Death in a Summer Colony Read Online Free PDF Page A

he’s back on the street. Occasionally he ends up in front of a judge, promises to stay on his meds, and in a few weeks or months, the whole cycle starts again.”
    “It’s a familiar pattern. You got all that accomplished before the end of the workday?”
    “No, I did that in the evening before going home.”
    “I thought as part of our plan to have lives outside of work we….”
    “That was a good thought. But neither one of us is going to be able to do that. It was okay, Ray. I went to dinner with Mike Ogden. I always thought he was very married, turns out he’s not anymore. I guess he wanted me to know. It was a little bit awkward. It’s not like he asked me out or anything, or even asked if I was involved with anyone. But it was clumsy.” She paused for a few moments. “I’ve got one more thing. You sent me an e-mail with the out-of-date contact info on the owner of the cottage, Regina Zwilling-Glidden.”
    “Yes,”
    “I ran that by the detective in Tucson. Seems she’s well known to the PD, also.”
    “How so?”
    “I guess she’s been an assistant prosecutor there for years. She was incapacitated by a stroke sometime in the recent past. I explained to him the reason for my call, and he said he would check on her and get back to me.”
    “Sometimes life is a train wreck,” said Ray.
    “So the rest of the materials there are first drafts of evidence to take to the prosecutor. I’ve also asked for a search warrant of Zwilling’s car. If he survives there will be a whole list of charges.”
    “And,” said Ray, “the issue of whether or not he is competent to stand trial.”
     

6
     
     
     
    A fter Ray delivered his line on Zwilling’s competence to stand trial, they sat in silence, each reflecting on the horror of the scene.
    “Is there anything else?” asked Ray.
    “Simone, she has a vet appointment late this afternoon. She needs a heartworm check and a Lyme disease vaccination. And Ray,” she gave him her wry smile, “we don’t have an arrangement in our joint custody agreement for Simone’s veterinary bills, but if you would cover this I’d really appreciate it. I’m sort of short this month.”
    “No problem. And I apologize for not having thought about that earlier. In fact, from this point forward I’ll look after the vet bills, you do more than your share with her other expenses.”
    “And after the vet, would you take her for the evening. I’m going to dinner and a movie in town with the girls. I’d like to not be in a rush to get home.”
    “No problem,” said Ray. “She’s always good company.”
    “And you have no other plans? I guess I should have asked that first.”
    “No. She will be the center of my universe.”
    “That’s true. Whether you want her to be or not.” Sue retrieved a brown paper bag and set it on the table. “Here’s Simone’s overnight bag. There’s a can of her special food, her favorite tennis ball, and some treats, to be doled out judiciously when she sits to have her leash taken off.”
    Many hours later, after the trip to the veterinary hospital, Ray took Simone home. As he started supper for himself, he opened her bag of supplies and pulled out the can of food. He eyed the label carefully and looked over at Simone. “Do you know what’s in here? Let me give you the highlights. Pork by-products. Simone, I can’t imagine what that would be. The stuff they can’t put in hotdogs because it’s too disgusting. How about powdered cellulose? That’s sawdust, kid. Then there’s marigold extract.” He paused and returned her intense look. “No, I’m not making this up. But wait, there’s more. Dried beet pulp, and guar gum—always one of my favorites. Then there’s a whole list of multisyllabic, chemical sounding stuff with the monos and tris, the sulfates and phosphates. Do you really want to eat this?” He held out the can, turning the ingredients list in her direction.
    Simone, looking up at Ray, continued to hang on every