Read Online Barking Detective 04 - The Chihuahua Always Sniffs Twice by Waverly Curtis - Free Book Online

wanted to ask me about your employees.”
    “Ah, yes, what have they done so far?”
    Boswell’s eyes narrowed. “Well, you should know, shouldn’t you?”
    “Of course, but Jimmy G is trying to verify if they are making a full report,” said Jimmy G. When he saw that Boswell still hesitated, he added, “Customer satisfaction is the most important thing at the Gerrard Agency.”
    Boswell sighed. “We actually have not had much of a chance to talk. They were the ones who discovered the body of my colleague, Bickerstaff, in my office.” He narrowed his eyes and peered at Jimmy G. “You do know about that, right?”
    “Of course,” said Jimmy G, nodding.
    “I sent them off to talk to the vet who treated the dogs, while I spoke to the police.”
    “What did they ask you?” Jimmy G wanted to know.
    “The police? Or your operatives?”
    “The police.”
    “Routine questions. Where was I? At what times? What was my relationship to Bickerstaff like? Did I kill him?”
    “Did you?”
    “I say!” said Boswell, standing up abruptly. The cat stood up. too, with back arched and tail bristling. “That is outrageous, sir! I had nothing to do with Bickerstaff’s unfortunate death. I hired your agency to find out if someone is trying to harm the dogs. And unless your questions are relevant to that purpose, I refuse to answer them.”
    “Hey! Just making sure,” said Jimmy G. “Would not want to involve the Gerrard Agency in anything unsavory.” He had to get his hands on that piece of paper. How to do so?
    “This conversation is over,” said Boswell, coming out from behind the desk.
    Jimmy G had a brilliant idea. It did involve some personal risk. He reached for the cat, thinking he would be able pick it up and drop it on the desk, creating a distraction. “Nice cat!” he said.
    The cat did not appreciate the compliment. It reared up and swiped at him, managing to leave claw marks down the back of his hand. At the same time, it lost its footing on the slippery papers and went sliding over the edge of the desk. He heard the cat hit the floor with a thud. On its feet, he presumed. After all, they say cats always land on their feet.
    “Oh, good heavens!” said Boswell, dropping to his knees beside the cat. “Did that awful man hurt you, Precious?” As he bent over the cat, checking the animal for injuries, Jimmy G scooped up the papers on the top of the pile and stuffed them into his jacket.
    “I’ll see myself out,” he said, strolling out the door. When he stopped at the threshold to look back, Boswell was cradling the cat in his arms. He did not seem to have noticed Jimmy G’s theft. He was kissing the cat on the top of its head. And Jimmy G could hear the cat purring, from yards away.

Chapter 14
    I awoke to the realization that something was wrong. Very wrong. It took me a moment to figure out where I was: the guest bedroom at Carpenter Manor. The door to the hall was open. The breeze had turned chilly. The rising sun was painting the sky a pale pink in the distance.
    Then I realized what was wrong. Pepe was gone.
    Almost simultaneously, I heard a screech. Ouch! A muffled curse. Then a thud.
    That woke up the dogs in the locked bedroom down the hall. They started barking furiously and scratching at the door.
    Where was Pepe? I slipped out of bed and pulled on the bathrobe Yolanda had loaned me. I thought the sounds had come from downstairs, but I couldn’t be sure. I tiptoed down the stairs, moving as fast as I dared in the darkness. I could hear doors opening upstairs. Must be Yolanda and Clara coming to see what was happening.
    There was no sign of Pepe in the living room or the dining room, but as I pushed into the kitchen, I saw that the back door was open wide. And I saw a dark figure outlined against the pink sky—a tall figure dressed all in black with a mask over its face and my little white dog tucked into its arm.
    “Let go of my dog!” I shouted, not really sure how I was going to enforce