Traitorous Toys (Cozy Corgi Mysteries Book 2)

by Mildred Abbott

  Reminding myself that not only was I not looking for a new business partner, but neither was I looking for a man. It was easy to forget that while in Branson Wexler’s presence. We took a few paces away, and I lowered my voice. “As I was saying, you’re right about the blood and that garland, but the attacker could have been wearing gloves, couldn’t they?”

  “Of course they could’ve.” He grinned. “See, I knew you had instinct.”

  Though I could tell he was being kind and flattering me, I couldn’t keep from rolling my eyes. “Oh, come on, now. Don’t be insulting. It doesn’t take much instinct to know that if the prints you’re looking for aren’t there, gloves are probably involved.” I cast a glance around him, making sure Peg wasn’t listening. Having her potentially gossip about Branson and I would be one thing. Running back to tell her business neighbor that I was accusing them of trying to kill a member of their family was an entirely different one. “But maybe the attacker was a member of Declan’s own family. Watson and I”—I motioned upstairs as if Watson’s current location mattered in the moment—“saw Dolan and Daphne kissing this afternoon. And not a brother and sister-in-law kind of kiss, if such a thing even exists.”

  “Really?” His eyes widened, and any level of flirting that had been there left his tone. “Now that is news.” He considered for a moment. “That would for sure point to possible suspects. Daphne trying to get out of her marriage, and Dolan in a fit of jealous brotherly rage.” Branson squinted at another thought. “Although I just can’t see Daphne being able to do that kind of damage. Declan is a big man.”

  “That’s what I was thinking. Although everyone talks about how wonderful and kind Dolan is.”

  Branson didn’t seem concerned by the thought. “He wouldn’t be the first one who’s tried to kill for his brother’s wife.” He shrugged again. Then his tone lightened. “Maybe it will all be a moot point soon anyway. From what I hear, Declan’s situation is improving. With a coma, there’s never really any guarantee of when the person might wake up, but if and when he does, chances are he’ll know who his attacker was. Unless it was a complete surprise, since the impact came from behind. The doctor is hopeful he’ll wake soon.”

  Katie let out a relieved sigh. I hadn’t noticed the two of them coming closer to us. “Well, that’s wonderful news. I’m ready for this to be behind me.” She blushed. “And for Declan to be okay, of course.”

  Branson chuckled. “I can see why you two get along so well.” He gave a quick nod toward Peg but kept his eyes on me. “I know you’ve got things to talk about. But you and I discussed some things before I left town. I believe Christmas was the deadline, correct?” He gave a wink and a pretend tilt of the hat that wasn’t there and strode to the door before turning around and offering a model-perfect smile. “Ladies.” And then he was gone.

  Try as I might, I couldn’t really focus as I looked at the printouts of different merchandise with the Cozy Corgi logo on them that Peg offered. My thoughts instead swirling around Branson still wanting to go out to dinner. To go on a date.

  It was so much more stressful than trying to figure out what to put on the second level of my shop or who had attempted to kill Declan Diamond.

  “The hoodies with the Cozy Corgi logo on them were really great. The hats were good too.” I’d ordered a hoodie from Peg before she left, just to see, and now I studied Katie’s expression as she firmly kept her attention on arranging the books. “I thought the shot glasses were a bit too much, though. I’m not sure it’s quite the branding I want to go with.”

  Katie let out a puff of air but gave no further commentary, just reached for another book.

  I couldn’t say that Katie seemed angry after Peg left, but she wasn’t her normal self either. “Do you know something about Peg that I don’t?”

  She looked at me wide-eyed, startled. “No. I don’t think so. Why?”

  “It just seems that every time I bring it up, you seem a bit uncomfortable. I thought maybe Peg was another Opal or Carla-type person.”

  “No, I don’t think so.” She smiled, but it was clearly forced, as was the ease in her tone. “And yes, the hoodie was adorable, the hats were indeed great, and totally a big fat no on the shot glasses.”

  Whatever tension was suddenly between us was one more confirmation about me needing to do this on my own. “Well, I’m glad we agree, then.”

  Katie shelved another couple of books, then turned to get a better look at me from across the room.

  “It’s just that I was thinking maybe we could—” Her gaze flicked over my shoulder, out the window, and she flinched. “What in the world?”

  I turned around to see what she’d noticed. It only took me a second, and I choked back a laugh. Directly across the street, in the store Cabin and Hearth, Anna and Carl Hanson were openly gaping at Katie and me through their window. Maybe there was a glare, as Anna had both her hands pressed to the glass over her brow. As soon as they noticed me looking back, they both gave a little jump, waved awkwardly, and trundled away. I angled back to Katie, chuckling. “They’re not exactly subtle, are they?”

  “You think?” She grinned, the tension from before fading. “I know I’m no super sleuth, but my keen intuition is telling me they might want to talk to you.”

  I considered for half a second. Branson had pretty much said Katie was cleared, mostly, despite the fingerprints, considering she had me as an alibi, so I couldn’t pretend I was doing this for Katie. I’d simply be doing it because I was curious, because I wanted to figure it out. There would be nothing altruistic about it from this point onward.

  I was okay with that.

  I put the book I’d been holding on the shelf and dusted my hands on my skirt—more habit than anything, since the new books didn’t have a lick of dust on them. “Do you mind if I go chat with them? As you can see, very little that happens in town gets past them.”

  Again Katie’s grin was genuine. “I’d expect nothing less. And I look forward to hearing what you find out.”

  “Well then, be right back.” I walked over to the counter and grabbed my purse, slung it over my shoulder, and began to head for the door, then remembered Anna’s affinity for dogs. Stopping at the base of the steps, I hollered up to the second floor. “Watson! Nap time’s over.”

  A second or two passed, and then a loud yawn made its way downstairs. I could just picture him, stretching out his front paws with his knob-tailed rump sticking in the air. A few more seconds passed, and then the slow padding of his paws sounded over the hardwood.

  Katie joined me. “He really likes to take his time, doesn’t he?”

  That was an understatement. “Just reminding me who’s in charge.”

  “Apparently.”

  “Want to see the tables turn?” I gave her a wink, and she nodded. I refocused upstairs and raised my voice once more. “Watson, treat!”

  The clattering of his paws went from church mouse to herd of elephants in a heartbeat. From our vantage point, Katie and I could see him rush around the edge of the banister, lose his traction on the newly refurbished hardwood floors, his hind legs skidding out from behind him. He managed to catch himself before crashing into the wall, and then tore down the steps, eyes wild with excitement and tongue whipping like a flag from his mouth. He came to a skidding stop at my feet, this time not quite managing on the slick floor, and bumped into my ankles.

  Katie nearly doubled over in laughter.

  Watson didn’t spare her a glance, his gaze traveling from both my hands up to my face, clearly asking what the trick had been.

  I tickled the pink spot on his muzzle. “You’re an embarrassment to corgis everywhere, sir.”

  He glowered, whined, and then gave a tentative hop on his front paws, reminding me of the magic word I’d uttered.

  “Come with me. We’re heading over to see Anna. She has your treat.”

  Watson piped up again at the word and followed me without argument as we left the shop, crossed the street, and w
alked into Cabin and Hearth.

  The home décor shop was like stepping into a high-end log cabin. Though the place was crowded with merchandise, it oozed comfort, charm, and coziness. But at the same time, it only took a glance to know that every piece would cost a small fortune.

  Anna and Carl were standing behind the counter, both furiously studying some paperwork they held between them. If I hadn’t known they were there, I might not have recognized them. They were both short and round, Anna with white poufy hair, while Carl was bald and wore glasses. I guessed them both to be in their sixties. The first time I met them, they reminded me of Mr. and Mrs. Claus, but now, they were Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Complete with fuzzy red outfits lined in white fur, Carl’s cinched by a large glistening black belt straining over his expansive middle, and Anna wearing a frilly reindeer-patterned apron.

  I nearly chuckled. They might be grade A gossips, but convincing, they weren’t. I decided to play along and not mention the incident at the window, since apparently I was supposed to believe they’d been standing there studying that piece of paper for hours. “Don’t you two look simply amazing? I feel like I’ve just traveled to the North Pole.”

  The Mrs. Claus version of Anna looked up and played her part so well that she gave a little flinch in surprise. “Oh, Fred, my dear. So nice to see you.” The smile she gave me was friendly enough, but it transformed to a thing of genuine beauty when she glanced down at my feet and let out a shrill squeak. “Oh, and Watson!” She smacked Carl on the arm before she hurried around the counter. “Go get him a treat. And put on your beard. How are you going to be Santa without a beard?”

  A pink hue rose to Carl’s cheeks as he gave me a nod and waddled toward the back room.

  Anna reached us in a matter of moments and was on her knees in front of Watson, the red fabric of her skirt billowing out around them. “You just hold on, you little doll. He’ll be right back. You’ll get your snack.”

  Watson didn’t go hog wild over her like he did for Barry, but whether he actually liked her or considered her a dog treat dispenser, Watson allowed himself to be petted, going so far as to lick her hand.

  I was forgotten for the minute or so it took Carl to return. He held out a small brown dog biscuit, which Watson scrutinized for a second, clearly not what he’d expected, but he took it nonetheless.

  Anna stood and smacked Carl again, this time audibly. “What is wrong with you? I told you we were saving the dog bones for Watson. And you know I give the treats to the dogs, not you.” She smacked him again, this time harder. “And you forgot your beard. Again.”

  His blush deepening, Carl let out an apologetic sigh and left us once more.

  Anna shook her head at me, clearly commiserating about how stupid husbands could be. “We only have five of Lois’s dog bones left. And I told Carl we were saving every single one for when you and Watson visit. I don’t know what we’ll do when they’re gone, but we’ll figure out something.”

  There’d only been two things Lois Garble had made that anyone liked in her all-natural candy store. One was her hard licorice candy. And the other her all-natural dog bones. In truth, I was a little taken aback. I assumed Anna was like that with every dog, and maybe she was to a degree, but it warmed me a little that she thought so highly of Watson. “That is so sweet of you, Anna.”

  She waved me off, bending to scratch the top of Watson’s head.

  Carl was back, large all-natural dog bone in his hand, and a massive Santa Claus beard covering half his face. This time, he remembered protocol, handing the dog bone to Anna so she could in turn offer it to Watson. For his part, Watson was in heaven.

  Carl’s beard would put Paulie’s to shame. “Goodness. You two truly do look like Mr. and Mrs. Claus. It’s amazing.”

  Anna nodded in agreement. “We wear them every year. On Christmas Eve, we go to the hospital and visit all the kids who are there. It’s the highlight of our holidays.”

  It seemed Anna and Carl were full of surprises, and I had vastly underestimated them. I’d chalked them up as being little more than town gossips, which was true, but I hadn’t envisioned such kindness from them.

  Before I could think of an appropriate response, Anna started in once more, this time directing her full attention on me. “So, tell us all about it. We heard you were there. In truth, I thought you’d come and talk to us before now, but better late than never.” She leaned a bit closer, her voice lowering conspiratorially. “We heard there was blood everywhere. Just everywhere. Of course, I said that sounded like nothing more than hype, but that’s what we heard.”

  “No. There wasn’t blood everywhere. There was just some.” One of the good things about not actually being a detective was that I didn’t have to be overly careful about what information I shared. “There was some due to the garland, but it was mostly contained.”

  Carl let out a huff, and Anna nodded approvingly. “Those boys came here trying to sell us that garland. I know they’re your family, but….” She tsked and shook her head. “Who wants garland that you have to wear gloves to hang? Christmas is supposed to be beautiful, not bloody.”

  I couldn’t disagree with her. And since they were the center of the gossip world, I assumed they’d already heard, but I wanted to make certain Katie was cleared all the way around, even in rumors. “Watson had made a mess on the sidewalk while Katie and I were walking to the toy store, so I went back to get a bag and then met her there.” I decided to leave out that I couldn’t find one, lest she deem me an unworthy corgi mama and closed up the gossip shop. “It was a matter of a couple of minutes, and I walked in and Katie was kneeling there, struggling to get the garland off Declan’s neck, cutting herself in the process. She saved his life.”

  Anna and Carl had both been nodding through my spiel, clearly having heard it all, but stopped at that last pronouncement. “Katie saved his life?”

  “Yes. She loosened it enough for me to cut it off, but it was only thanks to her in those minutes before I arrived that it hadn’t finished the job.” Again, I had no idea how truthful that part was, but it seemed right. And any benefit I could throw Katie’s way seemed smart.

  Anna shook her finger at Carl. “See, I told you that girl would never be able to hurt someone like that. Even if she did work for Opal.”

  Carl’s eyes narrowed over his fluffy Santa beard. “Actually, what you said was—”

  She smacked him again. “Shut up, Carl.” She turned back to me. “It’s clear you and Katie are good friends.”

  “That’s true we are. She’s a lot of—”

  “It’s also clear that you and that handsome Sergeant get along too.”

  How long had they been staring at us through the windows? Although, I knew there were already rumors about Branson and me. “He’s a very good police officer.”

  Anna nodded and smiled, clearly waiting for me to elaborate. When I didn’t, she blinked, looking slightly annoyed. “Well, I have to say, I’m not surprised. Declan Diamond is a handsome fiend, but a fiend nonetheless. And obviously since poor little Katie didn’t do it, my money is on Duncan. If I had a child and they did to me what Declan did to him, I’d string him up by Christmas tinsel as well.”

  “I’ve told you a hundred times, there’s no way Duncan would ever do that.” It was the first time I’d heard Carl disagree with Anna. Before, he’d pretended to be uncomfortable with her level of gossip, though he soon got roped in right along with her, but not full-out disagreement. “Duncan is a family man through and through. He’d sooner strangle himself than one of his boys.”

  Anna shrugged, nonplussed, causing her massive bosom to heave. “You’re entitled to your opinion, Carl. You’ve been wrong plenty of times before.”

  He glared. “Well, I think it’s terrible to point your fingers at that poor man. Like he hasn’t been through enough heartbreak without people in the town he grew up in, has been a vital member of, suddenly accusing him of attempting to kill his own child.”

  That seemed to
be the consensus about Duncan Diamond. But I couldn’t help but wonder if it was just another offshoot of the good-old-boys club. If they truly believed Gerald Jackson was a decent lawyer, I wasn’t sure how much I could trust their judgment about Duncan, either. But it was clear we weren’t going to get anywhere besides a marital squabble if we kept going on that train of thought. I was more curious about what I’d seen the day before.

  “I’ve actually heard quite a bit about Declan having affairs. All the while having a newly pregnant wife at home. If I were her, that would make me pretty angry, wouldn’t it you?”

  Anna sucked in a shocked breath, and her eyes gleamed in delight. “What? You think Daphne might have done it? Now there’s a theory I haven’t heard.”

  Again I thought back to not wanting the Diamonds to hear I’d been gossiping about them, though it was much too late for that now. To keep from confirming or denying, I turned my attention to Watson, who was sprawled happily at our feet, still licking his chops. “That was good, wasn’t it, little buddy? It’s been a little while since you’ve had one of those.”

  He cast a glance at me, clearly annoyed I had interrupted his post dog bone euphoria and letting me know he was fully aware I’d been using him this whole time. I doubted he minded too greatly after having had his favorite treat.

  To my surprise, Anna wasn’t distracted by Watson for once. “I really must say, that is quite a thought. And quite out of the box. I wouldn’t even have considered—”

  Anna started sucking in several breaths while snapping her fingers and taking a step back, startling Carl and scaring Watson to take shelter behind my skirt. Anna didn’t even notice. She began waving her hands in the air. For a second I feared she might be having a seizure. Then she pointed at me, her tone excited euphoria. “But if you put that together with what happened last night at the Chinese restaurant, that might make perfect sense.”