Read Online Hidden Vices by C.J. Carpenter - Free Book Online Page A

“No.”
    As soon as they stepped one foot on cement, Dog yanked the leash, dragging Megan up the driveway. Something told her the alpha position was not going to be hers in this temporary arrangement. Every few feet Dog stopped, lifted his leg, released, and then moved on to the next ill-fated target. The street was oddly quiet for a Saturday. There were no signs of any of her neighbors other than cars parked in the driveways. It was as if she was the only inhabitant of McGregor Avenue. Dog urinating against telephone poles was the only noise to be heard. The feeling changed as soon as they walked around the bend in the road.
    Dog lunged forward, forcing Megan to let go of the leash unless she wanted to be dragged across the ice and salt on the street. He’d come back when she turned around. Probably. Looking up, Megan saw a woman in a hooded green parka walking a golden retriever.
    â€œDog! Stop!” It was an exercise in futility; he was already there, planting a few sniffs and attempting to plant something else in the poor unsuspecting dog. Oddly the woman didn’t seem surprised to see this massive male canine charge at her. Megan grabbed Dog’s retractable leash, attempting to reel him in from his canine ladylove. “I’m really sorry about that. He’s not my dog. I just found him and apparently he’s not well trained.”
    â€œIt’s okay. He’s just honoring his nature.” She pushed her hood back, exposing cropped brown hair and a grin that told Megan she was truly humored by the exchange. She looked fifty-something, thin, and fit. “I’m Leigh. I live down the street on the right in that house.” She turned and pointed at a white Cape Cod with green trim.
    â€œI’m Megan, I just moved in—” She was about to point down the street.
    â€œTo the Macks’ place, right?”
    Megan looked stunned. “Ah …”
    â€œIt’s a small town, and an even smaller neighborhood. Actually, the Macks are good friends of ours. They mentioned the last time we had them over for dinner that you were going to rent the place. Mr. Mack has lived on this street since he was three years old.”
    â€œHe mentioned that to me before they left for Florida. I thought I was the only one here. You’re the first person I’ve seen besides a teenager and a woman jogging by. Vivian, I mean. I met her at the diner later.”
    â€œThe teenager is Billie, great kid. She house sits when Jo and I are out of town.” She turned to look over her shoulder. “Actually, here she comes now. Everyone is buzzing about what’s happening on the lake.”
    â€œI’m sure,” Megan added faintly.
    A small ways down the street they both heard, “Hey, wait up guys!” Billie, with her jacket half on and one shoe untied, raced to meet them. “I don’t want to miss anything.” Billie looked down at Dog with a scrunched up face. “You got a dog?”
    Megan held on to the lead as best she could. “Um no, but if you know who owns him, I’d like to take him back to wherever he came from.”
    Billie and Leigh looked at one another and shrugged, indicating neither knew.
    â€œC’mon Leigh, I don’t want to miss this!”
    â€œI’ll catch up in a second, Billie, you go on ahead,” Leigh said. “It must seem a bit odd for you that people show interest in something like this.” Leigh pointed toward the commotion down the street.
    Megan had a quiet response. “No, not anymore.”
    â€œIf you don’t have anything going on later, would you like to join Jo and me for dinner? A kind of welcome to the neighborhood,” Leigh offered.
    Megan was taken aback. She answered without thinking, “Sure, that would be nice.”
    â€œGreat! Come by any time between six and seven.”
    At this point Dog had had enough of human socialization and had stopped trying to accost the