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named Charlene whom Ellie had met before, crawled out from under the table. “What do you know about this?” she asked, holding up her prize.
    “That’s an orange,” Ellie answered, trying to sound intelligent. “What’s it doing down there?”
    “That’s what I’d like to know.” Charlene pulled an evidence bag from her pocket. “Considering the amount of stuff stored under there, I doubt it would roll so far to the back without assistance. My guess is someone dropped it back here behind the table, hoping no one would notice until the cleaning crew tossed it out.” She bagged and tagged the orange. “We’ve already confiscated the fruit sitting on top, but I’ll keep this one separate. It might be something—or nothing at all. We’ll have to wait and see.”
    When Charlene left, Marcus David ambled over and sat next to her. “I’m not being nosy, but I have to ask. I heard you were a crime solver of some renown. What’s that all about?”
    “Be careful what you say, Triple E.”
    She wrapped her fingers around Rudy’s muzzle. “Where did you hear that?”
    “Just around. You know how people talk.” A corner of the handsome designer’s mouth curled up in a grin. “I don’t like rumors. I prefer going straight to the source.” When she didn’t answer, he got the message. “Okay, so you don’t want to talk about it. Are you willing to answer another question?”
    “Depends,” she told him. And who was spreading rumors about her past escapades? “What do you want to know?”
    “I noticed you talking to your dog. At least, I think it was your dog, or maybe it was to yourself.” He gave a full-fledged smile. “I just wondered which it was.”
    “I told you to watch yourself, but did you—?”
    Ellie gave the yorkiepoo’s muzzle another squeeze. “Maybe a little of both. I guess I was trying to figure things out—”
    “Things about Lilah’s death?”
    “See, what’d I tell you?”
    “About the contest, for one,” she replied. “Do you know if it’s been postponed, or is it still on for tomorrow?”
    Marcus shrugged. “Beats me, but I imagine it will continue on schedule. This is a huge venue with designers from around the world participating. I doubt the powers-that-be will stand for a disruption—murder or no murder.”
    Murder? Ellie swallowed. “Did you hear something official? Has Lilah’s death actually been declared a murder?”
    The designer leaned back in his chair. “That’s the gossip circulating. As for the postponement, well, I hate to sound like a pompous jerk, but with Lilah gone it gives the three designers left a better shot at winning.”
    “You mean they won’t move down to the next designer in line? The one who finished in fifth place?”
    “I have no idea, but that would be a bummer. That fifth-place designer would have to play catch-up with everything.”
    Before she could comment, her cell rang. When she checked caller ID, she heaved another sigh. “I have to take this.”
    Standing, he said, “No problem. See you tomorrow,” and walked away.
    Ellie waved her fingers, then took the call. It was Amber Truly, the fellow dog walker she’d asked to cover her regular customers while she worked this show. “Hey, Amber. Sorry I didn’t call you earlier. How were the walks?”
    “Everything went great.” Amber’s cheerful voice made Ellie smile. “I’m exhausted, of course. Adding thirty dogs to my daily schedule wasn’t easy.”
    She’d made friends with Amber about six months ago while doing her rounds. The girl seemed friendly and responsible, and she employed two assistants, which meant she’d probably given most of her regular dogs away and walked those in the Davenport herself, which is where Ellie had met her.
    “I’m very grateful for your help. You know I’ll do the same for you if you ever need me.” Amber was also getting about sixty percent of Ellie’s profits for her trouble, but this wasn’t the time to quibble about money.