1 Lost Under a Ladder Read Online Free PDF Page A

dinner when the room’s phone rang.
    “Rory?” said a deep male voice when I answered. “This is Justin Halbertson. I was wondering if you’d join me for dinner.”
    Good timing. But did I want to have dinner with him?
    Maybe. I wouldn’t mind the company. Plus, I’d sound him out more about Destiny and what its residents really thought about superstitions, not just the fronts they put on to garner money from tourists.
    “If Pluckie can come too,” I told him.
    “Of course. There are a lot of places that welcome dogs, especially black and white hero dogs like yours.”
    “Do you get many black and white hero dogs around here?” I asked.
    “No, but I’ll be glad to have the first join me—us—for dinner.”
    _____
    Justin came by about twenty minutes later. We met him in the lobby, and I ignored Serina’s delighted grin and wave as we left.
    This wasn’t a date. I hadn’t dated since I lost Warren. I certainly had no romantic interest in this man. I just wanted to learn all I could from him.
    And surely the town’s police chief would know a lot.
    We exited the B&B’s lobby beneath that horseshoe hanging over the outside of the door. We walked a couple of blocks in the waning light of day, among another crowd of tourists that seemed more directed and less meandering than those I’d seen earlier that day. Maybe everyone was hungry now.
    A lot of these people also had dogs on leashes—white, black, brown, and golden colors, from little Yorkies up through a shepherd or two. I’d already determined that Pluckie was welcome, and that she wasn’t the only visiting dog. Even more seemed to be out at this hour.
    Too bad the Lucky Dog Boutique might not be able to keep regular hours now—although I didn’t know the situation. Hopefully, Martha had staff who could take over in her absence.
    “Are the sidewalks ever empty in this town?” I asked Justin. I noticed that he didn’t avoid stepping on cracks. I nevertheless stayed away from them—at least as much as possible.
    “Not if we can help it,” he responded with a smile.
    The Shamrock Steakhouse was about three blocks from the B&B.
    The B&B! I suddenly stopped and looked at Justin, my hand that wasn’t holding Pluckie’s leash on my hip. “How did you know where to f ind me?” I’d mentioned a B&B, but I hadn’t said which one of the severa l establishments in town.
    He shrugged one of those wide shoulders and grinned. “I’m the chief of police,” he said. “I know everything.”
    “Right.” As I turned to start walking again, I hid my smile. But there was undoubtedly truth to what he said. People around here would respond to his questions about visitors, especially locals who managed lodgings. Although I didn’t really see him taking the time to call all the B&Bs, or even having a subordinate do it.
    “It helps that you gave some info about yourself to the first officers on the scene at the Lucky Dog,” he said.
    Had I told the person interviewing me where I was staying? I didn’t think so—but I may have mentioned I’d planned to return to my B&B after stopping at the store and that it wasn’t too far. That would have narrowed down the possibilities.
    I hadn’t trod on a superstition that broadcast my location to the world. Thank heavens.
    We passed the Black Cat Inn on the way to the restaurant. B&Bs weren’t the only lodgings around here.
    We soon reached our destination. The steakhouse was crowded, but we were seated in the patio area right away. I wasn’t sure whether my companion had made a reservation, or if he got preferential treatment because of who he was.
    It didn’t matter. I was glad not to wait.
    The collection of small round tables allowed for a choice between those under heat lamps and those without. I felt fine and opted for no lamp when Justin asked my preference.
    Pluckie’s nose didn’t stop from the time we entered the area. She exchanged sniffs with a couple of Chihuahua mixes and a bulldog as we took