by Laura Scott
She’d keep her visit with Gramps short. And maybe sleep on the floor in the clinic overnight, just in case.
“Come on, Roxy. Let’s check in on Gramps.” She’d only taken two steps when her cell phone rang.
“ALLY?” Gramps’ voice boomed loudly in her ear. “I HEARD THE NEWS. ARE YOU OKAY?”
“I’m not hurt, Gramps.” She quickly deduced he was using the cell phone she’d purchased for him. How in the world had he heard about her clinic already? The man had more lines of communication snaking through town than NASA had satellites. “You don’t have to yell, I can hear you just fine.”
“WHAT?”
She glanced at Roxy, who seemed to be listening to Gramps, too. “I said you don’t have to yell.” She found herself raising her voice to match his. “I’m on my way over to see you. I’ll have Roxy, so meet me on the patio.”
“OKAY!”
Good grief. She disconnected the call and quickened her pace, Roxy eagerly trotting along beside her. Gramps must have been really worried about her—he rarely used the cell phone.
Which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, considering the way he’d shouted into her ear. Many more conversations like that and she’d need ear plugs to deaden the noise.
She reached Legacy Drive within fifteen minutes and found Gramps sitting outside on the patio, holding the cell phone in his lap. Swallowing a sigh, she quickly joined him.
“Roxy, sit.” The boxer dropped to her haunches. “Gramps, it’s good to see you.” She gave him a quick hug and kiss before settling in beside him. “You need to hold the cell phone up to your ear to have a conversation, just like you did with the old phone receiver connected to a landline.”
“I know that.” He looked affronted by her suggestion. “But I can’t figure out where the microphone is located.”
Well, that explained the shouting. “It’s part of the phone, so there’s no need to yell into it.” She decided to drop the issue. “I was headed over to see you when you called. How in the world did you hear about what happened at the clinic?”
“Rosie Malone at the library heard it from Jimmy Landon, who drove by and mentioned it during brunch at the Lakeview Café. Naturally, she was concerned and called Harriet, who filled me in.” His expression was full of concern as he idly petted Roxy’s fur. “I’m glad you weren’t hurt, although I understand your front door is toast.”
“Yeah, pretty much.” She reached over to take his hand. “I love you, Gramps, and while I’m fine, I’m worried that this incident is related to Marty Shawlin’s murder.”
Gramps solemnly nodded. “That’s exactly what I think. And you know what that means?”
“What?”
“That we’re making someone nervous with all the questions we’re asking.” He bobbed his head in satisfaction. While he gently squeezed her hand reassuringly, she could tell he was excited at the prospect of cracking the case. “You need to be careful, Ally. It’s a good thing you have Roxy there with you. Maybe you should see if Marty’s widow will let you keep her?”
The boxer’s ears perked up at her name. Ally couldn’t deny she’d grown attached to Roxy—the dog was really well behaved. She scratched Roxy behind the ears, then turned back to her grandfather.
“I will be careful, and you need to promise me to do the same.” She swallowed hard, overcome with emotion. “I love you, Gramps. I don’t want anything bad to happen to you.”
“Who, me? I’m too cranky to die.” His tone was light, but his gaze was serious.
“Gramps …”
“Now, now. I was only kidding. I love you, too, Ally. But remember, I survived ’Nam. Besides, I’m pretty sure the door incident was a meager attempt to scare you off, nothing more.”
“Maybe, and if that’s the case it worked.” She narrowed her gaze. “From now on, we leave the investigating to Noah.”
“Hmm.” Gramps’ noncommittal tone was not the least bit convincing. “I was thinking about those people Anita mentioned, the ones she recommended meet with Marty. Could be one of them could give us a little more information on what Marty was up to. And maybe one of them has a reason to want him dead.”
“Really, Gramps? What good will come from that? I’m sure Noah will be interviewing each and every one of them, if he hasn’t already.”
“But what if your detective misses something?” Gramps leaned forward, his expression earnest. “He’s good, but we’re better.”
We? She opened her mouth to argue, then remembered the flash of surprise in Noah’s eyes when she’d mentioned Anita Jones’s claim that she wasn’t Marty’s client.
Was Gramps right? Even if he wasn’t, there was always the concern that if she didn’t help Gramps, he’d simply go off on his own. From what she could tell, Rosie Malone wouldn’t hesitate to take Gramps wherever he wanted to go.
She sighed and rubbed her aching temple. “Listen, Gramps. I’ve already contacted Kevin Kuhn because Lola, his dachshund, is due for her vaccinations. I also left a message with Virginia White, since her tabby cat, Taffy, is also overdue for shots. No need for you to do anything about interviewing these people. I promise I’ll let you know what I find out, okay?”
Gramps’s blue eyes gleamed. “Good thinking, Ally. But what if the others don’t have pets due for shots?”
His persistence was starting to wear on her. “We’ll figure out something, don’t worry.” What she really meant is that she’d figure out something, because she wasn’t about to place Gramps in harm’s way.
“Maybe I should help you answer the phone in the clinic while you take care of the pets,” Gramps mused, staring out at the sliver of lake shore that could be seen from the Legacy House patio. “After the incident with your door, it might be better for me to do that, rather than risk exposing Lydia or Tillie to danger.”
He wasn’t fooling her the least little bit, but what could she do? For one thing, someone answering phones would be nice, and she totally agreed that having Lydia or Tillie at the clinic after the rock incident was a bad idea. Once Noah arrested Marty’s killer, the widows could take turns helping her out.
For now, having Gramps helping out would be a good way to keep an eye on him.
“That’s a great idea,” she said, injecting enthusiasm into her tone. “We can start tomorrow. I’ll pick you up around nine and bring you down to the clinic, okay?”
“Works for me.” Gramps looked pleased with himself.
It was all she could do not to roll her eyes. “Oh, and Gramps?”
“Yes, Ally?”
“You really do need to answer the phone. Not just sit there and listen to what’s going on.”
Without waiting for his response, she stood and tugged on Roxy’s leash. As she headed back to the clinic, she hoped she wasn’t making a mistake having Gramps come down to the clinic.
He might be old, but he was crafty. And she felt certain that his offer to help wasn’t the real reason he wanted to be there.
Knowing Gramps, his main goal was to be smack dab in the heart of the action.
* * *
Ally slept on the floor of the clinic, with Roxy stretched out beside her. Pepper wandered down during the night, then put up her tail and ran back upstairs. Pepper and Roxy had found some sort of truce, but Ally still didn’t sleep well. The floor was hard as a rock, even with the extra padding she’d lugged down from the apartment. The only good thing about the night was that no one had tried to break in.
As promised, the insurance adjuster arrived bright and early, giving her an estimate on the door, and the name of a preapproved glass company to call. Thankfully, the glass guy promised to be there by noon. She was glad it would be repaired in time for the weekend.
Before she could head out with Roxy to pick up Gramps, the phone rang. She quickly reached for it. “Furry Friends Veterinary Clinic, this is Dr. Winter. May I help you?”
“This is Ginny White, you left me a message about Taffy being overdue for shots?”
“Yes,
thanks so much for returning my call. I’ve been going through Dr. Hanson’s files and came across Taffy’s information. Would you have time to bring her in?”
“I do, how does ten AM today work?”
Ally smiled broadly. Another paying customer! “Ten is perfect. I’ll see you and Taffy then.”
“All right.” Ginny sighed heavily. “It will probably take me an hour to get Taffy into her crate. She doesn’t like car rides, you know.”
She quickly made a note on Taffy’s chart about not liking crates or car rides. “Most of our pets don’t, but we need to make sure they’re well cared for anyway. See you at ten.” Ally disconnected from the call and did a quick little jig. Those phone calls she’d made yesterday were already paying off. At this rate, she’d be able to make her next month’s business and mortgage loan payment despite the large dent in her banking account from the door repair.
“Hear that, Roxy? We’re in business!” She clipped a leash to Roxy’s collar and headed out back to her Honda Civic hatchback. The car was over ten years old and had over 100,000 miles on it but still ran like a dream. She put Roxy in the crated back, then slid behind the wheel.
Gramps was quite the eager beaver, ready and waiting out front for her when she arrived. He was using his cane rather than the walker, which was a little concerning. She pulled up, parked, then ran around to open the door for him.
“Maybe I should grab your walker, too.” She helped Gramps slide into the passenger seat. Roxy whined from her spot way in the back of the car. “Might be a long day.”
“I’m fine without it,” he said testily.
“Okay, if you’re sure. Quiet down, Roxy.” Arguing with him was useless. As she drove back to the clinic, she told him about Ginny White bringing Taffy the Tabby in at ten.
Instantly his cranky mood vanished. “You did good work there, Ally.” He drummed his fingers on the arm rest between them. “We just need to think of a couple of key questions to ask while she’s there.”
Ally was already regretting the bright idea of having her grandfather helping her out, and they hadn’t even gotten to the clinic yet. “You’re going to be busy answering the phone, remember?”
“Bah.” He waved a hand. “I doubt the phone will be ringing so much that I can’t have a conversation with the woman.”
Unfortunately, he was probably right about that.
Once she had Gramps settled in a chair behind the counter and taught him how to use the multi-button phone, she took Roxy outside for a quick bathroom break, then put the dog upstairs in the apartment. “Behave,” she said to Pepper, who hissed and swiped at Roxy.
In the clinic she began her daily cleaning ritual. As the minutes ticked by toward ten, the phone remained stubbornly silent.
Maybe hoping for more calls like the one she’d received from Ginny White had been a bit ambitious.
Gramps had found paper and pencil and was busily jotting down notes. Ally was relieved Noah wasn’t here to witness Gramps’ interrogation technique.
The phone rang, making both her and Gramps jump. He snatched up the receiver. “Furry Friends Veterinary Clinic, can I help you?” Gramps listened for a moment, then said, “Hold on a sec.” He raised his voice. “Ally? Can you groom a Westie?”
“Yes, of course.” Her fingers itched to snatch the phone away. “Anytime is fine. Except for ten,” she hastily amended.
“After lunch is fine, thanks.” Gramps hung up the phone. “Westie will be here after lunch.”
“Great, but did you get a name?”
Gramps frowned. “I forgot. But it’s a Westie, can’t be too many of them around, right?”
“Right.” She forced a smile. This was her fault. It wasn’t as if Gramps had ever worked as a receptionist before. She helped herself to the same paper and pencil he’d used, and dashed off a quick script. “From now on, Gramps, when customers call, you get their name, their number, and the name of the pet. That helps me be prepared, okay?”
He frowned at the note and shrugged. “Yeah, I got it.”
The plastic-covered door opened, revealing a tall brunette lugging a cat carrier. Ginny White set the crate down with a sigh.
“I made it. Taffy’s not too happy about it, though.”
“Thanks so much for coming,” Ally held out her hand. “I’m Dr. Winter, it’s nice to meet you.” She bent down to peer into the cat carrier. Taffy hissed and clawed at the screen. Her smile dimmed. “Hi, Taffy.”
“I’m glad I only have to do this once a year,” Ginny said, smoothing a hand over her hair. “There are times I wonder if it’s worth the hassle.”
“Trust me, Taffy will be fine. Let’s get her into an exam room.”
Ginny picked up the carrier, glancing curiously at Gramps.
“Hi, I’m Oscar Winter, Ally’s assistant.” Gramps smiled and reached over the counter to shake Ginny’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Oh, a family business. How sweet.” Ginny beamed. “You don’t always see family members sticking together these days.”
Ally shifted her weight from one foot to the other. She wanted to get Taffy vaccinated before Gramps began grilling Mrs. White about her meeting with Marty Shawlin. “Gramps is a huge help, but let’s get Taffy taken care of, shall we?”
“Of course.” Ginny reluctantly turned away from Gramps, who scowled at Ally behind the woman’s back. Ally narrowed her gaze in warning and quickly followed Ginny and Taffy into the exam room.
“Do you have any other concerns about Taffy?” Ally asked as she pulled a medication syringe out of the cabinet. “She’s eating well? No bowel or bladder problems?”
“She seems fine,” Ginny said, opening the crate and peering inside. “Come on, Taffy. Time to come out.”
The cat didn’t move.
“Taffy,” Ginny’s voice held a note of warning. As if that alone would convince the cat to obey.
“Here’s a liver treat.” Ally presented several for Ginny to use as bait.
Taffy let out a plaintive meow and inched forward toward the treat. Ginny kept up a one-sided dialogue, urging the cat to come out of the crate. After what seemed like forever, Taffy had most of her body outside the carrier, stretching her neck to get the treat.
Ally moved quickly, catching the cat’s scruff and quickly lifting the cat into her arms. Holding her tight, she injected the animal’s flank with the vaccination.
Taffy let out a howl, arching and hissing in annoyance. Ally figured the worst was over, when the cat suddenly released a stream of diarrhea down her front.
“Oh, Taffy.” Ginny looked horrified, but really, Ally was the one with cat diarrhea covering her once-white lab coat.
And her shoes. Her pretty red shoes.
Ugh.
She summoned a smile. “It’s okay.” What else could she say? It was hardly the cat’s fault. “Wait here, I’ll get Taffy cleaned up.”
“I told you she doesn’t like car rides,” Ginny called out as Ally took Taffy out of the exam room through the back door and straight to the wash tub.
Ally gave the cat a quick bath, which Taffy hated even more than car rides, then stripped off her lab coat and cleaned herself up as much as possible.
The red shoes however, were toast. The brown splotches hadn’t washed out, and she couldn’t wait to get upstairs to find a clean pair.
When she returned Taffy to Ginny, she was nonplussed to find the woman standing at the counter chatting with Gramps.
What was it about him, anyway? When had he become such a woman magnet?
“Taffy is all set,” Ally said cheerfully, trying to ignore the stench of cat diarrhea in the air. “Do you want help getting her back into the carrier?”
“Yes, please.”
Together she and Ginny managed to get Taffy tucked back inside the crate, only suffering a few scratches along her forearm. Nothing worse than Pepper had done.
“Okay, then, here’s the invoice.” Ally had the paperwork printed and ready to go. “Will
that be cash or credit?”
“Credit.” Ginny fished in her purse for her card.
Ally swiped the card, praying it wouldn’t be declined. As she waited for the machine to process, Gramps went to work.
“Ginny, Anita told me that you and your husband met with Marty Shawlin before he was murdered.” Gramps kept his blue gaze serious. “Just like I did.”
“You did?” Ginny looked surprised. “I must say my husband Eli wasn’t very impressed.”
Gramps leaned forward. “Me either, if you want to know the truth. Did you end up paying him for any services?”
“Oh no, Eli wouldn’t hear of it.” Ginny suddenly looked suspicious. “Why do you ask?”
“Some people did pay him, and I was hoping that those who did might be able to get their money back,” Gramps said. “You know, now that he’s been murdered, his estate should reimburse those who paid, right? A real good lawyer could help with that.”
“Really?” Ginny seemed a little too interested, considering she’d just claimed she hadn’t paid for any of Marty’s services.
“Yes, really,” Gramps insisted.
Ally eyed her grandfather, wondering if he was telling the truth or had just made the whole thing up.
“Well, we might be interested in something like that,” Ginny finally admitted.
“Why don’t you give me your number?” Gramps picked up a pencil. “I’ll let you know if others feel the same way.”
Ginny didn’t hesitate to rattle off her phone number. Now that the news was out, she couldn’t stop talking. “After we paid the man, we heard nothing from him. Eli grew convinced that Marty was a scumbag swindler, and I have to agree. I never should have listened to Anita, praising Marty as being such a nice guy.” Her dark brown eyes filled with tears. “We could have used that sixteen hundred dollars on a new television.”
Sixteen hundred dollars? Ally caught Gramps’ gaze. That was way more than what Marty had intended to charge Lydia. Unless it was double the eight hundred fee because there were two of them? Maybe.