All Bark and No White Knight (Happy Tails Dog Walking Mysteries Book 4)

by Stella St. Claire

As she followed Trish back, Olivia surveyed the empty coolers that were normally bursting with flowers and felt her heart dip even lower. What was going on here?

  “Looks great,” Olivia said, seeing the fruit of Trish’s labors, and she meant it. The flowers on the table in the back were all nestled together and tied with gorgeous bows. “I think you might have a knack for this.”

  “Yeah, I really enjoy this part of the job. Just not so much dealing with people. Okay, I pulled up the order records. Is there a particular day that you were looking for?” Trish sat down at the desk and waved for Olivia to have a seat.

  Olivia recounted the date that Hannah had died, and Trish awkwardly plugged in the numbers. “Okay, it looks like there were twenty-seven purchases that day.”

  “I’m looking for red roses.”

  “Oh, yeah. So there were two purchases for single red roses, and one purchase for two dozen roses. That’s what cleaned us out.”

  Olivia narrowed her eyes and leaned closer to the screen. “The single roses—were they purchased by the same person?”

  “Maybe?” Trish scrolled through the documents. “The first one paid with a credit card and the second one paid with cash. It looked like maybe it was a couple of hours apart, but I guess the guy could have come back and bought the second one with cash.”

  The last few numbers of the credit card were on the receipt, and Olivia smiled.

  They matched the numbers on Andrew’s card.

  “He never has cash on him,” she breathed. “He didn’t buy the second rose. Someone else did . . .” her breath came short as she was struck by a sudden thought, “. . . and is trying to frame him!”

  Trish frowned. “Wait, what? Andrew—your boyfriend?”

  “Trish, I know that you think you’re doing a good thing by keeping these records to yourself, but Sheriff Limperos really needs to see them. Can you email him a copy? I think it’s connected to the murder.”

  “But Paul . . .”

  “Took both orders,” Olivia finished as she pointed to the screen. “That means that he’s the only person who can identify the second buyer, and he’s not around. He’s not answering your calls. Doesn’t that make you at all suspicious?”

  Trish paled considerably. “Are you saying that he’s dead?”

  “No, but if he knows that he can identify the killer, he might be hiding.”

  “Oh, God!” Trish looked like she might cry. “What if he killed her!”

  “He wouldn’t need to buy his own rose,” Olivia pointed out. She sat back and tapped her finger on the arm of the chair. “You guys sold out of roses that day, but Paul didn’t disappear for two more days after that. He had plenty of time to order more roses, but he didn’t. I think he wanted to force the killer into buying the roses elsewhere. That may have been what set the killer off and sent Paul into hiding.”

  “Or dead.” Trish, it seemed, always believed the worst.

  “Can you do me a favor? Can you use Andrew’s credit card information and see how many other times he’s purchased roses from here, and then see if someone else bought roses after he did?”

  “Maybe?” Trish shrugged and grabbed the mouse. She spent a few minutes clicking and cursing before she brightened. “Okay, I think I got in. Whoa. Andrew has purchased five single roses in the span of two weeks. You’re a lucky girl. It looks like he was the only guy to purchase single roses. Sorry.”

  Five roses?! Just how many dates has Andrew been on? She needed to stop thinking about that and focus! “Don’t be sorry. That probably means that Hannah was targeted. The killer knew Andrew was buying roses and waited to make it look like he did it. That’s premeditation, and that makes it very personal.”

  “Is that a good thing?”

  “It means that our suspect pool just got a lot smaller.” How many people did Olivia know who wanted Hannah dead?

  Just one. Jenny.

  “You’re going to send that to Nick, right?”

  “Yeah.” Trish looked a little bewildered as she reached for the phone. “I’ll call the station now. Do you want to talk to him so you can explain your theory?”

  “No. I’m not investigating this,” Olivia said abruptly as she stood.

  Trish looked more confused than ever. “You’re here to look at the records because you’re not investigating the case?”

  “Exactly. Thanks again, Trish, and you’re doing a great job. Just try to hang in there. With any luck, we’ll get this thing solved, and Paul can come back and see how awesome you are.”

  “We’ll get this thing solved?” Trish echoed with a raised eyebrow.

  “They. They’ll get this thing solved. The police. You know what I mean.” Olivia waved her hand and stood. Thanking Trish one more time, she left the building and took a deep breath. She was confident that this would exonerate Andrew, but one thing still bothered her.

  Someone knew enough about Andrew to use him as a smokescreen. Just how much danger might her boyfriend be in?

  Turning the corner to Main Street, she stopped abruptly when she saw Andrew exit the gate of the brownstone and turn left.

  Jackie’s words echoed in her mind, and she squeezed her eyes shut. She didn’t really need to follow Andrew—because she trusted him. Even if they were allowed to see other people, he would tell her about it.

  He told her everything.

  Except, of course, why he was seeing other women.

  “Spying on your boyfriend is not going to fix things,” she reminded herself as she anxiously watched Andrew reach the end of the street and turn the corner.

  But if a killer was stalking him, someone needed to keep an eye on him, right? Taking a deep breath, she sprinted after him.

  Slowing when she caught sight of him, she abruptly stopped when he turned into a shop. Creeping along the edge, she glanced up at the shop’s name. Salt of the Earth. They sold rustic and handmade jewelry along with a bunch of other gift items.

  Great. Now he was giving his other girlfriends gifts? What? Were roses not good enough for them?

  “Get a grip, Olivia,” she muttered to herself. Maybe he was buying something for his mother or for his secretary. She needed to stop jumping to conclusions.

  “Olivia!” Jumping, Olivia turned to see Kristy heading her way. The loud-mouthed real estate agent was the last person she wanted to see if she was going to keep a low profile.

  “Hi,” Olivia whispered before realizing how ridiculous that sounded. She tried to move back farther in the shadows in case Andrew came out. “Hi, Kristy. Out shopping? Don’t let me stop you. Stores are going to be closing soon.”

  “Oh, but I always have time for you,” Kristy gushed and hugged her. “Now, I’ve heard rumors that Janelle is thinking of expanding. I’m sure that you’ll want to move with her, but it’s going to be difficult to find a similar set-up. Maybe I could interest you in something that’s on the same street?”

  “Kristy,” Olivia said firmly. “We’re not moving. If Janelle can’t get her expansion, she’s just going to have to be fine with what she has. We haven’t even had the brownstone for a year.”

  Kristy’s enthusiasm deflated just a bit, but she fell back on her second love. Gossip. “Did you hear? The mayor and Lady Celeste were seen having breakfast together. You know what that means?”

  Olivia knew exactly what Kristy was thinking, but more importantly, Olivia did not want to be thinking it. “Yeah, I spoke to them. They crossed paths just before that, and you know the mayor. He wasn’t about to give up an opportunity to spend some time with her.”

  “Right. Yeah.” Kristy looked a little depressed that the truth wasn’t all that juicy. “That makes perfect sense.”

  Looking anxiously over her shoulder, Olivia stuck her hand in her purse and pulled out her phone. “Kristy, can you excuse me? I need to take this.”

  “Wow, I didn’t hear it ring.”

  “Vibrate.”

  “Sure, well—it was good to see you! If you and Janelle change your minds
, let me know! And hey, when you and Andrew are ready to buy, there are some great houses for sale right now. You do not want to miss out!”

  Happy that Kristy, at least, wasn’t going to gossip about Andrew’s supposed string of girlfriends, Olivia nodded and waved as she put her phone up to her ear. Of course, there was no phone call—but she knew Andrew’s shopping habits.

  He didn’t browse. If he didn’t see something that he wanted when he first skimmed the store, he’d be gone, and she did not want him to catch her snooping.

  When he did emerge a few minutes later, he had a small bag in his hand. “Goody for you,” she grumbled as she started following him again. “This is why you couldn’t have dinner tonight? You were shopping for another woman?”

  A few people on the sidewalk gave her strange looks, so she clamped her mouth shut.

  He stopped in one other gift store but came out empty-handed. Finally, he made his way back to the apartment. Olivia slumped against the building outside and tried to remind herself that Andrew would never hurt her on purpose.

  When she finally did get the courage to go upstairs, her phone really did vibrate.

  It was a text from Nick, and he was not happy.

  9

  Christopher looked tired, she noticed when she opened the door. His eyes were red-rimmed, and there were circles underneath. “I rescinded the offer,” he said hoarsely. “You were right. People paraded ten dogs in front of me and demanded the reward. One of them wasn’t even the right color.”

  Wynona opened the door wider and beckoned him in. “Did you let them take the dogs back?”

  “No. They’re currently all living it up in my house. I love them, but they’re not Jackson.” He followed her inside, and she grew a little self-conscious about having him there. He made millions, and she was struggling to pay her mortgage after making the payments on her student loans. Everything, from her mismatched hand-me-down furniture to the kids’ drawings pinned to her walls, was embarrassing.

  “Sometimes the kids draw me pictures of their dogs,” she said hastily.

  “I think they’re perfect,” he murmured as he turned to stare at her. “Did I ever tell you how I got Jackson?”

  “For the last time, Nick, I didn’t go to Trish and demand that she show me the records. I went to Trish because I thought that maybe she was responsible for Jackie’s vandalized books. She mentioned that Paul was missing and that they were out of roses. Lady Celeste had a psychic vision that it was all about the roses, so I went back and asked if I could see the records. I told her to send them to you. I’m not investigating!” Olivia folded her arms over her chest and glared at Nick. He’d been yelling at her for the past twenty minutes while he paced the office.

  “If someone is messing with Jackie, she should have come to me, not you,” Nick said with a glare.

  “You’re investigating a murder, and Jackie didn’t ask me to solve the case. I went to confront Trish because Jackie thought she might be the vandal. Why are you so upset? Because this exonerates Andrew?”

  “Just because someone bought a rose after Andrew bought some does not mean that Andrew didn’t do it,” Nick huffed. “He says he doesn’t remember what he did with the rose he was holding when he followed Hannah out of End Game . . .” The phone on his desk started ringing, and he eyed it warily.

  “Were his fingerprints on the rose? . . . because I can tell you that his hands were all over it. And no, they weren’t—because if they had been, you would have arrested him by now. Quit trying to make me think that you’re seriously considering Andrew as a suspect.” Olivia glared at him. There were times where she and Nick butted heads, but this time he was really irritating her.

  “If you know that I’m not looking at Andrew as a suspect, then why didn’t you just tell me about Paul and the roses? Why snoop yourself?” Nick countered.

  “If I was wrong, then I’d just be wasting your time,” Olivia said simply. “Why are you so upset about this? I’m helping!”

  “Because I told Andrew that I’d keep you out of this and keep you safe, and you’re throwing yourself right in the middle of things. What if the killer was keeping an eye on the shop? You think there’s anyone in this town who doesn’t know that you like to stick your nose in where it doesn’t belong?” Nick growled and sat down in the chair behind the desk. “Normally, it’s Andrew who can keep you grounded.”

  “Andrew’s too busy buying presents and roses for other girls,” Olivia snapped. “Unless you happen to know what he was really doing with Hannah that night. Care to share?”

  The phone started to ring again, and Nick glared at it.

  “What is going on with that thing?” she snapped.

  “There was a report of a rabid raccoon off of Route 90.” Nick sighed and rested his head in his hands. “This job used to be so easy.”

  So he wasn’t going to tell her. Probably because he didn’t want to see her fall apart if she discovered that Andrew really was cheating on her. “Is there anything else that you feel like yelling at me about? Because I’m tired, and I want to go to bed.”

  He eyed her as she stood up. “Are you going to leave the case alone now?”

  Olivia hesitated. “Do you think that Andrew is in danger, Nick? Maybe you should put a patrol car outside the brownstone or something, just in case.”

  “If you’re right and Hannah was targeted, killing Andrew wouldn’t make sense. He’s the killer’s scapegoat. He or she needs Andrew alive. Don’t fret, Olivia.”

  “And you’re looking into Jenny.”

  “I’m looking into Jenny, Larry, and Rafe. I’ve got all my bases covered. Now, go.”

  What was Rafe’s connection with Hannah? What about Larry’s? Olivia was about to ask, but she knew that Nick wasn’t going to answer her. Not that she really needed to know.

  She was not investigating the case.

  And tomorrow, she had a dinner date with Andrew, and he was hopefully going to explain everything and make her world right once again.

  Goodwin was still in the Wrangler, enjoying the air conditioning. Olivia drove back to the parking garage near the strip of restaurants so she could pick up something to take home.

  As soon as she killed the engine, the back door opened, and Goodwin flew down the sidewalk.

  “Crap!” Olivia growled. Fumbling with her own door handle, she managed to get out, but the dog was already a block away.

  “Goodwin!” she bellowed. “Come!”

  Unfortunately for her, the recall was one trick that Goodwin had never quite grasped. Terrified that he was going to be hit by a car, she raced down the street and turned the corner, only to find that someone had already nabbed him.

  A young man with slick black hair and scruff on his chin was bent down and was holding Goodwin’s collar in his hand. “Good boy,” he crooned.

  “Oh, thank you so much!” Olivia gasped when she reached them and took hold of Goodwin’s leash. “Escaping the car is his new trick.”

  “No worries. I love dogs. Hey, you’re the dog walker, right?”

  “I am. Olivia Rickard. And this is Goodwin.”

  “Tommy Harper,” he said as he shook her hand.

  Olivia sucked in her breath.

  “Jenny’s Tommy?” she asked without thinking.

  He immediately frowned. “I used to be. I guess I’m not anymore. How do you know?”

  “Oh, you know. Small town. Hannah’s murder has the rumors flying. Like maybe Jenny killed Hannah because you left her for Hannah.” She might have kicked herself for that last part.

  A look of disgust crossed Tommy’s face. “That’s the one thing I hate about this place. Everybody is in someone else’s business.” He stood straighter and said, his voice serious, “Jenny’s got a temper, but it mostly stems from her lack of self-confidence. I love that woman, but she is a mess. Anyway, she knows damn well that I never went on a date with Hannah. The girl was practically my sister.”

  “So you and Hannah weren’t an item?
”

  “No. Hannah had something that she wanted to talk to me about, and we had coffee twice. Jenny’s just using that as an excuse to justify breaking up with me for no reason. She might be spreading rumors, but she knows that Hannah and I weren’t together. There’s no way that she killed Hannah.”

  Interesting. Olivia filed it away. Not that she was planning on using it.

  She wasn’t investigating.

  But it did mean Jenny was off the suspect list. Or, at least, it knocked her down a few pegs.

  “I’m sorry for your loss,” she said. “Thanks again for catching Goodwin.”

  “Sure thing.” Tommy nodded and sauntered away.

  “You can’t be jumping out of cars!” Olivia hissed at her pup. “You could get hurt!”

  Goodwin just jumped up and licked her face. Resigned, she walked him back to the car. “I know that you’re confused about the situation of our family. Andrew is there and then he’s not there, and then he’s back again, and now he’s . . . well, I’m not sure what he is, but you have to keep your chin up. For me. Being a little moody is one thing, but this new talent of your is dangerous!”

  “Yelling at the dogs again?” the mayor asked as he popped around the corner of the Jeep. “Didn’t Lady Celeste warn you about that?”

  Goodwin yipped in surprise, and Olivia jumped. “Mayor,” she gasped. “Why are you hiding behind my vehicle?”

  The mayor frowned. “I wasn’t hiding. I was waiting for you.”

  “Really? How did you know that I would be right back?”

  He cleared his throat and shuffled his feet. “I wasn’t sure, but what I want to talk to you about was important enough for me to wait.”

  “Okay,” Olivia said slowly as she opened the car door for Goodwin. The only time that Mayor Henderson wanted to speak to her usually resulted in a horribly embarrassing situation for her. Trying not to cringe, she waited, but he didn’t immediately speak. Instead, he just stared at the ground. “Mayor Henderson? You wanted to talk?”

  “Yes.” He cleared his throat. “You may not be aware, but I would like to establish a closer relationship with Lady Celeste.”