Read Online The Big Chihuahua by Waverly Curtis - Free Book Online
Authors: Waverly Curtis
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said Pepe. “Pobrecita.”
“She’s dead,” I said.
“ Sí , and Fuzzy has lost her human,” said Pepe mournfully.
Tears were running down my cheeks. I brushed them aside. I bent down to touch her skin, but it was cold and damp.
“We must notify the authorities,” Pepe said.
“Yes, and tell the Dogawandans!”
“They are nearby,” said Pepe. “I can hear voices. Call them!”
“Help! Help!” I cried. “Over here! I found her!”
Pepe joined me, giving a few tiny howls.
A few minutes later, we heard crashing in the bushes very near to where we were, and Artichoke came charging through the brambles. Her long dark hair had come loose and was tangled with leaves.
“What is it?” she asked.
I stepped aside and pointed at the body.
“Oh my Dog!” Artichoke shouted, kneeling down and touching Tammy’s neck tentatively. She turned to look at us. “She’s dead!” She seemed amazed.
“Yes, my dog just found her.”
“What happened to her?”
“I don’t know.” I was surprised she was asking me.
“Perhaps wild animals, maybe a bear,” said Artichoke mournfully, bending her head to examine the body more closely. “See the scratch marks all over her?”
“What should we do?” I asked.
“I need to tell Star,” Artichoke said. “She will be inconsolable. Every one of her children is precious to her. And someone needs to contact the authorities.”
“I’ll get my cell phone and call nine-one-one,” I said.
Artichoke shook her head. “There’s no coverage here. You will have to drive down and tell the sheriff.”
“We’ll do that. Just tell me where to go.” I wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible.
“Fern Lake,” said Artichoke. “Right on the main street.”
“What is this place?” I asked, turning to go and realizing I needed to be able to identify the location of the body.
“Say she’s at the edge of the construction site. Everyone will know where that is.”
“Is she safe?” I asked. Then realized how absurd that sounded. “If it’s a bear, won’t he come back?”
“Perhaps we should leave your dog to guard the body,” Artichoke suggested.
“No way, Jose!” said Pepe. “I’m going with Geri!”
“He has to come with me,” I said.
Artichoke nodded. “OK. Well, then, hurry!”
As we headed down the road, I heard the wolf-dogs howling.
Chapter 12
The police station was in a small storefront on the main street. I sat on a wooden bench in the lobby with Pepe by my side. A rather large, middle-aged woman wearing beige cat-shaped glasses sat behind the front desk. Her ginger-colored hair had been badly permed. The name plate on her desk said her name was Alice Keyes. She spent most of her time on the phone, talking with one of her friends.
“You’ll never guess what happened up at the Dogawanda compound.... Yes, I told you those folks were weirdoes. This was bound to happen sooner or later.”
Occasionally she put her friend on hold and answered what appeared to be official calls. I could tell she was following the unfolding case up at the retreat center.
“I’ll see if I can find Ray and get him up there,” she would say.
I could see her eyeing me and my dog with bright eyes, and I’m sure she wanted to get my version of events, but she probably wasn’t allowed to question a witness on her own.
Alice cradled the phone between her left ear and shoulder. Evidently she was on hold with someone. She reached into a small wooden bowl on her desk with her free hand and withdrew what looked like a pretzel.
“Can your dog have a treat?” she asked me.
“ Dos, por favor ,” said Pepe, scampering right over to her before I had a chance to answer.
Alice smiled and tossed three pretzels on the floor for him. Pepe snapped them up.
“She gave me tres ,” said Pepe, scampering over to me. “This policia senora is my first cop amiga .”
“I’ve always liked Chihuahuas,” said Alice, hanging up the phone. “You want some
“She’s dead,” I said.
“ Sí , and Fuzzy has lost her human,” said Pepe mournfully.
Tears were running down my cheeks. I brushed them aside. I bent down to touch her skin, but it was cold and damp.
“We must notify the authorities,” Pepe said.
“Yes, and tell the Dogawandans!”
“They are nearby,” said Pepe. “I can hear voices. Call them!”
“Help! Help!” I cried. “Over here! I found her!”
Pepe joined me, giving a few tiny howls.
A few minutes later, we heard crashing in the bushes very near to where we were, and Artichoke came charging through the brambles. Her long dark hair had come loose and was tangled with leaves.
“What is it?” she asked.
I stepped aside and pointed at the body.
“Oh my Dog!” Artichoke shouted, kneeling down and touching Tammy’s neck tentatively. She turned to look at us. “She’s dead!” She seemed amazed.
“Yes, my dog just found her.”
“What happened to her?”
“I don’t know.” I was surprised she was asking me.
“Perhaps wild animals, maybe a bear,” said Artichoke mournfully, bending her head to examine the body more closely. “See the scratch marks all over her?”
“What should we do?” I asked.
“I need to tell Star,” Artichoke said. “She will be inconsolable. Every one of her children is precious to her. And someone needs to contact the authorities.”
“I’ll get my cell phone and call nine-one-one,” I said.
Artichoke shook her head. “There’s no coverage here. You will have to drive down and tell the sheriff.”
“We’ll do that. Just tell me where to go.” I wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible.
“Fern Lake,” said Artichoke. “Right on the main street.”
“What is this place?” I asked, turning to go and realizing I needed to be able to identify the location of the body.
“Say she’s at the edge of the construction site. Everyone will know where that is.”
“Is she safe?” I asked. Then realized how absurd that sounded. “If it’s a bear, won’t he come back?”
“Perhaps we should leave your dog to guard the body,” Artichoke suggested.
“No way, Jose!” said Pepe. “I’m going with Geri!”
“He has to come with me,” I said.
Artichoke nodded. “OK. Well, then, hurry!”
As we headed down the road, I heard the wolf-dogs howling.
Chapter 12
The police station was in a small storefront on the main street. I sat on a wooden bench in the lobby with Pepe by my side. A rather large, middle-aged woman wearing beige cat-shaped glasses sat behind the front desk. Her ginger-colored hair had been badly permed. The name plate on her desk said her name was Alice Keyes. She spent most of her time on the phone, talking with one of her friends.
“You’ll never guess what happened up at the Dogawanda compound.... Yes, I told you those folks were weirdoes. This was bound to happen sooner or later.”
Occasionally she put her friend on hold and answered what appeared to be official calls. I could tell she was following the unfolding case up at the retreat center.
“I’ll see if I can find Ray and get him up there,” she would say.
I could see her eyeing me and my dog with bright eyes, and I’m sure she wanted to get my version of events, but she probably wasn’t allowed to question a witness on her own.
Alice cradled the phone between her left ear and shoulder. Evidently she was on hold with someone. She reached into a small wooden bowl on her desk with her free hand and withdrew what looked like a pretzel.
“Can your dog have a treat?” she asked me.
“ Dos, por favor ,” said Pepe, scampering right over to her before I had a chance to answer.
Alice smiled and tossed three pretzels on the floor for him. Pepe snapped them up.
“She gave me tres ,” said Pepe, scampering over to me. “This policia senora is my first cop amiga .”
“I’ve always liked Chihuahuas,” said Alice, hanging up the phone. “You want some
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