Canines and Crime

by Sandra Baublitz

  Harry chided, “Now, Alma—”

  “Don’t ‘now Alma’ me, Harry. You despise her too.”

  “What woman?”

  Alma pinched her mouth. “His wife. She left him.”

  “Was that when he went to prison?”

  “No. I mean his current wife, Charlotte. She left him a month ago for that new artist at the art center.”

  “Ned Turner.” Harry added, “A sculptor.”

  “That’s terrible. Poor David.” I adjusted my grip on Paw’s leash. He had stood and was watching a Jac Russell playing with a French poodle. “Why did she leave him?”

  Harry shrugged. “Who knows? Word is she wants a divorce.”

  Harry pointed across the park. “Mrs. Banks is waving to us. Best go talk to her.”

  Alma nodded and hugged me. “See you later, sugar.”

  Harry slapped me on the back and strode away with her.

  I watched them walk away then shifted my attention to the terrier and poodle. They were play fighting over a rope tug toy. I knew Paw would like to play with them, but the party would soon be over. A few yards away I heard Clara Wells cajoling a young woman into helping her clean up. I wasn’t opposed to helping, but I had helped on too many previous clean up jobs where all the work was left to me alone.

  Tugging on Paw’s leash I strode away from Clara and headed out of the park. Paw gave one wistful glance back at the dogs then trotted beside me.

  “Woo! Woo!”

  I woke to Paw howling out my bedroom window. My bedside clock displayed the time. One in the morning. I sat up and watched as Paw stood with front paws on the windowsill.

  “Woof! Woof!”

  He glanced over his shoulder at me.

  I heard answering barks from our next-door neighbor’s puppy and Mr. Chan’s Yorkshire Terrier across the street.

  Paw jumped down and ran to the bedroom door as I got out of bed. Late night walks were normal, but Paw never howled and barked.

  He whimpered at my slow progress.

  “Okay, okay. I’m coming.” I threw on pants, shirt, and shoes and grabbed the flashlight by my bed.

  Across the street, Mr. Chan yelled at his dog. “Quiet, Peanut. You just went for a walk.”

  I opened my bedroom door, and as Paw rushed down the stairs, I grasped his leash from the hook by the door. I plodded down the stairs, picking up a scoop and bag along the way, to find Paw pacing by the front door.

  After clipping on his leash, I opened the door and he dragged me down the steps. I barely managed to the close the door and stay on my feet. I switched on my flashlight.

  Once on the sidewalk, Paw set a brisk pace toward the park. It was his favorite place to do his business. Along the way, he woofed at intervals. His behavior was unusual as was the answering barks from different dogs throughout the neighborhood.

  A chill went up my spine. What was going on?

  Paw pulled me through the park entrance and headed toward the back where the pond was located. He didn’t sniff at the bushes or visit the trees. He was a dog on a mission.

  We skirted around the old gazebo and took the left path, which was paved with stones broken from age. Weeds sprouted amongst the stones and flowers bloomed along the pathway. No night insects buzzed and the bullfrog in the pond was silent. It was if every living creature was holding its breath in anticipation.

  I tripped over a crooked paver and fell to one knee. My flashlight illuminated the pond ahead. Lilies bloomed on its surface and cattails stood sentinel along one side. Paw looked back at me with a disgruntled frown. As I got up, he pulled me toward the cattails.

  “Why here?”

  He ignored my question and continued to pull on the leash. As I beamed the flashlight around, I saw a pair of shoes, the soles turned up to face me. I scanned the light past the shoes to a pair of tan pants with legs in them.

  I gasped. “Someone’s lying there!”

  Chapter 2

  I ran to the person and knelt. Paw let out a mournful howl.

  It was a man and he lay face down in the water. I struggled to turn him over. Paw nudged his big head under the man’s shoulder and helped me turn him onto his side.

  David Tanner.

  “No! No!” The poor man. I felt for a pulse. Nothing.

  I attempted to clear his lungs of water then with Paw’s help, I turned David on his back. That’s when I saw the blood on my wet hands. I looked closer and saw a gash on David’s neck. Tears streamed down my face. I’d only met the man once, but I had liked him.

  A rustling sounded to my left and a head poked through the bushes.

  Saber peeked out. He was Lillian Hardcastle’s black cat.

  “Yowl!”

  Lillian’s voice answered. “Where are you, baby?”

  “Lillian?”

  “Who’s that?”

  “Lillian, it’s me Clarissa Hayes. Saber is here. I need your help.”

  “Where is here?”

  “By the pond.”

  More rustling and Lillian, my elderly friend, stepped out of the bushes a yard from where the cat had entered.

  “What’s going on?” She grumbled then gasped when she saw me performing CPR on David. “Is he dead?”

  “Yes.”

  “Wait here. I’ll get help.”

  Lillian turned, saying to her cat, “Stay here, Saber. Guard.”

  Paw cocked his head on the side as if to say “I’m the guard. Not a cat.”

  My mind wandered a moment considering if Saber ever listened to a command in his life. To my surprise, Saber sat down and waited with us.

  I swung my flashlight around, noticing blood on the trampled, wet grass. What had happened here?

  The EMTs arrived and nudged me out of the way.

  Alma placed an arm around me and led me over to a nearby bench.

  I stared over at David.

  Alma turned my head so that I as looking into her eyes. “I’m sorry,” she said in a soft tone.

  I nodded.

  She hugged me.

  New tears ran down my cheeks.

  Alma sat down next to me. She enveloped me in her arms.

  “I guess Harry’s here too,” I mumbled.

  “Of course.”

  Lillian walked over with Saber in her arms and Paw trailing behind her. She wore a stoic expression as she sat down on my other side and settled Saber in her lap. Paw placed his head on my knee and whined. I stretched out a hand and stroked him.

  How long we sat there I don’t know. Eventually, Harry came over and stood looking down at us. He shook his head. “Bad business.” To Lillian he said, “Mrs. Hardcastle, would you please give a statement to Heldman?” Steven Heldman was one of Harry’s officers.

  Lillian patted my arm, stood as she held Saber, and walked away without a comment or order.

  “She’s upset,” I said.

  Alma whispered, “So are you.”

  I sighed. “I liked the guy even though I just met him. Who could have killed him?”

  Harry grunted.

  I looked up at my uncle. “He was murdered.”

  He sat down next to us. “Yes.”

  Alma shifted on the bench. “How?”

  “EMTs say he has a gash on his neck.”

  “I saw that too.” I said.

  “You stay out of this.” Harry warned me.

  I opened my mouth to protest. Alma hugged me tighter. “Harry’s right. Let him handle it.”

  “I need your statement, Clarissa.” He nodded to Alma. “Take her home with you. I’ll question her when I finish here.”

  Alma nodded and began to get up.

  I resisted. “Harry.”

  “Go with Alma.” His tone brooked no argument. I was too tired to argue anyway.

  Alma stood up and put her arm around me once I stood as well. Paw trotted along on my other side. David’s body was gone as were the EMTs. Harry must have instructed the EMTs to remove it while he distracted me.

  I plodded past police o
fficers combing the area. My body felt leaden from all the stress and I leaned on Alma for support. We circled the gazebo, passed the meditation garden, and took a path that led straight to the main gates.

  Alma’s car sat angled to the curb in front of the gates.

  I looked down at my wet pants and shoes with blood on them from David’s body and the grass. “I’ll mess up the car.” I glanced at Paw. He was soaked from his legs to his belly with splashes of wet mud up his sides and traces of blood. “We’ll walk home.”

  “Nonsense.” Alma opened the passenger door. “Get in. You’re too exhausted to walk home.”

  “Woof!” Paw jumped into the car.

  “See,” Alma said. “He agrees.”

  I nodded and sat down on the seat.

  Alma slammed the door, walked in front of the car, opened her door, and got in. She cranked the engine and flipped on the headlights then put the car in gear and we drove off.

  Harry and Alma’s house was close to the park and we were there within minutes.

  Once Alma was parked in their garage, she helped me out and into the house. I headed to the bathroom for a quick shower. Alma kept spare clothes for me at her house, so I had something dry to put on. While I showered, Alma washed and dried Paw as best she could.

  I returned to the kitchen and collapsed on a chair where Paw settled at my feet. Alma bustled around making cups of strong tea. She placed a cup in front of me and a plate of cheese and crackers.

  Paw sat up and placed his chin on the table.

  I pushed at him. “No!”

  Alma shook her head. “I’ll get him some biscuits.”

  Paw tracked her movements as she opened a cupboard and pulled down a box. Paw rushed to her at the sight of dog biscuits.

  Alma pulled two biscuits out of the opened box. “You can have two. That’s it.”

  Paw sat still as Alma handed one to him then grabbed the biscuit and chomped on it.

  The sound of a car pulling into the driveway alerted us to Harry’s arrival. He traipsed in the kitchen door and gave Alma a kiss on the cheek.

  She handed him a soda and he nodded for us to follow him to the living room.

  Harry took a long swig of his soda as Alma and I sat down on the sofa. Paw stretched out across the floor with his head on my foot.

  Harry sat his soda on the end table by his favorite recliner. “Why were you in the park in the middle of the night?”

  “Paw woke me. He barked and howled. That’s not how he wakes me to go to the bathroom. I got up and snapped on his leash.” I wrinkled my brow. “The other dogs in the neighborhood were barking too.”

  Harry rolled his eyes. Sarcasm dripped from his voice. “So, you decided to go outside and investigate.

  Alma admonished him. “Harry.”

  I sighed. “I didn’t know Mr. Tanner was dead in the park. I assumed there was a cat or something roaming around outside.”

  Harry motioned for me to continue.

  “Once we were outside, Paw pulled me along toward the park. It’s his favorite spot. When we entered the park, he led the way back to the old gazebo, around it, and onto the path behind it. You know the one with the broken pavers?”

  Harry nodded in the affirmative.

  “I stumbled over one of them and fell. When I got up, he pulled me straight to the pond. I saw the body lying face down in the pond and rushed over to save him. I didn’t,” I gulped, “It was too late.”

  Alma patted my hand. “You did what you could.”

  Harry nodded.

  I hugged myself. “I realize that. I just feel so defeated.”

  Paw sat up and leaned against me.

  I stroked his ears. “Thanks for the support, boy.”

  Harry took another swig of soda. “Did you see or hear anything when you entered the park?”

  “No. The dogs on Main Street stopped barking and the park was quiet. I didn’t see anyone until Saber poked his head out of the bushes. Lillian called for him and I spoke to her.”

  Harry scribbled some notes. “You didn’t hear Lillian earlier?”

  I replayed events in my mind. “No. Paw would’ve heard her before me. He never barked or acted as though he heard anyone.”

  “What happened after you found the body?”

  “As I said, I pulled him out of the water and turned him over. That’s when I saw the blood and gash on his neck. Saber found us and I heard Lillian and yelled for her to come over. I told her to call you and she left leaving Saber with me. I waited with David until the EMTs pushed me aside.”

  Harry sat rubbing his chin.

  “He was stabbed,” I said.

  “Yes. I’ll know more when the autopsy is finished.”

  Alma said, “It’s late. Let’s discuss this in the morning.”

  Harry nodded in the affirmative. “Go home, Clarissa. I’ll call you.”

  I stood up with a sigh. “Tomorrow.”

  Alma volunteered to drive me home. At my house, she said, “Get some rest. You’ll feel better in the morning.”

  I nodded, opened the car door, and waited for Paw to step out after me. He stopped to give Alma a slobbery doggie kiss. She laughed and pushed him away.

  Alma waited until I was in the house before driving away. I waved to her from my living room window as she drove off then trudged up the steps to bed.

  Ring!

  I dragged myself to the phone, picked up the receiver, and mumbled hello.

  A deep male voice said, “I hear you found another dead body.”

  “Harry told you.” The deep voice belonged to my boyfriend, Bruce, who was a private detective.

  “He called early this morning. Why didn’t you call me?” There was a note of accusation in his voice.

  “Because you’d worry.” I pet Paw, who had plodded down the stairs after me and plodded on my foot. “Besides I was exhausted since I woke in the middle of the night and only got back to bed two hours ago.”

  Bruce whistled. “Late night. Now tell me what happened.”

  “Didn’t Harry tell you?”

  “He did, but I want to hear it from you.”

  I sighed and sat down.

  Paw placed his chin on my knee.

  I stroked his ears as I recounted last night’s events. “The neighbor’s dogs barked, alerting Paw. Once we were outside, Paw was determined to lead me to the park. He headed straight for the gazebo, nose to the ground then pulled me around the side. We took that broken path behind the gazebo and came out close to the pond. When I flashed my light around, I saw a pair of shoes. Someone was facedown, half on the grass and half in the pond.”

  I heard Bruce tapping his pen. It was one of his habits when he was thinking. “Harry said the man was David Tanner.”

  “Yes. Did you know him?”

  “I did.”

  Bruce paused. “I liked the guy. He helped me on a case.”

  “What case?”

  “It was before I met you. I was trailing a man who was divorcing his wife. She hired me to prove he was hiding money from her. The guy discovered I was following him, so he asked his two brothers to beat me up. When I tracked him to a vacant house, his brothers jumped me from behind. David saw what was happening and stepped into the fight. He saved my life.”

  I pictured the scene in my mind. “What was he doing there?”

  “Trimming the bushes. He’d taken the job as caretaker to make extra money.”

  “Bruce, I can’t understand why he was murdered.”

  Bruce stopped tapping his pencil. “Are you aware of his past?”

  “Yes. He told me about killing that young man while drunk. I believe he felt deep remorse for his actions. Do you think that had something to do with his death?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe.” I could hear a thump in the background. “Gotta go. There’s someone at the door. Don’t get involved, Clarissa. Love you.”

  I huffed at the click of the phone. He didn’t even wait for me to say, “Love you too.”


  Setting down the phone, I said to Paw, “How about breakfast?”

  Paw raised his head and thumped his tail then trotted to the kitchen.

  I had finished breakfast when the phone rang again. “Hello.”

  Alma spoke in a rush. “I need your help. The ladies’ auxiliary is meeting at the church and I forgot the sandwich tray. Can you run to Harriet’s Eats and pick it up?”

  “On my way.” I hung up and ran up the stairs to my bathroom. I took a quick shower and changed my clothes. Descending the stairs, I found Paw stretched out in a morning patch of sun by the front door.

  “Okay, boy, time to go.”

  He stood up and shook himself then waited while I snapped on his leash. I grabbed my purse, opened the door, and locked it behind me as I stepped outside.

  Tranquil Valley sat at the bottom of rolling foothills. Lush green trees and shrubs dotted the Main Street. Traffic was light this time of day, so I drove to Harriet’s in a few minutes.

  Harriet’s Eats was owned by Harriet Bonaparte. She was in her late-fifties with raven-colored hair, streaked with silver strands. Harriet had run her small shop for more than two decades and it was a local favorite. She served sandwiches, soups, and fresh-baked desserts. Alma ordered from Harriet whenever she hosted a function or fundraiser. Harriet had donated the tea sandwiches for the park fundraiser.

  I parked two spaces down from Harriet’s door. A miracle considering the popularity of the shop. I left Paw in the car with the windows down since I would only be a minute.

  A bell tinkled as I opened the front door and stepped inside. Half the tables were filled with locals. Conversations swirled around me.

  “Why would anyone kill the man?”

  “I can’t believe he’s dead.”

  Sounded like word of David’s death had spread. Other bits of gossip filtered to me.

  “Can you believe he wears those ridiculous red sneakers everywhere?”

  “The price of hay is going down. I tell you Harley.”

  “I found a lovely silver knot bracelet at the park.”

  “Hey, Calvin, how’s Lucy?”

  I smiled at the last tidbit of conversation. Lucy was Calvin Wright’s prize pig. She was scheduled to compete in the fair this summer. Rumor had it that Wayne Donnell planned to enter his pig as well.