A new idea struck me then. If I couldn’t get ahold of Courtney directly, I knew someone else who could.
I checked the number and then dialed. After two rings, it was picked up.
“Billings residence, Sasha speaking.”
“Hi, Sasha, it’s Liz Denton. Is Duke around?”
“Oh, Liz.” Duke’s wife sounded almost disappointed, as if she’d been expecting another, far more exciting call. “Yeah, he’s home.”
“May I speak to him? It’ll only take a moment.”
“One sec.” There was a clunk that sounded like Sasha had dropped the phone rather than set it down. I waited patiently, wondering how I was going to ask about Chico without upsetting Duke. He worked with Courtney, but I knew for a fact he didn’t always agree with her actions. I hoped this was one of those times.
There was a rustle, followed by, “Liz.” He sounded unhappy.
“Hi, Duke. I was wondering if you’ve talked to Courtney lately.”
There was a slight pause before, “I have.”
“Do you know anything about a Chihuahua she had in her possession? She called him Piranha, but I have reason to believe his real name is Chico.”
Another pause, this one longer, before he said, “I’m going to be here all day. We need to talk.” His tone was ominous.
“Okay. When?”
“Anytime.”
He hung up.
“That can’t be good,” I told Wheels, who was now hovering near the window where Sheamus was still lying down. At least he wasn’t sneezing now, just snoozing.
I glanced toward the laundry room and wondered if I should take Chico with me, then decided against it. There was nothing Duke could do about it, even if he did know what Courtney was up to.
I moved to the bottom of the stairs and shouted up them. “Ben, I’m leaving. Keep an eye on Pir—Chico for me.”
A faint, “ ’Kay,” was the only response I got.
That taken care of, I filled the kitties’ dishes, grabbed my purse, and then headed for my van.
11
Duke’s house was a ranch style home that sat on three acres, just outside Grey Falls. It was a quiet, serene location, where the only noises were nature sounds. Trees lined the property, giving it an isolated feel. Everything was done in earth tones.
I pulled into the gravel drive and shut off the engine. A trio of black cats swarmed from the front stoop, and zipped around to the back. The last time I’d seen his kitties, they were mere kittens peering at me from a window. It always surprised me how fast animals grew.
The front door opened as I got out of my van. Duke stood framed in the doorway. His arms were crossed, and he had a dour expression on his face. He was broad-shouldered, and I knew from experience, he was as strong as he looked.
“Hi, Duke,” I said. “I’m sorry to bring this to your doorstep.”
“It’s not your fault,” he said with a sigh. “Come on in.”
I followed him into the house, all the way into the living room. His home was just as serene inside as it was outside. The furniture was done in soft, earthy tones, with a fireplace dominating one wall of the living room. It wasn’t currently lit, but I could imagine spending hours sitting in front of it on cold winter evenings.
“Can I get you something?” Duke asked, motioning for me to take a seat on the couch. “Water? Tea? I could put on a pot of coffee if you’d prefer.”
“Water’s fine.”
“I’ll be just a minute.” He turned and walked stiffly to the kitchen.
The last time I was inside Duke’s house, I’d only stopped by for a brief visit. Now that I was staying for longer than a few minutes, it gave me time to really look around, take in the atmosphere.
While the room felt rustic, that didn’t mean it was entirely without modernization. The television attached to the wall above the fireplace was large, and I had no doubts was at least 4K. A laptop sat on the coffee table in front of me, though its lid was closed. Speakers were placed around the room, and at first I thought they might be for the television, but then I noted the stereo panel built into the opposite wall.
That single room probably cost half as much as my entire house. It made me wonder what Sasha and Duke did for a living, because there was no way Courtney was paying him anything more than a pittance on every pet adoption where she earned a profit.
Duke returned and handed me a bottle of water. He sat down in a wooden rocking chair that looked antique, yet sturdy. He cracked the cap on a bottle of his own and took a long drink before setting it aside.
“So, Courtney,” he said. I noted a heavy dose of frustration in his voice, and all he’d said was her name.
Admittedly, I probably sounded the same anytime she was mentioned.
“Yes, Courtney,” I replied. “She’s created quite the mess for me. Do you know anything about it?”
Duke ran his hands over his face before he answered. “I’d like to say up front, I had nothing to do with any of what she did.”
“So, you know what happened?”
“To a point.” Duke sighed heavily. “Last week, Courtney and I were picking up some kittens. She was doing her nonstop self-promotion bit, when the woman mentioned Furever Pets. She said that she’s heard good things about you and wondered if Courtney knew anything about your rescue.”
I couldn’t help but grin. It seemed as if my reputation was spreading. “That was nice of her.”
“It was,” Duke said. “Courtney, however, didn’t think so. Let’s just say she made sure to mention Ben as an accused murderer and made outrageous claims that you stole pets from their owners and then turned around and adopted them out for profit.”
“I what?” I very nearly came out of my seat. “I’d never do such a thing. And Ben . . .” I sat back and seethed. He might have been accused, but his name was cleared. The real killer was currently sitting in prison, where he belonged.
“I know,” Duke said, holding out a placating hand. “I did my best to smooth things over, but you know how it is with Courtney. She talked right over me and tried to pretend she hadn’t actually meant it literally, even though it was obvious she had.”
“Did the woman believe her?”
“No, I don’t think so. I did my best to make sure of it. You’ve been nothing but kind to me and my family. You’ve tried to play nice with Courtney. For whatever reason, she doesn’t see it. She thinks you’re trying to ruin her by running her rescue out of business.”
“I’ve tried to be friends,” I said.
“You have. And I’ve tried to make her see reason, but she insists the two of you can’t work together. She’d rather see you fail than to admit it’s possible for the two of you to coexist.”
“So, she brings me someone else’s Chihuahua? Why?”
Duke spread his hands. “To smear your name, I suppose. To add credence to her claims. I honestly hoped that when she picked up the dog, she had good intentions. She didn’t take me with her, mind you. But I saw him when she brought him back to her place. When I asked about it, she was cagey. I knew something was up, but she wouldn’t come right out and admit it. All I managed to get from her was that she planned on taking the dog to you.”
“Where did she get Chico?” When Duke gave me a questioning look, I added, “The Chihuahua.”
“I’m not sure,” he said. “I’d like to say she obtained him in good faith, but honestly, at this point, I’m not so sure.”
Which means, she very well might have stolen him right out of someone’s yard. Despite what I knew of Courtney, I couldn’t believe she’d stoop so low. I mean, to knowingly steal someone’s pet, just to make me look bad? Who does something like that?
“I was suspicious of her motives from the start,” Duke went on. “And then, after she got back from your place, I truly did begin to question her. When she refused to talk to me about it, I went home.”
“This is . . .” I struggled to come up with a word. I finally settled on, “insane.”
“That, it is.”
“I take it the woman who showed up, claiming Chico was hers, wasn’t just putting me on?” I’d looked her up, but a part of me hoped I was somehow wrong and the dog in the photos wasn’t Piranha.
Duke shrugged. “As far as I know, it’s possible. With Courtney, it’s hard to say for sure.”
“Great.” I rubbed at my temples. I had no idea how I was going to make this right. I could give the dog back to his rightful owner, but that wouldn’t clear my name. If I went around town calling Courtney a liar, only half the people would believe me. And even then, some would look down on me for trying to smear her name. Once a rumor got started, it was hard to stomp it out.
“I honestly don’t believe I can do this anymore.” Duke sounded distraught at the thought. “I like working with the animals, and I like making people happy, but this”—he shook his head—“this I can’t abide.”
“What else would you do?”
Duke picked up his water and took a long drink before answering. “Work, I suppose.” He gestured toward the closed laptop. “I don’t need to work with Courtney to get by. And when she’s not causing trouble for you, she’s not as bad as you think. Besides, I like my office here.” This time, his gesture encompassed the room. “Sasha and I work together. If I stopped working with Courtney, I’d get to spend more time at home with my wife. Can’t say the thought doesn’t have its appeal.”
“But?” I could feel the word hanging in the air.
“But I’d miss it,” he said. “You know what it’s like when you find the perfect pet for someone, or when the perfect pet parent shows up to adopt your latest rescue. That kind of happiness can’t be replicated.”
No, it couldn’t. The way everyone’s eyes lit up—including the pet’s—was as close to magic as I was ever to come.
I heaved a sigh. “I’ll figure it out,” I said. “Somehow, I’ll make things right.”
“Good luck with that.” He smiled.
“I’ve already had a crazy week, or else I might have already worked it out with Courtney. Did you hear about the murder?”
Duke nodded, his smile slipping. “I did.”
“I was the one who discovered the body.” I suppressed a shudder at the memory. “I was taking a Maine Coon to the victim, Joe, when I found him. It wasn’t a pleasant experience.”
“I imagine not. I suppose not every job can be special.”
“Ain’t that the truth.”
We sat there in companionable silence for a long moment before I spoke up again.
“I honestly wish Courtney’s little stunt was the worst thing to happen to me this week, but after finding the body, hearing that Ben might be moving out with a woman he’s just met, and then to run into that jerk, Harry Davis, I’m not sure I can take much more.”
“Harry Davis?”
Both Duke and I turned to find Sasha standing just inside the room, big, dark arms crossed over her chest.
“Do you know him?” Duke asked.
“I’ve had the displeasure,” she said with a scowl that could peel paint. Sasha was built like a linebacker, and I had no doubts she could crush someone like Harry Davis with her bare hands if she wanted to.
“He showed up at Chester Chudzinski’s office and started throwing insults around,” I said. “He seemed . . .”
“Prejudiced?” Sasha asked. “Like he walked straight out of some backward country that thinks everyone should look and sound alike?”
“Yeah.” That was putting it nicer than I would have.
“What happened?” Duke asked, rising to his feet. While he tended to be gentle, he wasn’t a small man. He might not be Sasha Billings big, but he was stronger than most people I knew. If Harry wasn’t such an unredeemable jerk, I might have pitied him.
“Do you remember that run-in I had at Sophie’s Coffeehouse a few months ago?” Sasha asked.
Duke nodded. “I do.”
“That was him.”
I could practically see the steam coming out of Duke’s ears.
“What happened?” I asked.
“He raised a ruckus because I was there,” Sasha said. “He tried to get me thrown out by claiming I was bringing down the quality of the place by my mere presence. He dumped his coffee out onto the floor, screamed that it was tainted, and that my very breath infected everything in the place.”
“Wow,” was all I could think of to say.
“That’s not the half of it,” Sasha said. “When he realized that someone in the kitchen was of Asian descent, he threatened a lawsuit, of all things.”
“If I’d been there . . .” Duke’s fingers flexed.
“You’d have sat right beside me and continued eating,” Sasha said. “I ignored him, figuring a man like that wasn’t worth the breath it would take to tell him off. He didn’t like that much, either.”
No, I didn’t imagine he would. A man like Harry Davis needed to be heard. Ignore him, and you would wound his self-worth, which was something he obviously couldn’t deal with in a decent, constructive manner.
“He demanded that both me and the cook be thrown out of the place. Instead, he found himself being dragged to the door by the guys I was eating with.” She grinned. “We’d stopped by after lifting, so you can imagine how that went.”
“I hope they left him in a dumpster,” Duke said.
“They just tossed him out the door.” Sasha crossed the room and put an arm around Duke’s waist. He squeezed her close. “Of course, despite getting thrown out on his ass, he had to get in the last word.”
“Oh?” I asked, curious. The more I learned about Harry Davis, the more I disliked him.
“He threatened to come after us and make us regret insulting him or some such.” She frowned. “If I recall, he was eating with someone who’d watched the whole thing without stepping in. Guy was well-dressed, and got up and walked out without a word. When Harry saw him coming, he shut up real quick, like he was afraid of the guy.”
“Do you know who it was?”
“No idea. I’ve seen him around now and again, but I’ve never met him.”
There was a long moment of silence before Duke asked, “Why didn’t you tell me it was Harry Davis back when it happened?”
“Because you would have insisted on defending my honor or something silly.” She grinned at him. “I can take care of myself, Peaches.”
I tried not to giggle at the pet name. The look Duke shot me was both embarrassed, and a warning.
“Do you think Harry could have killed Joe Danvers?” I asked, hoping, like Duke, Sasha knew about the murder.
“He might have,” she said. “But I got the impression he was all talk. He backed down quick enough when someone stood up to him.”
“That doesn’t mean he didn’t kill someone,” Duke said.
“Joseph’s wife ran away from Grey Falls thirty years ago,” I said. “If Harry came after her, perhaps she got scared.”
“Perhaps,” Sasha said. “The man is a virus. I only met him that one time, and I already know I could live the rest of my life without ever seeing him again.”
I left a short time later, mind whirling. Harry was old enough to have been around when Christine fled town. He could very well have been the same man who’d approached Ida, both back then and recently. It wasn’t much of a stretch to think he killed Joe as well.
But how to prove it?
Vague Reddit posts and online newspaper comments proved nothing. Even if he was the man who’d showed up at Ida’s house, it didn’t mean he’d killed anyone. Not even his threats made against Sasha amounted to much more than proof that the guy was a jerk.
I did wonder who the well-dressed man Harry was eating with might be. Could it be someone who knows more about what Harry has done? Or was it just a friend who happened to be there at the wrong time?
I had no way of knowing, but it might be something the police would be interested in hearing.
I climbed into my van, waved to the tri
o of cats watching me from the side of the house, and then headed to the station to tell Detective Cavanaugh everything I’d learned.
12
The Grey Falls police department lot was packed as I pulled in. People were standing outside their cars, many red in the face as they shouted. Nearly all of them were middle-aged women wearing jeans and T-shirts. I found a parking spot in the far back corner, though I had to honk my horn twice to get a pair of angry women to move.
I got out of my van and tried to make sense of what was happening. A pair of young police officers were barring the doors to the station, where a little under a dozen women were trying to force their way inside. It didn’t look like anyone was about to riot, but there was a lot of anger going around.
“What’s happening?” I asked the nearest woman. She was wearing a light summery dress and flip-flops—a change from the rest of the throng. It was hardly the attire I’d expect out of someone on the wrong side of the law.
“They arrested him,” she said. “Right in front of everyone!”
A zing of excitement shot through me. Had they already caught Joseph’s killer? “Who did they arrest?”
She turned wide eyes to me. “You don’t know?”
“Sorry,” I said. “I just got here.”
She blinked at me like she couldn’t quite believe her ears before she answered. “Travis McCoy. They arrested Travis McCoy!”
The name didn’t ring a bell. “Does he live around here?” I asked.
The woman’s mouth fell open. “You don’t know who Travis McCoy is?”
“Nope. Should I?”
Her hand fluttered to her chest. “Everyone should know about Travis McCoy. He’s one of the best country singers out there today. His song, ‘Love Nest, Baby,’ hit number one just last week. I’m sure you’ve heard it?”
“Can’t say that I have.” The woman opened her mouth as if she might start singing, so I hurriedly added, “What did they arrest him for?”
“Drunk and disorderly or some other trumped-up charge,” she said. “It was a concert, so what did they expect? I mean, I suppose it was before the show was to start, and he did punch that other guy, but I’m sure that man deserved it. Travis wouldn’t hurt anyone who didn’t ask for it.”
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