Read Online Haunted Hamlet (Zoe Donovan Mystery) by Kathi Daley - Free Book Online Page B

getting this puppy was the most important thing in her life.
    “ How old is Shep?” Ellie turned to face me.
    “He ’s eight months old. Jeremy said he’s smart and attentive and showed a lot of promise, but he suffered a broken leg when he was four months old and it didn’t heal up well enough for him to be placed into police service. According to Jeremy, his limp isn’t noticeable unless you know what you’re looking for, and it doesn’t hinder his ability to run or enjoy a normal life, but the screening process to become a law enforcement dog is tough. Shep is well trained and very friendly. Peter told Jeremy that he seems to prefer women and will make a good dog for a female handler.”
    “He sounds perfect.” Ellie grinned.
    I felt like it was the first genuine grin I’d seen from her in quite some time.
    “ I know I never really cared about having a dog,” Ellie added, “but I’m really happy you talked me into it.”
    I talked her into it?
    “If I’m approved, when can I bring him home?”
    I slowed to maneuver an extra -tight S curve. “Today, as far as I know. We can stop at the animal supply store in Bryton Lake and pick up everything you’ll need. We’ll need to keep him on the same food the breeder has him on, at least for a while. If you decide to change the brand, you’ll need to do so slowly.”
    “I ’m sure that whatever food the breeder uses will be fine for me. I don’t have a lot of experience feeding dogs, so I plan to follow the breeder’s recommendations to a T.”
    “That’s usually best.”
    “I know I’ve already said this like ten times, but I really hope this works out. I love living in your boathouse, but it’s pretty isolated. I think I’ll feel better with a big dog on the premises.”
    “Remember , it’s not for sure.”
    “I know.”
    I was taking a chance bringing Ellie to meet Shep when she was so vulnerable. God, I hoped this worked out. I was afraid if it didn’t, she’d spiral into a depression I wasn’t entirely sure how to deal with. Ellie seemed to like dogs and was super good with Charlie and the other dogs in my life, but she’d never had one of her own. Her mom had never wanted animals in the house when Ellie was growing up, and when she got her own apartment, animals weren’t allowed. I hoped she understood the time commitment that comes with having a canine buddy.
    Of course, I reminded myself, although I’m pretty sure I didn’t do or say anything to actually talk her into getting a dog, it had been my idea in the first place. I had a flexible schedule, so I’d simply make the commitment to help out as needed, and if this dog didn’t work out for some reason, I’d find her an equally awesome replacement.
    “We have another thirty minutes at least until we get to Peter’s property; maybe we should use this time to talk about food for the Halloween party,” I suggested.
    “Okay, I’m game .” Ellie shifted in her seat so she could reach her purse. She pulled out a small notepad and a pen. “What type are you thinking?”
    “Zak has gone all -out with the decorations and is building coffins that he plans to fill with dry ice to serve the food. I was thinking we could do theme food, like mummy dogs.”
    Ellie clicked the end of the pen as she thought about the situation. “I have an idea to make wontons shaped like bats. I could do a couple of different fillings. Crab and cream cheese are my favorites. I also have a recipe for jalapeño popper wontons, as well as a sausage-based wonton that everyone seems to love.”
    “Sounds perfect. What else do you have?” I hoped our talk about food would help Ellie relax before we arrived at the ranch.
    “Deviled eggs made up to look like eyeballs are easy and tasty, and I can make cheese balls shaped like jack-o’-lanterns or spiders in several different flavors. We can make up some roaches and other bugs using figs and other veggies and add them to any dips we want to provide, and we