Hope Callaghan - Garden Girls 04 - Death by Dumplings Read Online Free PDF Page A

tapped the door with her bandaged paw.  Gloria lifted the paw and studied the bandage still covering the gunshot wound.  It seemed to be healing quite nicely.  Still, Gloria wasn’t taking any chances.  They had an appointment with the vet tomorrow.  She hoped the vet would give them a clean bill of health. 
    Gloria sat on the edge of the steps as she watched Mally prance around the yard, sniffing a little of this, watering a little of that.  The sun set hours ago and the moon was high in the sky.  It seemed bright.  Brighter than normal for this time of year.  Almost as bright as a fall harvest moon. 
    Her mind wandered back to the restaurant.  What was the name of the place that man owned in Chicago? Amichis?  Armandos?  No, that wasn’t it.  Amici Trattoria.  She jumped to her feet.  “C’mon Mally.”  She wanted to put it on paper before she forgot again.
    She jotted it down and headed to the bathroom to get ready for bed.  Tomorrow was shaping up to be another busy day.

Chapter Two
     
    First thing the next morning, Gloria called Dot’s house.  This time, Dot herself answered.  “Hi Gloria.” She could tell by the tone of her friend’s voice there was no good news but she decided to ask anyways.  “Did you hear anything from the police yet?”
    “No. Ray just left to go meet them at the restaurant.  I guess they want to do one more search of the place.”
    “They haven’t cleared the place so you can open back up?”
    “No.” Dot paused.  “I’m not sure I even want to, Gloria.  People are saying some really mean things.” Gloria could tell by the sound of her voice she was close to tears and it broke her heart.
    “Don’t you listen to one word of that Dorothy Jenkins!” Gloria scolded.  “Anyone who said one bad word is no friend of yours – of ours – and they’re just jealous!”  It took a lot to get Gloria ticked off but this was getting her all fired up. 
    When I find out who the trash talkers are , Gloria vowed to herself, I will personally set them straight!
    Dot talked for a few more minutes before telling Gloria she felt sick to her stomach and needed to go lay down.  Gloria hung up the phone.  The call made Gloria even more determined to get to the bottom of this and help clear Dot and Ray’s good names.
    She walked straight over to the computer.  It was time to find out what the story was with this Amici Trattoria place in Chicago.  She found the restaurant on-line, found the location, she even found all the raving reviews.  What she couldn’t find was the owner’s name.  She tried searching the property appraiser’s office, she tried the county assessor’s office.  Nowhere did it list the owner’s name! 
    Frustrated, she shut off the computer.  She stomped over to the kitchen door, grabbed Mally’s leash and her jacket off the hook.  “C’mon, girl.  Let’s go for a walk.”
    They walked the property and the fields.  The wandered down to the creek on the other side of the property.  Gloria sat on the edge of the bank as Mally frolicked near the water.  The serenity of the spot made her feel better.  Actually, she felt a lot better.  The fresh country air helped clear her head.
    Gloria glanced down at her watch.  Mally’s vet appointment was in an hour!  She jumped to her feet.  “Mally, we gotta go!” They made a mad dash for the keys and the car.
    Rain started to fall as they made their way down main street Belhaven, past Dot’s restaurant.  The police tape was gone but the place was empty except for a police car and Ray’s van.  She could see Ray standing by the front window.  He was inside talking to a police officer.   
    She sent up a quick prayer for Dot and Ray and also asked for some help in solving the mystery. 
    The vet was quick and easy.  He gave Mally a clean bill of health.  He told Gloria the wound was healing quite nicely and that there’d only be a tiny little scar as a reminder of the entire