Marty Ambrose - Mango Bay 01 - Peril in Paradise Read Online Free PDF Page B

that” I jerked on his leash, knowing his
next move would be to nip at her heels. Kong-short for
King Kong-didn’t like being patronized by humans
who wanted to pet him because he was so tiny. When he
was a puppy, I’d taken him to a dog psychologist who
said Kong suffered from low self-esteem and needed to
feel important. That’s why he acted aggressive with
most people-especially those with a condescending air.
So I named him King Kong, hoping to give him a boost.
But so far, it wasn’t working too well.
    “He’s really wound up tonight.”
    “I understand, honey. My cat, Riley, acts the same
way when I don’t pay enough attention to him. Give him
a lot of love and support, and he’ll be fit as a fiddle” She
tottered off on her high heels.
    I looked down at Kong’s spunky face and floppy
white ears. “Is that what you need? Lots of love and
support?”
    He wagged his tail.
    “Come on, let’s head for the beach” I led him toward
the Gulf of Mexico, tugging at his leash. For some reason, Kong didn’t like the beach. Maybe the expanse of
water exacerbated the low self-esteem problem, maybe
he didn’t like the sound of the waves, or maybe he was
just being difficult. At any rate, he resisted all the way
to the surf and, once there, sniffed the water as if it
were a noxious odor.
    “You’re going to have to get used to the beach, Kong.
This is home” He turned up his brown eyes and button nose in a pleading gesture, then slowly sat down on the
sand.

    Sighing, I listened to the gentle swell of waves as
they rolled ashore. Deep, drawn-out echoes against the
soft sand, as if to remind me that a terrible thing had
occurred. A man had been murdered tonight and I found
his body. I was a suspect.
    I knew what my family would say: Mixed-up Mallie
had really done it this time. I was on the edge of yet another calamity and this one was a doozy.
    Kong wasn’t the only one who needed love and support right now. I could use a strong shoulder to lean on.
But there was no one in my life.
    I was on my own.

     

Surprisingly, I enjoyed a heavy, dreamless sleep
probably out of sheer exhaustion. And the next morning I awoke to a bright sun, promising a day of light
and warmth. Actually beyond warmth. It would probably hit the upper eighties by midday and my nose would
be peeling like the bark on a gumbo limbo tree.
    I knocked off my bike path story on my battered laptop computer, took Kong for a brief walk-avoiding
the beach-and drove to the Observer office. When I
walked in the door, Anita was waiting for me, cigarette
in hand. A flicker of sympathy in her eyes told me she’d
already heard the news. I marveled again that this island had a grapevine unparalleled by none-not even
the one Marvin Gaye and Gladys Knight sang about.
    “How are ya doing?” she asked.

    “Okay. Yesterday was rough, but I’m feeling a little better this morning.” I poured a cup of coffee for
myself-my fourth already for the day-and added two
packets of sugar. Sandy sat at her desk with her eyes
closed as she listened to her morning meditation on her
iPod. She wasn’t wearing a price tag on her slate blue
blouse and matching skirt, so I supposed they were keepers. Must be the stretchy jersey fabric.
    “I’ve got to go over to the island police station this
morning and give a statement. Do you think I’m dressed
okay?” I smoothed down my pea green shirtwaist dress.
Being a jeans and T-shirt kind of girl, I’d had to hunt in
my closet for one of the few dresses I owned-a gift
from my older sister who kept trying in vain to get me
into a more conservative style of clothing.
    “Yeah, you’ll win the fashionista award,” she said
dryly. “Do you want me to call an attorney?”
    My hand tightened around the cup. “Do I need one?”
    Anita shrugged. “You were the one that found the
body. That means you’re a .. “
    “Suspect. I know. But I’m innocent. I didn’t even
know Jack