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

shivering as only an agitated Chihuahua can shiver.
    “Kind of timid, isn’t he?” asked the cop with sergeant’s stripes on his sleeve.
    “Timid-shmimid!” exclaimed Pepe. “I learned all about your bribe-taking, donut-eating ways south of the border!”
    “I don’t think they eat donuts south of the border,” I said. “Maybe churros.”
    “Donuts?” said the sergeant’s partner, a young man with a freckled face and flaming red hair in a buzz cut.
    “No donuts,” said Caroline, bringing the coffeepot over to the table. “But I do have coffee.”
    “Thanks,” said the sergeant. “I’ll take a cup.” While Yolanda poured him a cup, using one of the pretty flowered china teacups, he went on: “Dispatch radioed that you had an intruder in the house, Yolanda. That correct?”
    “Yes,” she said.
    “Anybody hurt?” asked the young cop.
    “No, but someone is trying to kill the dogs,” Yolanda said.
    “Didn’t your dogs set up a ruckus?” the sergeant asked Yolanda. “Start barking when he broke in, or go after the guy when he ran out?”
    “They were locked up in their room,” she said. When he raised his eyebrows at her, she said, “We lock them in at night. For their own protection.”
    “I went after him!” said Pepe.
    “My dog was the one who chased him off!” I said.
    “Really?” The sergeant looked surprised.
    “I may be small, but I am fearless,” declared Pepe.
    “So did you get a look at this intruder?”
    “Yes, he was dressed all in black and wearing a black ski mask,” I said.
    “Any other distinguishing characteristics?”
    “Tell him the hombre smelled strongly of lavender,” Pepe told me.
    “So does everything around here,” I said. “That’s a big help.”
    “What’s a big help?” the sergeant asked me.
    “The guy smelled very strongly of lavender,” I told him.
    “Well, that’s a big help,” he said. “So do half the people around here this time of year.”
    The young cop chuckled.
    “You getting all this down?” the sergeant asked him.
    “Yeah, Sarge, I think so.” He read from the small notebook in his hands. “The guy was dressed all in black and smelled like lavender.”
    The sergeant shook his head slowly side to side. “Yeah,” he told his partner. “That’s about what we’ve got to work with.”
    “And the dog bite!” said Pepe.
    “Yes, and my dog bit him,” I said.
    The sergeant sighed. “Yes, we can put out a BOLO to the local ERs to watch out for a guy who’s been bitten by a Chihuahua.”
    “Do you think that will work?” I asked, excited. It was just like a crime show on TV.
    The sergeant sighed. “No! Seems unlikely that a Chihuahua could inflict any serious harm.”
    “ Caramba! ” said Pepe. “That is libelous.”
    “Anyway,” said the sergeant, “I think we’ve got what we need. Thanks for the coffee, Yolanda. If you think of anything else that might help, don’t hesitate to call us.”
    We all followed them to the front door, where the sergeant turned to me. “Crime is rare in Sequim,” he said. “And this kind of crime is particularly rare. Most likely it was a neighborhood kid out on a dare.”
    “Do they usually dress in all black and wear ski masks?” I asked, indignant.
    “Well, you know the idea of being a ninja and sneaking into houses—it appeals to some kids.” The cop seemed blasé. “Anyway, let’s keep this quiet. We wouldn’t want to give anyone the wrong impression about crime in Sequim. Especially since we’re expecting so many visitors to our fair town over the next few days.”
    I watched them depart with a frown. “I think they’re blowing me off,” I said.
    “I know,” said Yolanda. “No one really takes the threat to the dogs seriously. That’s why I’m so glad that Boswell hired you.”
    Speaking of Boswell, it was time for us to pick up the trust document from his office and head back to Seattle to make a report to Jimmy G.

Chapter 15
    Jimmy G fought his way out of a