Dog Days Murderous Nights: Winnona Peaks Mysteries Book 1 (3 page)

Gregory could have watched her give that speech all day long.  He wondered if she knew that she bit her lower lip and looked to the right every time she tried to remember a detail.

“Ms. Hansel you look like quite the wildlife photographer there,” Christy said, making conversation.  “I’m not sure how wild Winnona Peaks is but I’m sure you can find a couple of horses over at McGregor’s.”

Diana laughed. “Oh, my no.  My wild life is quite tame.  I travel around and work at the different dog shows.  It started as a hobby but now it’s starting to pick up.  Even pays better than my last job.”

“Oh, really!” Christy said. “Well, J.W. out there on the porch is a photographer too! He’s even a judge for the show tomorrow.  You two should get along great!”

“Well, you’d be surprised how crazy it gets down at those shows.  We have only one day left and you know I’d be surprised if I even saw him down there!  It’s really a circus that only shows you one animal and a few hoops.” 

Christy laughed, handing her the key.  “Do you want me to show you to your room?”

Diana tucked the key into one of her multiple pockets. “Oh, no, that’s okay.  I actually forgot something.  If it’s okay, I’ll just find my way later.  I forgot something important back at the show.  You said dinner is at six?”  Christy nodded and Diana spun on her heels and walked out the front door.

“Gregory, look at you!”  Christy said.  Gregory slid his back pack off and smiled to himself, briefly, as he stared at the floor.

Looking up he said, “No, look at you, Christy Roberts.  We’re not seventeen anymore, are we?  Have you been here all these years?”

“All these years.  I took over after Grandmother died.  I must say, whatever, you’ve been doing, you don’t have seventeen year old muscles anymore.”  She giggled. 

“Oh, that’s just courtesy of the U.S. Marine corps and the Dallas Police Department.  I’ve been working as a detective these past few years."

“What brings you to Winnona Peaks?” she asked.

“Just needed a change.  In fact, I’m going to be your neighbor in a few days.  There’s just some last minute glitches with the closing so here I am.” Gregory shrugged. “In fact, I’m turning over a whole new leaf.  I’m going to leave all the city stuff behind and sell some coffee.”

“Sell coffee?” Christy raised her eyebrows.

“Why does that sound so strange?” Gregory smirked. “Tell you what, I’m closing on the coffee shop next week and hope to open the doors in about a month.  First cup is on me.  See you there?”  Gregory whipped out one of those buy ten, get one free cards and gave it to her.  He thought it was cheesy but he’d seen one at every drive-up coffee place he’d ever been at so he thought he would give it a shot.

Christy was delighted.  “Oh, if you have more of these, I’d be happy to set them on my desk!”

“Could you?”

“I’d be happy to!

The screen door slammed open and Gregory whipped his head around. “You’re a monster!” A young woman in a powder blue fitted t-shirt with wispy blonde hair shook her finger at the porch and stomped down the hallway.  Christy and Gregory both jumped as the screen door slammed against the porch wall.  He looked up at the door and noticed that she had ripped the hydraulic plunger out of the door jamb.  It hung limply as the door swung gently.  The old guy was holding one of Christy’s dogs in the shadow of the doorway and shook his head.  Gregory would see if he could find a screwdriver and fix the door.  Who knows what the hell that guy did?  Gregory didn’t care.  He was done with catching bad guys.  If he could help it he was just going to fix the door and stay out of it.

Chapter 5

Hailey Duncan remembered all those hours she wasted in her life following him around to those stupid dog shows.  She hated dogs and on top of that J.W. didn’t even charge for his work! Nobody understood how nuts it made her to see how much people were making on their photographs.  She couldn’t even believe how much money people spent on their stupid dogs.  People spent more money on their stupid dogs than her parents had ever spent on her in her life.  Ever!  So, sure, she loved the salary she was making as J.W. Augustine’s personal assistant, but to say you’re in business to do something, means you’re in business to make money.  All the registration fees and doggie treats and chromed leashes and pedicures!  They say they are just trimming their nails because it helps the dog but she knew a pedicure when she saw one.

When he came back to Alfie’s Bed and Breakfast and told her that he had some photos accepted for that exclusive Canine Philosophy blog she was sure it was pay dirt.  He was finally going to give her some cash to put into the income column of the profit and loss report.  She hadn’t struggled through school and eaten ramen noodles in an apartment with no heat just to have all her skills go to waste. All those years struggling with her coat and mittens in an apartment.  Watching all those kids in her business classes drive in with the BMWs.  What did they know about making money?  She was always grateful for that cold apartment.  She knew what it took.  She knew the facts.

If you run a business, then profits have to exceed expenses.  Any moron should know that if there’s a big fat zero in the profit column it’s not a business.  Business is about the details.  Take care of the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves.  That’s what the embroidered wall hanging that her Grandmother said every day.  She was right.  It’s the little things that make a business thrive. 

She just wanted to scream some days when she watched him flirt and charm his way through these dog shows.  He acted all humble like he was a lowly photographer but the truth was he had spent years on the boards of some of the biggest corporations and charities around the country―around the world, even.  Not only did he know the CEO of the Pureall Dog Food Company, he was on a first name basis with the head of the AKC.  All the whispers were true. People that charmed J.W. had an edge in a show and it was something he was careful to keep under wraps. 

J.W. was trying to pretend to himself that the doggie groupies didn’t look at him like some kind of rock star.  She shook her head and tried to pull herself together. Wiping her tears she went into the bathroom to wash her face.  Undoing her ponytail she splashed water in her face and patted her face and neck dry with her towel.  They smelled of lilacs and sage and even as upset as she was she couldn’t help but wonder how the bed and breakfast owner did that.  Pulling her blonde hair into a ponytail again she sat down and looked out the window trying to figure out what to do next.  No matter how much volumizer she used, Hailey always felt like a recovering cancer patient when she tried to do her hair.  With soft blue eyes and ears that gently stuck out from her head, she always wore her glasses to make her face look less like Dumbo. 

Her boyfriend, Isaac, said she was beautiful, but all boyfriends are deluded.  She was pretty sure somebody was paying him to say it.  Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door.  Jumping up, Hailey checked her face in the mirror for streaked mascara.  Satisfied she was vaguely presentable, she opened the door a crack.

Her laptop was held as a peace offering, and taking the computer she saw that it was Christy, the owner.

“I’m sorry about making a scene,” Hailey mumbled.

“Oh, these things happen.”  Christy asked, “Do you want to talk about it?”  Snowy waddled up to Christy’s ankles, looking up sympathetically at Hailey.  Hailey jumped back as if he was a mouse skirting across the floor. 

Shivering from head to toe, she said.  “Thanks, but I’d rather just be alone, right now.”

“Well, that’s okay. Remember, dinner is at six.”

With tears welling up in her eyes, Hailey looked down at Snowy and whispered, “I’m so sorry.  I won’t be able to make it to dinner.  Thanks for the laptop.”  She slowly closed the door so she could lay down and let the pillow muffle her crying.

Chapter 6

What did Diana remember? Diana Hansel couldn’t get off that porch fast enough.  Jumping in her car, she slammed the door and peeled out of that hokie little place as if a Pit Bull was chasing her. That’s what she remembered about that day. She couldn’t believe that J.W. Augustine was staying at the same bed and breakfast!  Why didn’t he just book the penthouse downtown?  Who cares if Winnona Peaks only had a Motel 6? 

He was sitting there so smug with that little hot number showing him the photographs Diana was supposed to be taking.  He wasn’t even supposed to be here at this show this weekend.  He was filling in as a judge on the circuit here and there and he just stunk of money.  It was so unfair that these people wandering around with their fancy shoes and tailored suits, pretending to be silly dog and pony show people, had no idea what he was waving around.  Who brings an $18,000 lens to a dog show?  How was she supposed to compete with that?  Something had to be done.  Photography was not about flashing equipment around.  It was hard work.  It was about taking care of the details.  Diana had out-hustled every dog and pony picture jockey on the circuit.  Not that it really mattered.  What choice did she have?  She’d been working her fingers to the bone all her life.  This Canine Philosophy gig was going to be the big break.  You had to know certain people.  Get in the right circles.  Everyone on the circuit knew that Snoopy’s Tempting Desire was the one to beat.  Nobody even joked about the fact that when he sired another pup the judges were writing down STD on their score cards. That beagle was pay dirt.  It was her photograph.  Charlie was going to just have to listen to reason.  She’d developed some really solid spreads for Canine Philosophy. They had been promo pieces and a few features on dog health.  The problem was that none of her projects really made the reader wonder about who took the photograph. 

The person that got the next hot gig was whoever shot pictures of the grand champion.  Put them in the right light and the commissions and portrait gigs came rolling in.  She’d seen it happen before.  She knew she needed that beagle in this upcoming issue.

Diana also knew that Charlie always kept a small office set-up tucked in the arena and when she wheeled into the parking lot she saw that his van was still there.  She was in luck.  He was coming out of the back door of the arena and heading toward his van.  Diana slammed it into park and ran up to him.

“Charlie!”

Charlie grimaced and wondered how he could get out of this.  He’d already turned her down once today.  She ran up to him and he said, “Look, Diana.  It wasn’t anything personal.”

“No, Charlie.  You need to give me another chance.  Look, I’ve been doing solid work for you.  I’m consistent.  I can take some more shots.  I can—”

“Diana, like I said it wasn’t personal. I know you do good work.  It’s just a couple of shots.  Besides, it’s not that big of a deal.  There’s always another dog show around the corner.  I’ve been working this circuit for years.  How do you think I got the gig with this blog?  Just keep your nose to the grindstone and something will pop up.”  Charlie went to unlock the door of his van and Diana grabbed his wrist.

“No, you don’t understand.  It’s not fair.  He’s got that Nikon and just wanders around with the judges.  It’s not fair.  I do good work, Charlie. You should use my shots.”

Looking down at his wrist, Charlie waited, clearing his throat.  “Diana, um why don’t you call it a day?  Just take a deep breath.  Go down to Mickey’s Tavern and get a bite.  Tell him I sent you and that it’s on the magazine. I’ve got to get up early and I’m using J.W.’s shots.  It’s not a big deal. They say every dog has his day.  It will happen for you.  Go get some rest.  Big day tomorrow.”  Diana yanked her hand away and let him get in his van.  Her lower lip was quivering but she wasn’t going to let him see anything.  Charlie gently backed out of his parking space and drove off into the darkening sky.  Diana let a single tear roll down her cheek as the rage bubbled up inside of her.

Chapter 7

“Sorry to do this to you, Christy, but I’ve got to ask you and your guests some questions about where they were tonight around the time J.W. appears to have died.” Kathleen Jenkins was called up by a friend. J.W. had taken so many shots of her dogs over the years.  If it wasn’t for their connection in the dog world the two of them would never have even brushed across each other on a street corner. J.W. had friends in high places and they wanted someone on the inside to investigate his death before too much of it hit the papers.  Winnona Peaks really didn’t have a crime rate and after the initial shock, Kathleen knew they all preferred to keep it that way.

Christy shook her head to clear the fog of her remembering the rest of the day and sat down in the living room next to the others.  Hailey, Diana, Gregory, and Mrs. Deswood were all staring in different places around the spacious lobby, still in their own worlds, collecting their thoughts.

She was there along with some friends to watch the dog show.  She normally worked in special investigations into cyber fraud for the insurance industry but she had been a police officer at one point before she hung it up.  She was roughly the same age as Christy but the years had worn a bit more on her face.  She cut her bangs straight across her forehead inspiring her coworkers to stick their hands up and say, “Live long and Prosper.”  She hated that so many geeks worked at the cybercrime unit.  She really didn’t know where to begin.  J.W. had taken some photos of her dog as a favor and she was looking forward to picking them up from him the next day at the show.  Addressing the group, she blew out a sigh, took out her pad of paper and began.

“So far, we don’t we don’t see any reason to think it’s anything more than an accidental death.  There was no sign of a struggle for someone getting in the room.  We really can’t say that there was a murder weapon because there’s not any injuries on the body.  The theory is that he got a bit absentminded and tossed a handful of trail mix into his mouth while he was toweling off from his shower.” Hailey shook her head.

“Now it was you who discovered the body, Ms. Roberts?” Christy nodded.