11 Hanging by a Hair (7 page)

Small holes dotted the yard. Maybe the construction had disturbed a creature’s underground habitat. A large snake might live there.

Dread weighted her stomach. Did snakes eat small pets? They weren’t near a canal where she had to worry about gators. The only place she hadn’t looked was in that huge pit. Obviously, Krabber no longer had need of a standby generator. Someone would have to petition his heir to fill in the hole.

She advanced cautiously. Wary of getting too close to an edge that might crumple, she peered down and swallowed convulsively.

Oh, God.

Spooks lay immobile on the bottom.

“Spooks, get up! Do you hear me?”

Moisture blinded her, and her heart pounded in her chest. Now what? She had to get him out and rush him to the vet.

The hole was too deep for her to climb down. She needed a ladder, but no way could she bring the huge one from her garage. It was too heavy for her to lift, let alone transport. Who should she call for help?

She didn’t want to bother Dalton, not with the problems he had at work. Fire rescue? She bit back a sob. If she still lived in her townhouse, her neighbor Goat would be there in an instant. She missed the dog groomer now more than anything.

Her fingers fumbled for the cell phone she’d stuck in her pocket. She’d have to call the rescue squad. Her ignominy in Royal Oaks would increase, but what else could she do?

She went out front to await them in case anyone had been observing her flight into Krabber’s backyard. Heaven forbid the lady across the street should accuse her of snooping on his property . . . or of attempting to cover up her husband’s potential crime.

How would they ever earn anyone’s trust in this community?

She paced back and forth, her sandals beating upon the rust-stained cement. The minutes ticked by until a red truck turned the corner. They hadn’t put the siren on, for which she was grateful. Marla waved to the occupants, and the vehicle screeched to a halt at the curb. Several guys emerged, hunky fellows in jumpsuits.

“I’m sorry to bring you out for this, but my dog fell down a hole in our neighbor’s backyard.” She hoped they wouldn’t notice the crime scene tape stretched across his front door, and that they weren’t the same responders who’d come the day Krabber died.

“What kind of hole, ma’am?”

“It’s meant for a propane tank to fuel a standby generator. Follow me.”

Hastening toward the rear, she heard the thuds of their booted footsteps. She reached her goal and stared down at Spooks, her heart in her throat. He could be bleeding internally from his injuries. Would she be too late in taking him to the vet?

The rescue team retrieved a ladder. With several men, they made the job look easy as they carried their equipment into the backyard and set it into place. A muscular guy climbed down and scooped the still animal into his arms.

Marla accepted the limp dog with a murmur of appreciation. Her throat choked with tears. She blinked rapidly, refusing to break down.

Spooks twitched as though asleep, and his chest moved. Marla’s spirits lifted. He was alive! The only injury she noted was a splotch of blood on his head.

“Is the homeowner in, ma’am? It would be wise for him to put up a temporary barrier until this hole is covered over,” the same man asked. His name tag read Kevin Jones.

“I know, but he, uh, isn’t available. He died a few days ago.”

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. Is there a relative to contact, maybe?”

“His nephew is likely responsible.” Marla walked alongside the EMT toward the front, eager to get to her car and dash off to the animal hospital. While she’d been waiting for the rescue team, she’d notified the vet’s office that she’d be coming in with Spooks.

“We’ll see if we can contact him and get something done so this doesn’t happen again.”

“Thanks, that would be wonderful. My dog got loose and ran back here. If he . . . if he survives, I’ll be careful to keep him tightly on the leash hereafter.”

After providing her phone number and pointing out her house in case the fellow had further questions, she charged to her garage. Tenderly, she placed Spooks inside her car. Then she took a few precious minutes to unleash Lucky and grab her purse. Fifteen minutes later found her inside the waiting room at the veterinarian. She texted Dalton, not wishing to disrupt his workday but wanting to update him.

She gulped past a lump in her throat. After their recent troubles, she couldn’t bear to lose Spooks. He was her constant in this crazy universe. Wishing she’d never moved from her townhouse, she reminded herself of her loving family. They were the reason she’d taken this leap in life. She’d have to make the best of it.

“Mrs. Vail?” A tech signaled to her from the entrance to the inner sanctum.

Marla scurried over and followed the girl into a private treatment room that smelled like disinfectant. She stared at the linoleum floor, her pulse racing, until the inner door opened.

Dr. Nelson strode inside, a pleasant woman with a sympathetic smile and hair a shade darker than Marla’s chestnut brown. She wore a white lab coat with a couple of pens sticking from her chest pocket.

“Good news. Spooks has a concussion, but he is awake and moving all limbs. He has some bruising from the fall but no evidence of internal bleeding. I’d like to keep him overnight for observation, and then you can come by tomorrow to take him home.”

“Oh, thank you.” Marla’s eyes filled with tears. “Thank you so much. I was afraid—”

“I know.” The doctor smiled. “He’s a lucky pooch. We’ll take good care of him, Mrs. Vail. Don’t you worry.”

Her brow aching, Marla retreated to her car. She’d pay the bill tomorrow when she picked Spooks up.

The rest of her day loomed lonely and bleak. Should she go into the salon? No, today was her day off. Surely she could find something else to do to lift her mood. Call her mother? Nope, that would irritate her more than anything. Dial a friend?

She opted for that choice. “Tally? Do you want to meet for coffee? I need some company, and we haven’t caught up with each other in a while.”

“Sure, Marla. It’s quiet in the store, so Angela should be able to handle things for an hour or so. It would be nice to see you.” Tally owned the Dress to Kill boutique. Pregnant for several months now, she hadn’t cut back on her hours despite her husband’s insistence.

Sitting in the coffee shop on a cushioned chair, Marla related everything that had happened since the homeowners’ meeting. Upon her conclusion, Marla glanced at her cell phone in case she’d missed a call from the vet.

“Holy smokes, Marla.” Tally, a lithe blond, brushed her hair back from her forehead. “I hope Spooks will be okay.”

“Me, too.”

“You don’t think someone else was in the backyard, do you?”

Gripping her ceramic mug, Marla leaned forward. “What do you mean?”

“Well, you heard him barking, right? Maybe he was barking at someone rather than another animal.”

Marla stared wide-eyed at her friend. “You’re a genius. I would never have thought of that! If you’re right, this person might not have wanted to be seen, and so he tossed poor Spooks in the pit to shut him up.”

“He would have heard you calling for the dog. You said no one was there when you arrived. The intruder could have run around the other side of the house to get away.”

“But why would anyone loiter in Krabber’s backyard?”

“Why would anyone want him dead, if he didn’t hang himself?”

“Good point.” Too many questions plagued her. Damn, she wished Dalton would provide details. She said so aloud.

Tally’s eyes glistened with sympathy. “He’s not supposed to be involved, remember?”

“He is involved by virtue of Alan being our neighbor. And Tally—” her gaze darted around the room, making sure no one was within hearing range—“Dalton did get up in the middle of the night. I mean, the night before Alan’s body was discovered.”

“Come on, he’s not guilty. No matter how annoyed he was by the guy, Dalton isn’t a murderer. What’s gotten into you?”

Marla absorbed the chatter around them, the aroma of strong coffee, and the scent of sugary pastries. “I suppose his new partner rattled me. And I’d forgotten about our alarm system being on. That would clear Dalton of any lingering suspicions.”

“It might, depending on the time of death. What’s this about a new partner?”

“Lieutenant Katherine Minnetti. She’s cold as ice and holds the same rank as Dalton.”

“A lady?” At Marla’s nod, Tally narrowed her eyes. “And now this detective is in charge of a case that would normally have been his to solve. But it’s better this way. Dalton couldn’t possibly be objective when he knew the victim.”

“Maybe.” Her mouth compressed. “Why couldn’t we have moved into a friendlier neighborhood? I miss Moss and Goat and the other people from my development.”

Tally reached over and patted her hand. “You’ll make friends eventually. And I wouldn’t assume everyone loved your neighbor just because he got elected president.”

“I don’t know people well enough to evaluate their relationship with him.”

Tally gave her a level glance. “You’ve used your sleuthing abilities before. Dig deeper and see what you can learn.”

Marla picked up her spoon and twirled it. “After the fiasco at Jill’s wedding when I found her sister dead under the cake table, I vowed to myself that I’d focus on family hereafter. I swore off solving any more cases. That’s Dalton’s job.”

“Coaxing information out of people is what you do best. Cast off your slump and start snooping. Just don’t put yourself in the path of danger. Brianna needs you, and so does your husband.”

“You’re right.” Marla paused. “Cherry Hunter, the treasurer, said something at the homeowners’ meeting about Alan Krabber having secrets to hide. I wonder what she meant.”

“There you go. Find an excuse to chat her up and see what she knows. It’s a good place to start.”

Marla sneaked a glance at her cell phone again. Nothing. Her heart skipped a beat. Was Spooks all right?

She sought to change the subject. “How are you feeling? Have you been to the doctor lately?”

Tally’s expression brightened, and she put a hand to her belly. “I’m having an ultrasound next week. The morning sickness seems to have passed, thank goodness. We’ve cleared out our spare room so we can make it into a nursery.”

The conversation proceeded to baby things, which Marla half paid attention to while worrying about her pet and how she could ease Dalton’s burden. He liked her brisket. Maybe she should make that for dinner tonight instead of meatballs.

She waved a fond farewell to Tally after a while and went about her business with a sad heart. Although Marla loved her dearly, Tally would soon be caught up in child care and mommy and me classes and such. She’d have to find friends with kids closer to Brianna’s age, but how? Most young mothers developed social networks when their children attended preschool.

Her cell phone trilled on the way to the grocery store. Afraid it might be the vet’s office with bad news, Marla pushed the button on her ear piece. “Hello?”

“Hi, it’s Dalton. I hear you had a visitor this morning.”

She calmed to his low, rumbling tone. “Yes, I met your new partner. She’s a peach, isn’t she?” Is that why he’d called? Not to ask about Spooks?

“What did you tell her?”

Marla detected a note of strain in his voice. “I related what happened at the homeowners’ meeting and how Alan persisted in violating city code.”

“Minnetti isn’t being too forthcoming about the case. Did you learn anything new from your conversation with her?”

Just that some of the neighbors have been talking about you.

“Not really. Dalton, you need to let this one go. We may share the same personal feelings toward Alan, but that’s the very reason why you shouldn’t be involved.”

“I know, but it’s damn frustrating.”

She could almost hear him gnashing his teeth. “Yes, I expect it is, but you have to play this one down. Listen, the alarm was on that night. It’ll prove you didn’t leave the house.”

“Good point. I’m hoping the M.E. will let me take a look at his report. If time of death was within those parameters, I’ll advise Minnetti to verify the hours with our security company. It won’t put me back on the case, but it’ll help alleviate any doubts she might have about me.”

“All right. I’m making your favorite brisket for dinner. Will you be home?”

“I suppose so. How is Spooks? I presume he’s okay, or you would have called.”

“He has a concussion and is staying overnight at the vet, but he’ll survive.”

As soon as Marla returned home from her errands, she made a quick call to the animal hospital to check on Spooks’s status. Satisfied that he was stable, she took Lucky out before putting the brisket in the Dutch oven to simmer and settling down at her computer. She wanted to look up Cherry Hunter’s phone number. She accessed the homeowners’ association website and found the page listing their officers.

Marla would rather not email Cherry and risk leaving evidence of a message, so she dialed the woman’s house phone instead. No one answered. She’d have to try again later.

Later never came. She got caught up on chores, confirming plans with Dalton’s parents for dinner later that week, and answering her own email. A call to Luis told her to come in tomorrow morning at nine o’clock for her first appointment. Before she realized how many hours had passed, Brianna breezed in the door, home from school.

It wasn’t until the next day that Marla was able to pursue Krabber’s case. She wanted more than anything to help Dalton. He’d been morose the entire evening. All through her early appointments she kept wondering what else she could do. During a break at lunch, she phoned the vet. Spooks was fine and she could pick him up after work. The bill would make her checking account considerably lighter.

Luis summoned her for a two o’clock—someone new from the unfamiliar name.

“Marla, this is Susan Feinberg,” the receptionist said with his sexy grin. “She has one of your discount coupons and wants a cut and blow.”

“Hi, I live in Royal Oaks and thought I’d give your salon a try.” The brunette took a seat in Marla’s chair. She looked to be in her thirties and had a smattering of freckles across her nose.