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

vote on it at the next meeting. If they approve, we’re ready to implement it.”
    â€œIn other words, you’re prepared to start euthanizing,” I said, the thought nauseating me.
    Wordlessly, she looked at me. Thank God there was still time to organize a protest.
    â€œWho’s pushing for this change?” I asked.
    Marco cleared his throat, impatient to move forward.
    â€œThe board of directors,” Stacy said.
    â€œWas your sister in favor of it?” I asked.
    â€œNo,” Stacy said, glancing at her watch.
    â€œI noticed your dog photos back there,” I said. “You strike me as an animal lover. Surely you can’t be in favor of euthanasia.”
    Stacy lifted her chin, a sure sign of defiance. “I’ll do whatever is fiscally best for the shelter. Our goal is to keep it running so we can help as many animals as possible.”
    â€œ
Help,
as in putting healthy animals down?” I asked, and felt Marco give me a nudge.
    With a scowl, Stacy pushed her pen aside, clearly uncomfortable with my questions. “Yes, if that’s what it takes. Now I really need to leave.”
    â€œCan you think of anything else we need to know to investigate your sister’s death?” Marco asked.
    â€œYes,” she said without hesitation. “Don’t let Dayton Blaine’s money and influence in this town deter you from asking tough questions. Same with Emma Hardy’s innocent act. She’s not, believe me.” Stacy thought for a moment. “That’s it.”
    â€œHere’s my business card,” Marco said. “Please call if you think of anything else.”
    Stacy put his card on her desk. “I will. Thanks.”
    â€œAnd thank you for your candid answers,” Marco said. “We’d like to talk to the two workers in the back next, and if it’s possible, get a look at the dog ward.”
    Stacy rose. “I’ll take you there.”
    As we followed her up the hallway, Marco said to me quietly, “Do me a favor. Stick to the subject this time.”
    I didn’t have time to reply, so I just gave him a scowl. Stacy stopped in front of a warped wooden door with a window in it, tapped on the glass, then waved someone over.
    â€œBrian can show you around,” she said, opening the door to barking dogs and the strong smell of animal fur, Lysol, dog food, and urine.
    We stepped into a room crammed with cages—large cages standing alone, small cages stacked on top of one another. Every cage housed at least one dog, depending on its size, and they all wanted to sniff us. It appeared as though the area had once been two classrooms with walls removed between them. Judging by the number of dogs contained in the room, they could have used a space double or triple that size, and I immediately felt sorry for the cramped animals.
    Stacy introduced Brian, a young man with thick, curly black hair, thin sideburns, black-rimmed glasses, and an honest face. He had on a green T-shirt with the PAR logo and worn blue jeans with sneakers. He didn’t shake our hands because he said he’d been working with the dogs and didn’t want to get us dirty.
    â€œAnswer any questions they have,” Stacy directed, and saying a quick good-bye, shut the door behind her. I had the feeling she couldn’t get away fast enough.
    â€œWhere are the pens that the two dangerous dogs were in?” Marco asked.
    â€œYou mean
are
in,” Brian corrected. “We still have them. We’re a no-kill shelter, at least for now.”
    â€œYou still have the dogs?” I asked.
    Brian pointed to the end of the row. “We’re not supposed to let anyone near them. They’re quarantined.”
    â€œAre they that dangerous?”
    â€œThey’re just highly excitable,” Brian explained. “It doesn’t take much to rile them.”
    â€œWere they used as fighting dogs?” Marco asked.
    â€œI’m