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

incident.  The vet picked Mally up from the examination table and set her down on all fours.  “How did your dog get shot?”
    Gloria sighed as she shook her head.  “It’s a long story and you wouldn’t believe me, even if I told you.”
    The young vet walked Gloria to the front reception desk. “You have quite a reputation around here for being a bit of a super-sleuth.” He tapped his bottom lip with his index finger.  “Let me guess.  It had something to do with one of your mysteries.”
    Gloria grinned.  “Yeah, you could say that.”
    He knelt down and rubbed Mally’s ears.  “I’m sure you were some sort of hero dog and that’s how you got shot,” he guessed.
    “You would be 100% right!” 
    He set Mally’s chart on the desk.  “We don’t charge super-hero dogs so today was a freebie.”
    Gloria never intended to get out of paying for the visit.  She started to open her purse.  “But I don’t mind…
    He shook his head firmly.  “Please. I insist.”
    She shut her purse and grabbed Mally’s leash.  “Thank you so much.” She paused when she reached the door.  “I haven’t found a vet for Mally.  If you have room for her, we’d like to start coming here.”
    He grinned.  “We’d love to have you.” He bent down to Mally-level.  “And you, too.”
    Gloria and Mally made their way out to Anabelle.  On the drive home, she decided to check in with Ruth at the post office.  She didn’t want her to think she was avoiding her.  Plus, she was the only one of the Garden Girls she hadn’t seen since she got home from the mountains.
    Ruth was waiting on a customer inside the lobby.  She spotted Gloria as soon as she stepped through the door.
    Ruth grabbed a book of stamps from the drawer and shoved them across the counter at the woman. 
    Unfortunately for Ruth, the woman made her way to the side counter and began working on a stack of envelopes she had with her.  She peeled a stamp from the pack and carefully centered it in the corner of the first envelope. 
    Ruth stomped over to where the woman was standing.  “Here, let me help you with that.”  She didn’t wait for a reply.  Instead, she grabbed the pile of envelopes and snatched the book of stamps from the woman’s hands.  She peeled a stamp out of the book and slapped it on the corner of the envelope before stamping the next one in the stack. 
    The poor woman just stared at Ruth, too stunned to say a word.
    Gloria clamped her hand over her mouth to stifle a giggle. 
    Ruth finished the pile in seconds flat.  She picked up the pile of envelopes, handed the book of stamps back to the woman and then walked her to the door.  “Have a nice day.” 
    The woman was still staring at Ruth as she walked out.
    Ruth closed the door behind her and spun around to face Gloria. “That man in Dot’s restaurant was poisoned!”
    Gloria didn’t have the heart to tell her she already knew that.  “What a shame.”
    “We need a Garden Girls meeting.  Maybe if we put our heads to together, we can figure out how on earth something like this happened,” Gloria suggested. 
    Ruth nodded.  “I think you’re right.  But where are we going to meet now that Dot’s place is out of commission – at least for now?”
    Ruth went on.  “I tried calling Dot earlier.  She didn’t pick up.”  She lowered her voice.  “Ray said she’s depressed and refuses to get out of bed.”
    Gloria was afraid that was going to happen.  They needed to change that. And fast.  “I’ll run over to Dot’s right now.  I’ll tell her we’re having a meeting and she has to be there.” She paused. “Let’s do it tomorrow at noon – on your lunch break.  We can meet at my house,” she added.
    Gloria headed out the door and drove straight to Dot’s.  Ray’s truck wasn’t in the driveway but Dot’s van was.  Gloria hopped out of the car and headed to the front door.  The curtains were drawn tight.  Maybe she went somewhere with