Read Online Downton Tabby by Sparkle Abbey - Free Book Online

things.”
    “Well, enjoy your lunch, and Heidi . . .” I touched her arm.
    She paused; impatience washed across her face.
    “If you need to talk to someone, just call me. Okay?”
    “Okay.” She nodded and scurried across the intersection.
    An odd exchange.
    She’d seemed hurried, but that could just be that she had limited time for lunch. What was most peculiar to me, though, was that while Heidi had asked a lot of questions about my being in Jake and Cash’s house, she’d asked nothing about whether I’d heard anything more about Cash’s disappearance.
    MALONE CALLED and arranged to meet me at Cash and Jake’s house. I had one client house call and then I’d meet the detective there and show him the location of the secret room. I’d been to this client’s house before, so I knew where I was going. As I cruised up the tree-lined residential street, my mind was still on the conversation I’d just had with Cash’s girlfriend.
    I shook my head. I needed to rope in my thoughts and concentrate on the upcoming appointment. This particular dog was an interesting case. In my mind I called it “The Case of the Terrible Teacup” because it always made me smile just a little that the tiny teacup poodle was terrorizing both her owner and the neighborhood. But in truth, it wasn’t funny at all because if the dog bit again she could be slated for doggie detention and her owner could find herself in hot water and even potential legal troubles.
    Audra Collins had adopted Nina as a puppy, and the little poodle still looked like a puppy though she was three years old. She was a chocolate teacup and one of the cutest things I had ever seen. She actually looked like a child’s toy she was so tiny and delicate.
    When Audra lost her job working for a financial company, the two became best buddies and constant companions. I knew Nina had helped Audra get through a really difficult time.
    Audra had taken some online courses to brush up on her skills and recently landed a great job working as an accountant for a local investment group. That’s when the trouble started.
    When Nina first started misbehaving, Audra would come home to trash all over the house. (Kind of reminds you of Betty’s big-dog problems doesn’t it?) Nina then moved to tearing up pillows and furniture to where Audra had thought her first few paychecks were going to have to be used to replace her furniture.
    But then the situation got worse. Nina became aggressive and had actually nipped at Audra and a neighbor who was outside in his yard.
    It was a tough case. Nina had gotten used to Audra being home and hanging out with her, but now Audra needed to help Nina cope with the day-long absences. I had suggested that Audra give Nina some things to do during the times she was gone.
    Also I thought Audra could try leaving for shorter periods of time. Because she felt so guilty about leaving her loyal fur-friend who’d gotten her through a terrible time, she was only leaving the toy poodle when she went to work, which signaled to Nina that when Audra left, it was going to be for a long time. I thought if Audra would leave to run some errands and come back in less time, the more frequent coming and going might help Nina to realize that she was not being left behind forever.
    My last visit, Audra had agreed to try these tactics, and for this visit I’d planned to check in and see how successful the strategy had been.
    I pulled up front and parked. Audra’s house was a low bungalow in the village section of Laguna Beach and had a small front porch which had been decorated with colorfully painted chairs and flower pots. I knocked, and as I did I felt a presence beside me.
    Audra opened the door just as I turned to face my ex-husband. Where had he come from?
    “Caro.” Audra’s dark-brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and her freshly scrubbed face was dotted with freckles. “Please come in.” When we’d first met, the girl was shy as a crocus, but this