Doggie Day Care Murder Read Online Free PDF Page B

words the entire time we’d been together. Of course, Candy’s constant stream of happy chatter had left few opportunities for either of us to get a word in.
    Thanks to Candy’s volubility, I now knew that Pine Ridge offered a host of extra services such as pick-up and drop-off for busy clients, scheduled disc-dog playtime, and classes in clicker training. Not only that, but plans for a custom line of canine couture were in the works. It was all a little much to take in.
    While Candy had been talking, Bailey had been grooming a chocolate Labrador Retriever. I’m using the term loosely, because in actuality the part of the process we were watching involved her lifting the dog’s heavy lips and brushing his large white teeth.
    True to his breed, the Lab was placid and good-natured. He also had all his teeth and a correct bite, I noted absently. Apparently, he loved the taste of the toothpaste Bailey was using because he kept swabbing his long pink tongue around the long-handled brush and trying to pull it out of her fingers.
    The attempts made Bailey giggle, and the giggling made the Lab’s heavy tail thump up and down on the rubber-coated tabletop. The two of them looked as though they were sharing a joke they’d enjoyed together before.
    â€œYou have a nice hand on a dog,” I said to Bailey when Candy stepped across the room to check on an Afghan Hound that was sitting in a crate under a blow-dryer.
    â€œThank you. I love my job.”
    Bailey’s round face creased in a happy smile. She was older than Madison, perhaps in her early twenties, and had the pale complexion and bland features of a German milkmaid. She hummed softly under her breath as she worked.
    â€œCandy said you show your dogs,” she said, her tone tinged with awe. “I’d love to be able to do that someday.”
    â€œIt’s a great hobby. My husband and I have Standard Poodles. Lots of people who show them also groom professionally. I’d be happy to—”
    â€œRight, then,” Candy said, swooping back in to join us. “I’m so glad you two had a chance to get to know one another. But now I’m afraid we really have to let Bailey get back to work. She’s busy, busy, busy all the time, and that’s just the way we like it, isn’t it, Bailey?”
    The groomer nodded.
    â€œDon’t forget you have Mrs. Parker’s Cockers to do this afternoon,” Candy continued, checking the list on her clipboard. “Six P.M. pick-up, right?”
    We were out of the grooming room and on our way before Bailey had time to reply.
    â€œSo—have you seen everything you wanted to see?” Candy asked as she escorted me out of the Dog House. “Do you have any more questions I can answer before you go?”
    â€œNo, I think I’m good.” I took a last look around. “This really is a nice setup you have here.”
    â€œWe think so. Steve and I work very hard to make sure everything runs smoothly. And of course, our prices are very reasonable for the array of services we offer. You won’t find another facility like Pine Ridge in all of Fairfield County. I’m sure your friend, Alice, will be very pleased with what we can do for her and Berkley.”
    My initial skepticism had disappeared, and I had to agree. The facility really was nice. I’d be passing along a favorable recommendation to Alice, along with the advice that she try not to get suckered into buying Berkley any designer clothes.
    I followed the path around the front building and had just reached the parking lot when a gold Lexus came flying up the driveway. The driver overshot a parking space and braked abruptly when the car rolled onto the grass. The car was still rocking when a scrappy-looking older man shoved the door open and climbed out.
    He glared in my direction. At least that was how I read his body language. Dark, mirrored sunglasses covered his eyes.
    â€œDo you work