Fashion Faux Paw Read Online Free PDF

The amount she was being paid by NMD was triple what she earned for the walks. “Did they all behave?”
    “Everybody except the one you call Mr. T. That Jack Russell acted like he had a stick of dynamite up his butt. Good thing I only have to do him once a day, or I’d be demanding double.”
    Ellie grinned. Viv’s Jack Russell was a trip, and he was never happy when he had to work with someone new. She’d had a long talk with him about Amber last week, and again this morning, but that didn’t mean he was going to be agreeable. “Sorry, but there’s nothing I can do about him. T has a mind of his own.”
    “I can see that. Are you still mingling with the fabulous fashionistas or are you home?”
    “I’m still at the event. There’s been an . . . incident. You’ll probably read about it in tomorrow’s newspaper.” Ellie took a deep breath, hoping to ward off the first of many comments she was sure to receive from her friends. “And before you say anything, I had nothing to do with it.”
    “Oh, my God. There’s been another murder,” Amber exclaimed, her high-pitched voice ear-shattering. “I can’t wait to hear the details. You owe me a lunch.”
    “Okay, fine. Just don’t make it this week.” She spotted the detective she’d been told was in charge talking with Charlene, and figured she’d be next on his list. “I’ve got to hang up. Have fun tomorrow and be nice to my kids. Bye.”
    Moments later, a tall, thin man with a shock of gray hair finished his discussion with the forensic technician and headed in Ellie’s direction. She had no idea if the lead detective was a nice guy or not, but he’d be in charge, so she decided to make the best of it.
    “Ms. Engleman?” He held up his badge. “I’m Newton Vaughn, lead detective on this case. I understand you were the one who tried to revive the victim before the emergency crew arrived.”
    Ellie moved Rudy to her lap, hoping the extra room would encourage the rangy detective to sit. She’d have a crick in her neck if she had to stare up at him much longer.
    “I did, but I had no idea the pen was dead—er—empty until after I tried it.”
    Detective Vaughn took the hint and parked himself, leaving the middle chair between them for room. Then he pulled out the ever-present spiral notepad. “You know anything about allergies?”
    Ellie shook her head. “Not a thing. In fact, I don’t believe I know a single person, family member or friend, who’s allergic to anything.”
    “So this pen was new to you?”
    “I’d heard about EpiPens, of course, but no, I’d never seen one. When I got there with her bag, I had already pulled it out. Lilah was gasping for breath, her face swollen, her body stiff, so I automatically flipped off the cap, saw the needle, and pushed it into her thigh. Then I saw that the plunger was already depressed. That’s when Mr. Jager took a look and told me it was empty. We checked her bag, but didn’t find another one.”
    Detective Vaughn leaned back in the chair, his ruddy face set in a grim expression. “I understand from Mr. King that you were the person in charge of this area. You saw who came and went, who put their belongings under the table, who was inspecting those fancy gift baskets, that sort of thing.”
    “I was, but not all the time.”
    “Not all the time? What does that mean?”
    Ellie figured he already had this information, and was just asking to make sure she gave the identical explanation. “My first priority was the dogs. I had to take them out back on schedule. I also made sure they had water and treats, and I gave them an ear if anything was wrong.”
    “An ear?” Vaughn’s generous mouth curled down into a frown. “Care to tell me what that means?”
    “Smart move, Triple E. That’s the way to show him you have a sensible head on your shoulders,” Rudy muttered, nosing her neck. “ Get outta this one.”
    “I—uh—I seem to have a sixth sense where canines are concerned.”