“Well, innocent of murder, anyway,” Sara said, getting up to add hot water to her cup. “She’s definitely going to jail for embezzlement.”
Georgia’s eyebrows shot up. “Wow. I heard she had been arrested for the murder, but I hadn’t heard anything about embezzlement.”
“I think they’re trying to keep it quiet for now, until they find out how bad it is,” Sara said. “It’s kind of a black eye for the town, since it had apparently been going on for some time and no one caught on. The same with what Myers and Carter had been up to. I think there are going to be some heated words at the next town council meeting.”
“Sheriff Richardson is furious about what his deputies had been doing,” Kari added. “I think he takes it very personally. Maybe that’s why he wants to be able to hand over the murder case all neatly tied up in a bow.”
“Even if he has the wrong person?” Georgia asked, sounding doubtful.
“Well, to be fair, I think he believes he has the right person,” Kari said. “But we’re coming at this from a slightly different angle, and I honestly think he’s wrong.”
“So what are you going to do?” Georgia asked.
Kari bit her lip and glanced at Sara, who nodded back, as if she had some idea of what Kari had in mind.
“I was hoping you would be willing to help us with that,” Kari said. “Well, more specifically, you and Pepper.” She held her breath, sure that Georgia would protest that Pepper had just gotten home, that he had been through enough and was still recovering from his ordeal.
“I thought you’d never ask,” Georgia said, a fierce light in her eyes. “We’re definitely in.”
“You are?” Kari said in amazement.
“You are?” Sara echoed.
“You bet I am,” the other woman said. “If there is any chance that someone else’s beloved dog is out there waiting to be found, there is no way I’m not going to help make that happen.” She hugged Pepper again, and the German shepherd gave a soft, happy bark.
“Besides,” she said. “I might be retired, but once a cop, always a cop. I like Sheriff Richardson, but I agree with you that it is possible he has the wrong person locked up for this murder. I detested Bill Myers with every bone in my body, but even he deserves to have his killer brought to justice. If Pepper and I can work with you to find the answers, we’re going to do it.”
“That’s great,” Sara said. “But are you sure Pepper is up to it?”
“Doc McCoy said he needed to rest tonight and get plenty of food and water,” Georgia said. “But come morning, as long as he isn’t still favoring that one paw too much, we should be good to go. What exactly did you have in mind, Kari?”
“I was thinking that we could take a page out of Bill Myers’s book,” Kari said. “Only in reverse, as it were. Since Pepper made his way here from wherever he was kept, I thought that perhaps he could backtrack his own trail and lead us to wherever Myers was holding him.”
“You think Pepper might be able to guide us to the other dogs, if there are some,” Georgia said. “That’s very clever. With his training, that’s definitely a possibility. Although you have to keep in mind that by the time he finally got loose, he was probably weak with hunger and thirst and fear. We can’t be sure he had enough focus to be aware of his surroundings.”
“He had enough focus to find his way home,” Sara said in her usual firm, reassuring tone that made it nearly impossible to doubt whatever it was she said. “I’m betting he can follow his own scent back to where he came from.”
Kari pulled out her phone and looked at the weather app. “Fifty percent chance of rain tonight,” she said worriedly. “Will that make a difference?”
“It could,” Georgia said, pressing her lips together. “But we’re going to have to take the risk. I’m not taking Pepper out until tomorrow, after he’s had a chance to rest.”
“Of course you’re not,” Sara said, patting her hand. “We wouldn’t even consider it. We’ll just have to pray for clear weather, and that Pepper feels up to it in the morning.”
And that he can actually lead us someplace useful, Kari thought. Because Sergeant Pepperspray is our only lead.
Nineteen
Kari woke up the next morning to a purring kitten nudging her face with one velvet paw, undoubtedly a subtle hint that it was time to get up and feed everyone. Padding barefoot to the bedroom window, Kari held her breath until she looked out to see a slightly foggy morning with no sign of rain.
“I think we’re okay,” she said to Queenie as she exchanged her pajamas for a pair of jeans and a lightweight long-sleeved cotton tee shirt. It would be cooler up in the hills, if that was where they ended up, and she wanted to be prepared for walking through rough terrain and underbrush if necessary. She’d put on her hiking boots before she headed out the door, just in case.
After the cats and Fred had eaten, and Fred had gone outside for his morning constitutional, Kari bolted down a hasty breakfast of toast and cheese and a banana with her coffee. She was too jittery to sit still, and impatient to set off on their mission. She and Queenie had a brief argument at the door when the kitten insisted she should accompany Kari, and Kari attempted to persuade her otherwise.
“We have no idea how long we’ll be out or what we’ll be getting into,” Kari said, feeling slightly silly to be explaining things to a cat. Which didn’t stop her from doing it, of course. “I’m sure you would be very helpful, but I think this time you should stay home.”
Queenie gave an indignant meow and stalked off to curl up in a spot of sunlight on the battered living room couch.
“I’ll give you extra treats when I get home,” Kari said as she went out the door. The kitten did not look impressed by this peace offering, although a brief flick of the tail might have signaled her acceptance. Fred, as usual, showed a distinct lack of interest in anything that didn’t involve food, and did not volunteer to come along. The other two cats were already asleep on the bed.
Kari popped her head into the shelter briefly to make sure everything was under control. Sara and Bryn were already hard at work cleaning the cat cages in the front room, and Jim’s off-key singing could be heard coming from the main feline room. He occasionally came in on a Saturday if they were shorthanded.
“Are you sure you don’t want one of us to come with you?” Sara asked, sounding a little anxious. “You know, for backup?”
“Backup for what?” Bryn asked, not looking up from the food bowls she was refilling. “They’re off on a wild-goose chase.” The younger woman was clearly less than enthusiastic about Kari’s plan. “Do you really think they’re going to find anything?”
Kari’s stomach sank. Bryn was probably right. Still, they had to try something. “If this doesn’t work,” she said, “I’m going to see if I can talk the sheriff into letting us look around Myers’s house for that book. After all, when they searched the house for evidence, they didn’t know the book even existed, so maybe the cops missed it.”
Bryn straightened up with a sigh, pressing her hands into the small of her back. The lower cages had to be cleaned while crawling around on your hands and knees, and the largest ones—set aside for nursing mothers and their kittens, usually—involved putting almost your entire body inside to reach into the rear corners.
“If the book even exists,” she said, pulling a protesting feline out of a carrier so he could be popped back into the newly cleaned space. “After everything we’ve learned, I’d say Marge Farrow is a pretty dubious source of information. I think you’d be better off staying here and getting things ready for us to open as soon as the new fences are up.”
Now that the sheriff had released the crime scene, Kari had been able to get a local contractor to promise to come put the fencing up and reinforce the existing dog runs. It had taken some fast talking and the promise of a hefty bonus if he came out right away, but after being on hold
for so long, she thought it was worth it.
“I don’t expect this to take more than a couple of hours,” Kari said. “I’ll be back before you know it.” Sara gave her a sympathetic glance but didn’t say anything. Her theory was that Bryn would come around in time, and for the most part Kari believed her. Change was hard for everyone. Heck, her whole life had turned upside down, and some days she wasn’t sure if she trusted herself either.
She glanced at her watch. “Okay, I told Georgia I’d be at her house at eight thirty if she didn’t call me to say Pepper wasn’t feeling up to it, so I’d better get going. Wish me luck.”
Sara came over and gave her a high five. “Good luck,” the older woman said. “I hope you come back with good news, like a couple of healthy dogs we can reunite with their owners, or some kind of clue to the location of this mystery book.”
Kari didn’t want to jinx it by saying anything out loud, but she was secretly hoping that Pepper might lead them to some kind of hiding place that Myers had kept up in the hills. Maybe the book would even be there, and they could use it to track his movements and find a clue to the identity of the real murderer.
Of course, they might not find anything at all, but she refused to even consider that possibility. This wild mission just had to work. Too much was riding on it for it not to.
* * *
* * *
Apparently Georgia was just as eager to get going as Kari was, since the former trooper was sitting out on her front steps with Pepper when Kari pulled into the driveway. As usual, the Toyota gave a weird little rattle as it shut off, and she reminded herself that as soon as she had time, she really needed to find another car. Preferably one that didn’t have over two hundred thousand miles on the odometer.
Georgia was dressed almost exactly the same as Kari, in worn blue jeans, a dark blue long-sleeved tee shirt, and hiking boots. She was also wearing a loose denim jacket, which seemed like it might be a bit too warm for the day. Kari wondered if maybe Georgia was worried about tree branches rubbing up against her bad shoulder. Georgia’s short hair was tucked under a cheerful red bandana, and a matching one was tied around Pepper’s neck, almost hiding the white bandage underneath.
The German shepherd looked much perkier than he had the day before, Kari was glad to see. He rose from the steps as Kari approached and glanced up at Georgia as if for permission. When she said, “Okay, Pepper, friend,” he bounded down the steps to sniff at Kari and lick her hand.
“Good morning, Pepper,” Kari said. “Good morning, Georgia. He’s looking so much better.”
“He is,” Georgia said with a warm smile. “He doesn’t seem to be limping at all and he ate breakfast like a champ. He’s a tough old boy, just like his mama.” She walked down to join them. “We both bounce back pretty fast from adversity.”
She handed Kari a small backpack. “This has a few supplies—a couple of water bottles, some snacks for us and for the dog, and a first-aid kit, just in case we find another animal in rough shape. Do you mind carrying it so I can focus on Pepper?” She also gave her a bandana that matched the one she wore. “Put this on. That way you’ll be easier to spot if we get separated.”
“Oh, good idea,” Kari said. She hadn’t even thought of bringing anything along except her cell phone, which probably wouldn’t even work once they got up into the hills. “Sure, I’ll take it.” She slung the bag over one shoulder and tied the cloth over her hair. “Don’t you need a leash for Pepper?”
Georgia laughed. “Nope. He’s trained to respond to voice commands. Besides, I don’t dare put a collar around his neck until the sores heal, so it’s a good thing we don’t need one. Here, I’ll show you.” She snapped her fingers and the German shepherd immediately came to attention.
“Pepper, heel,” Georgia said, and the dog trotted over and stood next to her. “Stay.” Georgia walked over to where Kari was standing. “Come.” The dog waited for the command and then did as she said.
“That’s great,” Kari said, then hesitated. “I, um, didn’t exactly have a plan. Do you have any suggestions for how we should start? I hate to make Pepper walk all the way back to wherever he was.”
“I’ve been thinking about that,” Georgia said. “If what Deputy Carter said is true, and not just another lie—which is a big if, frankly—then Myers was probably keeping Pepper somewhere up in the hills, near where he was looking for this supposed pot field.”
“That’s what I figured,” Kari said. “But that’s a lot of territory.”
“It is,” Georgia agreed. “But we can drive up in that direction, at least part of the way. There are a lot of small, barely used roads that lead up even farther into the back country. It’s possible that Pepper will pick up on a scent that way. If not, then we’ll have to come back here and start from this end, but I’d rather not do that if we don’t have to.”
“Sounds good to me,” Kari said. “Do you want to take my car or yours?”
Georgia glanced at the Toyota with its rusty patches and the rear bumper that was held on with wire, and smothered a laugh behind one hand. “Uh, why don’t we take my Jeep,” she said. “That way Pepper won’t be distracted by any new smells.”
“You’re very polite,” Kari said with a smile. “But yes, your Jeep is probably a good idea if we’re going to be going up rough roads. Half of my car is held together with duct tape and prayer.”
“I thought you won the lottery,” Georgia said, more curiosity than criticism in her tone. They walked over to her shiny red Jeep and Pepper immediately hopped into the back seat, which had a tan quilted dog cover on it. “Don’t people usually go right out and buy new cars? Especially if they actually need them?”
Kari shrugged. “Most people, probably. I was going to be more practical. I was figuring out exactly what I wanted to do with the money and how I was going to make the most of it. I didn’t want to go off half-cocked without thinking things through.” She got in and buckled her seat belt, putting the pack down on the floor in front of her.
Georgia slid behind the wheel. “So you bought a run-down animal rescue.” She snorted. “How’s that working out for you?”
“Surprisingly well, other than having the dog warden murdered in my backyard, not being able to open up because we were a crime scene, being vandalized by Deputy Carter, and having a dog still under threat with outstanding charges left over from Bill Myers’s tenure.”
Kari was surprised to discover it was really true. Despite all those things, she absolutely loved the shelter, and couldn’t imagine her life without it. Or Queenie, for that matter. “But mostly good.”
“I’m glad,” Georgia said. “I’d been hoping someone would step up and take it over, but for a long time it looked like a lost cause.”
“I like a good lost cause,” Kari said firmly.
“So do I,” Georgia said. “Let’s go see if we can tackle this one.”
* * *
* * *
They headed up Steeple Road, named for the three churches that lined the bottom two miles of the street. Eventually it merged into County Route 12, which zigzagged to the left and became County Route 12A, not that there was anything other than one crooked road sign to indicate that anything had changed. Tall evergreens lined both sides of the road as they climbed higher, with the occasional ancient oak tree arching over to cast a leafy shadow on the gravel surface. The dappled shade lent a calm, almost otherworldly aura to the journey, making Kari feel as though she was traveling through another dimension.
A doe and two spotted fawns raised their heads as they cropped the grass at the verge but didn’t even bother to run away. Pepper, true to his training, never let out a peep, although his large head hung out the window, watching everything.
At a split in the road, Georgia slowed the Jeep to a crawl. “Any idea which direction we should head in?” she asked Kari.
Kari bit her lip. “Sorry,
no. Your guess is as good as mine.”
Georgia grinned. “Oh, I don’t know, mine might be a little bit better.” She pulled off to the side, not that they’d seen another vehicle in over five minutes, and opened the back door to let Pepper out.
“What do you think, boy? Smell anything interesting?” After letting him sniff at the rope that had been around his neck, she walked him first up to the left-hand fork, and then to the right. Pepper sniffed the air in one direction, then the other. For a heart-stopping few seconds, Kari thought they were going to have to turn around. But then Pepper walked back to the road to the left and gave three sharp barks.
A hunter’s light glinted in Georgia’s eyes. “By George, Watson,” she said with a smile. “I believe the game is afoot.”
Twenty
Once he’d been given the command “Find,” Pepper set off without hesitation. He walked slowly but methodically, periodically stopping to sniff at something only he could perceive. Kari hoped they weren’t following a rabbit or, worse yet, some kind of wild animal like a coyote. Plenty of those lived up in these hills. Even from her house, you could occasionally hear them howling on a quiet night.
They hiked up that road for about a half an hour, swatting at the occasional mosquito and stopping a couple of times to give Pepper a drink of water. There was no traffic and they didn’t see any other people, although there were a few rustic cabins set back a ways from the road. Georgia said they probably belonged to seasonal visitors who came up to hunt or fish, and were unoccupied more often than not.
Eventually Pepper steered them off the tiny secondary road onto an even smaller tertiary one, barely wide enough for two cars to pass each other, dusty and overgrown with weeds; it was clear from the shallow ruts that it was barely used and mostly unmaintained. Cicadas buzzed in the underbrush and once a red fox scooted across the way no more than six feet in front of them. Pepper’s head shot up, but he held his position. Kari started to think that maybe he really was following a real scent.
Furbidden Fatality Page 20
