrown into the same box. It felt as if no matter how many times I tried to put it together, the picture was never going to make any sense.

  When I let myself into Parker’s house, I sat down on the floor in the living room, and asked, “Can I get a hug?” Smooshie, who had barreled in from the kitchen, obliged me by hitting me with a running tackle followed by wet, aggressive kisses. I laughed, rolling on the carpet as she bounced around me.

  “While the men are away the girls will play,” Parker said when he brought Elvis in from the backyard.

  “Party over here,” I said, sitting up. Smooshie plopped her booty right onto my lap.

  “You two are something else,” Parker said.

  “Too much?” I asked.

  “Never.” He gave me a hand up and kissed me hard. “So, tell me what’s going on?”

  “You mean other than Buzz being arrested for murder, and I’m not any closer to the truth than I was three days ago?”

  “No, I mean, whatever new thing has got you feeling vulnerable.”

  I stared at him for a moment. “How do you do that?”

  “Do what?”

  “You know me so well.”

  “That’s because you’ve let me. You’ve told me everything about your life. You’ve been so honest, that it’s let me be just as honest. When two people hide nothing from each other, reading emotional cues is easy.”

  When he used words like emotional cues, I knew he was channeling his PTSD counselor. “Did you go see your shrink this morning?”

  Parker chuckled, and the sound stirred up a longing in me. “Yes.” He tapped my nose. “See, you know me well, too.”

  Except, I was keeping something from him. Something big, and I wasn’t sure how to bring it up.

  “Just tell me, Lily. I can see you are bothered. Whatever it is, we will work through it together.” He cupped my face, and I arose on my tiptoes and met his mouth as he dipped his head to kiss me. “Now, what is it?”

  “You know how I told you about Buzz not shifting so he could have a baby with Nadine.”

  Parker’s expression darkened, but he nodded his head. “Yes.”

  “Buzz told Nadine the truth about him. About us. He blurted it out last night apparently during a fight.”

  Parker groaned. “He didn’t.”

  I nodded. “I went over there this morning with no idea what I was walking into.”

  Parker pulled me in for a tight hug. “I’m sorry. How is Nadine? Is she mad at you? Is this why you’re so tense?”

  “It’s part of it,” I admitted. “I think she’ll come around, but she’s hurt we weren’t honest with her.”

  “I’ll admit it was a shock for me,” he said, “and we weren’t even dating at the time.”

  I tilted my head back. “But you loved me despite our differences.”

  “I hope you don’t think that. I love you because you’re you. Every side of you.”

  “What about children?” I blurted. “Do you want kids?”

  Parker grew quiet, his eyes had a far off look in them. “Honestly?”

  “Of course.” My heart sped up as I waited for his response.

  “Lily. Elvis, Smooshie, and all the dogs we rescue, those are the only kids I want. I know there’s a chance you can have a baby, now with what Buzz has learned, and I’ll consider it if that’s what you really want.”

  A sob escaped me.

  “I’m sorry, babe. Really. I’m not trying to hurt you. When you told me it would be impossible for us to have children because I’m human, I just assumed we’d never have this conversation.”

  I met his gaze, his face blurred through my tears. “I don’t want any children. I never have. I had to raise my brother when I was seventeen, and he was seven, and then I had to outlive him. I don’t want to do that again. Ever. I can’t tell you how relieved I am that you feel the same way.”

  I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand. Parker had the biggest smile on his face. “You’re amazing.”

  “I’m a pibble mom.” I looked over to the couch where Smooshie and Elvis had cuddled up. “Of course, I’m amazing.”

  “Why don’t you invite Buzz and Nadine over for dinner tomorrow night? It’s a Friday. I can make tacos or lasagna.”

  “Lasagna,” I said, “And let’s make three of them.”

  “So, that’s a yes to dinner?”

  “Yes. As long as Nadine doesn’t have to work.”

  “And then I can answer the big question. How do you love a shifter?”

  “What’s the answer?”

  “The exact same way you loved them before you knew.” His blue eyes sparkled.

  “Good answer.”

  “So, who do you think killed Jock?”

  I jutted my lip in a pout. “I don’t know. He was poisoned, which could mean the killer is a woman. But he was also stabbed, but only once. I mean, if you want to kill a guy with a knife, wouldn’t you stab, stab, stab.”

  Parker nodded. “I’d probably use a garrote. You can’t be strangling for the personal touch. However, if it was business, I might use a long-range weapon.”

  “You’ve given this way too much thought.”

  “Believe me. As much as I haven’t murdered anyone, there are a few people who get to take part in the fantasy.”

  “Back in my hometown of Paradise Falls, there are several people I’ve wanted to put my hands on, so I understand.”

  “I know you have a list of suspects, so let’s hear them.” He nodded toward the kitchen. “In there, so I can make you something to eat. Your stomach is doing an angry dance against me.”

  As if to emphasize, a rushing gurgling noise emanated from my tummy. “Tacos?” I asked.

  “It’s because I mentioned them earlier, right?”

  I nodded enthusiastically. “Yep.” He opened the fridge and took out a three-pound package of hamburger while I admired the view.

  “What have you put together so far?” he asked.

  “Is it legal to be on the zoning commission and own a realty company? It just seems really unethical.”

  “Unethical, definitely. Illegal, probably not. The town council makes the rules, and most of them are old buddies.”

  “I wish I knew where to start with tracking down Electa Laverty. Pearl Dixon says
they were lovers, she’s the inspection officer who signed all the citations, and Jock hasn’t…hadn’t,” I amended, “been spending any time at his own house, but he had to be sleeping somewhere.”

  “So, she killed him?”

  “Maybe. I’d have a better sense of her if I could actually talk to her, but I have absolutely no idea where to find her. And, I’m pissed at the police for not bothering to investigate beyond Buzz. He has no real motive. One small fight shouldn’t make him the prime suspect, and if Sheriff Avery wasn’t controlling the investigation, I think they would already be tracking down other leads.”

  My phone rang from the other room. I’d left it in my bag. “Shoot. Give me a second.” By the time I retrieved it, I’d had one missed call from Nadine. A text message popped up that said, Call. Urgent.

  “Who is it?” Parker asked.

  I held up the phone, so he could see the screen then swiped her name in my contacts to call her back. She picked up on the first ring.

  “Hey, I have some information,” Nadine said.

  “Hold on. Parker’s here. I’m going to put you on speaker.” I tapped the speaker button and placed the phone on the table. “Go ahead.”

  “I got ahold of the records for Buzz’s phone. He had a call that showed it came from the sheriff’s department, but according to our records, we didn’t receive a call about a burglary, and we have no calls going out to Buzz’s phone.”

  “Then Buzz can prove that someone sent him over there. Someone pretending to be from the police.”

  “All it proves is that he got a call. But the prosecution will say that there is no way to say who made the call or what was said, so Buzz’s testimony about it is hearsay.”

  “What about the call that sent you all over to The Cat’s Meow at the same time?”

  “The call came from an anonymous tip, and the number used traces back to the coin-operated laundry mat here in town. When the logs were pulled for the place, there was no record of a call being made from their phone.”

  “How is that even possible?”

  “I called a forensic scientist we’ve used in the past for help on cases where we’ve had to get information from smartphones or computers. He said there are apps that can be downloaded to allow the caller to spoof other numbers.”