Woof at the Door Read Online Free PDF

didn’t get too personal, I would
     be fine answering his questions. Then maybe I could maneuver in a few of my own. “I
     keep my license current. It comes in handy with what I do.”
    “Which is to rescue traumatized animals?”
    “If need be.”
    “What kind of animals do you usually work with, when you’re not saving the wayward?”
     Again with the killer smile.
    I tried to ignore the effect it had on me. Though honestly, since I had a pulse, it
     was a losing battle. Yep, I’d be much better off talking to Jake Nocera.
    “I deal with family pets mostly. I do a lot of consulting.”
    “Consulting?”
    “I specialize in problem behavior.”
    “So if Fido is eating the sofa, you’re the person to call.”
    “Yep.” I tried to figure out a way to artfully turn the conversation around. Ask a
     question, something.
    “So I guess that Doberman yesterday comes under the category of having problem behavior?”
    “Yep.” Wow, I was really doing a bang-up job of gleaning information. Look out, Nancy
     Drew.
    “How were you able to do what you did? Just walk up to that dog and . . . tame him?”
    Suddenly, my imaginary dinner-date scenario flashed through my head. This was a little
     too close for comfort. I looked away from him, out the window at the busy street.
     “I’m good at what I do.”
    “Where did you learn? Did you have a mentor?”
    “I’m self-taught. I’ve worked with animals all my life.” I continued to gaze out the
     window, my mind spinning like the wheels of the passing cars. “After a while, I developed
     the ability to read them. Now I can work with them in almost any situation.” My answer
     was the same I gave anyone else who asked.
    “So you’ve just studied animals?” Skepticism laced his words.
    I turned to face him, leaned forward, and folded my hands on the table. Time to nip
     this in the bud. “You’re a criminal investigator, right?”
    He nodded.
    “When you go to a crime scene, there are things you know to look for—clues, or whatever.”
    Again, he nodded.
    “But if I sat and watched you do your job, I wouldn’t really know what you were doing,
     because I don’t know anything about investigating crimes.”
    “And I don’t know anything about working with animals.”
    I lifted a shoulder. “Most people never bother to learn.”
    “Is that why you don’t like people?”
    I paused to consider the question. “It’s not a question of like.”
    “Then what is it?”
    “Animals act in ways I can understand. Even wild animals that hunt and kill are motivated
     by necessity. Acting on instinct. People are different. So many times they are selfish
     and cruel—just because they want to be.”
    Kai’s grin dimmed slightly. “I wouldn’t argue with that.”
    “With all you’ve seen, I’m sure you wouldn’t.” For an instant, I felt a sense of understanding
     pass between us. I allowed a hint of a smile to play on my lips; it would be nice
     to think that someone like him could understand me. I liked people but didn’t trust
     them. If anyone could get that, it would be a man who saw just how purely evil people
     could be to one another. Crime scene after crime scene.
    I had a shot of inspiration. If I opened up, maybe he would, too. “Yesterday was hard
     for me. I mean, seeing everything.” It was true. I’d seen death before—terrible, gruesome
     death— but even so . . . “I’d never been to a murder scene.”
    “First one is never easy.” His voice was gentle.
    “I hope it will be my last.” Now I tried layering on the flattery. “How do you do
     it? I mean it’s your job to look past the body and see clues and evidence—how do you
     do that?”
    “I’m good at what I do.” He mimicked my earlier statement with a half grin.
    “Don’t you ever worry you’ll miss something?”
    “I always worry that I’ll miss something.”
    “I heard you say that Mark Richardson just broke up with his girlfriend. Do you think
     she killed