Murder Most Howl: A Paws & Claws Mystery Read Online Free PDF Page A

seemed to be good-natured and spirited.
    “My word, but it’s cold here. I hope there are some nice stores in town. I didn’t pack any long johns.” The speaker held the leash of a miniature poodle, whose apricot coat very nearly matched her own hair in both color and curl.
    “Honestly, Weegie,” said a short woman who held herself very erect. “We’re in the mountains, what did you expect?”
    Weegie’s expression showed polite disdain for her friend. “We’re from North Carolina,” she drawled to Zelda. “I can’t recall when it was this cold at home, Myrtle.”
    Myrtle’s jaw tightened. I guessed she had been a dark brunette, because her hair had turned silken gray with dark streaks. The set of her jaw made me think she was a no-nonsense type. She looked at a friend who had obviously anticipated the chilly weather, because she wore a black puffer jacket. “Sylvie,” said Myrtle, “are you sure you won’t room with Weegie?”
    Sylvie chuckled in a good-natured way, revealing sweet dimples on her pudgy face. Her round cheeks pushed up the oval wire-rimmed glasses she wore. Sylvie edged near the registration desk and pulled off a cap, revealing super-short two-tone blonde hair. Blondish bangs hung at the top of her face but had been trimmed a good inch above her eyebrows.Her hair grew darker in tone toward her ears and the nape of her neck.
    “Honey, I’m a terrible roommate,” she said. “Sometimes I wake in the middle of the night and flick on the TV or read.”
    “I should have booked a single room,” Myrtle grumbled.
    Weegie didn’t bother turning around. “You know that I can hear you, right?”
    Sylvie squealed when Leo jumped on the counter right next to her. She sucked in a deep breath and staggered back a step.
    “I’m so sorry. Where did he come from?” I asked, lifting him off the registration desk.
    Myrtle giggled at her friend’s shock. “He followed us inside.”
    Leo didn’t seem perturbed. He strolled to the small landing on the stairs and watched us.
    “Would you like a Sugar Maple Inn GPS collar for your dog?” I asked Weegie.
    “GPS? You mean it tracks her?”
    “In case she gets lost. There’s no charge for it. You just turn it in when you leave.”
    “Well sure, if it’s free.” She turned her head to face her dog. “Would you like that, Puddin’?”
    Puddin’ didn’t seem to mind when I latched the collar on her.
    I had just settled Myrtle, Weegie, and Puddin’ the poodle in Swim and returned to the registration desk when Zelda handed me the phone with dread in her eyes. “It’s not beginning well,” she whispered.
    I took the phone from her. It was Val. Her voice sounded oddly controlled, as though she was making an effort to be calm. “We have a problem. A tree fell on electrical wires and half of Wagtail has no electricity—including Hair of the Dog.”
    “That’s terrible! Do you want to sleep over here tonight? You can stay in my spare room.”
    “Holly! You’re not getting what I’m saying.” Suddenly she sounded panicked. “We have to start Murder Most Howl at the Sugar Maple Inn tonight!”

Three

    “No problem,” I said to Val. “We would be happy to have the initial meeting here. We’ll just have to notify everyone. Put a sign on the door of the pub, and we’ll give people an extra twenty minutes or so to walk over here. Does that sound okay?”
    Zelda bit her upper lip and watched me. “This is going to be trouble,” she hissed.
    “Nonsense,” I whispered. “Val, just let me know what you need.” I hung up the phone. “It will be fine. We have enough room to accommodate everyone. You start calling our participating guests to let them know. I’ll round up Mr. Huckle and Shelley, and they can help me get the Dogwood Room ready. No problem.” I’d said that twice in just a few seconds. I hoped I wasn’t saying it to convince myself.
    I trudged up the stairs to Oma’s apartment. I’d been resentful when she told me that