Death on a Short Leash Read Online Free PDF

telephone. “Little Pets Hospital,” a harried female voice answered. Maggie could hear the sound of yapping dogs in the background.
    â€œI’d like to speak to Dr. Williams.”
    â€œHe’s busy with a patient,” the girl answered. “Can I help you?”
    â€œNo. I need to speak to him myself. It’s quite urgent.”
    â€œIs it about a pet?”
    â€œNo, it’s a personal matter.”
    â€œOh. Well, you’d better give me your number and I’ll get him to call you as soon as he’s free.”
    The next two calls were more successful. Sandra Owens agreed to meet with Maggie the following lunchtime. And when Maggie explained to Hans Van Dyke who she was, he said, “I’ll do anything to help.” Though the young man was obviously foreign-born, his English was as good as Marie’s. He then volunteered the information that he was a student at the Vancouver Vocational Institute and could come to the agency’s office after classes the next day.
    â€œFine,” she answered. “We’re located at 1687 Broadway. Suite 301.”
    She had just replaced the receiver when the phone rang.
    â€œMrs. Spencer? This is Dr. Carl Williams. What’s this about?”
    â€œThanks for returning my call,” Maggie answered brightly. “It’s about your assistant, Johanna Evans.”
    â€œMy late assistant. If you’re phoning to get her job back, you’re wasting your time—and mine!”
    â€œWhy do you say that, Dr. Williams?”
    â€œThat girl left me in a helluva mess. Just didn’t turn up one day. Not a phone call or even a note. Nobody does that to me.”
    â€œJohanna’s missing, Dr. Williams. We’ve been asked to find her.”
    â€œI can’t help you. Don’t know what my assistants get up to outside of business hours.”
    â€œAll the same, Dr. Williams, Mr. Southby would like to speak to you. When will it be convenient?”
    â€œIt’s not convenient . . . oh, all right!” He sounded exasperated as he turned from the phone to yell, “Bring my appointment book . . . not that one, stupid!” Maggie could hear a girl’s voice murmuring, then Williams interrupted with, “Here, for God’s sake, give it to me . . . tomorrow one-thirty. I can give him ten minutes.”
    â€œAnd what is your address?” Maggie asked sweetly.
    â€œIt’s in the Yellow Pages.” He slammed the phone down.
    â€œPig!” she muttered as she pulled the Yellow Pages toward her.
    It was close to five when Maggie poked her head into Nat’s office. “You’ve got an appointment with Dr. Carl Williams—he’s the vet—at one-thirty tomorrow. Okay?”
    â€œWhere?”
    â€œRichmond. Just off No. 3 Road.”
    â€œAnd what will you be doing?”
    â€œSandra Owens works in Eaton’s lingerie, so I’m meeting her for lunch tomorrow.” Maggie struggled into her coat. “I get Sandra, you get the good doctor.”
    â€œWhat’s wrong with the good doctor ?” Nat asked. “I hear something odd in your voice.” Maggie grinned. “You’ll see when you meet him.”
    â€œGreat!” He reached for his coat. “Do you want to go to a movie tonight?”
    Maggie shook her head. “Come over and see how nice the house looks now that I’ve put everything in its proper place. I’ll even feed you.”
    â€œThought you’d never ask,” Nat said with a grin. “I’ll bring the wine.”
    â€¢ • •
    THE NEXT MORNING Maggie awoke to the sound of Nat whistling happily in the kitchen downstairs, and, looking out of the bedroom window, saw it was a perfect Indian summer day. “One never knows what to wear in this climate,” she mumbled, searching in the back of her closet. She took a quick glance at herself in the mirror as she pinned a blue silk scarf to the shoulder