Read Online The Case of the Invisible Dog by Diane Stingley - Free Book Online
Authors: Diane Stingley
Ads: Link
her little fantasy until it runs its course.”
“I don’t know,” I said. “I’ll have to think about this. I don’t know if I can go in there day after day pretending that she’s the great-great-granddaughter of Sherlock Holmes,” I said, thinking it was too bad I was so attached to food, clothing, shelter, and DVDs. Otherwise the decision would be an easy one.
“But you will go with her tonight? Let her enjoy an hour or two of acting out this fantasy of hers?” Dr. Morgan asked fervently. “It is one thing to imagine the world of Sherlock Holmes; it will be something else to live it. There’s a very good chance that she may discover that it’s not at all what she expected. And if this is nothing more than a game for her, then I would wager that tonight’s little adventure will satisfy her and be the end of it.”
Her eyes stared at me hopefully as she clutched her purse. I had sort of planned on calling Shirley in a little bit with some excuse as to why I couldn’t go with her tonight. But if it would mean that much to her…it had been a long time since I’d felt as if I could do myself any good, let alone anyone else. And wandering around someone’s backyard for an hour probably wouldn’t kill me.
The pizza guy was due any minute. There was a new Sara Lee coconut cake in the refrigerator going to waste. And those two terrible DVDs starring people I hated weren’t going to watch themselves.
“Okay,” I said so Dr. Morgan would go away and leave me to my simple pleasures. “I guess I can do that much.”
Chapter 4
It was dark and quiet by the time I left my apartment. I’d thrown my wallet, compact, some protein bars, a flashlight, and a bottle of water into a canvas tote bag, which I tossed into the backseat of my car. Based on my extensive knowledge of thrillers and spy movies, I was dressed from head to toe in black for my nighttime mission: black jeans; black loafers; a black turtleneck; and a warm, black hoodie. I had actually toyed with the idea of smudging some black charcoal on my forehead, nose, and cheeks, but decided that was probably overkill.
When I arrived in downtown Springville the only light I saw, besides the one from the Highlight Bar, was the light shining from Shirley’s office. I grabbed my keys and left the tote bag behind, and kept a good watch around me as I made my way from my car to the back stairs. It was spooky being out there by myself at that time of night, and I jumped at every little sound I heard.
I carefully made my way up, glancing around as I went. When I had made it about halfway, I heard voices coming from inside the office. It sounded as if Shirley was having an argument with someone. Since I had never seen another person cross our doorstep besides myself and Shirley and Matt (who I was pretty sure would never make another appearance), I couldn’t imagine who she was talking to. I didn’t want to barge in if it was something personal, and after my conversation with Dr. Morgan I was half afraid it might turn out to be Shirley arguing with no one but herself, so I stopped to listen.
“I tell you, everything has been arranged!” Shirley exclaimed loudly.
“Arranged?” a woman shrieked with a sneering tone. “How many times have I heard that before?”
Everything was
arranged
? What exactly did that mean?
“You will lose this bet,” I heard Shirley say loudly and forcefully. “Your mockery is misplaced. This is
not
like the other times!”
“And how many times have I heard
that
before, too?” The woman let out a short, bitter laugh. “These little games that you
arrange
always end in disaster.”
“The joke has gone too far. This is not a game,” Shirley said in a lowered tone that I had to strain to hear. “I had hoped you would see the difference.”
It was silent for a moment, and as I stood there wondering—again—what I had gotten myself into, and debating whether I should run like hell as far away from Shirley Homes as my
“I don’t know,” I said. “I’ll have to think about this. I don’t know if I can go in there day after day pretending that she’s the great-great-granddaughter of Sherlock Holmes,” I said, thinking it was too bad I was so attached to food, clothing, shelter, and DVDs. Otherwise the decision would be an easy one.
“But you will go with her tonight? Let her enjoy an hour or two of acting out this fantasy of hers?” Dr. Morgan asked fervently. “It is one thing to imagine the world of Sherlock Holmes; it will be something else to live it. There’s a very good chance that she may discover that it’s not at all what she expected. And if this is nothing more than a game for her, then I would wager that tonight’s little adventure will satisfy her and be the end of it.”
Her eyes stared at me hopefully as she clutched her purse. I had sort of planned on calling Shirley in a little bit with some excuse as to why I couldn’t go with her tonight. But if it would mean that much to her…it had been a long time since I’d felt as if I could do myself any good, let alone anyone else. And wandering around someone’s backyard for an hour probably wouldn’t kill me.
The pizza guy was due any minute. There was a new Sara Lee coconut cake in the refrigerator going to waste. And those two terrible DVDs starring people I hated weren’t going to watch themselves.
“Okay,” I said so Dr. Morgan would go away and leave me to my simple pleasures. “I guess I can do that much.”
Chapter 4
It was dark and quiet by the time I left my apartment. I’d thrown my wallet, compact, some protein bars, a flashlight, and a bottle of water into a canvas tote bag, which I tossed into the backseat of my car. Based on my extensive knowledge of thrillers and spy movies, I was dressed from head to toe in black for my nighttime mission: black jeans; black loafers; a black turtleneck; and a warm, black hoodie. I had actually toyed with the idea of smudging some black charcoal on my forehead, nose, and cheeks, but decided that was probably overkill.
When I arrived in downtown Springville the only light I saw, besides the one from the Highlight Bar, was the light shining from Shirley’s office. I grabbed my keys and left the tote bag behind, and kept a good watch around me as I made my way from my car to the back stairs. It was spooky being out there by myself at that time of night, and I jumped at every little sound I heard.
I carefully made my way up, glancing around as I went. When I had made it about halfway, I heard voices coming from inside the office. It sounded as if Shirley was having an argument with someone. Since I had never seen another person cross our doorstep besides myself and Shirley and Matt (who I was pretty sure would never make another appearance), I couldn’t imagine who she was talking to. I didn’t want to barge in if it was something personal, and after my conversation with Dr. Morgan I was half afraid it might turn out to be Shirley arguing with no one but herself, so I stopped to listen.
“I tell you, everything has been arranged!” Shirley exclaimed loudly.
“Arranged?” a woman shrieked with a sneering tone. “How many times have I heard that before?”
Everything was
arranged
? What exactly did that mean?
“You will lose this bet,” I heard Shirley say loudly and forcefully. “Your mockery is misplaced. This is
not
like the other times!”
“And how many times have I heard
that
before, too?” The woman let out a short, bitter laugh. “These little games that you
arrange
always end in disaster.”
“The joke has gone too far. This is not a game,” Shirley said in a lowered tone that I had to strain to hear. “I had hoped you would see the difference.”
It was silent for a moment, and as I stood there wondering—again—what I had gotten myself into, and debating whether I should run like hell as far away from Shirley Homes as my
Similar Books
