Foul Play Read Online Free PDF Page B

thumping his fist on his desk.
    Amy flinched in surprise.
    Jake felt the flush rise from his shirt collar. “I got carried away.”
    â€œWhat on earth were you thinking? For a minute there I thought you were going to kiss me again, and then I was afraid you were going to strangle me.”
    â€œPick one.”
    â€œNo way. Is there a ladies’ room here?”
    Jake sighed. “Two doors around the corner. To the left.” He slouched in his chair and rubbed his forehead, wondering if everyone acted this stupid when they were in love.
    The front door to the clinic opened andJake heard the unmistakable shuffle of his colleague’s size-thirteen feet.
    Allen Logan paused at Jake’s open door. “You look like you’ve just been hit by a bus.”
    â€œThat’s about how I feel.”
    â€œThe flu?”
    Jake sighed. “The receptionist.”
    â€œWhat receptionist?”
    â€œOur receptionist. The one standing behind you.”
    Logan turned around and grinned down at Amy. “Howdy.”
    Jake ambled over. “This is Amy Klasse. Amy, this is Allen Logan, DVM…my happily married partner and resident bear.”
    Amy smiled at Allen Logan. He did resemble a bear. A big, lumbering, gentle bear.
    â€œWill you excuse us for a moment?” Allen said to Amy. Grabbing an arm, he pulled Jake into the lavatory and closed the door. “I like her. Nice legs, cute nose, great smile. What the hell are we going to do with a receptionist?”
    â€œI’m going to marry her.”
    â€œOh.” Allen didn’t bother to keep the laughter from his voice. “Does she know this?”
    â€œNot exactly.”
    There was a knock on the door. “Jake? There’s a horse out here.”
    The bathroom door opened and the two men stuck their heads out.
    â€œThat’s not a horse,” Jake explained. “That’s a Great Dane. Mrs. Newfarmer must be early for her one-thirty appointment.”
    Amy flattened herself against the wall while the dog sniffed her shorts. “He’s drooling on my shoe.”
    â€œCan’t blame him,” Allen Logan said wistfully.
    A small, round woman appeared in the hallway. “I’m sorry, Dr. Elliott. Brutus was so anxious to see you, he pulled the leash out of my hand and took off.”
    â€œMrs. Newfarmer, I’d like you to meet my new receptionist, Amy Klasse.”
    Mrs. Newfarmer shook Amy’s hand. “How nice. This office needs a receptionist,” she confided.
    Jake and Allen looked at each other nonplussed.
    â€œI didn’t think we needed a receptionist,” Allen whispered.
    Jake looked at yesterday’s files spread across the front desk. The telephone rang once and then plugged into the answering machine. In the past year his client list had tripled. Maybe he really did need a receptionist. He looked at Allen and shrugged. “Life is strange.”
    â€œSpeaking of strange, Mr. Billings is due any minute with Daisy Mae.”
    Jake’s eyes got round. “Did you tell him he had to have her confined?”
    â€œI forgot.”
    The front door opened and a whiskered old man strode in with an enormous gray cat perched on his shoulder. Jake dived for the Dane’s leash, but it was too late. The dog lunged at the cat, who catapulted itself onto Jake’s chest. Brutus changed direction in midair, striving for a hunk of gray fur from the cat’s tail. The cat turned around and made a quick swipe at the dog’s nose. Thedog gave a loud yelp and retreated to a corner, where he had an accident.
    â€œHe’s just a puppy,” Mrs. Newfarmer apologized. “Do you have a mop?”
    Amy almost fainted at the sight of tiny pinpricks of blood oozing through Jake’s shirt. “You’re wounded!”
    â€œNothing several hundred stitches couldn’t cure,” Jake said.
    Allen saluted his injured partner. “Dr. Disaster strikes