The Fashion Hound Murders Read Online Free PDF Page B

cage. He gave a heartbroken howl.
    “Is he crying for you or the food?” Alyce asked. Then she started laughing so hard she sat down on the stack of dog food bags. “You’ve broken his heart. And he’s only eight weeks old.”
    “You can console him. I have to buy a twenty-pound bag of puppy chow.” Josie ran down the dog food aisle. She found the puppy chow, but saw no sign of Jim.
    Alyce joined Josie at the cash register. Shirley wasn’t exactly panting to help, despite her name tag, but she did ring up the dog food.
    “Is Jim around?” Josie asked. “He was helping me pick out a puppy.”
    “Jim had to go to lunch,” Shirley said.
    “At ten fifteen?” Josie asked.
    “We get really busy during the noon hour,” Shirley said. “Is there something I can help you with?”
    “Yes,” Josie said. “I’d like to see the names and addresses of the breeders for your pedigreed pups.”
    “Our manager has those and she’s on vacation,” Shirley said. “But if you want to buy a pup, we can mail you the paperwork later.”
    “No, thank you,” Josie said.
    When they were back outside, Alyce said, “They’re lying. Both of them. I hope you got that on tape.”
    “Me, too. Let’s get some coffee and check the tape, or chip, or whatever it is,” Josie said. “The other store is in Rock Road Village, by my place. There’s a coffeehouse, Foundation Grounds, nearby on Manchester Road. Their baked goods are organic and their coffee is free trade.”
    “I’m not sure I can stand too much virtue,” Alyce said. “But I could use a cappuccino.”
    “The baked goods are wicked,” Josie said.
    “Sold,” Alyce said.
    They formed a two-car caravan for the six miles to Foundation Grounds in Maplewood. On the short drive, Josie remembered the wiggly little pug. Maybe she could make sure other pups got a better start. Josie Marcus, defender of baby animals, she thought. She didn’t feel noble, but at least she was doing useful work—and helping pay her daughter’s tuition.
    Foundation Grounds’ coffee-scented interior was welcoming on a gray day. Josie and Alyce found a quiet corner and settled in with their scones and cinnamon-sprinkled cappuccinos.
    “I like the funky decor,” Alyce said. “Wish there was a way to just get a cup of foam.” She ate hers with a spoon. “Did your purse record everything?”
    Josie put in the earpiece, then did a quick check of the sound and video. “Every weaselly word. And I mean no disrespect to weasels. I’ll bet anything that store is selling puppy mill pets.”
    Alyce finished her cappuccino and Josie polished off her scone. “Want more coffee?”
    “Let’s finish this assignment,” Alyce said. “I can hardly stand to look at those poor animals. It’s like they’re begging me to save them and I can’t.”
    “This isn’t your job,” Josie said. “It’s mine. I understand if you want to go home.”
    “I’m not a quitter,” Alyce said.
    The second Pets 4 Luv store in Rock Road Village was nearly a copy of the first, down to the pedigreed dogs behind the plastic hearts. This time, Edna was supposed to be panting to help Josie. Edna was a sturdy, sensible woman with tightly permed dark hair. She offered Josie a carob chip cookie. “What do you think?”
    Josie took a bite. “Not bad,” she said. A little bland, but okay, she thought.
    Edna had a wicked gleam in her eye. “It’s a dog treat from the bulk food bin, but a lot of humans eat them.”
    Josie nearly spit out the rest of the cookie.
    “It won’t hurt you,” Edna said. “They’re the same carob cookies you see in the bulk food bin at supermarkets.”
    A Chihuahua that was, all eyes, ears, and twig legs, pawed a heart-shaped window. Josie was tempted to feed it the rest of her cookie.
    “I’ll take half a pound,” Josie said. “I want to get a puppy for my ten-year-old daughter. It’s a present.”
    She asked the required questions. Edna gave evasive answers, but Josie could see the