Read Online 2 Murder Most Fowl by Morgana Best - Free Book Online Page A

Sibyl. Dog training will improve Sandy’s manners. Now I’ll go and register Sandy, and you go and tell Blake what Janine Templeton said about Susan Woods gathering hemlock. Find out whether the detectives are investigating Susan.”
    “Okay, I’ll go and look for Blake.”
    “He’s right over there.” Mr. Buttons pointed to a seating area near the swamp, or the creek, as the locals liked to call it.
    “Okay.” I was shy about speaking to Blake, but I had good reason. He smiled when he saw me coming.
    “Glad you could make it. Where’s Sandy?”
    I nodded in the direction of the tent. “Mr. Buttons is registering us now for the Beginners’ Class. Blake, did the detectives tell you about the new evidence Cressida gave them?”
    Blake’s forehead furrowed in puzzlement. “No, what was it?”
    “Cressida and I were in Pharmidale yesterday afternoon, and Janine Templeton told her that she had seen Cressida’s cleaner, Susan Woods, gathering hemlock by the side of the road, out on Gostywk Road a few weeks ago.”
    “Why didn’t Janine Templeton go straight to the police after the first murder?”
    I shrugged. “I have no idea. But Cressida called the detectives at once, and all they did was thank her and say they’d be in touch. I’m worried that they didn’t tell you.”
    Blake stroked his chin. “Hmm, okay. Well, don’t be too worried; they don’t have to share information with me; after all, it’s their case. Leave it with me, Sibyl; I’ll look into it.”
    I thanked him. “Blake, where’s your dog?”
    “Right here.” Blake appeared to be puzzled.
    I looked around, and then saw the tiniest Chihuahua I had ever seen, sitting at Blake’s feet. I know Chihuahuas are small, but this one was tiny. “Is that your dog?”
    “Yes.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “I hope you’re not prejudiced against Chihuahuas, are you? A lot of people find it strange that a man owns a Chihuahua. I suppose you were expecting me to own a Rottweiler or a Pit Bull or something.”
    I shook my head. “No, no, no, no, no,” I said vehemently, and then wondered if I had said no one too many times. I bent down and looked at the tiny dog. He had huge, soft eyes, and was a dark cream color with white markings on his face, chest, feet, and neck. He had the most adorable expression on his little face. “What a cute dog. Is he safe to pat?”
    “He is now,” Blake said, “but he was aggressive when I got him from the shelter, poor little guy. The training has really helped him.”
    “What’s his name?” I gingerly stroked the dog’s head, and he licked my finger.
    “Tiny.”
    I had no suitable response, so simply said, “Oh.”
    “Mr. Buttons is calling you, Sibyl.”
    I said goodbye to Blake and hurried over to Mr. Buttons, who handed me Sandy’s leash. “Here you are, Sibyl. The class is about to start.”
    My stomach clenched. “Wish me luck.”
    I took Sandy over to the Beginners’ Class. The humans seemed friendly enough, and so did the dogs. The instructor was a short, cheerful, but very loud woman named Denise.
    Denise told us to bring our dogs into the middle and let them greet each other. All the other dogs were well behaved, but Sandy tried to sit on several dogs and lick their ears. “Take the Labrador out, please,” Denise said. “Perhaps she can do the meet and greet in later weeks.”
    I inwardly groaned with embarrassment. I stood there, Sandy by my side, watching Blake in the advanced class over the other side of the field. Nevertheless, I soon lost my embarrassment when the class started. As Denise had all the dogs paced out nicely, Sandy settled down. She led nicely and sat nicely. I was even beginning to enjoy myself. Mr. Buttons was standing on the side, beaming at Sandy’s progress, and occasionally giving me the thumbs up.
    The class drew to an end and Denise, in her over-the-top, animated style, told us that we would all now do the Come . Everyone had to make their dogs sit,