Read Online Play Dead by Leslie O'Kane - Free Book Online Page B

dangle
from the pipe and angled my torso out from the sink cabinet. In the meantime,
Doppler tore out of the room to investigate.
    “Hi, there, little fellow,” Beth said.
    I emerged and found Doppler bravely trying
to present himself to the much taller Sage. Having been raised with a German
shepherd, Doppler was not all that size-sensitive. Nonetheless, the two male
dogs were doing their circling and shoulder-shoving thing while picking up each
other’s scents, and Doppler was assuming the submissive role and allowing
himself to be sniffed. Fortunately, Doppler had rarely been in my office, or he
might have acted territorial and tried to fight.
    “Hi, Beth. Is anything wrong?”
    “Oh. No,” Beth answered, smiling
sheepishly. She was wearing the same black T-shirt and jeans on her tall, lanky
frame as yesterday. Then again, she might have a closet full of black clothing
at home that simply looked the same to me. “I was just passing by, and I saw
your car out front. Sage is doing much better. I gave him three cups of dog
chow, and he ate it without even hesitating. I tossed his dish and used the new
one I just bought, so I think that helps, too.”
    “Good. I’m glad to hear that.” Sage came
up to me and nuzzled my hand for petting, which caused Doppler to raise his
hackles and bark.
    “Oh, dear. Looks like your cocker’s
getting jealous.” Beth pulled Sage’s leash taut.
    “That’s why I don’t bring him to work with
me.” I sat down at my desk chair and signaled for Doppler to hop onto my lap,
which he promptly did. “Actually, I’m glad you stopped by, Beth. I wanted to
ask you something. Do any of your neighbors own a white sedan?”
    She shrugged. “Not that I’ve noticed. Why?”
    “I’m not sure, but I got the feeling
someone in a white sedan might have been following me yesterday.”
    Beth made a face. “Jeez, I sure hope not.
You think it might have been a neighbor of mine?”
    “Actually, I’m hoping a neighbor just
happened to be pulling out at the same time we were—that I’m not being
followed at all. Could you start being on the lookout for white sedans? And
start locking your house, just in case. This...thing about Sage’s former owner’s
death and his food being tainted has me a bit spooked.”
    “Oh. Sure. I’ll be more careful with him.”
Beth gave him a loving smile, then met my eyes. “My boyfriend just stood me up
for breakfast. Have you eaten?”
    “No, my stomach requires at least two
hours more than the rest of me does to wake up.”
    “Maybe we could go grab a bite someplace,
after I have a chance to walk Sage back home, that is.”
    I glanced at my watch and considered the
suggestion, somewhat surprised. She hadn’t struck me as likely to want to
become friends with me. Just then, Russell appeared at the entrance. He was
wearing a brown, wide-brimmed hat that matched the elbow pads on his tweed
jacket. He had barely managed to push the door halfway open, when Sage flew to
the attack.

Chapter 6
    Russell let out a brief, “Yiaa!” and
backed up. Sage plastered himself snarling and snapping against the inside of
the glass door. This then touched off Doppler’s barking, so the two of them
went at it—Doppler adding the tenor to Sage’s bass tones.
    Beth had been unable to keep hold of the
leash and was now screaming, “No, Sage, no!” at the top of her lungs. I shushed
Beth—explaining that this was just like joining Sage in barking, from a
dog’s perspective—and gestured at Russell to get back out of sight. Beth
then wrapped her arms around Sage and said, “It’s all right. He won’t harm you.”
    “Don’t fuss over him like that, Beth. He
thinks you’re rewarding him for his behavior.” I grabbed a dog biscuit and
called, “Doppler, come.” Doppler gave a last little bark, then came over and
sat in front of me. I gave him the biscuit.
    “What am I supposed to do, then?” Beth
asked, thrusting the fingers of both her hands through her shaggy,