Dog Gone

by Shannon Esposito

  “How many guards are there?” Lulu asked.

  “One for the day shift and one for the night shift,” Hope answered. “You’ll have to talk to them both. In case the dognapper waited until morning to smuggle Ginger off of Moon Key. Though, they could’ve also used a private boat, but there’s nothing to be done in that case.”

  My heart dropped as their words sank into my tired brain. I didn’t want to believe Ginger had been taken, let alone taken off Moon Key. But our failure to find her today only solidified that as a possibility. Unless she’d decided to go for a swim, which I didn’t want to think about either.

  I barely tasted my Gnocchi di zucca pasta as we ate in silence. A growing dinner crowd surrounded us, people laughing, drinking and enjoying the holiday environment. I had a feeling none of us at the table would be able to join in the Christmas cheer if we didn’t get Ginger back for Talia. Funny, we didn’t even know her. She was just one of those people who seemed so fragile and full of goodness that you wanted to protect her from pain. Plus, I couldn’t even imagine Buddha being lost, especially at Christmastime. My resolve stiffened inside me like hardening glue. We had to get Ginger back. There was no other option.

  We sent Hope home and said our goodbyes to Lulu at the ferry terminal. “I’ll come back in the morning. We’ll try again.”

  I hugged Lulu and put on my best stern face. “You just get some rest. I’ll give you a call and let you know what we’re doing.”

  We waited our turn and then approached the guard house. Frank’s wide smile greeted us. “Hey Mr. Devon. Boarding this evening?”

  “Actually, no, we just have a quick question for ya.” Devon handed the flyer to Frank through the guardhouse window. “Talia Hill’s dog has gone missing. She’s a white terrier and we were wondering if you saw anyone board the ferry with her last night?”

  “Talia Hill huh?” he whistled, his eyes taking on a dreamy look.

  Devon tapped on the flyer to redirect his attention. “Her dog ... did you see anyone take it off the island?” He wasn’t usually short with people, but he seemed to be growing more worried by the hour.

  Frank scrutinized the photo of Ginger and then shrugged. “I didn’t see a white dog like that, no. But then again, I don’t really check what’s inside folk’s carriers, and there were more than a few carriers.”

  Devon nodded slowly and glanced up at the corner of the guardhouse. “You’ve got security tapes. How long do you keep ‘em?”

  Frank leaned his forearms on the counter. “They get sent off every twenty-four hours to a digital storage facility and we record over them. He held up an aged hand. “ But I know what you’re going to ask and no can do. This island is very protective of its privacy. I’ve been down this road before. The police would have to request the tapes.”

  Devon glanced at me and nodded. “No problem.” He started to leave and then turned back. “You know Miss Hill’s ex, Sammy Salazar, yeah?”

  “Of course. Best UFC fighter ever.”

  “He come through here in the last few days?”

  Frank grinned. “Now, Mr. Devon, you know I can’t tell you that either.”

  Devon smiled back but I could see the frustration tightening the corners of his eyes. “The police need to do the asking. Right. Goodnight, Frank.”

  By the time we pulled the Jeep into the driveway, the timer had lit up the Christmas lights and decorations. All the holiday cheer was depressing.

  I turned to Devon. “Do you mind letting the dogs out? I’m just going to run over to Talia’s and let her know we didn’t find Ginger. That’s not news I want to give her over the phone.”

  He hesitated. “Sure.”

  I took in his wrinkled brow and tightened jaw. “What’s wrong?”

  Before opening the door he shot me a meaningful look. “Just be careful. I’m still not sure what’s going on here.”

  I gave him a quick kiss and pulled the mace out of my bag. “I’m armed, don’t worry.”

  He’d bought me a gun before we even started officially dating, but I’d never grown confident I could actually pull the trigger, and I’d learned the hard way hesitation could get me killed. Besides, I wasn’t worried. My childhood dog, Angel, always showed up in spirit form to warn me when I was about to be in danger, and there was no sign of her ... yet.

  He wrapped one arm around my waist, pulling me closer for a lingering kiss and then sighed. “I will always worry. You seem to excel at finding trouble.”

  ***

  Talia’s door swung open before I even reached her front porch. She raced toward me. “Elle! Did you find Ginger?”

  I watched her eyes flick from me to my empty Beetle and then fall in devastation. My heart fell with her. “I’m so sorry.”

  She steeled herself. “I know. Thank you for trying. Can you come in for a minute? It’s just so ... quiet without Ginger and Diggs here.”

  “Sure.”

  We sat there drinking Marcel’s hot chocolate and swapping stories about our dogs, our childhoods, our relationships. I found myself forgetting that she was a big movie star. When I finally glanced at my phone, I was startled to see how late it was. “Oh, I’m sorry, I’ve stayed so late. I should go.”

  She stretched. “No worries, Elle. This is my daytime, remember?”

  I smiled. “Yes, but I’ll be useless in class tomorrow. Plus I’ll need the energy to continue our search. We aren’t giving up looking for Ginger.”

  “Well, I do appreciate you taking my mind off of her for a while. I don’t feel so hopeless now.”

  She walked me to the door. When I opened it to leave, I squealed and jumped back.

  A large man in a ball cap and black t-shirt stood there glaring at us.

  Instinctively, I reached in my purse and grabbed my mace. My shaking hand managed to aim it at his face, but before I could push the trigger, he reached out like lightning and snatched it from me.

  An amused grin spread on his lips, right under a large scar on his cheek.

  I felt Talia’s hand on my arm. “It’s all right, Elle. It’s just Sammy.” Now her expression grew dark and her fists were perched on her hips. “What in heaven’s name are you doing at my door at one in the morning?”

  He handed me back my mace with a smirk. “What? Like you wouldn’t be up? I know your schedule, remember? Anyway, I heard about what happened with Diggs. It’s all over the news. And how Ginger’s gone missing. I’m really sorry. Thought I’d come to Moon Key tonight to see if I could help.”

  Talia crossed her arms and seemed to be in control, but I could feel her shaking next to me. This guy really got to her. “Bring your girlfriend with you?”

  His gray eyes registered hurt within a sharp-planed face. “Can we just work together on this without any snide comments? Ginger means a lot to me, too. You know that.”

  Talia lifted her chin. “How do I know you didn’t take her and this is all for show?”

  Sammy grunted and then must’ve realized she was serious. He glared at her. “I didn’t take her, Talia.”

  They stared at each other for an uncomfortably long time. I suddenly felt like a third wheel and took a few steps back out of the way.

  Finally, Talia sighed. “Fine. Come in.” She turned and hugged me. “Go on, Elle, I’ll be all right.”

  I wasn’t sure about the wisdom of leaving Talia with her very large, very-good-at-violence ex-husband. But I wasn’t sure I had a choice either. I’d just be sure to check on her in the morning.

  What a mess.

  CHAPTER SIX

  “Good morning, everyone.” I sat on the wood floor of my studio at the Pampered Pup in lotus pose, my hands running over Buddha’s belly and waiting for the morning doga class to get settled on their mats.

  The dogs seemed extra wound up this morning, playing and running around the studio. A sharp bark echoed off the walls, and another joined in. Feeding off their owners’ holiday energy, no doubt.

  “Morning, Elle.” Beth Anne Wilkins settl
ed in on her mat in the front. Her white and gray Shitzu, Shakespeare, was trying to climb her chest to lick her face and nip at the end of her thick, brown ponytail. She and Shakespeare were wearing matching long-sleeve red Lycra shirts. “Down,” she admonished. Then rolling her eyes at me she added, “I left him at home all day yesterday while we were searching the golf course, so he’s being extra clingy this morning.” She managed to get him to sit in front of her. “So, any news on Talia Hill’s dog?”

  The other ladies quieted down and turned their attention to me.

  I shook my head. “Not yet, but she really appreciates everyone who came out yesterday to help search.”

  “What do the police think?” Violet fluffed up her spiky, red hair with one hand, while the other rested on her neurotic Weimaraner, Ghost. His haunches were planted firmly in her small lap. “Do they think someone dognapped her?”

  I leaned forward, rubbing Buddha’s warm ears between my fingers. “I don’t know. But I don’t think finding Ginger is a priority for them. They’re more concerned with finding the dog nanny’s killer.”

  “Seems like if they find Ginger, they find the killer. Do you need our help again today?” Whitley asked. Her gray eyes shone with concern behind wire-framed glasses. She stroked her greyhound, Maddox’s, side. She’d dressed Maddox in a red t-shirt with a Christmas tree embroidered on the back. Whitley was in black, though, her standard dress. “I can’t imagine not knowing where Maddox was, if he was even alive. So awful.”

  “It is,” I agreed. She was the rational one of the group, so if she was concerned about Ginger still being alive, we all should be. I glanced down at Buddha. “I’m just not sure there’s anything we can do besides canvas the island again. Devon’s going to talk to Detective Vargas today about getting a look at the security tapes at the ferry terminal. If someone did take Ginger off of Moon Key, maybe the tapes will show that.”

  Beth Anne was leaning back on her hands, her long legs were outstretched and crossed at the ankles. Shakespeare had wandered off. She was frowning. “Let’s hope not. She could be anywhere by now.”

  She was a big fan of mystery novels, so her mind went to worst-case scenario. My therapist called it catastrophic thinking. Still, she had a point.

  We were all quiet for a moment as the last of the women straggled in, rolled out their mats and got settled with their dogs. I sent up a little prayer to the universe that Ginger was still safe and sound on Moon Key. Then it was time to get our doggie-zen on.

  “All right, everyone, let’s start with some cat and dog tilts. Knees and hands equal distance apart on the mat.”

  I had a hard time keeping my mind from wandering back to Talia’s predicament during class. She hadn’t answered her phone when I’d called to check on her this morning. I tried to convince myself that was because morning was her bedtime. Maybe she was getting some much needed sleep. But, I couldn’t push away the image of Sammy showing up and scaring the bezeezuz out of me last night.

  Devon had been worried, too, when I’d come home and told him about Sammy just showing up at her door. But he’d said she knew him better than we did, so if she wasn’t worried, we shouldn’t be either. Tell that to my over-active imagination.

  I checked my phone as soon as class was over. Sure enough there was a text from Devon. Salma was already planning to get the security tapes from the ferry terminal today to look for any suspicious behavior. I took a deep breath. Okay, that’s something. Movement. Things are happening.

  “Hey, Elle ... are y’all going to the board meeting tonight?” Beth Anne asked as she scooped up Shakespeare. He licked her chin with his postage-stamp sized tongue.

  “Wasn’t planning on it, why?” I’d rather be anywhere else, and I didn’t consider myself a Moon Key resident anyway, so I never paid attention to board meetings.

  She stroked Shakespear’s head, her champagne colored eyes sparkling with good humor. “Should be an entertaining one is all. There’s a big hullabaloo over the budget spending on the Christmas decorations. The cost has doubled this year and a few of the board members are accusing Eva Gold of changing November’s minutes to say they approved of the price increase, which she probably did. Might get your mind off of finding Ginger for a while. Sometimes it helps to get away from a problem, so you can see it fresh afterwards.”

  Violet had walked up and nodded in agreement. “Trust me. You don’t want to miss this one. Bring popcorn.”

  ***

  Devon and I sat beside Beth Anne, who’d saved us two seats up front at the board meeting. Violet and Whitley sat to her left. They’d actually brought popcorn. We’d decided to come after all, in hopes of being able to speak to the community about Ginger.

  I glanced around. The room was packed and people did not look happy. Someone was wearing heavy cologne that was making me feel both nauseous and claustrophobic. I started to feel lightheaded, my heart skipping beats. Maybe this was a mistake. I didn’t do well in crowds.

  “I’m just going to run to the restroom real quick,” I said to Devon, before jumping up and escaping.

  I shut myself in an end stall and forced myself to take deep, slow breaths. Digging in my bag, I found a hairband and pulled my mass of auburn hair up into a messy bun to get it off my sweaty neck. Just as I was feeling calmer, I heard the door creak open.

  A women’s voice said, “Well, at least that tacky dog statue is gone now.”

  “What do you want, Eva? I already agreed to do what you asked.”

  Tacky dog statue? They were talking about Talia! I pulled my feet up out of view.

  “I know. I just wanted to be sure you remembered your promise before the meeting started. Think of this as a friendly reminder.”

  “A friendly reminder? It’s blackmail, Eva, and you know it,” the second woman’s voice rose in volume.

  Who is the second woman? I tried to peek through the crack in the door, but I couldn’t see them. They were standing out of my view.

  Eva chuckled. “Call it whatever you want, dear. See you in there.”

  The door squeaked back opened. After a growl of frustration from the second woman and a second door squeak, I was alone again.

  What in heavens was all that about?

  I waited a full minute before coming out of the stall. As I walked back into the meeting room, I glanced at the board members now seated at the table in front.

  “Which one is Eva Gold?” I asked Beth Anne, as I sat back down.

  She flicked her long hair over one shoulder and leaned closer to me. “The heavy-set Russian lady in the middle with the dark pixie cut. The one looking down on us like we’re her subjects.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “She does look intimidating.”

  “She’s not all bark either. She once rammed her golfcart into the side of Brock Sieger’s brand new Lexus. No one was sure what that argument was about, but she’s also destroyed more than one person’s new landscaping with that cart, because it wasn’t approved through the HOA first. She wields it like a weapon.”

  “Not someone you want to get on the wrong side of then,” I noted. “So, tell me about the rest of the board.”

  I caught a whiff of Beth Anne’s fruity shampoo as she happily leaned in closer. “The old, grumpy guy on Eva’s left is Sterling Bale. He disagrees with everyone on the board about everything, much to Eva’s irritation. She can’t control him. It’s mostly Sterling and Nell Barnwell, the stocky gray-haired lady on the end over there, who oppose Eva on everything.”

  “Nell Barnwell,” I whispered. “That’s Talia’s neighbor. The one she said hated her dogs.” I eyed the woman. Despite the gray hair, she didn’t look fragile at all. She definitely looked like she could give Diggs a good fight.

  “Yep. Nell’s just a bit off her rocker so no one controls her. She believes she hales from British royalty and says whatever’s on her mind. I like her, personally. The two members who sometimes butt heads with Eva are Jata—who just seems out for a fight once in a while—and Sunny Spil
lman, the petite blonde at the other end. Sunny doesn’t seem to like conflict though, so she picks her battles and manages to win some of them, even with her soft-spoken ways.” She smiled as she stared at the small woman with admiration. “It’s actually fun to watch. She has a way of manipulating Eva when she wants to. Talks her into thinking things are her idea. Pretty impressive. Anyway, the other two—Priya and Jackson—are Eva’s yes man and woman. They’re good friends and Eva has side meetings at her house with them, to make sure they’re all on the same page before the meetings. Questions?”

  I shook my head absent-mindedly, trying to figure out which woman Eva had talked to in the restroom and was blackmailing. Maybe I would recognize her voice.

  “Here we go,” Beth Anne chuckled as Eva Gold raised her hand to quiet the room.

  I smirked at her. She was enjoying the possibility of drama a little too much.

  “Let the record reflect tonight’s meeting is beginning at six p.m,” Eva said.

  The willowy, dark-skinned woman to her right, wearing bright orange lipstick—Jata was it?—handed her a folder of papers.

  Eva held it in front of her. “We’ll start with approval of last month’s meeting minutes. All in favor of approval raise your hand.”

  Everyone on the board, except Sterling Bale, raised their hand. He pushed his palms into the table to help himself sit taller, but he was still looking up at Eva. His head wobbled with the effort. “Maybe we should read ‘em, make sure they weren’t altered.”

  “Now, Sterling.” Eva’s voice took on the air of an adult being patient with a child. “That conflict is on our agenda to discuss at the end of the meeting, which we won’t get to for hours if we have to read November’s minutes aloud.”

  He waved a knotty, veined hand dismissively at her. “Fine.”

  A tight smile pulled Eva’s mouth in a thin line. “All right. Minutes approved. Let’s move on. First some old business. Last month the community brought a petition to the board to increase the number of tropical fish allowed from fifteen to twenty-five. You all will be pleased to know that the board has approved that request, and the bylaws will be changed to reflect the new amount of allowed fish.”