Read Online Seed No Evil by Kate Collins - Free Book Online

the only way the doors can be operated?” Marco asked, as I scribbled notes.
    â€œThere are handles on the outside of the doors, too,” Stacy said. “In cases where an animal gets overexcited, the staff can access its cage from the exercise pen.”
    â€œIn your sister’s case,” Marco said, “how do you know that the dogs were released by pulling the cords? Couldn’t they have also been released from inside the exercise pen?”
    â€œWell, yes,” Stacy said, “but who would be reckless enough to do that?”
    I could tell by the way Marco shifted forward in his chair that he was getting ready to make an important point.
    â€œThen whoever pulled that cord,” he said, “had to get your sister inside the pen and somehow prevent her from escaping before releasing a pair of vicious dogs. No one would view that as an act that was meant to merely scare. I can’t say for certain, but the police may even call it premeditated murder.”
    I knew Marco’s intent was to rattle Stacy, and it did indeed seem to have that effect. Her eyes widened and her lips formed each syllable of the word
premeditated
as though the idea astonished her. Then, as though she were grasping at straws, she said in a more hopeful voice, “So you’re saying Bev was killed by a professional?”
    â€œNo,” Marco said. “This was definitely not an experienced killer. In fact, it was extremely amateurish. The plan wasn’t well thought out at all. What if someone had heard your sister’s cries? What if she hadn’t fallen from the fence? She might have been safe until help arrived.”
    Stacy suddenly burst into tears and covered her face. “She wouldn’t have been able to stay on the fence. Those dogs jump high. They”—she sobbed harder—“pulled her down.”
    Why wasn’t I moved by her outburst? Fake, perhaps?

C HAPTER S IX

    S tacy pulled several tissues from the box and said through her sniffles, “It’s hard to believe Bev was despised that much.”
    â€œConsidering what I’ve said about how your sister died,” Marco said, “do you still think Dayton Blaine and Emma Hardy should be suspects?”
    Stacy nodded almost too eagerly this time, using a tissue to wipe her nose.
    â€œWhy is the gate on the pen padlocked?” Marco asked.
    Stacy turned to drop her tissues in a waste can behind her desk. “We had a problem with neighborhood kids opening the pen when the dogs were out. The padlock took care of it.”
    â€œWho holds keys to the shelter?” Marco asked.
    â€œBesides the staff and me, it would be Bev, Dayton, Emma, and the volunteers who come in after hours, so”—she paused to add them up—“that would be eighteen people.”
    â€œThat’s a lot of keys,” I said.
    â€œWe all work for the animals’ welfare,” Stacy said. “There was never a reason not to give a trusted employee a key, and the volunteers have been screened.”
    â€œHas Dayton been screened?” Marco asked.
    Stacy laughed sarcastically. “Dayton Blaine, from
the Blaines
? Of course not.”
    â€œWhy does the PAR chairman need a key?” Marco asked.
    â€œAsk her,” Stacy said.
    â€œAnd Emma Hardy?”
    â€œShe’s PAR’s development director,” Stacy said, looking at her watch. “She comes here in the evenings sometimes to work on our computers. She’s our Web developer. She set up our Internet Web site and does marketing for both the shelter and for PAR.”
    â€œIs there any truth to the rumor that there’s a move under way to change this shelter’s no-kill policy?” I asked. I felt Marco’s gaze on me, so I gave him a glance to let him know I would make it quick.
    Stacy looked away. “It’s being considered.”
    â€œHow seriously?” I asked.
    â€œThe board of directors is scheduled to