by Abby Deuel
As Ms. Jean’s face lit up with the memories of Anna and Dennis, Mandy and Gillian were applying the numbing and dilating drops to Trixie’s eyes. So far, they hadn’t found a scratch on the cornea with the fluoroscein stain. It appeared that the first reading of the tonometer was elevated. This meant that the pressure in Trixie’s eyes was too high.
“I’m sure that Dennis was devastated when he heard about Anna. I know he’s in town. I haven’t managed to catch up with him since Anna’s funeral. Have you guys seen him?” asked Ms. Jean.
“He was over at Fred’s when I got my hair cut. He seemed to keep in the back room. I don’t really know him so I don’t know if he was acting different or not,” Mandy said.
“I’ve been a bit preoccupied with convincing Mandy to stay that I haven’t really seen him,” said Gillian.
Mandy was checking the structures in the back of Trixie’s eye with her ophthalmoscope and lens. Unfortunately, it looked like the intro-ocular pressure was high due to acute glaucoma. Mandy opened a drawer in the exam room and pulled out her glucometer.
“We are going to check Trixie’s blood glucose. It’ll just be a little drop of blood that we need,” said Mandy. The number on the machine read 359, too high for a dog’s glucose. “Trixie here is diabetic, Ms. Jean. She has suffered an acute episode of glaucoma, or high pressure in the eyes. We need to get the diabetes under control with insulin and also treat the high pressure in the eye with special drops. You can have surgery on her eyes to help with the eye pressure. You would have to drive pretty far for that kind of specialized surgery, though. If we can’t get her comfortable with drops, I can remove her eye.”
“What? She would only have one eye?” asked Ms. Jean.
“It’s a possibility. There are a lot of things to try before that stage. I should say at this point that dogs do very well with only one eye. The reason I really want to avoid surgery is that she could develop the same thing in the remaining eye and we don’t want to leave her with no vision. So, first, we will run a full blood panel on her to rule out any other issues. Then we will keep her here for a few days to get her glucose regulated. Meanwhile, we will be trying to decrease the eye pressure. Then, once we have her stabilized, we will give you a lesson on how to give insulin and manage a diabetic dog. Lastly, we will wait and see if her eye pressures return to normal. If they don’t, we will consider the surgery. Any questions?”
“Wow, no wonder you and Anna were such good friends. You are both thorough and yet understanding. I don’t have any questions, except is Trixie in pain?” said Ms. Jean.
“We think that there is a headache-like pain associated with glaucoma. I will be treating her with pain medication. We just have to be careful not to compromise her kidneys with pain medications since they are most certainly affected by her diabetes. It can all get a little complicated.”
“I can see that. I will leave her in your good hands then. Please keep me updated on what you find. Are there visiting hours here?” asked Ms. Jean.
“Of course. We will keep you posted on her status and you are most welcome to come and visit her,” said Gillian.
“I will go home and bake her some goodies to bring her as she is recovering.”
“I’m afraid she will be on a strict diet now with her diabetes. While insulin manages glucose, diet is a pivotal part of diabetes treatment,” said Mandy.
“That’s going to be quite a change for her. Is there something I can bake her that would be safe?’ asked Ms. Jean. “She loves to help me bake.”
“I will give you some diabetic-friendly dog treat recipes. I will have to dig them out. I assure you that I will find them for you,” said Mandy. “We best get to work on her so we can get her home to you as soon as possible.”
“Thanks so much, Dr. Bell. Is it ok to bake for the two of you – as long as you don’t share with Trixie?” asked Ms. Jean.
“I have never refused home baking,” Mandy said with a smile.
Gillian and Mandy worked together to get Trixie on IV fluids and get blood sent off to the lab. They had some insulin in stock and started Trixie on a modest dose. The worst thing for her would be to receive too much insulin and crash. It was always a fine line with a newly diagnosed diabetic.
Once they got Trixie sorted, Gillian headed on home to start dinner for Hamish. Mandy finished up some medical notes for the cases from the past few days. As she was just heading out the door, the phone rang. She stayed to hear the message to determine if it was an emergency that needed attention.
“Hi Mandy, it’s Dennis. I’m going to be heading out of town soon and wondered if I could meet with you. I don’t know if you’ve had a chance to clean out Anna’s house. I’d really like to get those few items before I head out.”
Mandy let the message end without picking it up. She knew Dennis had been trying to get something from Anna’s house though she wasn’t sure what. She was reluctant to divvy anything up until she was certain there would be no conflicts later on. She had already explained this to him and was annoyed with his persistence. With the funeral the next day, Mandy was focused on getting her head in the game of murder sleuthing.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
They closed the clinic for the day of the funeral out of respect. The patients were all comfortably tucked in for the few hours they would be gone. It would be a slow day anyway since the entire town would be in attendance. Mandy scurried around her RV trying to find something to wear. Unfortunately, she could find nothing suitable. She remembered that Anna’s closet was well stocked and perhaps she could find something at her house that fit her. It was only a short drive to her house but she didn’t have long before the funeral began.
Lyle hopped in the Jeep and Mandy grabbed a few gummy bears from the glove compartment as a little pick me up. They drove up to the front of Anna’s house and Lyle trotted up the front porch stairs like she was home.
“Sweety, we don’t live here, even though the whole town thinks we will,” Mandy said to Lyle.
Mandy searched the closet in Anna’s room for something black and classy. Luckily, Anna had a very sensible yet fashionable collection. She tried on a few items and found the right combination, black slacks and a sharp sweater. Mandy was searching in the top of the closet for shoes that might match and came across a metal filing box. She lugged it down onto the bed.
The clasp opened without much of a struggle and Mandy started pulling out documents. She found the deed to the property which listed Anna as the only holder. In the same file as the deed was another deed dated ten years prior. It listed Anna and Dennis as the deed holders.
“That’s very strange Lyle. I didn’t think Anna and Dennis ever shared a life out of high school. They must have bought this together and then Anna bought him out for some reason. He is not listed anywhere in the will or Anna’s wishes. I wonder what happened,” Mandy said to Lyle who was sprawled out on the bed with her head on a pillow, watching Mandy intently. “This must be what the lawyer and Dennis are after.”
Mandy searched the rest of the files in the box. There were a number of important documents such as her transcripts from school, insurance documents, health records, and various family documents. Mandy went through each one to see if it shed any light on either Anna’s wishes with her belongings or with the connection between Dennis and possibly Buck. She found nothing else of interest. She decided she would focus on going through this closet when she had more time.
Mandy took the file with the deed and went back to the front of the house to get back to the Jeep. She almost forgot Anna’s clothes that she had set aside. She went back inside to grab them, making sure to keep them clean so she wouldn’t have to lint roll them back at the RV. Starting the ignition, Mandy wondered which lead to look into next. She now had to figure out more about Aaron and his protective nature for Howie, Dennis’s connection to Anna’s house deed, Jim’s need to win the dart competition suddenly, and any loose ends regarding the money Buck owed to people.
Ma
ndy returned to the clinic and checked on Trixie who was resting comfortably. Her glucose had come down slightly. The insulin was working and she had a lot more energy. Bloodwork had come back by fax and showed mild kidney changes. That meant that they had caught the diabetes before it had caused significant organ damage. For now, she was able to have a little snack followed by an insulin injection. Trixie was so happy to eat, even if the food was not her usual home-baked splendor. This was a good sign that her appetite was coming back.
Ronnie was looking a little brighter too. His fractured leg was at least stabilized with the bandage she had put on earlier. He was making no attempt to walk. He did, however, wag his tail at the sight of company. She gave him a little breakfast to have something on his stomach and administered another pain injection to last him until after the funeral. As long as he continued to improve after the initial shock, he would be able to undergo surgery. She locked the door to the clinic, leaving Emma and Jimbo to run around free in the clinic until she got back to check on Trixie and Ronnie.
Now ready for the funeral, Mandy put Lyle up in the RV so she wouldn’t try to hop in the Jeep to attend the funeral. Although the town had become accustomed to the vet always having her four-legged partner, a funeral was hardly the place. Besides, Mandy would be busy trying to garner any new information from the attendees.
Lyle put up a bit of a fight about not joining in the activities, but Mandy bribed her with a little milk. Even though the kibble Mandy gave her was well-balanced, Lyle had a long-standing obsession with anything made of milk. Her weakness was cheese, but yogurt, milk, ice cream, even cheese curds would do in a pinch. Mandy never let clients know of the rule she broke with her own dog. She was always telling clients not to give their pets people food for fear of digestive upsets or obsession and therefore disinterest in dog kibble. In her own RV, Mandy could break any rule she wanted as long as no one would find out.
With Lyle snuggled on the couch now, Mandy lint-rolled her black pants. Despite her earlier efforts, fur had managed to cling to the black slacks. She boarded the Jeep for the trip to the funeral location, the town church. Mandy hadn’t made church a part of her life, choosing instead to follow the philosophy that spiritual connections were best made all around instead of channeled through a church. She knew enough of the rituals to not make a fool of herself but nowhere near enough to teach Sunday school.
There was a fairly large gathering of cars and people outside the church. The denomination of the church was unclear. Since it serviced the entire community, being the only church in 100 miles, it was likely not a strict sect. Mandy entered the receiving room and signed the guestbook; even though she hadn’t actually met Buck Dawson, she wanted to pay her respects. She let the greeter take her coat and made her way into the viewing area. The church was brimming with people and it was big enough for the crowd that Buck’s death had drawn. Obviously, this church was a major part of the community here based on its size and impeccable up-keep.
In the background, there was a nice display of photos of Buck and his involvements throughout his life. Dart championship, pool league, and shooting range trophies lined the back of one whole table. No target would have been safe from Buck’s steady shot. The remembrance collage had a few pictures that Mandy recognized from the yearbooks she had seen at Anna’s. One photo that she hadn’t seen before had Buck, Anna, and Dennis, confirming her theory that they had been a trio of friends at one point.
Mandy waited her turn in line to pay her respects at the coffin. Buck looked far more peaceful than the morning she had first seen him. She shivered a little, remembering that morning. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Dennis and decided to approach him.
“He was so young. This is such a tragedy,” Mandy said to Dennis.
“Indeed it was. We knew each other in high school. I lost touch with him but I remember him being a decent guy,” Dennis said, as he looked down at his shoes. Mandy took the opportunity to study his shoes, in particular, their size. With his wide-legged pants, though, she could not tell whether his shoes were narrow or even get a feel for the size.
“I saw a photo there of you, Buck, and Anna. Were you guys good friends back then?” asked Mandy.
“We were fairly close. It seemed we always got involved in the same extracurricular activities, like the paper. It is a small town though so it’s hard not to know everyone and work with them on something at some point.”
“That makes sense. When was the last time you saw him?”
“It would have to be last year at the Christmas Mingler, I think. I don’t come back this way that often. The way life seems to be going at the moment, funerals are what bring me back more often than not. I don’t feel like I am getting older but maybe I am.”
“You weren’t here for Anna’s funeral?” Mandy asked.
“I was. What a sad affair,” Dennis answered.
“But, you didn’t see Buck then?” asked Mandy.
“Is this an inquisition? I told you I wasn’t very close to Buck. Now I have some questions for you,” Dennis said.
“I don’t think is the time or the place to discuss Anna’s possessions, if that’s what you are leading up to. We can arrange a time to do that,” Mandy said, curtly.
“But…” Dennis started.
“I know, you are leaving soon. I will meet with you this evening, say five thirty, at the clinic?” said Mandy. “Is that soon enough?”
“I don’t mean to be a bother. Thank you. I will see you then,” Dennis said and made an exit from Mandy’s presence.
Mandy surveyed the room to see if there was anyone she needed to speak with or hadn’t met yet. She spotted a man dressed in nice slacks and red suspenders with white stars on them. He carried himself with an air of confidence like he was the mayor of town, but she knew he wasn’t. She was curious as to his identity and decided to try to engage in a conversation with him. She didn’t want to be too obvious so she waited until he was at the refreshment table. While he was getting a cup of coffee, she sidled up next to him to do the same. When he put his stirrer down, she reached to grab some sugar and made eye contact with him.
“Such a shame. It’s hard to see someone so young being buried,” Mandy offered in condolence.
“So true. I wondered how you were doing, what with your, ahem, role in this and all,” the man said.
“That was an unexpected and terrible way to start that morning. I see you know who I am. I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting you,” Mandy said, offering her hand to shake.
“Barney Saunders, owner of the general store here in town,” the man said, returning her handshake.
“Ah yes, nice to meet you. I understand you and Buck and Jim had a bit of a competition going for the top shooter in the community. Bet you’re going to miss Buck,” Mandy said, fishing for a reaction.
“Aw, it won’t be the same without friendly competition between us all. Life has its way of coming on and so, too, does death,” Barney said, re-adjusting his suspenders.
“Too right. Are you a bit of a hunter, or are you just interested in the target practice at the range?” asked Mandy.
“A bit of both. I go out West every few years for big game hunting. Mainly I just enjoy the camaraderie.”
“Do you know anyone who might have wanted to squelch the camaraderie and hurt Buck?” asked Mandy.
“Now you just got here. I thought you were a vet. Are you a detective as well?” Barney asked.
“Not exactly. Just trying to help,” Mandy answered.
“Well, I would suggest staying clear of this. It’s not really your business. But if you must know, I wouldn’t hurt a soul, unless it was a real buck with antlers,” Barney huffed.
“I didn’t mean to offend you. I just want to help.”
“You can help by leaving it to the authorities.”
“Thanks. And it was nice to meet you. Again, I apologize.”
“That’s alright. But I do recommend sticking to your own role in this town. St
epping on toes isn’t a good way to start,” Barney said.
“Thanks for the advice. See you at the general store sometime,” Mandy said.
The viewing was ending and the procession was beginning to form out front. Since Mandy had paid her respects, she did not plan to join the procession. She quietly slipped out the back door and climbed in her Jeep to head on back to the RV.
As she drove the short distance back, her mind was reeling with ideas. While she hadn’t cleared Barney of a motive or established an alibi, her gut told her she was barking up the wrong tree with him. She decided her next move would be to visit the rifle range and ask around out there. First, though, she needed to eat something and prepare to meet Dennis.
At the RV, she found a note taped to the door. She pulled it off and brought it in with her. Inside, she found Lyle still snuggled up on the couch. She poured some crunchies for her and put some water on the stove for some chicken noodle soup. Homemade was always better at a time like this, but she didn’t have time or the ingredients for that so store bought would have to suffice. She at least had chicken broth so she could make it taste a little more delectable. Having caught a bit of a chill in the Fall air, Mandy also craved some steaming hot coffee. She normally only had coffee in the mornings. As an adult, she could break the rules every now and then.
Mandy sat down at the dinette and sipped her coffee while the soup came to a boil. She opened the note. It was a warning to her to case her investigation. If she did not, the writer of the note said that harm would come her way, and her little dog, too.
“What am I missing, little Lyle? Who is threatening us? I must be getting close to the murderer if we are at risk. I won’t stop.” Mandy said. “Are you willing to put our life in danger to solve this murder?” she asked Lyle. Lyle responded by angling her head and staring at Mandy. “I’ll take that as a yes.” She tossed the note in the trash.
“So, the size thirteen shoes are a good clue and I have been eying everyone’s feet that I see. Most men in this town do have large feet so I am not getting anywhere with that clue. Most everyone has access to a gun so that doesn’t help either. It’s tricky to narrow down motives and alibis because I just haven’t been here long enough to know how to get answers from people. What’s a girl to do?”