Read Online Doggie Day Care Murder by Laurien Berenson - Free Book Online Page B

back wall. I was expecting Steve to come bustling through it like he’d done the day before.
    So when a woman on the other side screamed, a sound so shrill and panic-stricken that it made the hairs on the back of my neck rise, I was on my feet and pushing through the door before the sound had even died.
    Candy was standing in the hallway. Her face was white; her mouth, half open. Her hands were raised and clasped tightly together in front of her chest as if in prayer.
    â€œWhat’s the matter?” I asked.
    She looked at me with stricken eyes but didn’t answer.
    â€œ What? ” I said again.
    I was striding toward her as I spoke, and then, all at once, I saw what she’d seen.
    Steve’s office door had been pushed partway open. Just inside, a body was lying on the floor. Steve’s face was turned upward and his eyes stared sightlessly at the ceiling. A dark pool of blood surrounded his head like a viscous halo.
    Steve wouldn’t be making our meeting that morning. Or any other meetings for that matter.

7
    â€œC all nine-one-one,” I said quickly.
    It’s what people are supposed to do under circumstances like this. Even when they knew better than to think it would do any good.
    Madison must have followed me into the corridor because she was standing behind me, staring over my shoulder. I grabbed her, turned her around, and gave her a little push.
    â€œGo!” I said. “Call for the police and an ambulance.”
    â€œOh God, no!” said Candy. She backed away down the hall, her head shaking frantically from side to side. “No, no, no . . .”
    The door at the far end, the one that led outside, drew open. Bailey came walking in. She and Candy just about collided, though Candy didn’t even seem to notice.
    Now her hands were up and covering her mouth. As if they were holding in a scream.
    â€œBailey, stop right there!” I said.
    The groomer complied, then looked at me in confusion. “What’s going on?”
    â€œThere’s been an accident. The police are coming. Does that door have a lock on it?”
    â€œYeah, sure. I guess so.”
    â€œWould you please let yourself out and lock the door behind you?”
    Bailey glanced over at Candy, who was now standing with her back pressed against the wall. Her eyes were wide and unfocused. She looked like she was going into shock.
    â€œWho put you in charge?” Bailey asked me.
    â€œI did,” I said firmly. “Now go.”
    She looked once more at Candy as if hoping for guidance. None was forthcoming.
    â€œBelieve me,” I said, “you don’t want to be here right now. I mean it. Go!”
    Bailey finally complied. I saw her adjust something on the knob and heard the latch click shut behind her.
    The phone in Steve’s office began to ring. I ignored it.
    Candy was ignoring everything. I doubt she even heard the sound.
    After four rings, it stopped. Then the phone in Candy’s office across the hall began to shrill. Someone was persistent. And they were going to have to wait.
    â€œI called,” said Madison. She opened the other door but didn’t enter the hallway. Her eyes looked up, down, anywhere but at Steve’s office. “They said someone’s coming.”
    â€œGood. Make sure no one comes in here until they get here, okay?”
    â€œWhat about her?” Madison was looking at someone behind me.
    Alice. I’d forgotten all about her. Apparently she’d followed me into the hallway, too, and had been standing there the whole time.
    â€œI’m going,” said Alice. She, too, had her hand over her mouth. I hoped she wasn’t about to throw up. “I’ll wait for you out in the reception area. Unless . . .”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œDo you need any help?”
    Bless her heart. Once a mother, always a mother. Alice looked like the last thing on earth she wanted to do was get more involved in the situation than she